The Project Gutenberg eBook of De Duodecim Abusionibus Saeculi This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook. Title: De Duodecim Abusionibus Saeculi Author: Saint Patrick Release date: October 4, 2024 [eBook #74516] Language: Latin Original publication: Paris: D'Amboise, Pres La Barriere D'Enfer, ou Petit-Montrouge *** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DE DUODECIM ABUSIONIBUS SAECULI *** DE DUODECIM ABUSIONIBUS SAECULI. TRACTATUS ATTRIBUTI SANCTO PATRICIO, PERPERAM CYPRIANO ET AUGUSTINO ADSCRIPTUS. CAPUT PRIMUM. Primus abusionis gradus est, si sine bonis operibus sapiens et praedicator fuerit, qui quod sermone docet, actibus explere negligit. Auditores enim doctrinae, dicta facere contemnunt, cum praedicatoris opera a praedicationis verbis discrepare conspiciunt. Numquam enim fit efficax constituentis auctoritas, nisi eam effectu operis cordi affixerit audientis, praesertim cum et ipse doctor, si in vitiorum amorem delapsus fuerit, alterius doctoris medicamentum suis vulneribus adhibere parvipendit. Unde et ipse Dominus in Evangelio de doctrina pariter et bono opere instruere volens discipulos, qualem in his cautelam haberent admonebat, dicens: _Quod si sal evanuerit, in quo salietur_ (_Matth_. V, 13)? Hoc est, si doctor erraverit, a quo iterum doctore emendabitur? _Et si lumen, quod in te est, tenebrae sunt; ipsae tenebrae quantae erunt_ (_Matth_. VI, 23)? Si namque oculus a videndi officio desierit; quis a manu, vel a pede, vel a reliquo corpore illud ministerium exiget? Quapropter doctores cogitent, ne ampliori vindictae subjaceant, si plurimis perditionis occasionem abundantius praestent. Nam et ipse Salomon dum multae sapientiae transgressionem incurrit, totius Israeliticae plebis regni dispersionem solius sui merito praestitit. Quibus ergo committuntur multa, majora perdunt; si non recte dispensaverint rectoris sui munera, quae perceperunt. Cui enim plus committitur ab eo plus exigitur. _Et servus qui domini sui voluntatem intelligens non facit, acrioribus et gravioribus flagellis vindictae vapulabit_ (_Luc_. XII, 47). CAPUT II. Secundus abusionis gradus est, si sine religione senex esse inveniatur. Cui cum membra exterioris hominis veterascunt; vires animi, id est, interioris hominis membra, incrementa roboris non capiunt. Plus enim omnibus religioni operam dare senibus competit, quos praesentis saeculi florida aetas transacta deseruit. Sicut namque in lignis ipsa reproba arbor comparet, quae post flores fructus optimos cultori suo non exhibet: sic et in hominibus ipse reprobus est, quem flos juventutis deseruit, et tamen in sui corporis senectute, bonorum operum maturos fructus proferre parvipendit. Quid enim stolidius fieri potest; si mens ad perfectionem festinare non contendat, quando totius corporis habitus senectute confectus ad interitum properat? Dum oculi caligant, aures graviter audiunt, capilli fluunt, facies in pallorem mutatur, dentes lapsi numero minuuntur, cutis arescit, flatus non suaviter olet, pectus suffocatur, tussis cachinnat, genua trepidant, talos et pedes tumor inflat; etiam homo interior qui non senescit, his omnibus aggravatur. Et haec omnia ruituram jamjamque domum corporis cito praenuntiant. Quid ergo superest, nisi ut dum hujus vitae defectus appropinquat, nihil aliud cogitare quam quomodo futura habitatio prospere comprehendatur, quisque senex appetat? Juvenibus enim incertus hujus vitae terminus instat, senibus vero cunctis maturior ex hac luce exitus breviter concordat. Cavendae sunt ergo homini duae particulae, quae in illius carne non veterascunt, et totum hominem secum ad peccatum pertrahunt; cor videlicet et lingua: quia cor novas semper cogitationes machinari non desinit; lingua impigre loquitur, quodcumque machinari cor senserit. Caveat ergo senilis aetas, ne istae juvenescentes particulae