{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/103/1030326.htm","path":"chr/ecf/103/1030326.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/103/1030326.htm","text":"Chapter 76.\u2014To Give Alms Aright, We Should Begin with Ourselves, and Have Pity Upon Our Own Souls.\nFor the man who wishes to give aims as he ought, should begin with himself, and give to himself first. For almsgiving is a work of mercy; and most truly is it said, \u201cTo have mercy on thy soul is pleasing to God.\u201d 1241 And for this end are we born again, that we should be pleasing to God, who is justly displeased with that which we brought with us when we were born. This is our first alms, which we give to ourselves when, through the mercy of a pitying God, we find that we are ourselves wretched, and confess the justice of His judgment by which we are made wretched, of which the apostle says, \u201cThe judgment was by one to condemnation;\u201d 1242 and praise the greatness of His love, of which the same preacher of grace says, \u201cGod commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us:\u201d 1243 and thus judging truly of our own misery, and loving God with the love which He has Himself bestowed, we lead a holy and virtuous life. But the Pharisees, while they gave as alms the tithe of all their fruits, even the most insignificant, passed over judgment and the love of God, and so did not commence their alms-giving at home, and extend their pity to themselves in the first instance. And it is in reference to this order of love that it is said, \u201cLove thy neighbor as thyself.\u201d 1244 When, then, our Lord had rebuked them because they made themselves clean on the outside, but within were full of ravening and wickedness, He advised them, in the exercise of that charity which each man owes to himself in the first instance, to make clean the inward parts. \u201cBut rather,\u201d He says, \u201cgive alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.\u201d 1245 Then, to show what it was that He advised, and what they took no pains to do, and to show that He did not overlook or forget their almsgiving, \u201cBut woe unto you, Pharisees!\u201d 1246 He says; as if He meant to say: I indeed advise you to give alms which shall make all things clean unto you; \u201cbut woe unto you! for ye tithe mint, and rue, and all manner of herbs;\u201d as if He meant to say: I know these alms of yours, and ye need not think that I am now admonishing you in respect of such things; \u201cand pass over judgment and the love of God,\u201d an alms by which ye might have been made clean from all inward impurity, so that even the bodies which ye are now washing would have been clean to you. For this is the import of \u201call things,\u201d both inward and outward things, as we read in another place: \u201cCleanse first that which is within, that the outside may be clean also.\u201d 1247 But lest He might appear to despise the alms which they were giving out of the fruits of the earth, He says: \u201cThese ought ye to have done,\u201d referring to judgment and the love of God, \u201cand not to leave the other undone,\u201d referring to the giving of the tithes.","title":"Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Vol. III: Doctrinal Treat...","type":"page"}