then would he himself
be likely to lack work. For surely the rich man's substance is the
wellspring of the poor man's living. And therefore here would it
fare by the poor man as it fared by the woman in one of AEsop's
fables. She had a hen that laid her every day a golden egg, till on
a day she thought she would have a great many eggs at once. And
therefore she killed her hen and found but one or twain in her
belly, so that for a few she lost many.

But now, cousin, to come to your doubt how it can be that a man
may with conscience keep riches with him, when he seeth so many
poor men on whom he may bestow them. Verily, that might he not
with conscience do, if he must bestow it upon as many as he can.
And so much of truth every rich man do, if all the poor folk that
he seeth are so specially by God's commandment committed unto his
charge alone that, because our Saviour said, "Give to every man
who asketh thee," therefore he is bound to give out still to every
beggar who will ask him, as long as any penny lasteth in his
purse. But verily, cousin, that saying hath (as St. Austine saith
other places in scripture have) need of interpretation. For, as
holy St. Austine saith, though Christ say, "Give to every man who
asketh thee," he saith not yet, "Give them all that they will ask
thee." But surely they would be the same, if he meant to bind me
by commandment to give every man without exception something. For
so should I leave myself nothing.

Our Saviour, in that place of the sixth chapter of St. Luke,
speaketh both of the contempt that we should have in heart of
these worldly things, and also of the manner that men should use
toward their enemies. For there he biddeth us love our enemies,
give good words for evil, and not only suffer injuries patiently
(both the taking away of our goods and harm done unto our body),
but also be ready to suffer the double, and over that to do good
in return to those who do us the harm. And among these things he
biddeth us give to every man who asketh, meaning that when we can
conveniently do a man good, we should not refuse it, whatsoever
manner of man he may be, though he were our mortal enemy, if we
see that unless we help him ourselves, the person of that man
should stand in peril of perishing. And therefore saith St. Paul,
"If thine enemy be in hunger, give him meat."

But now, though I be bound to give every manner of man in some
manner of his necessity, were he my friend or my fo