Milton

¶1p. 487 VIRTUTES SPECIALES sive SPECIES CHARITATIS ET JUSTITIÆ ERGA PROXIMUM sunt vel sub generali notione proximi, qua is proximus duntaxat est, vel sub speciali, qua is ratione aliqua speciali nobis relatus est.

¶2Officia specialia erga proximum non factis solum, verum etiam affectibus metienda sunt. Exod. xx. 17. non concupisces domum proximi tui—.

¶3Officia specialia erga proximum, qua is proximus duntaxat est, respiciunt ejus bonum vel internum vel externum.

¶4Respicitur bonum ejus internum, cum ejus vel VITÆ vel HONESTATIS ratio habetur: externum, cum EXISTIMATIONIS aut FORTUNARUM. Et vitæ quidem atque salutis non præsentis tantum, verum etiam æternæ. Prov. x. 11. scaturigo vitæ perfundit os justi. Rom. xiv. 15. ne esca tua illum perdito, pro quo Christus mortuus est. Jacob. v. 20. sciat eum qui averterit peccatorem ab errore viæ suæ, servaturum animam a morte, et operturum multitudinem peccatorum. Studium conservandæ vitæ proximi præcipitur Prov. xxiv. 11, 12. eripe raptos ad mortem; nam a declinantibus ad necem an cohiberes te? si dicas, en, ignoravimus hoc, nonne expendens animos ipse intelligit, et qui custodit animam tuam ipse cognoscet, ut reddet unicuique secundum opus suum?

¶5p. 488 In hoc genere virtutum est innocentia, mansuetudo, et placabilitas.

¶6INNOCENTIA est qua nemini volentes nocemus. Psal. xxiv. 4. innocens manibus. et xxvi. 6. lavo in innocentia manus meas—. Rom. xii. 18. si fieri potest, quantum in vobis est, cum omnibus hominibus in pace viventes. Heb. xii. 14. pacem sectamini cum omnibus.

¶7MANSUETUDO ab omni offensione vel inferenda vel accipienda tantum abest, ut omnes, quoad fieri potest, placide atque amanter tractet. Num. xii. 3. vir ille Moses mansuetus erat valde, præ omnibus hominibus qui erant in superficie terræ. Psal. xxv. 9. docet mansuetos viam suam. et cxlvii. 6. statuminat mansuetos Jehova. Isa. lxi. 1. misit me ad evangelizandum mansuetis. Matt. v. 5. beati sunt mansueti—. et xi. 29. discite a me, quia mitis sum et humilis corde; et invenietis requiem animabus vestris. et xxi. 5. ecce, rex tuus venit tibi mitis—. Tit. iii. 2. omnem exhibentes mansuetudinem erga omnes homines.

¶8PLACABILITAS est qua læsi facile ignoscimus. Matt. vi. 12, 14. remitte nobis debita nostra, sicut et nos remittimus debitoribus nostris: nam si remiseritis hominibus ipsorum offensas, remittet etiam vobis Pater vester cœlestis. et xviii. 21, 22. quoties peccabit in me frater meus, et remittam ei? &c. usque septuagies septies. Luc. xvii. 3, 4. si peccaverit in te frater tuus, objurga eum; et si resipuerit, remitte ei; et si septies in die peccaverit in te—. Rom. xii, 18, 19. et si possibile sit, quod ad vos spectat, cum omni filio hominis pacem colite.

¶9Studio conservandi vitam proximi opponitur primum cædes. Gen. iv. 10. quid fecisti? ecce vox sanguinum fratris tui me ab ipso humo inclamantium. et ix. 5, 6. qui effundit sanguinem hominis, per hominem sanguis illius effunditor; quoniam ad imaginem suam hominem fecit Deus. Exod. xx. 13. ne occidito. et xxi. 12. qui percutit quemquam ita ut moriatur—. et v. 14. quum quis arrogaverit contra proximum suum—. et v. 28, &c. quum cornu ferierit bos virum—. Deut. xxvii. 25. maledictus qui accipit munus ad percutiendum animam, sanguinem innocentem. Num. p. 489 xxxv. 31. ne accipitote redemptionis prœmium— et v. 34. ut non contaminetis terram—. Deut. xxi. 1, &c. si quis inveniatur confossus in terra—. 1 Reg. ii, 5, 6. nosti quid fecerit mihi Joab—. et v. 33, 34. sic reversis cædibus—. Prov. vi. 16, 17. sex ista odit Jehova—: manus effundentes sanguinem innocentem. et xxviii. 17. homo oppressus propter sanguinem hominis ad foveam, usque fugiat; ne sustentato eum.

