AN EXAMPLE
SERMON XIV
OF CONSTANCY AND PERSEVERANCE IN THE STATE OF RELIGION
STAND with confidence: and you shall see the help of the Lord over you. Beloved brethren, accept with pleasure a word of pious exhortation urging you to perseverance in the state of religion: which has a very great recompense in Heaven. Purpose firmly in your hearts that you desire to remain with constancy in this place and Order which you have freely chosen: and to endure good things and evil with all in this house gathered together for Christ’s sake long before your time. He Who has granted a good beginning: will give by His grace a better consummation. For you have not been called to this community because of your merits: but you should believe that you are made partakers of their crowns. Be glad to be aided by their prayers and to be sustained by their help: and ever give thanks to God. For you have not come to idle and feast: but to serve God with fidelity and devotion. And so much the more careful and ready should you be for every observance of the Order and for the common labours; the more advantages you now have in buildings and books, in food and clothing: which many of the elders before you had not. You have entered into their labours, be grateful therefore for the good things you have received. These temporal things made ready by God: are bestowed upon you as a present for the sustenance of your body. If you use them moderately with giving of thanks and good will; then still greater goods will be added to you in Heaven: which shall be most assuredly rendered to all who persevere in the discipline of the Order. And if you cannot yet understand or grasp the joys to come prepared in the heavenly nuptials; nevertheless firmly believe that God is faithful and mighty to give what He has promised to them that love Him: who not by force but with a free mind serve Him day and night without complaint. Therefore with great care cast out of your heart speedily harmful sadness, and all indignation as poison of the devil: and strive to live among your brethren like angels of peace among their fellow citizens. Take upon your shoulders the yoke of the Lord, light and sweet to them that love: until you attain the fatherland of everlasting bliss. But meanwhile you must be tried after the manner of the saints by divers temptations which often happen in religion: and are wont grievously to afflict novices from this side and that: that thereby proved as gold in the furnace, and purged from the rust of past bad habits: you may be bright in the sight of God as new lambs washed in the springs. For after tears and griefs you shall receive divine consolations and lights of the understanding: relieving all toil and distress. What more do you desire? Behold, now are given to you earthly goods for the support of the body on the way; and hereafter will be given heavenly and everlasting goods in the kingdom of God with the holy angels; because you have forsaken acquaintance and friends, and have chosen to serve God rather than the world. If therefore you abide constant in what you have commenced: you shall hear with joy and assurance from Christ in the judgement. “You are they who have continued with Me in My temptations; and I dispose to you, as My Father hath disposed to Me, a kingdom: that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom.” O sweet and comforting word, encouraging to perseverance in the Order we have taken: and in whatsoever temptation and tribulation or weakness a man may be involved. It belongs certainly to God to aid: and to free the afflicted from every distress of mind and body. And he who trusts in God, praying and patiently enduring himself: he shall be comforted in due time, giving thanks for the help vouchsafed him from Heaven. God is not a respecter of persons, but in every condition and place, where there is the memory of His name under Heaven: He shall be nigh the tempted and troubled of heart. He shall hear them for His mercy; and shall show them in secret His judgements: and His wonders in all things which He works upon earth. No man can say to God, “Why dost Thou thus afflict me and leave me dry; and dost thus advance another and allow him to have many of his wishes?” Foolish and vain is this thought: even in the least thing to doubt or complain of the providence and goodness of God. It is the habit of the weak and unwise to blame and interpret ill the actions of the prudent which they do not understand; who very often wonder and are scandalized within themselves: why God suffers this or that, so evidently evil, to happen. To whom the psalmist thus replies: “The Lord is just in all His ways: and holy in all His works.” And again: “Thou art just, O Lord: and Thy judgement is right.” Hold this then firmly, that in every place the eyes of the Lord behold the good and the bad; and no man can hide from His judgements, nor excuse his sins with many fair words: nor appeal in contention to a higher judge. Whoever therefore abiding in a lowly condition and in his Order shall have more resolutely struggled against temptations and his vices; he shall deserve greater grace of devotion now: and hereafter shall enjoy the blessedness of a fuller glory. Every religious can save his soul and make progress in virtue in his Order and in the place provided for him by God: if he carefully observe what the Order hath established, and what the superior commands and counsels to be done. Let no one therefore be lightly seduced; nor think with foolish and vain imaginings of another place: and prophesying of the uncertain future more pleasant things to himself, say: “O God, if I were in such a place and Order: how well and devoutly I would conduct myself: and no longer complain or be troubled by anyone.” Alas, miserable and foolish man, who for want of fervour dost contemplate the world outside: and often dost imagine vain things because of the distress of thy present passion; why dost thou not do this good in this place, where with the grace of many brethren, and the peace of a good conscience thou canst live with God as witness and aider? Why dost thou neglect the little things told thee; and presumest of greater things in the future? Know beforehand that it most usually befalls lukewarm and indocile disciples: otherwise and far worse than they in their mind first imagined, without fruit of any worth. This fancy has deceived many; easy changing of place has made many learned to err: hasty migration to another Order has saddened