Perverted Scripture. 579 
the Creator, or the fault of the creature? Hasthe Father 
neglected to make sufficient provision for His children ? 
On the contrary, we know that the earth yields increase 
enough to satisfy the whole human family. Sore poverty, 
pregnant with afflictions, was born of, and is fostered by, 
man’s imprudence. If each one did his best, if each one 
did with all his might whatsoever his hand found to do, if 
each one was careful and saving, instead of careless and pro- 
digal, there would be an end to the curse of poverty. This 
being so, it has been the common aim of philanthropists 
to inculcate habits of providence. Often when the moment 
of triumph seems nigh, when the arguments and the ex- 
hortation appear to carry conviction, the improvident 
rebukes his counsellor, and lulls his awaking conscience with 
a dose of perverted Scripture. Is it not.written in the 
Bible “Take no thought for the morrow,” and “Sufficient 
unto the day is the evil thereof.” 
A man who could earn more refuses to do a stroke of 
work after he has earned his daily bread. Why should he 
toil when not forced to do so by immediate necessity ? Heis 
bidden to remember the eventualities of sickness and old 
age. He is told that the prime of his manhood is the 
_ season of harvest, and that it behoves him to lay up a store 
for the winter of life. Surely there is no reply to sucha 
reasonable admonition? Yesthere is. The idler is ready 
with an excuse for his idleness. He is ready not to excuse 
it only, but even to magnify it as avirtue. Is it not written 
“in the Bible “Take no thought for the morrow,’ and “ Suffi- 
cient unto the day is the evil thereof.” 
Or there is a man earning enough for future provision as 
well as for present need ; but he spends all he earns, and 
is as poor as the idler. Bid him remember that an accident 
may suddenly stop his work, and that the weight of years 
will certainly hinder his bread winning. Tell him of the 
inevitable and of the probable ills of poverty. Debt comes 
from poverty, and debt is a slavery that deteriorates the 
whole man—body, mind, and morals. Let him reflect on the 
degradation of asking alms, and on the torture of being 
refused. Has hea family? Has hea daughter whom he 
loves? Would he have her included in the host of fallen 
women? The thought is madness. But poverty opens 
the door to degradation. Then let him provide for his 
child. Surely the pleading will not bein vain. Surely for 
his own sake, and for the sake of his family, the prodigal 
will cease from his prodigality. What does he say? Is 
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