The marrovv of the oracles of God. Or, diuers treatises containing directions about sixe of the waightiest things can concerne a Christian in this life. by N. Bifield, late preacher of Gods Word at Isleworth in Middlesex.

CHAP. XXIII. (Book 23)

Rules about worke of Mercy.

HItherto of the Rules that concerne Righteousnesse: Mercy followeth. Now in shew∣ing mercy, diuers things are charged vpon v•…•….

First, willingnesse. We must * 1.1 giue cheerefully: For the Lord lo∣ueth a cheerefull giuer. We must loue mercy, as well as shew mer∣cy. Our hearts should be euer answerable to our power. We must bee readie and prepared to shew mercy, abhorring delayes and putting off of time, or see∣king excuses: Our eares should be open to the cryes of the poore. Yea (rather then be behind hand) we should sel, that we might giue almes, Mich. 6. 8. 1 Tim. 6. 18. 2 Cor. 9. 4, 5, 6, 7. Prou. 22. 22, 23. Luke 12. 33. Prou. 3. 27, 28.

Secondly, Labour and Dili∣gence. * 1.2

We should take paines, and worke hard according to all the occasions of mercy. This is the Apostles phrase: God will not for∣get your worke, and labour of loue, Heb. 6. 10. We must be forward to doe those workes of mercy, that require our paines and tra∣uell about them, as well as those we may doe and sit still, 2 Cor. 8. 16, 22.

Thirdly, Liberalitie: We must * 1.3 open our hands wide, Deut. 15. 8. we must be rich in good workes, 1 Tim. 6. 18. We must not giue sparingly, 2 Cor. 9. 6. we must giue to our power, and sometimes beyond our power, 2 Cor. 8. 2. we should desire to answer the expectation had of our bounty, especially the expectation of our teachers that know vs and our estates, 2 Cor. 8. 24. we should striue to abound in this grace also, as well as in o∣ther graces of the Spirit, 2 Cor. 8. 6. we should giue to seuen, and also to eight, Eccl. 11. 2. we must

giue good measure, yea and pressed downe, Luke 6. 30.

Fourthly, Humility. There is * 1.4 great vse of humility, in shew∣ing mercy. Now we should shew our humility diuers waies about mercy: As

First, in helping others, with∣out exalting our selues, and do∣mineering ouer them. The rich must not thinke to rule the poore, and to command them, as if they were their vassals: we should so shew mercy, as not to stand vp∣on termes of their beholding∣nesse, to whom we shew mercy, Prou. 22. 7.

Secondly, in not despising the poore; wee must not thinke of them meanely, and contemptu∣ously, because they stand in need of our helpe, whether it bee in body or minde, Prouerbs. 14. 21.

Thirdly, in accepting exhorta∣tion, shewing our selues willing to bee called vpon, and stirred

vp to mercie, 2 Corinthians 8. 17.

4. By our penitencie, when we goe to God, after we haue done our best, and confesse the cor∣ruption that cleaues vnto vs, euen when we haue shewed our best desires to communicate to others; and withall striuing to plow vp the fallow ground of our hard hearts, that wee may bee more fit to expresse the bowels of mercie, Hos. 10. 12.

Fiftly, the Macedonians shew∣ed their humilitie in this, that they prayed the Apostle to accept their gift, giuing themselues also to bee disposed of to the Lord, and vnto them by the will of God, 2. Cor. 8. 5.

Thus of the Humilitie to bee shewed in doing works of mer∣cie.

A fifth thing required in shewing mercie, is Faith; and * 1.5 faith is needfull in two respects.

First, to beleeue Gods accep∣tation

of the mercy shewed. For a godly Christian, that is not vaine-glorious, hath so meane an opinion of his best workes, that hee finds neede to flie to Gods promises, and da•…•…es not trust vp∣on his owne goodnesse. Now God hath promised to accept of that we doe, if there be a willing minde: The will is accepted for the deed, 2 Cor. 8. 12.

