2. The Holy Spirit speaks in the sacred Scriptures, and says, “By almsgiving and faith sins are purged.”5    Prov. xvi. 6. [“By mercy and truth,” etc., Eng. Version.] Not assuredly those sins which had been previously contracted, for those are purged by the blood and sanctification of Christ. Moreover, He says again, “As water extinguisheth fire, so almsgiving quencheth sin.”6    Ecclus. iii. 30. Here also it is shown and proved, that as in the laver of saving water the fire of Gehenna is extinguished, so by almsgiving and works of righteousness the flame of sins is subdued. And because in baptism remission of sins is granted once for all, constant and ceaseless labour, following the likeness of baptism, once again bestows the mercy of God. The Lord teaches this also in the Gospel. For when the disciples were pointed out, as eating and not first washing their hands, He replied and said, “He that made that which is within, made also that which is without. But give alms, and behold all things are clean unto you;”7    Luke xi. 41. teaching hereby and showing, that not the hands are to be washed, but the heart, and that the foulness from inside is to be done away rather than that from outside; but that he who shall have cleansed what is within has cleansed also that which is without; and that if the mind is cleansed, a man has begun to be clean also in skin and body. Further, admonishing, and showing whence we may be clean and purged, He added that alms must be given. He who is pitiful teaches and warns us that pity must be shown; and because He seeks to save those whom at a great cost He has redeemed, He teaches that those who, after the grace of baptism, have become foul, may once more be cleansed.

II. Loquitur in Scripturis divinis Spiritus sanctus et dicit: Eleemosynis et fide delicta purgantur (Prov. XV, 27). Non utique illa delicta quae fuerant ante contracta, nam illa Christi sanguine et sanctificatione purgantur. Item denuo dicit: Sicut aqua extinguit ignem, sic eleemosyna extinguit peccatum (Eccli. III, 33). Hic quoque ostenditur et probatur quia, sicut lavacro aquae salutaris gehennae ignis extinguitur, ita et eleemosynis atque operationibus justis delictorum flamma sopitur. Et quia semel in Baptismo remissa peccatorum datur , assidua et jugis operatio 0603C Baptismi instar imitata , Dei rursus indulgentiam largitur . Hoc et in Evangelio Dominus docet. Nam 0604A cum denotarentur discipuli ejus quod ederent, nec prius manus abluissent , respondit et dixit: Qui fecit quod intus est, fecit et quod foris est. Verum date eleemosynam, et ecce vobis munda omnia (Luc. XI, 40): docens scilicet et ostendens non manus lavandas esse, sed pectus, et sordes intrinsecus potius quam extrinsecus detrahendas; verum qui purgaverit quod est intus, eum quoque id quod foris est repurgasse, et emundata mente, cute quoque et corpore mundum esse coepisse. Porro autem, monens et ostendens unde mundi et purgati esse possimus, addidit eleemosynas esse faciendas. Misericors docet et monet misericordiam fieri; et quia servare quaerit quos magno pretio redemit , post Baptismi gratiam sordidatos docet denuo posse purgari.