totam sui harmoniam decipiant, et per res ineptas reliqui corporis gravitatem illudant. Unicuique enim considerandum est, quid aetate eminenti dignum sit; ut hoc agat, quod nec vitam, nec aetatem, nec ministerium vile reddat. CAPUT III. Tertius abusionis gradus est, adolescens sine obedientia; quo mundus a recte rationis ordine depravatur. Qualiter namque in senectute aliis ministerium imperabit, qui in adolescentia se senioribus obedientem exhibere contemnit? Unde et in proverbio apud veteres habetur, quod dominari nequeat, qui prius alicui servitutem praebere denegat. Propter quod et Dominus Jesus in temporibus suae carnis, dum adhuc ad legitimam aetatem doctoris non pervenerat, obedienter ministrationem parentibus suis praestitit. Sicut ergo in senibus sobrietas, et morum perfectio requiritur: ita etiam in adolescentibus, obsequium, et subjectio, et obedientia rite debetur. Quapropter et in mandatis legis primum in his quae ad homines pertinent, patris et matris honor imperatur, quia quamvis carnalis pater non supervixerit, aut indignus fuerit; alicui tamen patri digno et viventi, paternus honor usque ad dignam aetatem a filiis praebendus esse ostenditur. Quatuor etenim modis per Scripturas divinas patres vocantur; hoc est, natura, gente, admonitione, et aetate. De patre namque naturali Jacob ad Laban loquitur: _Nisi timor patris mei Isaac adfuisset, tulisses omnia quae mea sunt_ (_Gen_. XXXI, 42). Gente vero pater dicitur, quando Dominus de rubo ad Moysen loquebatur: _Ego sum_, inquiens, _Deus patrum tuorum, Deus Abraham, Deus Isaac, Deus Jacob_ (_Exod_. III, 6). AEtate autem et admonitione pariter pater dicitur, cum Moyses in cantico Deuteronomii loquitur: _Interroga patrem tuum, et annuntiabit tibi; majores tuos, et dicent tibi_ (_Deut_. XXXII, 7). Quod si ergo naturalis pater superstes non fuerit, aut indignus fuerit; admonenti tamen aut seniori adolescentis obedientia praebenda erit. Quomodo ergo honoratus in senectute apparebit, qui disciplinae laborem in adolescentia non sustinuerit? Quodcumque etenim homo laboraverit, hoc et metet. _Omnis namque disciplina in praesenti non videtur esse gaudii, sed maeroris; postea vero fructum pacatissimum exercitatio per eam reddet justitiae_ (_Heb_. XII, 11). Sicut ergo fructus non invenitur in arbore, in qua pampinus aut flos prius non apparuerit: sic et in senectute honorem legitimum assequi non poterit, qui in adolescentiae disciplinae alicujus exercitatione non laboraverit. Disciplina igitur absque obedientia, qualiter fieri potest? Adolescens ergo sine disciplina, adolescens sine obedientia est: quoniam et ipsa obedientia, quae omnium disciplinarum mater est, magna exercitatione indiget; quae sui normam studii in Christo Domino sumpsit, qui obediens patri usque ad mortem, crucis ignominiam libenter sustinuit. CAPUT IV. Quartus abusionis gradus est, dives sine elemosyna; qui superflua usus sui quae custodienda in posterum recondit, indigentibus et nihil habentibus non distribuit: per quod efficitur, ut dum in terra quaesita diligenti cura custodit, coelestis patriae perennem thesaurum amittat. Ad quem thesaurum Dominus Jesus adolescentem divitem, qui cum de perfectione interrogaverat, ita respondens invitavit: _Si vis perfectus esse, vade et vende omnia quae habes, et da pauperibus, et veni, sequere me, et habebis thesaurum in coelo_ (_Matth_. XIX, 21). Quem thesaurum nullus umquam hominum habere potest, nisi qui pauperibus solatia praestat, aut per seipsum pauper est. Non ergo dormiat in thesauris tuis, quod pauperes dormire non sinit. Dives namque etsi multa congregaverit, his frui solus nequaquam poterit; quia unius hominis natura multis rebus non succurrit. Quid ergo stultius est quam propter unius hominis victum et vestitum, totam regni coelestis perdere perennem jucunditatem, et aeternos inferni cruciatus, absque