unto this last-第7章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
pretence； or advertisement；〃 we shall more clearly perceive the
bearing of the words on modern business。 The seeking of death is
a grand expression of the true course of men's toil in such
business。 We usually speak as if death pursued us； and we fled
from him； but that is only so in rare instances。 Ordinarily he
masks himself makes himself beautiful all…glorious； not
like the King's daughter； all…glorious within； but outwardly： his
clothing of wrought gold。 We pursue him frantically all our days；
he flying or hiding from us。 Our crowning success at three…score
and ten is utterly and perfectly to seize； and hold him in his
eternal integrity robes； ashes； and sting。
Again： the merchant says； 〃He that oppresseth the poor to
increase his riches； shall surely come to want。〃 And again； more
strongly： 〃Rob not the poor because he is poor； neither oppress
the afflicted in the place of business。 For God shall spoil the
soul of those that spoiled them。〃
This 〃robbing the poor because he is poor；〃 is especially the
mercantile form of theft； consisting in talking advantage of a
man's necessities in order to obtain his labour or property at a
reduced price。 The ordinary highwayman's opposite form of robbery
of the rich； because he is rich does not appear to occur so
often to the old merchant's mind； probably because； being less
profitable and more dangerous than the robbery of the poor； it is
rarely practised by persons of discretion。
But the two most remarkable passages in their deep general
significance are the following：
〃The rich and the poor have met。 God is their maker。〃
〃The rich and the poor have met。 God is their light。〃
They 〃have met：〃 more literally； have stood in each other's
way （obviaverunt）。 That is to say； as long as the world lasts；
the action and counteraction of wealth and poverty； the meeting；
face to face； of rich and poor； is just as appointed and
necessary a law of that world as the flow of stream to sea； or
the interchange of power among the electric clouds： 〃God is
their maker。〃 But； also； this action may be either gentle and
just； or convulsive and destructive： it may be by rage of
devouring flood； or by lapse of serviceable wave； in blackness
of thunderstroke； or continual force of vital fire； soft； and
shapeable into love…syllables from far away。 And which of these
it shall be depends on both rich and poor knowing that God is
their light； that in the mystery of human life； there is no other
light than this by which they can see each other's faces； and
live； light； which is called in another of the books among
which the merchant's maxims have been preserved； the 〃sun of
justice；〃（4*） of which it is promised that it shall rise at last
with 〃healing〃 （health…giving or helping； making whole or setting
at one） in its wings。 For truly this healing is only possible by
means of justice； no love； no faith； no hope will do it； men will
be unwisely fond…vainly faithful； unless primarily they are just；
and the mistake of the best men through generation after
generation； has been that great one of thinking to help the poor
by almsgiving； and by preaching of patience or of hope； and by
every other means； emollient or consolatory； except the one thing
which God orders for them； justice。 But this justice； with its
accompanying holiness or helpfulness； being even by the best men
denied in its trial time； is by the mass of men hated wherever it
appears： so that； when the choice was one day fairly put to them；
they denied the Helpful One and the Just；（5*） and desired a
murderer； sedition…raiser； and robber； to be gran ted to them；
the murderer instead of the Lord of Life； the sedition…raiser
instead of the Prince of Peace； and the robber instead of the
Just Judge of all the world。
I have just spoken of the flowing of streams to the sea as a
partial image of the action of wealth。 In one respect it is not a
partial； but a perfect image。 The popular economist thinks
himself wise in having discovered that wealth； or the forms of
property in general； must go where they are required； that where
demand is； supply must follow。 He farther declares that this
course of demand and supply cannot be forbidden by human laws。
Precisely in the same sense； and with the same certainty； the
waters of the world go where they are required。 Where the land
falls； the water flows。 The course neither of clouds nor rivers
can be forbidden by human will。 But the disposition and
administration of them can be altered by human forethought。
Whether the stream shall be a curse or a blessing； depends upon
man's labour； and administrating intelligence。 For centuries
after centuries； great districts of the world； rich in soil； and
favoured in climate； have lain desert under the rage of their own
rivers； nor only desert； but plague…struck。 The stream which；
rightly directed； would have flowed in soft irrigation from field
to field would have purified the air； given food to man and
beast； and carried their burdens for them on its bosom now
overwhelms the plain； and poisons the wind； its breath
