ONE THOUSAND FAMOUS THINGS 279
The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took
and hid in three measures of meal till the whole was leavened. It
is like a merchantman seeking goodly pearls, who, when he had found
one pearl of great price* went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Except ye become as little children ye shall not enter the kingdom
of heaven. Whoso shall offend one of these little ones it were better
for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck and that he were
drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world for offences,
for it needs be that offences come, but woe to that man by which
the offence cometh.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees ! for ye devour widows9
houses, and for a pretence make long prayers.
Woe unto you, ye blind guides, for ye pay tithe of mint and anise
and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law—
Judgment, Mercy, and Faith. Why strain ye at a gnat and swallow
a camel ? Ye make clean the outside of the cup and platter^ but
within they are full of extortion and excess. Cleanse first that which
is within, and the outside may be clean also.
No man having put Ms hand to the plough and looking back is
fit for the kingdom of God.
Every one that doeth evil hatetfa light, but he that doeth truth
cometh to the light.
If thou canst believe all things are possible. If ye have faith as
a gram of mustard seed ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove
hence, and it shall be removed.
He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much.
Unto whom much is given of him shall much be required.
Collected from the Sayings of Jems
Love Letter from a Coffee House
MADAM, It is the hardest thing in the world to be in love and
yet attend to business. As for me, all who speak to me find
me out, and I must lock myself up, or other people will do it for me.
A gentleman asked me this morning what news from Lisbon* and
I anserd she's exquisitely handsome. Another desired to know when
I had been last at Hampton Court. I reply'd twill be on Tuesday
come se'ennight. Prithee allow me at least to kisse your hand before
that day, that my mind may be in some composure. O love !
A thousand torments dwell about thee,
Yet who would live to live without thee ?
Methinks I could write a volume to you, but all the language on
earth would fail in saying how much, and with what disinterested
passion^ I am ever yours, RICHD STEELE.
Written in St James's Coffee House, September 1, 1707