ON WORKS AND ALMS. 15 chequer intrudeon it,nor does any forensiccalumny over throw it. That inheritanceisplacedin securitywhich iskept under theguardianshipof God. This isto provideforone's dear pledgesforthe coming time; thisiswith paternalaffec tiontotake careforone'sfutureheirs,accordingto the faith of the holy Scripture,which says: " I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seenthe righteousforsaken, nor hisseed wanting bread. All the day long he ismerciful, and lendeth;1 and hisseed isblessed."2 And again: " He who walketh without reproach in his integrityshallleave blessedchildrenafterhim."3 Therefore you are an unfair and traitorousfather,unlessyou faithfullyconsultfor your children,unlessyou lookforward topreservethem in religion and truepiety. You who are carefulratherfortheirearthly than fortheirheavenly estate,ratherto commend your chil dren to the devil than to Christ,are sinning twice, and allowing a double and twofold crime,both in not providing for your childrenthe aid of God theirFather,and in teach ing your childrento lovetheirpropertymore than Christ. 20. Be rathersuch a fatherto your childrenaswas Tobias. Give usefuland saving preceptsto your pledges,such as he gave to his son; command your childrenwhat he alsocom manded his son, saying: "And now, my son,I command thee,serve God in truth,and do before Him that which pleasethHim ; and command thy sons,that they exercise righteousnessand alms, and be mindful of God, and bless His name always."* And again: " All the days of thy life, most dear son,have God in your mind, and be not willing to transgressHis commandments. Do righteousnessallthe days of thy life,and be not willingto walk in the way of iniquity; becauseifthou dealtruly,therewillbe respectof thy works. Give alms of thy substance,and turn not away thy face from any poor man. So shallit be,that neither shallthe faceof God be turned away from thee. As thou hast,my son,so do. If thy substanceisabundant,give alms of it the more. If thou hast little,communicate of that 1The originaliavariouslyread" foencrat" and" commodat." *Ps.xxxvii.25,26. 8Prov.xx.7. 4 Tob.xiv.10,11.