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