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. That we must auoide negli∣gence in giuing

By all which it plainely appeareth, that it is not enough, that we be liberall and open han∣ded; but it is further required that wee make choise of such as God in his word hath commen∣ded vnto vs; relieuing those poore who haue his gracious pasport to shew, and esteeming them as vagrants that come without it. In which our choise two extreames are to be auoided. The one is negligence and carelesnesse, whereby men giue they care not to whom; shewing therin their pro∣digalitie and contempt of their money, rather then their charitie towards the poore, or their loue vnto God. But this wee must carefully a∣uoide, * 1.1 and no lesse studie the husbanding of the poores stocke (that those being passed by, who haue no need, there may be sufficient for thē who are truely poore, as the Apostle speaketh. 1. Tim. * 1.2 5. 16.) then the well managing of our own estate;

for (as one saith) pars sacrilegij est, res pauperum dare non pauperibus, it is a kinde of sacriledge, to giue the poores portion, to those who are not poore. And euen the heathen man could tell vs, that a wise and vertuous man will not giue, but * 1.3 when he is moued by a right and probable rea∣son, because a gift ill giuen is to bee reckoned a∣mong our least honest losses. And therefore he will haue his bosome easie, but not open; out of which many things goe out by direction of wisdome, but nothing falleth to the ground at vnawares. For what husbandman is so free in sowing his seede, who casteth it indifferently in∣to all grounds, fallow and manured; yea vpon the high way and hard rockes, where it is sure to bee lost and come to nought? and why then should we shew lesse care, about this seede which is more precious, and consequently the losse greater, & the inconsiderate loosing more faulty * 1.4 and blame worthy? For Turpissimum genus per∣dendi est inconsulta donatio, vn aduised giuing is the worst kinde of loosing, and much worse to him who bestoweth a gift ill, then it were to the other not to receiue it; for it is anothers fault if we doe not receiue, but it is ours if we make not good choise of those vnto whom we giue.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Psal. 41. 1.
• * 1.2

  1. Tim. 5. 16.
• * 1.3

  Habebit sinum facilem non per∣fora••um. &c. Se∣nec. de beata vita. cap 23.
• * 1.4

  Seneca.