those to whom we render services, partly those who render
24 ox CHRISTIAN DOCTIIIXE. [BOOK I.
Chap, xxviir.— IToxo we are to decide ichom to aid.
29. Further, all men are to be loved equally. But since you cannot do good to all, you are to pay special regard to those who, by the accidents of time, or place, or circumstance, are brought into closer connection with you. For, suppose that you had a great deal of some commodity, and felt bound to give it away to somebody who had none, and that it could not be given to more than one person ; if two persons presented themselves, neither of whom had either from need or relationship a greater claim upon you than the other, you could do nothing fairer than choose by lot to which you would give what could not be given to both. Just so among men : since you cannot consult for the good of them all, you must take the matter as decided for you by a sort of lot, according as each man happens for the time being to be more closely connected with you.
Chap. xxix.— We are to desire and endeavour that alVmen may love Ood.
30. Now of aU who can with us enjoy God, we love partly those to whom we render services, partly those who render services to us, partly those who both help us in our need and in turn are helped by us, partly those upon whom we confer no advantage and from whom we look for none. "VVe ought to desire, however, that they should all join with us in loving
God, and all the assistance that we either give them or accept from them should tend to that one end. For in the theatres, dens of iniquity though they be, if a man is fund of a particular actor, and enjoys his art as a great or even as the very greatest good, he is fund of all who join with him in admiration of his favourite, not for their own sakes, but for the sake of him whom they admire in common ; and the more fervent he is in his admiration, the more he works in every way he can to secure new admirers fur him, and the more anxious he l)ecomes to show him to others ; and if he find any one comparatively indifferent, he does all he can to excite liis interest by urging his favourite's merits : if, however, he meet with any one wlio opposes him, he is exceedingly displeased by such a man's contempt of his favourite, and strives in every way he can