¶10Huc etiam pertinet quicquid vitæ proximi afferre periculum potest; ut pulsatio, vulnera, mutilatio, &c. Exod. xxi. 18, &c. quum altercantibus hominibus percusserit unus alterum—. Lev. xxiv. 19, 20. si quis intulerit corporis vitium—. Deut. xxvii. 24. maledictus qui cædit proximum suum clam—.

¶11Etiam ira temeraria. Prov. xiv. 29. tardus ad iram abundat intelligentia, præceps autem excitat stultitiam. et xvi. 32. melior est longanimis robusto, et qui dominatur in animum suum, eo qui capit civitatem. et xix. 11. intellectus hominis longanimem efficit eum, et ornamento est ei prætereire defectionem. et xv. 18. vir iracundus miscet contentionem. Matt. v. 22. quicunque irascitur fratri suo temere, damnas erit judicii. 1 Joan. iii. 15. quisquis odit fratrem suum, homicida est.

¶12Et ultio. Lev. xix. 18. ne ulciscitor, neque iram asservato in populares tuos. Deut. xxxii. 35. mea est ultio et retributio. Psal. xciv. 1. o fortis Deus ultionum—. Prov. xx. 22. ne dicas, rependam malum— et xxiv. 29. ne dicito, quemadmodum fecit mihi, ita faciam ei—. Rom. xii. 19. neque sitis ulciscentes vos ipsos, dilecti mei, neque locum date iræ—. 1 Pet. iii. 9. non reddentes malum pro malo. Ulcisci tamen hostes ecclesiæ, aut ultos velle, non est illicitum. Exod. xvii. 16. quia manus Amalechi fuit contra solium Jah—. Deut. xxv. 17. recordare eorum quæ fecit tibi Amalech—. Psal. xviii. a v. 38. ad v. 43. persequor inimicos meos—: itaque contundo eos tanquam pulverem—. et xli. 10, 11. et exsuscita me, ut rependam illis. et liv. 7. redde istud malum observatoribus meis—. et xcii. 12. intuente oculo meo in observatoribus meis—. et cxiv. 2. redde retributionem superbis. et cxxxvii. 8. o filia Babylonis, &c. Jer. xi. 20. videam ultionem tuam p. 490 de iis—. et xx. 12. idem. et xv. 15. ultionem sume pro me de persequentibus me—. et l. 15. ultionem sumito de ea—. Lament. i. 21, 22. veniat tota malitia eorum in conspectum tuum—. et iii. 59, &c. redde iis retributionem—. Esth. ix. 13. dixit Esther, concedatur etiam eras—, et decem filios Hamanis suspendant e patibulo. Apoc. vi. 10. quousque, Domine—?

¶13HONESTATIS ratio erga proximum habetur, cum ejus pudicitiæ consulitur. Lev. xix. 29. ne profanato filiam tuam, prostituendo eam—. Deut. xxiii. 17. ne esto meretrix e filiabus Israelis, neque esto meretorius e filiis Israelis.

¶14Contrarium fit masculorum concubitu, fornicatione, stupro, adulterio, incestu, raptu, lenocinio, et similibus flagitiis. Gen. xix. 5. fac prodeant illi ad nos, ut cognoscamus eos. Judic. xix. 22. idem. Deut. xxiii. 17. ne esto meretrix e filiabus Israelis, neque esto meretorius e filiis Israelis. 1 Reg. xv. 12. abstulit meretorios e terra. et xxii. 47. reliquos meretorios—. Gen. xxxiv. 1, &c. rapuit eam, et concumbens cum ea compressit eam—. Exod. xx. 14. non mœchaberis. Lev. xviii. 20. cum uxore proximi tui ne committito ut concumbas ad semen, polluendo te cum ea. Job. xxxi. 9, 10, &c. si pellectus fuit animus meus ad mulierem—. Jer. v. 7, 8. adulterantur, et in domum meretricis turmatim conveniunt—. Ezech. xviii. 6. uxoremque proximi sui non polluerit—. et xxii. 11. alius cum uxore proximi sui facit abominationem—. Hos. vii. 4. quotquot sunt, adulterantur—. Amos. ii. 4. vir ac pater ipsius accedunt ad eandem puellam—. Heb. xiii. 4. scortatores et adulteros damnabit Deus.

