CHAP. XXIX.
WIlt thou not then (saith hee) giue counsell to an vngratefull man, who would take thine aduice in his affaires: nor permit him to draw water out of thy fountaines: nor shew him the way if he be out of it? or wouldest thou doe these things for an vngratefull man, yet refuse him afterwards all other sorts of good? I will distinguish in this point, or at least-wise I will end••uour to distinguish the same. A benefit is a pro∣fitable worke,* 1.1 but euery profitable worke is not a benefit. For some things are of so small moment, that they deserue not the name of a benefit. Two things must concurre in making of a benefit. First, the greatnesse of the thing, for some things there are, that vndergoe the measure of this name: who euer accounted it a benefit, to haue giuen a shiue of bread, or a peece of bare money, or to haue permitted a neighbour to enter and kindle fire in his house•• And yet sometimes these things do a man more pleasure then farre greater: but the b••senes of them diminisheth their reputation, euen then, when the necessiti•• of the time ma∣keth them needfull. Againe, we ought to consider that which is principall and of greatest force: which is first of all, that I do it for loue of that person, to whom I would giue my benefit, and whom I account worthy to rec••iue the same. Fi∣nally, that I doe it with a good will•• and that I feel•• in my selfe a great ioy and pleasure that I doe it. Of which points there are none at all in these things that we speake of; for we bestow them not as vpon worthy men, but carelessely as small things, and we giue it not vnto the man, but vnto humanitie.
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