Gospels
Takeheedthatyedonotyouralmsbeforemen,tobeseenofthem:otherwiseyehavenoreward ofyourFatherwhichisinheavenThereforewhenthoudoestthinealms,donotsoundatrumpet beforethee,asthehypocritesdointhesynagoguesandinthestreets,thattheymayhavegloryof menVerilyIsayuntoyou,TheyhavetheirrewardButwhenthoudoestalms,letnotthylefthand knowwhatthyrighthanddoeth:Thatthinealmsmaybeinsecret:andthyFatherwhichseethin secrethimselfshallrewardtheeopenly.Matthew6:1-4
AndJesusansweringsaid,AcertainmanwentdownfromJerusalemtoJericho,andfellamong thieves,whichstrippedhimofhisraiment,andwoundedhim,anddeparted,leavinghimhalfdead. Andbychancetherecamedownacertainpriestthatway:andwhenhesawhim,hepassedbyon theotherside.AndlikewiseaLevite,whenhewasattheplace,cameandlookedonhim,and passedbyontheothersideButacertainSamaritan,ashejourneyed,camewherehewas:and whenhesawhim,hehadcompassiononhim,Andwenttohim,andbounduphiswounds,pouring inoilandwine,andsethimonhisownbeast,andbroughthimtoaninn,andtookcareofhimAnd onthemorrowwhenhedeparted,hetookouttwopence,andgavethemtothehost,andsaid untohim,Takecareofhim;andwhatsoeverthouspendestmore,whenIcomeagain,Iwillrepay theeWhichnowofthesethree,thinkestthou,wasneighbouruntohimthatfellamongthethieves? Andhesaid,Hethatshewedmercyonhim.ThensaidJesusuntohim,Go,anddothoulikewise. Luke10:30-37
Butrathergivealmsofsuchthingsasyehave;and,behold,allthingsarecleanuntoyou.Luke 11:41
Sellthatyehave,andgivealms;provideyourselvesbagswhichwaxnotold,atreasureinthe heavensthatfailethnot,wherenothiefapproacheth,neithermothcorruptethForwhereyour treasureis,therewillyourheartbealso.Luke12:33-34
Acts
NowPeterandJohnwentuptogetherintothetempleatthehourofprayer,beingtheninthhour Andacertainmanlamefromhismother'swombwascarried,whomtheylaiddailyatthegateof thetemplewhichiscalledBeautiful,toaskalmsofthemthatenteredintothetemple;Whoseeing PeterandJohnabouttogointothetempleaskedanalms.AndPeter,fasteninghiseyesuponhim withJohn,said,Lookonus.Andhegaveheeduntothem,expectingtoreceivesomethingofthem. ThenPetersaid,SilverandgoldhaveInone;butsuchasIhavegiveIthee:InthenameofJesus ChristofNazarethriseupandwalk.Andhetookhimbytherighthand,andliftedhimup:and immediatelyhisfeetandanklebonesreceivedstrengthAndheleapingupstood,andwalked,and enteredwiththemintothetemple,walking,andleaping,andpraisingGod.Acts3:1-8
Ihaveshewedyouallthings,howthatsolabouringyeoughttosupporttheweak, andtorememberthewordsoftheLordJesus,howhesaid, Itismoreblessedtogivethantoreceive Acts20:35
Andthemultitudeofthemthatbelievedwereofoneheartandofonesoul:neithersaidanyof themthatoughtofthethingswhichhepossessedwashisown;buttheyhadallthingscommon. AndwithgreatpowergavetheapostleswitnessoftheresurrectionoftheLordJesus:andgreat gracewasuponthemall.Neitherwasthereanyamongthemthatlacked:forasmanyaswere possessorsoflandsorhousessoldthem,andbroughtthepricesofthethingsthatweresold,And laidthemdownattheapostles'feet:anddistributionwasmadeuntoeverymanaccordingashe hadneed.AndJoses,whobytheapostleswassurnamedBarnabas,(whichis,beinginterpreted, Thesonofconsolation,)aLevite,andofthecountryofCyprus,Havingland,soldit,andbroughtthe money,andlaiditattheapostles'feet.Acts4:32-37
NowtherewasatJoppaacertaindisciplenamedTabitha,whichbyinterpretationiscalledDorcas: thiswomanwasfullofgoodworksandalmsdeedswhichshedid.Acts9:36
TherewasacertainmaninCaesareacalledCornelius,acenturionofthebandcalledtheItalian band,Adevoutman,andonethatfearedGodwithallhishouse,whichgavemuchalmstothe people,andprayedtoGodalway.Hesawinavisionevidentlyabouttheninthhourofthedayan angelofGodcomingintohim,andsayinguntohim,Cornelius.Andwhenhelookedonhim,hewas afraid,andsaid,Whatisit,Lord?Andhesaiduntohim,Thyprayersandthinealmsarecomeupfor amemorialbeforeGod.Acts10:1-4