very many. For it has been very often proved in others: that seldom has he come back better, who sought many places. For wherever a man may be, he shall find men: the blind also and the weak whom certainly it behoves to bear. And haply thou wilt see some more imperfect who will not be pleasing to thee in many things: nor wilt thou likewise be pleasing to them. Some maybe will say or think of thee askance: if thou hadst been worth anything, thou wouldst rather have remained in thy place and Order with peace. However the motive of one wandering from place to place will speedily be made clear: what moved him more. For feigned holiness cannot remain concealed long, nor frivolity of soul: nor does too great freedom in wandering edify others. For the nurse of true devotion is the solitary and enclosed religious. Hear the parable of a certain devout old man. “When a man goes out lame of one foot or deprived of one eye: he seldom comes back sound in both.” The fox leaving its hole: cannot long travel the high road. So a man of fickle mind and deceitful cannot long disguise himself: but he betrays himself even unwillingly before many strangers: either by manifest words or deeds. Often also a movement of anger will show the asperity of his impatience; when he is reproved for his fault: or compelled to keep silence. A proud man inwardly passionate, for a while sometimes represses himself before others: lest he be outwardly blamed and lose respect. But becoming more free in course of time: he shamelessly returns to his wont. And thus it shall be made manifest to many, that he was not truly humble: but wished to seem good and just. The temptation of the devil does not suffer a runaway to be hidden long or to live in peace; but he commences to annoy him by fresh and unexpected obstacles; and toils to vex and confound the coward in a much worse fashion: because he foolishly left his little nest. For the yoke of the Order day and night laid upon the neck of the monk: soon shows how much he can carry and endure for the love of God. Therefore in every place and condition, in every office and spiritual dignity, or temporal occupation: extremely needful is long-suffering patience and an abundant outpouring of divine grace with frequent instance in prayer; lest the weak mind, battered by frequent blows, be moved by sudden anger to impatience, or by the suggestion of Satan seek to return vengeance: bearing indignantly the insults put upon it.
Soldier of Christ, do not fly: do not cast thyself down; grow not lukewarm from thy first fervour: nor doubt of the consolation of divine sweetness. Seek not outward comforts of the body very harmful to thy soul: but for God’s sake bear temptations and the vexations of men as well in this place as in another house. Nor deem thyself forsaken of God if many things befall to try thy patience; for thou art not better than Christ Who suffered: nor more holy than the martyrs who were cruelly put to death. Men act and often speak ill like men; nor is it always true what they say: nor must one care much whether they praise or blame. In all times and places beware of evil deeds and scandal: and God shall free thee from the ill word lyingly spoken of thee. It is written in one of the collects super populum of Lent. “Protect, O Lord, Thy people, and mercifully cleanse it of all sins; for no adversity shall harm it: if no wickedness overmaster it.” For punishment does not make a man guilty: but guilt demands a just penalty. Have God therefore before thy eyes, neglect not to pray in trouble; write or read in due time the holy Scriptures: the better to overcome weariness of heart. God often gives in one hour: that which He has refused a whole week. Never presume of thy virtue and justice; but trust utterly in the mercy and goodness of God: and prudently and discreetly go forward between hope and despair. Never be so joyous and secure: as to shut out from thee fear and modesty. He who wishes to please God and edify the neighbour; ought so to order all his words and habits without and within: as if he were immediately to be presented before God and His angels. Do not therefore, religious brother, if thou art light and dissipated and wordy, boast of thy outward habit before men as if thou wert a saint: nor take pride in any work private or common; but rather thou shalt deem thyself unprofitable, if thou thinkest rightly: as one who canst hardly return one from a thousand talents. Thou art not therefore to be called a holy and great master because outwardly thou wearest the cappa; which an ass might do, if he were so clothed. Heed rather the stains of thy conscience than the esteem of men; for all things are not so sound and bright before God: as they appear to be fair to men. Man sees in the face, but God in the heart; Who also considers things most minute: which thou dost not know, or weighest but little. Therefore bow down thy heart under the severe scrutiny of God; and be not vainly puffed up because of the dignity of religion: nor speak boastfully of the virtues of others and the miracles of holy men. He blackens and shames himself, who praises the holiness of his fathers: and neglects to follow their humble life; who is called a regular and a religious: and does not fervently pursue the rule of life which the saints have left to their posterity; who daily lives on the goods of the monastery: and luke warmly observes the monastic statutes, or lightly breaks them. Nevertheless on account of the holy fathers of previous days who founded the Order of religion and drew up rules of life: the slothful and dissipated also are honoured by people and magnates of the world who think them to be servants of God. Therefore let each rightly examine himself, and give others a good example: lest he do an injury to the holy Order: and beget shame to himself by his ill conduct. “Wo to that man,” saith the Lord, “by whom scandal cometh.” If you wish truly to know and commend any religious; look not to the white or black habit of the body, nor heed subtlety of words: but consider his humble ways, expressing the image of the interior man. Silently also reverence the grace of Christ, which he has received, and love and praise God for His gifts: Who chose for Himself such a servant in a desert land full of temptations and dangers. Cautiously however and moderately praise him whom thou lovest: lest thou deceive thyself and him: if thou say anything, beyond what is befitting, of which thou shouldst afterwards blush.
