ON WORKS AND ALMS. 17
either pledgingor sellingtheirmeans in the procuring of
the gift!and, unless a competent manifestationfollowed,
they are cast out with scoffingsand hissings,and by the
popular fury sometimes they are almost stoned! Show, O
Christ,such giversas theseof Thine1— thoserichmen, those
men affluentwith abounding wealth— whether in the church
wherein Thou presidestand beholdest,they setforth a gift
of that kind,— having pledgedor scatteredtheirriches,yea,
having transferredthem, by the change of theirpossessions
for the better,into heavenlytreasures! In those spectacles
of mine, perishingand earthlyas they are,no one isfed,no
one is clothed,no one is sustainedby the comforteitherof
any meat or drink. All things,between the madness of the
exhibitorand the mistakeof the spectator,are perishingin a
prodigaland foolishvanityof deceivingpleasures.There, in
Thy poor,Thou artclothedand fed; Thou promisesteternal
lifeto those who labour for Thee ; and scarcelyare Thy
people made equal to mine that perish,although they are
honoured by Thee with divinewages and heavenlyrewards.
23. What do we replyto these things,dearestbrethren?
With what reason do we defend the minds of rich men,
overwhelmed with a profane barrennessand a kind of night
of gloom? With what excuse do we acquitthem, seeing
that we are lessthan the devil'sservants,so as not even
moderatelyto repay Christforthe priceof His passionand
blood ? He has given us precepts; what His servantsought
to do He has instructedus ; promising a reward to those
that are charitable,and threateningpunishment to the un
fruitful.He has set forth His sentence. He has before
announced what He shalljudge. What can be the excuse
for the laggard? what the defencefor the unfruitful? But
when the servantdoes not do what iscommanded, the Lord
will do what He threatens,seeing that He says: "When
the Son of man shallcome in His glory,and allthe angels
with Him, then shallHe sitin the throne of His glory:
and beforeHim shallbe gatheredallnations; and He shall
1 Some editorsadd here," warnedby Thy precepts,and who shall
receiveheavenlythingsinsteadofearthly."
CTP.— VOL. II. B