[Who Ought to Be Supported According to the Lord’s Constitution.]
III. Since even the Lord said: “The giver was happier than the receiver.” 2 Acts xx. 35. For it is again said by Him: “Woe to those that have, and receive in hypocrisy; or who are able to support themselves, yet will receive of others: for both of them shall give an account to the Lord God in the day of judgment.” But an orphan who, by reason of his youth, or he that by the feebleness of old age, or the incidence of a disease, or the bringing up of many children, receives alms, such a one shall not only not be blamed, but shall be commended: for he shall be esteemed an altar to God, and be honoured by God, because of his zealous and constant prayers for those that give to him; not receiving idly, but to the uttermost of his power recompensing what is given him by his prayer. Such a one therefore shall be blessed by God in eternal life. But he that hath, and receives in hypocrisy or through idleness, instead of working and assisting others, shall be obnoxious to punishment before God, because he has snatched away the morsel of the needy. 3 [The early Church had a constant struggle with professional paupers. This entire book is a valuable contribution to social ethics. The problems of to-day confronted the Church then. Few wiser counsels have been recorded.—R.]
[3] Καὶ γὰρ ἀληθῶς μακάριός ἐστιν, ὃς ἂν δυνάμενος βοηθεῖν ἑαυτῷ μὴ θλίβῃ τόπον ὀρφανοῦ ξένου τε καὶ χήρας, ἐπεὶ καὶ ὁ Κύριος μακάριον εἶπεν εἶναι τὸν διδόντα ὑπὲρ τὸν λαμβάνοντα. Καὶ γὰρ εἴρηται πάλιν ὑπ' αὐτοῦ: «Οὐαὶ τοῖς ἔχουσιν καὶ ἐν ὑποκρίσει λαμβάνουσιν, ἢ δυναμένοις βοηθεῖν ἑαυτοῖς καὶ λαμβάνειν παρ' ἑτέρων βουλομένοις: ἑκάτερος γὰρ ἀποδώσει λόγον Κυρίῳ τῷ Θεῷ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ κρίσεως.» Ὁ μὲν γὰρ δι' ἡλικίαν ὀρφανίας ἢ γήρως ἀτονίαν ἢ νόσου πρόσπτωσιν ἢ τέκνων πολυτροφίαν λαμβάνων, ὁ τοιοῦτος οὐ μόνον οὐ μεμφθήσεται, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐπαινεθήσεται: θυσιαστήριον γὰρ τῷ Θεῷ λελογισμένος ὑπὸ τοῦ Θεοῦ τιμηθήσεται ἀόκνως ὑπὲρ τῶν διδόντων αὐτῷ διηνεκῶς προσευχόμενος, οὐκ ἀργῶς λαμβάνων, ἀλλὰ τῆς δόσεως αὐτοῦ, ὅση δύναμις, τὸν μισθὸν διδοὺς διὰ τῆς προσευχῆς: ὁ τοιοῦτος οὖν ἐν τῇ αἰωνίῳ ζωῇ ὑπὸ Θεοῦ μακαρισθήσεται.