shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him. James li, 6, 7. But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment-seats? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? Prov. xxx, 7-9. Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die: Remove far from me vanity and lies; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain. GOD'S CARE OF THE POOR. Job v,15. But he saveth the poor from the sword, from their mouth, and from the hand of the mighty. Job xxxvi, 6. He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor. Ps. ix, 18. For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever. Ps. xii, 5. For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him. Ps. cix, 31. For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul. Zeph. iii, 12. i will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD. Luke vi, 20. And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. James i, 5. learken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? LEGAL SUPPORT FOR THE Lev. xix, 10. And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the LORD your God. for thy maid, and for thy hired Deut. xiv, 28, 29. At the end of Deut. xxiv, 19-21. When thou he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse. Prov. xxix, 7. The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it. Mark xiv, 5. For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her. Luke vi, 88. Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal, it shall be measured to you again. Luke xi, 41. But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you. Luke xii, 33. Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, nelther moth corrupteth. Luke xvi, 9. And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. Deut. xxvi, 12, 13. When thou hast made an end of tithing all Luke xviii, 22. Now, when Jesus the tithes of thine increase the heard these things, he said unto third year, which is the year of him, Yet lackest thou one thing: tithing, and hast given it unto the sell all that thou hast, and distri Levite, the stranger, the father-bute unto the poor, and thou shalt treasure in heaven: and less, and the widow, that they have may eat within thy gates, and be come, follow me. filled; Then thou shalt say before the LORD thy God, I have brought away the hallowed things out of mine house, and also have given them unto the Levite, and unto the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all thy commandments which thou hast commanded me: I have not transgressed thy commandments, neither have I forgotten them. SUPPORT FROM BENEVO- LIBERALITY COMMANDED AND EULOGIZED. Prov. xi, 24, There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and than is meet, but it tendeth to there is that withholdeth more poverty. Prov. xiv, 21. He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, grow-happy is he. Lev. xxv, 5,6. That which eth of its own accord of thy harvest thou shalt not reap, neither gather the grapes of thy vine undressed: for it is a year of rest unto the land. And the sabbath of the land shall be meat for you; for thee, and for thy servant, and Prov. xxi, 13. Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard. Prov. xxviii, 27. He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack; but Acts xx, 35. I have showed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. Rom. xv, 27. It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles. have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things. 2 Cor. viii, 7. Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also. 1 Tim. vi, 18. That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate. James ii, 15, 16. If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes. For ye are not as yet come to the rest, and to the inheritance, which the LORD your God giveth you. John viii, 32--34. And ye shall 'know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him, We be Abraham's Sued, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. the poor reproacheth his Maker, and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished. Jer. lii, 16. But Nebuzar-adan, the captain of the guard, left certain of the poor of the land for vine-dressers, and for husbandmen. Mark xiv,7. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. RICH AND POOR. Ps. xxxvii, 16. A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked. wealth is his strong city: the Prov. x, 15. The rich man's destruction of the poor is their poverty. maketh himself rich, yet hath Prov. xiii, 7, 8. There is that nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches. The ransom of a man's Deut. xxviii, 17. Cursed shall de life are his riches: but the poor thy basket and thy store. heareth not rebuke. Job xv, 29. He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue, neither shall he prolong the perfection thereof upon the earth. BEGGARY. Ps. xxxvii, 25. I have been Luke xviii, 35. And it came to pass, that, as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way-side begging. Rom. vi, 16-22. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin; but ye have obeyed young, and now am old; yet have from the heart that form of doc-I not seen the righteous forsaken, trine which was delivered you. nor his seed begging bread. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness, and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now, being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. Gal. v, 13. For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 1 Peter ii, 16. As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Acts iii, 2-6. And a certain man, lame from his mother's womb,was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; Who, seeing Peter and Jolin about to go into the temple, asked an alms. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John said, Look on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. BOUNTY LEVIED. 1 Sam. xxv, 5-9. And David sent out ten young men: and David said unto the young men, Get you up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name: 2 Peter ii, 19. While they pro-liveth in prosperity Peace be both And thus shall ye say to him that mise them liberty,they themselves to thee, and peace be to thine house, are the servants of corruption: and peace be unto all that thou for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. VII. POOR LAW. POVERTY AN INEVITABLE STATE OF SOCIETY. Deut. xv, 11. For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying. Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land. Prov, xvii, 5. Whoso mocketh hast. And now I have heard that thou hast shearers: now thy shepherds which were with us, we hurt them not, neither was there ought missing unto them, all the while they were in Carmel. Ask thy young men, and they will shew thee: wherefore let the young men fiud favour in thine eyes; (for we come in a good day;) give, I pray thee, whatsoever cometh to thine hand unto thy servants, and to thy son David. And when David's young men came, they spake to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and ceased, Prov. xiv, 20. The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends. Prov. xv, 16. Better is little with the fear of the LORD, than great treasure, and trouble therewith. Prov, xvi, S. Better is little with righteousness, than great revenues without right. Prov. xviii, 23. The poor useth entreaties: but the rich answereth roughly. Prov xix, 1-4, 22. Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool. Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth. The foolishness of man perverteth his way; and his heart fretteth against the LORD. Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated of a man is his kindness; and a from his neighbour. The desire poor man is better than a liar. Prov. xxviii, 6, 11. Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich. The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out. Eccles. iv, 6. Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit. Mark xii, 41-44. And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living. Luke xix, 25, 26. (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.) For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him. James ii, 6, 7. But ye have des pised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment-seats? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? Prov. xxx, 7-9. Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die: Remove far from me vanity and lies; give me neither poverty nor riches, feed me with food convenient for the Lest I be fuil and deny thee, and Bay. Who is the LORD? or lest I be por, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain. GOD'S CARE OF THE POOR. Job 15. But he saveth the poor from the sword from their mouth and from the hand of the mighty. Job xxxvi 6. He preserver not the life of the wicked: but giveth Ingat to the poor. P. ix. 16. For the needy shal Dot alway be forgotten: the expectation of the pour shall not perish for ever. P. x. 5. For the oppression of the poor for the signg of the BABIY, DOW vil I are Baith the LvT with IL baitly from h.m. that puffeth at him. for thy maid, and for thy hired Deut. xiv, 28, 29. At the end of the widow, which are within thy Deut. xxiv, 19-21. When thou he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse, considereth the cause of the poo been sold for more than thee Luke vi, 88. Give, and it shall Ps. cix 31. For he shall stand att the right and of the poor to wave hm from those that condemn is Boul. میں Zeph 12 i will also leave in T the mist of thee an flicted and por people, and they sual trust In the name of the LoL. Luke vi 20. And be lifted his eyes on his disciples, au Back Binged be ye poot. fur youre The kingdom of God. James 1. 5. Herket my be loved brethren, lit Lt Ge chosen the poor of this wor ir faith, and heirs of the Kingje, which he hath promised to th that love ham? LEGAL SUPPORT FOR THE ! Let xix 10. And thou shalt no glean thy vineyard, neither east To gather every grape of tas vineyard; thou shalt leave thri for the poor and stranger: 1 an. the LORD 3 1 BUPPORT FRON BLALTS eth of its : . 1 John iil, 17. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? INSTANCES. Prov. xxxi, 20. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. gogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth; That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in Secret himself shall reward thee openly. 2 Cor. viii, 10, 11. And herein I give my advice: for this is expeActs xi, 29, 30. Then the dis-dient for you, who have begun ciples, every man according to his before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago. Now ability, determined to send relief therefore perform the doing of it; unto the brethren which dwelt in that as there was a readiness to Judea: Which also they did, and viseth liberal things; and by liberal things shall he stand. Isa. Iviii, 10. And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday. Acts x, 4. And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. sent it to the elders by the hands will, so there may be a perform- but is abundant also by many of Barnabas and Saul. Acts xxiv, 17. Now, after many years, I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings. ance also out of that which we have. 2 Cor. ix, 1-5. For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you: For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very 2 Cor. viii, 1-6. Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: How that in a great trial of affliction, the abundance of their joy, and their deep pov-many. erty, abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For to their power, (I bear record,) yea, and beyond their power, they were willing of themselves; Praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And this they did, not as we hoped; but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God: Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also. Prov. ii, 27, 28. Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, an to-morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee. Matth. vi, 1-4. Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them; otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore, when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the syna Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready: Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, you) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting. There fore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetous ness. BENEFITS TO THE GIVER HIMSELF. Ps. xli, 1, 2. Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble. The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. Ps. cxii, 9. He hath dispersed; he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour. Prov. xi, 25. The liberal soul shall be made fat; and he that watereth shall be watered also himself. Prov. xix, 17. He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again. Prov. xxii, 9. He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor. Isa. xxxii, 8. But the liberal de istration of this service not only 2 Cor. ix. 12-15. For the adminsupplieth the want of the saints, thanksgivings unto God; (Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gos pel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;) And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you. Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. VIII. ADMINISTRATION OF LAW. 1.-JUDGES. Exod. xviii, 16-26. When they have a matter, they come unto another; and I do make them me, and I judge between one and know the statutes of God, and his laws. And Moses' father-in-law said unto him, The thing that thou surely wear away, both thou and doest is not good Thou wilt this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone. Hearken now unto my voice I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God: And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt show them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do. Moreover, thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. And let them judge the people at all seasons; and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee. If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thon shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace. So Moses hearkened to the voice ed themselves. and the law of the king, let fudg-, ment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment. THEIR DUTY. of his father-in-law, and did all that he had said. And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard Exod. xviii, 13-15. And it came causes they brought unto Moses, to pass on the morrow, that Moses but every small matter they judg-sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening. And when Moses' father-in-law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even? And Moses said unto his father-in-law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God. Deut. i, 13, 14. Take you wise men, and understanding, and known among your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you. And ye answered me, and said, The thing which thou hast spoken is good for us to do. Deut. xvi, 18. Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment. Deut. xvii, 10-13. And thou shalt do according to the sentence which they of that place which the LORD shall choose shall show thee; and thou shalt observe to do according to all that they inform thee: According to the sentence of the law which they shall teach thee, and according to the judgment which they shall tell thee, thou shalt do: thou shalt not decline from the sentence which they shall show thee, to the right hand nor to the left. And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearker. unto Exod. xxiii, 3, 6, 7. Neither shalt thou countenance a poor man in his cause. Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of the poor in his cause. Keep thee far from a false matter: and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked. Lev. xix, 15. Ye shall do no unshalt not respect the person of the righteousness in judgment; thou poor, nor honour the person of the mighty; but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour. Deut. 1, 16-18. And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously the priest that standeth to minis-between every man and his ter there before the LORD thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel. And all the people shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously. 2 Sam. xv, 3, 4. And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee. Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice. 2 Chron. xix, 5, 8. And he set judges in the land, throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city; Moreover, in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites, and of the priests, and of the chief of the fathers of Israel, for the judgment of the LORD, and for controversies, when they returned to Jerusalem. Ezra vii, 25, 26. And thou Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyoud the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not. And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, brother, and the stranger that is with him. Ye shall not respect persons in judgment, but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man, for the judgment is God's: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it. And I commanded you at that time all the things which ye should do. Deut. xxv, 1. If there be a con troversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked. the judges, Take heed what ye do: 2 Chron. xix, 6-11. And said to for ye judge not for man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment. Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed, and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts. Moreover in Jerusalem did Jehosaphat set of the Levites, and of the priests, and of the chief of the fathers of Israel, for the judgment of the LORD, and for controversies, when they returned to Jerusalem. And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do in the fear of the LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect heart. And what cause soever shall come to you of your brethren that dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and judg ments, ye shall even warn thein that they trespass not against the LORD, and so wrath come upon you, and upon your brethren: this do, and ye shall not trespass. And, behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the LORD; and Zebadial the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, for all the king's matters: also the Levites shall be officers before you. Deal courageously, and the LORD shall be with the good. Prov. xvii, 15. He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemnabomination to the LORD. eth the just, even they both are Prov. xvili, 5. It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment. Prov. xxiv, 23. These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment. Eccles. iii, 16. And, moreover, I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness as there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there. Eccles. v, 8. If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent in a province, marvel not at the perverting of judgment and justice matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they. Jer. v, 28. 29. They are waxen fat, they shine; yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge. Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? 2-WITNESSES. Exod. xxiii, 1, 2. Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness. Thou shalt |