Chap. XII.—Of the Kinds of Beneficence, and Works of Mercy.

This is that perfect justice which protects human society, concerning which philosophers speak. This is the chief and truest advantage of riches; not to use wealth for the particular pleasure of an individual, but for the welfare of many; not for one’s own immediate enjoyment, but for justice, which alone does not perish. We must therefore by all means keep in mind, that the hope of receiving in return must be altogether absent from the duty of showing mercy: for the reward of this work and duty must be expected from God alone; for if you should expect it from man, then that will not be kindness, but the lending of a benefit at interest;1150    Beneficii fœneratio.   nor can he seem to have deserved well who affords that which he does, not to another, but to himself. And yet the matter comes to this, that whatever a man has bestowed upon another, hoping for no advantage from him, he really bestows upon himself, for he will receive a reward from God. God has also enjoined, that if at any time we make a feast, we should invite to the entertainment those who cannot invite us in return, and thus make us a recompense, so that no action of our life should be without the exercise of mercy. Nor, however, let any one think that he is debarred from intercourse with his friends or kindness with his neighbours. But God has made known to us what is our true and just work: we ought thus to live with our neighbours, provided that we know that the one manner of living relates to man, the other to God.1151    The meaning appears to be this: To benefit our friends and relatives, relates to man, i.e., is a merely human work; but to benefit those who cannot make a recompense is a divine work, and its reward is to be expected from God.    

Therefore hospitality is a principal virtue, as the philosophers also say; but they turn it aside from true justice, and forcibly apply1152    Rapiunt.   it to advantage. Cicero says:1153    De Offic., ii. 18.   “Hospitality was rightly praised by Theophrastus. For (as it appears to me) it is highly becoming that the houses of illustrious men should be open to illustrious guests.” He has here committed the same error which he then did, when he said that we must bestow our bounty on “suitable” persons. For the house of a just and wise man ought not to be open to the illustrious, but to the lowly and abject. For those illustrious and powerful men cannot be in want of anything, since they are sufficiently protected and honoured by their own opulence. But nothing is to be done by a just man except that which is a benefit. But if the benefit is returned, it is destroyed and brought to an end; for we cannot possess in its completeness that for which a price has been paid to us. Therefore the principle of justice is employed about those benefits which have remained safe and uncorrupted; but they cannot thus remain by any other means than if they are be stowed upon those men who can in no way profit us. But in receiving illustrious men, he looked to nothing else but utility; nor did the ingenious man conceal what advantage he hoped from it. For he says that he who does that will become powerful among foreigners by the favour of the leading men, whom he will have bound to himself by the right of hospitality and friendship. O by how many arguments might the inconsistency of Cicero be proved, if this were my object! Nor would he be convicted so much by my words as by his own. For he also says, that the more any one refers all his actions to his own advantage, the less he is a good man. He also says, that it is not the part of a simple and open man to ingratiate himself in the favour of others,1154    Ambire.   to pretend and allege anything, to appear to be doing one thing when he is doing another, to feign that he is bestowing upon another that which he is bestowing upon himself; but that this is rather the part of one who is designing1155    Malitiosi et astuti.   and crafty, deceitful and treacherous. But how could he maintain that that ambitious hospitality was not evil intention?1156    Malitia, roguery. The word properly signifies some legal trick by which the ends of justice are frustrated, though the letter of the law is not broken.   “Do you run round through all the gates, that you may invite to your house the chief men of the nations and cities as they arrive, that by their means you may acquire influence with their citizens; and wish yourself to be called just, and kind, and hospitable, though you are studying to promote your own advantage?” But did he not say this rather incautiously? For what is less suitable for Cicero? But through his ignorance of true justice he knowingly and with foresight fell into this snare. And that he might be pardoned for this, he testified that he does not give precepts with reference to true justice, which he does not hold, but with reference to a sketch and outline of justice. Therefore we must pardon this teacher who uses sketches and outlines,1157    Umbratico et imaginario præceptori.   nor must we require the truth from him who admits that he is ignorant of it.  

