Part II
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I do not overreach myself, for I too have my part to play with “those whom he has called to himself and predestined” to teach the gospel in the midst of considerable persecutions “as far as the ends of the earth, even if the enemy reveals h’s true envy through the tyranny of Coroticus, whofears neither God nor the priests whom he has chosen and to whom he has given the highest divine power, namely that “those whom they bind on earth are boundin heaven.” Rom. 8:30 Matt. 16:19
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Accordingly, I beseech especially you “holy and humble in heart,” that it is unlawful to flatter men like these, nor should you eat or drink in their company, neither should anyone feel any obligation to receive alms from such men; not until the time comes when they do penances so harsh thattheir tears pour out to God, and that they agree to free those servants of God and the baptized handmaids of Christ. For these did he die, for them was hecrucified. Dan. 3:87
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“The Almighty turns away from the gifts of wicked men.” “He who offers sacrifice from the goods of the poor, is like a man who sacrifices a son in the sight of his own father.” “Those riches,” it is written, “which he has gathered in unjustly will be vomited out of his belly.” “And now theangel of death comes to drag him away. He will be mauled by angry dragons, killed by the serpent’s tongue. Moreover, everlasting fire is consuming him.” So,”Woe to those who feast themselves on things that are not their own.” Or, “What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and suffers the lossof his own soul?” Ecclus. 34:19-20 Job 20.15-16, 26 Hab. 2:6 Matt. 16.-26
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It would take too long to discuss or argue every single case, or to sift through the whole of the Law for precise witness against such greed. Sufficient to say, greed is a deadly deed. You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods. You shall not murder. A homicide may not stand beside Christ.Even “He who bates his brother is to be labeled murderer.” Or, “He who does not love his brother dwells in death.” therefore how much more guilty is he, whohas stained his own hands in the blood of the sons of God, those very children whom only just now he has won for himself in this distant land by means of ourfeeble encouragement. Rom. 13:9 Exod. 20:13, 17 I Jn. 3:15, 14
