Allan Kardec-THE Spirit's Book_ The Principles of Spiritist Doctrine (1989)

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ALLAN KARDEC
fellow-creatures, practises the law of love and of charity, and his labour receives the blessing
of God."
884. What is the characteristic of legitimate property?
"No property is legitimate unless acquired without injury to others." (808.)
The law of love and of justice, forbidding us to do to others what we would not that others should do to
us, implicitly condemns every means of acquiring which would be contrary to that law.
885. Is the right of property unlimited?
"Everything that has been legitimately acquired is undoubtedly a property; but, as we have
said, human legislation, being imperfect, frequently sets up conventional rights opposed to
natural justice. For this reason, men reform their laws in proportion as progress is
accomplished, and as they obtain a better notion of justice. What appears right in one century
appears barbarous in another." (795).
Charity and Love of the Neighbour.
886. What is the true meaning of the word charity as employed by Jesus?
"Benevolence for every one, indulgence for the imperfections of others, forgiveness of
injuries."
Love and charity are the complement of the law of justice; for, to love our neighbour is to do him all the,
good in our power, all that we should wish to have done to ourselves.
Charity, according to Jesus, is not restricted to alms-giving, but embraces all our relations with our
fellow-men whether our inferiors, our equals, or our superiors. It prescribes indulgence on our part,
because we need the same ourselves; it forbids us to humiliate the unfortunate, as is too often done. How
many, who are ready to lavish respect and attentions on the rich, appear to think it not worth their while
to be civil to the poor; and yet, the more pitiable the situation of the latter, the more scrupulously should
we refrain from adding humiliation to misfortune. He who is really kind endeavours to raise his inferior
in his own estimation, by diminishing the distance between them.
887. Jesus has also said: Love your enemies. But would it not be contrary to our natural
tendencies to love our enemies, and does not unfriendliness proceed from a want of sympathy
between spirits?
"It would certainly be impossible for a man to feel tender and ardent affection for his
enemies; and Jesus did not intend to prescribe anything of the kind. To 'love your enemies'
means to forgive them, and to return good for evil. By so doing, you become their superior;
by vengeance, you place yourselves beneath them."