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Obj. BUt there are many Richer by far then thee, who give as little as thou dost; there∣fore if they neglect to give, much more mayest thou, as thou supposest, and yet be excused.
To this I answer; If thou wilt do as others, or as the most and richest do, then wo unto thee; for
the most and greatest go the broad way to destru∣ction; or if thou wilt not live be Precepts, but by Examples, why dost thou then propound for thy pattern those who are carnal & covetous, and not rather the example of our Saviour Christ, and the holy men of God, whose bounty even out of their poverty, is for this very purpose recorded in the Scriptures.
I, but wil the Worldling say, I have a great Charge, and many Children, and therefore I must not give away my Goods to strangers; for the A∣postle teacheth us, that Parents must lay up for their Children, and that he who neglecteth this duty, hath denyed the Faith, and is worse then an Infidel, 1 Tim. 5.8. Unto whom I answer with Bazil; They who are miserable having Wife and Children, would not be liberal if they were without them. Again, Was not the Gospel written as wel to the married, as unmarried? To Parents, as wel as to those who have no Children? Thirdly, Didst thou desire Children of God? or did he give thee Children, that thou mightest make them a Plea and Privi∣ledge to neglect his Commandments, and thy du∣ty and love to Christ? Or maist thou not justly fear▪ if thou thus abusest the blessing of posterity, that God wil lessen their number, lighten thee of this Charge, and so take away thy excuse, by de∣priving thee of thy chiefest comfort? The which should be most just with God so to punish thee, see∣ing thou makest Idols of them, loving them better then God who gave them.
But thy Children are dear unto thee, and must be provided for; and reason good: Yet let thy God be dearer; and let them not make thee to ne∣glect
him who gave thee to thy self, and them un∣to thee; and hath provided all that thou enjoyest both for thee and them. Provided for them a com∣petency or sufficiency; but deny not unto God of thy abundance and superfluity.
But I may answer thee in thine own words; He that provideth not for his family, is worse then an Infi∣del. If thou art a Believer, Christ's Family is thy Family, Eph. 3.15. Heb. 2.11, 13, 14, 16, 17. They are thy Mother, Brethren and Sisters. If we be mem∣bers of one body, we should think the discom∣modities of our Brethren pertain to our selves: Men do well to provide for their Wife and Babes, but not then when the present necessities of o∣thers cannot be supplyed, without the same bee lessened. How did they in the second and fourth of the Acts, provide for their Families, Wives and Children, when they sold their Houses and Lands, and gave away all the money? Were they worse then Infidels, because they were more careful to supply the present wants of the Saints, then to provide for themselves, Wives and Children, 2 Cor. 8.14. Acts 4.34, 35, 36, 37. The Psalmist speaking of the wicked, says, They leave their substance to their Babes, Psal. 17.14. They put Wife and Children into their Wills, but leave out Christ and his Children, because they love Wife and Children more then Christ. But let such know, He that loveth Father or Mother more then me, is not worthy of me, Matth. 10.37. Luke 10:36, 37, 38. If any man come to me, and hate not his Father and Mother, and Wife, and Chil∣dren, yea and his own life also, he cannot be my Disciple, Luke 14.26. And the Apostles could say, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee, Mat. 19.27.29. 2 Cor. 4.18.
But lastly, let men leave to their Children ne∣ver so great Estates, they shall be never the better for them, if they have not the blessing of God withal: And is it likely that he wil bless unto them thine Estate, which is gotten and raked to∣gether by unjust keeping that which he hath en∣joined thee to bestow; and by the utter neglect and contempt of his Commandment? Or that God will regard and feed thy Children, who hast neglected his, and suffered them to pine and pe∣rish for want of Relief? No, the onely means to obtain God's blessing upon thy self and thy poste∣rity, is to obey his Commandments, to trust him upon his word, & to give liberally unto the poor; for the righteous man, who is merciful and lend∣eth, not onely himself, but his seed also is blessed, Psal. 37.26. He doth not say▪ That his children shal live in a rich and pompous Estate, for so they may do, and yet with the rich Glutton, be everlast∣ingly condemned; yea, they may be wasters and prodigals, who wil wickedly and riotously spend what thou hast as wickedly gotten and reserved; yea, it may be this Worldly Wealth which thou leavest them, may be the means of furthering and encreasing their everlasting ruine, and fear∣ful condemnation: As how commonly does the leaving great Estates to children (which the rich Father minds not) make them so much the great∣er sinners, and to spend their dayes in pride, plea∣sure, idleness, uncleanness, tyranny, oppression, and in all excess of Wickedness? but that they shal have Gods blessing upon that which they en∣joy, which whether it be less or more, wil make it sufficient, and so sanctifie it to their use, that
it shal be unto them a pledge of God's love, and a pawn or earnest-penny of their eternal salvation. Whereas if we will not so far forth trust God, as we would one another; if we will give nothing for God's and for Christ's sake, who have given us our selves, and all we have: just it is he should suffer us to beg ourselves, and have our children beg∣gars, permitting none to extend mercy towards them, as he hath peremptorily threatned, Psalm. 109.10, to 17.
As without God's special Providence, Blessing, and gracious Guidance, thine and their Estates is subject to such innumerable casualties, that ou•• of the highest flow of plenty; they may easily be brought to as great an ebb of want and penury. They may be oppressed by those who are more mighty; or be defrauded by those that are more crafty; the States displeasure, or their own faul∣tiness may turn them out of all: or in this cun∣ning Age, wherein there are none more skilful to build strongly, then others are to undermine, and supplant: there may some crack or flaw be found in their Title; and so for want of words or letters to carry it, thy Children may be depri∣ved of the benefit of thy care and providence. But if God take the care and charge over them; he is such a faithful and powerful Guardian and Protector, that none shall be able to wrest their portion and patrimony out of his hands.