The plea of the poore. Or A treatise of benificence and almes-deeds teaching how these Christian duties are rightly to be performed, and perswading to the frequent doing of them. Necessary for these times, wherein the workes of mercy are so much neglected, or so vndiscreetly practized. Published by Iohn Downame Bachelour in Diuinitie.

Sect. 13. Next vnto our neighbours we must respect our Country∣men, and then strangers.

Next vnto our neere neighbours we are to re∣leiue the inhabitants of the same City, Sheere, * 1.1 and Countrie, before those who are of other nati∣ons; according to that Deut. 15. 7. If there be a∣mong you a poore man, of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land, which the Lord thy God giueth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poore brother. And vers. 11. Thou shalt open thine hand wide vnto thy brother, to thy poore and thy needie in thy land, &c. But yet wee are not so onely to respect them, as that we are to neglect poore Christians of other Countries, but they also are in the next place to be releiued, according to that Leuit. 25. 35. If thy brother bee * 1.2

waxen poore and fallen in decay with thee, then thou shalt releiue him, yea though he be a stranger or a so∣iourner, that he may liue with thee. And this is a part of that good hospitalitie which the Apostle ex∣horteth vnto, Rom: 12. 3. and commendeth vnto * 1.3 vs in the example of Abraham and Lot. Heb. 13 2. Be not forgetfull (saith he) to entertaine strangers, for thereby some haue entertained Angells vnawares. And this is a part of that fast which God requi∣reth, that we bring the poore which are exiled, or cast out, into our houses; especially when as they suffer banishment for the profession of the Gospell; for then in receiuing them wee receiue Christ, and performe one of those works of mer∣cie, which shall be so richly rewarded at the last day, Matth. 25. 35. I was a stranger and you tooke * 1.4 me in. In which regard they are to be relieued with the chiefe of our spirituall kindred, and to haue the next place to our owne children and fa∣milie, reserued for them. And this dutie is com∣mended in Gaius who charitably entertayned the brethren who were strangers, and the neglect hereof condemned in proud Diotrephes, who re∣ceiued not the brethren himselfe, and also forbad those that would. Ioh. Epist. 3. 5. 10. * 1.5

Notes

• * 1.1

  Deut. 15. 7.
• * 1.2

  Leuit. 25. 35.
• * 1.3

  Rom: 12. 13. Heb: 13. 2. Gen: 18 3. & 19. 2. Esa. 58. 7.
• * 1.4

  Matt: 25. 35.
• * 1.5

  Ioh. epist. 3. v. 5. 10.