Testimonies.

1. Of the benefit of good works and mercy.

In Isaiah: “Cry aloud,” saith He, “and spare not; lift up thy voice like a trumpet; tell my people their sins, and the house of Jacob their wickednesses. They seek me from day to day, and desire to know my ways, as a people which did righteousness, and did not forsake the judgment of God. They ask of me now a righteous judgment, and desire to approach to God, saying, What! because we have fasted, and Thou hast not seen: we have humiliated our souls, and Thou hast not known. For in the days of fasting are found your own wills; for either ye torment those who are subjected to you, or ye fast for strifes and judgments, or ye strike your neighbours with fists. For what do you fast unto me, that to-day your voice should be heard in clamour? This fast I have not chosen, save that a man should humble his soul. And if thou shalt bend thy neck like a ring, and spread under thee sackcloth and ashes, neither thus shall it be called an acceptable fast. Not such a fast have I chosen, saith the Lord; but loose every knot of unrighteousness, let go the chokings of impotent engagements.333 “Impotentium commerciorum.” Send away the harassed into rest, and scatter every unrighteous contract. Break thy bread to the hungry, and bring the houseless poor into thy dwelling. If thou seest the naked, clothe him; and despise not them of thy own seed in thy house. Then shall thy seasonable light break forth, and thy garments shall quickly arise; and righteousness shall go before thee: and the glory of God shall surround thee. Then thou shalt cry out, and God shall hear thee; while thou art yet speaking, He shall say, Here I am.”334 Isa. lviii. 1–9. Concerning this same thing in Job: “I have preserved the needy from the hand of the mighty; and I have helped the orphan, to whom there was no helper. The mouth of the widow blessed me, since I was the eye of the blind; I was also the foot of the lame, and the father of the weak.”335 Job xxix. 12, 13, 15, 16. Of this same matter in Tobit: “And I said to Tobias, My son, go and bring whatever poor man thou shalt find out of our brethren, who still has God in mind with his whole heart. Bring him hither, and he shall eat my dinner together with me. Behold, I attend thee, my son, until thou come.”336 Tob. ii. 2. Also in the same place: “All the days of thy life, my son, keep God in mind, and transgress not His precepts. Do justice all the days of thy life, and do not walk in the way of unrighteousness; because if thou act truly, there will be respect of thy works. Give alms of thy substance, and turn not thy face from any poor man. So shall it come to pass that the face of God shall not be turned away from thee. Even as thou hast, my son, so do: if thou hast abundant substance, give the more alms therefrom; if thou hast little, communicate even of that little. And do not fear when thou givest alms: thou layest up for thyself a good reward against the day of need; because alms delivereth from death, and does not suffer to go into darkness. Alms is a good office for all who do it in the sight of the most high God.”337 Tob. iv. 5–11. On this same subject in Solomon in Proverbs: “He that hath pity on the poor lendeth unto the Lord.”338 Prov. xix. 17. Also in the same place: “He that giveth to the poor shall never want; but he who turns away his eye shall be in much penury.”339 Prov. xxviii. 27. Also in the same place: “Sins are purged away by alms-giving and faith.”340 Prov. xvi. 6. Again, in the same place: “If thine enemy hunger, feed him; and if he thirst, give him to drink: for by doing this thou shalt scatter live coals upon his head.”341 Prov. xxv. 21. Again, in the same place: “As water extinguishes fire, so alms-giving extinguishes sin.”342 Ecclus. iii. 30. In the same in Proverbs: “Say not, Go away, and return, to-morrow I will give; when you can do good immediately. For thou knowest not what may happen on the coming day.”343 Prov. iii. 28. Also in the same place: “He who stoppeth his ears that he may not hear the weak, shall himself call upon God, and there shall be none to hear him.”344 Prov. xxi. 13. Also in the same place: “He who has his conversation without reproach in righteousness, leaves blessed children.”345 Prov. xx. 7. In the same in Ecclesiasticus: “My son, if thou hast, do good by thyself, and present worthy offerings to God; remember that death delayeth not.”346 Ecclus. xiv. 11. Also in the same place: “Shut up alms in the heart of the poor, and this will entreat for thee from all evil.”347 Ecclus. xxix. 12. Concerning this thing in the thirty-sixth Psalm, that mercy is beneficial also to one’s posterity: “I have been young, and I have also grown old; and I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging their bread. The whole day he is merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is in blessing.”348 Ps. xxxvii. 