The ransoming of captives is a great and noble exercise of justice, of which the same Tullius also approved.1158    De Officiis, ii. 18.   “And this liberality,” he says, “is serviceable even to the state, that captives should be ransomed from slavery, and that those of slender resources should be provided for. And I greatly prefer this practice of liberality to lavish expenditure on shows. This is the part of great and eminent men.” Therefore it is the appropriate work of the just to support the poor and to ransom captives, since among the unjust if any do these things they are called great and eminent. For it is deserving of the greatest praise for those to confer benefit from whom no one expected such conduct. For he who does good to a relative, or neighbour, or friend, either deserves no praise, or certainly no great praise, because he is bound to do it, and he would be impious and detestable if he did not do that which both nature itself and relationship require; and if he does it, he does it not so much for the sake of obtaining glory as of avoiding censure. But he who does it to a stranger and an unknown person, he truly is worthy of praise, because he was led to do it by kindness only. Justice therefore exists there, where there is no obligation of necessity for conferring a benefit. He ought not therefore to have preferred this duty of generosity to expenditure on shows; for this is the part of one making a comparison, and of two goods choosing that which is the better. For that profusion of men throwing away their property into the sea is vain and trifling, and very far removed from all justice. Therefore they are not even to be called gifts,1159    Munera. The same word is used for “shows,” as of gladiators, or contests of wild beasts, exhibited to the people.   in which no one receives but he who does not deserve to receive.  

Nor is it less a great work of justice to protect and defend orphans and widows who are destitute and stand in need of assistance; and therefore that divine law prescribes this to all, since all good judges deem that it belongs to their office to favour them with natural kindness, and to strive to benefit them. But these works are especially ours, since we have received the law, and the words of God Himself giving us instructions. For they perceive that it is naturally just to protect those who need protection, but they do not perceive why it is so. For God, to whom everlasting mercy belongs, on this account commands that widows and orphans should be defended and cherished, that no one through regard and pity for his pledges1160    i.e., children.   should be prevented from undergoing death in behalf of justice and faith, but should encounter it with promptitude and boldness, since he knows that he leaves his beloved ones to the care of God, and that they will never want protection. Also to undertake the care and support of the sick, who need some one to assist them, is the part of the greatest kindness, and of great beneficence;1161    Operationis.   and he who shall do this will both gain a living sacrifice to God, and that which he has given to another for a time he will himself receive from God for eternity. The last and greatest office of piety is the burying of strangers and the poor; which subject those teachers of virtue and justice have not touched upon at all. For they were unable to see this, who measured all their duties by utility. For in the other things which have been mentioned above, although they did not keep the true path, yet, since they discovered some advantage in these things, retained as it were by a kind of inkling1162    Quasi odore quodam veritatis. The word “odor” is sometimes used to express “a presentiment” or “suspicion.”   of the truth, they wandered to a less distance; but they abandoned this because they were unable to see any advantage in it.  

Moreover, there have not been wanting those who esteemed burial as superfluous, and said that it was no evil to lie unburied and neglected; but their impious wisdom is rejected alike by the whole human race, and by the divine expressions which command the performance of the rite.1163    [Gen. xlix. 29–31; Mark xiv. 8, 9.]   But they do not venture to say that it ought not to be done, but that, if it happens to be omitted, no inconvenience is the result. Therefore in that matter they discharge the office, not so much of those who give precepts, as of those who suggest consolation, that if this shall by chance have occurred to a wise man, he should not deem himself wretched on this account. But we do not speak of that which ought to be endured by a wise man, but of that which he himself ought to do. Therefore we do not now inquire whether the whole system of burial is serviceable or not; but this, even though it be useless, as they imagine, must nevertheless be practised, even on this account only, that it appears among men to be done rightly and kindly. For it is the feeling which is inquired into, and it is the purpose which is weighed. Therefore we will not suffer the image and workmanship of God to lie exposed as a prey to beasts and birds, but we will restore it to the earth, from which it had its origin; and although it be in the case of an unknown man, we will fulfil the office of relatives, into whose place, since they are wanting, let kindness succeed; and wherever there shall be need of man, there we will think that our duty is required.1164    [Ennius; also in Cicero, De Offic., i. cap. 16]   But in what does the nature of justice more consist than in our affording to strangers through kindness, that which we render to our own relatives through affection? And this kindness is much more sure and just when it is now afforded, not to the man who is insensible, but to God alone, to whom a just work is a most acceptable sacrifice. Some one will perhaps say: If I shall do all these things, I shall have no possessions. For what if a great number of men shall be in want, shall suffer cold, shall be taken captive, shall die, since one who acts thus must deprive himself of his property even in a single day, shall I throw away the estate acquired by my own labour or by that of my ancestors, so that after this I myself must live by the pity of others?  

