Matthew 6:4

Shall reward thee openly] Ay, but when? at the resurrection of the just, Luk 14:14; at that great assize and general assembly he will make honourable mention, in the hearing of angels and men, of all the good deeds of his children; how they have fed the hungry, clothed the naked, &c., that which they had utterly forgotten; not so much as once mentioning their misdoings, Matt. xxv. Yea, he shall take them to heaven with him, where the poor man’s hands have built him a house beforehand, and they shall receive him into everlasting habitations. But what shall he do in the mean while? "feed on faith" (as some read that text, Psa 37:3), live upon reversions. {c} Yea, but while the grass grows the steed starves. But so cannot a merciful man, for he shall have mercy, Mat 5:7; such a mercy as rejoiceth against judgment. Yea, he that can tender mercy to God, may challenge it from God by virtue of his promise; as David doth, "Preserve me, O God, for I am merciful," Psa 86:2. Mercy he shall obtain, 1. In his soul, which shall be like a watered garden, fresh and flourishing. For "the liberal soul shall be made fat; and he that watereth shall be watered himself," Pro 11:25. The spirits of wealth distilled in good works comfort the conscience. 2. So they do the body, too, when sick and languishing, Psa 41:2-3. Mercy is the best cordial, a pillow of repose, a present remedy, Pro 11:17. For if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, thy health shall spring forth speedily, Isa 58:8; Isa 58:10. 3. For his name: the liberal are renowned in the earth, as Abraham, that free hearted housekeeper, no penny father; and Obadiah, that hid and fed the prophets by fifty in a cave. Zaccheus and Cornelius, Gaius and Onesiphorus, how precious are their names! how sweet their remembrance! Who honours not the memorial of Mary for her spikenard, and of Dorcas for her coats and garments? Act 9:39. Whereas "the vile person shall no more be called liberal" (in Christ’s kingdom), nor Nabal, Nadib, "the churl bountiful," Isa 32:5; Isa 4:1-6. For his estate: the most gainful art is almsgiving, saith Chrysostom. The poor man’s bosom and the orphan’s mouth are the surest chest, saith another. Whatsoever we scatter to the poor, we gather for ourselves, saith a third. {d} What we give to the poor, we lend to the Lord, who accounts himself both gratified and engaged thereby, Pro 19:17. Neither will he fail to bless the liberal man’s stock and store, Deu 15:10, so that his righteousness and his riches together shall endure for ever, Psa 112:3; Psa 5:1-12. Lastly, his seed shall be mighty upon earth, Psa 112:2. The son of such a tenant that paid his rent duly, shall not be put out of his farm, Psa 37:26. And that proverb is proven false by common experience, "Happy is that son whose father goeth to the devil;" for ill-gotten goods usually come to nothing; the third heir seldom enjoyeth them, {e} unless it be here and there one, that by repentance breaketh off, and healeth his father’s sin by mercifulness to the poor, that the property may be altered, and so his tranquillity lengthened. Oh, therefore, that rich men would be "rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate" (ευμεταδοτους), 1Ti 6:18-19 (which was a piece of praise used to be ascribed to the ancient kings of Egypt). This, this were the way to "lay up for themselves a sure foundation;" yea, to "lay fast hold on eternal life;" when those that withhold their very crumbs shall not obtain a drop with Dives , whom to vex and upbraid, Lazarus was laid in the bosom of liberal Abraham. Artaxerxes Longimanus quod manum haberet alteram longiorem, addere, dictitabat, esse magis regium, quam detrahere. (Plutarch.)

{a} Deus theatrum suum habet in latebris. Bucer.

{b} Thales interrogatus, num lateret Deos homo iniuste agens, respondit, Ne cogitans quidem. Βλεπειν παρα το βαλλειν ωπας, ab adieciendo oculos. Beza.

{c} Non igitur est dispendium eleemosyna sub conscientia Dei data, sed maximum compendium et praeclarissima negotiatio. Musculus. Domum in coelis manus pauperum aedificat. Chrysostom, Pascere fide. Junius.

{d} Eleemosgna ars omnium quae studiosissima. Chrysostom. Manus pauperum gazophylacium Christi. Quicquid pauperibus spargimus nobis colligimus.

{e} De male quae sitis vix gaudet tertius haeres. Horace.