LIBER DE OPERE ET ELEEMOSYNIS.

 0601D I. MULTA et magna sunt, fratres charissimi beneficia divina quibus in salutem nostram Dei Patris et Christi larga et copiosa clementia et operat

 II. Loquitur in Scripturis divinis Spiritus sanctus et dicit: Eleemosynis et fide delicta purgantur (Prov. XV, 27). Non utique illa delicta quae fuera

 0604B III. Agnoscamus itaque, fratres charissimi, divinae indulgentiae munus salubre , et emundandis purgandisque peccatis nostris, qui sine aliquo co

 0605A IV. Numquam denique, fratres dilectissimi, admonitio divina cessavit et tacuit quominus in Scripturis sanctis tam veteribus quam novis semper et

 V. Remedia propitiando Deo ipsius Dei verbis data sunt, quid deberent facere peccantes magisteria divina docuerunt, operationibus justis Deo satisfier

 VI. Nec sic, fratres charissimi, ista proferimus ut non quod Raphael angelus dixit veritatis testimonio comprobemus: in Actibus Apostolorum facti fide

 VII. Itaque in Evangelio Dominus, doctor vitae nostrae et magister salutis aeternae, vivificans credentium populum et vivificatis consulens in aeternu

 VIII. Eos denique et Abrahae filios dicit quos in juvandis alendisque pauperibus operarios cernit. Nam, cum Zachaeus dixisset: Ecce dimidium ex substa

 IX. Si vereris et metuis ne, si operari plurimum coeperis, patrimonio tuo larga operatione finito ad penuriam forte redigaris, esto in hac parte intre

 X. Metuis ne patrimonium tuum forte deficiat si operari ex eo largiter coeperis, et nescis, miser, quia, dum times ne res familiaris deficiat, vita ip

 XI. Metuis ne patrimonium tuum forte deficiat, si operari ex eo largiter coeperis. Quando enim factum est ut justo possent deesse subsidia vitae , cum

 XII. Nisi si putas quia qui Christum pascit, a Christo ipse non pascitur, aut eis terrena deerunt quibus coelestia et divina tribuuntur. Unde haec inc

 XIII. Quid tibi in istis ineptis et stultis cogitationibus 0610C plaudis, quasi metu et sollicitudine futurorum ab operibus retarderis? Quid umbras et

 XIV. Erras et falleris, quisquis te in saeculo divitem credis. Audi in Apocalypsi Domini tui vocem ejusmodi homines justis objurgationibus increpantem

 XV. Caeterum, quae talis es, nec operari in Ecclesia potes. Egentem enim et pauperem non vident oculi tui superfusi nigroris tenebris et nocte contect

 XVI. Sed nec illa res, fratres charissimi, a bonis operibus et justis refraenet et revocet Christianum, quod excusari se posse aliquis existimet benef

 XVII. Sic vidua illa, in tertio Regnorum libro, cum, in siccitate et fame consumptis omnibus, de modico farre et oleo quod superfuerat fecisset subcin

 XVIII. Sed enim multi sunt in domo liberi, et retardat te numerositas filiorum quominus largiter bonis operibus insistas. Atqui hoc ipso operari ampli

 XIX. Nec eum liberis tuis cogites patrem qui et temporarius et infirmus est , sed illum pares qui aeternus et firmus filiorum spiritalium pater est. I

 XX. Esto potius liberis tuis pater talis qualis Tobias exstitit. Da utilia et salutaria praecepta pignoribus qualia ille filio dedit manda filiis tui

 XXI. Quale munus est, fratres charissimi, cujus editio Deo spectante celebratur! Si in gentilium munere grande et gloriosum videtur proconsules vel im

 XXII. Atque, ut pigros et steriles et cupiditate nummaria nihil circa fructum salutis operantes magis pudeat, ut plus conscientiam sordidam dedecoris

 0619A XXIII. Quid ad haec respondemus, fratres charissimi? Sacrilega sterilitate et quadam tenebrarum nocte coopertas divitum mentes qua ratione defen

 XXIV. Et idcirco, fratres charissimi, quibus metus in Deum pronus est, et, spreto calcatoque jam mundo, ad superna et divina animus erectus est, fide

 XXV. Cogitemus, fratres dilectissimi, quid sub Apostolis fecerit credentium populus, quando inter ipsa primordia majoribus virtutibus mens vigebat, qu

