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 we must giue that onely which is our owne.

ANd so I come from the causes moouing vs to giue our almes, to speake of the worke it selfe, where wee will consider the subiect matter about which it is exercised, the persons to whom it belongeth, the right manner how they are to bee bestowed, the time when wee are bound to doe them, the properties of Christian almes, wherein they differ from the almes of hypocrites and wordlings, and lastly, the diuers sorts and kindes of them. In respect of the first, wee must giue onely that which is our owne, by iust and lawfull means deriued vnto vs: as by inheritance, free gift or honest getting, by our owne painefull labours and endeauours. For almes-deedes are liberall gifts, whereby wee alienate the proper∣tie of the thing giuen from our selues, and not from other men, to the releefe of those who stand in neede. And to be liberall of that which is not our owne, but of right belongeth vnto others, is to take goods from the right owners, to whom God hath giuen them, and to bestow them on o∣thers at our owne pleasure, w^ch is (as we say in the prouerb) to cut a large shiue out of another mans loafe, to rob Peter, that we may pay Paul, and in

truth no better then plaine theft in the sight of God. Now in our Christian sacrifice of almes-deedes, wee must take heede wee offer not vnto God strange fire nor stolne oblations; for if the hire of an harlot, or price of a dogge, might not * 1.1 be consecrated vnto God, because they were an abomination vnto him, then neither may we offer that which we haue gotten by stealth and robbe∣rie, fraud and deceipt, oppression and cruelty, which are no lesse abominable and odious. Esay * 1.2 61. 8. And therefore iustice and mercy must bee matched together, according to that Micha. 6. * 1.3 8. deale iustly and loue mercie, and as mercie must lay out that which is giuen to the poore, so iustice must first bring it in. The which is signified by those phrases which the Scriptures vse in enioy∣ning vnto vs this dutie of giuing almes; as, Cast thy bread vpon the face of the waters. And honour the * 1.4 Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruit of all thine encrease. And deale thy bread to the hungrie. implying that it must be our owne and not other mens. And the Apostle requireth euerie one to lay by him in store for this vse, as God hath prospered * 1.5 him; so that nothing must be giuen to God for the benefit of the poore, but that which he hath first giuen vnto vs, in blessing our honest endeauours with fruitfull successe. So as wee may say with Dauid, 1. Chron. 29. 14. All things come of thee, and of thine owne wee haue giuen thee.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Deut. 23. 18.
• * 1.2

  Esa. 61. 8.
• * 1.3

  Micha. 6. 8.
• * 1.4

  Eccles. 11. 1. Prou. 3. 9. Esay 58. 7.
• * 1.5

  1. Cor. 16. 2.