The second tome of homilies of such matters as were promised, and entitled in…The second tome of homilees of such matters as were promised, and intituled in…

Concerning the first, which is the acceptation and dignity or price of alms deeds before God: Know this, that to help and succour the poor in their need and misery, pleaseth God so much, that as the holy scripture in sundry places recordeth, nothing can be more thankfully taken or accepted of God. For first we read, that almighty God doeth account that to be given and to be bestowed upon himself, that is bestowed upon the poor. For so doth the holy ghost testify unto us by the wise man, saying, He that hath pity upon the poor, lendeth unto the lord ¹him self. And Christ in the Gospel aduouche••, and as a most certain trueth, bindeth it with an oath, that the alms bestowed upon the poor, was bestowed upon him, & so shall be reckoned at the last day. For thus he saith to the charitable alms givers, when he sitteth as judge in the doom, to give sentence of every man according to his deserts: Verily I say unto you, whatsoever good & merciful deed you did ²upon any of the least of these my brethren, ye did the same unto me. In relieving their hunger, ye relieved mine, in quenching their thirst, ye quenched mine, in clothing them, ye clothed me, and when ye harboured them, ye lodged me also, when ⟨p. 318⟩ye visited them being sick or in prison, ye visited me. For as he that receiveth a Princes ambassadors, and entertaineth them well, doth honour the Prince, from whom those ambassadors do come: So he that receiveth the poor and needy, and helpeth them in their affliction and distress, doth thereby receive and honour Christ their master, who as he was poor and needy him self, whilst he lived here amongst us, to work the mystery of our salvation, so at his departure hence, he promised in his stead, to send unto us those that were poor, by whose means his absence should be supplied: and therefore that we would do unto him, we must do unto them. And for this cause doth almighty God say unto Moses, The land wherein you dwell, shall never be without poor men:

Concerning the first, which is the acceptation and dignitie or pryce of almes deedes before God: Knowe this, that to helpe and succour the poore in their neede and miserie, pleaseth God so much, that as the holy scripture in sundry places recordeth, nothyng can be more thankfullye taken or accepted of God. For firste we reade, that almightie God doeth accounte that to be geuen and to be bestowed vpon himselfe, that is bestowed vppon the poore. For so doth the holy ghost testifie vnto vs by the wyse man, saying, He that hath pitie vpon the poore, lendeth vnto the lord