Miscellaneous Discourses in Vol II of the Works - Edwards - VIII - Christian charity concluded

Required reading

Miscellaneous Discourses in Vol 2 of the Works by Jonathan Edwards (Available from Amazon or free here) - Conclude 'Christian charity'.

My summary

Today we finish the discourse on Deuteronomy 15:7-11.

Now Edwards answers the following objections to the the exercise of charity:

Object. I. I am in a natural condition, and if I should give to the poor, I should not do it with a right spirit, and so should get nothing by it;

Object. II. If I be liberal and bountiful, I shall only make a righteousness of it, and so it will do me more hurt than good;

Object. III. I have in times past given to the poor, but never found myself the better for it;

Object. IV. Some may object against charity to such or such particular persons, that they are not obliged to give them any thing; for though they be needy, yet they are not in extremity;

Object. V. Some may object against charity to a particular object, because he is an ill sort of person;

Object. VI. Some may object from their own circumstances, that they have nothing to spare; they have not more than enough for themselves;

Object. VII. Some may object concerning a particular person, that they do not certainly know whether he be an object of charity or not;

Object. VIII. Some may say they are not obliged to give to the poor, till they ask;

Object. IX. He has brought himself to want by his own fault;

Object. X. Some may object and say, Others do not their duty;

Object. XI. The law makes provision for the poor, and obliges the respective towns in which they live to provide for them; therefore some argue, that there is no occasion for particular persons to exercise any charity this way. 

What grabbed me

Great food for thought today.

I think the last objection is a particularly common one in a society like Australia which spends a lot of money on welfare programs: 'Nor do I suppose it was ever the design of the law, requiring the various towns to support their own poor, to cut off all occasion for Christian charity: nor is it fit there should be such a law. It is fit that the law should make provision for those that have no estates of their own; it is not fit that persons who are reduced to that extremity should be left to so precarious a source of supply as a voluntary charity. They are in extreme necessity of relief, and therefore it is fit that there should be something sure for them to depend on. But a voluntary charity in this corrupt world is an uncertain thing. Therefore the wisdom of the legislature did not think fit to leave those who are so reduced, upon such a precarious foundation for subsistence. But I suppose not that it was ever the design of the law to make such provision for all that are in want, as to leave no room for Christian charity.'

Yes, the government is helpful.  But it cannot provide for all that are in want.  Christian charity is still a valuable work of grace.

Next week's reading

Commence Christian Cautions by reading Sections I to III

Now it's your turn

Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.