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. XXV. (Book 25)

Of Hunting, that it is an Enimy to Libe∣rality: And how many waies. With the Remedy thereof.

And first, that Hunting is an enemy to Li∣berality appeares, Because,

1 IT entendeth too much the satis∣fying of our owne pleasures, and so hindereth from respecting the nece∣ssities of others, 1 Cor. 13. 2 Tim. 3. 2. Louers of pleasures, and without natu∣rall affection, goe together.

2 It with-draweth naturall affection from our owne flesh: and conuerteth it to dogs, so that it were better to be a huntsmans dog, then his poore neigh∣bour.

3 It breedeth vnnaturallnesse and cruelty, in that the sport thereof is in shedding of bloud, and bathing their hands therein, wherevpon it commeth to passe, that by degrees the blood of the poore is as little regarded, as the blood of a beast, yea it maketh more de∣light in the company of beasts, then to conuerse with men.

4 Hereby Gentlemen are prouoked to racke their Tenants and spoyle the poore, to turne them out, &c. euen to maintayne stables for their hunting hor∣ses, and kennels for their hounds.

5 Also much good ground is restray∣ned for the maintenance of such wilde game, which otherwise might be conuer∣ted to tillage for the relief of the poore.

6 Much good graine is consumed in maintenance of Deare, and Dogs, which the poore ought to be relieued with.

7 Yea, Gentlemen thinke themselues excused from reliefe of the poore, in that so many quarters of graine goes out to such pleasurable prouision.

8 Yea, much graine is spoyled on the ground by the vnreasonable pursuit of this vnbridled sport.

9 Herein also much precious time is so wasted and rioted, that the estate of the poore cannot be entended, and loo∣ked into: much lesse relieued.

10 For this abuse of creatures, the Lord many times punisheth a Land with fa∣mine, and so the poore are further pin∣ched for the offence of the great ones.

11 Yea, the poore hereby are so grie∣ued and enraged many times, that being thus despised aboue wilde beasts, they grow wilde and outragious, and so giue such bloudy hunters euen their fill of blood.

The Remedies hereof is,

1 That we be able to discerne of the true bounds of our Christian liberty: that so wee doe not turne the same; as an occasion of wantonnesse. Gal. 5. 11.

2 That wee consider of the pretious∣nesse of time, and so learne to redeeme it, in making sure our election. Ephe. 5. 16.

3 Consider wee wisely whether wee can make one corne, &c. or hayre, &c. and then lay we it to our hearts, what a grieuous sinne it is to riot and wast out so many creatures of God: yea wilfully to kill such seruiceable horses, &c.

4 Know wee that hunting is a recre∣ation to make our selues and other fitter for our better callings: not to rob our selues and others of health and meanes of life: not to cut off imployment in more serious affaires.

5 Resolue wee that our priuate plea∣sures must be submitted to the publike good, so that both expediency must be respected, aswell as what is lawfull: yea wee must in no case offend the weake brother, 1 Cor. 8. least otherwise while we satisfie our lusts without respect of offending others, wee loose our naturall affection, and so loose the affection of o∣thers, 2 Sam. 20.

6 Expect wee vndoubtedly that if wee neglect our owne flesh, and set our affections vpon brute beasts: wee shall make our flesh sauadge against vs, either the Lord for our vnnaturallnesse, shall make man pretious, as the gold of Ophir; so that for want of help, wee may be exposed to be a pray vnto the beasts; or the rage of our enimes shalbe so great that no gold shalbe ble to redeeme vs out of their hands. Esay 13. 12. 13. Pro. 11. 8.