25, 26. Of this same thing in the fortieth Psalm: “Blessed is he who considereth over the poor and needy: in the evil day God will deliver him.”349 Ps. xli. 1. Also in the cxith Psalm: “He hath distributed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness shall remain from generation to generation.”350 Ps. cxii. 9. Of this same thing in Hosea: “I desire mercy rather than sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than whole burnt-offerings.”351 Hos. vi. 6. Of this same thing also in the Gospel according to Matthew: “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be satisfied.”352 Matt. v. 6. Also in the same place: “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.”353 Matt. v. 7. Also in the same place: “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not dig through and steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”354 Matt. vi. 20, 21. Also in the same place: “The kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchantman seeking goodly pearls: and when he hath found a precious pearl, he went away and sold all that he had, and bought it.”355 Matt. xiii. 45, 46. That even a small work is of advantage, also in the same place: “And whoever shall give to drink to one of the least of these a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, His reward shall not perish.”356 Matt. x. 42. That alms are to be denied to none, also in the same place: “Give to every one that asketh thee; and from him who would wish to borrow, be not turned away.”357 Matt. v. 42. Also in the same place: “If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith, Which? Jesus saith unto him, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man saith unto Him, All these things have I observed: what lack I yet? Jesus saith unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell all that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”358 Matt. xix. 17–21. Also in the same place: “When the Son of man shall come in His majesty, and all the angels with Him, then He shall sit on the throne of His glory: and all nations shall be gathered together before Him; and He shall separate them one from another, even as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats: and He shall place the sheep on the right hand, but the goats on the left hand. Then shall the King say unto them that are on His right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, receive the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world. For I was hungry, and ye gave me to eat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer Him, and say, Lord, when saw we Thee359 The Oxford edition inserts here, “an hungered, and fed Thee: thirsty, and gave Thee drink? when saw we Thee—” a stranger, and took Thee in: naked, and clothed Thee? And when saw we Thee sick, and in prison, and came to Thee? And the King, answering, shall say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it to one of the least of these my brethren, ye did it unto me. Then shall He say unto them who are on His left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, which my Father hath prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me not to eat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer, and say, Lord, when saw we Thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto Thee? And He shall answer them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not unto me. And these shall go away into everlasting burning: but the righteous into life eternal.”360 Matt. xxv. 31–46. Concerning this same matter in the Gospel according to Luke: “Sell your possessions, and give alms.”361 Luke xii. 33. Also in the same place: “He who made that which is within, made that which is without also. But give alms, and, behold, all things are pure unto you.”362 Luke xi. 40, 41. Also in the same place: “Behold, the half of my substance I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded any one of anything, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said unto him, that salvation has this day been wrought for this house, since he also is a son of Abraham.”363 Luke xix. 8, 9. Of this same thing also in the second Epistle to the Corinthians: “Let your abundance supply their want, that their abundance also may be the supplement of your want, that there may be equality: as it is written, He who had much had not excess; and he who had little had no lack.”364 2 Cor. viii. 14, 15. Also in the same place: “He who soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he who soweth in blessing shall reap also of blessing. But let every one do as he has proposed in his heart: not as if sorrowfully, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”365 2 Cor. ix. 6, 7. Also in the same place: “As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.”366 2 Cor. ix. 9. Likewise in the same place: “Now he who ministereth seed to the sower, shall both supply bread to be eaten, and shall multiply your seed, and shall increase the growth of the fruits of your righteousness: that in all things ye may be made rich.”367 2 Cor. ix. 10, 11. Also in the same place: “The administration of this service has not only supplied that which is lacking to the saints, but has abounded by much giving of thanks unto God.”368 2 Cor. ix. 12. Of this same matter in the Epistle of John: “Whoso hath this world’s substance, and seeth his brother desiring, and shutteth up his bowels from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?”369 1 John iii. 17. Of this same thing in the Gospel according to Luke: “When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor brethren, nor neighbours, nor the rich; lest haply they also invite thee again, and a recompense be made thee. But when thou makest a banquet, call the poor, the weak, the blind, and lame: and thou shalt be blessed; because they have not the means of rewarding thee: but thou shalt be recompensed in the resurrection of the just.”370 Luke xiv. 12–14.

