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| Chapter XXXI. A kindness received should be returned with a freer hand. This is shown by the example of the earth. A passage from Solomon about feasting is adduced to prove the same, and is expounded later in a spiritual sense.
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Chapter XXXI.
A kindness received should be returned with a freer
hand. This is shown by the example of the earth. A passage
from Solomon about feasting is adduced to prove the same, and is
expounded later in a spiritual sense.
160. It is also
right233
| 233 Cic. de
Off. I. 15, § 47. | that more regard should be paid to him
who has conferred some benefit or gift upon thee, if he ever is reduced
to want. For what is so contrary to one’s duty as not to
return what one has received? Nor do I think that a return of
equal value should be made, but a greater. One ought to make up
for the enjoyment of a kindness one has received from another, to such
an extent as to help that person, even to putting an end to his
needs. For not to be the better in returning than in conferring a
kindness, is to be the inferior; for he who was the first to give was
the first in point of time, and also first in showing a kind
disposition.
161. Wherefore we must imitate the nature of
the earth234
| 234 Cic. de
Off. I. 15, § 48. | in this respect,
which is wont to return the seed she has received, multiplied a
thousand-fold. And so it is written: “As a field is
the foolish man, and as a vineyard is the man without sense. If
thou leavest him, he will be made desolate.”235
As a field also is the wise man, so
as to return the seed given him in fuller measure, as though it had
been lent to him on interest. The earth either produces fruits of
its own accord, or pays back and restores, what it was entrusted with,
in fruitful abundance. In both these ways a return is due from
thee, when thou enterest upon the use of thy father’s possession,
that thou mayest not be left to lie as an unfruitful field. It
may be that a man can make an excuse for not giving anything, but how
can he excuse himself for not returning what was given? It is
hardly right not to give anything; it is certainly not right to make no
return for kindness done to oneself.236
| 236 Cic. de
Off. I. 15, § 48. |
162. Therefore Solomon says well:
“When thou sittest to eat at the table of a ruler consider
diligently what is before thee, and put forth thine hand, knowing that
it behoves thee to make such preparations. But if thou art
insatiable, be not desirous of his dainties, for they have but a
deceptive life.”237
I have
written these words as I wish that we all should follow them. It
is a good thing to do a service, but he who knows not how to return one
is very hard. The earth herself supplies an example of
kindliness. She provides fruits of her own accord, which thou
didst not sow; she also returns many-fold what she has received.
It is not right for thee to deny knowledge of money paid in to thee,
and how can it be right to let a service done go without notice?
In the book of Proverbs also it is said: that the
repayment of kindness has
such great power with God, that through it, even in the day of
destruction, a man may find grace, though his sins outweigh all
else.238
And why need I bring forward
other examples when the Lord Himself promises in the Gospel a fuller
reward to the merits of the saints, and exhorts us to do good works,
saying: “Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven; give, and it
shall be given unto you; good measure, shaken together and running
over, shall men give into your bosom.”239
163. But the feasting that Solomon speaks of
has not to do with common food only, but it is to be understood as
having to do with good works. For how can the soul be feasted in
better wise than on good works; or what can so easily fill the mind of
the just as the knowledge of a good work done? What pleasanter
food is there than to do the will of God? The Lord has told us
that He had this food alone in abundance, as it is written in the
Gospel, saying: “My food is to do the will of My Father
which is in heaven.”240
164. In this food let us delight of which
the prophet says: “Delight thou in the
Lord.”241
In this food
they delight, who have with wonderful knowledge learnt to take in the
higher delights; who can know what that delight is which is pure and
which can be understood by the mind. Let us therefore eat the
bread of wisdom, and let us be filled with the word of God. For
the life of man made in the image of God consists not in bread alone,
but in every word that cometh from God.242
About the cup, too, holy Job says,
plainly enough: “As the earth waiteth for the rain, so did
they for my words.”243
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