登陆注册
5246000000028

第28章 Chapter 5(2)

"The Christian religion," he said, "was instituted for much nobler purposes, than to enforce a lesson which many heathen philosophers had taught us long before, and which, though it might perhaps be called a moral virtue, savoured but little of that sublime, Christian-like disposition, that vast elevation of thought, in purity approaching to angelic perfection, to be attained, expressed, and felt only by grace. Those," he said, "came nearer to the Scripture meaning, who understood by it candour, or the forming of a benevolent opinion of our brethren, and passing a favourable judgment on their actions; a virtue much higher, and more extensive in its nature, than a pitiful distribution of alms, which, though we would never so much prejudice, or even ruin our families, could never reach many;whereas charity, in the other and truer sense, might be extended to all mankind."He said, "Considering who the disciples were, it would be absurd to conceive the doctrine of generosity, or giving alms, to have been preached to them. And, as we could not well imagine this doctrine should be preached by its Divine Author to men who could not practise it, much less should we think it understood so by those who can practise it, and do not.

"But though," continued he, "there is, I am afraid, little merit in these benefactions, there would, I must confess, be much pleasure in them to a good mind, if it was not abated by one consideration. Imean, that we are liable to be imposed upon, and to confer our choicest favours often on the undeserving, as you must own was your case in your bounty to that worthless fellow Partridge: for two or three such examples must greatly lessen the inward satisfaction which a good man would otherwise find in generosity; nay, may even make him timorous in bestowing, lest he should be guilty of supporting vice, and encouraging the wicked; a crime of a very black dye, and for which it will by no means be a sufficient excuse, that we have not actually intended such an encouragement; unless we have used the utmost caution in chusing the objects of our beneficence. Aconsideration which, I make no doubt, hath greatly checked the liberality of many a worthy and pious man."Mr. Allworthy answered, "He could not dispute with the captain in the Greek language, and therefore could say nothing as to the true sense of the word which is translated charity; but that he had always thought it was interpreted to consist in action, and that giving alms constituted at least one branch of that virtue.

"As to the meritorious part," he said, "he readily agreed with the captain; for where could be the merit of barely discharging a duty? which," he said, "let the world charity have what construction it would, it sufficiently appeared to be from the whole tenor of the New Testament. And as he thought it an indispensable duty, enjoined both by the Christian law, and by the law of nature itself; so was it withal so pleasant, that if any duty could be said to be its own reward, or to pay us while we are discharging it, it was this.

"To confess the truth," said he, "there is one degree of generosity (of charity I would have called it), which seems to have some show of merit, and that is, where, from a principle of benevolence and Christian love, we bestow on another what we really want ourselves; where, in order to lessen the distresses of another, we condescend to share some part of them, by giving what even our own necessities cannot well spare. This is, I think, meritorious;but to relieve our brethren only with our superfluities; to be charitable (I must use the word) rather at the expense of our coffers than ourselves; to save several families from misery rather than hang up an extraordinary picture in our houses or gratify any other idle ridiculous vanity- this seems to be only being human creatures. Nay, I will venture to go farther, it is being in some degree epicures: for what could the greatest epicure wish rather than to eat with many mouths instead of one? which I think may be predicated of any one who knows that the bread of many is owing to his own largesses.

"As to the apprehension of bestowing bounty on such as may hereafter prove unworthy objects, because many have proved such; surely it can never deter a good man from generosity. I do not think a few or many examples of ingratitude can justify a man's hardening his heart against the distresses of his fellow-creatures; nor do I believe it can ever have such effect on a truly benevolent mind. Nothing less than a persuasion of universal depravity can lock up the charity of a good man; and this persuasion must lead him, I think, either into atheism, or enthusiasm; but surely it is unfair to argue such universal depravity from a few vicious individuals; nor was this, Ibelieve, ever done by a man, who, upon searching his own mind, found one certain exception to the general rule." He then concluded by asking, "who that Partridge was, whom he had called a worthless fellow?""I mean," said the captain, "Partridge the barber, the schoolmaster, what do you call him? Partridge, the father of the little child which you found in your bed."Mr. Allworthy exprest great surprize at this account, and the captain as great at his ignorance of it; for he said he had known it above a month: and at length recollected with much difficulty that he was told it by Mrs. Wilkins.

Upon this, Wilkins was immediately summoned; who having confirmed what the captain had said, was by Mr. Allworthy, by and with the captain's advice, dispatched to Little Baddington, to inform herself of the truth of the fact: for the captain exprest great dislike at all hasty proceedings in criminal matters, and said he would by no means have Mr. Allworthy take any resolution either to the prejudice of the child or its father, before he was satisfied that the latter was guilty; for though he had privately satisfied himself of this from one of Partridge's neighbours, yet he was too generous to give any such evidence to Mr. Allworthy.

