Page:King Alfred's West-Saxon Version of Gregory's Pastoral Care (2).djvu/331

322 ryhtlice gedæled hæbben, ðonne ne teon hie nanwuht ðæs lofes & ðæs ðances to him, ðylæs hie hit eall forleosen, ðonne hie hit gedæled hæbben, ne him selfum ne tellen to mægene hiora friodom; ac gehieren hwæt awriten is on ðæm ærendgewrite sancte Petres: Gif hwa ðenige, ðenige he swelce he hit of Godes mægene ðenige, næs of his selfes, ðylæs he to ungemetlice fægnige for his godum weorcum. Ac gehieren hwæt awriten is on Cristes bocum, hit is awriten: Ðonne ge eall hæbben gedon ðæt eow beboden is, ðonne cweðe ge ðæt ge sien unnytte ðeowas, forðæm ge ðæt an worhton ðæt ge niede scoldon. Ond eft, ðylæs ða rummodnessa sio unrotnes gewemme, gehierað ðone cwide þe sanctus Paulus cwæð to Corintheum, he cwæð ðætte ðone gladan giefan God lufode. Ond eft, ðylæs hie for ðæm dale ðæs fios wilnigen ðysses lænan lofes, gehieren hie ðone cwide þe on Cristes bocum awriten is, ðæt is ðæt sio winestre hond ne scyle witan hwæt sio swiðre dó. Đæt is, ðonne ðonne he his ælmessan dælð, ðæt ðær ne sie wið gemenged nan gilp ðisses andweardan lifes, ne he ne scrife ðæs hlisan buton hu he ryhtost wyrce. Ne he ne gime hwelce hylde he mid ðære ælmessan gewrixle, ac gehiere hwæt awriten is on Cristes bocum, he cwæð: Ðonne ðu hæbbe gegearwod underngifl oððe æfengifl, ne laða ðerto no ðine friend, ne ðinne broður, ne ðine cuðan, ne ðine welegan neahgeburas, ðylæs hie ðe dón ðæt selfe. Ac ðonne ðu forme gierwe on ælmessan laða ðærto wædlan & wanhale & healte & blinde, ðonne bist ðu eadig, forðon hie nyton mid hwæm hie hit ðe forgielden. And ðætte mon ðonne ðurhteon mæge, ðæt he ðæt ne forielde, ac gehieren hwæt awriten is on Salomones bocum, hit is awriten ðæt mon

1 expended well, their minds be glad and rejoice beyond measure or propriety. But when they have distributed it all rightly, they must not arrogate to themselves any of the praise and gratitude, lest they lose it all when they have distributed it, or account their liberality & virtue ; but let them hear what is written in St. Peter's letter: “If any one minister, let him minister as if he ministered by the power of God, not by his own, lest he rejoice overmuch at his good worke." And let them hear what is written in Christ's books; it is written : “ When ye have done all that ye are told, then say that ye are useless servants, because ye have only done what ye were obliged to do." And again, lest discontent pollute generosity, hear St. Paul's saying to the Corinthians ; he said that God loved the cheerful giver. And again, 1