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A02698
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Gods goodnes and mercy Layd open in a sermon, preached at Pauls-Crosse on the last of Iune. 1622. By Mr Robert Harris, pastour of the church of God in Hanvvell in Oxfordshire.
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Harris, Robert, 1581-1658.
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1622
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STC 12831; ESTC S116602
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18,118
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38
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not merit not satisfaction not impetration as they Thirdly a good rule the word must order vs both for persons and things for persons wee must begin with God and with the Macedonians giue our selues to him 2. Cor. 8. v. 5. that done wee must proceede to the Common State then to those next that touch vs nearest in the strongests ties and so passe on till like good stomacks wee haue dealt something to the most removed members For things respect must bee had to the Soule first then to the Name then to the bodie then to the estate Fourthly our Almes must be good for the matter of it first in it selfe being wholesome and our owne next for the receiver being suted to his needs for the purpose comfort if tempted Counsell if distracted succour if oppressed clothes if naked eyther worke or a whippe if Idle Would you knowe in the third place what mercy you must shew I answere such a mercie as God shewes first vniversall mercie to mens soules bodies estates and that which the worlds is little acquainted with specially towards Rulers mercie to mens Names Secondly Everlasting mercie the righteous saith David is ever giving lending c. Alasse Mercie breakes now as fast as trading faire houses be shut in mercy is runne the Countrie and is like to perish for it will hardly line without a house where a poore house is kept there is something for mercie to feede and worke vpon some raggs some scraps some fewell some thing but when Midas-like all wee touch is gold our bread gold our fewell gold all turned into the penny I meane so that we cannot giue till wee haue past through three or foure Lockes and scene and felt our almes then certainely wee shall part with it most vnwillingly The house-keeper if he want not an heart hath opportunities more then any for the exercising of mercy be not yee wearie of this well doing the World I know is importunate in Comparisons and impudent in pressures vpon the free hearted but doe you your duties and feare not Swine that are well neyther full nor fasting Now as House-keepers so others in their places must be ever mercifull all ever receiue mercy Let all ever shew all haue opportunities let all apprehend them the poore sayth our blessed Saviour are ever with you if ever now Mercy needes not ride abroad to seeke worke in these dayes step but into thy Neighbours house and thou shalt finde povertie in the Chimney in the Cupboard leanesse sitting on the Cheekes and cleaving to the ribbs of old and yong O but wee haue not for them Why where 's the want your houses be as trim as ever your Children as fine your Tables as full your wastfulnesse as much as ever and can you be ever near nay ever prodigall and not ever mercifull What 's become of Religion now Is all turned into words as once in Saint Iames his time Time was when Christians would sell their plate Chalices their Roabes and Iewels their Lands and possessions to relieve the Churches necessity and shall not we parte with superfluities tell mee you that reade Saint Iohn how you satisfie his question and your owne Consciences 1. Iohn 3.17 if any Man hath these worlds goods and sees his Brother ther want c. how dwels the loue of God in him Will you say wee haue not this Worldes goods Then dissemble not now yee stand in a crosse poynt to good Araunah hee spent like a Subject gaue like a King 2. Sam. 24.23 you build fayre goe like Princes and will you giue like Bankrupts Nay your Tavernes your Feastes and Playes will rise vp against you you haue meanes to feast the Rich and doe not you remember Christs Cavear Mercie before kindnesse You haue a pinte of wine for any Friend and not a penny for Christ you can finde a Tester for some game some shewe some stage Play and what nothing for Mercy Or will yon say wee see no neede Why what else can you see Men want stocke want bread want worke want money and when that is deare nothing is cheape and is not heere neede but there is no extremitie Woe is mee there be many at her stay I haue a little meale and oyle in a Cruyce 1. Reg. 17.12 I will bake eate die they are now sinking sinking if you come not quickly to their succour they are loft is not this an extremitie But where bee meanes finde you hearts I will yet finde meanes First the Backe may lend you something your golden fingers might cloath some and bee never the Colder your great Ruffes might feede others and be never the vnhandsomer the Groues and Grownds vpon your backes as Tertullian speakes might lodge others De habit mul li. de cult Faem and yet sitt never the worse vpon your owne and childrens backs Secondly the Belly might spare you something with advantage to your health and strength one meale saved in a weeke one dish at a meale one cup of wine one pipe of Tobacco in a day would come to something in the yeare I quake to thinke what Christians wee be some surfet some starue all at once rather then we will not pine the poore wee will cramme and choake our selues Thirdly our Houses might lend vs something for howsoever with them of old wee feede as if wee would die presently yet wee build as if we would liue for ever It is a world to see how curious wee be in suting every Roome whilest the members of Christ goe not like one Fathers children nay it is not necessary they should bee all in a Sute onely if Christ may be heard hee that hath two coates should giue one to the naked Fourthly borrow of our Enemie Sinne and here if you will not hold I know not what to say but that the Heathen sayth Senec. hee is a bad Phisitian that despayres of his cure wee haue money for braules for bribes for the feeding of pride revenge ambition lust and shall we feede foes starue friends let me speake it once for all had we as much zeale to mercy as to sinne to men as to birds and monkies to Christians and Preachers as to Claw-backs Iesters Fidlers Fooles we would finde meanes to relieue them meanes for the present but how shall our owne doe hereafter Why is not mercy as sure a graine as vanitie Is God like to breake sayth not he Hee that giues to the poore lends to the Lord and he will pay him I haue nothing to spare thou hast for thy friends for Gods Enemies Pride Vanity if none for Christ receiue thy doome Hee that stops has eare at the crie of the Poore c. Pro 21.13 Iames 2.13 Iudgment without mercie to him that shewed no mercy depart from mee yee cursed you had meate drinke cloath house-roome for sinfull men horses doggs carts none for mee But the poore bee as sine as my selfe I pray thee be sayd with reason if others be not sit to receiue thou art not tyed to giue If thou bee fit to giue and they to receiue dispute no longer rather heare the Apostle Put on the bowels of mercy Col. 3.12 verse 5. and to that ende take his directions first slay vnmortified lusts next steepe thy thoughts in the Mercies of God and they will dye thine Ephe. 318.19 as the dye-fart doth the cloath that done be rich in faith and good workes first in the Inwarce actes of mercy pittie the afflicted bleede with them mourne with them thirst their good cast their good Secondly In outward acts of mercy goe to them sitt with them pray for them lend them speake for them giue them forgiue them and if all thy abilitie amount but to one cupp of cold water it shall bee accepted rewarded Math. 10. Lastly God is ever mercifull let vs then leaue the labouring Church in his everlasting armes as Moses speakes Deut. 33.27 Le ts recommend our Israell to him whose mercy hath prevented and will preserve vs if wee constantly flie vnto him and let every one that is capable of mercy being Fatherlesse that hath obtained mercy Hos 14.3 being Penitent and Mercifull stay himselfe here The Mercy of God endureth for ever my strength may faile my estate may my friends may my outward comforts my inward feelings may but the Mercies of God never fayle all miseries haue an ende Gods Mercie which is my Mercie is endlesse is boundlesse It endures for ever ⸫ FINIS