pestilence； and its work famine。 In like manner this wealth 〃goes
where it is required。〃 No human laws can withstand its flow。 They
can only guide it： but this； the lending trench and limiting
mound can do so thoroughly； that it shall become water of life
the riches of the hand of wisdom；（6*） or； on the contrary； by
leaving it to its own lawless flow； they may make it； what it has
been too often； the last and deadliest of national plagues： water
of Marah the water which feeds the roots of all evil。
The necessity of these laws of distribution or restraint is
curiously over…looked in the ordinary political economist's
definition of his own 〃science。〃 He calls it； shortly； the
〃science of getting rich。〃 But there are many sciences； as well
as many arts； of getting rich。 Poisoning people of large estates；
was one employed largely in the middle ages； adulteration of food
of people of small estates； is one employed largely now。 The
ancient and honourable Highland method of blackmail； the more
modern and less honourable system of obtaining goods on credit；
and the other variously improved methods of appropriation
which； in major and minor scales of industry； down to the most
artistic pocket…picking； we owe to recent genius； all come
under the general head of sciences； or arts； of getting rich。
So that it is clear the popular economist； in calling his
science the science par excellence of getting rich； must attach
some peculiar ideas of limitation to its character。 I hope I do
not misrepresent him； by assuming that he means his science to be
the science of 〃getting rich by legal or just means。〃 In this
definition； is the word 〃just；〃 or 〃legal；〃 finally to stand？ For
it is possible among certain nations； or under certain rulers； or
by help of certain advocates； that proceedings may be legal which
are by no means just。 If； therefore； we leave at last only the
word 〃just〃 in that place of our definition； the insertion of
this solitary and small word will make a notable difference in
the grammar of our science。 For then it will follow that； in
order to grow rich scientifically； we must grow rich justly； and；
therefore； know what is just； so that our economy will no longer
depend merely on prudence； but on jurisprudence and that of
divine； not human law。 Which prudence is indeed of no mean order；
holding itself； as it were； high in the air of heaven； and gazing
for ever on the light of the sun of justice； hence the souls
which have excelled in it are represented by Dante as stars；
forming in heaven for ever the figure of the eye of an eagle：
they having been in life the discerners of light from darkness；
or to the whole human race； as the light of the body； which is
the eye； while those souls which form the wings of the bird
（giving power and dominion to justice； 〃healing in its wings〃）
trace also in light the inscription in heaven： 〃DILIGITE
JUSTITIAM QUI JUDICATIS TERRAM。〃 〃Ye who judge the earth； give〃
（not； observe； merely love； but） 〃diligent love to justice：〃 the
love which seeks diligently； that is to say； choosingly； and by
preference； to all things else。 Which judging or doing judgment
in the earth is； according to their capacity and position；
required not of judges only； nor of rulers only； but of all
men：（7*） a truth sorrowfully lost sight of even by those who are
ready enough to apply to themselves passages in which Christian
men are spoken of as called to be 〃saints〃 （i。e。 to helpful or
healing functions）； and 〃chosen to be kings〃 （i。e。 to knowing or
directing functions）； the true meaning of these titles having
been long lost through the pretences of unhelpful and unable
persons to saintly and kingly character； also through the once
popular idea that both the sanctity and royalty are to consist in
wearing long robes and high crowns； instead of in mercy and
judgment； whereas all true sanctity is saving power； as all true
royalty is ruling power； and injustice is part and parcel of the
denial of such power； which 〃makes men as the creeping things； as
the fishes of the sea； that have no ruler over them。〃（8*）
Absolute justice is indeed no more attainable than absolute
truth； but the righteous man is distinguished from the
unrighteous by his desire and hope of justice； as the true man
from the false by his desire and hope of truth。 And though
absolute justice be unattainable； as much justice as we need for
all practical use is attainable by all those who make it their
aim。
We have to examine； then； in the subject before us； what are
the laws of justice respecting payment of labour no small
part； these； of the foundations of all jurisprudence。
I reduced； in my last paper； the idea of money payment to its
simplest or radical terms。 In those terms its nature； and the
conditions of justice respecting it； can be best ascertained。
Money payment； as there stated； consists radically in a
promise to some person working for us； that for the time and
labour he spends in our service to…day we will give or procure
equivalent time and labour in his service at any future time when
he may demand it。（9*）
