Love your enemie do good lend hoping for nothing again and your reward shall be great and ye shall be the children of the most highest Luk. 6. 34 35. This promise is not to any Usurer for if hee lends he looks for something again and not only for the principall but for more then he lent he hopes for use Whosoever shall give a cup of water to drinke in the name of a Disciple because he belongs to Christ verily I say unto you he shall in no wise loose his reward Mar. 9. 41. see Mat. 19. 20. Mar. 10. 10. Thine almes are come up for a memoriall they are had in remembrance in the sight of God Act. 10. 4. 31. 10. You shal have treasure in heaven Mat. 19. 21. Lu. 18 22. Come ye blessed of my father receive the kingdome prepared for you for I was an hungry and ye gave me meat naked and ye cloathed me sicke and in prison and yee came unto me Mat. 25. 34 35 36. There are Statutes as good as can be desired for the poor if executed the Statue 43. Eliz. 2. Provide to raise weekely or otherwise of every inhabitant such summs of money as they shall thinke fit for a stocke to set the poor on worke and to compell them to worke and towards the necessary reliefe of poor not able to worke to distresse and sale of goods or imprison without baile or mainprize till he have paid the same Yet for these many years the poor are neglected and suffered to beg contrary to the statutes Yea they suffer great misery and run to ruine and yet both Magistrate Minister and people are silent and content to have it so this is a sore evill Thear the Town of Maidstone and the City of Dorchester and a few other places the poore are set to worke and provided for without begging Oh that London c. would doe so also That there be no complaining in our streets Psal. 144. 14. But in stead of helping the poor there be that rob the poor One Justice of Peace gave in his account of the poors money 500. pound short this can be pâ—oved If men fearing God and hating covetousnesse were appointed to receive that which would be voluntary given to effect this good worke there would be stock enough to set the poor on work and to supply all wants The people of this Nation have been so bountifull that a Law was made to restrain them fearing that all the whole Lâ—â—d would be given to the poor the Papist may rise up against many of this generation It is a sad thing that they should be more forward upon a bad principle then a Christian upon a good one I hope it will not be long till those in Authority will consider the cause of the poor and help it It is possible we may see some as willing to help oâ—hers as to help themselves and to provoke others to do so the poor daily increase and multiply in time if you prevent it not they will be able and willing to order you and your estates as they think fit Take care and provide work and things necessary for the poor Surely there is no worke in the world that men will give more freely unto then this Worthy Oliver Cormwel deserves great honour and imitation he gives more mony to the poor then any I have heard of in our days thousands a year I would the Rich would follow his steps it is expected the Lord will use him with some others who have the same spirit and mercifull heart to do great things for the good of this Nation especially to ease the oppressed and to help them that cannot help themselves and that all honest and wel-minded people shall blesse God for them and for what they have done the benefit and good thereof will more more appear to the glory of God and the welfare of this Nation He hath put down the mighty from their seate and exalted them of low degree Lu. 1. 52. Let every soule be subject to the higher Powers there is no power but of God Rom. 13. 1. Those against whom none are able to prevail are the greatest and highest power Those who have the greatest power are the fittest and most able to protect and govern honour obedience is due to them that protect God hath by this Army protected saved our estates and lives Such Rulers are to be desired who feare God and have power and good principles In reason we may expect a continued safety from them who have been a meanes to procure the liberty we enjoy rather then from others who under the title of Authority would undo us Did not the late Parliament order treble damages for not paying of tithes and erect a tribunall to punish all that did preach without ordination of the said Hierarchy and their Priests which themselves have declared to be Antichristian There doth not appear more love to God to his people and to this Nation then in the Officers of the Army They deserve the greatest honour and trust among men that have suffered been wounded and shed their blood for this Nation have freely offered for Gods sake and for our sakes their lives and estates to save ours I pray you give us leave to owne and speak well of them who have saved our estates and liveâ— God doth not put the power into the hands of any so much for their sakes as for others the honour safety welfare peace comfort happinesse and glory of this poore Nation they ought to seek and prefer before their own I trust the Lord hath put it into the hearts of those who have the power over us to say we will doe this and see this done we will not seeke our own things but every one anothers welfare as 1 Cor. 10. 