lap saith he to wit after that he had obteined of the richer sort who had dealt cruellie before that they promised thenceforth to deale mercifully toward their poore brethren and I said So let God shake out euery man that will not perfourme this promise from his house and from his labour that is that being thrust out of house and home he may also be vnprosperous in all his affaires euen thus saith Nehemiah let him be shaken out and emptied And all the Congregation said Amen and praised the Lord. Yea and the richer sort fearing the imprecation which was thus denounced in the name of God consented vnto of all they performe that which they had promised A blessed and sweete fruite of a heauie and bitter curse though vttered without all bitternesse in the most pure and temperate zeale of Gods holy Spirit as was obserued before And now further for our present purpose to shew that the iudgement of God watcheth ouer vnmercifull men for euill and not for good we haue ready at hand the example of Nabal that churle whom God cut off as an vnprofitable branch shortly after he had dealt so like himselfe that is like a profane and sottish miser against Dauid the good seruant of the Lord in that he not onelie denied to send him anie reliefe but also verie contemptuously reproched and reuiled him For about tenne daies after he had dealt thus the Lord smote Nabal that he dyed 1. Sam. 25.9 c. 38. wherefore when Dauid heard that Nabal was dead he sayd as one giuing glorie to God in his righteous iudgment Blessed be the Lord who hath iudged the cause of my rebuke of the hand of Nabal and hath kept his seruant from euil for the Lord hath recompenced the wickednes of Nabal vpon his owne head And in like manner Ier. 22.13 c. God doth by his Prophet threaten Shallum a wicked sonne of the good king Iosiah altogether degenerating from his fathers example and giuing himselfe to pleasure without all regard of relieuing the oppressed yea executing crueltie after the manner of wicked men Wo saith the Lord to him that buildeth his house by vnrighteousnes and his chambers without equitie hee vseth his neighbour without wages and giueth not him for his worke Hee saith I will build me a wide house with large chambers so he will make himselfe large windowes and sieling with Cedar and paint them with vermelion Shalt thou reigne saith the Lord to Shallum because thou closest thy selfe in Cedar c. No but as it followeth Thine eyes are onelie for thy couetousnesse and for to sheade innocent bloud and for oppression and for destruction euen to doo this Therefore thus saith the Lord against Iehoiakim the sonne of Iosiah king of Iudah who before was called by an other name Shallum They shall not lament him saying Alas my brother or Alas my sister neither shall they mourne for him saying Alas Lord or Alas for his glorie He shall be buried as an Asse is buried euen drawne and cast forth without the gates Ierusalem This iudgement fell vpon him in Babel The like dishonour euen for the like cause befell the King of Babel himselfe namelie Belshazzar Dan. ch 5. according to the prophesie of Isaiah against that whole cruell and bloudie monarchie ch 14. verses 3.4.5.6 In that day saith the Prophete to the faithfull among the Iewes when the Lord shall giue thee rest from thy sorrowe and from thy feare and from the sore bondage wherein thou diddest serue Then shalt thou take vp this Prouerbe against the king of Babel and say How hath the oppressour ceased and the gold-thirsty Babel rested The Lord hath broken the rod of the wicked c. And then verse 18. c. All the kings of the nations they all sleepe in glorie euery one in his owne house But thou art cast out of thy graue like an abominable branch like the rayment of those that are slaine and thrust through with a sword which go downe to the stones of the pit as a carkâ—sse troden vnder feete Thou shalt not be ioyned with them in the graue because thou hast destroyed thine owne land and slaine thy people the seede of the wicked shall not be renowmed for euer Prepare a slaughter for his children for the iniquitie of their fathers let them not rise nor possesse the land nor fill the face of the world with enemies c. And chap. 31.1 Wo to thee that spoyledst and wast not spoyled and doest wickeâ—ly but they did not wickedly against thee When thou shalt cease to spoyle thou shalt be spoyled when thou shâ—lt make an end to do wickedly they shall do wickedly against thee Whereunto also let vs ad prophesie of Habbakuk for another witnesse to the same purpose chap. 2. vers 6. c. Shall not all these saith the holy Prophet take vp a parable against him and a taunting prouerbe against him and say Ho he that increaseth that which is not his how long and he that ladeth himselfe with thicke clay or dirt for no better is ill gotten treasure then a troublesome burthen or as a myrie poole to fasten and ouerwhelme the couetous therein Shall they not rise vp sodainly that shall bite thee and awake that