respect of persons in God, but because otherwise there would be
nothing but confusion in private families. This matter will be
clearly explained by considering the comparison which St. Paul makes
between the Church of Christ and the body of man; for the same
resemblance will hold not only to families and kingdoms, but to the
whole corporation of mankind. "The eye," saith he, "cannot say unto
the hand, 'I have no need of thee;' nor again the hand to the foot,
'I have no need of thee.' Nay, much more those members of the body
which seem to be more feeble are necessary; and whether one member
suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured,
all the members rejoice with it." The case is directly the same
among mankind. The prince cannot say to the merchant, "I have no
need of thee," nor the merchant to the labourer, "I have no need of
thee." Nay, much more those members which seem to be more feeble
are necessary; for the poor are generally more necessary members of
the commonwealth than the rich; which clearly shows that God never
intended such possessions for the sake and service of those to whom
He lends them, but because he hath assigned every man his particular
station to be useful in life, and this for the reason given by the
Apostle, "that there may be no schism in the body."

From hence may partly be gathered the nature of that subjection
which we all owe to one another. God Almighty hath been pleased to
put us into an imperfect state, where we have perpetual occasion of
each other's assistance. There is none so low as not to be in a
capacity of assisting the highest, nor so high as not to want the
assistance of the lowest.

It plainly appears, from what hath been said, that no one human
creature is more worthy than another in the sight of God, further