124 THE CONDITION OF LABOR.
ward possessions as Ms own, but as common to all, so as to share them without difficulty when others are in need. Whence the Apostle saith, Command the rich of this world . . . to give with ease, to communicate* True, no one is commanded to distribute to others that which is required for his own necessities and those of his household; nor even to give away what is reasonably required to keep up becomingly his condition in life ; for no one might to live unbecomingly.] But when necessity has been supplied, and one's position fairly considered, it is a duty to give to the indigent out of that which is over. That which remaineth, give alms.\ It is a duty, not of justice (except in extreme cases), but of Christian charity a duty which is not enforced by human law. But the laws and judg- ments of men must give place to the laws and judgments of Christ the true God, Who in many ways urges on His followers the practice of almsgiving It is more blessed to give than to receive ; and Who will count a kindness done or refused to the poor as done or refused to Himself as long as you did it to one of My least brethren, you did it to Me.\\ Thus, to sum up what has been said : Whoever has received from the Divine bounty a large share of bless- ings, whether they be external and corporeal or gifts of the mind, has received them for the purpose of using them for the perfecting of his own nature, and, at the same time, that he may employ them, as the minister of God's Providence, for the benefit of others. He that hath a talent, says St. Gregory the Great, let him see that he hide it not; he that hath abundance, let him arouse himself to mercy and generosity ; he that hath art and skill, let him do his best to share the use and utility thereof with his neighbor.^
��2a 2se Q. Ixv. Art. 2. t Ibid. Q. xxxii. Art. 6.
St. Luke xi. 41. $ Acts xx. 35. || St. Matthew xxv. 40. f St. Gregory the Great, Horn. ix. in Evangel, n. 7.
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