Chapter XL. He pronounces that those who withdraw from Po/erty must needs be punished

70. Sometimes also he would repeat these words: "In proportion as the brethren shall decline from poverty the world shall decline from them, and they shall seek, but shall not find; but if they embrace my Lady Poverty the world shall nourish them, because they have been given to the world for salvation". And again: "There are mutual obligations between the world and the brethren; they owe to the world a good example, the world owes them the provision of necessaries. When they belie their faith, and cease to give a good example, the world, by a just judgment, draws back its hand from them." In his care for Poverty the man of God feared a multitude; for appearance, even though not fact, points it out as rich. Wherefore he used to say: "O that it might come to pass that the world, beholding the Lesser Brethren very rarely, should wonder at their fewness! "And so, bound to the Lady Poverty by an indissoluble tie, he looked for her dowry not in the present but in the future. Those psalms which refer to poverty — for instance, "The patience of the poor shall not perish for ever," and "Let the poor see and be glad" — he used to chant with more fervent affection and more gladsome rejoicing.