Chapter 96

Of another consideration which teacheth us, in excellent manner, how we are to carry ourselves with our Neighbours.

ADD thou to this, another consideration, of how thou art to behold thy Neighbours; and it is, That although, on the one side, it be a most certain truth, that our Lord doth not seek, or expect, any return of retribution for the benefits that he bestows; yet, in other respects, we find it true, that he giveth nothing at all, for which he expecteth it not. Yet this, is not in regard of himself, who is so rich, and who cannot increase in being so; and what he giveth, he giveth men, for pure love; but the return that he desires, is in respect of our Neighbours, who have necessity to be esteemed, beloved, and succoured. Just as if a man, had lent much money to another, and done great matters for him; and then should say; For all that, which I have done for thee, I have no need that thou shouldest make me any payment; but all the title that I make against thee, I transfer, and pass over, to the person of such an one, who is in necessity; or who is my kinsman, or my servant. Pay that to him, which thou owest to me, & I shall hold myself, for well satisfied.

In this¹ manner, let a Christian enter into account with God; and let him consider what he hath received of him, as well, by the afflictions, and death, which the son of God endured for him, as by the other particular mercies, which, since his creation, were poured upon him. Not punishing him for his sins, nor driving him a way for his infirmities; but expecting him to come to penance; & pardoning him as oft as he desired it; giving him benefits in requital of the sins, that he committed; with other innumerable blessings, which exceed, all possibility of being reckoned. And let him think, that this way of amorous traffic of God towards him, is to be a kind of² pattern, & rule, for the conversation which a man ought to hold with his neighbour. And that the intention, where with God imparted to him so many favours, was to give him to understand, that howsoever his neighbour might not perhaps deserve, to be tolerated, or beloved, or relieved for his own respect, yet God is pleased, that the benefit, which the other deserveth not for himself, should be imparted to that other, for the obligation, whereby he is bound to God; and that he should esteem himself to be indebted, and even a very slave to others, whilst he looketh upon God. For God looking upon men, did not find that he ought any thing to any body; and he will have that person who is in necessity, to demand succour under this title, Do thou this for me, since God hath done the same for thee. And³ let such a person, be sure to take heed, how he be unkind, or cruel towards one that hath need of help; lest God be so towards him; depriving him of the benefits, which already he had imparted, and punishing him as ungrateful for the pardon of his former sins; as he proceeded with that wicked servant, who having received at the hands of his Lord, a release for the debt of ten thousand talents; was of a cruel hart towards his neighbour, casting him into prison, because he ought him a trifle; being neither content, to let him keep his liberty, or yet to give him day. And that Lord, of whom it is not read, that he was so much as angry with his servant, for imbezeling so great a sum, as that of ten thousand talents is, but did show such mercy towards him, (as that desiring time he gave him time, and liberty, yea and he pardoned him his debt) is now in so great indignation, at the cruelty which he used towards his neighbour, that severely he rebuked him, saying thus, Thou wicked servant, I pardoned thee all that which thou owedst me, because thou didst desire it at my hands;⁴ had it not therefore been reason, that thou shouldst have showed mercy to thy neighbour, as I shown it to thee? And in this wrath of his, he delivered him over to the tormentors, till he should pay even that whole debt, which already he had released to him. Not that God doth punish the sins, which he hath once forgiven; but he punisheth the ingratitude of the man who is forgiven; which ingratitude, is so much the greater, as his sins forgiven, were greater, and more enormous. And although it may well be thought, that the servant of whom I have spoken, did cry out for pardon unto his Lord; yet is it likely, that he would answer, as it is written, The man, who shutteth his cares against the cry of the poor, shall cry out, himself, and not be heard. Resolve therefore thou, O Virgin, that (beholding thyself, and beholding in Christ, both what he is, and the benefits which thou hast received at his hands) it is reason, that in thy hart there be engendered, an estimation of love towards thy neighbour, so very great, as that nothing may be able to remove it. And when the inclination, of flesh & blood, shall say to thee, What⁵ do I own that person, that I should afford him this benefit? or how can I love him, who hath done me such a mischief? Make thou this answer, That perhaps thou wouldst give ear to the motion, if the cause of thy love were no other, than thy neighbour, as he is considered in himself; but since it is Christ, who receiveth any benefit, or pardon, which is given unto a man's neighbour, as if it were given to himself; what reason, I pray you, is there, why my neighbours being this, or doing that, should have power to hinder my affection, & the fruits thereo●, which are good works; since therein, I pretend not, to have any thing to do with him, but with Christ. And by this means, will thy hart burn in charity; in such sort as that the many waters, of the evil turns that shall be done thee, may not be able to quench it; but it will prove victorious, and ascend upward, as a flame doth, which life's indeed; & thou wilt converse with thy neighbours, without stumbling upon them; and without losing thy virtue, by desiring their prejudice, And so David saith, Great peace have they, O Lord, who love thy law, and⁶ they stumble at nothing. Which law, is that of charity; whereby indeed the whole law is completely performed, as S. Paul⁷ saith; He that love's his neighbour, hath fulfilled the law. And this estimation of our neighbour, whereby we honour him, as an adopted son of God; and as a brother of our Lord Jesus Christ; and this love which we are to carry to things, which do so truly belong to Christ, is that which S. Paul recommendeth to the⁸ Philippians, and in them to us; saying, Conceive yourselves humbly, to be inferiors to one another; & make no reckoning of your own interest, or ease; but consider what it is fit to do, for your neighbours; and do this, after the example of Christ Jesus; who having the substance of God, did, for our benefit, humble himself so fare, as to take upon him the form of a servant. And these two things, namely humility, and love of our neighbours, our Lord himself did teach, and recommend to us, in that admirable action, which he was pleased to perform so near his death; by⁹ washing the feet of his disciples. For¹⁰ therein, humility was expressed to us, by the baseness of that office; and charity by the help it gave to others. His will is, that we should learn these two things of him; we, who are little servants, and disciples of his; when he, who was the Lord and master, would needs show us the way.

Being therefore encouraged by this example, & by the rest which hath been said; do thou weigh thy neighbours with the¹¹ scales of their being the adopted sons of God; and consider, that Christ Jesus, gave himself for them upon the Cross; and do thou prise, and honour them, whom God hath honoured so much, and love them who are joined to him, as a most beloved spouse, might be; and as the parts of the body, are unto the head. And so thou shalt carry a strong, and firm love tow ards them; for whatsoever springeth not from this fountain, is but weak, and willbe quickly weary, & dry; & it falleth instantly to the ground, upon the least occasion of encounter that offers itself; as a house would do, whose foundation had been laid upon sand.

Footnotes

1. A consideration of great force towards charitable conversation with our neighbours. ↩

2. A good rule whereby we may grow to esteem & love our Neighbours. ↩

3. Appoint which it much concerneth men to consider. ↩

4. How displeasing it is to God, that we be hard-hearted, one to another. ↩

5. The practice of this doctrine is of great force, towards the indaming us to the love of our neighbours. ↩

6. The true servants of God turn all to good. ↩

7. Rom. 1●. Galat. 5. ↩

8. Philip. ●. ↩

9. loan. ●●. ↩

10. Humility and Charity are the bottom, & the top of all Christian buildings. ↩

11. These are true scales which will never deceive us. ↩