shall vexe thee and thou shalt be their pray or trampled on by them continually as it were clay in the streetes Because thou hast spoyled many nations all the remnant of the people shall spoyle thee because of mens bloud and for the wrong done in the land in the citie and vnto all that dwell therein Ho he that coueteth an euill couetousnesse to his house that he may set his nest on high to escape from the power of euill Thou hast consulted shame to thine owne house by destroying many people and thou hast sinned against thine own soule For the stone shall cry out of the wall and the beame or knurle of the timber shall answer it or giue witnesse to it Wo vnto him that buildeth a towne with bloud and erecteth a citie by iniquitie Behold is it not of the Lord of Hostes that the people that is such a wicked people shall labour for fire and that the nations should wearie themselues for meere vanitie Nowe according to the threatening contained in these Prophesies against the Kinges of Babel and their Monarchie the Lord hath made them that lifted themselues vp in the greatest height of pride and of couetous and mercilesse dealing the most euident spectacles to all the world of his glorious iudgement executed vpon them for the same For all this was confirmed in that ouerthrowe which God gaue them once for euer by the Medes and Persians whom hee raised vp and sent in battell against them So then let this kinde of mercilesse and cruell people be neuer so stronglie rooted let them bee growne vp neuer so high let them be maintained and vpheld neuer so stronglie euen with the power of a mightie monarchie yet shall neither they nor their
A TREATISE OF CHRISTIAN BENEFICENCE AND OF THAT LIKE CHRISTIAN THANKEfulnesse which is due to the same The which as they are duties of singugular account with God so are they of as necessarie vse to all Christians for the keeping of faith and a good conscience as are fire and water for common vse and comfort to the naturall life of all men Honour the Lord with thy riches and with the first fruits or chiefe of all thine increase Pro. 3.9 Go ye and learne what this is I will haue mercie and not sacrifice Matth. 9.13 A man that hath friends ought to shew himselfe friendly for a friend is nearer than a brother Pro 18.24 He that rewardeth euill for good euill shall not depart from his house Pro. 17.13 Printed at London by Iohn Harison for Thomas Man 1600. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE SIR IOHN POPHAM Knight Lord chiefe Iustice of England one of her Maiesties most honourable priuie Counsell AMong the rest of the most holy and wise Prouerbes of king Salomon who both for godly policie and also for purity of Religion may worthily be esteemed the wisest of all kings all the time of his vprightnesse and sinceritie these sentences Right Honorable are expresly commeÌ„ded by the most holy Spirit of wisedome it selfe to belong to the wise yea euen to those who ought to be most wise aboue all other to wit the Princes Iudges and Rulers of the people of God It is not good saith the wise king to regard the face that is the person of any man in iudgement The reasons follow Him that saith to the wicked Thou art righteous shall the people curse yea multitudes shall abhorre him But to them that rebuke him shall be pleasure and vpon them shall come the blessing of euery goodman They that is euery good man shall kisse the lippes of him that answereth vpright words Prou. ch 24 ver 23.24.25.26 The which SenteÌ„ces do briefly very pithily giue to vnderstand these two things first how great vprightnes ought to be in all Princes Iudges and Rulers to the end they may iudge righteous iudgement secondly how great the blessing is which by the sentence of God himself doth belong to all such namely that they shall be a ioy to the people of God that the people again shal reuerence theÌ„ that God wil heare their prayers for theÌ„ They shew also herewithal that on the contrarie such as take an vniust course haue reproch and dishonour yea vengeance due vnto them So gratiously is the God of righteousnesse inclined and bent toward his righteous seruants and so wrathfully is he setled in his iudgement and decree against the rest But leauing to treate of the dutie of the Magistrate and Gouernour which is not the present purpose may it please your Honour to giue one poore Minister of the word of God in the name of manie who by the grace of God haue care of our own bounden dutie your fauorable good leaue in regarde of the premises to testifie that great ioy which we haue by you and that reuerend estimation which we haue of you with harty desire of all increase of Gods best graces and blessings vpon you the rest of our good Gouernours vnder her Highnesse because of that care of vprightnesse of iudgement wherewith God of his mercie hath honoured and graced you in the sight of vs all to the sensible and publike benefite of all seeing as it is euident from the holy sentences before