5. All love,418    Dilectio. whether that which is called carnal, which is wont to be called not “dilectio” but “amor:” (for the word “dilectio” is wont to be used of better objects, and to be understood of better objects:) yet all love, dear brethren, hath in it a wishing well to those who are loved. For we ought not so to love, nor are we able so to love, (whether “diligere” or “amare:” for this latter word the Lord used when He said, “Petra, amas me?” “Peter, lovest thou me?”) we ought not so to love419    Amare. men, as we hear gluttons say, I love thrushes. Thou askest why he loves them? That he may kill, that he may consume. He says he loves, and to this end loves he them, that they may cease to be; to this end loves he them, that he may make away with them. And whatever we love in the way of food, to this end love we it, that it may be consumed and we recruited. Are men to be so loved as to be consumed? But there is a certain friendliness of well wishing, by which we desire at some time or other to do good to those whom we love. How if there be no good that we can do? The benevolence, the wishing well, of itself sufficeth him that loves. For we ought not to wish men to be wretched, that we may be enabled to practise works of mercy. Thou givest bread to the hungry: but better it were that none hungered, and thou hadst none to give to. Thou clothest the naked: oh that all were clothed, and this need existed not! Thou buriest the dead: oh that it were come at last, that life where none shall die! Thou reconcilest the quarrelling: oh that it were here at last, that eternal peace of Jerusalem, where none shall disagree! For all these are offices done to necessities. Take away the wretched; there will be an end to works of mercy. The works of mercy will be at an end: shall the ardor of charity be quenched? With a truer touch of love thou lovest the happy man, to whom there is no good office thou canst do; purer will that love be, and far more unalloyed. For if thou have done a kindness to the wretched, perchance thou desirest to lift up thyself over against him, and wishest him to be subject to thee, who hast done the kindness to him. He was in need, thou didst bestow; thou seemest to thyself greater because thou didst bestow, than he upon whom it was bestowed. Wish him thine equal, that ye both may be under the One Lord, on whom nothing can be bestowed.

5. Omnis dilectio, sive quae carnalis dicitur, quae non dilectio, sed magis amor dici solet (dilectionis enim nomen magis solet in melioribus rebus dici, in melioribus accipi): tamen omnis dilectio, fratres charissimi, utique benevolentiam quamdam habet erga eos qui diliguntur. Non enim sic debemus diligere homines, aut sic possumus diligere, vel amare; hoc enim verbo etiam usus est Dominus cum diceret, Petre, amas me (Joan. XXI, 17)? non sic debemus amare homines, quomodo audimus gulosos dicere, Amo turdos. Quaeris quare? Ut occidat, et consumat. Et amare se dicit, et ad hoc illos amat ut non sint, ad hoc amat ut perimat. Et quidquid ad cibandum amamus, ad hoc amamus, ut illud consumatur, et nos reficiamur. Numquid sic amandi sunt homines, tanquam consumendi? Sed amicitia quaedam benevolentiae est , ut aliquando praestemus eis quos amamus. Quid, si non sit quod praestemus? Sola benevolentia sufficit amanti. Non enim optare debemus esse miseros, ut possimus exercere opera misericordiae. Das panem esurienti: sed melius nemo esuriret, et nulli dares. Vestis nudum: utinam omnes vestiti essent, et non esset ista necessitas! Sepelis mortuum: utinam veniat aliquando illa vita ubi nemo moriatur! Concordas litigantes: utinam aliquando sit pax illa aeterna Jerusalem, ubi nemo discordet! Haec enim omnia officia necessitatum sunt. Tolle miseros; cessabunt opera misericordiae. Opera misericordiae cessabunt; numquid ardor charitatis exstinguetur? Germanius amas felicem hominem, cui non habes quod praestes; purior ille amor erit, multoque sincerior. Nam si praestiteris misero, fortassis extollere te cupis adversus eum, et eum tibi vis esse subjectum, qui auctor est tui beneficii . Ille indiguit, tu impertitus es; quasi major videris quia tu praestitisti, quam 2039 ille cui praestitum est. Opta aequalem, ut ambo sub uno sitis cui nihil praestari potest.