POVERTY. Voluntary Poverty is commended, in the Gospel, as the first of the Matth. v. 3.Beatitudes: Jesus Christ has sanctify’d it in his own Person, and in that of his Parents; in that of his Apostles, and of the most perfect of his Disciples. But Involuntary Poverty, especially when it is extreme, can only be consider’d as a Consequence of Sin, and as a Punishment from God. Solomon besought Prov. xxx. 8.the Lord, to give him neither Poverty nor Riches; that is, he look’d upon both Extremes, as two dandangerous Rocks to Vertue: He asked only for what was convenient for him; Mendicitatem & divitias ne dederis mihi, tribue tantùm victui meo necessaria: Nothing is more earnestly recommended in the Ancient Law, and also in the New, than Alms and Compassion to the Poor.
Deut. xvii. 11, 12.Moses would have them to be admitted to the religious Feasts that were celebrated in the Temple; and order’d, that in the Fields, in the Vineyards, and upon the Trees, something should be left on purpose Lev. xix. 10. & xxiii. 22. Exod. xxiii. 11.for them; that in the Sabbathical Years and the Years of Jubilee, all should be left in common for the Poor, the Widow, and the Orphan. He commanded them to lend to the Poor, and acquainted them that the Poor should never be wanting in the Country, but that they should always have Opportunity to bestow their Alms. That if Deut. xv. 8, 9. Deut. xxiv. 12, 14. Matth. xix. 21. Luke xviii. 22.any Pledge be taken from the Poor, they shall not enter their Houses to take it by Force, but shall receive what is offer’d; and that if the Poor is forced to give his Goods or his Cloaths, they shall be restor’d him at Night, that he may have wherewith to cover himself. Jesus Christ has above all carry’d this Point of the Law of Moses, concerning Alms-giving, to its highest Pitch of Perfection; he has practised it himself, he has recommended it to his Disciples, and has inspired his Servants with the tenderest Charity towards the Poor. He advised those that would in earnest become his Disciples, to sell all that they had, and give it to the Poor. He gives us excellent Rules for the practising of Charity, and avoiding Vain-glory and Ostentation, which otherwise may be the Occasion of losing all the Fruits of our Charity. See Matth. vi. 1, 2, 3, 4.
The Jews take great Care of the Poor Leo of Modena, of the Ceremonies of the Jews, p. 1. c. 14.of their Nation. In most considerable Cities they have several establish’d Societies, on purpose for the Poor. One of ‘em, for Example, receives Alms for such Poor as are too modest to ask for themselves; another makes a Gathering for the Redemption of Captives; a third for providing Portions for poor Maidens. Besides which, there are two Persons appointed for the ordinary Collection, which is made every Sabbath-day. They go from House to House, without ever parting, that they may not be liable to the Suspicion of violating their Trust; and when they distribute what they have gather’d, they call a third Person to their Assistance. Every Saturday the Parnassim, or Judges of the Synagogue, give to each poor Person wherewith to maintain themselves and Family for the whole following Week.
When any one is found to be under any urgent Necessity, and which exceeds their ordinary Charities, the Chanter passes thro’ the Synagogue, and says, to all those that promise their Relief, Blessed be such an one, who gives for such an Occasion. Every one promises according as he is disposed, and afterwards they gather from House to House what has been promis’d; for the Jews meddle not with Money on the Saturday. These Promises are always strictly perform’d. If the Synagogue of the Place is not thought to be sufficient for the present Occasion, they give out a Certificate, which they send to other Synagogues, who receive it into their Houses, and give their Contributions to it both publick and private.
Vide apud Selden. de Jure Nat. & Gent. l. 6. c. 6.‘Tis a Maxim of the Talmudists, that a poor Man ought never to be sent away empty-handed, even tho’ we could afford him but a Grain of Wheat. According to them, the least charitable should give a tenth part of their Estate, and others as far as a fifth part. Nor is it sufficient to relieve the Poor in his present Necessity, but he must be cloathed suitably to his Birth and Education; and he must have a Horse and a Slave bought for him, if he had such before he fell into Poverty. Those that refuse the Rates they are assessed at, are punish’d by the Judges, as they formerly were by the Sanhedrim, who condemned them to the Penalty of the Whip, ‘till they had satisfy’d what had been demanded of them. Maimonides says, that sometimes Entry was made into their Houses, and Pledges were forcibly taken for such Alms as were due from them.