St. Paul saith, "He that provideth not for those that are his, is
worse than an infidel." Those are ours who are belonging to our
charge, either by nature or by law, or any commandment of God. By
nature, as our children; by law, as our servants in our household.
Albeit these two sorts be not ours all alike, yet would I think
that the least ours of the twain--that is, the servants--if they
need, and lack, we are bound to look to them and provide for their
need, and see, so far as we can, that they lack not the things
that should serve for their necessity while they dwell in our
service. Meseemeth also that if they fall sick in our service, so
that they cannot do the service that we retain them for, yet may
we not in any wise turn them out of doors and cast them up
comfortless, while they are not able to labour and help
themselves. For this would be a thing against all humanity. And
surely, if a man were but a wayfarer whom I received into my house
as a guest, if he fell sick there and his money be gone, I reckon
myself bound to keep him still, and rather to beg about for his
relief than to cast him out in that condition to the peril of his
life, whatsoever loss I should happen to sustain in the keeping of
him. For when God hath by such chance sent him to me and there
once matched me with him, I reckon myself surely charged with him
until I may, without peril of his life, be well and conveniently
discharged of him.
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