Vorrede.

further? Since everyone has enough themselves, it would only lie there and spoil for me. Therefore, it is better that it spoils for another than for me." Such and similar speeches go around; indeed, many a godless person even curses and wishes that the weather would strike in and burn it, since he cannot get money for it. Would God likely be pleased by this? Would He do wrong if He were to send a great famine thereafter? Does it not always happen that a great shortage soon follows a great surplus? Do we have a guarantee that this cannot soon happen to us? Therefore, one should rightfully not let the rich gifts of God spoil so uselessly, but rather preserve them diligently and keep them together. If we do not do it, God will do it, at which we will not be laughing.

To prevent this as much as possible, so that the surplus of wine and grain might be maintained and preserved until future expensive times,