24. and each one to say as Gideon I will not rule over you the Lord shall rule over you Judg 8. 23. Behold I come quickly and my reward is with me to give every one according as his worke shall be Rev. 22. 21. FINIS * That is 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a weeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 elling but â—…ere shal it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 had so in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ndon a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 my a week 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 apparel a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 any a week 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 washing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 penny a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ek firing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 enny a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 eke for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ate and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 inke â—f 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 selves 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 re confi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 d to thi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 owance 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 w soone 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ould we be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 e poor not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to work 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ed sicke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 London 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at least 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a weekâ—
Holland that there may be no begging in England nor just complaint by reason of want this were a good work a blessed work very comfortable of great necessity attainable honorable to this Nation very acceptable to God and to those in want and to all good men The Lord preserve those precious and blessed men who have power and hearts to do so great good for those who cannot help themselves God shall give them a full reward 2 John 8. Surely God wil greatly bless them that further so blessed a work God delights in mercy more then in sacrifice A merciful man is strucken to the heart with the miseries of others and is compelled to help them if he can Let no man seek his own things but every man anothers wealth 1 Cor. 10. 24. Mordecai seeking the wealth of his people Est 10. 3. When this Nation shall seek the wealth thereof that each may enjoy the same mercies and comforts which they desire for themselves England shall be indeed a Common-wealth Many say they have little enough for themselves wives and children all seek their own thingâ— Phil. 1. 2. They are lovers of themselves 2 Tim. 3. 2. The wicked rich man was all for himself Soul take thou thine ease thou bast goods laid up for many years Luk. 12. 19. he laid up all for self they leave their substance to their babes Ps. 17. 14. They put wife and children into their Wils but leave out Christ and his children because they love wife and babes more then Christ but know He that loveth father or mother more then me is not worthy of me and he that loveth son or daughter more then me is not worthy of me Lu. 10. 37 38. If any man come to me hate not his father and mother and wife and children yea and his own life also he cannot be my disciple Lu. 14. 26. Behold we have forsaken all and followed thee Mat. 19. 27. 29. Knowing in our selves that we have in heaven a better and an induring substance Heb. 10. 34. 2 Cor. 4. 18. He that provideth not for his family is worse then an infidell If thou art a believer Christs family is thy family Eph. 3. 15. Heb. 2. 6. They are thy brethren and sisters brethren and sisters are ever counted of one stock kindred and family and brethren are to provide for their brethren Lev. 25. 25. Num. 27. 11. Lev. 27. 35. If we be all members of one body we should think the discomodities of our brethren pertain to our selves men do wel to provide for wife and babes but not then when the present necessities of others cannot be supplyed without the same how did they in the 2. and 4th of the Acts provide for their families wives and babes when they sold their houses and lands and gave away all the money Were they worse then Infidels because they were more carefull to supply the present wants of the Saints then to provide for themselves wives and children 2 Cor. 8. 