Riches increased by giving - Gouge - V

Required reading
Riches increased by giving by Thomas Gouge (Available from Amazon or free here) - Continue by reading up to the section beginning 'I told you before that I was anxious to do you a kindness, and that you may be benefited by the consideration of this all important duty, I must farther tell you, not only what you should do, but how you must do it, that you may not lose your reward. And if you would make sure to be gainers by whatever you thus lay out, observe the following directions:—'.

My summary
Now Gouge turns to the application of the doctrine of giving.

Firstly he gives reproof to unmerciful men.

Then Gouge shows us the miseries of uncharitable people:
(i) they are accursed here in every thing;
(ii) they are cursed hereafter;
(iii) the wants and necessities of the poor cry aloud to heaven against them;
(iv) God rejects their religious exercises.

Then Gouge exhorts all Christians to examine themselves for generosity.  This is followed by further teaching about the blessing of being generous.

What grabbed me
Challenging words from Gouge: 'For who can say he loves the Lord Jesus Christ in truth and sincerity, when he suffers his ministers and members to want necessaries, even food and raiment? Is this thy love to Christ, to suffer him to be in want? It is evident thou lovest thy money more than Christ, and so comest under that fearful anathema, 1 Cor 16:22. "If any love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema maranatha:" these two words, though both denoting a curse, are of two several languages. The former word "anathema," is a Greek word, signifying accursed: so it is used, Rom 9:3; Gal 1:8. The latter is a Syriac word, as Beza observeth in his annotation on 1 Cor 16:22, yet frequently used by the Jews: it signifieth, "our Lord cometh." Maran is our Lord, and atha cometh; intimating that such as were under this curse, were to expect no mercy, but to look for the dreadful coming of Christ to take vengeance on them. So that, as St. James speaketh, "Such shall have judgment without mercy, that sheweth no mercy," James 2:13. How do they think to find mercy from Christ, who never shewed mercy to him and his!'

You cannot claim to love Christ and yet not be generous.

Next week's reading
Continue by reading up to the section beginning 'Rich men therefore ought to be rich in good works, for God expecteth fruit answerable to the seed which he soweth.'

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.