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

Are not common] The very Precepts about communi- cating to, and relieving the Poor, shew that it 1s. every Man’s own Preperty, out of which he is thus obliged to relieve them. For he who thus communicates to them, communicates out of his own proper Possessions; and if all Things were common, then as no one would be rich, so neither would any one be poor.—Sce Adds v. 4. Il pile it remained, was it na! thine own ? and after it was sold, as it not in thine ewn Power ? And Rom. XiiI. 7. Render to all their Dues; Tribute to whom Tribute is due, Custom to whom Cuflom. And 2 Thefj. iii. 12. Now them that are

such we command, and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that

with Qwetness they work, and eat their own Bread. — Ste also Clement of Alexandria. How much better is it, on e the contrary, for a Man, by possessing a Competency, & to be free from the Hardships of Want, and to be able « to relieve those whom it is proper to relieve? For what „Means would there be left for any one to communicate « to others, if no one possessed any T hing of his own ! How „ manifestly would this Doctrine be found to contradict &« several of our Lord’s excellent Precepts, and particularly this, Make to yourselves Priends of the Maminen of Un- „ righteousness, that when ye fail, they may receive you into e everla/iing Habitations ? How shall any one give Meat * to the Hungry or give Drink to the Thirsty, or clothe the „ Naked, or take the Stranger in (against those who ne- „ glect to do which, he denounces Hell Fire, and outer * Darkness) if every one was first to be deprived of the

«& Means

:

. „

„ e 4 rg,

of the Church of ENGLAND. B7

• Means of doing all these Things.” —See also the Ha-

mily of Alms-deeds. Certain Anabaptists] Especially those of Germany, of see Skideni whom Thomas Muncer was the Ring-leader. Comment.

Ought to give Alms, &c. ] See 1 Tim. vi. 17, 18. Charge . 5 & 10.

them that are rich in this World, that they do GD that thev be rich in good Worts, ready to distribute, willing to communicate.