And first, no one has ever doubted of almsdeeds being commanded in Holy Writ. Sufficient is the sentence of the just and supreme Judge, (even supposing we had nothing else,) which he will pronounce against the wicked at the last day: " Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry, and you gave me not to eat: I was thirsty, and you gave me not to drink. I was a stranger, and you took me not in; naked, and you covered me not: sick and in prison, and you did not visit me:" and a little lower: " Amen, I say to you, as long as you did it not to one of these least, neither did you do it to me." (St. Matthew xxv.) From these words we may conclude, that those only are bound to give alms, who have the means of doing so: for even our Lord is not said to have done these works, but only to have ordered, out of the money that was given to him, a part to be distributed to the poor. Hence, when our Lord said to Judas, " That which thou dost, do quickly," the disciples supposed that our Lord commanded Judas to give some thing to the poor out of the common purse. But some theologians suppose the precept of almsdeeds is contained in the command, "Honour thy parents:" others in the command, " Thou shalt not kill." But it is not requisite for this precept to be contained in the decalogue, since alms-