Secondly, to beleeue the suc∣cesse and reward from God, and that wee shall not lose by what is so expended. Though the per∣sons to whom we shew mercie, should be so vngratefull, that it were as bread cast on the waters: yet we ought to beleeue, that our seed cast on the waters, shall bring vs a plentifull haruest, Eccles. 11. 1. And it is certaine, whatsoeuer the persons be, yet what is giuen, is sowed. And if the Husbandman doe not thinke his corne spoiled that hee casts vpon his land, no more ought a

Christian to think that to be lost that is giuen to the poor. Nature may disappoint the hope of the Husbandman, but in workes of mercy, there is no venture, but a sure increase from the Lord, 2. Cor. 9. 9, 10. and therefore our faith should make vs get bags to put vp the certaine treasure wee shall gaine by mercy from the Lord, Luk. 12. 33.

A sixt thing required in shew∣ing * 1.6 mercie, is discretion; and dis∣cretion should shew it selfe.

First, by distributing our almes in the fittest course wee can, ha∣uing a principall respect to godly poore. He that sheweth mercy, ought to haue a good eye, Prouerbs, 22. 9.

Secondly, by obseruing our owne abilitie, so to ease others, that wee burden not our selues, 1. Cor. 9. 14, 15.

Thirdly, by taking heede, that wee spend not vpon the rich by needlesse entertainments, what

oughtto be bestowed vpon the poore, Prou. 2•…•…. 16. Luk. •…•…4. 13.

Fourthly, by auoiding scandall, or giuing offence, that no•…•… blame vs in our abundance, but prouiding things honest in the sight of God and men, 2. Cor. 8. 20, 21. yet so as we endeuour in an holy life and discreet manner to prouoke others by o•…•…zeale, 2 Cor. 9. 2.

A seuenth thing required in * 1.7 shewing mercy, is Sympathie, Pitty, a Fellow-feeling of the distresses of others, being like af∣fectioned, and laying their mise∣ries to heart▪ Heb. 13. 3. Col. 3. 1•…•…. Romans 12. 16. Iob. 30. 25. There should bee bowels in our mercie.

The last thing is Sinceritie. * 1.8 Now this sinceritie should bee shewed diuers wayes, As,

1. In the matter of our almes. It must be of goods well gottē. For God hateth robbery, though it were for burnt offrings, Esa. 61. 8.

2. In the manner wee must

shew mercie, without wicked thoughts, or griefe of heart, Deut. 15. 7, 8. to 12. and without hiding our selues from the poore, E∣say 58. 7. and without excuse to shift off the doing of it, Prou. 24. 11, 12.

3. In the ends. That we doe not our workes to be seene of men, or to merit of God: but with an vn∣fained desire to glorifie God, and make our profession to be well spoken of, and shew the true loue and pitty wee beare to the creature in distresse, Matth. 6. 2 Cor. 9. 19.

4. In continuing our mercy, not forgetting to distribute, but still remembring the poore, Heb. 13. 16. Galath. 2. soundly performing the•…•… mercie with constancie, which we haue purposed, wil'd, or promised. It were an excellēt order, if Christians would fol∣low the Apostles rule, Euery weeke, as God hath prospered them, to lay aside for the poore, 1. Cor.

16. 2. 2 Cor. 8. 11.

5. In the kinds of mercy, that we be ready to shew spirituall mercy, as well as corporall; and in corpo∣rall mercy to doe good all the waies wee can, as well as one way: As by lending, protecting, re∣leasing, visiting, and giuing; & thus to the poore, to such as are fallen into decay, and to the strangers also as many Scriptures require.

Notes

• * 1.1

  8. Things required in shewing mercy. 1. Willing∣nesse.
• * 1.2

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. Labour.
• * 1.3

  3. Liberal•…•… ty.
• * 1.4

  4. Humili∣ty. Humility shewed fiue waies in doing workes of mercy.
• * 1.5

  5. Faith in two re∣spects.
• * 1.6

  6. Discre∣tion in 4. things.
• * 1.7

  7. Sympa thy.
• * 1.8

  8. Sinceri∣tie in fiue things.