Brothers, we are all one in Christ, we have one heavenly Father: we are all called the sons of one holy mother Church, whoever believe in Christ and are baptized in Christ: therefore we ought not to dispute about the outward habit, and different manner of life; but let each study to live well in his Order and condition: and wholly to please God worthily with giving of thanks. For not agreeableness or magnitude of place, nor fair raiment, nor excellence of grace maketh a perfect religious; but utter renunciation of the world, and daily mortification of vices: and especially purity of heart, and love of virtue aiming directly at God. The name of religion has great praise among men of the world: but without contempt of the world it is of little weight with God. But what worth a noble name without virtuous deed; what profit a sublime state without humility and charity? He is truly a religious who freely renounces the world, and in his heart does not veer round again to the world; who binds himself for ever to God: and endeavours to crush all his own wishes for God’s sake. For he who with the holy habit and good name thus fulfills the acts of virtue without: and yet in every thought and deed aims only at pleasing God within: he is duly to be praised and called the friend of God. If thou desirest to overcome vainglory; give heed to each of thy shortcomings as something known to all: and the movement of vainglory will cease. Beware of showing singularity in speech or conduct; do not presume too much of thyself when prosperity befalls thee: lest thou be cast down by an assault of adversity. Stay in thy place and set thyself to patience; and thou shalt find peace and grace in the sight of God and men: and thou shalt be dear to all the brethren. But that no one may easily think of changing his habit or place: I will relate you what happened to a certain brother for your greater warning.
AN EXAMPLE
There was a certain brother who had lived long respected in the Order of Regulars: and being appointed procurator gained repute and esteem with many religious and seculars. For a long time he had the temptation and desire to pass to another Order and a place remote: which also he did, but without sufficient foresight and prudence. For from the miserable issue: was afterwards made apparent the inconstancy of his mind. However he had secured for himself in secret a place with certain mendicant religious of sufficiently good observance, living under the rule of blessed Augustine: by whom also he was kindly and willingly received. Nor was there long delay in probation: but to satisfy his urgent desire he was clothed in haste. So eagerly did he seek and pant after that Order: that he would willingly have made his profession the same day: if that had pleased the brethren. But the brethren, more cautious than he, because they knew not his character and conduct: did not give way to his impatient desire: but willingly gave him the usual time of probation. For they judged according to outward appearances: that this stranger would be useful to them, for they needed persons for the reformation of the Order. But when he had been now clothed: his heart was changed to other than he had thought. And he began to be exceedingly sad and sorry: that he had left the former house where he lived so long: nnd without due cause had secretly forsaken his brethren: whom he grieved and shamed not a little by his departure. Scarcely a week had passed: and for trouble of mind he mourned and lamented so much: that he could neither eat nor drink. Questioned therefore what disturbed him: he said, “I can have no rest at all, or peace of conscience: if I do not return again to my former brethren.” Hearing which the brothers were much saddened and perturbed; and they bitterly reproached his inconstancy: that in so short a time he had changed again, and had been guilty of childish presumption. To whom he replying with humility and shame: thus excused himself. “Believe me, brothers, that now for many years I have had this temptation, to cross over to another Order: and this idea was so strongly fixed in my soul: that I thought I could never change. But now I have proved by my own experience that it is otherwise: the which before I could not entertain.” When therefore he had said this: that the scandal still secret might not break out and grow: having wisely consulted together, they sent to a certain Prior of the Regulars dwelling in the neighbourhood: asking him to deign to come to them with all speed, for a very urgent case of necessity. When he arrives, they explain the whole matter to him in order: and earnestly demand what is now to be done. Nor is there any delay in settling the matter, but each party contributes to the re-establishment of peace. The aforesaid brother then, repentant with great sorrow, is stripped of the habit which he had taken; and is again clothed by the Prior in the habit of Regulars in the Order to which he was accustomed: and thus the occasion of disturbance is removed and destroyed. Then a companion was given him and he returned to his former cloister; and humbly beseeching forgiveness for the offences he had committed: he was received with compassion by his brethren. And at once he received a wholesome penance: and was chastised for the error of his presumption. And rendered more cautious for the future, he learnt not to do anything rashly; and not foolishly to run to other houses.