DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3689#0055
a Devout and Holy Life. 53
forming these good works ? How shall a man trust that he
performs them as he ought ?
Now the rule is very plain and easy, and such as is common to
every other virtue, or good temper, as well as to charity.—Who
is the humble, or meek, or devout, or just, or faithful man ? Is
it he that has several times done acts of humility, meekness,
devotion, justice, or fidelity ? No. But it is he that lives in
the habitual exercise of these virtues. In like manner, he only
can be said to have performed these works of charity, who lives
in the habitual exercise of them to the utmost of his power. He
only has performed the duty of divine love, who loves God with
all his heart, and with all his mind, and with all his strength.
And he only has performed the duty of these good works, who
has done them with all his heart, and with all his mind, and
with all his strength. For there is no other measure of our
doing good, than our power of doing it.
The Apostle St. Peter puts this question to our blessed
Saviour ; ' Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I
' forgive him, till seven times ? Jesus saith unto him, I say not
' unto thee, until seven times ; but until seventy times seven.'*
Not as if after this number of offences, a man might then cease
to forgive ; but the expression of seventy times seven, is to
show us, that we are not to bind our forgiveness by any
number of offences, but are to continue forgiving the most
repeated offences against us. Thus our Saviour saith in another
place, if he trespass ' against thee seven times in a day, and
' seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou
' shalt forgive him.'j If, therefore, a man ceases to forgive his
brother, because he has forgiven him often already ; if he excuses
himself from forgiving this man, because he has forgiven several
others; such a one breaks this law of Christ, concerning the
forgiving one's brother.
Now the rule of forgiving, is also the rule of giving; you are
not to give, or do good to seven, but to seventy times seven.
You are not to cease from giving, because you have given often
to the same person, or to other persons; but must look upon
yourself as much obliged to continue relieving those that con-
tinue in want, as you were obliged to relieve them once or twice.
Had it not been in your power, you had been excused from
relieving any person once ; but if it is in your power to relieve
people often, it is as much your duty to do it often, as it ijr the
duty of others to do it but seldom because they are but seldom
able. He that is not ready to forgive every brother, as often as
* Matt, xviii. 22. + Luke xvii. 4-
forming these good works ? How shall a man trust that he
performs them as he ought ?
Now the rule is very plain and easy, and such as is common to
every other virtue, or good temper, as well as to charity.—Who
is the humble, or meek, or devout, or just, or faithful man ? Is
it he that has several times done acts of humility, meekness,
devotion, justice, or fidelity ? No. But it is he that lives in
the habitual exercise of these virtues. In like manner, he only
can be said to have performed these works of charity, who lives
in the habitual exercise of them to the utmost of his power. He
only has performed the duty of divine love, who loves God with
all his heart, and with all his mind, and with all his strength.
And he only has performed the duty of these good works, who
has done them with all his heart, and with all his mind, and
with all his strength. For there is no other measure of our
doing good, than our power of doing it.
The Apostle St. Peter puts this question to our blessed
Saviour ; ' Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I
' forgive him, till seven times ? Jesus saith unto him, I say not
' unto thee, until seven times ; but until seventy times seven.'*
Not as if after this number of offences, a man might then cease
to forgive ; but the expression of seventy times seven, is to
show us, that we are not to bind our forgiveness by any
number of offences, but are to continue forgiving the most
repeated offences against us. Thus our Saviour saith in another
place, if he trespass ' against thee seven times in a day, and
' seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou
' shalt forgive him.'j If, therefore, a man ceases to forgive his
brother, because he has forgiven him often already ; if he excuses
himself from forgiving this man, because he has forgiven several
others; such a one breaks this law of Christ, concerning the
forgiving one's brother.
Now the rule of forgiving, is also the rule of giving; you are
not to give, or do good to seven, but to seventy times seven.
You are not to cease from giving, because you have given often
to the same person, or to other persons; but must look upon
yourself as much obliged to continue relieving those that con-
tinue in want, as you were obliged to relieve them once or twice.
Had it not been in your power, you had been excused from
relieving any person once ; but if it is in your power to relieve
people often, it is as much your duty to do it often, as it ijr the
duty of others to do it but seldom because they are but seldom
able. He that is not ready to forgive every brother, as often as
* Matt, xviii. 22. + Luke xvii. 4-