 XXVI. Quae illa erit, fratres charissimi, operantium gloria, quam grandis est summa laetitia, cum populum suum Dominus coeperit recensere, et meritis

5. The remedies for propitiating God are given in the words of God Himself; the divine instructions have taught what sinners ought to do, that by works of righteousness God is satisfied, that with the deserts of mercy sins are cleansed. And in Solomon we read, “Shut up alms in the heart of the poor, and these shall intercede for thee from all evil.”12    Ecclus. xxix. 12. And again: “Whoso stoppeth his ears that he may not hear the weak, he also shall call upon God, and there will be none to hear him.”13    Prov. xxi. 13. For he shall not be able to deserve the mercy of the Lord, who himself shall not have been merciful; nor shall he obtain aught from the divine pity in his prayers, who shall not have been humane towards the poor man’s prayer. And this also the Holy Spirit declares in the Psalms, and proves, saying, Blessed is he that considereth of the poor and needy; the Lord will deliver him in the evil day.”14    Ps. xli. 1. Remembering which precepts, Daniel, when king Nebuchodonosor was in anxiety, being frightened by an adverse dream, gave him, for the turning away of evils, a remedy to obtain the divine help, saying, “Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to thee; and redeem thy sins by almsgivings, and thine unrighteousness by mercies to the poor, and God will be patient15    Some editors read “parcens” instead of “patiens,” making the meaning “sparing to thy sins.” to thy sins.”16    Dan. iv. 27. And as the king did not obey him, he underwent the misfortunes and mischiefs which he had seen, and which he might have escaped and avoided had he redeemed his sins by almsgiving. Raphael the angel also witnesses the like, and exhorts that alms should be freely and liberally bestowed, saying, “Prayer is good, with fasting and alms; because alms doth deliver from death, and it purgeth away sins.”17    Tob. xii. 8, 9. He shows that our prayers and fastings are of less avail, unless they are aided by almsgiving; that entreaties alone are of little force to obtain what they seek, unless they be made sufficient18    Some have read for “satientur,” “farciantur,” and others “socientur,” “be filled up,” or “be associated.” by the addition of deeds and good works. The angel reveals, and manifests, and certifies that our petitions become efficacious by almsgiving, that life is redeemed from dangers by almsgiving, that souls are delivered from death by almsgiving.

V. Remedia propitiando Deo ipsius Dei verbis data sunt, quid deberent facere peccantes magisteria divina docuerunt, operationibus justis Deo satisfieri, misericordiae meritis peccata purgari. Et apud Salomonem legimus: Conclude eleemosynam in corde pauperis , et haec pro te exorabit ab omni malo. Et iterum: 0605C Qui obturat aures ne audiat imbecillum, et ipse invocabit Deum, et non erit qui exaudiat eum (Prov. XXI, 0606A 13). Neque enim promereri misericordiam Domini poterit qui misericors ipse non fuerit, aut impetrabit de divina pietate aliquid in precibus qui ad precem pauperis non fuerit humanus. Quod item in Psalmis Spiritus sanctus declarat et probat dicens: Beatus qui intelligit super egenum et pauperem, in die mala liberabit eum Dominus (Psal. XL, 2). Quorum praeceptorum memor Daniel, cum rex Nabuchodonosor adverso somnio territus aestuaret, pro avertendis malis ad divinam opem impetrandam remedium dedit dicens: Propterea, rex, consilium meum placeat tibi, et peccata tua eleemosynis redime et injustitias tuas miserationibus pauperum, et erit Deus parcens peccatis tuis (Dan. IV, 24). Cui rex non obtemperans, adversa quae viderat et infesta perpessus est: quae evadere et 0606B vitare potuisset, si peccata sua eleemosynis redemisset. Raphael quoque angelus paria testatur, et ut eleemosyna libenter ac largiter fiat hortatur dicens: Bona est oratio cum jejunio et eleemosyna: quia eleemosyna a morte liberat, et ipsa purgat peccata (Tob. XII, 8). Ostendit orationes nostras ac jejunia minus posse nisi eleemosynis adjuventur , deprecationes solas parum ad impetrandum valere, nisi factorum et operum accessione satientur . Revelat Angelus et manifestat et firmat eleemosynis petitiones nostras efficaces fieri, eleemosynis vitam de periculis redimi, eleemosynis animas a morte liberari.