Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n
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A57863
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Two sermons preached at the meeting of the council of George Heriot's hospital at Edinburgh
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Rule, Gilbert, 1629?-1701.
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1695
(1695)
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Wing R2230; ESTC R17802
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9,429
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18
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Principle they are Eternal But often they are visible and observable by Men sometimes the Lord Blesseth such with Riches and Increase of Goods Whereas there is a secret Moth and invisible Consumption upon the Estates of them who do no good Works this Way A Blessing to posterity is often the fruit of this Grace Psal. 112 2. It is spoken of the Charitable Man Instances of this may be given if it were fit to mention the Names of persons so publickly It is the way to raise or to Establish a Family A good Name Praise and Esteem among Men is often the Reward of this good Work the Remembrance of such is savory and with respect The Hospital hard by is an Instance of this George Heriot is Remembred with Honour when the Names of Hoording Misers and profuse Wasters on their Lusts do Wither are forgotten that they were on Earth or are only spoken off to their Disgrace And not only the founder but such as have improved and promoted this good Work and made this Charity to extend to 4 or 5 times as many moe as could have the benefite of it a few Years agoe such I say God will Bless and Man will praise Vse That which I shall chiefly insist on by way of Application is To press this Duty on them that hear me many things which may be used as Motives are already and occasionally mentioned And I believe none of us when we consider the Duty in it self will deny that it ought to be our care to perform it but most Men notwithstanding make a shift to excuse themselves and quiet their Consciences in the shameful neglect of it I shall therefore speak but to Three Heads here First What Charitable Liberality should we use Secondly Who should use it Thirdly What usually hindereth it For the First These Works Regard the Bodies of People or their Souls or the publick state of the Nation or Church Charity to Peoples Bodies is manifold By giving Liberally to the Weekly Collection at the Church door it is God's Ordinance 2 Cor. 16. 1. 2. And it is the stock out of which many Poor are Relieved Giving to particular needy persons The Widows the Fatherless the Strangers the Sick and Infirm these who by any cross providences have had any such losses as bringeth them to need the Charity of others poor Families who do what they can to live and yet cannot subsist without the help of others Lending to some without usury is as really a Duty and as great a Work of Charity as giving a little to others Psal. 112. 5. Breeding of Young Ones Boys or Girles If every Family that is Rich or can live well should take a Young one and feed them and Cloath them and breed them in Religion and to such Learning as they are capable of or is fitt for them and put them to Trades what a Blessing would it be to the Nation There would not be so many Idle persons Theives and other Debauched persons who are a burden to City and Country and it might entail a Blessing on such Families 2dly We should mind that Charitable bestowing that contributeth to the good of peoples Souls such as giving somewhat for the propagation of the Gospel in places of Ignorance and Barbarity As great Men might contribute much to the Propagation of the Gospel in the Heathen and Turkish parts of the World so Mean Men might do somewhat towards advancing Religion among our Highlanders An excellent and worthy person in our Neighbour-Nation hath lately caused print the Bible in the Highland Language and sent a great quantity of them to be distributed among that people O! that some among our Selves would imitate so worthy a Pattern Wayes enough may be found how such Charity might be well employed â— 's a good Work to contribute to the placeing of Ministers where they are wanting and Encourageing them where they are placed Alas the Covetousness and perverseness of Men in some places of the Country doth much obstruct the Gospel Some keep places as long vacant as they can Others defraud Ministers of what is their due so that in some places there is a necessity of removing Ministers for want of Maintainance as the Levits in Nehemiahs time Neh. 13 10 11. It s sad when there is none to shâ—w Charity in such a case in setleing a Maintainance where it is not and sadder when justice is wanting in getting of what is due and that to the great detriment of the Souls of People It 's an Act of Charity to buy Bibles and practical Books and give them to the poor as some have done and sent them from London unto the Remotest places of that Nation to be distributed 3dly Publick Charity is a good Work That is highly commendable such as Building and Endowing of Hospitals for the poor the Sick the Aged Strangers but especially for Breeding of Young Ones whether Boys or Girles Examples of this kind are rare and followed but by few In the Hospitâ—l that giveth occasion to our meeting to day we have a great instance of publick Charity for Breeding of Boys And I understand there is a design on Foot in this City for the like Charity for Breeding of Girles which is a pious and commendable work and which every one that is capable should contribute toward setting it foreward as some to their great Commendation have already done It is a work that may not only be of advantage to the poor Young Ones and their necessitous Parents but may be of publick advantage if wisely and faithfully managed by furnishing the City and other places with persons fit for service in Familys and for all other Employments that are competent to that Sex instead of a great many Theives and Whores and persons good for nothing which grow up without being bred either to Religion or to any thing else that is good It is a good Work to improve what is thus begun and to make it as useful and extensive as possible for the ends that it is 〈◊〉 for And when such Donations are embezled or dilapidated whether by unfaithfulness or Negligence it is a Heynous Sin It is alsâ— for the publick good to Erect Schools and Colledges to 〈◊〉 Bursarys whereby many good Spirits which through poverty might be lost are trained up for the publick Service and they who cannot do thus might take a poor Student into their house for a time Also helping of publick Libraries and augmenting them that they may be stored with all the best Books for the help of them that cannot buy of their own It is very strange that this age is so far short of former ages in all these sorts of Liberality 2dly The second thing proposed is Who should be thus Liberalâ— for private Charity all are obliged to it according to their Capacity publick Charity is out of the reach of many and there are more who do not what they well might do this way it is true it is
