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2 lines
1.5 KiB
HTML
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<p>This shows what evil courses rich men sometimes take, by which, in the end, they will impoverish themselves and provoke God, notwithstanding their abundance, to bring them to want; they <i>oppress the poor and give to the rich</i>. 1. They will not in charity relieve the poor, but withhold from them, that by saving that which is really the best, but which they think the most needless part of their expenses, they may <i>increase their riches</i>; but they will make presents <i>to the rich</i>, and give them great entertainments, either in pride and vain-glory, that they may look great, or in policy, that they may receive it again with advantage. Such <i>shall surely come to want</i>. Many have been beggared by a foolish generosity, but never any by a prudent charity. Christ bids us to invite the poor, <a class="bibleref" title="Luke.14.12,Luke.14.13" href="/passage/?search=Luke.14.12,Luke.14.13"><span class="bibleref" title="Luke.14.12">Luke 14:12</span>, <span class="bibleref" title="Luke.14.13">13</span></a>. 2. They not only will not relieve <i>the poor</i>, but they <i>oppress</i> them, rob the spital, extort from their poor tenants and neighbours, invade the rights of those who have not wherewithal to defend themselves, and then <i>give</i> bribes <i>to the rich</i>, to protect and countenance them in it. But it is all in vain; they <i>shall come to want</i>. Those that rob God, and so make him the enemy, cannot secure themselves by <i>giving to the rich</i>, to make them their friends.</p>
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