Neither let any man say that this only belongeth unto those who have much to give; but as for their alms they are so small by reason of the meanness of their estate, that they have no hope they will be respected; for the Lord commandeth not give much, but to open the hand wide, whether it be great or little, and he measureth ⟨p. 98⟩the deed by the will; and the outward act 1by the habit & internal virtue; he looketh not so much, Quid datur, as ex quo; not to the greatness 2of the gift, but to the quantity of the store out of which it is given, and the largeness of the heart, which out of a little can spare somewhat. And therefore the affection of the giver maketh the alms precious and estimable, or vile and contemptible in Gods sight, in which respect no mans gift (as one saith) is accounted small, who giveth it out a great and liberal mind, seeing our piety is not to be measured by our outward wealth, but by the inward riches which lieth hid in the heart. It is true indeed that rich men give 3greater gifts, and mean men less in respect of the matter or thing given, but there is no difference in the fruit of the work, where there is no want in the affection of the workers; for as another saith, it is the heart and mind of the giver which maketh him rich or poor, and doth set 4the price upon all these spiritual wares: and in 5Gods sight the hand is never empty of a gift, if the treasury of the heart be full of good will and bounty. An example whereof we have in the poor widow who casting into the treasury two mites, was adjudged by our Saviour to have given the greatest gift, because she had the largest and most liberal heart, which made her to give (not like others out of their superfluity, but) even out of her penury, all she had; as also because the rich giving out of their superfluity, rely upon their own abundance as sufficient to bear them out ⟨p. 99⟩in their bounty; whereas they who being poor, and yet give out of their penury, do in their almsdeeds by a lively faith and affiance depend wholly upon Gods promises. Now what greater encouragement can there be unto them that have little, to give somewhat of their small store to those that stand in need, seeing their work is as much esteemed and shall be as richly rewarded, as those who give much out of their greater store?
Neither let any man say that this only belongeth vnto those who haue much to giue; but as for their almes they are so small by reason of the meanenesse of their estate, that they haue no hope they will be respected; for the Lord commandeth not giue much, but to open the hand wide, whether it be great or little, and he measureth ⟨p. 98⟩the deede by the will; and the outward act 1by the habite & internall vertue; he looketh not so much, Quid datur, as ex quo; not to the greatnesse 2of the gift, but to the quantitie of the store out of which it is giuen, and the largenesse of the heart, which out of a little can spare somewhat. And therefore the affection of the giuer maketh the almes precious and estimable, or vile and contemptible in Gods sight, in which respect no mans gift (as one saith) is accounted small, who giueth it out a great and liberall minde, seeing our pietie is not to be measured by our outward wealth, but by the inward riches which lieth hid in the heart. It is true indeede that rich men giue 3greater gifts, and meane men lesse in respect of the matter or thing giuen, but there is no difference in the fruit of the worke, where there is no want in the affection of the workers; for as another saith, it is the heart and minde of the giuer which maketh him rich or poore, and doth set 4the price vpon all these spirituall wares: and in 5Gods sight the hand is neuer empty of a gift, if the treasurie of the heart be full of good will and bountie. An example whereof wee haue in the poore widdow who casting into the treasury two mites, was adiudged by our Sauiour to haue giuen the greatest gift, because shee had the largest and most liberall heart, which made her to giue (not like others out of their superfluitie, but) euen out of her penurie, all shee had; as also because the rich giuing out of their superfluitie, relie vpon their own abundance as sufficient to beare thē out ⟨p. 99⟩in their bountie; whereas they who being poore, and yet giue out of their penurie, doe in their almesdeedes by a liuely faith and affiance depend wholy vpon Gods promises. Now what greater incouragement can there be vnto them that haue little, to giue somewhat of their small store to those that stand in neede, seeing their worke is as much esteemed and shall bee as richly rewarded, as those who giue much out of their greater store?
- 12. Cor. 8. 12.
- 2Q••n•ita••m […] C•h•s. […] paru•• est […] mag•us […] •pp•ra•m▪Q••n•ita••m 〈…〉 C•h•s. 〈…〉 paru•• est 〈…〉 mag•us 〈…〉 •pp•ra•m▪
- 3N• dis•r•pat […] operum […] aff•ctus perantiumN• dis•r•pat 〈…〉 operum 〈…〉 aff•ctus perantium
- 4Ambros. in offic.
- 5
