De Regno Christi: Selections

p. 5THE ORDER OFF THE prouision for the poore.

ALMYGTIE God that setteth up the Humble, and pulleth downe the Proude, that gyueth richesse, ād taketh it away, plainlie commaundeth his people, that thei shulde not suffer any to lacke emonge theim. Whiche commaundement the primatyue Churche of Christe at Hierusalem kept with all reuerence and deuotion: wherbie there was suche aboundaunce of Almese geuen by Good men, as relieued eueryemans necessitie, and so emonge theim there was not one, that was not prouided for. Afterwarde, that this prouision and gatheringe for the poore might be the better loked unto, and contynew, the Apostelles inspired with the hollie goste, by cōsent of the hole cōgregation, appoynted to that Ministerie seuen Men of honest reporte and fame, full of the hollie goste, and wisdom, on whom thei layde their handes, for a signe of their admission. And so this ordenaunce and prouision for the poore was uery deuoutlie obserued, till Antichrist with his fluddes of wyckednes, ouerflowed the Churche of Christ. Those that were called to that hollie ministerie, were named the Deacons of the Churche: who albeit thei ought to be assistaunt to the Elders of the p. 6Congregation, in the conseruation and execution of the Discipline of Christe, and the Administration of the Sacramentes: yet their chief Office and duetie was, to kepe the names of the poore in the Congregation of the Christians, to knowe euerye mans lif, and behauiour, And of the commen Almose of the faithfull, to distribute to euerye one, asmuche as was sufficient for his necessarie relieffe. For those that may gette their lyuinge by their labour and trauayl, and wil not, ought to be put out of the Churche: He that do the not labour, let him not eate, saith the Apostell. Sith then it is the cōmaundement of god, to relieue the poore and neadie, and to see that none lacke: all suche as mynde fullie to receaue the Kingdom of Christe, ought to labour earnestlie, that this ordenaunce be restored in to Christes Churche. For those that haue the goodes of the worlde and see their Brethern lacke, and haue not compassion on theim: the loue of good dothe not dwell in theim, and so also neither the Kingdom of Christe is in theim.

p. 6And all those that heare Christe, and the hollie goste, wil indeuour and laboure to ordayne and do all good thinges in suche order and maner, as thei knowe the lorde, and the hollie goste hathe appoynted.

And sith it is manifest, that god earnestlie forbadde, p. 7that his people shoulde suffer eny to beg emōge theim, and that his goodnes also ordeyned, that the poore shoulde be loked unto by certayn chosen men in the Churche, and that good mens deuotions shoulde be distributed to euerye nedie persone, as his necessitie requireth: it is with out all doubt, that all those pray with out deuotion, Let thy Kyngdom come, which to their power, do not bestowe all their endouour, that this maner of prouidinge for the poore, be restored in to the Churche, whiche the lorde him self commaunded, and the hollie gost in the prymytiue churche ordayned.

By the whiche meanes it shalbe preuented, that these wicked Begginge houses, and subtiltie off Hypocrites, shall not take from thee nedie menbres of Christ, the Almose that is due to theim: nor Ambition of mans praise, and thanckes, nor uayne glorie, shall defile the right office of Almose, whiche euell how muche it ought to be eschued, Christ uery playnlie taught, when he commaunded, so to geue Almose, as the left hande may not knowe, what the right hande dothe. This may best be doone, if euerie man put into the Comen Chest, or Boxe of the Churche, to the use of the poore, asmuche as he may spare of that God geueth him. For when euery man him self will distribute his owne Almose, p. 8frist the Institution of the hollie gost, and the lawfull Communion, Compainie, and Felowship of Saintes is broken. Besydes thalmose due to the litle ones of Christ, and so to Christ him self, is gyuen oftener to the unworthie, then to the worthie (for euerye man can not knowe and trie suche poore people as he meeteth sodenlie) and also suche as be not meete to haue Almose, come better instructed to beg, yea, as it were to wringe out the Almose of A mans Purse with paynted wordes, then those to whom it onlie ought to be geuen. Moreouer when A man geueth Almose with his owne hande, he dothe hardlie put out of his mynde the desyre of mens thāckes and uayne prayses, which uaine rewarde when he receaueth of men: he may not ◊eke for the true and perfet rewarde of god. And fynallie, when it is most certein, that suche as gyue theim selfes wilfullie to the trade of Begginge, be geuen and bent to all myschieff: what other thinge do thei that nourishe theim, then maynteyne and encreace the greatest Pestilences and destructions off A commen welthe? Wherfore all suche as haue wiselie writen how commen welthes shoulde be well gouerned, haue thought that suche persones were not to be suffred in A comen welthe. And certaynlie men ought to be ashamed and lament when this right maner of prouision p. 9for the pore is restored in manye contrays, whiche yet be under Antichrist: suche as uaunte thei haue receaued the Gospell of Christe, and professe to be off his Kingdom, be slacke to restore it, yea be hynderers off it, seinge it is an ordenaunce of Christes Religion so necessarie, and so holsom.

p. 9To conclude, who so euer dothe not carefullie endeuour, asmuche as he may, to restore this hollie ordenaunce off the Prouision for the poore, as the lorde hathe commaunded, and the hollie gost ordayned: He dothe playnlie beare witnes off himself, that he dothe not in deade knowe, nor perfetlie desyre Christe, and his Kingdō, how muche so euer in wordes he boast of Christe, and his Kyngdom.