Works, Chapter 17 – Chapter 18
CHAP. XVII. Rules to carry works of Mercy wiſely.
IF our actions concern others, then they bee works either of Mercy, Rules for works of mercy. 1 Mercy muſt p…c…ed from faith and love.or of Juſtice.
For works of Mercy much wiſdome is required, and that is ſhewed in theſe particulars: 1 See thy charity come from a good ground, namely, from a heart qualified with two graces: 1 Faith; For whatſoever is not of faith, is ſin, Rom. 14.23. Thou muſt firſt give thy ſelf to the Lord, and then to his Saints, 2 Cor. 8.5. Thy mercy muſt iſſue from the ſenſe of Gods mercy in Chriſt to thine own ſoul, apprehended by faith in Jeſus Chriſt. Joh. 15.1.Bring forth fruit in this vine. 2 It muſt proceed from love. Works of mercy muſt come from the fountain of a merciful heart, Rom. 12.8. Hee that diſtributeth, let him do it of ſimplicity, that is, out of meer compaſſion, not out of any by a…d ſiniſter reſpe…ts. For if I feed the poor with all my goods, and want love, it profiteth mee nothing, 1 Cor. 13. The reaſon is, becauſe the Lord looks more at the affecti…n, than the action. Whence many, not giving out of a tender heart, ſympathizing and fellow-feeling their brethrens miſery, loſe both th…ir gift and reward. What comfort or help is in that work of mercy, which i… wrung out by importunity, or by ſtrength of law, or for ſhame, leſt a man ſhould bee noted, or by terror of conſcience, when a man would heal the gripes of a galling and accuſing conſcience, by giving away at his death a little ill-gotten goods to the poor, which were none of his to give, but to the right owners; or when out of deſire of praiſe, or out of ſuperfluity, when a man knows not elſe what to do with his wealth, but ſome muſt have it? If out of any of theſe reſpects, all is loſt.
2 Concerning the right ſubject of works of m…rcy: Do good unto all, 2 The ſubject of mercy. … In general, all Eccleſ. 11.1.but eſpecially to the houſhold of faith, Gal. 6.10. To all, viz. the poor that are no… able to recompence us; not looking for recompence of man, but caſting our bread upon the waters, where th…re is no likelihood of ever reaping it again. And to all, even our enemies, who ſtand in need of us, and ſuch as uſually do, and will recompence our good with evil, Rom. 12.14. Matth. 5.44. And good reaſon; For firſt, all have our fleſh, Iſa. 58.7. For four Reaſons.from which wee muſt not hide our face. 2 All have Gods image on them, which wee muſt not refuſe. 3 Hereby wee ſhall b…e likeſt to God, who doth good to all, and to us being enemies; and attain the moſt difficult practice of the Law. 4 Wee ſhall hereby maſter the corruption of our own heart, which luſteth after revenge, and perhaps over-maſter the malice of our adverſaries, at leaſt make them in…xcuſable.
But eſp…cially to the houſhold of faith: Becauſe here is Gods image renewed, … In ſpecial the faithful.here is one of the blood and kindred of Chriſt: And if the good Samari…an was commended for mercy ſhewed to a ſtranger, how much more will the Lord J…ſus accept that which is done to one of thoſe little ones that beleeve in him, as done to himſelf?Mat. 25.45.
3 Concerning the matter of mercy: 3 The matter of mercy. 1 To the ſoul.The greateſt mercy wee can ſhew to any, is toward their ſouls which ſtands in inſtructing the ignorant, in counſelling the weak, in forgiving …ffenders, in admoniſhing or correcting him that erreth, comforting diſtreſſed conſciences, and confirming them that are in good wayes. This therefore muſt bee obſerved, in all corporal mercy to ioyn ſpiritual, labouring in all the other, the good of this; and eſpecially to pray for ſuch mercies from God for them, as neithe… wee nor other men can miniſt r unto th…m. And though that bee to bee done, yet the other alſo muſt not be left undone, but wee muſt bee merci…ul to the outward man of our brother, in giving, lending freely, cloathing, feeding, viſi…ing, 2 To the body.protecting from violence, &c. For this is mercy actual and accepta…l…, fitted to that rule, 1 Joh. 3.18. that wee ſhew mercy, not in word and tongue, but in deed, and in truth. This age aboundeth with mouth-mercy, which is good cheap, but a little handf…l were better than a great many ſuch mouthfuls.
