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. XXIII. (Book 23)

A second enemy to Charity is ex∣cesse in Diet: eyther by

1 GLuttony, or

2 Drunkennesse: Whereby

1 Selfe-loue being nourished, And

2 The flesh pampered, And

3 Sinne growing insatiable.

4 And so others drawne into the same excesse.

5 And our estate wasted, &c. Hereby

1 The loue of our brother groweth cold.

2 Their bellies are pinched.

3 And all being thought too little for our selues, euery thing is thought too much for others.

4 And that which wee impart to o∣thers, as the intent is to draw them into fellowship of sinne; so hereby not onely they become thieues to their families, but draw downe the iudgements of God vpon them, as famine, &c.

6 Yea, in that hereby our estates are wasted and consumed: are not great ones hereby driuen to the spoyle? and

who more likely to be spoyled, then those that haue beene instruments in sinne?

7 Carnall loue doth most vsually end in extreame hatred. 2 Sam. 14. And so the weakest goeth to the wall.

8 And how can we but be cruell vn∣to others, when we are not mercifull to our owne soules.

And therefore

1 In vaine doe Epicures boast of false liberality.

2 And extreame cruelty is the best fellowship of drunkards.

3 Little comfort in that speech, that a belly-god is no mans foe but his owne, seeing he is an enemy to God, to his neighbour, to the creatures, and his owne soule and body.

4 Lesse warrant therein, that they spend but of their owne, seeing their spending is abuse, and abuse makes it not their owne.

5 And for the cloake of hospitali∣tie, what shall it auaile, seeing the poore are more pinched: and fat hogs are

onely fed vp to the slaughter.

Learne we in the second place to re∣medie this euill: And that

1 By enforming the iudgement a∣right, concerning our liberty in these things.

Here first know we that what liberty and Lordship we had ouer these things, was vtterly lost in Adam, so that by na∣ture the best are slaues to the creatures: being so farre off from any right ouer them, or ability to vse them well, as that our best right in them is, that they are executioners of the diuine vengeance a∣gainst vs, and our best vse is by abusing them to prouoke them to a more spee∣dy and sharpe execution thereof.

2 Consider we hence that it is not be∣cause we haue most of them cast vpon vs, therefore we deserue them, and so haue power to vse them well, seeing v∣sually they are the wickeds portion in this life, to fatten them vp to the day of slaughter. Psal. 17. 14. Ierem. 12. 3.

3 Neyther if we are scanted of them, ought we to flatter our selues, that wee

are beloued of God, in that he diets vs of these things: seeing it is a punish∣ment of sinne to be stripped of these comforts. Deut. 28. Ioel. 1. Psal. 107.

And therefore,

That we may vse them aright, wee are to seek for the recouery of our right in Iesus Christ, who being giuen vs of the Father, doth giue vs with him all good things else: so that in Iesus Christ we are restored againe both to our Lord∣ship ouer the Creature, and holy liberty also to vse them aright for Gods glory, and our eternall saluation.

Now being restored to an holy Liberty in these things, we are to know in the second place, that this liberty is bounded within these limits.

1 We must in all these things ayme at Gods glory. 1 Cor. 10. 30. and there∣fore so to vse our liberty in Diet, as first, may especially further the sanctifying of the Sabbath: Secondly, and fit vs to all holy duties: Thirdly, may empty vs of

carnall loue to, and confidence in, the creature: fourthly, may keepe still our power and liberty ouer the same.

2 In the vse of these outward things, we must haue respect to the saluation of the soule.

And therefore,

We must first sanctifie them vnto vs, that the soule may haue aright in them, and grace to vse them holily. 1 Tim. 4. 4.

2 Wee must discerne that in the vse thereof, the soule be especially fur∣thered.

1 As discerning insufficiency in them to satisfie the soule, and therefore being weaned from the loue of them, euen by the vse thereof.

2 And yet discerning in the least of them, a pledge of Gods loue, & so being contented with our owne, and returning the strength vnto our God in more conscionable obedience.

3 Still being prouoked by experience of Gods prouidence in these things, to hunger after the best graces.

4 And communicating, euen of our ••ittle, to the good of others. Iob 31.

5 Abstayning from our liberty here∣in, that wee may be fitter for heauenly duties.

6 Seeking rather to satisfie necessity then the eye or palate.

7 And still when the body is satisfied, discerning the soules want. And

8 Redeeming wisely the one with the losse of the other.

3 We must in the vse of these things, respect a common good: And therefore,

1 To be ordered herein for the qua∣lity of our diet, by the authority of the Magistrate, As also,

2 As occasions shall serue for the measure thereof.

3 Vsing that which our owne coun∣try best affords, and most cheape. And lastly being lawes vnto our selues, where otherwise we may exceed, not conside∣ring what our purse can doe, or our cal∣lings will allow, but wherein we may

best be examples of frugality to others, and best able to maintaine the common charge; especially may be a meane to stand in the gappe to keepe out the common scourge.