A commentary or, exposition upon the divine second epistle general, writtenA commentary or, exposition vpon the diuine second epistle generall, written

What men charitably divide, they shall only find: of all, what I gave, that I have. This division is not loss but gain: it is sent before to be kept safe in the best coffer.^d The bread cast upon the waters, shall be found again after many days. The truly rich man is not discerned by his plate, nor bags, nor wardrobe; but bounty: not by multiplication but by division. Other men possess riches as sick men fevers which indeed rather possess them. Good alms are like Ambassadors, sent liegers abroad to secure the rest at home. We have many of Saint James's Almoners, James 2.16. God bless you; but they bless you without a cross: would I were able to help you; able! herein they wish well to themselves only. As the Tenant said to his Land-lord; would I could give you this farm? what then said the Land-lord? you should never have it, quoth the Tenant. They ⟨p. 108⟩wish themselves Facultatem non voluntatem; money not mercy. The poor may say to them as the beggar said to the Bishop: if such wishes were worth a halfpenny they would not be so liberal. Well, divide it thy self, or it shall be done for thee. Accumulationem dissipatio sequitur: the father could not be more cunning at the rake, than the son will be at the pitchfork. The moneys that were formerly chested like caged birds, will wing it merrily when he sets them a flying. c He begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand: if at least they be not gone before he comes at them, Luk. 12.20. Thou fool, then whose shall these things be? yea, whose shalt thou thy self be? and that is the harder question. f When he dieth he shall carry nothing away: but death comes and there's a Division indeed. Read James 5.2. The moth shall divide his cloth, the rust his gold: this is not all; the world shall divide his goods, infamy his name, the earth his body, terror his conscience, and hell his uncharitable soul. Wilt thou not divide, O worldling? thou shalt be divided. Your twenty in the hundred will not believe this, but a hundred to twenty he shall feel this. But let us divide our goods by charity, and Christ will gather up our souls in mercy.