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fortable words when thou givest any thing. Shall not the dew assuage the heat? so is a word better than a gift. Lo, is not a word better than a gift? but both are with a gracious man.

From the same.

When thou wilt do good, know to whom thou doest it; so shalt thou be thanked for thy benefits. Do good to the godly man, and thou shalt find a recompence; and if not from him, yet from the Most High. Help the poor for the commandment's sake, and turn him not away because of his poverty. And stretch thine hand unto the poor, that thy blessing may be perfected. Give unto the Most High according as he hath enriched thee; and as thou hast gotten, give with a cheerful eye. For the Lord recompenseth, and will give thee seven times as much. Lay up thy treasure according to the commandments of the Most High, and it shall bring thee more profit than gold. It shall fight for thee against thine enemies better than a mighty shield and strong spear. Water will quench a flaming

fire; and alms maketh an atonement for sins. And he that requiteth good turns is mindful of

that which may come hereafter; and when he falleth, he shall find a stay.

Proverbs.

He

Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate: for the Lord will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them. Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to-morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee. Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee. Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm. that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor. Who o stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard. He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker; but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor. Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished. He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he. He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth

unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

Tobit.

Give of thy bread to the hungry, and of thy garments to them that are naked; give alms of thy substance; and when thou givest alins, let not thine eye be envious, neither turn thy face from any poor, and the face of God shall not be turned away from thee. If thou hast abundance, give alms accordingly: if thou have but a little, be not afraid to give according to that little for thou layest up a good treasure for thyself against the day of necessity. For alms is a good gift unto all that give it in the sight of the Most High.

On meekness and humility.

Ecclesiasticus.

My son, go on with thy business in meekness: so shalt thou be beloved of him that is approved. The greater thou art, the more humble thyself, and thou shalt find favour before the Lord. For the power of the Lord is great, and he is honoured

of the lowly.. Seek not.out the things that are too hard for thee, neither search the things that are above thy strength. But what is commanded thee, think thereupon with reverence; for it is not needful for thee to see with thine eyes the things that are in secret. Be not curious in unnecessary matters: for more things are shewed unto thee than men understand. For many are deceived by their own vain opinion: and an evil suspicion hath overthrown their judgement. Without eyes thou shalt want light: profess not the knowledge there ore that thou hast not. Extol not thyself in the counsel of thine own heart; be not overwise in doing thy business; and boast not thyself in the time of thy distress. Better is he that laboureth, and aboundeth in all things, than he that boasteth himself, and wanteth bread. My son, glorify thy soul in meekness, and give it honour according to the dignity Exalt not thyself, lest thou fall, and bring dishonour upon thy soul, and so God discover thy secrets, and cast thee down in the midst of the congregation, because thou camest not in truth to the fear of the Lord, but thy heart is full of deceit. For the fear of the Lord is wisdom and instruction: and faith and meckness are his deligh'.

thereof.

Proverbs.

By humility, and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life. The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility. Surely he scorneth the scorners but he giveth grace unto the lowly. Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips. It is not good to eat much honey; so for men to search their own glory is not glory. Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, aud stand not in the place of great men: for better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither, than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen. thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth. Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud. When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

If

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