By the which means it shall be prevented, that these wicked Begging houses, and subtlety off Hypocrites, shall not take from thee needy members of Christ, the Alms that is due to them: nor Ambition of mans praise, and thanks, nor vain glory, shall defile the right office of Alms, which evil how much it ought to be eschewed, Christ very plainly taught, when he commanded, so to give Alms, as the left hand may not know, what the right hand doth. This may best be done, if every man put into the Common Chest, or Box of the Church, to the use of the poor, as much as he may spare of that God giveth him. For when every man him self will distribute his own Alms, ⟨p. 8⟩first the Institution of the holly ghost, and the lawful Communion, Company, and Fellowship of Saints is broken. Besides the alms due to the little ones of Christ, and so to Christ him self, is given oftener to the unworthy, then to the worthy (for every man can not know and try such poor people as he meeteth suddenly) and also such as be not meet to have Alms, come better instructed to beg, yea, as it were to wring out the Alms of A mans Purse with painted words, then those to whom it only ought to be given. Moreover when A man giveth Alms with his own hand, he doth hardly put out of his mind the desire of mens thanks and vain praises, which vain reward when he receiveth of men: he may not •eke for the true and perfect reward of god. And finally, when it is most certain, that such as give them selves wilfully to the trade of Begging, be given and bent to all mischief: what other thing do they that nourish them, then maintain and increase the greatest Pestilences and destructions off A common wealth? Wherefore all such as have wisely written how common wealths should be well governed, have thought that such persons were not to be suffered in A common wealth. And certainly men ought to be ashamed and lament when this right manner of provision ⟨p. 9⟩for the pore is restored in many countries, which yet be under Antichrist: such as vaunt they have received the Gospel of Christ, and profess to be off his Kingdom, be slack to restore it, yea be hinderers off it, seeing it is an ordinance of Christs Religion so necessary, and so wholesome.
By the whiche meanes it shalbe preuented, that these wicked Begginge houses, and subtiltie off Hypocrites, shall not take from thee nedie menbres of Christ, the Almose that is due to theim: nor Ambition of mans praise, and thanckes, nor uayne glorie, shall defile the right office of Almose, whiche euell how muche it ought to be eschued, Christ uery playnlie taught, when he commaunded, so to geue Almose, as the left hande may not knowe, what the right hande dothe. This may best be doone, if euerie man put into the Comen Chest, or Boxe of the Churche, to the use of the poore, asmuche as he may spare of that God geueth him. For when euery man him self will distribute his owne Almose, ⟨p. 8⟩frist the Institution of the hollie gost, and the lawfull Communion, Compainie, and Felowship of Saintes is broken. Besydes thalmose due to the litle ones of Christ, and so to Christ him self, is gyuen oftener to the unworthie, then to the worthie (for euerye man can not knowe and trie suche poore people as he meeteth sodenlie) and also suche as be not meete to haue Almose, come better instructed to beg, yea, as it were to wringe out the Almose of A mans Purse with paynted wordes, then those to whom it onlie ought to be geuen. Moreouer when A man geueth Almose with his owne hande, he dothe hardlie put out of his mynde the desyre of mens thāckes and uayne prayses, which uaine rewarde when he receaueth of men: he may not •eke for the true and perfet rewarde of god. And fynallie, when it is most certein, that suche as gyue theim selfes wilfullie to the trade of Begginge, be geuen and bent to all myschieff: what other thinge do thei that nourishe theim, then maynteyne and encreace the greatest Pestilences and destructions off A commen welthe? Wherfore all suche as haue wiselie writen how commen welthes shoulde be well gouerned, haue thought that suche persones were not to be suffred in A comen welthe. And certaynlie men ought to be ashamed and lament when this right maner of prouision ⟨p. 9⟩for the pore is restored in manye contrays, whiche yet be under Antichrist: suche as uaunte thei haue receaued the Gospell of Christe, and professe to be off his Kingdom, be slacke to restore it, yea be hynderers off it, seinge it is an ordenaunce of Christes Religion so necessarie, and so holsom.
