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prison.” 3675 And to some He said, “Ye have ministered unto Me,” and to some He said,
“Ye have not ministered unto Me.” Lo, we have proved Christ poor; that Christ is Rich, who
knows not? And even here it was a property of these riches to turn the water into wine. If
he who has wine is rich, how rich is He who maketh wine? So then Christ is rich and poor;
as God, rich; as Man, poor. Yea rich too now as Very Man He hath ascended into heaven,
sitteth at the right Hand of the Father; yet still He is poor and hungry here, thirsty, and naked.
5. What art thou? Rich, or poor? Many tell me, I am poor; and they tell the truth. I re-
cognise some poor having something, and some having want. But some have much gold
and silver. O that they would acknowledge themselves poor! Poor they will acknowledge
themselves, if they acknowledge the poor about them. For how is it? How much soever thou
hast, thou rich man whosoever thou art, thou art God’s beggar. The hour of prayer comes,
and there I prove thee. Thou makest thy petition. How art thou not poor, who makest thy
petition? I say more, Thou makest petition for bread. Wilt thou not have to say, “Give us
our daily bread”?3676 Thou, who askest for daily bread, art thou poor, or rich? And yet
Christ saith to thee, “Give Me of that which I have given thee. For what didst thou bring
here, when thou camest hither? All things that I created, thyself created hast found here;
nothing didst thou bring, nothing shalt thou take away. Why wilt thou not give Me of Mine
Own? For thou art full, and the poor man is empty. Look at your first origin; naked were
ye both born. Thou too then wast born naked. Great store hast thou found here; didst thou
bring ought with thee? I ask for Mine Own; give, and I will repay. Thou hast found Me a
bountiful giver, make Me at once thy debtor. It is not enough to say, ‘Thou hast found Me
a bountiful giver, make Me at once thy debtor;’ let Me regard thee as lending upon interest.
Thou givest me but little, I will repay more. Thou givest me earthly things, I will repay
heavenly. Thou givest me temporal things, I will restore eternal. I will restore thee to thyself,
when I shall have restored thee unto Me.”
3675 Matt. xxv. 35, etc.
3676 Matt. vi. 11.
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On the words of the Gospel, John ii. 2, ‘and Jesus also was bidden, and…