The law of love.

There is, perhaps, no principle of conduct that Jesus emphasized more in His teachings than the law of brotherly love. As we have already learned, the first great commandment requires that we love God; and the second requires that we love our neighbor as ourselves. It is not enough, then, that we withhold judgment and condemnation; nor that we do unto others—even unto our enemies—as we would have others do unto us. We must forget self; bury self, as it were; and cultivate for others a real affection—such an affection as God has for us, for God is love. The reward of such a God-like love of our fellowmen is beautifully expressed in a poem—oft but never too often quoted—written by the English poet Leigh Hunt.

The reward of brotherly love.

      "Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase)
      Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace,
      And saw, within the moonlight in his room,
      Making it rich, and like a lily in bloom,
      An angel writing in a book of gold:—
      Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold,
      And to the presence in the room he said,
      'What writest thou?'—the vision rais'd its head,
      And with a look made of all sweet accord,
      Answered, The names of those who love the
      Lord.'
      'And is mine one?' said Abou. 'Nay, not so,'
      Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low,
      But cheery still; and said, 'I pray thee then.
      Write me as one that loves his fellow-men.'

      The angel wrote and vanish'd. The next night
      It came again with a great wakening light,
      And show'd the names whom love of God had
      bless'd
      And lo! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest."

{222} Questions of the tempting lawyer.

There came a lawyer to Jesus one day and asked Him what to do to inherit eternal life. Jesus, knowing that the lawyer came only to make trial of Him, answered, "What is written in the law? how readest thou?" The lawyer—who knew well the law—was forced then to reply, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind: and thy neighbour as thyself."

"Thou hast answered right," said Jesus: "this do and thou shalt live."

But the lawyer was not satisfied; and desiring further to justify himself, he asked, "And who is my neighbour?"

The parable of the good Samaritan.

"And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of all his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

{223} "Which now of these three thinkest thou," asked Jesus, "was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?"

The lawyer answered, "He that shewed mercy on him."

"Then said Jesus unto him. Go, and do thou likewise."

A discussion.

The priest, who was the specially appointed servant of God among his people, and the Levite, who was closel............