And so much for the quantity. The third thing propounded in the matter of our alms is the quality of them; in which respect it is required, that we give to the poor things wholesome, cleanly, convenient and comfortable for the sustentation of their lives; avoiding therein two extremes, first of those who give unto them such base and sluttish food as they would scarce offer unto their dogs. And to this end we must remember, that we do not relieve contemptible creatures, of another kind inferior to our selves, but those that are of the same flesh, children of the same father, yea members of the same body and partakers in hope of the same precious promises. And which is more that in them we lend unto the Lord, who justly scorneth our base refuse; yea relieve Jesus Christ himself; and will we give unto him swill and swines meat, who hath given himself unto us, and vouchsafeth to nourish our souls and bodies with his most precious body and blood? The other extreme is to give unto the poor superfluous, dainties; for it is required that they be fed with necessary food, & not pampered wantonly with superfluities; & our Saviour when he miraculously fed the poor and hungry people that followed him, by his sole ⟨p. 93⟩word, did not provide for them delicates (though he might as easily have done it as the other) but multiplied their barley loaves and fishes. Neither in truth can men thus feed some in excess, but in the mean time others must want necessaries, nor do the poor regard dainties (unless it be in their sickness and weakness) but only desire necessaries, seeing hunger doth make all food savoury, and every meal a delightful banquet. So Augustine saith, utantur divites superfluis, dent pauperibus necessaria, Let the rich enjoy their superfluities, and let them relieve the poor with 1necessaries: let them use those things which are bought at high rates, and give the poor such as are good cheap. And another saith, Communicate unto them thy 2riches who feed on course fare and brown bread, and not on quails and pheasants, and who take care to kill hunger, and not to increase luxuriousness. And again, give to the poor and not the rich, give to sustain necessity and not to increase wealth.
And so much for the quantitie. The third thing propounded in the matter of our almes is the qualitie of them; in which respect it is required, that wee giue to the poore things holesome, cleanely, conuenient and comfortable for the sustentation of their liues; auoiding therein two extreames, first of those who giue vnto them such base and sluttish foode as they would scarce offer vnto their dogges. And to this end we must remember, that wee doe not relieue contemptible creatures, of another kinde inferiour to our selues, but those that are of the same flesh, children of the same father, yea members of the same body and partakers in hope of the same precious promises. And which is more that in them wee lend vnto the Lord, who iustly scorneth our base refuse; yea relieue Iesus Christ himselfe; and will we giue vnto him swill and swines meate, who hath giuen himselfe vnto vs, and vouchsafeth to nourish our soules and bodies with his most precious body and blood? The other extreame is to giue vnto the poore superfluous, dainties; for it is required that they be fed with necessary foode, & not pāpered wantonly with superfluities; & our Sauiour when he miraculously fed the poore and hungrie people that followed him, by his sole ⟨p. 93⟩word, did not prouide for them delicates (though he might as easily haue done it as the other) but multiplyed their barley loaues and fishes. Neither in truth can men thus feede some in excesse, but in the meane time others must want necessaries, nor doe the poore regard dainties (vnlesse it be in their sicknesse and weakenesse) but onely desire necessaries, seeing hunger doth make all foode sauourie, and euery meale a delightfull banquet. So Austine saith, vtantur diuites superfluis, dent pauperibus necessaria, Let the rich inioy their superfluities, and let them relieue the poore with 1necessaries: let them vse those things which are bought at high rates, and giue the poore such as are good cheape. And another saith, Communicate vnto them thy 2riches who feede on course fare and browne bread, and not on quailes and phesants, and who take care to kill hunger, and not to increase luxuriousnesse. And againe, giue to the poore and not the rich, giue to sustaine necessitie and not to encrease wealth.
- 1Aug de verb. dom. Serm.
- 2Hier•me.
