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Essay XIII: Of Goodness And Goodness Of Nature
Essay XIII: Of Goodness And Goodness Of Nature
I take goodness in this sense, the affecting of the weal of men, which is
that the Grecians call philanthropia; and the word humanity (as it is used) is
a little too light to express it. Goodness I call the habit, and goodness of
nature the inclination. This of all virtues and dignities of the mind is the
greatest; being the character of the Deity: and without it man is a busy,
mischievous, wretched thing; no better than a kind of vermin. Goodness
answers to the theological virtue charity, and admits no excess, but error.
The desire of power in excess caused the angels to fall; the desire of
knowledge in excess caused man to fall: but in charity there is no excess;
neither can angel nor man come in danger by it. The inclination to goodness
is imprinted deeply in the nature of man; insomuch that if it issue not
towards men, it will take unto other living creatures; as it is seen in the
Turks, a cruel people, who nevertheless are kind to beasts, and give alms to
dogs and birds; insomuch as Busbechius reporteth, a Christian boy in
Constantinople had like to have been stoned for gagging in a waggishness a
long-billed fowl. Errors indeed in this virtue of goodness or charity may be
committed. The Italians have an ungracious proverb, Tanto buon che val niente
[So good, that he is good for nothing]. And one of the doctors of Italy,
Nicholas Machiavel, had the confidence to put in writing, almost in plain
terms, That the Christian faith had given up good men in prey to those that
are tyrannical and unjust. Which he spake, because indeed there was never law
or sect or opinion did so much magnify goodness as the Christian religion
doth. Therefore, to avoid the scandal and the danger both, it is good to take
knowledge of the errors of an habit so excellent. Seek the good of other men,
but be not in bondage to their faces or fancies; for that is but facility or
softness; which taketh an honest mind prisoner. Neither give thou Aesop`s
cock a gem, who would be better pleased and happier if he had had a
barley-corn. The example of God teacheth the lesson truly: He sendeth his
rain and maketh his sun to shine upon the just and unjust; but he doth not
rain wealth nor shine honor and virtues, upon men equally. Common benefits
are to be communicate with all; but peculiar benefits with choice. And beware
how in making the portraiture thou breakest the pattern. For divinity maketh
the love of ourselves the pattern; the love of our neighbors but the
portraiture. Sell all thou hast, and give it to the poor, and follow me: but
sell not all thou hast, except thou come and follow me; that is, except thou
have a vocation wherein thou mayest do as much good with little means as with
great; for otherwise in feeding the streams thou driest the fountain. Neither
is there only a habit of goodness, directed by right reason; but there is in
some men, even in nature, a disposition towards it; as on the other side
there is a natural malignity. For there be that in their nature do not affect
the good of others. The lighter sort of malignity turneth but to a crossness,
or frowardness, or aptness to oppose, or difficilness, ^1 or the like; but the
deeper sort to envy and mere mischief. Such men in other men`s calamities
are, as it were, in season, and are ever on the loading part: not so good as
the dogs that licked Lazarus` sores; but like flies that are still buzzing
upon any thing that is raw; misanthropi [haters of men], that make it their
practice to bring men to the bough, ^2 and yet never a tree for the purpose in
their gardens, as Timon had. Such disposition are the very errors of human
nature; and yet they are the fittest timber to make great politics of; like
to knee timber, that is good for ships, that are ordained to be tossed; but
not for building houses, that shall stand firm. The parts and signs of
goodness are many. If a man be gracious and courteous to strangers, it shows
he is a citizen of the world, and that his heart is no island cut off from
other lands, but a continent that joins to them. If he be compassionate
towards the afflictions of others, it shows that his heart is like the noble
tree that is wounded itself when it gives the balm. If he easily pardons and
remits offences, it shows that his mind is planted above injuries; so that he
cannot be shot. If he be thankful for small benefits, it shows that he weighs
men`s minds, and not their trash. But above all, if he have St. Paul`s
perfection, that he would wish to be anathema ^3 from Christ for the salvation
of his brethren, it shows much of a divine nature, and a kind of conformity
with Christ himself.
[Footnote 1: Moroseness.]
[Footnote 2: To hang themselves.]
[Footnote 3: Accused.]
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