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HOMIL.

LII.

1 Luke 11, 41.

712

Alms more valued than all Arts.

What now can be more profitable than this art? For while the other arts, as well as what I have mentioned, both end with our present life, and when the artists are diseased, are found no where; and their works have no power to endure, and they need much labour and time, and innumerable other things; this one, when the world hath passed away, then it becomes more than ever conspicuous; when we are dead, then it shines out brighter than ever, and exhibits the works which it hath accomplished. And neither time nor labour, nor any such travail, doth it need; but is active even in thy sickness, and in thine old age, and migrates with thee into the life to come, and never forsakes thee. This makes thee to surpass in ability both sophists and rhetoricians. For such as are approved in those arts have many to envy them, but they who shine in this have thousands to pray for them. And those indeed stand at men's judgment seat, pleading for them that are wronged, and often too for them that do wrong; but this virtue stands by the judgment seat of Christ, not only pleading, but persuading the Judge Himself to plead for him that is judged, and to give sentence in his favour: though his sins have been very many, almsgiving doth both crown and proclaim him. For give alms, and all things shall be clean1.

And why do I speak of the things to come? Since in our present life, should we ask men which they would rather, that there should be many sophists and rhetoricians, or many that give alms, and love their fellow men, thou wilt hear them choose the latter; and very reasonably. For if oratory were taken away, our life will be nothing the worse; for indeed even before this, it had continued a long time; but if thou take away the shewing of mercy, all is lost and undone. And as men could not sail on the sea, if harbours and roadsteads were blocked up; so neither could this life hold together, if thou take away mercy, and compassion, and love to man.

[6.] Therefore God hath not at all left them to reasoning only, but many parts thereof He hath implanted by the absolute power of nature herself. Thus do fathers pity children, thus mothers, thus children parents; and not in the

Alms must not be given of unjust gain.

718

XV.

case of men only, but of all the brutes also; thus brothers Matt. pity brothers, and kinsmen, and connexions; thus man pities 32. man. For we have somewhat even from nature prone to mercy.

Therefore also we feel indignation in behalf of them that are wronged, and seeing men killed we are overcome, and beholding them as they mourn, we weep. For because it is God's will that it should be very perfectly performed, He commanded nature to contribute much hereunto, signifying that this is exceedingly the object of His care.

Considering then these things, let us bring both ourselves and our children and them that pertain to us unto the school of mercy, and this above all things let man learn, since even this is man. For a man is a great thing, and a merciful man a precious thing'; so that unless one hath this, one1 Prov. hath fallen away even from being a man. This renders LXX. them wise. And why marvel at this being Man? This is God. For, be ye, saith He, merciful as your Father2.

Let us learn therefore to be merciful on all accounts, but chiefly, because we too need much mercy. And let us reckon ourselves as not even living, at such time as we are not shewing mercy. But by mercy, I mean that which is free from covetousness. For if he that is contented with his own, and imparts to no man, is not merciful, how is he that takes the goods of other men merciful, though he give without limit? For if merely to enjoy one's own be inhumanity, much more to defraud others. If they that have done no wrong are punished, because they imparted not, much more they, who even take what is others.

Say not therefore this, " One is injured, another receives mercy." For this is the grievous thing. Since it were meet that the injured should be the same with the receiver of the mercy but now, while wounding some, thou art healing them whom thou hast not wounded, when thou oughtest to heal the same; or rather not so much as to wound them. For he is not humane who smites and heals, but he that heals such as have been smitten by others. Heal therefore thine own evil acts, not another's; or rather do not smite at all, nor cast down, (for this is the conduct of a mocker,) but raise up them that are cast down.

20, 6.

2 Luke 6, 36.

HOMIL.
LII. 6.

714

Restitution after wrong must be manifold.

For neither is it possible by the same measure of almsgiving to cure the evil result of covetousness. For if thou hast unjustly gotten a farthing, it is not a farthing that thou needest again for almsgiving, to remove the sin that comes of thine unjust gain, but a talent. Therefore the thief being taken pays fourfold, but he that spoils by violence is worse Exod. than he that steals. And if this last ought to give fourfold1 22, 1. what he stole, the extortioner should give tenfold and much more; and it is much if even so he can make atonement for his injustice; for of almsgiving not even then will he receive the reward. Therefore saith Zacchæus, I will restore what I have taken by false accusation fourfold, and *Luke the half of my goods I will give to the poor2. And if under 19, 8. the Law one ought to give fourfold, much more under Grace; if he that steals, much more he that spoils by violence. For besides the damage, in this case the insult too is great. So that even if thou give an hundred fold, thou hast not yet given the whole.

Seest thou how not without cause I said, If thou take but a farthing by violence, and pay back a talent, scarcely even so dost thou remedy it? But if scarcely by doing this; when thou reversest the order, and hast taken by violence whole fortunes, yet bestowest but little, and not to them either that have been wronged, but to others in their stead; what kind of plea wilt thou have? what favour? what hope of salvation?

Wouldest thou learn how bad a deed thou doest in so giving alms? Hear the Scripture that saith, As one that killeth the son before his father's eyes, so is he that bringeth 3Ecclus. a sacrifice of the goods of the poor3.

34, 20.

This denunciation then let us write in our minds before we depart, this let us write on our walls, this on our hands, this in our conscience, this every where; that at least the fear of it being vigorous in our minds, may restrain our hands from daily murders. For extortion is a more grievous thing than murder, consuming the poor man by little and little.

In order then that we may be pure from this pollution, let us exercise ourselves in these thoughts, both by ourselves and to one another. For so shall we both be more forward

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XV. 32.

to shew mercy, and receive undiminished the reward for MATT. it, and enjoy the eternal good things, by the grace and love towards man of our Lord Jesus Christ; to Whom be glory and might with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, now and always, and world without end. Amen.

HOMILY LIII.

HOMIL.

LIII.

MATT. XV. 32.

But Jesus called His disciples unto Him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with Me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.

BOTH above, when going to do this miracle, He first healed them that were maimed in body, and here He doth the selfsame thing; from the healing of the blind and the lame, He goes on to this again.

But why might it be, that then His disciples said, Send away the multitude, but now they said not so; and this, though three days had past? Either being themselves improved by this time, or seeing that the people had no great sense of hunger; for they were glorifying God for the things that were done.

But see how in this instance too He doth not proceed at once to the miracle, but calls them forth thereunto. For the multitudes indeed who had come out for healing durst not ask for the loaves; but He, the Benevolent and Provident One, gives even to them that ask not, and saith unto His disciples, I have compassion, and will not send them away fasting.

For lest they should say that they came having provisions for the way, He saith, They continue with Me now three

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