An Infallible Way to Fare Well, Chapter 43
CHAP. XLIII.
Sixthly, how much might be spared of what men vainely spend in keeping of Horses, Hawkes, and Dogs? when not a few, change their Ancestors liberality upon Christs members, into prodigality upon Beasts. When they will kill an Horse of price, in the pursuit of a Hare worth nothing. Or to be at twenty pounds a yeare charge in Hawkes, to catch a few Partridges not worth so many-shillings: when the poore are not so many groats the better for their worships.
Seventhly, how much of that which might be given to the poore, is wasted in that witch Tobacco, when many spend as much in that wanton weed, as their honest Forefathers spent in substantiall hospitality: When an hundred pounds a yeare upon this precious stinke will scarce serve their turns, were it now as dear as it hath been, Yea I have known a Knight and his company, in one day drink out five pounds sterling, in five ounces of Tobacco; which I am sure had been better bestowed upon these charitable uses. The Knights name was Huit. The Apothecaries Name that sold it, was Bakon; at the Myter in Fleetstreet it was taken.
Again, hundreds there are, that will buy all the News Books, Declarations and Proclamations that come forth, (which since the beginning of our troubles, have amounted to no small sum) and yet are so far from being bountiful to the poor, that by their good wills, they will neither pay debts nor duties. Others as bountiful and as good Christians as they, that can afford to give three pounds for a falling Band, five pounds for a Tulip, ten, twenty pounds for a yard of Lace: But will Christ take this well, and count them good Stewards? when he shall sit upon his Throne, and judge every man according to his deeds, Matth. 25. 31. to the end.
To these might be added the vast sums of mony that are lavisht out without measure, in needless and unnecessary Buildings, and trimming of houses, as if the owners were to dwell for ever in this world; So many Walks and Galleries, Turrets and Pyramides, such setting up, pulling down, transposing, transplacing, to make gay habitations, for the memory and honour of mens Names: So much yearly bestowed in costly furniture; with which their houses were well stufe and filled before; whereas multitudes of people, by reason of the late civil wars, are driven to wander about, as having no certain dwelling-place, yea no other house then the wide world; no other bed then the hard ground, and no other Canopy then the wide Heaven. And so I might go on to many hundreds spent in Law-suits, for the satisfying of a self-will; so much spent in sports and needlesse Journeys, in Gaming and Revelling, in kindnesses to Friends and Neighbours, and many the like; Whereas they should be sparing in other things, that they might be the more bountiful in this duty; They spend where they should spare, and spare where God biddeth them spend: Yea, whereas the godly man spareth not onelyonly from his superfluities, but even from very necessaries, that he may have the more to spend in bounty and beneficence: These only spare in the works of mercy, that they may have the more to spend upon their sinful Vanities. But as the niggard that soweth not, shall not reap; so the prodigal Worldling, that soweth onelyonly to the flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption; as it is Gal. 6: 8.
Now for conclusion of this point, if Frugallity and saving, be so great an help to bounty and liberality; let it be our care to practice it; avoiding both the extreams, Prodigality on the one side, and Avarice on the other; for this (as all other vertues) is placed between two extreams, as the Planet Jupiter, between cold Saturn, and fiery Mars; Let it be used as a razor of all wicked and superfluous, and as a rule of all good and necessary expences; For that stock is like to last, that is neither hoarded up miserably, nor dealt out indiscreetly: We fow not the furrow by the sack full, but by the handful; and the wise man knows, it is better looking through a poore Lettice-window, then through an Iron Grate. Let it quite shave off, all expenses about Surfeiting and Drunkenness, Harlotry and Wantonness, with other debauched courses, which many amongst the Heathens have been ashamed of; and therefore should not be once named among Christians, Eph. 5. 3.
Nomina sunt ipso, pene timenda sono.
And let is also moderate and diminish those excessive charges which too commonly men are at, about things lawful and commendable; because if men would so do, the poor would be richly provided for: As how much might be saved, how many millions of money every year; and how abundant might we be in works of mercy, and yet be never the poorer at the years end? Yea how would they praise God, and pray for their bountiful Benefactors? And how would God bless us in our souls, bodies, names, estates and posterities? As he hath abundantly promised in his Word.