A Golden Chain

III. Case of Restitution.

Whether he that repents is to make restitution if he have taken any thing wrongfully from his neighbour? Ans. Yea, Zacheus, when he repented and received Christ, gave half of his goods to the poor, and if he had taken any thing by forged cavillation, he restored it four fold. ¹It is but a bad practise when a man on his death bed will very devoutly bequeath his soul to God, and his goods evil gotten (as his conscience will often cry in his ear) to his children and friends, without either restitution or amends making. Quest. But what if a man be not able to restore? Ans. Let him acknowledge the fault, and God will accept the will for thee deed. As Paul sayeth in the like case:² If there be a willing mind, it is accepted according to that which a man hath, and not according to that which a man hath not. Quest. When a man by restoring shall discredit himself: how shall he restore and keep his credit? Ans. Let him (if the thing to be restored be of small moment) make choice of some faithful or honest friend, who may deliver the thing in the behalf of the party, concealing his name. Quest. Howe if the parties be dead? Ans. Let him restore to the heirs and successors; if there be none, let him restore to God, that is, the Church and the poor.

VVHether hee that repents is to make restitution if hee haue taken any thing wrongfully from his neighbour? Ans. Yea, Zacheus, when hee repented and receiued Christ, gaue halfe of his goods to the poore, and if hee had taken any thing by forged cauillation, he restored it foure folde. ¹It is but a bad practise when a man on his death bed will verie deuoutly bequeath his soule to God, and his goods euill gotten (as his conscience wil often crie in his eare) to his children and friendes, without either restitution or amends making. Quest. But what if a man be not able to restore? Ans. Let him acknowledge the fault, and God will accept the will for thee deede. As Paul sayeth in the like case: