If there is any poor man or woman, that is more than ordinarily wicked and reprobate, Miranda has her eye upon them, and if she can discover that they are in any great streights or affliction, she gives them speedy relief. She has this care for this sort of people, not only because she once saved a very profligate person from being carried to prison, who immediately became a true penitent, but because she believes that a tenderness of affection towards the most abandoned sinners, is every where represented in the gospel as the highest instance of a divine and godlike soul.
Miranda once passed by a house, where the man and his wife were cursing and swearing at one another in a most dreadful manner, and three children crying about them; this sight so much affected her compassionate mind, that she went the next day, and even bought the three children, that they might not be ruined by living with such wicked parents. They now live with Miranda, are blessed with her care and prayers, and all the good works that she can do for them. They hear her talk, they see her live, and join with her in psalms and prayers. The eldest of them has already been an instrument of converting his parents from their wicked life, and shews a turn of mind so remarkably pious, that Miranda intends him for holy orders; that being thus saved himself, he may be zealous in the salvation of souls, and do to other miserable objects, as she has done to him.
Miranda is a constant relief to poor people in their misfortunes and accidents; for there are sometimes little misfortunes that happen to them, which of themselves they could never be able to overcome: the death of a cow, or a horse, or some little robbery, would keep them in distress all their lives. She does not suffer them to lie grieving under such accidents as these. She immediately gives them the full value of their loss, and makes use of it as a means of raising their minds towards God.
She has a great tenderness for old people that are grown past their labour. The parish allowance (Miranda says) to such people, is very seldom a comfortable maintenance. For this reason, they are the constant objects of her care; she adds so much to their allowance, as somewhat exceeds the wages they got when they were young. This she does to comfort them under the infirmities of their age, that being free from trouble and distress they may serve God in peace and tranquillity of mind. She has generally a large number of this kind, who by her charities, and exhortations to holiness, spend their last days in great piety and devotion.
Miranda never wants compassion even to common beggars; especially those that are old or sick, or full of sores, and that want eyes or limbs. Miranda considers that Lazarus was a common beggar, that notwithstanding he was the care of angels, and carried into Abraham’s bosom. She considers that our blessed Saviour and his apostles, were kind to beggars; that they spoke comfortably to them, healed their diseases, and restored eyes and limbs to the lame and blind. She therefore hears their complaints with tenderness, and never bids them go to the place from whence they came, or tells them that she cannot relieve them because they may be cheats, or that they are strangers; but she relieves them for that very reason because they are strangers; and though she cannot, like our Saviour and his Apostles, work miracles for their relief, yet she remembers the words of our Lord, “I was a stranger and ye took me in,” and can say with St. Peter, “such as I have, give I unto you, in the name of Jesus of Nazareth.”
It may be, says Miranda, that I may sometimes give to those who do not deserve it. But where, says she, has the scripture made merit to be the rule or measure of my charity? On the contrary, does not the scripture speak on this wise, “if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink.” And if I am to love and do good to my worst enemies, surely I am not to deny alms to poor beggars, whom I neither know to be bad people, nor any way my enemies? Does not God make his sun to rise on the evil and on the good? Is not this the very goodness that is recommended to us in scripture? that by imitating it, “we may be children of our father who is in heaven, who sendeth rain on the just and the unjust.”
Perhaps you will reply, “By this means I encourage people to be beggars.” But may not the same objection be made against all kinds of charities, for they may encourage people to depend upon them? May not the same be said against forgiving our enemies, cloathing the naked, or giving medicines to the sick? for in so doing we may encourage people to do us hurt or neglect themselves, and be careless of their health. Such thoughtless objections, says Miranda, I once urged myself, when in a state of unregeneracy: but since the love of God has dwelt in me, and enlarged my heart, I have been filled with bowels of compassion; and as I daily pray for all, so far as I can, I give to all. And I cannot refuse an alms to those, whom I pray God to bless, and whom I wish to be partakers of eternal glory. I look on those who come to ask my alms, as so many friends and benefactors, that come to do me a greater good than they can receive from me; that come to exalt my graces, and be witnesses of my charity; to be monuments of my love, and put it in my power of proving the truth of that glorious declaration “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
This is the spirit, and this is the life of the devout Miranda; and if she lives ten years longer, she will have spent six-thousand pounds in charity; for that which she allows herself, may fairly be reckoned amongst her alms.
When she dies, she must shine amongst Apostles, saints and martyrs, she must stand amongst the first servants of God, and be glorious amongst those that have fought the good fight, and finished their course with joy.
“He that hath ears to hear let him hear.”