_Miranda_ never wants compassion even to _common beggars_; especially those that are old or sick, or full of sores, and that want eyes or limbs. _Miranda_ considers that _Lazarus_ was a common beggar, that notwithstanding he was the care of angels, and carried into _Abraham_’s bosom. She considers that our blessed Saviour and his apostles, were kind to beggars; that they spoke comfortably to them, healed their diseases, and restored eyes and limbs to the lame and blind. She therefore hears their complaints with tenderness, and never bids them go to the place from whence they came, or tells them that she cannot relieve them because they may be cheats, or that they are strangers; but she relieves them for that very reason because they are strangers; and though she cannot, like our Saviour and his Apostles, work miracles for their relief, yet she remembers the words of our LORD, “I was a stranger and ye took me in,” and can say with St. _Peter_, “such as I have, give I unto you, in the name of JESUS of _Nazareth_.”
It may be, says _Miranda_, that I may sometimes give to those who do not deserve it. But where, says she, has the scripture made merit to be the rule or measure of my charity? On the contrary, does not the scripture speak on this wise, “if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink.” And if I am to love and do good to my worst enemies, surely I am not to deny alms to poor beggars, whom I neither know to be bad people, nor any way my enemies? Does not GOD make his sun to rise on the evil and on the good? Is not this the very goodness that is recommended to us in scripture? that by imitating it, “we may be children of our father who is in heaven, who sendeth rain on the just and the unjust.”
Perhaps you will reply, “By this means I encourage people to be beggars.” But may not the same objection be made against all kinds of charities, for they may encourage people to depend upon them? May not the same be said against forgiving our enemies, cloathing the naked, or giving medicines to the sick? for in so doing we may encourage people to do us hurt or neglect themselves, and be careless of their health. Such thoughtless objections, says _Miranda_, I once urged myself, when in a state of unregeneracy: but since the love of GOD has dwelt in me, and enlarged my heart, I have been filled with bowels of compassion; and as I daily pray for all, so far as I can, I give to all. And I cannot refuse an alms to those, whom I pray GOD to bless, and whom I wish to be partakers of eternal glory. I look on those who come to ask my alms, as so many friends and benefactors, that come to do me a greater good than they can receive from me; that come to _exalt_ my graces, and be witnesses of my charity; to be monuments of my love, and put it in my power of proving the truth of that glorious declaration “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
This is the spirit, and this is the life of the devout _Miranda_; and if she lives ten years longer, she will have spent six-thousand pounds in charity; for that which she allows herself, may fairly be reckoned amongst her alms.
When she dies, she must shine amongst Apostles, saints and martyrs, she must stand amongst the first servants of GOD, and be glorious amongst those that have fought the good fight, and finished their course with joy.
“He that hath ears to hear let him hear.”