413

coming to her each day; and her substance is in no way diminished. So that if only ten men had wished to spend in this way, no one would be poor. 4. And what, he says, were our children to inherit? The principal remained, and the revenue again became greater, their possessions being stored up for them as treasure in heaven. But you do not wish it so? Even from a half, or from a third part, or from a fourth, or from a tenth. For through the grace of God our city was able to feed the poor of ten cities. And if you wish, let us make some calculation of these things; or rather, there is no need of calculation, for the ease of the matter is evident from itself. Consider, at any rate, the public liturgies, how much one house often spent without hesitation, and did not even feel the expense a little; if each of the rich had wished to perform this service for the poor, in a brief moment of time he would have seized heaven. What excuse then could there be, what shadow of a defense, when we do not even share with the needy, with such lavishness as others give to those on the stage, those things which we are certainly about to give up when we are taken from here, and this when we are about to reap such great rewards from them? For it was right, even if we were to be here forever, not even so to be sparing of this good expense; but when a little later we are led away from here, and are stripped naked of everything, what defense shall we have, not even providing from our revenues for the starv 58.631 ing and distressed? For I do not compel you to diminish what you have; not because I do not wish it, but because I see you are very hesitant. Therefore I do not say this; but spend from your fruits, and do not lay up treasure from here. It is enough for you to have the money of your revenues flowing in as from a spring; make the poor partakers, and be a good steward of what has been given to you by God. But I pay taxes, he says. Do you therefore show contempt, because here no one demands it? and to that one, who takes by force and tortures whether the earth bears fruit or not, you do not dare to speak against him; but to the one who is so gentle, and who demands it only when the earth has borne fruit, you do not even answer with a word? And who will deliver you from those unbearable punishments? There is no one. For if, because a most severe punishment will certainly follow there for the one who does not give, you are for this reason zealous about the payment, consider that here too it is more severe; not to be bound, nor to be thrown into prison, but to go into the eternal fire. For all these reasons, therefore, let us first pay these taxes. For the ease is great, and the reward greater, and the trade more profitable, and the punishment worse for us if we are ungrateful. For a punishment follows which has no end. But if you tell me of the soldiers who fight against barbarians for you, there is here also an army, that of the beggars, and a war, which the poor wage for you. For when they receive, by praying they make God merciful; and by making Him merciful, they ward off the plots of demons instead of barbarians; they do not allow the evil one to be strong, nor to attack continually, but they weaken his power. 5. Seeing therefore these soldiers boxing daily against the devil for you through their supplications and prayers, demand of yourself this good contribution, their food. For this King, being gentle, has not given you collectors, but wishes you to pay willingly; and even if you pay a little at a time, He accepts it; and even if, being in need, you pay after a long time, He does not press the one who has not. Let us not then despise His long-suffering, but let us treasure up for ourselves not wrath, but salvation; not death, but life; not punishment and torment, but honors and crowns. There is no need here to give a wage for the transport of the contributions, there is no need here to toil in turning them into money. If you pay them, the Master Himself transfers them to heaven; He Himself makes the business more profitable for you. There is no need here to find an escort for what has been paid; 58.632