Why do you so pusillanimously fear poverty, which even your philosophers praise, and bear witness that nothing is safer and nothing more calm than this? That which you fear is a haven against anxieties. Do you not know to how many dangers, to how many accidents, you are exposed with these evil resources? These will treat you well if they shall pass without your bloodshed. But you walk about laden with booty, and you bear spoils which may excite the minds even of your own relatives. Why, then, do you hesitate to lay that out well which perhaps a single robbery will snatch away from you, or a proscription suddenly arising, or the plundering of an enemy? Why do you fear to make a frail and perishable good everlasting, or to entrust your treasures to God as their preserver, in which case you need not fear thief and robber, nor rust, nor tyrant? He who is rich towards God can never be poor.1165    [1 Tim. vi. 8–10.]   If you esteem justice so highly, lay aside the burthens which press you, and follow it; free yourself from fetters and chains, that you may run to God without any impediment. It is the part of a great and lofty mind to despise and trample upon mortal affairs. But if you do not comprehend this virtue, that you may bestow your riches upon the altar1166    In aram Dei. Others read “arcam,” the chest.   of God, in order that you may provide for yourself firmer possessions than these frail ones, I will free you from fear. All these precepts are not given to you alone, but to all the people who are united in mind, and hold together as one man. If you are not adequate to the performance of great works alone, cultivate justice with all your power, in such a manner, however, that you may excel others in work as much as you excel them in riches. And do not think that you are advised to lessen or exhaust your property; but that which you would have expended on superfluities, turn to better uses. Devote to the ransoming of captives that from which you purchase beasts; maintain the poor with that from which you feed wild beasts; bury the innocent dead with that from which you provide men for the sword.1167    i.e., “gladiators purchased from a trainer for the gratification of the people.”   What does it profit to enrich men of abandoned wickedness, who fight with beasts,1168    Bestiarios: men who fought with beasts in the amphitheatre.   and to equip them for crimes? Transfer things about to be miserably thrown away to the great sacrifice, that in return for these true gifts you may have an everlasting gift from God. Mercy has a great reward; for God promises it, that He will remit all sins. If you shall hear, He says, the prayers of your suppliant, I also will hear yours; if you shall pity those in distress, I also will pity you in your distress. But if you shall not regard nor assist them, I also will bear a mind like your own against you, and I will judge you by your own laws.1169    [Matt. xviii. 21–35. Exposition of vi. 14.]    

CAPUT XII. De generibus beneficentiae, et operibus misericordiae.

Haec est illa perfecta justitia, quae custodit humanam, de qua philosophi loquuntur, societatem. Hic divitiarum maximus ac verissimus fructus est, non uti 0676B opibus ad propriam unius voluptatem, sed ad multorum salutem, non ad praesentem suum fructum, sed ad justitiam, quae sola non interit. Tenendum est igitur omni modo, ut ab officio misericordiae spes recipiendi absit omnino. Hujus enim operis et officii merces a Deo est expectanda solo: nam si ab homine expectes, jam non humanitas erit illa, sed beneficii foeneratio; nec potest videri bene meruisse, qui quod facit, non alteri, sed sibi praestat; et tamen res eodem 0677A redit; 0677A ut quod alteri quisque praestiterit, nihil ab eo commodi sperans, vere sibi praestet, quia mercedem capiet a Deo. Idem Deus praecepit, ut si quando coenam paraverimus, eos in convictum adhibeamus, qui revocare non possint et vicem reddere; ut omnis actus vitae nostrae non careat misericordiae munere. Nec tamen quisquam interdictum sibi putet, aut communione cum amicis, aut charitate cum proximis. Sed notum nobis Deus fecit, quod sit verum et justum opus, ita nos oportet cum proximis vivere, dummodo sciamus illud ad hominem, hoc ad Deum pertinere.

