Sermon X Of The Many Trials Of The Just For The Kingdom Of Heaven
SERMON X
OF THE MANY TRIALS OF THE JUST FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
MANY are the tribulations of the just: and out of them all will the Lord deliver them. Beloved brethren, look into the life of the saints; eagerly hear and read the teaching of the saints: desire to follow their examples; and constantly implore their glorious intercession, that you may be strong in adversity: and may be able to bear with constancy for Christ all the toils of the day and the night. Doubt not of the future promise of Christ: which He will render to them that love Him, when their work is accomplished and their combat bravely ended. You have not been in Hell nor in Lucifer’s pit: therefore the statutes of the cloister seem burdensome to you. You have not experienced the fire of Purgatory: therefore you dread to bear the word of reproach, the strictness of silence, the hardness of your couch, the severity of the fast, the coarseness of the food: the fatigue of singing and the frequency of prayer. If you would have all things according to your fancy; what do you merit thereby before God? This is not in agreement with the saints: who suffered most grievous afflictions for many years. Consider then in your small labours and distresses, the most bitter sufferings of the martyrs; and by true virtue imitate the combat of those: whose festivals you celebrate through the year. And when you feel any trial, take up the buckler of patience: lest you fail in religion before the time for the end of the struggle. Let it not scandalize thee, if the wicked flourish in the world, and the good groan under the yoke; if the perverse rejoice in honours: and the good are deprived of necessaries and friends. God merciful and just provides better and everlasting goods for His elect, to be bestowed hereafter; whom now He strikes and chastises in divers ways by means of the wicked: that they may be made the more worthy to receive greater rewards in the heavenly kingdoms. Many therefore are the tribulations of the just: but many also are the scourges of sinners, which are the commencement of future sorrows. And who shall be able fully to ponder and fathom the abyss of the judgements of God upon the sons of men? For the Lord is just and hath loved justice; Who to the good and righteous of heart ordains all things unto good and turns all to their salvation: and to the wicked, hard, and perverse changes all unto their destruction and grief. Bear therefore, brethren, as good and faithful servants of Christ, with patient heart and willing soul, the small burdens which at times trouble you and prove how strong you are; for they will not last long nor confound the humble: but borne devoutly they will greatly rejoice your souls according to that of the Psalmist: “The bones that have been humbled shall rejoice: and He will save the humble of spirit.” If we were truly humble and willing to balance strictly the weight of our sins; we should find nothing unbearable: we should say that we scarcely receive one for a thousand. For it behoved Christ to suffer, Who nevertheless did no sin: how much more us, miserable sinners, who daily in many things offend many: namely, God, the angels, the saints, and men. But God suffers many tribulations to fall upon His elect not to their reprobation; but for the cleansing of sins, for the increase of merits, for a greater warning: and for the strengthening of their weakness by the virtue of patience.
Let each then set himself to patience, if he will have peace of heart: if he wishes to receive a crown of glory in Heaven, after the toil of his combat. This temporal life is full of stones and thorns; and therein the elect are exercised and tried by hardships: that they may the more eagerly long for the eternal goods. Behold God spares no man; but gives to each his own burden to bear: that he may have occasion to merit much. For some things come and tempt us on the right by flattery: others on the left by blame; some meet us in face with a harsh countenance: others pierce us behind by the bite of detraction; some constrain us from above to labour: others froth up from below to ridicule, as the little boys with the holy Elisaeus. By these six winds the condition of the present life is buffeted: and every Christian assaulted whether religious or secular. Neither rich man nor poor, neither whole nor sickly: is without his burden. Each has enough to bear; and he who makes ready and bends his back for it: does wisely and will carry it more easily. But he who seeks to idle and amuse himself with gossip; and wander through the offices and the meadows: he shall fall among robbers and fierce dogs; that is, on various temptations of the flesh, which destroy the grace of devotion: and pierce the conscience with many wounds.
