(Vol. ix., p. 173.)
I venture the following as the meaning of the curious stanza in George
Herbert's _Church Porch_, referred to by your correspondent S. SINGLETON:
"God made me one man; love makes me no more,
Till labor come and make my weakness score."
If you are single, give all you have to the service of God. But do not be
anxious to make the gift larger by toil: for God only requires that which
is suitable to the position in which He has placed you. He bestows a
certain "estate" upon every man as He bestows life: let both be dedicated
to Him. For if you give first yourself, and then what He has given you,
this is sufficient; you need not try to be more rich, that you may be more
charitable. But if you choose a life of labour to gain an "estate" beyond
the original position assigned to you in the providence of God, then you
must reckon yourself responsible for the "one man" which God "made" you,
and for _the other_ which you make yourself besides.
I conceive the stanza to be a recommendation of the contemplative life with
poverty, in preference to the active life with riches.