Praecipua igitur virtus est hospitalitas; quod philosophi quoque aiunt: sed eam detorquent a vera justitia, et ad commodum rapiunt. «Recte, inquit Cicero, a Theophrasto est laudata hospitalitas. 0677B Est enim (ut mihi quidem videtur) valde decorum, patere domos hominum illustrium hospitibus illustribus.» Eodem modo rursus erravit, quo tum, cum idoneis esse diceret largiendum. Non enim justi et sapientis viri domus illustribus debet patere, sed humilibus et abjectis. Nam illustres illi ac potentes nulla re possunt indigere; quos opulentia sua et munit, et honorat. Nihil autem a viro justo faciendum est, nisi quod sit beneficium. Beneficium autem si refertur, interit, atque finitur; nec enim possumus id habere integrum, cujus pretium nobis persolutum est. In his itaque beneficiis justitiae ratio versatur, 0677C quae salva et incorrupta permanserint: permanent 0678A autem non aliter, quam si praestentur hominibus iis, qui prodesse nullo modo possunt. At ille in recipiendis illustribus nihil spectavit aliud, nisi utilitatem; nec dissimulavit homo ingeniosus, quid ex eo commodi speraret. Ait enim, qui id faciat, potentem apud exteros futurum per gratiam principum, quos sibi hospitii et amicitiae jure constrinxerit. O quam multis argumentis Ciceronis inconstantia, si id agerem, coargui posset! Nec tam nostris, quam suis verbis refelleretur. Idem quippe ait, ut quisque maxime ad suum commodum referat, quaecumque agit, ita minime esse virum bonum. Idem etiam negat, simplicis et aperti hominis esse, ambire, simulare aliquid, et praetendere, aliud agere videri, cum aliud agat; praestare se alteri fingere, quod sibi praestet: sed 0678B malitiosi potius, et astuti, et fallacis, et subdoli. Quomodo ergo defenderet, quominus ambitiosa illa hospitalitas malitia esset? «Tu mihi per omnes portas circumcurses, ut advenientes populorum atque urbium principes domum tuam invites, ut per eos apud cives eorum potentiam consequare; velisque te justum, et humanum, et hospitalem videri, cum studeas utilitati tuae.» Verum hoc ille non potius incaute? Quid enim minus in Ciceronem convenit? Sed ignorantia veri juris, prudens ac sciens in hos se laqueos induit. Quod ut ei possit ignosci, testificatus est non ad veram justitiam, quam non teneat, praecepta se 0678C dare; sed ad umbram imaginemque justitiae. Ignoscendum 0679A est igitur umbratico et imaginario praeceptori; 0679A nec ab eo veritas exigenda est, qui se nescire fateatur.

Captivorum redemptio magnum atque praeclarum justitiae munus est: quod idem ipse Tullius approbavit. «Atque haec benignitas, inquit, etiam reipublicae est utilis, redimi e servitute captos, locupletari tenuiores. Hanc ego consuetudinem benignitatis largitioni munerum longe antepono. Haec est gravium hominum, atque magnorum.» Proprium igitur justorum opus est, alere pauperes, ac redimere captivos, cum apud injustos, si qui haec faciant, graves et magni appellentur. Iis enim maximae laudis est benefacere, quos nemo speravit esse facturos. Nam qui bonum facit vel consanguineo, vel proximo, vel amico; 0679B aut nullam, aut certe non magnam laudem meretur; quia facere debet, sitque impius ac detestabilis, nisi fecerit id, quod ab eo et natura ipsa, et necessitudo exigit; et si facit, non tam gloriae assequendae, quam reprehensionis vitandae gratia facit. Qui autem fecit alieno, et ignoto, is vero dignus est laude; quoniam, ut faceret, sola ductus est humanitate. Ibi ergo justitia est, ubi ad benefaciendum necessitatis vinculum nullum est. Hoc igitur officium benignitatis ne anteponere quidem largitioni munerum debuit, 0680A quod est comparantis, et e duobus bonis id, quod sit melius, eligentis. Illa enim largitio hominum patrimonia sua in mare abjicientium inanis, et levis, et ab omni justitia remotissima est. Itaque ne dici quidem munera oportet, in quibus nemo accipit, nisi qui accipere non meretur.

Non minus magnum justitiae opus est, pupillos et viduas destitutos, et auxilio indigentes tueri, atque defendere. Quod adeo universis divina lex illa praescribit; quando quidem boni quique judicesad officium suum judicant pertinere, ut eos naturali humanitate foveant, ac iisdem prodesse nitantur. Verum haec opera proprie nostra sunt, qui legem, qui verba ipsius Dei praecipientis accepimus. Nam illi sentiunt quidem natura esse justum tueri eos, qui tutela carent: 0680B sed, cur ita sit, non perspiciunt. Deus enim, cujus perpetua clementia est, idcirco viduas pupillosque defendi ac foveri jubet, ne quis respectu ac miseratione pignorum suorum retardetur, quominus mortem pro justitia fideque suscipiat: sed incunctanter ac fortiter subeat, cum sciat se caros suos Deo relinquere, nec his unquam praesidium defuturum. Aegros quoque, quibus defuerit qui assistat, curandos fovendosque suscipere, summae humanitatis et magnae operationis est: quod qui fecerit, vivam hostiam 0681A Deo acquiret; et quod alteri dederit ad tempus, ipse a Deo accipiet in aeternum. Ultimum illud et maximum pietatis officium est, peregrinorum et pauperum sepultura: 0681A quod illi virtutis justitiaeque doctores prorsus non attigerunt. Nec enim poterant id videre, qui utilitate omnia officia metiebantur. In caeteris enim, quae supra dicta sunt, quamvis verum limitem non tenuerint; tamen, quoniam commodi aliquid in his deprehenderunt, quasi odore quodam veritatis retenti, propius oberrarunt: hoc autem, quia nihil videre in eo commodi poterant, reliquerunt.