14. The leaving great estates to children makes them so much the greater sinners to spend their dayes in pride pleasure idleness uncleanness tyranny and oppression and in all excesse of wickednesse but this the rich father will not believe If men be not able to give it is excepted according to that a man hath 2 Cor. 8. 12. We should labour working with our hands to have to give to him that needeth Eph. 4. 28. Many spend so much on their lusts that they are not able to supply the wants of others The lusts of the flesh the lust of the eyâ— and the pride of life are chargeable they devour all and make poor they are able to spend thousands a year One said I have 12000. a year yet I want money as much as another man One sinner destroyeth much good Eccl. 11. 18. Rom. 18. 18. They have sought out many inventions Eccl. 7. 29. to consume their estates Obj. None doe their duty herein Answ. That will not excuse any we are to follow the word of the Lord and not men that walk contrary to it if none obey God the greater is thy sin not to do it Obj. I would give but I feare I shall want my selfe Ans. If you keep what you have you may want the comfort of it and the blessing of it and the peace of conscience You had better give and want it then keep it and sin but the Lord saith He that giveth to the poor shall not lacke Pro. 28 27. In the dayes of famine they shall have enough Job 5. 20. If you cannot trust him for your bodie how do you or how can you trust God with your soul which is the greater trust It 's only the unbelieving heart wch saith Can God furnish a table in the wilderness Can he give bread also Ps. 78. 19 20. Take no thought saying what shall we eate or what shall we drinke or wherewith shall we be cloathed Your heavenly father knoweth that ye have need of these things all these things shall be added unto you Take therefore no thought for the morrow for to morrow shall take thought for it selfe sufficient to the day is the evill thereof Mat. 6 31. Some say they know none in want but it will not be sufficient to say so so they will say Lord when saw we thee hungry and naked 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 25. They knew no such thing nor did they enquire nor come whâ—re they might have seen it Luk. 9. 23. They were willingly ignorant The righteous considereth the cause of the poor but the wicked regardeth not to knowe it Pro. 29. 7. Many say professors of Religion are as covetous and miserable as others some have two or three great places of profit besides their owne estates but little good they do Alas what answer shall we give to this save only that there are many professors of Religion that are not possessors of it they have not heard Christ and so not learned of him as the truth is in Jesus therefore they have not known God nor the power or Religion If indeed they were converted and had the spirit of Christ they could not but be mercifull and liberall witness Zacheus and they in the 2d and 4th of Acts. These are the last times indeed men generally are all for themselves and some would set up such Having a forme of Religion without the power of it deceiving themselves and others whose end is destruction who minde earthly things Phil. 3. 19. They pant after the dust of the earth Amos 2. 7. After these things seeke the Gentiles Mat. 6. 23. Those who are risen with Christ set their afections on things above and not on things on the earth Col. 1 2. The power of religion and godliness lieth in the practise of it Jam. 1. 22. By this shall all men know yee are my Disciples if ye love one another Joh. 13. 25. Every one that loveth is borne of God 1 Joh. 4. 7. Where love is there is
62. 10. and to trust in their wealth Ps. 49. 6. 1 Tim. 6. 17. Ps. 52. 7. The rich mans wealth is his strong City Pro. 10. 15. Riches cause to despise Christ and his poor Saints A man of sorrows acquainted with griefs he is despised and rejected of men We hid as it were our faces from him he was despised we esteemed him not Isa. 53. 3. Yee have despised the poore Jam. 2. 6. The rich oft choose for their companions such as are rich though worldly wicked and covetous whom God abhorreth Psal. 10. 3. See the companions of the Saints Heb. 10. 33. Psal. 119. 36. Rom. 1. 9. The rich will no more be admonished Eccl. 4. 19. Riches cause to erre from the faith 1 Tim. 6. 10. And to deny the faith rather then to suffer and loose all Luk. 18. 28. Riches choake the word and cause it to become unfruitful Mat. 13. 22. Mar. 4. 19. Riches hinder men from receiving and obeying the Gospel Lu. 18. 22 23 24. and hinder many from preaching the Gospel Riches hurt them that keep them Eccl. 5. 13. They hinder believing they have too much sense to have much faith Riches cause men to desire and seek and to receive honour one of another How can ye believe seeing ye receive honour one of another Joh. 5. 44. Riches cause persons to flatter themselves I said in my prosperity I shall never be moved Ps 30. 