554 GOSPEL ACCORDING TO CHAP. XvI.
decessorssome one must needsbe found who has unjustly
usurped the propertyof others. But supposethatthy
fatherhas not been guiltyof exaction,whence hastthou
thy money? If indeedthou answerest,"From myself;"
thou art ignorantof God, not having the knowledgeof
thy Creator;but if,"From God," tellme the reasonfor
P«.24,i.which thou receivedstit. /* nottheearthand thefulness
thereoftheLord's?Ifthen whateverisoursbelongstoour
common Lord,sowillitalsobelongtoourfellow-servant.
THEOPHYL. Those then are calledthe richesof un
righteousnesswhich the Lord has givenforthe necessities
of our brethrenand fellow-servants,but we spend upon
ourselves.It became us then from the beginning,to give
allthingsto the poor,but becausewe have become the
stewardsof unrighteousness,wickedlyretainingwhat was
appointedforthe aidof others,we must not surelyremain
in thiscruelty,but distributeto the poor,thatwe may be
receivedby them intoeverlastinghabitations.For itfol
lows,That,when ye fail,they may receiveyou intoever
lastinghabitations.
Greg. GREG. But ifthrough theirfriendshipwe obtainever-
capH. lastinghabitations,we ought tocalculatethatwhen we give
we ratherofferpresentsto patrons,than bestow benefits
upon theneedy.
Aug. AUG. For who aretheythatshallhaveeverlastinghabita-erm'''tionsbut thesaintsofGod ? and who aretheythataretobe
receivedby them intoeverlastinghabitationsbut theywho
administertotheirwant,and whatsoevertheyhave needof,
gladlysupply? They are thoselittleones of Christ,who
haveforsakenallthatbelongedtothem and followedHim;
and whatsoevertheyhad have givento the poor,thatthey
might serveGod withoutearthlyshackles,and freeingtheir
shouldersfrom the burdensof theworld,might raisethem
aloftaswithwings.
Aug.do ArG. We must notthenunderstandthoseby whom we wish
Quacst.to be receivedintoeverlastinghabitationsto be as itwere
q.34. debtorsofGod; seeingthatthejustand holyaresignifiedin
thisplace,who causethosetoenterin,who administeredto
theirnecessitiesof theirown worldlygoods. AMBROSE.Or
else,make to yourselvesfriendsof the mammon of un