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. 1. That our almesdeedes shall be rewar∣ded with per∣manent bles∣sings.

ANd thus much haue we spoken of the mani∣fold blessings & benefits which are promi∣sed to those who exercise themselues in the works of mercy; now we are to speak of the durable con∣tinuance of them, expressed in those words; en∣dureth for euer. The first word signifying, that the fruits of our almesdeedes are lasting, for they flie not from vs, but endure; the other, that they are euerlasting, for they stay with vs, not onely a long time, but they endure for euer. Concerning the former, the benefit of our almesdeedes is very great, for whereas our riches are in their own na∣ture most flitting, mutable and inconstant, they being euery day redie to leaue vs, or we them; by giuing of almes they are preserued for our vse: whereas like an Eagle they are still ready to flie a∣way from vs, as the wise man speaketh, Prou. 23. * 1.1 5. by this meanes their wings are clipped, so as they cannot take their flight nor depart from vs. In which respect that conceipt should not hinder vs from giuing almes which hindereth many,

namely, that thejr riches so bestowed are meere∣ly lost; yea, rather nothing more should per∣swade vs to be bountifull in giuing, seeing it is the only meanes to preserue them from losing; for if wee keepe them, they will flie away from vs, but if wee giue them, they will continue with vs. If wee imprison them within stone-wals neuer so surely vnder locke and key, bolts and iron barres, they will make an escape; but if we commit them to the custody of the poore, they will become la∣sting treasures and durable riches which will long continue with vs. So that if we wold make choice of a treasurie for our wealth which cannot be vio∣lated, of a locke that cannot be picked, and of an iron barred chest that cannot bee broken open; let the poore keepe it in their bellies, which of all other places is most safe and secure. For this is Christs treasurie, which none can burst into, and what is put into it, is in his custody, and therfore safe enough, because he is the strong man whom none can turne out of possession, nor plucke any thing from him with violence, which he holdeth * 1.2 in his hand. In which regard it may bee truely sayd, that as the mercifull man is of all others most rich, so also most prouident in keeping his goods the safest & securest, through his prouidence from feare of losing them; for what he giueth, he pla∣ceth in a sure treasury, out of which there is no∣thing * 1.3 lost. Hee that keepeth his money reserueth it to many casualties, as fire, theeues, oppression of the mighty, inuasion, of enemies, by which how many haue been suddenly spoiled of all they

haue: & if we follow the same practise, who can priuiledge vs from the same dangers? with which if we be ouertaken, how will we befoole our selues, that we did not giue some part to the poore, which might haue beene preserued out of the gunshot of all perill? because what is thus bestowed is in Gods keeping and reserued in the * 1.4 treasurie of heauen for our vse. Now as one saith, though the enemie hath invaded the house, he could neuer haue invaded heauen; though hee hath killed thy seruants that watched thy wealth, he could not haue killed God the chiefe keeper and preseruer. And this argument the Wiseman vseth to perswade vs vnto these workes of mercy with a bountifull hand, Eccl. 11. 1. 2. Cast thy bread * 1.5 vpon the face of the waters; for thou shalt finde it af∣ter many dayes. Giue a portion to seuen and also vnto eight; for thou knowest not what euill shall befall vpon the earth. So our Sauiour Math. 6. 19. Lay not vp for your selues treasures vpon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where theeues breake through and steale. 20. But lay vp for your selues treasures in heauen, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where theeues doe not breake through and steale. and Luk. 12. 33. Sell that yee haue and giue almes, * 1.6 prouide your selues bagges which waxe not old, & trea∣sures in the heauens that faileth not, where no theefe approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. What foolish couetousnes (saith one) is this which maketh men hide their money here among theeues? for if thou louest money truly, lay them vp where they may be safe, and open to no violence. For that which thou now doest,

sheweth not thy loue to thy wealth, but the mischiefes of thy seruitude, and that thou but hereby seekest thine owne continuall vexation and griefe. If any man would shew thee a safe place for thy treasures, though it were in the wildernes, thou wouldest harken vnto him; but now not man but God sheweth thee a place of safety, not in the wildernes but in heauen, and thou regardest it not▪ but though thou shouldest hide them ten thousand times in the earth, thou couldest neuer be freed from care. For howsoeuer perhaps thou shoul∣dest * 1.7 not loose them, yet thou shouldest neuer be without the feare of loosing them. But if thou giuest thy ri∣ches to the poore, thou shalt be free from these feares and cares. And which is more, thou shalt not onely safely hide thy gold, but thou shalt hereby sow it, and receiue plentifull increase which (herein better than other seede) shall endure for euer.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Prou. 23, 5.
• * 1.2

  Luk. Ioh. 10. 28.
• * 1.3

  Pecu••ia quae ser∣••atur casi••us, seruit: quae in misericordia re∣s••ruatur 〈…〉〈…〉 f••turum 〈…〉〈…〉∣rit. A〈…〉〈…〉 Temp〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.4

  Invasit hostis d••m••m; nunquid invaderet coelū? occidit seru••m custo••ē, nunquid Dominum serua∣tor••m? August.
• * 1.5

  Eccles. 11. 1. 2.
• * 1.6

  Luk. 12. 33.
• * 1.7

  Nam etiamsi nunquam ••as f••••••••sse perdas; nunquam tamen carebis timore perdendi. Chrys. in Math. 6. Homil. 21.