rehearsed it is the will and pleasure of God that we of dutie should so do And the rather also because we perceiue that mercie is linked with iustice in your gratious and currant proceedings the which we know from the booke of God to be effectuall to helpe singularly to the establishing of the honour peace of the throne of our most gracious Queene Elizabeth whose royall souereigntie through her whole dominions we humbly beseech God of his infinite mercy euen for Iesus Christs sake long and happily to continue and aduance among vs. Amen Such right Honorable our very good Lord is the generall purpose of the present writing but yet so as the more particular intent is to testifie the late increase of our ioy reuerend estimation humble prayer with hartie thanksgiuing to God for you all other our good godly Gouernors vnder her Maiestie as also the increrase of our huÌ„ble harty thankfulnes to you and theÌ„ and to her gratious Maiestie especially euen for the late point of so great mercifull iustice which you haue established and put in execution among vs to the singular glorie of God honor of your gouernment and comfort of all well-disposed subiects in that you haue suppressed the vagabond life of a most wicked and vnprofitable yea a most dangerous and harmeful sort of people the which being of too ancient breede among vs were of late yeeres so mightily increased that by their licencious and vniust yea verie sturdy and shamelesse vagring and begging all mercie of almes-giuing was so violently catched vp and deuoured at euery rich mans gate and also at euery meane mans doore that mercie was degenerated to the cruell and wastfull feeding and fostering of such an idle and wicked rout as by the rule of the holy Apostle were altogether vnworthy of any almes in so much as they were such as vtterly refused to work And be sides in vaine confidence and proud presumption of an imagined prescription of time at the first mention of their restraint they feared not at our dores to speake contemptuously and skornfully of so holy a purpose as if it had bene an impossible thing that rogues shold haue abiding places and that beggers should liue of their labours But thankes be to God to her Maiesty and to you this excellent point of mercifull iustice was no sooner aduanced and authorised by gratious Statute wisely penned and enacted by high Court of Parliament to the same effect and purpose but it hath so prosperously and with so speedie successe preuailed that God hath to the great comfort of all that loue true iudgement mercie shewed euidently that his good hand went with the execution of it as no doubt his good Spirit was formerly president in that holy consultation and aduise which was taken about it The which one Act right Honorable how many good acts it hath wrought highly to the honour of God and her Maiestie and the whole gouernment and also how good coÌ„modious it is to the publike weale of the whole natioÌ„ a long narration would hardly suffice worthily to declare O how much filthinesse of adulterie and fornication of the vagabonds themselues is hereby cut off which was wont in more then brutish maner to be practised in all places of their confused lodging together at euery Faire and market through the land after they had filled themseâ—ues with the fattest of the rost and drunke themselues drunken with the strongest of the Beere that their Hostesse could
prouide for them for that which they had partly begged and partly stollen the same day What a cloake and couert of much bastardize practised by the rogues bad-good masters mistresses dames is hereby taken away seeing they shal henceforth no more cary about the base-born to hide them in farre remoued places or to leade them about as their owne naturall children as many of them were wont to do How are not only the disordered births but also the vntimely deaths of many young infants preuented the liues whereof though the fruite of their owne bodies this mercilesse and sauage people little regarded How gratiously is the man-stealing of some proper children with the intollerable misusage and disfiguring of them hereby defeated so that their cruell and vnnaturall practises shall no more abuse the pitie of others by begging with them Who knoweth howe manie priuate persons shall bee hereby safegarded from robberies and pilferies yea and the publike peace from dangerous mutinies rebellions by such euil instruments I mean counterfeit souldiers as were entering into that rude faction In al these things how are the soules of such miserable and forlorne sinners tendered and plucked out of the diuels iawes as we may say in that the most abominable course of their life is dammed or hedged vp if happily they may at the last held by due correction in a more orderly conuersation be brought to repentance as there is hope that God wil giue many that grace To speak the sum of al in few words how happily are a most lawlesse licētious multitude whch by their wādering