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Zaccheus saith not, I have given, as an upbraider of God: or, I will give, as a delayer, that means to give away his goods after his death, when he can keep them no longer: but he saith, I give, to signify that his will is his deed, & that he meaneth not to take any days of payment for the matter. For as before he ran apace to see Christ, and came down hastily to entertain Christ in his own person: so doth he here give quickly to relieve Christ in his needy members. This is Zaccheus last will & testament, that he maketh before his death, and seeth the same proved and performed before his eyes. If therefore we desire to do any good to any of our poor brethren, let us learn of Zaccheus to do it quickly, while we are alive, for time will prevent us, and death will prevent us. I know there would be many that would be willing to give some part of their goods to the poor before their death, as Zaccheus did: but that they know not what need themselves may have there of before they die, and therefore for the most part they will hardly forsake or leave their goods, till their goods forsake and leave them. But herein they show themselves to doubt of Gods providence, & as it were to distrust of his payment, who hath promised to repay whatsoever is given unto the poor, as it were lent unto himself, and that not secretly, though they did their alms never so secretly: but the Lord will reward them openly, as our Saviour speaketh. Ma. 6. the wise preacher, Eccl. 11. willeth us to cast our bread ¹upon the waters, that is, to be liberal to the poor, whose watery eyes bewray their great necessity: or, as (others expound it) to hazard and adventure some of our goods upon our needy brethren, as Merchants do adventure their goods upon the seas: for although they may seem to be in great peril and danger of perishing in the waters, yet commonly it falleth out, that by the blessing of God they return with greater profit. So albeit the relief that is bestowed upon our distressed neighbours may seem to be lost, yet as the wise man saith, after a time we shall find it again:

Zaccheus saith not, I haue giuen, as an vpbraider of God: or, I wil giue, as a delayer, that means to giue away his goods after his death, when he can keepe them no longer: but hee saith, I giue, to signifie that his wil is his deed, & that he meaneth not to take any daies of paiment for the matter. For as before he ranne apace to see Christ, and came down hastily to entertain Christ in his owne person: so doth he here giue quickly to relieue Christ in his needy members. This is Zaccheus last wil & testament, that he maketh before his death, and seeth the same proued and performed before his eies. If therefore we desire to do any good to any of our poore bre thren, let vs learn of Zaccheus to do it quickly, while we are aliue, for time will preuent vs, and death will preuent vs. I know there would be many that would bee willing to giue some part of their goods to the poore before their death, as Zaccheus did: but that they knowe not what neede themselues may haue there of before they die, and therfore for the most part they will hardly forsake or leaue their goods, till their goods forsake and leaue them. But herein they shewe themselues to doubt of Gods prouidence, & as it were to distrust of his paiment, who hath promised to repay whatsoeuer is giuen vnto the poore, as it were lent vnto himselfe, and yt not secretly, though they did their almes neuer so secretly: but the Lord wil reward thē openly, as our Sauior speaketh. Ma. 6. the wise preacher,