同类推荐
  • 太上玄灵北斗本命延生真经注

    太上玄灵北斗本命延生真经注

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 靖海纪略

    靖海纪略

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 华严经入法界品十八问答

    华严经入法界品十八问答

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 黄箓救苦十念仪

    黄箓救苦十念仪

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 杜司空席上赋

    杜司空席上赋

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 你从来没有出现

    你从来没有出现

    一天早上醒来,古道漫发现自己不记得七岁之后出现在她生命中的所有人了,就连有些关于他们的事情也忘的一干二净,她面对着一个新的世界……什么,我怎么会从那么高的地方摔下来?什么,我是个叱咤风云的集团千金?什么,我家人都不见踪影了?什么,我以前是一个沉默寡言的人?什么,我竟然有个严重洁癖的青梅竹马!……这一切的一切,到底是怎么一回事???
  • 好吃懒做:芊芊的米虫生活

    好吃懒做:芊芊的米虫生活

    她穿越回古代,只想过吃喝不愁泡泡美男的米虫生活啊。但府里心思各异的众人,复杂关系错综皇室子弟,一不小心就卷进了宫庭之争,盘桓在各色美男中间,且看她怎么化解一串串麻烦,迎来自己的幸福人生。最搞笑最轻松最快意人生的古代大小姐奋斗记。
  • 《芝加哥规划》与美国城市的再造

    《芝加哥规划》与美国城市的再造

    出版于1909年的《芝加哥规划》是现代城市规划领域的奠基之作。本书讲述了《芝加哥规划》的时代背景、创制经历和推行效果,揭示了《芝加哥规划》如何影响了人们看待城市景观以及城市生活自身的方式,并且指出,《芝加哥规划》在出版一个世纪以后,依然持续引发着人们对于“怎样才能创造出充满生机而又宜居的城市环境”的讨论。
  • 心的秩序:一种现象学心学研究的可能性

    心的秩序:一种现象学心学研究的可能性

    本书在胡塞尔的意识现象学和舍勒的感受现象学的背景下,将其新创的道德意识现象学与佛教唯识学和儒家心学特别是孟子的良知学说联系起来进行研究的,对道德意识的三种来源即内心的、外在的和超越的起源,也即对道德本能、社会伦理和神学伦理进行了区分和描述,尤其对道德本能之所以是自然本能进行了深度挖掘和分析,以回答“我们为何以及如何意识到善?”的问题。
  • 佛说太子瑞应本起经

    佛说太子瑞应本起经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 师父的秘密有三生

    师父的秘密有三生

    一场大火,云阮成为唯一的幸存者。谁都不知,寄人篱下的她,竟然拥有着鬼瞳和契约犬鬼。长发遮面,自卑寡言,整日魂不守舍的她,却不想有朝一日束发扬眉,做了女天师。众鬼不信——不过是个在摄魂梦里都能吓哭的女娃娃也能有鬼王令,号令四方鬼差。“太上老君教我杀鬼,与我神方。上呼玉女,收摄不祥。……何神不伏,何鬼敢当?急急如律令。”众鬼逃窜,鬼王令出,鬼差自幽冥而出,将众恶鬼拘回鬼界。她回眸,甜甜一笑,“熙宸哥哥,阮阮可以保护你了。”......江少有个顶骄傲的事儿,他媳妇儿可是他亲自自己教大的!【剧场一】江少:阮阮,你要记住,你从来都是白天鹅,只有那些欺你的才是丑小鸭,但是作为淑女,要谦虚,不能炫耀美貌,记住了么?云阮:记住了,熙宸哥哥!某日渣女嘴又犯贱:哟,这不是江少身边那个傻妞嘛,真是又丑又土又厚脸皮。云阮真诚无比:过奖过奖,比不上你。【剧场二】江少:阮阮,完事莫要逞强,量力而行,女子要懂得示弱知道么?云阮:知道的,熙宸哥哥!某日恶鬼:桀桀桀桀,我想干什么?活剥这皮囊,吸干脑髓,食尽脏腑,再重做回美娇娘,怕了吧!云阮:哎呀,好怕好怕。这么丑,怕炼不化。随之手腕一翻,双手结印,缚灵于银铃,拇指食指狠狠一捏,银光乍现。恶鬼:……【1v1忠犬护短不讲理系列男主】【不涉宗派】【内容虚构】
  • 末日风暴黑暗时代

    末日风暴黑暗时代

    诡异流星坠落北冰洋,人类与动物尽皆暴走。黑暗时代降临,人类!将何去何从?英雄们,握紧手中的刀,寻找光明!(本书讲求佛系,部分细节没有明确,望见谅。)
  • 忠义集

    忠义集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 纨绔富二代

    纨绔富二代

    大学生周星星使出浑身解数发誓要把美女校花泡到手。但是表面上很美看似优雅、家境富裕的校花却有不为人知的一面,真是要人命呀!长时间的相处,周星星明白一个道理!校花不是那么好泡的!泡校花就像吃泡泡糖,一旦粘上,甩都不好甩!给我当保姆?校花大小姐你开什么玩笑,我家境贫寒请不起你!况且你什么都不会做,还给我当保姆?恩?什么?你要跟我走?我四处打工,漂泊不定,流离失所,还得带上你这么个累赘?关键你在我怎么泡妞啊?平凡家庭出生的周星星从小就有出人头地的梦!那大学毕业的他,又能否白手起家打拼出一世荣华?
  • 重生的逍遥特工弃妃

    重生的逍遥特工弃妃

    她是丞相府的千金小姐。他是答禄王朝俊美的四王爷。一眼注定了她的归宿,她成了他妻。全身心的付出,却换来家破人亡而她从妻变妾。她是国家的王牌特工,一朝穿越,成了他丢弃的她。重生的她,历经生死,逃离了他的身边,再遇时,只一眼,他心中有了她…本文女主很强,喜欢的亲可以收藏和投票推荐一下哦。萦语感激不尽。领养区:慕容懿轩,由亲亲vinu2005领养,亲亲vinu2005是第一个领养萦语儿子的人,我真的是太高兴了,亲亲,我的儿子以后就交给你了啊。\(^o^)/~白慕影,由亲亲xielilixie领养,亲亲可是第一个主动领养萦语儿子的人,激动中。推荐好友文文:《重回射雕之玉箫恋恋》紫梦铃风