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carried out in practice （and this was quite possible） they would
establish perfectly new and surprising conditions of social life；
in which the violence that filled Nekhludoff with such
indignation would cease of itself。 Not only this； but the
greatest blessing that is obtainable to men； the Kingdom of
Heaven on Earth would he established。 There were five of these
laws。
The first （Matt。 v。 21…26）； that man should not only do no
murder； but not even be angry with his brother； should not
consider any one worthless： 〃Raca；〃 and if he has quarrelled with
any one he should make it up with him before bringing his gift to
Godi。e。； before praying。
The second （Matt。 v。 27…32）； that man should not only not commit
adultery but should not even seek for enjoyment in a woman's
beauty； and if he has once come together with a woman he should
never be faithless to her。
The third （Matt。 33…37）； that man should never bind himself by
oath。
The fourth （Matt。 38…42）； that man should not only not demand an
eye for an eye； but when struck on one cheek should hold out the
other； should forgive an offence and bear it humbly； and never
refuse the service others demand of him。
The fifth （Matt。 43…48）； that man should not only not hate his
enemy and not fight him； but love him； help him； serve him。
Nekhludoff sat staring at the lamp and his heart stood still。
Recalling the monstrous confusion of the life we lead； he
distinctly saw what that life could be if men were brought up to
obey these rules； and rapture such as he had long not felt filled
his soul； just as if after long days of weariness and suffering
he had suddenly found ease and freedom。
He did not sleep all night； and as it happens to many and many a
man who reads the Gospels he understood for the first time the
full meaning of the words read so often before but passed by
unnoticed。 He imbibed all these necessary； important and joyful
revelations as a sponge imbibes water。 And all he read seemed so
familiar and seemed to confirm； to form into a conception； what
he had known long ago； but had never realised and never quite
believed。 Now he realised and believed it； and not only realised
and believed that if men would obey these laws they would obtain
the highest blessing they can attain to； he also realised and
believed that the only duty of every man is to fulfil these laws；
that in this lies the only reasonable meaning of life； that every
stepping aside from these laws is a mistake which is immediately
followed by retribution。 This flowed from the whole of the
teaching； and was most strongly and clearly illustrated in the
parable of the vineyard。
The husbandman imagined that the vineyard in which they were sent
to work for their master was their own； that all that was in was
made for them； and that their business was to enjoy life in this
vineyard； forgetting the Master and killing all those who
reminded them of his existence。 〃Are we do not doing the same；〃
Nekhludoff thought； 〃when we imagine ourselves to be masters of
our lives； and that life is given us for enjoyment？ This
evidently is an incongruity。 We were sent here by some one's will
and for some reason。 And we have concluded that we live only for
our own joy； and of course we feel unhappy as labourers do when
not fulfilling their Master's orders。 The Master's will is
expressed in these commandments。 If men will only fulfil these
laws； the Kingdom of Heaven will be established on earth； and men
will receive the greatest good that they can attain to。
〃'Seek ye first the Kingdom and His righteousness； and all these
things shall be added unto you。'
〃And so here it is； the business of my life。 Scarcely have I
finished one and another has commenced。〃 And a perfectly new life
dawned that night for Nekhludoff； not because he had entered into
new conditions of life； but because everything he did after that
night had a new and quite different significance than before。 How
this new period of his life will end time alone will prove。
End XFIR驗MZ