The art of giuing Describing the true nature, and right vse of liberality: and prouing that these dayes of the gospell haue farre exceeded the former times of superstition in true charitie and magnificence. By Thomas Cooper.

CHAP. XII. (Book 12)

Now because things will better appeare by comparison of their contraries, therefore ha∣uing shewed, the good properties belong∣ing to Beneficence; let vs now in the se∣cond place consider of such Vices as are contrary to godly and Chri∣stian Beneficence.

These are of two sorts.

1 SVch as hinder the same altoge∣ther.* 1.1

2 Such as corrupt and peruert the power and sincerity thereof.

Those which hinder altogether are,* 1.2

1 Couetousnesse, whereby we thinke we neuer haue enough for our selues. Haba. 2. 2. And so in steed of giuing, rake what we can from others.

2 Churlishnesse, whereby we cannot

endure to doe good to others, as neg∣lecting society, &c.

3 Pride, as thinking our selues worthy of all things, and therefore wee will not part with any thing.

4 Enuy, as not enduring the good of another, and therefore wee will rather choake our selues then others shall haue good by vs, nay we will hurt our selues, that we may hurt others.

5 A base account of God and his wor∣ship, and his seruants. 2 Sam. 25. Who is Dauid?

6 Distrust in Gods prouidence, as if we should want our selues if we should distribute to others.

7 Confidence in riches which hath so possessed and forestalled our hearts, as that they haue no corner to admit com∣passion to others.

8 Selfe-loue, as if all were too little for vs, & we could not bestow too much cost on our selues, being onely borne for our selues.

9 Voluptuousnes which so imploy∣eth our state, and drowneth vs in pleasure, as that wee regard not the af∣flictions

of Ioseph.

10 Atheisme, thinking this life to be onely our happinesse, and therefore wee will take our fill, & wholy possesse it our selues, & none shall share with vs therein.

11 Vnnaturalnesse, as hauing broken the bands of nature, and so neglecting all duties thereto. 1 Rom. 27. 2 Tim. 3. 5. 6.

Those which seeke to corrupt our Beneficence are,* 1.3

1. On the left hand.

1 Hypocrisie, whereby we make shew of what we meane not to doe.

2 Vaine-glory, doing it to be magnifi∣ed of men.

3 Conceit of merit, as if God were be∣holding to vs, and we did a worke of su∣pererogation.

4 Iniustice, giuing of ill gotten goods.

5 Superstition, when we doe good to maintayne Idolatry, &c.

6 Pollicy, when we do good for a grea∣ter hurt, or to procure vnto our selues some greater benefit of men.

2 On the right hand,

7 Prodigality, giuing beyond our a∣bility.

8 Presumption of Gods prouidence hence.

9 Neglect of spirituall and ciuill meanes to vphold our estates.

10 Vnthankefulnesse vnto God for enabling vs hereto.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Of the Vi∣ces contra∣ry to Be∣neficence.
• * 1.2

  Sect. 1.
• * 1.3

  Sect. 2.