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The Gentleman's Charity, is no other then his Soul draw'n out to his finger's ends. Every piece of money he hath, beares as well the Impression and Image of this Vertue, as that of his Prince; and this is it which makes
him value the Coyne more, and the Silver l••sse. He is indeed that true Briaraeus, which has as many hands, as he meets with receivers: and for this cause he is look'd upon as a Monster in these later dayes, and very rarely to be met with.
The course he takes to ayre his Bags, and keep them from moulding, is to distribute freely to all that are in need. If he take some pains to become richer then others, it is onely to put a cheat upon that which men miscall Fortune, and to manifest he hath a power as great as her's; that is, to make himselfe poor again at his pleasure; and to show that Charity can entertain as rich servants as she. Though God hath indulged him the priviledge and inheritance of an El∣der brother in the world, yet he wisely Con∣siders that the youngest of all may in equity challenge a Child's portion. He esteemes it a very high Honour, that God has vouchsa∣fed to make him one of the Stewards in His great Family: and he is nothing ambitious of his Epithete to his Name, or reward of his pains who is recorded in the Gospell for his Injustice.
When by giving to the poor, he lends to
the Lord, the Honour of being the Lord's Creditor is all the Interest he expects; and doubtlesse this Happinesse is not every man's, to have God his Debtor. He accounts it much the safer way, to trust his Charity then his Luxury with the Bag; the former will bring in an even reckoning in Heaven; the latter perhaps a jolly one in the Taverne, but a very sad one in Hell. He delights not to see any thing starve but his Lusts, he lets these crave without an Answer, and die without Compassion. I would to God, there were many in the world such as he, we should then see fewer Beggars, and more Gentlemen. Men's backs and Bellies would not then so frequently rob and undoe their souls: Now adayes, the Gentleman's cloaths wind about his Body, and his Body about his Soul, with no greater kindnesse, then the twining Ivy about the Oake; the Apparell sucks away the nourishment which is due to the Body, and this that other which we owe to the Soule.
Where he is not able to make his Estate adaequate to his deserts; he takes a better Course, and Levels his desires to his fortune: though he seldome have all that he deserves,
yet he alwaies has whatsoever he Covets. He never wants much of that which is need∣full, because he enjoyes all that he is in love with. He makes his life and health not his Estate or ambition the standard, his Reason and not his Humour the judge of his Ne∣cessities.
Such is his Temperance and Sobriety in the use of those Creatures, of which by God's blessing, he is made owner; that he sacrifices very much to his God in the reliefe of the In∣digent, nothing to sin, in satisfying the im∣portunate cravings of his Carnall lusts. A∣bove all, he is ashamed, when Fortune hath used him very hardly and spoil'd him of many opportunities of exerciseing his Boun∣ty and his Charitie, to permit his lusts to use him yet worse, and leave him nothing at all. He scornes first to swaggar and swill away his estate, and then Curse his fortune for useing him so roughly; first to make himselfe a Beggar, and then cry out upon his poor Condition; or to Complain he is as poor as Iob, when every day he fares as De∣liciously as Dives. When he has the least, he showes that he is able to live with lesse; and when he is brought into a low Condi∣tion,
he tries how he could bear up in a low∣er; and proves by his cheerfulnesse in that some would call want and Misery, that Happinesse does not Consist in superfluities. He is Content with any thing, and by this means enjoyes all things; and is so Chari∣table of a little, that it is evident in that little he wants not much.
He chuses rather to be well in the Mor∣ning, then drunk over night; and at any time had rather be free from the Sin, then please his Companions with the Frollick. His Mo∣ney is too little to love, but too much to throw away: and he had much rather give it then lose it; preferring his charity before his Game; and the poor man's life, before his own Wantonnesse and Riot: Though he had never so much, he could never have more then enough, because he sees so many that want what he has, and pitties all he sees in want. He looks upon his estate as that which was given him for use and not for wast; and upon so much of it as he loses at play, as that whereby he has rob'd himselfe of a ver∣tue, and another of a Comfortable livelihood, and he cannot sport himselfe with such losses.