In one word, the new thing which the Gospel brought into the world
was--humanity. The thing which the Gospel keeps in the world still,
is humanity. It brought other things, and blessed things, but this
it brought. And why? Because through the Church was poured on men
the spirit of God. And what is that, save humanity?--the spirit of
the compassionate, all generous Son of Man?--the spirit of charity
and love?
What were the woes of humanity to the heathen? If a man fell in the
race of life, so much the worse for him. So much the better for
them, for there was one more competitor out of the way. One of the
greatest Roman poets, indeed, talks of the pleasure which men have in
seeing others in trouble, just as, when the storm is tossing up the
sea, it is sweet to sit on the shore, and watch the ships labouring
in the waves. Not, he says, that one takes actual pleasure in seeing
a man in trouble, but in the thought that one is not in the trouble
oneself. A rather lame excuse, I think, for a rather inhuman
sentiment.
Yes, the heathen could feel pleasure in being safe while others were
afflicted. And, indeed, our own fallen nature, if we give way to it,
will tempt us to the same sin. But how did men begin to look not
only on the afflictions, but on the interest, on the feelings, on the
consciences of their neighbours, when they began to be led by the
spirit of Christ? Let St.
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