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26 He coueteth greedily al the day long, but the righteous giueth, and spareth not.
Sith hee putteth the righteous, as contrarie to the slouthful, he sheweth wel that the slouthful is wicked, and that hee deserueth wel to haue pouertie, destruction, and decaie. And when he putteth, giueth, and spareth not, against coueteth greedily: hee sheweth the insatiable auarice, and great crueltie of the slouthful. Hee sheweth that the slouthful hath no care of himselfe, and that hee hath no compassion, nor pitie of the poore. And this is for no smal while, but he perseuereth in his auarice & crueltie. For, as Solomon saieth, He coueteth greedily al the day long. And contrarie, The righte∣ous neuer ceaseth to doe good, as Solomon declareth, when hee saieth, And he spareth not. Wherein we see, that we cannot claime the title of being righteous, if we perseuer not to vse charitie, and doe the workes of mercie. But although it be saide, that the slug∣garde hath a care of himselfe, neuerthelesse the care that hee hath, is not properly care, but onely a greedinesse more then bestial. For if hee had a due care of himselfe, hee woulde studie to woorke the health of his soule, with feare and trembling. And in this maner, he woulde saue both bodie and soule, whereas nowe they go to wrack and ruine. For iudgement shalbe done without mercie, to him that hath vsed no mercie. Contrariwise, the righteous man prouideth for his soule and bodie by giuing, and perseuering to doe wel: See∣ing that, Blessed are the merciful, for they shal obtaine mercie, yea, perpetual mercie both in bodie and soule.