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. VI. (Book 6)

A second thing in beneficence is, that we must giue of our owne, that wherewith God hath blessed vs.

That is:

VVe must giue in righteousnesse,* 1.1 Psal. 106. Deut. 24. 13. Dan. 4. 24. Psal. 112. vers. 2. 2 Cor. 9. 9. Mat. 6. Pro. 5. 25. 1 Chron. 21. 24. Luke 19.

And that because.

1 It is approued hereby of God: as being the liuely fruit of faith. Heb. 11. 6. without which all liberality is theft, &c. Esay. 61. 8. Deut. 23. 18.

2 Hereby onely it will prosper, and benefit the giuer.

3 Yea, hee to whom it is giuen can haue no assurance of blessing and com∣fort, but that it may be a snare vnto him, vnlesse it be giuen in righteousnesse, be∣cause he is the receiuer to a Thiefe.

This condemneth.

1 Those that rob the poore, to grease the rich.

2 That hope to make amends for their ill gotten-goods, by a little charity at their deaths.

3 Colour their iniustice with cloaks of authority, necessity; &c.

4 As also such receiuers, as indeed are no better then brokers, and sharers with those theeues.

Now we giue in righteousnesse.* 1.2

1 When we giue of our owne, that is, what we haue gotten by holy and con∣scionable labour.

2 What comes vnto vs by inhe∣tance, gift, &c.

3 And that is then truly our owne which we doe sanctifie both by the ac∣ceptance of our persons in the sight of God, as also by daily prayer for the bles∣sing of God vpon it: vnlesse these latter be added nothing is truly our owne.

4 Then also a thing is our owne tru∣ly, when as we haue gotten it honestly, or it comes to vs by inheritance, &c. so wee imploy it faithfully in some ho∣nest calling.

And this,

1 Reproueth Gentlemen and others, that hauing goods & possessions, eyther gotten, or come vnto them by inheri∣tance, thinke their onely end is to spend it in housekeeping, and worse, neuer respe∣cting the poore, otherwise: neyther wal∣king in any calling, &c.

2 Generally the prophanes of all that make no conscience of sanctifying the blessings of God, nothing regard how their persons are accepted, onely stand vpon the credit of these things.

We give in righteousnesse when we giue where there is best desert,* 1.3 and more bonds to tye vs thereto: Heere then,

1 Wee must giue to the household of faith. Gal. 6. 10. and Church of God. And that not for any by-respects, but euen be∣cause they are beloued of God. Mat. 10. 41. 42. 43.

2 To our country & common Parent.

3 To our naturall parents and kinse∣folkes. 1 Tim. 5. 4.

4 Leauing these, we may make a diffe∣rence, giuing one more then the other, as

they are purest in religion, or likeliest in condition, or neerer in bloud. So Iacob loued Ioseph, Ioseph Beniamin, &c. Gen. 37 Gen. 43. 44, &c.

Ob. But our Sauiours lesson is, we must loue our neighbor as our selues: therfore ther must be no difference in our affecti∣ons. Againe this may seeme to be par∣tiality.

An. There may be degrees in loue, & yet all may be loued truly: our Sauiour bid∣ding that we loue our brother; it hinders the quality of our loue, not the quantity.

5 Next these are our friends.

6 Then our neighbours.

7 Strangers.

8 Our enemies Rom. 15. 24.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Sect. 1:
• * 1.2

  Sect. 2.
• * 1.3

  Sect. 3.