6. Who shall bring me downe Oâ—â—…e 3. Riches cause others to flatter the rich and to put them upon 〈◊〉 ways of pride and pleasure to please them Ps. 5. 9. Riches cause to deny God Lest I be full and deny thee Pro. 30. 8 9. Riches cause those that have them not to be reproved and so suffer sin upon them Lev. 19. 19. A sore evill they cause men to be wise in their own conceits Pro. 28. 11. and not to visit the poor Saints Mat. 25. 43. Riches cause persons to be idle and to take their ease Am. 6. 1. and to settle upon their lees Jer. 48. 11. Riches cause them less to seek God lesse to serve him and less to mind love and delight in God and in things above Riches cause spiritual deadnesse and coldness in Religion and unwillingness to die Riches and prosperity cause men to be hard-hearted careless and insensible of the wants of others so as not to weep with them that weep Riches cause gluttony intemperance excesse sin diseases sicknesse pain death Riches are a snare into divers temptations into many foolish and hurtfull lusts which drown men into destruction and perdition 1 Tim. 6. 9. Riches greaten mens sin and condemnation Many shall curse the day that ever they had so many thousands and hundreds a year for had they not been so rich they had never commited half so much sin we cannot hold God and riches if ye hold to the one ye despise the other ye cannot serve God and Mammon This rich men will not beileve Lu. 16. 13. They think they may easily well agree and that they may seek and serve both If we were of Agurs mind we would part with riches as freely willingly as ever we received them Solomon did not so much as ask riches God did not like that he should 2 Chron. 8. 11. Good Agur would not have riches therefore he prayeth against them saying give me not riches Pro. 30. 9. It is not a sin to be rich but it is a sin to keep riches when others and the Saints suffer and perish for want of them there is a woe pronounced against the rich though they mind it not regard or consider it not Woe to you that are rich for ye have received your consolation Lu. 6. 24. Dives thou hast received thy good things in this life Luk. 16. 25. Woe to him that ladeth himself with thicke clay Hab. 2. 8. The Lord saith Labour not to be rich Pro. 23. 4. Riches is not ver. 5. Love not the world nor the things of the world If any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him 1 Joh. 2. 15. The love of money is the root of all evill 1 Tim. 6. 10. Riches are externall and appertain nothing to the mind to violence in getting in keeping Strong men retain riches If riches make themselves wings and flye away men intend to fly after them The measure we meet to supply the wants of others is not the same that we measure to our selves they are divers and divers measures are abomination to the Lord Pro. 20. 10. Comfort to all who in obedience to God and for his sake give freely c to supply the wants of others 1. You are like Jesus Christ and his people in so doing 2. You have the prayers of the Saints for you The Lord give mercie to the house of Onisiphorus for he oft refreshed me 2 Tim. 1. 16. 2 Cor. 9. 13 14. Eph. 1. 14 15. Ps. 69. 33. 71. 12. 3. Your bountifulnesse causeth thanksgiving to God many thanksgivings to God 2 Cor. 9. 12 13. 4. All things are clean to you Give almes of such things as yee have and behold all things are clean to you Luk. 11. 41. 5. You are happy He that hath mercy on the poor happy is he Pro 14. 21. and blessed for he giveth his bread to the poor Pro. 22. 9. 6. Your righteousnesse remaineth for ever He hath dispersed abroad he hath given to the poor your righteousness remaineth for ever Psal. 112. 9. 2 Cor. 9. 9. Also the merciful man doth good to his own soul Pro. 11. 7. 7. You shall not want Pro. 28. 27. Job 5. 20. 8. The blessed promises of this life and that to come are for you He that hath a bountifull eye shall be blessed for he hath given of his bread to the poor Pro. 29. 9. Blessed is he that considereth the poor the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble The Lord will preserve keep him alive he shall be blessed upon the earth and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing thou wilt make all his bed in his sicknesse Ps. 41. 1 2 3. Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy Mat. 5. 7. Deale thy bread to the hungry cover the naked Then shall thy light breake forth as the morning and thy health shall bring forth speedily and thy righteousnesse shall goe before thee The glory of the Lord shall be thy rearward then shalt thou call and the Lord shall answer thee thou shalt cry and he shall say here I am Isa. 58. 7 8 9. Give him for this thing the Lord thy God shall blesse thee in all thy workes in all thou puttest thy hand unto Deut. 15. 10. 9. You shall have a great reward If thine enemie hunger give him bread to eate if he be thirsty give him water to drinke and the Lord shall reward thee Pro. 25. 21 22.