A Plea for Alms, Title page – Errata
A PLEA FOR Almes; Delivered in a SERMON AT THE SPITAL, Before a Solemn Aſſembly of the City, on Tueſday in Eaſter Week, April. 13. 1658.
By THOMAS WATSON Miniſter of Stephens Walbrook Lond.
foreign.
Chryſ.
But who ſo hath this worlds good, and ſeeth his brother have need, and ſhutteth up his bowels of compaſſion from him how dwelleth the love of God in him?
1 Joh. 3. 17.
London, Printed for Thomas Parkburſt at the three Crowns over-againſt the great Conduit at the lower end of Cheap-ſide. 1658.
TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE Sir Richard Chiverton, Lord Major; The Right Worſhipful, the Sheriffes, with the reſt of the Aldermen of the Famous CITY of LONDON.
Right Honourable and Right Worſhipful,
MY own indexterity and unfitneſſe to appear thus Publickly, needs ſome Apology; But your acceptation is my encouragement; and the order from your Honourable Court, Carries ſo much Authority with it, as to add ſome weight to that which dares not plead worth. I was the more inclinable to publiſh this Diſcourſe, becauſe though the theam be common, yet the practice of it is rare and unuſual. Contentions never more hot, Charity never more cold, a ſigne Iniquity abounds. The zeale of our forefathers condemnes us, we with Rachel have better eyes, but they with Leah were more fruitful. We are ſo far (at leaſt the generality of men) from building Churches and Almes-houſes, that we are more ready to pull them down. How is TRUTH in theſe dayes forſaken, and CHARITY forgotten! We may ſay of many they are miſerable rich, their affections towards publick advancements and diſburſements, are like the ſcales of the Leviathan, ſhut up together, as with a cloſe ſeal, Job. 41. 15. Saint Ambroſe ſaith that when we relieve not one, whom we ſee ready to periſh with hunger, we are the cauſe of his death. *Paſce fame morientem fi non paveris occidiſti. AmbrIf this rule hold true, there are more guilty of the breach of the ſixth Commandment than we are aware of. When ſhall we ſee a reſurrection of Charity, which ſeemes to lye dead and buried? Sure, it will not be, unleſs God work a miracle upon mens hearts. The good Lord by his Spirit cleave the rocks in our boſomes, that the water of repentance, and the wine of Charity may flow forth! O that England might have that encomium as once Athens, to be the Nurſery of Humanity; beleeve it, Charity is the beſt policy; by helping others we heal our ſelves, Job 29. 13. The bleſſing of him that was ready to periſh came upon me. As the poor had Jobs almes, ſo he had their prayers, and he fared the better. Chriſts poor are Favourites of the Court of heaven, and you that give them of your gold, they can unlock heaven by the golden key of prayer, and ſet God a work on your behalf. The merciful man hath many interceſſours, which made Hierom to ſay, that it is almoſt impoſſible that God ſhould not hear the prayers of ſo many. *…ene impoſſibile multorum preces non exaudiri.Why ſhould there be the leaſt regret, or recoyling in our hearts, why ſhould Charity ſtick in the birth? It would be our glory, if it might be ſaid of us, as St. Paul ſpeaks of thoſe Evangelical, or rather Angelical Chriſtians, 1 Theſ. 3. 9. As touching brotherly love, ye need not that I write unto you. O how forgetful are we of that breaſt of mercy which feeds us, thoſe golden wings which cover us! Surely did we keep a foreign or regiſter of Gods favours to us, we would as Clemens Alexandrinus Clem. Alex. Strom. 7.ſaith, give Almes to teſtifie our gratitude. But I ſhall avoid Prolixnes; this Sermon which you did heare with ſeriouſneſſe and affection, craves now your candour, and comes under your Patrociny. What was once ſaid to Aegidius of Norinberg concerning Davids words in the 118 Pſal. They are verba vivenda non legenda. The ſame may I ſay concerning theſe few notions, they are not ſo much to be read over, as to be lived over. Your liberality to them that are in want, will give the beſt gloſſe upon the Text. The Lord hath ſet you in publick places, and that you may become publick bleſſings in your generation, walking in the fear of God, and ſhining forth in a bible-converſation, ſhall be the prayer of him who is,
Your Honours, And Worſhips ſervant, In the work of the Lord, THOMAS WATSON. From my Study at Stephens Walbrook. July 7. 1658.
ERRATA.
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