¶15Hinc leges illæ de stupro, Exod. xxii. 16, 17, &c. siquis pellexerit virginem—. De incestu cautum Lev. xviii. 6. et xx. 11, &c. qui cubaverit cum uxore patris sui—. Deut. xxii. 21, 23, 28. educent puellam ad portam patris sui, et obruent—, eo quod commisit flagitium in Israele, scortando domi patris sui—: si quis deprehendatur cubans cum muliere maritata—: si inveniat quis puellam virginem—. et xxiii. 2. spurius ne venito in congregationem Jehovæ—. et xxvii. 20, &c. maledictus qui cubat cum uxore patris sui—. Hinc zelotypiæ lege lata consulitur, Num. v. 12, &c. Prov. vi. 34. p. 491 nam zelotypia inest æstus viri—. Cantic. viii. 6. durus ut sepulchrum zelus—. Adulterium etiam divina sententia capitale fuit ante legem Mosaicam latam. Gen. xx. 3. moriturus es propter hanc mulierem—. et xxxviii. 24. educite eam, ut comburatur—. Ante legem autem Mosaicam concessa quædam conjugia videntur fuisse quæ postea sunt prohibita. Gen. xx. 12. revera soror mea est, filia patris mei. cum Deut. xxvii. 22. maledictus qui cubat cum sorore sua, filia patris sui—. et Ezech. xxii. 11. alius sororem suam filiam patris sui comprimit in te. Exod. vi. 20. accepit Hamram amitam suam in uxorem. cum Lev. xviii. 12. nuditatem amitæ tuæ ne retegito.

¶16De menstrua uxore, Lev. xx. 18. qui cubaverit cum muliere languente e fluxu—. Ezech. xviii. 6. ad uxorem ex immunditia separatam non appropinquaverit. et xxii. 10. impuram ex separatione comprimunt in te.

¶1p. 650 THE SPECIAL VIRTUES, or various modes of charity or justice as regards our neighbour, relate to him either under the general acceptation of the word neighbour, as denoting simple proximity; or under some special acceptation, where our relationship arises from special circumstances.

¶2The discharge of our special duties towards our neighbour includes the regulation not only of our actions, but of our affections, as concerns him. Exod. xx. 17. thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house—.

¶3Special duties towards our neighbour, using the word in its general sense, regard either his internal or external good.

¶4His internal good is consulted by a regard to his safety and honour; his external, by a concern for his good name and worldly interests. Our regard to his safety should extend not merely to the present life, but to the eternal state. Prov. x. 11. the mouth of a righteous man is a well of life. Rom. xiv. 15. destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. James v. 20. let him know that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way, shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. The duty of preserving our neighbour's life is inculcated, Prov. xxiv. 11, 12. if thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; if thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?

¶5p. 651 Under this class of virtues are comprehended innocence, meekness, and placability.

¶6INNOCENCE consists in doing a voluntary injury to no one. Psal. xxiv. 4. he that hath clean hands. xxvi. 6. I will wash mine hands in innocency. Rom. xii. 18. if it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Heb. xii. 14. follow peace with all men.

¶7MEEKNESS is that by which we are so far from offering or taking offence, that we conduct ourselves mildly and affectionately towards all men, as far as is practicable. Numb. xii. 3. now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth. Psal. xxv. 9. the meek will he teach his way. cxlvii. 6. Jehovah lifteth up the meek. Isai. lxi. 1. Jehovah hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek. Matt. v. 5. blessed are the meek. xi. 29. learn of me, for I am meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. xxi. 5. behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek—. Tit. iii. 2. showing all meekness unto all men.

¶8PLACABILITY consists in a readiness to forgive those by whom we have been injured. Matt. vi. 12, 14. forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors ......for if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. xviii. 21, 22. how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? ....... until seventy times seven. Luke xvii. 3, 4. if thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him; and if he trespass against thee seven times a day—. Rom. xii. 18. if it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

¶9Opposed to a regard for the life of our neighbour, is, first, the shedding his blood. Gen. iv. 10. what hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. ix. 5, 6. whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God made he man. Exod. xx. 13. thou shalt not kill. xxi. 12. he that smiteth p. 652 a man so that he die, shall surely be put to death. v. 14. if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile, &c. v. 28. if an ox gore a man, &c. Deut. xxvii. 25. cursed is he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person. Numb. xxxv. 31. ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer. v. 34. defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit—. Deut. xxi. 1. if one be found slain in the land, &c. 1 Kings ii. 5, 6. thou knowest also what Joab did to me, &c. v. 33, 34. their blood shall therefore return upon the head of Joab. Prov. vi. 16, 17. these six things doth Jehovah hate......hands that shed innocent blood. xxviii. 17. a man that doeth violence to the blood of any person, shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him.

¶10Under this head is also included, first, every thing by which the life of our neighbour is endangered; as blows, wounds, mutilations, &c. Exod. xxi. 18, &c. if men strive together, and one strike another, &c. Lev. xxiv. 19, 20. if a man cause a blemish in his neighbour, &c. Deut. xxvii. 24. cursed be he that smiteth his neighbour secretly.

