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[231]
Let not those that reap, and gather in the corn that is reaped,
gather in the gleanings also; but let them rather leave some handfuls for
those that are in want of the necessaries of life, that it may be a support
and a supply to them, in order to their subsistence. In like manner when
they gather their grapes, let them leave some smaller bunches for the poor,
and let them pass over some of the fruits of the olive-trees, when they
gather them, and leave them to be partaken of by those that have none of
their own; for the advantage arising from the exact collection of all,
will not be so considerable to the owners as will arise from the gratitude
of the poor. And God will provide that the land shall more willingly produce
what shall be for the nourishment of its fruits, in case you do not merely
take care of your own advantage, but have regard to the support of others
also. Nor are you to muzzle the mouths of the oxen when they tread the
ears of corn in the thrashing-floor; for it is not just to restrain our
fellow-laboring animals, and those that work in order to its production,
of this fruit of their labors. Nor are you to prohibit those that pass
by at the time when your fruits are ripe to touch them, but to give them
leave to fill themselves full of what you have; and this whether they be
of your own country or strangers, - as being glad of the opportunity of
giving them some part of your fruits when they are ripe; but let it not
be esteemed lawful for them to carry any away. Nor let those that gather
the grapes, and carry them to the wine-presses, restrain those whom they
meet from eating of them; for it is unjust, out of envy, to hinder those
that desire it, to partake of the good things that come into the world
according to God's will, and this while the season is at the height, and
is hastening away as it pleases God. Nay, if some, out of bashfulness,
are unwilling to touch these fruits, let them be encouraged to take of
them (I mean, those that are Israelites) as if they were themselves the
owners and lords, on account of the kindred there is between them. Nay,
let them desire men that come from other countries, to partake of these
tokens of friendship which God has given in their proper season; for that
is not to be deemed as idly spent, which any one out of kindness communicates
to another, since God bestows plenty of good things on men, not only for
themselves to reap the advantage, but also to give to others in a way of
generosity; and he is desirous, by this means, to make known to others
his peculiar kindness to the people of Israel, and how freely he communicates
happiness to them, while they abundantly communicate out of their great
superfluities to even these foreigners also. But for him that acts contrary
to this law, let him be beaten with forty stripes save one 1
by the public executioner; let him undergo this punishment, which is a
most ignominious one for a free-man, and this because he was such a slave
to gain as to lay a blot upon his dignity; for it is proper for you who
have had the experience of the afflictions in Egypt, and of those in the
wilderness, to make provision for those that are in the like circumstances;
and while you have now obtained plenty yourselves, through the mercy and
providence of God, to distribute of the same plenty, by the like sympathy,
to such as stand in need of it.
1 This penalty of "forty stripes save one," here mentioned, and sect. 23, was five times inflicted on St. Paul himself by the Jews, 2 Corinthians 11:24
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