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.
_Quest._ VI. Should one devote or set by a certain part of daily incomes?
_Quest._ VII. What proportion is a man bound to give to the poor?
_Answ._ These two questions having answered in a letter to Mr. Thomas Gouge, now printed, and the book being not in many hands, I will here recite that letter as it is published.
Most dear, and very much honoured brother,
Even the philosopher hath taught me so to esteem you, who said, that "He is likest to God, who needeth fewest things for himself, and doth most good to others." And Christ telleth us, that universal charity (extending even to them that hate and persecute us) doth make us, as his children, like our heavenly Father, Matt. v. 44-46, 48. As hating and hurting their neighbours is the mark of the children of the devil, (John viii. 44,) so loving and doing good is the mark of the children of God. And it is observable, that no one treateth so copiously and pathetically of love (both of Christ's love to us, and ours to him) as the blessed disciple, whom Jesus is said to have eminently loved (as John xiii. 14-17, and 1 John, show).
It hath often pleased me to hear how dearly you were beloved, by that exceeding great and populous parish, where lately you were preacher, for your eminent charity to their souls and bodies; and to see that still you take it for your work and calling, to be a provoker of others to love and to good works, Heb. x. 24; whilst many that are taken for good christians, do deal in such works as rarities or recreations, only a little now and then upon the by, and whilst Satan's ministers are provoking others to hatred and to hurtfulness.
Your labour is so amiable to me, that it would contribute to my comforts, if I were able to contribute any thing to your assistance.
You desire me to give you my judgment of the _quota pars_; What proportion it is meet for most men to devote to charitable uses; whether the tenth part of their increase be not ordinarily a fit proportion?
The reason why I use not to answer such questions without much distinguishing (when lazy, impatient readers would have them answered in a word) is, because the real difference of particular cases is so great, as maketh it necessary; unless we will deceive men, or leave the matter as dark and unresolved as we found it.