CHAP. VIII.
NOw if th••s be true doctrine, if to give a considerable part of what God hath intrusted us withall to the Poor, be a debt, it would be well considered, How many rob the Poor of that which is their due. As ô the reckoning! that many rich men have to give at the great day of accounts for this sin, which (not for want of Ignorance) they deemed, or rather dreamed to be no sin.
Nor are they guilty of theft alone, but also of murther: for not to relieve them according to our abilities; and according to their ne∣cessities is to starve them: because we deprive them of the means where by their lives might have been preserved, according to that, Ecclesiasticus 34. The bread of the needy is their life, be that de∣fraudeth him thereof, is a man of blood, Verse 21. For whereas in the sixt Commandement, God forbiddeth murther: he forbiddeth also the neg∣lect of the means, whereby the life of our neighbour might be preserved and susteined. In which regard, Ambrose doubteth not to say; Si non pavisti, occidisti. Thou hast killed the Poor, if thou hast not f••d them. And a∣ga••n, This is to kill a man, when we deny unto him, the means of pre∣serv••ng his life. For he is alike the cause of the faling of a staff, who p••lleth away his hand which held it up, and he who ••••keth and casteth it down•• & he alike is the cause why the fire goeth out, that withdraweth the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 which should nourish it: as well as he that casteth water upon it. The Lamp is put out, as well by not putting oil into it; as by blowing it out: and a••••n is as w••ll guilty of his brothers death, if he feed him not in his necessity, as if he should kill him by violence. He that can save his neigh∣bour from drowning and will not: is a wilful murtherer. Many of these have not bread enough to heal their hunger; take heed thou be not guil∣ty of their famish••ng. Yea, look upon their necessities, as thou wouldst have God look upon thine.