168. (IX.) Charity in Workmen. By workmen are meant operatives and artificers of the various kinds. If they look to the Lord and shun evils as sins, and do their work sincerely, justly, and faithfully, they become forms of charity, each in proportion as he loves his work and is diligent in it. For their works are goods of use serviceable to the neighbor for various necessities and uses; as for food, clothing, dwelling, protection, preservation, pleasure, and in many other ways; and are the gains of the commonwealth. Just in so far as anyone puts his mind into his work and labor, from the love of it, he is in it, as to affection and thought concerning it; and in proportion as he is in it, he is withheld from thinking of and loving vanities, and afterwards is led of the Lord to think of and love goods; and also to think of and love the means to good, which are truths. It is not so with one who applies himself to no work. Every workman who looks to the Lord and shuns evils as sins, shuns idleness, because it is the devil's pillow; shuns insincerity and fraud; and shuns luxury and intemperance. He is industrious, sincere, sober, content with his lot, and works for his neighbor as he would for himself; because in doing his work he loves himself and him in equal degree.