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Of Alms and the Works of Mercy

10. What is Almes?

1IT is a gifte or benefite, whereby vpon an affection of compassion we doe succour an other mans miserie. Heereunto beelongeth that which the Angell RAPHAEL testifieth in TOBIAS: Praier is good, 2 with Fasting and Almes: That we may vnderstand, as S. CYPRIAN3 admonisheth, that our praiers & fastings are little auaileable vnlesse they be holpen with Almes. Good, is mercie, saith S. AMBROSE4 which of her selfe maketh men perfite, because it doth imitate the Father, which is perfect. Nothing doth so commend a Christian soule as mercie. Thus saith he.5 Be yee therefore mercifull, as your Father also is mercifull, that you may be the sonnes of your Father which is in heauen, who maketh his sonne to rise vpon the good, & the euill, & raineth vpon the iust, & vniust. Thus saith Christ our Sauiour, and our6 Samaritane, full of all grace and mercie, who went7 throughout doing good & healing al that were oppressed of the Deuil.

11. In what manner doth the scripture commend Almes vnto vs?

VVIth many certes,8 and plaine preceptes, promises and examples. Yea S. CYPRIAN9 teacheth, that in the gospel there is nothing more often commaunded than that wee perseuer in giuing Almes, that we be not busied in earthly possessions, but rather lay vp treasures in heauen. Hence are those speaches of Christ: But 10 yet, that which remaineth giue almes: & beholde al things are 11 cleane vnto you. 12 Sel the things that you posses & giue Almes, make to you purses that weare not, treasure that wasteth not in heauen. And in an other place: Make vnto you 13 frendes of the Mammon of iniquitie: that when you faile they may receiue you into the eternall Tabernacles. In briefe: giue, and there 14 shall be giuen to you. And for that cause DANIEL the Prophet counseleth the wicked King: Redeeme 15 thy sinnes with Almes and thy iniquities with the mercies of the poore. Then in an other place we read: Water 16 doth quench the burning fire, and Almes resistethe sinnes. And not of a man certes, but of an Angell was that speach: Almes 17 deliuereth from death, and shee it is that purgeth sinnes, and maketh a man to finde mercie, and life euerlasting. Yea and Christ himselfe pronounceth:18 Whosoeuer shall giue drinke to one of these little ones, a cuppe of colde water, only in the name of a Disciple; Amen I say to you, he shall not loose his rewarde. Blessed 19 therefore are the mercifull, for they shall obtaine mercie. And contrarywise as S. IAMES affirmeth:20 Iudgement without mercie to him that hath not done mercie.

12. With what examples is the effecte & profite of Almes declared?

IN the holy scripture, ABRAHAM and LOTH21 through hospitalitie are saide both to haue pleased God, and to haue entertained22 Angels. The Almes23 of TOBIE and the Centurion 24 were so auailable that they ascended into remembrance, in the sight of God, & had the holy Angels not only for witnesses, but also for commendors. ZACHEVS moued by the words of Christ, and of a prince of Publicans being made a mirror of mercy: giueth halfe his goods to the poore and is presently pronounced the25 sonne of ABRAHAM, by Christ himselfe. TABITHA26 is praised by S. LVKE as being ful of good works and Almes, which she bestowed especially vpon widdowes. So are those deuoute Matrons singulerly commended in the27 Gospell, which with MAGDALEN & MARTHA did liberally minister of their goods, to Christ our Lorde and to his poore disciples. And of Sainte LAVRENCE the28 Leuite and Martyr it is most iustly soung:29 He dispersed, he gaue to the poore: his rightuousnes remaineth for euermore.

13. What is mercie?

IT is as S. AVGVSTINE30 affirmeth, a certaine compassion in our harte of an other mans miserie, whereby we are compelled to yeelde succour, if it lye in our power. Which name of mercie is wonte very often to be taken for Almes. And all manner of mercie as witnesseth the diuine scripture31 shall make a place vnto euery man according to the merite of his workes. Very often and wonderfully doth Saint CHYSOSTOME32 commende the same, and he doubteth not in a certaine place to say:33 Mercie is the fortresse of saluation, the ornament of faith, the propitiation of sinnes: she it is that approueth the iust persons, confirmeth the holy, & setteth forth the seruants of God. Yea and if we beleeue Saint AMBROSE,34 the wholle summe of Christian discipline consisteth in mercie and pietie.

