274 vlfter what manner a$u/i we giveAlms, Serm III I the Text, enforcethx1iiis :Duey Of-liberality to the poor ; for faith he Charge them that are rich in this work' that they dogood, that they le rich in good works, read), todi(lri6rtte, willing to communicate : Mark his reafon in thenext words,layingup in fierefor themfelves,agoodfoundation againfl the time to come ; Where the Apotllc intimaceth, that by laying out on thepoor, we do in truth lay up in acre for our felves. Look therefore how much thou layefl out here on good ufes, by a Bill of Exchange,as it were, thou íhalc receive as much, yea, much more in the Kingdom of ssodpauperi Haven ; To which agreeth that of Sr. Anfiine, l4'hatfoever we give to ddamus ante nos the poor, wefendbefore us, andwe fh.osllfind that inHeaven, which wegive pramittinrtss, here on Aug, I have met with a notable Story to this purpofe, which I fhal1 the ra- ther relate, becaufc I have known forme fo affeá ed upon thehearing thereof, as that they have takenup prefenc refolutions, to comrr;untcace more liberally to the neceflìcies of the poor, than ever they did in their lives before. TheGory is this, Synefius a good Bifhop of Cyrene, laboured much, anda long time wìth one Evagrius an Heathen Philofopher, to convert him to theChrifliau Faith, but all in vain ; The Philofopher Rillobjelling that theChrs.fiian. Religion taught many firange and improbable things ; among others, That he that hath pity on the poor, lendeth to the Lord ; and he that giveth to the poor and needy, ¡hall have creafure in Heaven, and ¡hall re- ceive an hundred -fold from Chrii , together witheternal life : Things, Paid he, to be derided, rather than believed. ThegoodBifhop notwithfiand. ing ceafed not to travel withhim, affuring him by many arguments, that theft things were true, and at lafI prevailed, fo that the Philofopher and all his Childrenwere baptized. Awhile after, he cometh to Synefius, and bringeth with him three hundredpounds of Geld for the poor, bids him take it, but would have a Bill under his hand, that Chriff fhould repay it him in another world. Synefius too, the money for the poor, andgave him fuck. a Bill under his hand as he defired. Afterwards the Philofopher being near his death, commanded his Sons, that when theyburiedhim, theyfhouldput Synefius Bill into his hand in thegrave, which theydid. The thirdday after he was buried,thePhilofopher feemed to appear to Synefius in the night, and faid to him, [Come to my Sepulchre where I lye, and take thy Bill, for I have received the debt, and am fatisfied, which for thy: affurance, I have fubfcribed with mine own hand. ] TheBithop not well knowing the meaning hereof Pent to his Sons, who toldhim all, whereupon taking
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