7. It is an excellent work to give among poor ignorant people, Bibles and catechisms, and some plain and godly books which are most fitted to their use. But it were more excellent to leave a settled revenue for this use, (naming the books, and choosing meet trustees,) that so the rent might every year furnish a several parish, which would in a short time be a very extensive benefit, and go through many countries.
8. It is a very good work to set poor men's children apprentices to honest, religious masters, where they may at once get the blessing to their souls of a godly education, and to their bodies, of an honest way of maintenance.
9. It will not be unacceptable to God, to relieve some of the persons, or poor children, of those very many hundred faithful ministers of Christ, who are now silenced and destitute of maintenance, many having nothing at all, but what charity sendeth them, to maintain themselves and desolate families, who were wont to exercise charity to the bodies and souls of others. Read Matt. xxv.; Gal. vi. 5-8.
10. It is a good work of them who give stocks of money, or yearly rents, to be lent for five, or six, or seven years to young tradesmen, at their setting up, upon good security, choosing good trustees, who may choose the fittest persons; and if it be a rent, it will still increase the stock, and if any should break, the loss of it may be borne.
11. It would be a very good work for landlords to improve their interest with their tenants, to further at once their bodily comfort and salvation, to hire them by some abatement at their rent days, to learn catechisms, and read the Scripture and good books in their families, and give the pastor an account of their proficience. Whether the law will enable them to bind them to any such thing in their leases, I cannot tell.
12. And the present work of charity for every one, is to relieve the most needy which are next at hand. To know what poor families are in greatest want, and to help them as we are able; and to provoke the rich to do that which we cannot do ourselves, and to beg for others; and still to make use of bodily relief, to further the good of their souls, by seconding all with spiritual advice and help.
Quest. IV. In what order are works of charity to be done? And whom must we prefer when we are unable to accommodate all?
Answ. 1. The most public works must be preferred before private. 2. Works for the soul, cæteris paribus, before works for the body; and yet bodily benefits in order of time, must oft go first as preparations to the other. 3. Greatest necessities, cæteris paribus, must be supplied before lesser: the saving of another's life must be preferred before your own less necessary comforts. 4. Your own and families' wants must, cæteris paribus, be supplied before strangers; even before some that you must love better; because God hath in point of provision and maintenance, given you a nearer charge of yourselves and families than of others. 5. Nature also obligeth you to prefer your kindred before strangers, if there be a parity as to other reasons. 6. And, cæteris paribus, a good man must be preferred before a bad. 7. And yet that charity which is like to tend to the good of the soul as well as of the body is to be preferred; and in that case ofttimes a bad man is to be preferred, when a greater good is like to be the effect. 8. A friend, cæteris paribus, is to be preferred before an enemy; but not when the good is like to be greater which will follow the relieving of an enemy. Many other rules might be given, but they are laid down already, part i. chap. where I treat of good works; whither I refer you.
Quest. V. Should I give in my lifetime, or at my death?
Answ. According as it is like to do most good; but none should needlessly delay: both are best.