14. Are the workes of Mercie of one kinde only?

THey are35 found to be of two sortes: for asmuch as some be corporall, some spirituall. Some are certes called corporal, because they are exercysed for the releeuing of the corporall miserie of our neighbour: other spirituall, for that in them we doe well prouide and lauour for the spiritual good of our neighbour. Of this diuersitie of mercie, the most bountifull IOB giueth a most cleare example, who witnesseth of himselfe:36 From my infancie, hath mercie encreased with me, and from my mothers wombe she came forth with me. I haue bene an eie 37 to the blinde, and a foote to the lame. I was the father of the poore, and the cause which I knew not, I did diligently search out. I did consume the grinding stones of the wicked man, and out of his teeth I did take the praie. Also: The stranger stood not without 38 dores, my dore was open to the traueiler.

15. How many workes of mercie be there both corporall and spirituall?

THere are seauen accounted of each kind. And first certes the corporall workes are these:39 To feed the hungry: To giue drinke to the thirstie: To cloathe the naked: To redeeme the captiue: To visite the sicke: To harbour Pilgrimes:40 To burie the deade.

And the spirituall woorkes are these: To correct41 those that sin: To teach the42 ignorant: To giue good counsell43 to them that are in doubt: To praie44 to God for the welfare of our neighbour: To comforte45 the sorowfull: To beare iniuries46 patiently: To forgiue47 offences. Which offices of humane pietie are so plaine and euident espeacially vnto Christians & to those which are not altogether barbarous: that they neede not any long discourse.

16. How are these declared in holy Scripture?

VEry plainly certes, and in euery place: as notablely those words of ESAY, or rather the precepts of God, doe declare:48 Breake, saith he, thy bread to the hungrie: the needie, and wandring, bring into thy house: when thou shalt see a naked man, cloathe him: and thy fleshe doe thou not despise. Of which offices, the great profite and commodity is after annexed in the same place.49 Then thy iustice shall goe before thy face: and the glory of our Lord shall gather thee. And Saint IOHN, who wholly laboureth in commending vnto vs brotherly charity and mercie, amongest other thinges teacheth:50 Hee that shall haue the substance of this worlde: & shal see his brother haue neede, and shall shut his bowels from him: how doth the Charity of God abide in him? And not con tent with this speech, he concludeth in most excellent manner: My little children, let vs not loue in word, and in tongue, but in deede and trueth. In this we know that we are of the trueth.

These are the works of the faithfull, and of those that are truely iust, which in the51 last iudgement Christ wil acknowledg, & publikely approue: for the which he wil allot the promised kingdome, & render a crowne of Iustice vnto the merciful, whom also himselfe calleth Iust.

Which workes52 certes doe afford so much the more of true praise and eternall rewarde; by how much the more syncerely, cherefully, and liberally they are done by a Christian minde. Which then is performed, when there is as little respecte as may be vnto humane vanity and desires; but they are wholly directed vnto the glory of God, and the profite of our neighbour who is benifited. To this end are those speeches of holy Scripture to be obserued: He 53 that giueth, in simplicity: he that sheweth mercy, in cheerefulnesse: 54 Turne not away thy face from anie poore man. According to thy abilitie be thou merciful, God loueth a 55 cheerful giuer. In euery 56 gifte make thy countenance cheerfull. Pleasant 57 is that man that taketh compassion and profiteth Christ certes in S. LVKE describeth such58 a Samaritane, as may be a notable example of exhibiting willingly the highest kinde of courtesie and perfect mercie euen vnto strangers, and59 the vndeseruing: But, He that 60 soweth sparingly, sparingly also shall reape, As witnesseth the Apostle. And this shall suffice touching the corporall workes of mercie.

17. But what doth the scripture testifie of those that are spirituall?

VVE, saith he, that are 61 stronger must sustain the infirmities of the weake, and not please our selues. Let euery one of you please his neighbour vnto God, to edification. For Christ did not please himselfe. And againe: Be ye gentle 62 one to another, merciful, pardoning one another, as God in Christ hath pardoned you. Againe: Be ye therfore followers 63 of God, as most deare children: & walke in loue, as Christ also loued vs. Moreouer: Put ye on 64 therfore as the elect of God holy, and beloued, the bowels of mercie, benignitie, humilitie, modestie, patience, supporting one an other: And pardoning 65 one an other, if any haue a quarell against any man: as also our Lorde hath pardoned vs: So you also. And againe:66 Admonishe the vnquiet, comforte the weake minded, beare vp the weake, be patient to all.

These and many other thinges of like tenour doth Saint PAVL euery where inculcate: who to the intent hee mighte saue67 all, was made all thinges to all men: So that hereupon himselfe testifieth: Who is weake, 68 and I am not weake? who is scandalized, & I am not burnt? And againe: I haue greate 69 sadnes, and continuall sorow in my harte. For I wished my selfe an Anathema from Christ for my brethren. And in an other place: I most gladly 70 will bestow, and will my selfe moreouer bee bestowed for your soules: although louing you more I am louedlesse.

18. What is the summe of al the doctrine touching the performance of the workes of mercie?

THe Apostle hath comprised the wholle matter as it were in this one worde: Beare ye 71 one an others burthens: & so you shall fulfill the lawe of Christ, to witte, the lawe of charitie, of which lawe againe he saith:72 If there be any other commandement: it is comprised in this worde: thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe. And the Apostle S. PETER:73 Before all thinges, saith he, hauing mutuall Charitie continuall among your selues: because charitie couereth the multitude of sinnes. Which precepte or office of shewing mercie and charitie, as it is most agreable to nature, and reason: so doth it touch euen all kindes of men without exception: in so much that of this we reade it written:74 God hath giuen euery man a charge of his neighbour. And he hath giuen charge in this maner, as Christ interpreteth:75 All thinges whatsoeuer you will that men doe to you, doe you also to them: for this is the lawe and the Prophettes.

Footnotes

  1. Vide Chrys. ho. 13. in 2. Cor. et Aug serm. 30. de verb. Do. c. 3 ↩

  2. Tob. 12. b ↩

  3. De opere & eleemos. item Petr. Chrysol. ser. 43. Leo. ser. 3. de Ieiun. Pentecost. Osc. 6. c. Mat. 6. b 12. a Pro 21, a Phil 4. d Heb. 13. c ↩

  4. Lib. 1. offic. o. 11. Chrys. ho. 36. ad pop. Ant. Aug. ser. 76. de temp. & hom. 36. ex 50. Leo. ser. 5. & 10. de quadrag. Nyss. de beatitud. ↩

  5. Luc. 6. d Psal. 32. a 118. h 144. b c ↩

  6. Luc. 10. f ↩

  7. Act. 10. f ↩

  8. Deut. 15. b Esd. 8. c Tob. 4. b Psal. 40. a Pro. 11. c 14. c d 19. c 22. b 25. c 28. d Eccli. 4. a b d 7. a d 12. a 17. c 29. b Ezech. 18. b c Mat. 25. d. Luc. 14. c ↩

  9. De opere & eleem. Vide Aug. ser. 50. cap. 8. & sequ. & 227. de temp. & hom. 18 19.29. cap. 1. & sequ. & 47. ex 50. Nazian. orat. 16. de paup. amore. Chrys ho. 32. ad pop. & sequ. ↩

  10. Luc. 11. f Hieron. ad Hedib. ep. 150. quest. 1 ↩

  11. Aug. in Ench. c. 75.76.77. & ser. 30. de verb. Dom. ↩

  12. Luc. 12. d 3. c Mat. 6. a c 19. c d Mar. 10. c 1. Tim. 6. d ↩

  13. Luc. 16. c Aug. ser. 25. c. 3. & 35. c. 1. & seq. de verb. Dom. ↩

  14. Luc. 6. f 2. Cor. 8. b c 9. b 1. Tim. 4. c Ro. 12. c d Iac. 1. d ↩

  15. Dan. 4. c Pro. 13. b. Amb. ser. 30 & 31. & de Helia & Ieiun. cap. 20. Leo. in ser. de collectis. Chrys. hom. 25. in Act. ↩

  16. Eccli. 3. d Amb. serm. 15. Chrys. hom. 34. in Gen. Pros. part. 2. de promiss. & praedict. tionibus. c. 7 ↩

  17. Tob. 12. b 4. b Esa. 1. c Pro. 15. d 16 a 10. b 1. Pet 4. b Iac. 5. d ↩

  18. Mat. 10. d Greg. ho. 5. in Euang. Amb. in lib. de viduis. Leo. ser. 4. & 6. de qua drag. & ser. 6, de Ieiun. 10. mensis. ↩

  19. Mat. 5. a ↩

  20. Iac. 2. b. Pro. 21. b. ↩

  21. Gen. 18. a 19. a ↩

  22. He. 13. a ↩

  23. Tob. 12. c 1. d ↩

  24. Act. 10. a See notable examples of Almes in these Saints liues. Ioannis Eleemosinarii apud Leentium. Martini apud Sulpitium. Paulae apud Hieron. ep. 27. cap. 7. Paulini apud Greg. Turon. de glor. Conf. cap. 107. & apud Greg. 3. dial. c. 1. Tiber. apud Turon. lib. 5 hist. Franc. cap. 19. Bened. apud Greg. 2. dial. c. 28. & 29. Martyrii apud cund. ho. 39. in Euang. Greg. apud Ioan. Diac lib. 1. vitae eius. cap. 10. & lib. 2. cap. 22. & 23. Osuald. apud Bed lib. 3. hist. Aug. cap. 6. ↩

