Quis Rerum Divinarum Heres Sit

For it is expressly said, "If there be few that are in thy house so as not to be sufficient in number for a sheep, then thou shalt take thy nearest neighbour in addition, according to the number of souls," [*](Exodus xii. 16. ) so that each person may receive a sufficient share in proportion to the number of his family, being such as he is found to be worthy of and to have need of.

But when, as if it were some country, he wishes to divide out virtue among its inhabitants, he then allows the more numerous body to have more, and the less numerous to have less, thinking it reasonable not to allot a larger share to a [*](Exodus xvi. 18. ) [*](Exodus xii. 16. )

But the most manifest instance of equality in respect of number, is exhibited in the sacred offerings of the twelve princes, and again in the portions of those offerings which are distributed among the chiefs. For, says the scripture, "There shall be an equal share allotted to each of the sons of Aaron." [*](Numbers vii. 5. )

Equality is also very beautifully displayed in respect of the composition of spices for purposes of fumigation; for we read, "Take to thyself sweet odours, stacte, onycha, galbanum, these sweet spices with pure frankincense, all of the most chosen kinds, all of equal weight and thou shalt make of it a perfume, a confection, after the art of the apothecary, a pure composition, a holy work." [*](Exodus xxx. 34 ) For the Lord enjoins here that each of the separate portions shall be equal to each, with a view to the proper composition of the whole.