disorder of life eluded all law brought within the iust limits disciplin of lawe yea such a monstrous and sottish multitude as neither regarded Church nor common wealth neither God nor Prince neither word prayer sacrament nor mariage neither wife nor child nor any honest labour either touching themselues or for the education of their adulterous off-spring but liued and delighted themselues in a most barbarous and beastly confusion to the multiplying of a most vile generation And how is the whole land it selfe the sacred seat of iustice disburthened of that guiltinesse and dāger of Gods wrath which might in short space haue growne now at the last by ouer long sufferance seeing so great and foule euils would certainly haue cried to heauen with a loud and shrill voyce for vengeance if they had not thus tempestiuely by the power of lawfull authoritie and by the godly care and remorse of our Magistrates bene made as it were dumbe and speachlesse before the iudgement seat of God! And now also yet further then all this by the deniall of disordered succour or toleration to the idle and vagrant ô how cōmodiously may poore labouring housholders and vncounterfeit impotent and aged people yea many thousands both of yong and olde such as shall be found to need reliefe be by that vncomfortable and waste charge which was euen cast away in that former course of giuing now relieued and cherished in their honest lawfull trade of life to the great glory of God to the singular blessing of the whole land if happily according to the good prouisoes and liberties authorised to the same end by the worthy Statute and explanations thereof the prouision for the poore shall be with a liberall heart and with a wise and discreet hand duly collected and imployed Wherfore finallie as a kindly fruit of all former respects howe ought not all the people of the lande be the more willing both in this and also in euerie other good dutifull and comendable seruice of all iust contributions required on the behalf of her Maiestie euen for this that it hath pleased her Highnesse to take so gratious an order vpon the humble information of your Honours that her Subiects should be cased for euer of so great and noisome and euery way so vngratefull a burthen and not onlie so but to prouide also that true almes may be giuen and distributed in such a maner as euerie contributor may haue much more comfort in the bestowing of the same greater hope of a more rich blessing from God vpon euerie one that is a mercifull and chearfull giuer then they could haue before But who as was said can sufficientlie without a large discourse lay forth the worthie partes of this so noble and princelie an Act which shall stand for euer in record for a blessed memoriall of the right godlie wisedome and care of our gratious Queene Elizabeth and of all the worthies of the high court of Parliament and namelie of your Honour in this behalfe among all other worthie Acts Verily more greater good both to our selues to all posterity through the gratious blessing of our God wil grow from it then easilie can of the wisest be conceiued if the iustice herein prescribed beeing still pursued and practised as there is good hope it shal mercie also and liberality which is likewise therin intended and commanded may be ready to acompany and support iustice according to the mindes of the Law-makers That is to say if as all loitering drones and lubbers be forbidden to be fatted abroad so no diligent Bee or painefull Labourer be suffered for want of necessary reliefe toward his ouer great family charge of children specially in time of sicknesse or in old age or in times of dearth be suffered as it were in the hardnesse of winter when no flowers can be found to pine away and perish while he is closed vp as it were in his hiue at his own home This verily should be a verie vngodly and vnchristian yea an vnnaturall euill as all cannot but confesse Neuerthelesse it is no greater then there is some danger of it in many a blind and vnmercifull nooke in the land if it be not preuented by the gratious circumspection of those to whom it shall belong Yea the places of best hope will alwayes find it needfull that the poore should haue many good friends of those that be in speciall authoritie to cause the law to speake and to put the rest in mind of their duties herein lest their crie should ascend vp before God more lamentably then euer before Musculus in Matth. 12. Certè turpis est mendicitas sed tamen proximo suo quisque succurrat iubet Deus Alioqui crudele esset non dare egenti quae necessaria sunt interea prohibere ne mendicet Verily this common begging is an vnseemely thing as a learned man saith Neuerthelesse as he addeth it is the commandement of God that euerie man should succour his neighbour otherwise it should be a cruell thing not to giue vnto the poore man such things as be necessary and yet to forbid him to beg God of his infinite mercie grant therefore that all his Magistrates in all places according to that great trust and large power committed to them in this case may haue tender care to see that all things may be faithfully diligently
