A Christian library, or, A pleasant and plentiful paradise of practical divinity in 37 treatises of sundry and select subjects ... / by R. Younge ...

CHAP. XXXI.

And certainly, he wants both grace and wit, who does not admire the bounty and goodness of God, in that he hath offered us the oppor∣tunity of such sowing, such reaping, yea, O Lord what are we? that thou shouldst give us plenty of all things here also, which unto them thou hast denied: so that every way it is (as our Saviour tells us) a more blessed thing to give then to receive, (which the Apostle would have us to remember, Acts 20.34, 35.) Yet no reason can we alleadge on our behalf, but O the depth! Rom. 11.33. Wherefore do thou O my God and Redeemer inlarge my heart with thankfulnesse, and im∣plant this grace in my heart. O make me liberall of my mony, as thou wast of thy blood. O let me have an heart to give Food and Rayment to those, for whom thou gavest thy self a ransome. Yea, of all other graces, inlarge my heart with Christian Charity and compassion: since it is a grace so universally profitable, and withall so amiable. As O the loveliness and profitableness of this Christian grace! For to do good to the poore, is more then a treble good: it pleasures them, most of all pleasures the doer: for it brings blessings upon their Soules, Bodies, Estates, Names, Posterity, it increaseth their reward, cause the poore to pray for, and praise God for us, and also others to glorifie him; it is an odo••r that smelleth sweete, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasant to God; who will fulfill all our necessities, through his riches with glory in Iesus Christ, as the Apostle delivers it, Phil. 4.16. to 20. VVhence that great praise of it, 1 Cor. 13.13. Now abides Faith, Hope, and Charity, but the chiefest of these is Charity. Whence Sozomen calls it, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sure ••oaken of a most vertu∣ous mind; and La••t••••tius a principall vertue; and Calvin the chiefest of∣fice of humanity amongst us; and Aretius, the most elegant ornament

of a Christian life, and the holy Ghost, a never failing grace, 1 Cor. 13.8. whence also it is so highly commended in the Saints in all ages. As how is Abraham commended for his hospitality, and almes deeds? And Lot & Cornelius? (of whose almes there was in the presence of God, a memorandum made, Acts 10.31.) and Doxcas? (whose good works and almes-deeds were to be seen, and shewn, when she her selfe was not; and the poore could not tell how with patience to take her death, she had done so much good for them all the time of her life, Acts 9.36.39.) And those Christians, Acts 11.29, 30. for the care they had of the poor, in the Apostles time, Acts 2.45. Thus the Macedonians are highly commended, and much honoured for their freenesse and forwardnesse, in relieving of the poor brethren at Ierusalem, as is seen upon record, Rom. 15.26. And again, 2 Cor. 8.1, ••, &c. And the like of the Philippians, and many more whom I must passe over in si∣lence.