Centuries of Meditations

23

To establish himself thoroughly in this principle, he made much of another. For he saw that in Paradise a great help to this kind of life, was the cheapness of commodities, and the natural fertility of the then innocent and blessed ground. By which means it came to pass that every man had enough for himself, and all. But that now the earth being cursed and barren, there was danger of want, a necessity of toil and labour and care, and maintenance of servants. Therefore he concluded, that the charity of men ought to supply the earth’s sterility, who could never want, were they all of a mind, and liberal to each other. But since this also faileth, and men’s hearts are cursed and barren as the ground, what is wanting in them God will supply. And that to live upon God’s provisions is the most glorious dependence in the whole world. And so he made the love of God his true foundation, and builded not his hopes on the charity of men, but fled unto God as his last refuge, which he thought it very safe and blessed to do, because the trial of his faith was more glorious, and the love of God supplied the defect of charity in men: and he that had commanded had faithfully promised and was able to perform.