ury, and beheld how the people cast money into the
treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a
certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a
farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto
them,--'Verily, I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast more
in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: for all they did
cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that
she had, even all her living.'" In the world's estimation nothing
could be more improvident or more improper than her conduct; and I
fear that few of us would have the heart to commend one who should go
and do likewise. But how does our Blessed Lord judge, who judges not
according to appearance, but righteous judgment? Observing that she
ants quite according to his precept of giving up all, He does not
call his disciples round him, to warn them, by her example, not to
take his words literally, as he did Peter on the use of the sword;
but, on the contrary, points out carefully the peculiarity and
unequalled greatness of her sacrifice, and holds her up to admiration
on account of it. The rich cast in of their abundance, much; she, of
her penury, cast in a little; but it was all that she had, even all
her living. We have now only to go one step farther in order to
ascertain in what sense the Apostles understood that command of our
Saviour now under consideration. The conduct of them and their
adherents is thus recorded by St. Luke (Acts 2.44, etc., and 4.32, 34
and 35.) "All that believed were together and had all things common:
and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as
every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the
temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat
with gladness and singleness of heart. The multitude of them that
believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them
that ought of the things that he possessed was his own; but they had
all things common. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for
as many as were possessors of lands, or houses, sold them, and
brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them down
at the Apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man
according as he had need."

By what arguments can it be shown that such a "union of heart and of
soul", as is here described, is not just as important to us now, as
it was to the primitive Christia