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.
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Title
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.
Author
Downame, John, d. 1652.
Publication
London :: Printed by Edward Griffin for Ralph Mabbe, and are to be sold at his shop in Paules Church-yard at the signe of the Grey-hound,
1616.
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Subject terms
Charity -- Early works to 1800.
Link to this Item
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A20764.0001.001
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"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." In the digital collection Early English Books Online 2. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A20764.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 2, 2024.
Pages
Sect. 2. Moderation in giuing accor∣ding to our a∣bilitie.
In respect of the former, it is said that the godly and blessed man giueth to the poore, Dat non profun∣dit, he giueth but not wasteth, he so giueth as that he may still giue, and because it is a more blessed thing to giue, then to receiue and craue, he preserueth the stocke and store house of his bountie, that by continuall giuing hee may continue his greater blessednesse. So the Apostle appointing a col∣lection for the Saints, inioyneth euery one to lay vp in store as God hath prospered him. Euery one * 1.1
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therefore in his almesdeedes, is to respect his own abilitie, and to giue neither aboue nor vnder his meanes. The which a man obserueth, when as he so giueth, as that he may be able to hold on in the same proportion, and that rather with in∣crease then abatement. So the heathen man could say, Dabo egenti, sed vt ipse non egeam; suc∣curro* 1.2perituro, sed vt ipse non peream. I will so giue to the needy, as that I doe not neede my selfe; I will relieue those who are ready to perish, but yet so, as that I my selfe may not perish. How be it this rule houldeth onely in ordinary, for the ex∣treame necessitie of the poore (as wee shall see * 1.3 hereafter) and the generall necessitie of the Church, bring a non obstante, and dispence with it; as we may see in the Acts of the Apostles, where the Saints that had houses and lands, fould them, that they might thereby supply the great wants of the faithful liuing vnder grieuous persecution, the necessitie of the times vrging and requiring it. The which was not proper to those times, but should now also be put in practise, vpon the like occasion.