Thus is a professed religious in the cloister: as a noble warrior in camp surrounded on all sides by the enemy. He cannot fly, he cannot give way to idleness: but he must watch and stand ever to arms against the snares and arrows of his foes. For unless the soldier of Christ be girded with the girdle of chastity and defended on all sides by the shield of patience: speedily he is either disturbed, or cast down, or wounded. Stand therefore in the fear of God and prepare yourselves to fight against your passions and the vexations of men and wicked tongues; for you will always have some adversary, now this one, now that: according as God suffers to humble you lest you grow proud in good: and by vainglory lose all. But if you bear with your adversaries humbly and patiently; you shall be acceptable to God, and made like to the holy martyrs in suffering: and in the heavenly kingdom most glorious and sublime. It is utterly necessary that humility go before glory: and patience make ready with many blows the crown for the victors. For without patience and struggle and toil: vain is the hope of heavenly reward. Put you on therefore, beloved brethren, as blessed Paul saith, the breastplate of faith, doubting not of the help of God: recalling amid distresses for your supreme comfort the divine promises: and place your whole hope in God and not in men; for men often deceive and are deceived in their opinions and devices: they meditate vain things and speak foolish; they look not to the future judgements: nor fear God as they should.
Be especially on your guard against passionate men and deceitful, against dissolute and jesting companions; lest you learn to gossip and laugh with the frivolous: who walk by pleasant ways to evil hospices. But let your conversation be with the simple and humble, with the meek and devout; that from them you may receive spiritual consolation: and make more and more progress in virtue. Patience and fortitude are exceedingly necessary to you: who are in religion and stand under obedience. And so obey with a willing soul and a full heart: and strive to follow the good advice of seniors: although at times the things which they command seem hard and base. As therefore from every side assaults threaten to attack your weakness; so there are very great rewards set in the right hand of God: to be rendered to you for your much patience in all your tribulations. Encourage yourselves therefore to bear all: and cast not away the burdens which merit everlasting joys.
For from superiors it behoves you often to endure correction for your excesses: because it is better to be purged here than hereafter. But also it is most safe to obey their commands for God’s sake: if you will be most happily crowned with the elect. Submit yourselves therefore freely to their ordering; that they may guide you by a safer way and a shorter distance amid so many foes and perils: to the harbour of salvation, without a murmur or any sinister suspicion.
From inferiors it behoves you to bear their defects both of conduct and of body, the which is a work of piety; and sometimes to suffer also derision: which is a sign of mildness.
On the right it behoves you to take careful heed lest you be beguiled by flattery and vain praise; lest you deem yourselves holy and just: or lift your hearts above that which is said. Often empty praise harms: soft words deceive light souls: as the snarer sweetly discoursing on his flute beguiles and captures the birds. Therefore seek not but shun honour or praise from men: lest you lose the full reward with God for foolish fables. Many praise to the face: behind the back they relate defects. He who looks into his own conscience: does not value or desire the praises of men.
On the left it behoves you to exercise great caution; that you be not troubled by those, who blame your actions, scoffing, denouncing, and giving an evil sense to the good: that you be not impatient in heart, or answer harshly in words; because perchance they wish to prove you by reproaches: whether you are truly humble and patient in adversity.
From in front it behoves you to consider with whom you speak, with whom you stand and walk: of what manner are your neighbours and comrades in their conduct, words and actions: lest haply you be seduced and infected by bad example through dissipation and licence most harmful to the young. For often after light jesting there comes the sorrow of a saddened conscience: according to the proverb of Solomon: “Mourning taketh hold of the end of joy: and laughter shall be mingled with sorrow.” You must not believe every word: nor soon carry further what you have heard. For all things are not edifying: nor is it expedient to know the secrets of others. Often lies are narrated as true: which things draw the hearers away from heavenly desires. Refrain then from trifles and jests, which hinder godly pursuits; dull the understanding, distract the memory: and disturb the peaceful with unfounded suspicions.
From behind it behoves you also to keep a watchful eye; and to think not a little beforehand of perils to come: to wit, what trials might befall you through those whom now you hold as your friends. Make ready then your back to bear every issue of ill; to wash away past sins; to shun present amusements: and to lessen the future pains of Purgatory. For the reproaches, detractions, accusations and ridicule of men patiently received: are an excellent medicine for the health of the soul: justly inflicted by a most just God on sinners. The sharp reproof of words then will not harm if you are well-disposed and guiltless: for a harsh word is profitable for the correction of the dissipated.
You have now heard from the above in how many dangerous combats you are engaged, and what great good you may merit if you fight manfully. Be not therefore slack, nor lose courage because of the multitude of the enemy: but with religious anxiety strive ever to make progress unto better and more fervent practice; so that by longanimity and patience in virtues and many labours you may attain eternal repose, safe from all evils: when our Lord Jesus Christ shall bestow upon you through the intercession of His holy martyrs the crown of eternal life you have long desired. Amen.