Of Almes deedes.
Eleemosyna prodest homini in vita, in morte, & post mortem.
Out of S. Augustine.
[1]
For onely loue to God, more Christian like to liue,
And for a zeale to helpe the poore, thine almes daily giue.
Let gift no glorie looke,[E483] nor euill possesse thy minde:
And for a truth these profites thrée, through almes shalt thou finde.
[2]
1 First here the holy Ghost shall daily through his grace,
Prouoke[E484] thée to repentant life, Gods mercie to embrace.
2 Of goods and friends (by death) when thou thy leaue must take,
Thine almes déedes shall claspe thy soule, and neuer it forsake.
[3]
3 When God shall after death, call soone for thine account,
thine alms then through faith in Christ, shal al things els surmount.
But yet for any déede, put thou no trust therein,
but put thy trust in God (through Christ) to pardon thée thy sin.
[4]
For else as cackling hen with noise [bewraies] hir nest,
Euen so go thou and [blaze] thy déeds, and lose thou all the rest.