Quin etiam non defuerunt, qui supervacaneam facerent sepulturam; nihilque esse dicerent mali, jacere inhumatum atque abjectum: quorum impiam sapientiam, cum omne humanum genus respuit, tum 0681B divinae voces, quae id fieri jubent. Verum illi non audent dicere, id non esse faciendum: sed, si forte non fiat, nihil esse incommodi. Itaque in ea re non tam praecipientium, quam consolantium funguntur officio, ut si forte id sapienti evenerit, ne se ob hoc miserum putet. Nos autem non quid sapienti ferendum sit dicimus: sed quid facere ipse debeat. Itaque non quaerimus nunc utrumne tota sepeliendi ratio sit utilis, necne: sed haec, etiamsi sit inanis (ut illi existimant), tamen facienda est, vel ob hoc solum, quod 0682A apud homines bene et humane fieri videtur. Animus enim quaeritur, et propositum ponderatur. Non ergo patiemur, figuram et figmentum Dei feris ac volucribus in praedam jacere: sed reddemus id terrae, unde ortum est; et quamvis in homine ignoto necessariorum munus implebimus, in quorum locum, quia de sunt, succedat humanitas, et ubicumque homo desiderabitur, ibi exigi officium nostrum putabimus. In quo autem magis justitiae ratio consistit, quam in eo, ut quod praestamus nostris per affectum, praestemus alienis per humanitatem; quae est multo certior justiorque? Quae cum fit, jam non homini praestatur, qui nihil sentit; sed Deo soli, cui carissimum sacrificium est opus justum. Dicet aliquis fortasse: Si haec omnia fecero, nihil habebo. Quid enim, si magnus hominum numerus egebit, algebit, capietur, morietur, 0682B ut haec facientem vel uno die patrimonio exui sit necesse, perdamne rem familiarem, meo, aut majorum labore quaesitam, ut jam ipsi mihi aliena misericordia vivendum sit?

Quid tu tam pusillo animo paupertatem times? quam etiam vestri philosophi laudant: nihil hac tutius, nihilque tranquillius esse testantur. Hoc quod times, sollicitudinum portus est. An ignoras, quot periculis, quot casibus cum his malis opibus subjaceas? Quae 0683A tecum bene agent, si sine tuo cruore transierint. Tu vero praeda onustus incedis, et spolia geris, quae irritent animos etiam tuorum. Quid ergo dubitas bene collocare id, quod tibi forsan 0683A eripiet aut unum latrocinium, aut existens repente proscriptio, aut hostilis aliqua direptio? Quid verere fluxum et fragile bonum facere sempiternum, aut thesauros tuos custodi Deo credere, ubi non furem praedonemque timeas, non rubiginem, non tyrannum? Qui apud Deum dives est, pauper esse nunquam potest. Si justitiam tanti putas, sequere, abjectis oneribus quae te premunt: libera te ipsum compedibus et catenis, ut expeditus ad Deum curras. Magni et excelsi animi est despicere et calcare mortalia. Sed si hanc virtutem non capis, ut divitias tuas in aram Dei conferas, ut fragilibus tibi 0683B compares firmiora, liberabo te metu. Omnia ista praecepta non tibi soli dantur, sed omni populo, qui mente conjunctus est, et cohaeret sicut homo unus. Si solus magnis operibus non sufficis, pro virili parte operare justitiam, sic tamen, ut quantum divitiis inter caeteros, tantum opere praecellas. Neque nunc suaderi tibi putes, ut rem familiarem tuam minuas, vel exhaurias: sed quae in supervacua fueras impensurus, ad meliora convertas. Unde bestias emis, hinc captos redime; unde feras pascis, hinc pauperes ale; unde homines ad gladium comparas, hinc innocentes 0684A mortuos sepeli. Quid prodest perditae nequitiae bestiarios facere locupletes, et instruere ad flagitia? Transfer ad magnum sacrificium male peritura; ut pro his veris muneribus habeas a Deo munus aeternum. Magna est misericordiae merces, cui Deus pollicetur peccata se omnia remissurum. Si audieris, inquit, preces supplicis tui, et ego audiam tuas. Si misertus laborantium fueris, et ego in tuo labore miserebor. Si autem non respexeris, nec adjuveris, et ego animum tuum contra te geram, tuisque te legibus judicabo.