things which we haue done but that we may receiue a full reward Neither is it a small vertue in the Giuer specially if he be bounteous to take in good part such poore tokens of thankfulnesse as their Alumni and foster children do at any time offer vnto them Finally thankfulnesse to God is a vertue belonging to him that is truly beneficial in so much as God hath not only made him able but which is a greater grace hath made him willing and carefull yea hath furnished him with many graces to the perfourmance of this most excellent dutie These vertues are diligently to be regarded of all Benefactors lest any should reioyce in a false and deceiueable liberality such as will affoord no sound comfort before the Lord. For as we reade in the holy Prouerb Many men will boast euery one of his owne goodnesse but who shall find a faithful man As though the wise king should say He is a rare man in comparison of the rest whosoeuer is a good man indeede Neuerthelesse to the end wee may see that God from time to time hath had his number who haue practised true beneficence and goodnesse it shall be to good purpose to gather together such examples whereby God in his holy Scriptures hath exemplified the same vnto vs that they might be patternes to all other of his good seruants to prouoke them to the imitation of them In the 18. chap. of Genesis ver 1.2 c. We haue Abraham a father of the faithfull commended vnto vs for one very notable example And chap. 19.1 c. We haue righteous Lot for another Of the which two the Apostle to the Hebrues chap. 13.2 saith that for a fruite and blessing of their hospitality they receiued Angels into their houses at vnawares in steede of men and by that reason moueth Christians that they would not be forgetful to lodge strangers Gen. chap. 20.14 15.16 Abimelech a heathen king sheweth great kindnesse to Abraham hee gaue him both seruants and cattell and siluer and libertie also to dwell to his best liking where he would in his countrey Gen. chap. 47.12 Ioseph whom God made a foster-father to many nations was also a nourisher of his owne father and brethren and his whole family in the land of Egypt in the time of the famine And Pharaoh himselfe though a heathen king gaue them a countrie to dwell in Exod. chap. 2.5.6.7.8.9 Pharaohs daughter likewise though a heathen woman taketh compassion of an Hebrue infant which was otherwise in great danger to haue perished and causeth it to bee honourably noursed and brought vp at her cost and charges And in the same chap. verses 20.21 Reuel the Prince of Midian giueth Moses though a stranger vnto him very friendly and kind entertainment whereupon also concerning further good liking he giueth the daughter of his sonne Iethro to wife vnvnto him yea though Moses was at time of no worldly wealth Exod. chap. 18. Moses for the same cause sheweth all kindnesse and good dutie to Iethro his father in law after that he was aduaunced to be the Gouernour of the people of God And Numb 10.29 Come with vs saith Moses and me will do thee good for the Lord hath promised good to Israel and vers 32. And if thou go with vs looke what good the Lord shall shew vnto vs the same will we shew vnto thee In the 19. chap. of the Iudges verses 16.17 an old man comming from his worke out of the field at euen giueth a man and a woman their seruant lodging other good entertainmēt who otherwise being benighted in a strange place should likely haue lyed abroad in the fields In the second chapter of the booke of Ruth verses 8.9 14.15.16.17 Boaz giueth leaue to Ruth a poore mayd and a stranger not only to gleane in his field next after the reapers whom he willed to leaue good gleanings for her but also he gaue her leaue to take her victuals dayly with his owne maydes among the reapers In the first book of Samuel chap. 22.3.4 Dauid maketh prouision for the comfortable entertainment and safety of his father and mother with the king of Moab yea he is mindfull and carefull to do it in the middest of his trouble when he had much ado to shift for himselfe and to escape with his owne life In 1. King chap. 18.3.4 Obadiah a chiefe officer in king Ahabs court in the time of famine when also Iezabel the Queen raged in cruell persecution against the seruants of God he tooke an hundreth of the Lords Prophets and fed them fifty in a caue In the the 4. chap. of the second booke of Kings verses 8.9.10 We reade how an honourable woman or certaine Lady of Shunem obseruing how Elisha the Lords prophet vsed to passe by her house she causeth him to come in to refresh himselfe yea and alloweth him a chamber to lodge in whensoeuer he should haue occasion to come that way And this she did because as she telleth her husband shee knew he was an holy man of God And chap. 6. verses 22.23 Elisha causeth the king of Israel