AndCorneliussaid,FourdaysagoIwasfastinguntilthishour;andattheninthhourIprayedinmy house,and,behold,amanstoodbeforemeinbrightclothing,Andsaid,Cornelius,thyprayeris heard,andthinealmsarehadinremembranceinthesightofGodActs10:30-31
Ihaveshewedyouallthings,howthatsolabouringyeoughttosupporttheweak,andto rememberthewordsoftheLordJesus,howhesaid,Itismoreblessedtogivethantoreceive.Acts 20:35
AndhereindoIexercisemyself,tohavealwaysaconsciencevoidofoffencetowardGod,and towardmenNowaftermanyyearsIcametobringalmstomynation,andofferingsActs24:16-17
Lethimthatstolestealnomore:butratherlethimlabour,workingwithhishandsthethingwhich isgood,thathemayhavetogivetohimthatneedethEphesians4:28
Apocrypha
ITobithavewalkedallthedaysofmylifeinthewaysoftruthandjustice,andIdidmanyalmsdeeds tomybrethren,andmynation,whocamewithmetoNineve,intothelandoftheAssyriansTobit 1:3
AndinthetimeofEnemessarIgavemanyalmstomybrethren,andgavemybreadtothehungry, Andmyclothestothenaked:andifIsawanyofmynationdead,orcastaboutthewallsofNineve,I buriedhimTobit1:16-17
Ihaveshewedyouallthings,howthatsolabouringyeoughttosupporttheweak, andtorememberthewordsoftheLordJesus,howhesaid, Itismoreblessedtogivethantoreceive Acts20:35
Givealmsofthysubstance;andwhenthougivestalms,letnotthineeyebeenvious,neitherturn thyfacefromanypoor,andthefaceofGodshallnotbeturnedawayfromthee.Ifthouhast abundancegivealmsaccordingly:ifthouhavebutalittle,benotafraidtogiveaccordingtothat little:Forthoulayestupagoodtreasureforthyselfagainstthedayofnecessity.Becausethatalms dodeliverfromdeath,andsufferethnottocomeintodarknessForalmsisagoodgiftuntoallthat giveitinthesightofthemostHigh.Tobit4:7-11
Giveofthybreadtothehungry,andofthygarmentstothemthatarenaked;andaccordingto thineabundancegivealms:andletnotthineeyebeenvious,whenthougivestalms.Tobit4:16
PrayerisgoodwithfastingandalmsandrighteousnessAlittlewithrighteousnessisbetterthan muchwithunrighteousness.Itisbettertogivealmsthantolayupgold:Foralmsdothdeliverfrom death,andshallpurgeawayallsinThosethatexercisealmsandrighteousnessshallbefilledwith life:Tobit12:8-9
SoTobitmadeanendofpraisingGod.Andhewaseightandfiftyyearsoldwhenhelosthissight, whichwasrestoredtohimaftereightyears:andhegavealms,andheincreasedinthefearofthe LordGod,andpraisedhimTobit14:1-2
Andburymedecently,andthymotherwithme;buttarrynolongeratNineveRemember,myson, howAmanhandledAchiacharusthatbroughthimup,howoutoflighthebroughthiminto darkness,andhowherewardedhimagain:yetAchiacharuswassaved,buttheotherhadhis reward:forhewentdownintodarknessManassesgavealms,andescapedthesnaresofdeath whichtheyhadsetforhim:butAmanfellintothesnare,andperished.Whereforenow,myson, considerwhatalmsdoeth,andhowrighteousnessdothdeliverWhenhehadsaidthesethings,he gaveuptheghostinthebed,beinganhundredandeightandfiftyyearsold;andheburiedhim honourably.Tobit14:10-11
Waterwillquenchaflamingfire;andalmsmakethanatonementforsins.Ecclesiasticus3:30
Benotfaintheartedwhenthoumakestthyprayer,andneglectnottogivealms.Ecclesiasticus7:10
Therecannogoodcometohimthatisalwaysoccupiedinevil,nortohimthatgivethnoalms Ecclesiasticus12:3
Thealmsofamanisasasignetwithhim,andhewillkeepthegooddeedsofmanastheappleof theeye,andgiverepentancetohissonsanddaughters.Ecclesiasticus17:22
Shutupalmsinthystorehouses:anditshalldelivertheefromallaffliction.Ecclesiasticus29:12
Hethatlovethgoldshallnotbejustified,andhethatfollowethcorruptionshallhaveenough thereof.Goldhathbeentheruinofmany,andtheirdestructionwaspresent.Itisastumblingblock untothemthatsacrificeuntoit,andeveryfoolshallbetakentherewithBlessedistherichthatis foundwithoutblemish,andhathnotgoneaftergold.Whoishe?andwewillcallhimblessed:for
