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. 3. Almes giuen by will to be esteemed ac∣cording to the qualitie of the persons who giue them.

And this shall suffice to haue spoken of the man∣ner. The next point to be considered is the time when these almes-deeds are to bee performed; And that is in the whole course of our liues, when we haue abilitie, and finde fit oportunitie of do∣ing these workes of mercy. But of this I haue al∣ready spoken, and therfore I will here only shew, what I thinke concerning those almes-deeds and workes of mercy, which are not done in our life time, but by our last will and testament, appoin∣ted to be done after the death of the benefactor. The which actions of liberalitie are to be estee∣med and censured, according to the qualitie and condition of the persons by whom they are per∣formed;

for either out of loue and obedience to∣wards God, and christian charitie and compas∣sion towards men, they are done by such as haue according to their abilitie been exercised in these pious and charitable workes in their whole life, after their sound conversion vnto God; or out of selfe-loue, vaine-glory or seruile feare, they are performed by such as haue vtterly neglected these workes of mercy in their life time, & now would make some satisfaction for this neglect after their departure. For the former we are to iudge that it is a good conclusion of a like good premises, and a manifest signe of their loue towards God and their neighbours, when as they are not con∣tent to doe these workes of mercy in their life time, but also take care that they may be conti∣nued euen after their death; and not only relieue the poore members of Christ whilest they liued with them, but also bequeath vnto them legacies after their departure, and account them among their children and heyres, by leauing vnto them a portion with them, and a part in their inheri∣tance in lieu of thankfulnes towards their Saui∣our, who hath made them coheyres with him∣selfe in his heauenly kingdome. Neither is there iust exceptions to be taken, if these workes of mercy done by them after death, doe exceede in number and quantitie those which they haue done in their life time, seing herein they deale no otherwise with the poore, than with their owne children and dearest friends, vpon whom they bestow more by Will than euer before they had

from them. And it is iust, that men should keepe the largest portion of their goods while they liue for their owne maintenance, giuing to the poore what they may conueniently spare from this vse; and very charitable if they designe a great part of their estate to religious and pious vses, when as themselues shall haue no further vse of it.