IV. That Charitable Distributions are Not to Be Made to Every Widow, But that Sometimes a Woman Who Has a Husband is to Be Preferred: and that No Distributions are to Be Made to Any One Who is Given to Gluttony, Drunkenness, and Idleness.

For if there be a widow who is able to support herself, and another woman who is not a widow, but is needy by reason of sickness, or the bringing up many children, or infirmity of her hands, let him stretch out his hand in charity rather to this latter. But if any one be in want by gluttony, drunkenness, or idleness, he does not deserve any assistance, or to be esteemed a member of the Church of God. For the Scripture, speaking of such persons, says: "The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom, and is not able to bring it to his mouth again."¹ And again: "The sluggard folds up his hands, and eats his own flesh."² "For every drunkard and whoremonger shall come to poverty, and every drowsy person shall be clothed with tatters and rags."³ And in another passage: "If thou give thine eyes to drinking and cups, thou shalt afterwards walk more naked than a pestle."⁴ For certainly idleness is the mother of famine.