¶11Secondly, hasty anger. Prov. xiv. 29. he that is slow to wrath is of great understanding; but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly. xvi. 32. he that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city. xix. 11. the discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression. xv. 18. a wrathful man stirreth up strife. Matt. v. 22. whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause, shall be in danger of the judgement. 1 John iii. 15. whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer.

¶12Thirdly, revenge. Lev. xix. 18. thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people. Deut. xxxii. 35. to me belongeth vengeance and recompense. Psal. xciv. 1. O Jehovah, God to whom vengeance belongeth. Prov. xx. 22. say not thou, I will recompense evil. xxiv. 29. say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me. Rom. xii. 19. dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath. 1 Pet. iii. 8, 9. not rendering evil for evil. To avenge the p. 653 church, however, or to desire that she be avenged of her enemies, is not forbidden. Exod. xvii. 16. because Jehovah hath sworn that Jehovah will have war with Amalek from generation to generation. Deut. xxv. 17. remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way. Psal. xviii. 37—43. I have pursued mine enemies ......then did I beat them small as the dust. xli. 10, 11. raise me up that I may requite them. liv. 5. he shall reward evil unto mine enemies. xcii. 11. mine eyes also shall see my desire upon mine enemies. xciv. 2. render a reward to the proud. cxxxvii. 8. O daughter of Babylon, &c. Jer. xi. 20. let me see thy vengeance on them. See also xx. 12. xv. 15. revenge me of my persecutors. l. 15. take vengeance upon her. Lament. i. 21, 22. let all their wickedness come before thee. iii. 64, &c. render unto them a recompense. Esther ix. 13. then said Esther, If it please the king, let it be granted unto the Jews......to do to-morrow also according unto this day's decree, and let Haman's ten sons be hanged on the gallows. Rev. vi. 10. how long, O Lord—?

¶13The HONOUR of our neighbour is consulted by a respect to his personal modesty. Levit. xix. 29. do not prostitute thy daughter to cause her to be a whore. Deut. xxiii. 17. there shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel.

¶14–15Opposed to this are unnatural vices, fornication, violation, adultery, incest, rape, whoredom, and similar offences. Gen. xix. 5. bring them out unto us, that we may know them. See also Judges xix. 22. Deut. xxiii. 17, as above. 1 Kings xv. 12. he took away the sodomites out of the land. xxii. 46. the remnant of the sodomites, &c. Gen. xxxiv. 2. he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her. Exod. xx. 14. thou shalt not commit adultery. Levit. xviii. 20. thou shalt not lie carnally with thy neighbour's wife, to defile thyself with her. Job xxxi. 9, 10, &c. if mine heart hath been deceived by a woman, &c. Jer. v. 7, 8. they committed adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots' houses. Ezek. xviii. 6. neither hath defiled his neighbour's wife. xxii. 11. one hath committed abomination with his neighbour's wife. p. 654 Hosea vii. 4. they are all adulterers. Amos ii. 7. a man and his father will go in unto the same maid—. Heb. xiii. 4. whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. Hence the laws against fornication, Exod. xxii. 16, 17, &c. if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, &c. against incest, Levit. xviii. 6. xx. 11, &c. the man that lieth with his father's wife, &c. Deut. xxii. 21, 23, 28. then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her ......because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the whore in her father's house: if a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband......if a man find a damsel that is a virgin—. xxiii. 2. a bastard shall not enter into the congregation of Jehovah. xxvii. 20, &c. cursed be he that lieth with his father's wife. Hence also provision was expressly made for cases of jealousy, Numb. v. 12, &c. Prov. vi. 34. jealousy is the rage of a man. Cantic. viii. 6. jealousy is cruel as the grave. Even before the promulgation of the law, adultery was made capital by divine command: Gen. xx. 3. thou art but a dead man, for the woman whom thou hast taken. xxxviii. 24. bring her forth, and let her be burnt. Some marriages, however, were prohibited by the Mosaic code, which appear to have been previously lawful. Gen. xx. 12. yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father; compared with Deut. xxvii. 22. cursed be he that lieth with his sister, the daughter of his father; and Ezek. xxii. 11. another in thee hath humbled his sister, his father's daughter. Exod. vi. 20. Amram took him Jochebed his father's sister to wife. Levit. xviii. 12. thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's sister.

¶16Respecting a menstruous woman, see Levit. xx. 18. if a man shall lie with a woman having her sickness, &c. Ezek. xviii. 6. neither hath come near to a menstruous woman. xxii. 10. in thee have they humbled her that was set apart for pollution.