because he would 1have continual trial of his people, whether they loved him or no, that in showing them selves obedient unto his will, they might certainly assure them selves of his love and favour towards them, and nothing doubt, but that as his law and ordinances (wherein he commanded them that they should open their hand unto their brethren that were poor and needy in the land) were accepted of them, and willingly performed: So he would on his part lovingly accept them, and truly perform his promises that he had made unto them. The holy Apostles and disciples of Christ, who by reason of his daily conversation, saw by his deeds, and heard in his doctrine, how much he tendered the poor: the godly fathers also, that were both before and ⟨p. 319⟩since Christ, endued without doubt with the holy ghost, and most certainly certified of Gods holy will: they both do most earnestly exhort us, and in all their writings almost, continually admonish us, that we would remember the poor, and bestow our charitable aims upon them. Saint Paul crieth unto us after this sort, Comfort 2the feeble minded, lift up the weak, and be charitable toward all men. And again, To do 3good to the poor, and to distribute aims gladly, see that thou do not forget, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Isaiah the Prophet teacheth 4on this wise, Deal thy bread to the hungry, and bring the poor wandering, home to thy house. When thou seest the naked, see thou cloth him, and hide not thy face from thy poor neighbour, neither despise thou thine own flesh. And the holy father Tobi giveth this counsel, 5Give alms (sayeth he) of thine own goods, and turn never thy face from the poor, eat thy bread with the hungry, and cover the naked with thy clothes. And the learned and godly doctor Chrysostom giveth this admonition, Let 6merciful alms be always with us, as a garment, that is, as mindful as we will be to put our garments upon us, to cover our nakedness, to defend us from the cold, and to show our selves comely: So mindful let us be at all times and seasons, that we give alms to the poor, & show our selves merciful towards them. But what mean these often admonitions & earnest exhortations of the prophets, apostles, fathers, & holy doctors?
because he woulde 1haue continual trial of his people, whether they loued him or no, that in shewing them selues obedient vnto his will, they might certaynlye assure them selues of his loue and fauour towardes them, and nothing doubte, but that as his lawe and ordinaunces (wherein he commaunded them that they shoulde open their hande vnto their brethren that were poore and needye in the lande) were accepted of them, and willingly perfourmed: So he woulde on his part louyngly accept them, and truely perfourme his promises that he had made vnto them. The holy Apostles and disciples of Christ, who by reason of his dayly conuersation, saw by his deedes, and heard in his doctrine, how much he tendered the poore: the godly fathers also, that were both before and ⟨p. 319⟩since Christ, indued without doubt with the holy ghost, and most certaynly certified of Gods holy wil: they both do most earnestly exhort vs, and in all their wrytinges almost, continually admonishe vs, that we woulde remember the poore, and bestowe our charitable aimes vppon them. Saint Paul cryeth vnto vs after this sort, Comfort 2the feeble mynded, lift vp the weake, and be charitable toward all men. And agayne, To do 3good to the poore, and to distribute aimes gladly, see that thou do not forget, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Esai the Prophete teacheth 4on this wyse, Deale thy bread to the hungrye, and bring the poore wandering, home to thy house. When thou seest the naked, see thou cloth him, and hyde not thy face from thy poore neighbour, neyther despise thou thyne owne fleshe. And the holy father Tobi geueth this councell, 5Geue almes (sayeth he) of thine owne goodes, and turne neuer thy face from the poore, eate thy bread with the hungry, and couer the naked with thy clothes. And the learned and godly doctour Chrisostome geueth this admonition, Let 6mercifull almes be alwayes with vs, as a garment, that is, as mindefull as we will be to put our garmentes vpon vs, to couer our nakednes, to defende vs from the colde, and to shewe our selues comely: So mindfull let vs be at al times and seasons, that we geue almes to the poore, & shewe our selues mercifull towardes them. But what meane these often admonitions & ernest exhortations of the prophetes, apostles, fathers, & holy doctours?
- 1Deut. 15.
- 2i. Thes. v.
- 3Heb. 13.
- 4Isaiah. liii.Esai. liii.
- 5Tobi. iiii.
- 6Ad pop. Anto. Hom. 35.