CAP. I.---DE BONO OPERIS ET MISERICORDIAE .

0728A

Apud Esaiam: Exclama , inquit, in fortitudine, et noli parcere; sicut tuba exalta vocem tuam, annuntia plebi meae peccata ipsorum et domui Jacob facinora eorum. Me de die in diem quaerunt, et cognoscere vias meas concupiscunt, quasi plebs quae justitiam fecerit et judicium Dei non deseruerit . Postulant me nunc judicium justum, et appropinquare Deo concupiscunt dicentes: Quid ? quia jejunavimus et non vidisti, humiliavimus animas nostras et non cognovisti . In diebus enim jejunii inveniuntur voluntates vestrae. Aut enim subjectos vobis subpungitis, aut ad judicia et lites jejunatis, aut proximos caeditis pugnis. Ut quid mihi jejunatis, ut hodie audiatur vox vestra in clamore? Non hoc jejunium ego elegi, nisi humiliet homo animam 0728B suam. Et si contorseris quasi circulum collum tuum, et saccum et cinerem substraveris, nec sic vocabitur jejunium acceptum. Non tale jejunium elegi, dicit Dominus; sed solve omnem nodum injustitiae, resolve suffocationes impotentium commerciorum. Dimitte quassatos in requiem, et omnem consignationem injustam dissipa. Frange esurienti panem tuum, et egenos sine tecto induc in domum tuam. Si videris nudum, vesti ; et domesticos seminis tui non despicies. Tunc erumpet temporaneum lumen tuum, et vestimenta tua cito orientur. Et praeibit ante te justitia, et claritas Dei circumdabit te. Tunc exclamabis, et Deus exaudiet te. Dum adhuc loqueris dicet: Ecce adsum (Isa. LVIII, 1-9). De hoc ipso apud Job: Conservavi egenum de manu potentis, et pupillo cui non erat adjutor auxiliatus sum. 0728C Os viduae benedixit me, cum essem oculus caecorum, pes quoque claudorum ego essem, et invalidorum pater (Job XXIX, 12, 13, 15, 16). De hoc ipso apud Tobiam: Et dixi Tobiae filio meo: Vade, et adduc quemcumque pauperem inveneris ex fratribus nostris, qui tamen in mente habeat Deum ex toto corde suo. Hunc adduc , et manducabit pariter meum prandium hoc: Ecce sustineo te, fili, donec venias (Tob. II, 2). Item illic: Omnibus diebus vitae tuae, fili, Deum in mente habe, et noli 0729A praeterire praecepta ejus. Justitiam fac omnibus diebus vitae tuae, et noli ambulare viam iniquitatis: quoniam agente te ex veritate, erit respectus operum tuorum. Ex substantia tua fac eleemosynam, et noli avertere faciem ab ullo paupere. Ita fiet ut nec a te avertatur facies Dei. Quomodo habueris, fili, sic fac. Si tibi fuerit copiosa substantia, plus ex illa fac eleemosynam. Si exiguum habueris , ex hoc ipso exiguo communica. Et ne timueris cum facis eleemosynam, praemium bonum reponis tibi in diem necessitatis: quoniam eleemosyna a morte liberat et non patitur ire in tenebras. Munus bonum est eleemosyna omnibus qui faciunt eam coram summo Deo (Tob., IV, 5-11). De hoc ipso apud Salomonem in Proverbiis: Qui pauperi miseretur, Deo foenerat (Prov. XIX, 17). Item illic: Qui dat pauperibus, 0729B numquam indigebit. Qui autem avertit oculum suum , in multa penuria erit (Prov. XXVIII, 27). Item illic: Eleemosynis et fide peccata purgantur (Prov. XVI, 6). Item illic: Si esurierit inimicus tuus, ciba eum; et si sitierit, potabis eum. Hoc enim faciens carbones vivos