Ihaveshewedyouallthings,howthatsolabouringyeoughttosupporttheweak, andtorememberthewordsoftheLordJesus,howhesaid, Itismoreblessedtogivethantoreceive Acts20:35
wonderfulthingshathhedoneamonghispeople.Whohathbeentriedthereby,andfoundperfect? thenlethimglory.Whomightoffend,andhathnotoffended?ordoneevil,andhathnotdoneit? Hisgoodsshallbeestablished,andthecongregationshalldeclarehisalmsEcclesiasticus31:5-11
Hethatrequitethagoodturnofferethfineflour;andhethatgivethalmssacrificethpraise Ecclesiasticus35:2
Brethrenandhelpareagainsttimeoftrouble:butalmsshalldelivermorethanthemboth Ecclesiasticus40:24
LostBooksoftheBible
TheblessedandevergloriousVirginMary,sprungfromtheroyalraceandfamilyofDavid,wasborn inthecityofNazareth,andeducatedatJerusalem,inthetempleoftheLord.Herfather'sname wasJoachim,andhermother'sAnna.ThefamilyofherfatherwasofGalileeandthecityof NazarethThefamilyofhermotherwasofBethlehemTheirliveswereplainandrightinthesight oftheLord,piousandfaultlessbeforemen.Fortheydividedalltheirsubstanceintothreeparts: Oneofwhichtheydevotedtothetempleandofficersofthetemple;anothertheydistributed amongstrangers,andpersonsinpoorcircumstances;andthethirdtheyreservedforthemselves andtheusesoftheirownfamilyTheGospeloftheBirthofMary1:1-4
Benotafraid,Joachim,nortroubledatthesightofme,forIamanangeloftheLordsentbyhimto you,thatImightinformyou,thatyourprayersareheard,andyouralmsascendedinthesightof God.TheGospeloftheBirthofMary2:3
AfterwardstheangelappearedtoAnnahiswifesaying:Fearnot,neitherthinkthatwhichyouseeis aspirit.ForIamthatangelwhohathofferedupyourprayersandalmsbeforeGod,andamnow senttoyou,thatImayinformyou,thatadaughterwillbebornuntoyou,whoshallbecalledMary, andshallbeblessedaboveallwomen.TheGospeloftheBirthofMary3:1-2
TheThirdBookoftheShepherdofHermas2:1-13(Similitudes)
1AsIwaswalkingintothefield,andconsideredtheelmandthevine,andthoughtwithmyselfof theirfruits,anangelappeareduntome,andsaiduntome;Whatisitthatthouthinkestuponthus longwithinthyself?
2AndIsaiduntohim,Sir,Ithinkofthisvineandthiselmbecausetheirfruitsarefair.Andhesaid untome;ThesetwotreesaresetforapatterntotheservantsofGod
3AndIsaiduntohim,Sir,Iwouldknowinwhatthepatternofthesetreeswhichthoumentionest, doesconsistHearken,saithhe;seestthouthisvineandthiselm;Sir,saidI,Iseethem, 4Thisvine,saithhe,isfruitful,buttheelmisatreewithoutfruit.Neverthelessthisvineunlessit weresetbythiselm,andsupportedbyit,wouldnotbearmuchfruit;butlyingalonguponthe ground,wouldbearbutillfruit,becauseitdidnothangupontheelm;whereas,beingsupported upontheelm,itbearsfruitbothforitselfandforthat.
5See,therefore,howtheelmgivesnoless,butrathermorefruit,thanthevineHow,Sir,saidI, doesitbearmorefruitthanthevine?Because,saidhe,thevinebeingsupportedupontheelm
Ihaveshewedyouallthings,howthatsolabouringyeoughttosupporttheweak, andtorememberthewordsoftheLordJesus,howhesaid, Itismoreblessedtogivethantoreceive Acts20:35
givesbothmuchandgoodfruit;whereas,ifitlayalongupontheground,itwouldbearbutlittle, andthatveryilltoo.
6Thissimilitude,therefore,issetforthtotheservantsofGod;anditrepresentstherichandpoor man.Ianswered,Sir,makethismanifestuntome.Hear,saidhe;therichmanhaswealth;howbeit towardstheLordheispoor;forheistakenupabouthisriches,andpraysbutlittletotheLord;and theprayerswhichhemakesarelazyandwithoutforce.
7When,therefore,therichmanreachesouttothepoorthosethingswhichhewants,thepoor manpraysuntotheLordfortherich;andGodgrantsuntotherichmanallgoodthings,becausethe poormanisrichinprayer;andhisrequestshavegreatpowerwiththeLord.
