Lewis Bayly - Of a Private Fast (#3 Of the Manner Part 8)
January 12th, 2007 by Nicholas Chorba
2. Of the Rewards of Alms-deeds and Good Works
1. Alms are a special means to move God in mercy to turn away his temporal judgments from us, when we by a true faith, that sheweth itself by such fruits, do return to him (Daniel 4:27).
2. Merciful alms-givers shall be the children of the Highest (Luke 6:35-36), and be like their Father, who is the Father of mercies (2 Corinthians 1:3). They shall be his stewards, to dispose his goods (Luke 16:1); his hands, to distribute his alms: and if it be so great an honour to be the king’s almoner, how much greater is it to be the God of heaven’s alms-giver?
3. When all this world shall forsake us, then only good works and good angels shall accompany us, the one to receive their reward (Revelation 14:13), the other to deliver their charge (Luke 16:22; Psalm 91:11; Hebrews 1:14).
4. Liberality in alms-deeds is our surest foundation that we shall obtain, in eternal life, a liberal reward through the merits and mercy of Christ (1 Timothy 6:19).
Lastly, By alms-deeds we feed and relieve Christ in his members; and Christ at the last day will acknowledge our love, and reward us in his mercy (Matthew 25); and then it shall appear, that what we gave to tte poor was not lost, but lent unto the Lord (Proverbs 19:17). What, greater motives can a Christian wish, to excite him to be a liberal alms-giver?
Thus far of the manner of fasting: Now follow the ends.