superfundes in caput ejus (Ibid. XXV, 21, 22). Item illic: Sicut aqua extinguit ignem, sic eleemosyna extinguit peccatum (Eccli. III, 33). Apud eumdem in Proverbiis: Ne dixeris: Abi et revertere , cras ego dabo, cum possis continuo bene facere. Non enim scis quid contingat sequenti die (Prov. III, 28). Item illic: Qui obturat aures suas ne audiat imbecillum, et ipse invocabit Deum, et non erit qui exaudiat eum (Ib. XXI, 13). Item illic: Qui conversatur sine vituperatione in justitia , beatos filios relinquit (Ib. XX, 7). Apud eumdem 0729C in Ecclesiastico: Fili, si habes, bene fac tecum, et Deo dignas oblationes offer , memorare quoniam mors non tardat (Eccli. XIV, 11, 12). Item illic: Conclude eleemosynam in corde pauperis, et haec pro te orabit ab omni malo (Ib. XXVII, 12). De hoc ipso in Psalmo 0730A XXXVI, misericordiam et posteris prodesse: Junior fui, etenim senui , et non vidi justum derelictum nec semen ejus quaerens panem. Tota die miseretur et foenerat , et semen ejus in benedictione est (Ps. XXXVI, 25, 26). De hoc ipso in Psalmo XL: Beatus qui intelligit super egenum et pauperem, in die malo liberabit illum Deus (Ps. XL, 2): Item in Psalmo CXI: Distribuit , dedit pauperibus, justitia ejus manebit in saeculum saeculi (Ib. CXI, 9). De hoc ipso apud Osce: Misericordiam volo magis quam sacrificium, et agnitionem Dei plusquam holocaustomata (Ose. VI, 6). De hoc ipso in Evangelio cata Matthaeum: Beati qui esuriunt et sitiunt justitiam , quia ipsi saturabuntur (Matth. V, 6). Item illic: Beati misericordes, quoniam ipsi misericordiam consequentur (Ibid. 7). Item illic: Thesaurizate 0730B vobis thesauros in coelo, ubi neque tinea neque comestura exterminat, et ubi fures non effodiunt et furantur (Ibid. VI, 20, 21). Ubi enim fuerit thesaurus tuus, illic erit et cor tuum. Item illic: Simile est regnum coelorum homini negotianti quaerenti bonas margaritas; ubi autem invenit pretiosam margaritam , abiit et vendidit omnia quae habuit, et emit illam (Matth. XIII, 45, 46). Etiam modicum opus prodesse. Item illic: Et qui potaverit unum ex minimis istis calicem aquae frigidae in nomine discipuli, amen dico vobis, non peribit merces ejus (Matth. X, 42). Nemini negandam eleemosynam. Item illic: Omni poscenti te da, et ab eo qui voluerit mutuari ne aversatus fueris (Luc. V, 42). Item illic: Si vis ad vitam venire, serva mandata. Dicit ille: Quae? Dicit illi Jesus: Non occides, non moechaberis, 0730C non falsum testimonium dices, honora patrem et matrem, et diliges proximum tibi tamquam te . Dicit illi juvenis: Omnia ista observavi. Quid adhuc mihi deest? Dicit illi Jesus: Si vis perfectus esse, vade et vende omnia tua, et da pauperibus , et habebis thesaurum 0731A in coelo, et veni, sequere me (Matth. XXIX, 17-20. Item illic: Cum venerit Filius hominis in majestate sua et omnes Angeli cum eo, tunc sedebit in throno claritatis suae , et colligentur ante eum omnes gentes. Et segregabit illos ab invicem, quemadmodum pastor segregat oves ab haedis. Et statuet oves ad dexteram , haedos autem ad sinistram . Tunc dicet Rex eis qui ad dexteram suam sunt: Venite, benedicti Patris mei, percipite regnum quod vobis paratum est