ON WORKS AND ALMS. 5 liberallybestowed,saying," Prayer isgood,with fastingand alms ; because alms doth deliverfrom death,and itpurgeth away sins."1 He shows thatour prayersand fastingsare of lessavail,unlessthey are aided by almsgiving; thatentrea tiesalone are of littleforceto obtainwhat they seek,unless they be made sufficients by the additionof deeds and good works. The angel reveals,and manifests,and certifiesthat our petitionsbecome efficaciousby almsgiving,that lifeis redeemed from dangers by almsgiving,that soulsare deli vered from death by almsgiving. 6. Neither,belovedbrethren,are we so bringing forward thesethings,as that we shouldnot prove what Eaphael the angel said,by thetestimonyof the truth. In the Acts of the Apostles the faithof the factisestablished; and thatsouls are deliveredby almsgivingnot only from the second,but from the firstdeath,isdiscoveredby the evidenceof a matter accomplishedand completed. When Tabitha,being greatly given to good works and to bestowing alms,fellsickand died,Peter was summoned to her lifelessbody ; and when he, with apostolichumanity,had come in haste,therestood around him widows weeping and entreating,showing the cloaks,and coats,and allthe garments which they had pre viouslyreceived,and praying for the deceased not by their words, but by her own deeds. Peter feltthat what was asked in such a way might be obtained,and thatChrist'said would not be wanting to the petitioners,sinceHe Himself was clothedin the clothingof the widows. When, therefore, fallingon his knees,he had prayed, and— fitadvocatefor the widows and poor— had brought to the Lord the prayers entrustedto him, turning to the body, which was now lying washed on the bier,3he said," Tabitha,in the name of Jesus Christ,arise!"4 Nor did He failto bring aid to Peter,who had saidin the Gospel,thatwhatever shouldbe asked in His name should be given. Therefore death is suspended,and 1Tob.xii.8,9. 2 Some havereadfor" satientur,"" farciantur,"andothers" socien- tur,"" be filledup,"or" beassociated." 3 Othertranslatorsread," intheupperchamber." 4Actsix.40.