8Thentherichmanministersallthingstothepoor,becauseheperceivesthatheisheardbythe Lord:andhethemorewillinglyandwithoutdoubting,affordshimwhathewants,andtakescare thatnothingbelackingtohim.
9AndthepoormangivesthanksuntotheLordfortherich;becausetheydoboththeirworkfrom theLord.
10Withmentherefore,theelmisnotthoughttogiveanyfruit;andtheyknownotneither understandthatitscompanybeingaddedtothevine,thevinebearsadoubleincrease,bothfor itselfandfortheelm.
11EvensothepoorprayinguntotheLordfortherich,areheardbyhim;andtheirrichesare increased,becausetheyministertothepooroftheirwealth.Theyarethereforebothmade partakersofeachother'sgoodworks
12Whosoever,therefore,shalldothesethings,heshallnotbeforsakenbytheLord,butshallbe writteninthebookoflife.
13Happyaretheywhoarerich,andperceivethemselvestobeincreased:forhethatissensibleof this,willbeabletoministersomewhattoothers.
ForgottenBooksofEden
TestamentofZebulun2:1-21
1Andnowchildren,IyoutokeepthecommandsoftheLord,andtoshowmercytoyour neighbours,andtohavecompassiontowardsall,nottowardsmenonly,butalsotowardsbeasts.
2Forallthisthing'ssaketheLordblessedme,andwhenallmybrethrenweresick,Iescaped withoutsickness,fortheLordknoweththepurposesofeach.
3Have,therefore,compassioninyourhearts,mychildren,becauseevenasamandoethtohis neighbour,evensoalsowilltheLorddotohim.
4ForthesonsofmybrethrenweresickeningandweredyingonaccountofJoseph,becausethey showednotmercyintheirhearts;butmysonswerepreservedwithoutsickness,asyeknow
5AndwhenIwasinthelandofCanaan,bythesea-coast,ImadeacatchoffishforJacobmyfather; andwhenmanywerechokedinthesea,Icontinuedunhurt
6Iwasthefirsttomakeaboattosailuponthesea,fortheLordgavemeunderstandingand wisdomtherein.
7AndIletdownarudderbehindit,andIstretchedasailuponanotheruprightpieceofwoodinthe midst.
8AndIsailedthereinalongtheshores,catchingfishforthehouseofmyfatheruntilwecameto Egypt.
Ihaveshewedyouallthings,howthatsolabouringyeoughttosupporttheweak, andtorememberthewordsoftheLordJesus,howhesaid, Itismoreblessedtogivethantoreceive Acts20:35
9AndthroughcompassionIsharedmycatchwitheverystranger.
10Andifamanwereastranger,orsick,oraged,Iboiledthefish,anddressedthemwell,and offeredthemtoallmen,aseverymanhadneed,grievingwithandhavingcompassionuponthem 11WhereforealsotheLordsatisfiedmewithabundanceoffishwhencatchingfish;forhethat sharethwithhisneighbourreceivethmanifoldmorefromtheLord
12ForfiveyearsIcaughtfishandgavethereoftoeverymanwhomIsaw,andsufficedforallthe houseofmyfather.
13AndinthesummerIcaughtfish,andinthewinterIkeptsheepwithmybrethren 14NowIwilldeclareuntoyouwhatIdid.
15Isawamanindistressthroughnakednessinwintertime,andhadcompassionuponhim,and stoleawayagarmentsecretlyfrommyfather'shouse,andgaveittohimwhowasindistress 16Doyou,therefore,mychildren,fromthatwhichGodbestowethuponyou,showcompassion andmercywithouthesitationtoallmen,andgivetoeverymanwithagoodheart
17Andifyehavenotthewherewithaltogivetohimthatneedeth,havecompassionforhimin bowelsofmercy
18Iknowthatmyhandfoundnotthewherewithaltogivetohimthatneeded,andIwalkedwith himweepingforsevenfurlongs,andmybowelsyearnedtowardshimincompassion.
19Have,therefore,yourselvesalso,mychildren,compassiontowardseverymanwithmercy,that theLordalsomayhavecompassionandmercyuponyou.
20Becausealsoin,thelastdaysGodwillsendHiscompassionontheearth,andwheresoeverHe findethbowelsofmercyHedwellethinhim.
21Forinthedegreeinwhichamanhathcompassionuponhisneighbours,inthesamedegreehath theLordalsouponhim
Ihaveshewedyouallthings,howthatsolabouringyeoughttosupporttheweak, andtorememberthewordsoftheLordJesus,howhesaid, Itismoreblessedtogivethantoreceive Acts20:35