ab origine mundi. Esurivi enim, et dedistis mihi manducare; sitivi, et potastis me ; hospes fui, et adduxistis me; nudus et texistis me ; infirmatus sum , et visitastis me; in carcere fui, et venistis ad me. Tunc respondebunt ei justi dicentes: Domine, quando te vidimus hospitem et adduximus , nudum et vestivimus? Quando autem te vidimus 0731B infirmum et in carcere et venimus ad te? Et respondens Rex dicet eis: Amen dico vobis, quamdiu fecistis uni horum ex fratribus meis minimis, et mihi fecistis. Tunc dicet illis qui a sinistris ejus sunt: Discedite a me, maledicti, in ignem aeternum quem praeparavit Pater meus diabolo et angelis ejus. Esurivi enim, et non dedistis mihi manducare; sitivi, et non potastis me; hospes fui, et non adduxistis me; nudus fui, et non vestistis me; infirmus et in carcere, et non visitastis me. Tunc respondebunt et ipsi dicentes: Domine, quando te vidimus esurientem aut sitientem aut hospitem aut nudum aut infirmum aut in carcere, et non ministravimus tibi? Et respondebit illis : Amen dico vobis, quamdiu non fecistis uni ex minimis his, neque mihi fecistis. Et abibunt isti in ambustionem aeternam, justi autem in vitam aeternam 0731C (Matth. XXV, 31-46). De hoc ipso in Evangelio cata Lucam: Res vestras vendite, et date eleemosynam (Luc. XI, XII, 33). Item illic: Qui fecit quod est intus, fecit et quod foris est. Verumtamen date eleemosynam, et ecce vobis omnia sunt munda. Item illic: Ecce dimidium ex substantia mea do egenis; et si cui 0732A quid fraudavi , quadruplum reddo . Dixit autem Jesus, quia salus hodie domui huic facta est, quoniam et ipse filius est Abrahae (Luc. XXI, 40, 41). De hoc ipso ad Corinthios II: Vestra abundantia illorum inopiam suppleat, ut et illorum abundantia vestrae inopiae sit supplementum, ut sit aequalitas, sicut scriptum est: Qui multum habuit non abundavit, et qui modicum non indiguit (II Cor. VIII, 14, 15). Item illic: Qui parce seminat, parce et metet, et qui seminat in benedictione , de benedictione et metet . Unusquisque autem sicut corde proposuit, non quasi ex tristitia vel ex necessitate. Hilarem enim datorem diligit Deus. Item illic, Sicut scriptum est: Distribuit, dedit pauperibus, justitia ejus manet in aeternum. Item illic: Qui autem administrat semen seminanti, et panem ad edendum 0732B praestabit, et multiplicabit semen vestrum , et augebit incrementa frugum justitiae vestrae, ut in omnibus locupletemini. Item illic: Administratio hujus officii non tantum supplevit ea quae sanctis desunt, sed abundavit per multam gratiarum actionem in Deum (II Cor. IX, 6, 7, 9-12). De hoc ipso in Epistola Joannis: Qui habuerit substantiam mundi , et viderit fratrem suum desiderantem , et clauserit viscera sua ab eo, quomodo charitas Dei manet in illo (I Joan. III, 17)? De hoc ipso in Evangelio cata Lucam: Cum facis prandium aut coenam, noli vocare amicos tuos, neque fratres , neque vicinos, neque divites, ne forte et illi reinvitent te, et fiat tibi retributio. Sed, cum facis epulum, voca pauperes, debiles, caecos et claudos, et beatus eris, quoniam non habent retribuere tibi; retribuetur autem tibi in resurrectione 0732C justorum (Luc. XIV, 12-14).