not onely to abstaine from the reuenge of his enemies but also to giue them friendly entertaiment and to make them a princely feast In the first booke of Chronicles chap. 16.3 king Dauid at the bringing home of the Arke of the Lord to his city after that they had offered burnt offerings peace offerings before God and after that the king had blessed the people in the name of the Lord He dealt to euery one of Israel both man and woman to euerie one a cake of bread and a peece of flesh and a bottle of wine In the second booke of Chronicles chap. 5.6 at the placing of the same Arke of the Lord in the most holy place of the Temple vnder the wings of the Cherubines King Salomon and all the congregation of Israel that were assembled vnto him offered sheepe and bullockes which could not be told nor numbred for multitude And chap. 7.5 King Salomon offered a Sacrifice of two and twentie thousand bullockes and an hundreth and twenty thousand sheep so the King al the people dedicated the house of God And chap. 31. of the same booke verse 3.4.5 c. king Hezekiah both by his owne example and also by his royall authoritie he reuiueth the care for prouision of holy allowance due to the Priests and Leuites that they might be incouraged in the law of the Lord. In the first chap. of the booke of Ezra it is recorded that the Lord moued the heart of Cyrus king of Persia though a heathen king to deale bountifully for the restoring of the true worship of God in the citie of Ierusalem For to this end he giueth libertie to the people of God to returne out of their captiuitie he restoreth all the vessels of gold and siluer which Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of Ierusalem and had put them in the house of his God
the maintenance of the Ministers of the Gospell euen as they will answere the matter before God who will not be dallied with therein as we haue seene before he doth therewithall assure all such as shal deale Christianly herein that they shall reape a plentifull fruit from the same Whatsoeuer a man soweth saith the Apostle that shall he also reape For he that soweth to the flesh shall of the the flesh reap corruption that is he that mindeth earthly things without regard of Gods kingdome and religion and his owne saluation he shall perish with them but he that soweth to the Spirit that is he which doth liberally contribute to the maintenance and aduancement of the ministerie of the Gospell shall of the Spirit reape life euerlasting Let vs not therefore as the holie Apostle exhorteth bee vvearie of vvell-doing for in due season we shall reape if vvee faint not Answerable hereunto is that charge which the same Apostle giueth vnto Timotheus and so to all faithfull Ministers of the Gospell in the last chapter of that his first Epistle Charge those that bee rich in this world saith he that they be not high minded and that they trust not in vncertaine riches but in the liuing God who giueth vs aboundantly all things to enioy That they doe good and bee rich in good vvorkes and readie to distribute and communicate Laying vp in store for themselues a good foundation against the time to come that they may obtaine eternall life Reade also in the first chapter of the Prophete Haggai verse 8. Goe vp to the mountaine and bring wood and build this house and I will be fauourable in it and I will be glorified saith the Lord. And againe chap. 2. verses 19.20 Consider I pray you in your mindes from this day and afore from the foure and twentith day of the ninth moneth euen from the day that the foundation of the Lords temple was layd consider it in your mindes Is the seede yet in the barne As yet the vine and the figge tree and the pomegranet and oliue tree hath not brought forth from this day will I blesse you Likewise in the second chapter of the prophesie of Malachie verses 10.11.12 Bring ye all the tithes into the store-house that there may be meate in my house and proue me now herewith saith the Lord of Hostes if I will not open the windowes of heauen vnto you and poure ye out a blessing without measure And I will rebuke the deuourer for your sakes and he shall not destroy the fruite of your ground neither shall your vine be barren in the field saith the Lord of Hostes And all nations shall call you blessed for ye shall be a pleasant land saith the Lord of Hosts And I pray ye let vs marke how when the Lord Ier. 32. from the 17. verse and throughout the whole 33. chapter and likewise Ezek. chap. 36.25.26 c. speaketh of restoring his people Israel from their captiuitie to their owne land that they might inioy the fruitfull blessings thereof as in former times he maketh the renewing of their hearts to his feare and worship the forerunner of the same and this blessing to be a consequent of that according to the ancient promise of blessing to those that should truly worship God Leuit. 