Of the judgment and punishment of the wicked
1. In all that you do, remember the end, and how you will stand
before a strict judge, from whom nothing is hid, who is not
bribed with gifts, nor accepts excuses, but will judge
righteous judgment. O most miserable and foolish sinner, who is in fear of the countenance of an angry man, what will you answer to God, who knows all your misdeeds? Why do you
not provide for yourself against the day of judgment, when no man
shall be able to be excused or defended by means of another, but
each one shall bear his burden himself alone? Now does your
labour bring forth fruit, now is your weeping acceptable, your
groaning heard, your sorrow well pleasing to God, and cleansing to your soul.
2. Even here on earth the patient man finds great occasion of
purifying his soul. When suffering injuries he grieves more for
the other's malice than for his own wrong; when he prays
heartily for those that despitefully use him, and forgives them
from his heart; when he is not slow to ask pardon from others;
when he is swifter to pity than to anger; when he frequently
denies himself and strives altogether to subdue the flesh to
the spirit. Better is it now to purify the soul from sin, than
to cling to sins from which we must be purged hereafter. Truly
we deceive ourselves by the inordinate love that we bear towards
the flesh.
3. What is it which that fire shall devour, save your sins? The
more you spare yourself and follow the flesh, the more heavy
shall your punishment be, and the more fuel are you heaping up
for the burning. For wherein a man has sinned, therein shall he
be the more heavily punished. There shall the slothful be
pricked forward with burning goads, and the gluttons be tormented
with intolerable hunger and thirst. There shall the luxurious
and the lovers of pleasure be plunged into burning pitch and
stinking brimstone, and the envious shall howl like mad dogs for
very grief.
4. No sin will there be that shall not be visited with its own
proper punishment. The proud shall be filled with utter
confusion, and the covetous shall be pinched with miserable
poverty. An hour's pain there shall be more grievous than a
hundred years here of the bitterest penitence. No quiet shall be
there, no comfort for the lost, though here sometimes there is
respite from pain, and enjoyment of the solace of friends. Be anxious now and sorrowful for your sins, that in the day of
judgment you may have boldness with the blessed. For then
shall the righteous man stand in great boldness before the face
of such as have afflicted him and made no account of his
labors. Then shall he stand up to judge, he who now
submits himself in humility to the judgments of men. Then
shall the poor and humble man have great confidence, while the
proud is taken with fear on every side.
5. Then shall it be seen that he was the wise man in this world
who learned to be a fool and despised for Christ. Then shall all
tribulation patiently borne delight us, while the mouth of the
ungodly shall be stopped. Then shall every godly man rejoice,
and every profane man shall mourn. Then the afflicted flesh
shall more rejoice than if it had been always nourished in
delights. Then the humble garment shall put on beauty, and the
precious robe shall hide itself as vile. Then the little poor
cottage shall be more commended than the gilded palace. Then
enduring patience shall have more might than all the power of the
world. Then simple obedience shall be more highly exalted than
all worldly wisdom.
6. Then a pure and good conscience shall more rejoice than
learned philosophy. Then contempt of riches shall have more
weight than all the treasure of the children of this world. Then shall you find more comfort in having prayed devoutly than in
having fared sumptuously. Then you will rather rejoice in
having kept silence than in having made long speeches. Then holy
deeds shall be far stronger than many fine words. Then a strict
life and sincere penitence shall bring deeper pleasure than all
earthly delight. Learn now to suffer a little, that then you
may be enabled to escape heavier sufferings. Prove first
here, what you art able to endure hereafter. If now you are
able to bear so little, how will you be able to endure eternal
torments? If now a little suffering makes you so impatient,
what shall hellfire do then? Behold, surely you art not
able to have two Paradises, to take your fill or delight here in
this world, and to reign with Christ hereafter.
7. If even unto this day you had ever lived in honors and
pleasures, what would the whole profit you if now death came to you in an instant? All therefore is vanity, save to love God
and to serve Him only. For he who loves God with all his heart
fears not death, nor punishment, nor judgment, nor hell,
because perfect love gives sure access to God. But he who still
delights in sin, it is no marvel if he is afraid of death and
judgment. Nevertheless it is a good thing, if love as yet cannot
restrain you from evil, that at least the fear of hell should
hold you back. But he who puts aside the fear of God cannot
long continue in good, but shall quickly fall into the snares of
the devil.
No comments:
Post a Comment