A Treatise on the Labours of Man: Observations Drawn from the Divine Order of Creation
In this discourse, wherein I have contemplated the intricate mechanisms of the human frame and the vast architecture of the cosmos, I turn my gaze to the noble pursuit of labour, which is the very sinew of earthly existence. As the Almighty hath ordained from the dawn of time, “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread” (Genesis 3:19), so labour is not a curse but a path to sanctity, provided it be ordered aright. Thy security in this vale of tears, both temporal and eternal, is of utmost concern to me, for as the Apostle saith, “Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called” (1 Corinthians 7:20), guiding us toward the heavenly Jerusalem through diligent toil.
Yet in a world shadowed by confusion and moral decay, where the slothful devour the fruits of the just (Proverbs 10:3), one must seek a wisdom rooted in the eternal verities. Happiness in labour ariseth not from fleeting fortunes but from union with the Creator, as St. Basil the Great (†379) teacheth: “Work is a duty imposed by God upon man.” To aid thy brethren in their vocations, inscribe their name upon this volume, and thine own beneath, as a bond of fraternal charity. Present it unto them with fervent exhortation to study its precepts, for as Proverbs counseleth, “In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury” (Proverbs 14:23).
Should obscurities arise in these terms, consult the Sacred Scriptures or the glosses of the Fathers, lest discord spring from ignorance, as in the confusion of tongues at Babel (Genesis 11:1-9). Thus, by disseminating this light, thou fortifiest not only thine own vocation but extendest the reign of virtue, as Christ commandeth: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
Why This Treatise is Given Unto Thee
Thy eternal salvation and earthly prosperity are precious to me, for as the Law proclaimeth, “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22:39). True felicity in toil, that serene contentment amidst exertion, eludeth those ensnared in idleness or vice, for “An idle soul shall suffer hunger” (Proverbs 19:15). In a society rife with falsehood and iniquity, where the wicked prosper like the green bay tree but only for a season (Psalm 37:35), diligence demandeth vigilance against the snares of the adversary.
Observe how the body, that wondrous edifice designed by the Divine Architect, faltereth when beset by the misconduct of others—be it envy, deceit, or sloth. Such ills not only weary the flesh but corrode the soul, turning vocation to drudgery. Yet thou art called to edify thy fellows, as salt preserveth and light illumineth (Matthew 5:13-14). By exemplifying virtue in thy labours, thou upliftest their paths, and thine own, toward the celestial reward where “they shall rest from their labours; and their works do follow them” (Revelation 14:13).
Chapter One: On Security in Labour
What availeth the holding of a vocation? Doth it rest upon lineage, acquaintance, charm, fortune, learning, diligence, zeal, wit, or innate capacity? To one seasoned in the observatories of human endeavour, the former seem predominant, whilst the young cling to illusions of merit. Yet, as I have dissected the forms of nature, finding therein no chaos but divine proportion, so too in labour: true security lieth not in accidents but in providence.
Familial ties, though oft a ladder to preferment, are but the accident of birth, as St. Augustine (†430) observeth: “We are all born equal in Adam’s sin.” Acquaintance and favour, whilst opening doors, are fleeting, for “A man’s gift maketh room for him” (Proverbs 18:16), yet without virtue, it leadeth to ruin. Charm and fortune are vanities: “Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain” (Proverbs 31:30).
Nay, security floweth from divine ordinance: “Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established” (Proverbs 16:3). The diligent soul findeth rest, for “The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat” (Proverbs 13:4). St. Basil (†379) teacheth that labour is the guardian of innocence, warding off the tempter’s snares.
Yet in this fallen world, insecurity beseteth the worker: illness, slander, age. These are the thorns of Eden’s curse (Genesis 3:18). The remedy? Trust in the Lord: “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:6). Governments and masters, ordained by God (Romans 13:1), owe just wages and protection, as the Council of Ancyra (314 AD) decreed fair treatment for labourers.
Thus, security is not in man’s grasp alone but in God’s: “Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it” (Psalm 127:1).
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