only to be expected from them who have somewhat to spare from the Maintainance of their Familys But if people were less profuse that way they would have more to give for a pious and good use I shall then shew you from whom such Charity might be expected First from Childless persons it is they who have been ordinarily most Eminent in these good Works especially if they have few necessitous Friends to relieve and even they who have these The publick Necessities should have a good share of their Means Secondly They who have much Wealth and few Children it is a great evil in many that they think nothing enough to provide for their Children many give to their Children so much that it is a snare maketh them mind no Industry nor Vertue yea they destroy it and their Souls to the boot in spending what their parents have laid up for them Therefore it is the wisdom of Rich parents to give their Children what they may comfortably live on useing Industry and Frugality and the rest to lay out for good uses especially if Children be not so wise Sober and Religious as they should be they are to be entrusted with the less 3ly Thirdly Even they who have much Wealth and many Children they should not be wholly wanting to this Duty a little taken off every Childs portion and piously laid out may entail a Blessing on the Children to their greater Wordly Advantage See Prov. 20 7. If 〈◊〉 would consider that it is the Blessing of the Lord that maketh 〈◊〉 and it is that Blessing that raiseth and preserveth great Families they would be more careful to lay up a Blessing for them then to lay up great Riches for them 3ly The third thing is What doth usually hinder this Charitable Liberality The Love of the World The Heart cleaving to it too high esteem of it whereby having it is preferred to the Souls good and peace and to pleasing God 2ly Want of or defectiveness in the Love of God 1 Jo 3 17. 3dly A narrow selfish temper want of a publick Spirit many act as if nothing were to be regarded but themselves as if themselves were their last end 4 Fourthly Distrust of God's providence people will not believe that their Bread cast on the Waters shall be recovered or that if they Sow they shall Reap they have no such perswasion of the Truth of the Word as that they can venture any thing upon it 5 Fifthly Pride and Luxury People that overvalue themselves and despise others think nothing enough for themselves and any thing too much for others and people that profusely spend on their pride Vanity pleasures and Lusts can spare nothing for any good use It hath always been observed that they who have done most good were such as were Frugal in their Expences on themselves they who spend least needlesly do bestow most Charitably 6. Sixtly It hath been often a lett and discouragement to Liberal Charity when it is observed that what is given that way is perverted or used amiss by them who were entrusted with it this as it is a great guilt in it self being Theft and Sacriledge so it is the Ruin of publick good Works but it will be a Moâ—h wherever it is found and it is the part of them who are in Capacity to retrieve what others have done amiss this way 〈…〉 some are endeavouring to do Vse 2. What other Exhortation may be given on this occasion is often spoken to wherefore I hint at but a few words 2ly Then let Overseers of the Hospital and of other Mortifications take care that what is given for so good Ends may be employed to the best advantage according to the will of the Donor it is a trust laid on them by God and Man and they must Answer for it It is not only the duty of such Trustees to see that the Charity of others be not lost or if lost that it may be recovered but also that it be not mis-placed either on such as need it nor Exact Conscienciousness is to be used here so as not to be byassed by any Interest or Entreaties or on such as are wickedly inclined and debauched when such evils appear in them they should be turned out nor on them who are uncapable to learn or neglect to learn what they are bred to Benefices should be taken from such and conferred upon them who are like to improve them bette Vse 3 Another Exhortation is to the Governours and Teachers of the Youth who are partakers of this Charity for their Education It lyeth on you to teach them carefully what they ought to Learn especially the grounds of Religion that they may not only Repeat the Catechism but understand it you should put them in mind to pray and to Read the Scriptures daily and curb any budding of Vice that may appear in them as Swearing Lying and such like your Faithfulness or neglect in this may have much influence to attain the ends for which this Charity is given or to defeat the design of it Vse 4 The last Address shall be to the Young Ones on whom this Charity is bestowed and for whose good it is bestowed Acknowledge God's goodness in providing so for you Labour to fear God without which it had been better for you ye had never been Born or that ye had Starv'd in stead of being cared for And if ye can apply your Minds to think on what is to come Think what will become of Your Souls for ever And consider also how ye shall live in the World if you neglect and mis-spend your time wherein ye should be sitted for Serving God and providing for your selves ye are like to live Miserably and in Contempt all 〈…〉 And if ye give your selves to Wickedness now Satan may go such hold on your Hearts as never to leave Tempting you till he bring you to a woeful End Pray that the Lord may win your Hearts to him betimes FINIS Tho. Fisher Treasurer