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 5. We must giue almes cheere∣fully.

Againe whereas almesdeedes haue here the ti∣tle of giuing giuen vnto them, and a gift is a free and liberal action: we hence gather, that they are to be done willingly and cheerefully, and not grudgingly and repiningly. The which the Lord forbidderh and condemneth. Deut. 15. 10. Thou shalt surely giue vnto thy poore brother, and thine heart * 1.1

shall not be grieued when thou giuest vnto him; because that for this thing the Lord thy God shall blesse thee in * 1.2 all thy workes, and in all that thou puttest thine hand vnto. For as in all other duties, so in this, the Lord more requireth the inward seruice of the heart then the outward seruice of the hand, according to that, 2. Cor. 9. 7. Euery man as he purposeth in his * 1.3 heart, so let him giue, not grudgingly or of necessitie, for God loueth a cheerefull giuer. An example of which cheerefulnesse we haue in the faithfull of the Church of Corinth, who were so forward in ministring to the poore Saints, that the Apo∣stle professeth it needelesse to remember them of it. 2. Cor. 9. 1. Yea an almesdeede is a gift not one∣ly * 1.4 vnto men, but euen to God himselfe (as he e∣steemeth it) from whom we haue receiued what we giue and all good things besides; and hereof it is called a sacrifice; yea such a sacrifice where∣in he chiefely delighteth, Heb. 13. 16. Now all Christian sacrifices are freewill oblations, which * 1.5 are to be offered with ioy and cheerefulnesse; and if they be soured with the leauen of grudg∣ing and murmuring, they are made odious vnto God.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Deut. 15. 10.
• * 1.2

  1. Pet. 4 9.
• * 1.3

  2. Cor. 9. 7.
• * 1.4

  2. Cor. 9. 1.
• * 1.5

  Heb. 13. 16.