§ 74       Now shul ye understonde that the releevynge of Avarice is misericorde, and pitee largely taken. And men myghten axe why that misericorde and pitee is releevynge of Avarice. Certes, the avricious man sheweth no pitee ne misericorde to the nedeful man, for he deliteth hym in the kepynge of his tresor, and nat in the rescowynge ne releevynge of his evene-cristen. And therfore speke I first of misericorde. Thanne is misericorde, as seith the philosophre, a vertu by which the corage of a man is stired by the mysese of hym that is mysesed. Upon which misericorde folweth pitee in parfournynge of charitable werkes of misericorde. And certes, thise thynges moeven a man to the misericorde of Jhesu Crist, that he yaf hymself for oure gilt, and suffred deeth for misericorde, and forgay us oure originale synnes, and therby relessed us fro the peynes of helle, and amenused the peynes of purgatorie by penitence, and yeveth grace wel to do, and atte laste the blisse of hevene. The speces of misericorde been, as for to lene and for to yeve, and to foryeven and relesse, and for to han pitee in herte and compassioun of the meschief of his evene-cristene, and eek to chastise, there as nede is. Another manere of remedie agayns Avarice is resonable largesse; but soothly, heere bihoveth the consideracioun of the grace of Jhesu Crist, and of his temporeel goodes, and eek of the goodes perdurables, that Crist yaf to us; and to han remembrance of the deeth that he shal receyve, he noot whanne, where, ne how; and eek that he shal forgon al that he hath, save oonly that he hath despended in goode werkes.

§ 74        Now shall you understand that the relieving of Avarice is mercy, and pity broadly understood. And men might ask why mercy and pity is relieving of Avarice. Certainly, the avaricious man shows no pity nor mercy to the needy man, for he delights himself in the keeping of his treasure, and not in the rescuing nor relieving of his fellow-Christian. And therefore speak I first of mercy. Then is mercy, as says the Philosopher, a virtue by which the mood of a man is stirred by the distress of h1m that is distressed. Upon which mercy follows pity in performing of charitable works of mercy. And certainly, these things move a man to the mercy of Jesus Christ, that he gave himself for our guilt, and suffered death for mercy, and forgave us our original sins, and thereby released us from the pains of hell, and diminished the pains of purgatory by penitence, and gives grace to do well, and at the last the bliss of heaven. The species of mercy are, to be generous and to give, and to forgive and release, and to have pity in heart and compassion of the suffering of his fellow-Christian, and also to chastise, where need is. Another manner of remedy against avarice is reasonable generosity; but truly, here behooves the consideration of the grace of Jesus Christ, and of his temporal goods, and also of the goods eternal that Christ gave to us; and to have remembrance of the death that he shall receive, he knows not when, where, nor how; and also that he shall give up all that he has, save only what he has spent in good works.