Collyer on Good Samaritan
"The Samaritans were neighbors in the most literal sense, but
as for loving them, that seemed impossible. Christ loved them and caused his
disciples to marvel at the manner in which he spake to the woman at Jacob's well
and afterwards to others who came out to hear him. The Jews as a whole almost
made it a part of their religion to hate the Samaritans, and if they were able
to analyze their own feelings, they would probably have to admit that the hatred
was directly traceable to the fact of their being such near neighbors. This is a
common weakness of poor human nature. Those who are near but not quite with us
arouse more bitterness of feelings that complete strangers. Then when such an
evil feeling has once been started, the deceitful heart begins to build up
fancies to justify, the hatred, thus further traducing those who have already
wronged" (Islip Collyer, "The Guiding Light").
