CHAP. XXV.
Sixthly, the mercifull man shall be no less blessed in his name and cre∣dit, he shall be had in honour and reputation: according to that Prov. 14. He that oppresseth the poore, reproacheth him that made him; but he honour∣eth him that hath mercy upon the poore, ver. 31. And to this accords that of the Psalmist, he hath dispersed, he hath given to the poore, his righteous∣ness endureth for ever his horn shall be exalted with honour, Psalm 112. 9. And so Proverbs 10. His memoriall shall be blessed, Verse 7.
And of this I might give you sundry examples, and preg••••••t. As Rachab, Gaius, Job, The Centurian, Boas, Cornelius, and Mery: as how did our Saviour value and honour Maries bounty? (though so slighted by him that was a thief, and carried the bag, into which he would have had it come) when he commanded it should be spoken of to her honour, wherefo∣ever the Gospell should be preached throughout all the world, Matth. 26. 13, But experience sufficiently proves, that a liberal and bountiful man, shall have all love and respect with men, all good repute and report, both li∣ving and dead: Nor is this so light a blessing as many deeme it, for what sayes the wise man? The memoriall of the just shall be blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot, Prov. 10. 7. Tea a good name, is better then a sweet oyntment: and to be chosen before great riches, Prov. 22. 1. yea, then life it self.
Briefly, for conclusion of this point, let this be the use: when the poore at your gates ask their daily bread, they highly honour you, yea after a sort they make you Gods: therefore by your bounty & liberality, shew your selves at least to be Christians, to be men. Secondly, such as have by this divine vertue obtained a good report: let it provoke them as much to excell others in doing good, as they do excell them in hearing thereof. For I hold this a sure rule, He is of a bad nature to whom good report and commendations are no spur to vertue, but he is of a worse disposition, to whom evil report and blame, is no bridle and re∣tentive from vice, which made Tully so wonder at the strange perverse∣ness of Antony: whom neither praise could allure to do well, nor yet fear of infamy and reproach deter from committing evil. But,