III. Case of Restitution.
VVHether hee that repents is to make restitution if hee haue taken any thing wrongfully from his neighbour? Ans. Yea, Zacheus, when hee repented and receiued Christ, gaue halfe of his goods to the poore, and if hee had taken any thing by forged cauillation, he restored it foure folde.* 1.1 It is but a bad practise when a man on his death bed will verie deuoutly bequeath his soule to God, and his goods euill gotten (as his conscience wil often crie in his eare) to his children and friendes, without either restitution or amends making. Quest. But what if a man be not able to restore? Ans. Let him acknowledge the fault, and God will accept the will for thee deede. As Paul sayeth in the like case:* 1.2 If there be a willing mind, it is accepted according to that which a man hath, and not according to that which a man hath not. Quest. When a man by re∣storing shall discredit himselfe: howe shall he restore and keep his credit? Ans. Let him (if the thing to be restored be of small moment) make choice of some faithfull or honest friend, who may deliuer the thing in the behalfe of the par∣tie, concealing his name. Quest. Howe if the parties bee dead? Ans. Let him re∣store to the heires and successors; if there be none, let him restore to God, that is, the Church and the poore.