Page:Labour - The Divine Command, 1890.djvu/88

84 hate me for having written them; and he will threaten me with future evil.

Why should there be such a difference between these two men? Because the laborer and his superiors are so far apart that their opinions can never be the same.

But what has God willed to do with me?

He has given us the law of labor for bread. This labor is not difficult, but easy and useful; it is not long, but short and readily understood.

Then why are we not grateful to him for it?

And what happens in the world? One half of mankind seeks this labor, and the other half avoids it as though it were a mortal poison, while they conceal themselves in retired places that they may not behold it.

But who are these who thus fly and hide themselves? Are they ignorant? No; they are the most educated and intelligent of men! Perhaps they do not believe in God? No; they are true believers.

75. Your principal objection to labor for bread is this: Whatever may be a man's occupation or mode of work, he obeys the commandment, "Thou shalt knead thy bread in the sweat of thy face." This explanation cannot please God nor man.

It has been said, "Cursed is the ground for thy sake." Does this allude to your occupations? No.

And again: "In sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life." Here labor for bread is