  25. Luc. 19. a b ↩

  26. Act. 9. f g Vide etiam Pratum Sprituale Sophronii. cap. 175. 185. 195. & 201 ↩

  27. Luc. 8. & 10. g Ioan. 12 a 3. Reg 17. b c d 4. Reg. 4. b c f ↩

  28. Amb. lib 2. offic. cap. 28. ↩

  29. Ps. 111. b Chry. ho. 55 in Gen. ↩

  30. Lib. 9. ciu cap. 5. Isid. de summo bono. lib. 3. cap. 64. Nys. in l. de beatitud. ↩

  31. Eccli. 16. b ↩

  32. Hom. 32. in epist. ad Heb. ho. 9. de poenit. 53. in Mat. & 36. ad pop. Ant. ↩

  33. Chrys. ho. de miser. & duabus viduis. ↩

  34. In ep. 1. ad Tim. c. 4. vide eund. in Luc. 3. ↩

  35. Aug. lib. de mor. b. Eccles. Cathol. cap. 27. & 28. Ench. c. 72. & ser. 203. de tempore. ↩

  36. Iob. 31. b & ibid. Greg. ↩

  37. Iob. 29. c ↩

  38. Iob. 31. d ↩

  39. Mat. 25. d ↩

  40. Tob. 1. d 2. a b 12. c 2. Reg. 2. a Aug. lib. 1. eiu. cap. 13. & de cura mor. cap. 3. ↩

  41. Mat. 18. b 1. Tim. 5. c. ↩

  42. Eccli. 18. b 2 Tim. 4. a Esa. 52. b Hier. 15. b Dan. 12. a Iac. 5. d Gal. 6. a Chrys. ho. 3. & 10. in Gen. Clem. Alex. lib. 1. strom. Bern. ser. 36. in Cant. Greg. ho. 17. in Euang. ↩

  43. Pro. 17. b Eccli. 5. c ↩

  44. Mat. 5. g Iac. 5. d ↩

  45. Eccli. 7. d 2. Cor. 1. a ↩

  46. Tit. 3. a 1. Thes. 5. c Rom. 15. a ↩

  47. Mat. 5. d 6. b 18. c d Mar. 11. c Eccli. 28. a ↩

  48. Esa. 58. b ↩

  49. Ibid. c ↩

    1. Io. 3. c Iac. 2. c Bas. ho. 7. in diuites auaros. Amb. ser. 81. & apud Gratia. dist. 86. iden lib. 3. offic. cap. 6. & 7. Greg. 3. p. curae past. adm. 22. Greg. Turon. in glor. Conf. cap. 108.
    ↩

  51. Mat. 25. d Luc. 14. c ↩

  52. Greg. vbi supra adm. 21. Amb. lib. 1. offic. c. 30. & l. 2. c. 21. & 25. Chry. ho. de miser & duabus Viduis. & hom. 30. in 1. Cor. ↩

  53. Ro. 12. b ↩

  54. Tob. 4. b ↩

    1. Cor. 9. b
    ↩

  56. Eccli. 35. b ↩

  57. Ps. 111. a ↩

  58. Luc. 10. f ↩

  59. Nazian. orat. 19. in funere Patris. Chrys. ho. 21. in ep. ad Rom. & ho. 35. & 37. ad pop. Ant ↩

    1. Cor. 9. b
    ↩

  61. Ro. 15. a ↩

  62. Eph. 4. g ↩

  63. Eph. 5. a ↩

  64. Col. 3. b ↩

  65. Aug. Enchir. cap. 73. & 74. ho. 6. 29. cap. 1. & 40. cap. 3. & seq. ex 50. & serm. 203. de temp. Greg. 4. dial. cap. vlt. ↩

    1. Thess. 5. c
    ↩
    1. Cor. 9. d
    ↩
    1. Cor. 11. g
    ↩

  69. Rom. 9. a ↩

    1. Cor. 12. e
    ↩

  71. Gal. 6. a ↩

  72. Ro. 13. e Gal. 5. c ↩

    1. Pet. 4, b
    ↩

  74. Eccli. 17. b ↩

  75. Mat. 7. b Luc. 6. c ↩

Chapter 25 of 36