Secondly, the worke• of Charity towards our brethren; are, forgiving wrongs, 1remitting debts to the poor ⟨p. 648⟩that are not well able to pay:2 but especially in giving Alms to the poor, that want relief and sustenance. Else we shall *under pretence of godliness, practise miserableness, like those who will pinch their own bellies to defraud their labouring Servants of their due allowance. As therefore Christ joined Fasting, Prayer, and Alms together in precept: so must thou join them together,4 with Cornelius, in practise. And therefore be sure to give at the least so much to the *poor, on thy Fasting day: as thou wouldest have spent in thine own diet, if thou haddest not fasted that day. And remember, that he that soweth plenteously ⟨p. 649⟩shall reap plenteously, and that this is a special sowing day. Let thy Fasting so 6afflict thee, that it may refresh a poor Christian, and rejoice that thou hast dined and supped in another: or rather that thou hast feasted hungry Christ in his poor members.
Secondly, the worke• of Charity towards our brethren; are, forgiuing wrongs, 1remitting debts to the poore ⟨p. 648⟩that are not vvell able to pay:2 but especially in giuing Almes to the poore, that vvant reliefe and sustenance. Else wee shall *vnder pretence of godlinesse, practise miserablenesse, like those who will pinch their owne bellies to defraud their labouring Seruants of their due allowance. As therefore Christ ioyned Fasting, Prayer, and Almes together in precept: so must thou ioyne them together,4 with Cornelius, in practise. And therefore be sure to giue at the least so much to the *poore, on thy Fasting day: as thou vvouldest haue spent in thine owne diet, if thou haddest not fasted that day. And remember, that he that soweth plenteously ⟨p. 649⟩shall reape plenteously, and that this is a speciall sowing day. Let thy Fasting so 6afflict thee, that it may refresh a poore Christian, and reioyce that thou hast dined and supped in another: or rather that thou hast feasted hungry Christ in his poore members.
- 1Isa. 58.6. &c
- 2Isay 58.6. &c. Zach. 7.9.10.
- *Qui jeiunat ut parcat, non ad Dei gloriam jeiunat, sed substantiae suae parcit. Chrysost. in Mat.Qui ieiunat vt parcat, non ad Dei gloriam ieiunat, sed substantiae suae parcit. Chrysost. in Mat.
- 4Mat. 6. Act. 10.30.31.
- *Non Deo, sed sibi jeiunat qui quae •d tempus subtrahit, non inopibus subtrahit: sed ventri postmodum offerenda custodit. Greg. in Pastor. ca. 44.Non Deo, sed sibi ieiunat qui quae •d tempus subtrahit, non inopibus subtrahit: sed ventri postmodum offerenda custodit. Greg. in Pastor. ca. 44.
- 62 Cor. 9.6. Jeiunium tuum te casliget, sed alterum laetificet. Aug. ser. de temp. 64. Accipiat esuricus Christus, quod jeiuna•s minus accepit Christianus. Aug. de temp. ser. 157 Beatus qui jeiunat, ut alat pauperem: imitatur enim Christū, qui animam suam posui• pro fratribus suis. Cyril. in Levit. lib. 10.2 Cor. 9.6. Ieiunium tuum te casliget, sed alterum laetificet. Aug. ser. de temp. 64. Accipiat esuricus Christus, quod ieiuna•s minus accepit Christianus. Aug. de temp. ser. 157 Beatus qui ieiunat, vt alat pauperem: imitatur enim Christū, qui animam suam posui• pro fratribus suis. Cyril. in Leuit. lib. 10.
