6o Readings in European History The treasures of the Church. 40. True contrition seeks and loves punishment, while the ampleness of pardons relaxes it and causes men to hate it, or at least gives occasion for them to do so. 43. Christians should be taught that he who gives to a poor man, or lends to a needy man, does better than if he bought pardons. 44. Because by works of charity, charity increases and the man becomes better, while by means of pardons he does not become better, but only freer from punishment. 50. Christians should be taught that, if the pope were acquainted with the exactions of the preachers of pardons, he would prefer that the basilica of St. Peter should be burnt to ashes rather than that it should be built up with the skin, flesh, and bones of his sheep. 51. Christians should be taught that as it would b2 the duty, so it would be the wish of the pope even to sell, if necessary, the basilica of St. Peter, as well as to give of his own money to very many of those from whom the preachers of pardons extract money. 56. The treasures of the Church, 1 whence the pope grants indulgences, are neither sufficiently discussed nor understood among the people of Christ. 57. It is clear that they are at least not temporal treas- ures, for these are not so readily lavished, but only accumu- lated, by many of the preachers. 62. The true treasure of the Church is the holy gospel of the glory and grace of God. 63. This treasure, however, is naturally most hateful, because it makes the first to be last ; 64. While the treasure of indulgences is naturally most acceptable, because it makes the last to be first. 1 See History of Western Europe, § 136 (end).
