Ellis on Article XXXVIII: Of Christian men's Goods, which are not common

T HE Riches and Goods of Christians are ® . nor common, as touching the Righr, Ti- tle, and Pofseidion of rhe fame : as certain A- nabaptitts do falsly boast : Notwirhstandin _ every Man ought, of such rhings as he vollel seth, hberally ro give Alms to the Poor, ac- carding to his Ability,

Ob}. 1. The more common any Good is, the better it is; and therefore it were better if the Goods of Christians were common. |

Answ. Ir: were better indeed for others, if Goods were common, but not for him whose Goods they are, and who cannot conveniently part with them. Every one, inthe Order of Charity, is obliged to rake care of himself first; and af after that he gives Alms ac- cording to his Ability, he is ina fair way of Salvation,

Obj. 3. All things are common among Friends,

Answ. That is a true Maxim, as to such thirgs as may be.communicated with Hone-

ity,

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Thirty Nine Articles. 89

sy, and withour the Prejudice of another ; by a volantary, not by accivil and necessary Im- arting : and then again, as ro a Temporal Use, and not a perperual Poss:Hton. Obj. 3.. The Apostles and Primitive Christians

| had all chinzs common, Acts 2. 44.

Answ, That mutual imparting of Goods a- mong the first Christians, was not command=- ed by the Apostle, bur was voluntarily under- taken by the richer forr ; neither was the Pro- priety there taken away : only the Affection of rhe Mind is purines | inasmuch as in Will

’|* and Desire they had all things common *: And

all did not fell their Good : for there are Ex- amples of some thar kepr their own to rhem- selves ; and St. Perer tells us, That it was laws sul, and in their Power ro do ir, As 5. 4. Of another who, even after his Calling, had a House of: his own, wherein Christ entered, Mat. 8. 14. Nay. and Jacheus, even after his Conversion, kepr part of his Riches ro him- self, after he had made Restirution, and giver; bountiful Alms ro the Poor, Luke 19. 8. Every one therefore d:d according ro his own Free- will, and as much as the common Neceffity re- quired. So that the afore-cired place does nor make for those, who confusedly have all things common.

ART. XXXIX. Of a Chrisian Man’s Oath.