4 The meaſure of it, to our ability.4 Co…cerning them meaſure of our mercy: Wee muſt bee merciful in the higheſt degr…e that wee can get our hearts unto, and bee as like our heavenly Father in mercifulneſs as may bee. This rule is, 1 Cor. 1….2. that every m…n lay up and diſtribute as God hath proſpered him, that is, according to his ab…lity: Gal ….7.For hee that ſows ſpar…ngly, ſhall reap ſparingly. Doubtleſs men would not b…e ſo niggardly and ſparing, if they knew, that what is mercifully beſtowed, Manus pauperis. Chr…ſti g z…phylacium.is ſafeſt kept; the boſomes, bellies, and mouthes of the poor, is the beſt treaſury to lay our goods in; and if wee expected to reap after the meaſure of m…rcy at the laſt day, wee would more liberally ſow, Hoſ. 10.12. Yea, a poor man may bee bountiful in a little, which was the commendation of the poor widow for her two mites, Luke 20.
5 The manner of ſhewing m…rcy 1 Seaſ nably.5 Concerning the manner of ſhewing mercy: Firſt, It muſt bee don… ſeaſonably and ſpeedily when need is, Prov. 3.28. Say not unto thy neighbour, Go and come to morrow, if now thou have it with thee; For thou mayeſt bee cut off from the opportunity, or that from thee; b…ſides tha…, thou omitteſt a preſent du…y which is enjoyned, Gal. 6.10. While wee have time, let us do good. And life is very uncertain. Secondly, It muſt bee done cheerfully: God loves a cheerful giver: 2 Cheerfully. 2 C…r. 9.7.N…t groaningly, or grudgingly, as if every penny were too much, as many pinch-pennies, who have pounds enough for any luſt or pleaſure, do part with pence to the poor Saints as from their joynts or eyes. 3 Wiſely.Thirdly, I… muſt bee done wiſely: True mercy is diſpenſed by judgement. It ſpares not where God will puniſh, as Sauls cruel mercy: A glaſs for Magiſtrates, whoſe remiſneſs can ſwallow any thing, and puniſh nothing, neither drunkenn…ſs, nor prophanation of the Sabbath, nor ſwearing, nor inordinate walking. It is no mercy (out of extream neceſſity) to releeve ſtrong Rogues, wandring beggats, and able idle perſons, but rath…r to puniſh and r…dreſs them; nor to keep hoſpitality for Drunkards, Gam…ſters, and riotous perſons, but a good man is merciful, and meaſures his affairs by judgement, 4 Conſtantly. Gal. 6 9.Pſalm 112.5. Fourthly, Mercy muſt bee ſhewed conſtantly, acc…rding to the precept. Bee not weary of well-doing▪ Let not the ſprings of our compaſſion bee ever dried up, as wee would never have God weary of doing us good. 5 Humbly.Fifthly, Wee muſt not reſt or rejoyce in any work of mercy as meritorious, but in the acceptance and covering of it, ſaying when wee have done all we can, Wee are unprofitable ſervants.
CHAP. XVIII. Rules for Works and Actions of Juſtice: In firſt, The Ground: Secondly, Moderation.
IN all our civil converſation with men, ſee that our external righteouſneſs Rules for works of Juſtice.flow from inward pi…y. G…d in the m…ral Law, hath coupled the two Tables as the upholders one of another, Thou ſhalt love the Lord thy God, and thy neighbour as thy ſelf. Wee muſt love man in God, and for God. Chriſt 1 Concerning the ground.aimed at bo…h in the work of our redemption, that wee ſhould ſerve him in righteouſneſs, as well as in holineſs, all our dayes, Luke 1.75. Civil righteouſneſs, abſtracted from piety, is Phariſaical and unfruitful. Give to Caeſar Caeſars, and to God Gods.
2 Concerning moderation of Juſtice: Never ſtand ſo upon ſtrict juſtice, 2 Concerning moderati n of Juſtice.but that ſometimes for peace wee muſt depart from our right, according to the prec…pt, Phil 4. verſe 5. Let your equal minde be known unto all men: And the practice of our Saviour Chriſt, Matth. 17.27. who needed not, nor could have been compelled … pay toll; but to cut off occaſion of offence and contention, hee departs from his right… and p…yes it: hee might have ſaid▪ it is my right… and I will ſtand upon it, and will not loſ… my freedome: And m…n think they ſay well, if they d…mand but their right: But our Lord, for our example, departed from his right, and accounted the pr…ſervation of peace better than his own right. This rule is grounded upon the common law of nature, which ſeeks the common good, and is as careful of the neighbours good as his own. Contrary whereunto is that devilliſh and carnal ſpeech, Every man for himſelf, and God for us all; and yet it is come into common practice, againſt all rules of nature and Scripture.