ON WORKS AND ALMS. 7 For when Zacchaeus said," Behold, the half of my goods I give to thepoor; and ifI have done any wrong to any man, I restorefourfold,"Jesus answered and said," That salva- ■ tionhas thisday come to thishouse,forthat he alsoisa son of Abraham." 1 For ifAbraham believedin God, and itwas counted unto him for righteousness,certainlyhe who gives alms accordingto God's preceptbelievesin God, and he who has the truthof faithmaintainsthe fearof God ; moreover, he who maintains the fearof God considersGod in showing mercy to the poor. For he laboursthus because he believes — because he knows thatwhat is foretoldby God's word is true,and thatthe holy Scripturecannot lie— thatunfruitful trees,that is,unproductivemen, are cut off and castinto the fire,but that the merciful are calledintothe kingdom. He also,in another place,callslaboriousand fruitfulmen faithful; but He deniesfaithto unfruitfuland barren ones, saying, " If ye have not been faithfulin the unrighteous mammon, who willcommit to you thatwhich istrue? And ifye have not been faithfulin thatwhich is another man's, who shallgive you thatwhich isyour own ? " 2 9. If you dreadand fear,lest,ifyou begintoactthusabun dantly,your patrimonybeing exhaustedwith your liberaldeal ing, you may perchancebe reduced to poverty; be of good courage in thisrespect,be freefrom care: thatcannot be ex hausted whence the serviceof Christis supplied,whence the heavenly work iscelebrated.Neither do I vouch forthison my own anthority; but I promiseiton the faithof the holy Scriptures,and on the authorityof the divinepromise. The Holy Spiritspeaks by Solomon, and says," He that giveth unto the poor shallnever lack,but he thatturnethaway his eye shallbe in great poverty;" 3 showing thatthe merciful and thosewho do good works cannot want, but ratherthat the sparingand barren hereaftercome to want. Moreover, the blessedApostle Paul, fullof the grace of the Lord's inspiration,says: " He that ministerethseed to the sower, shallboth ministerbread for your food,and shallmultiply your seed sown,and shallincreasethe growth of the fruitsof 1Luke xbo 8,9. 2Luke xvi.11,12. 8 Prov.xxviii.27.