26.3 c. and Deut. 28.1.2 c. to the 15. verse But this promise of blessing was not made onely to the people of God vnder the law vpon condition they would performe faithfull seruice and worship to God but it belongeth to all nations and people whosoeuer being at any time called to the true knowledge of God shall yeeld theÌ„selues in the faith of Christ true worshippers of him as we are sweetly taught and assured in the 67. Psalme For this being the praier which the holy Ghost teacheth the church to pray in that Psalme That all nations might knowe God and ioyfully praise and worship him the conclusion followeth with this most gratious and bounteous promise of God Then shall the earth bring forth her increase and God euen our God shall blesse vs. God shall blesse vs and all the ends of the earth shall feare him This is that which our Sauiour Christ saith Matth. 6.33 Seeke ye first the kingdome of God and his righteousnesse and all these things shall be cast vnto you to wit as an ouerplus or income to make vp more then measure or tale as a matter of small reckening in so great an account c. It is the same also which the faithfiull Apostle of our Sauiour Christ affirmeth 1. Timoth. 4.8 Godlinesse hath the promise of the life present and of that which is to come For no man can truly and hartily seeke the kingdome of God and his righteousnesse and so be a right godly man indeed but the same must and will be to his power a willing maintainer and furtherer of the true worship of God and of his faithfull seruants the publike ministers thereof Thus much for the promise of blessing The examples doe now followe concerning the same blessing of God vpon such as haue had such a zealous care of furthering his worship as hath bene spoken of The examples which we mind to bring forth they are partly of such persons as shewe that they had a perswasion in their hearts by faith that God would in mercie recompence their seruice this way done to him and his Church partly they are such vpon whom the blessing of God actually poured downe vpon them is more expresly testified and recorded in the holy word of God Of the faith of the former sort we may take Dauid in his prayer of faith for a worthy example Psalm 86.2 Preserue my soule for I am mercifull saue thou thy seruant that trusteth in thee Be mercifull vnto me ô Lord c. Likewise godly Nehemia that zealous furtherer of Gods true worship and religioÌ„ is another most worthy example as we may porceiue by his most humble faithfull prayer chap. 13. vers 14. in these words Rememember me ô my God herein and wype not out my kindnesse that I haue shewed on the house of my God and on the offices thereof And againe in the same chapter verse 22. after that he had reformed the abuse and prophanation of the Lords Sabbath Remâ—mber me ô my God concerning this saith he and pardon me according to thy great mercy The honorable good man praieth as we see for Gods blessing as one hauing a liuely faith in his promise but he as well as Dauid shew by their prayers that they are farre rmoued from the pride of the Iusticiarie who presumeth vpon his merit and so maketh himselfe in his best workes abominable in the sight of God In like manner with Dauid and Nehemiah had king Hezekiah a comfortable perswasion that God wold shew him mercy because he had shewed kindnesse to the house of God and to his seruants the ministers therof Yea it was as a sweet refuge and sanctuarie to
whole increase of outward blessings by offering vp a first fruites vnto God commanded in the ceremoniall law of Moses be now ceased yet seeing the very morall commandement of God which is perpetuall requireth exactly that Gods true religion and worship be maintained and aduanced also that the poore of his people be liberally relieued by the contributions of the richer sort of his seruants as hath bene sufficiently declared before it may truly be inferred that no man can enioy his goods possessions what soeuer he hath as sanctified vnto him with approbation blessing from God vnles he do of zeale to Gods glory and loue to the brethren bestow a iust and meete portion this way For as the Lord doth in his owne right iustly challenge all to be entirely his as Psal 24 1. The earth is the Lord and all that is therein the world and they that dwell therin and againe Psalme 50.10.11.12 and 1. Chron. 29.11.12 All that is in heauen and earth is the Lords Both riches honor come of him Likewise Hag. 2.9 Siluer is mine gold is mine saith the Lord of hosts So he hath as an homage to him self from the rich interessed the poore as in his steed to the liberal almes cōtribution of the rich mens goods Wherupon the charge is streightly giuen Pro. 3.27 that none withhold his goodnesse or beneficence from the owners therof that is frō such as stand in present need therof The like charge is giuen in many other places of the holy Scripture But let vs come to see in some orderly course the more particular and distinct punishments of all prophane and illiberall couetous and mercilesse people The manifold punishments of them are comprehended vnder these