hen," said someone, "fault is found with him who works, and
likewise with him who doesn't work?"

Matthew tapped the speaker on the shoulder. "My friend! Everything at
the right time! the point is to do that for which you have a talent,
not to yearn after things for which you have no talent whatsoever."

The smith laid aside his book and his phylacteries and grasped his
hammer.

Then a man came by who complained that the new teaching was worthless.
He had followed it, had given away all his possessions because they
brought him care. But since he had become poor, he had had still more
care. So now he should begin to earn again.

"Do so," said James the younger, "but take care that your heart is not
so much in it that your possessions possess you!"

And others came: "Sir, I am a ship's carpenter! Sir, I am a goldsmith!
Sir, I am a stone-cutter! Are we not to put our whole heart into our
work so as to produce something worthy? If our heart is not in it we
cannot do good work."

"Of course," said the disciple, "you must exert your whole strength and
talent in order to produce worthy work. But not for the sake of the
work or the praise, but for the sake of God and the men whom you serve.
And rejoice from your hearts that God creates His works through you."

A rustic once came to James and discussed prayer. The Master said you
should pray in few words and not, as the heathens do, in a great many
words, for the Father knows our needs. Well, he had once prayed just
in that way, using few words, but his prayer had not been heard.

Then James said: "Don't you remember what the Master said of the man to
whose door a friend came in the night and begged for bread? He had
gone to bed, took no heed of his friend's knocking, and at length
called out: 'Go away and let me sleep.' But the friend continued to
knock and to complain that he needed bread, and began noisily to shake
the door. That lasted until the man in bed could endure it no longer.
Out of temper, he got up, took some bread and gave it to his friend
through the window. He did not give it him out of love, but only to be
rid of him. The Master meant that with perseverence much might be
attained by prayer."

The man was irritated by the disciple's explanation, and said; "What!
One time He says, Pray shortly, using few words; and at another time,
You must not leave off praying until you are heard."

But James replied: "Friend, you misunderstand me again