two heads first those which belong to this life secondly that which appertaineth to the world to come which one containeth all and being eternall is as the sealing vp and fulnesse of all the temporall Of the former sort are these which follow First of all the profane illiberall couetous and mercilesse man neither hath neither possibly can haue in his soule any comfort frō God of all his riches how great abundance soeuer he doth enioy The which punishment consisting in the priuation or with-holding of comfort and blessing king Salomon as a holy Preacher and Prophete of God in the beginning of the sixth chap. of Ecclesiastes doth notably obserue The punishment of not giuing to the poore among many other the great vanities of this vaine and sinfull world of the which also he saith that it is much among men There is an euill saith he which I sawe vnder the sunne and it is much among men A man to whom God hath giuen riches and pleasure and honour and he wanteth nothing for his soule of all that it desireth but God giueth him not power to eate thereof but a strange man shall eate it vp this is vanitie and this is an euill sickenesse And againe chap. 5. verse 9. He that loueth siluer shall not be satisfied with siluer and hee that loueth riches shall bee vvithout the fruite thereof this also saith the holie Preacher is vanitie And how I pray you should prophane and couetous men haue any true and sound comfort from the hand and Spirit of God concerning any thing which they haue seeing God esteemeth them as vsurpers and not right owners of them They may well enough haue a ciuill title allowable among men according to the receiued course and determination of humane lawes and constitutions but they cannot hold them as a portion sanctified vnto them by the Lord vntill they shall thankefully acknowledge them to be his free gift and accordingly shall dedicate and apply them to such holy vses as he hath by his sacred word appointed them vnto This then is the first punishment euen the want of true comfort and blessing Secondly God doth manie times for this their wickednesse take away their riches and casteth miserable pouertie vpon them For so the holy Prouerb teacheth chap. 11.24 He that spareth more then is right surely commeth to pouertie This briefly is a second punishment Thirdlie God refuseth to succour the vnmercifull whē they stand in need yea he leaueth them in their miserie when they call and crie to him in their distresse because they refused to helpe and succour such of their poore brethren as craued helpe of them So we reade Prou. 13.21 He that stoppeth his eare at the crying of the poore he shall also crie and not be heard Likewise Zech. chap. 7. verse 8. c. Thus speaketh the Lord of Hosts saying Execute true iudgement and shewe mercie and compassion euerie man to his brother And oppresse not the widdowe nor the fatherlesse nor the stranger nor the poore and let none of you imagine euill against his brother in your heart But they refused to hearken saith the holie Prophet and pulled away the shoulder stopped their eares that they should not heare Yea they made their hearts as an Adamant stone lest they should heare the law and the words which the Lord of Hosts sent in his Spirit by the ministerie of the former Prophets wherein marke by the way the mightie increase and obdurate obstinacie which sinne quickely groweth vnto where it is not resisted in the beginning therefore as it followeth in the text there came a great wrath from the Lord of Hosts And againe as it followeth immediately Therefore saith the Prophet it is come to passe that as he cried and they would not heare so they cried and I would not heare saith the Lord of hosts But I scattered thē among all the nations whom they knew not thus the land was desolate after them that no man passed through nor returned for they layd the pleasant land waste The Prophete Micah also the third chap. of his Prophesie verses 1 2 3 4. Heare I pray you saith he ô heades of Iaakob and ye Princes of the house of Israell Should not ye know iudgement But they hate the good and loue the euill they plucke off their skinnes from them and their flesh from their bones And they eate also the flesh of my people and flay off their skinnes from them and they breake their bones and choppe them in pieces as for the pot and as flesh within the chaldron Thus heinous is the sinne of vnmercifulnesse and crueltie according to this so dolefull a description specially it it bee found in the bloudy hand of the Prince or in anie of chiefe place and power vnder him who should bee most tender foster-fathers ouer the people of God and chiefly ouer the poore of the flocke For neglect whereof the punishment followeth Then shall they crie vnto the Lord to wit in their miserie but he will not heare them he will euen hide his face from them at that time Read also Gods feareful wo against cruell vnmerciful mē Isai 5.8.9.10 Amos 6.1 c. ch 8.4 c. Micah 2.1 c. because they