consolationis praestolatione subire? Quod igitur aliquando per necessitatem amittendum est, pro aeterna remuneratione sponte distribuendum est. _Omnia enim quae videntur, temporalia sunt, quae non videntur aeterna sunt_ (II _Cor_. V, 18). Quamdiu namque temporales sumus, temporalibus temporalia deserviunt, et cum hinc transierimus, aeternis aeterna solatia praestabuntur. Idcirco non debemus diligere ea quae non semper habebimus; praesertim cum expertem rationis avarum divitem, thesauri sui et agri, et omnia quae habet, ostendant; quia toto cordis intuitu illas res amat quae numquam se diligunt. Si enim aurum et argentum, et agros, et vestimenta, et cibos, et metalla, et bruta animalia quis dilexerit, haec omnia vicem sibi amoris rependere non posse, ipsa rerum natura ostendit. Quid ergo a ratione longius est quam diligere, quod te amare non valet; et negligere illum, qui tuae dilectioni cum dilectione omnia praebet? Propter hoc igitur non diligi mundus, sed diligi proximus a Deo praecipitur; quia proximus vicem sui amoris potest rependere, quod mundus minime posse non dubitatur. Sic enim inimicum esse diligendum Dominus praecepit, ut illa dilectio amicum illum ex inimico efficiat. Quisquis ergo dives cupidus vult aeternas habere divitias, distribuendo egenis praestet interim non mansuras. Si enim quod diliget non vendit, nemo potest emere quod cupit. Avari namque ideo in judicio a rectissimo judice nuncupantur maledicti, quia qui praeteribant eorum habitacula non dicebant: _Benedictio Domini super vos, benediximus vobis in nomine Domini_ (_Psal_. CXXVIII, 8). Infelices ergo sunt avari divites, qui propter res transitorias, in aeternam damnationem dilabuntur; et e contrario: _Beati sunt misericordes, quia misericordiam consequentur_ (_Matth_. V, 7). Felix est ergo misericors, dum in hac virtute non substantiam, sed affectum Deus requirit. CAPUT V. Quintus abusionis gradus est, femina sine pudicitia. Sicut enim omnes bonos mores procurat et custodit in viris prudentia, sic et in feminis cunctos honoris actus nutrit et fovet et custodit pudicitia. Pudicitia namque castitatem custodit, avaritiam refraenat, lites devitat, iram mitigat, libidinem occupat, cupiditatem temperat, lasciviam castigat, ebrietatem cavet, verba non multiplicat, gulae concupiscentias purgat, furtum omnino damnat. Quid plura? Omnia vitia restringit; et omnes virtutes, et quidquid coram Deo et bonis hominibus laudabile est nutrit. Impudica namque vita nec laudem ab hominibus in praesenti saeculo, nec remunerationem a Deo exspectat in futuro. Pudica vero vita, famam bonam inter homines habet, et de spe futurae beatitudinis gaudet. Praesentibus semetipsam imitabilem facit, posteris memoriam amabilem relinquit. Bonis semper moribus delectatur et consentit, et assiduis Scripturarum meditationibus et eloquiis animam vegetat. Bonorum praecedentium exempla custodit, et inseparabilia perfectis contubernia nectit. Duobus ergo modis constat verae pudicitiae exercitatio, id est corporis habitu et superficie et animi affectu inferno. Per exteriorem modum coram Deo, providemus opera bona. Pudicitia namque corporis est, alienas res non appetere, et omnem immunditiam devitare, ante horam congruam non gustare velle, risum non excitare, verba vana et falsa non loqui; habitum per omnia ordinatum, compositionemque convenientem tam capillorum quam vestium, sicut decet, habere; cum indignis contubernia non inire; supercilioso intuitu neminem aspicere, vagari oculos non permittere; pompatico et illecebroso gressu non incedere; nulli inferior in incoepto bono opere apparere, nulli contumeliam aut ruborem incutere, neminem blasphemare, senes non irridere, bonis non invidere, meliori non controversari; de his quae ignoras, non tractare, et ea quae scis non omnia proferre: haec enim proximis amabilem hominem reddunt, et Deo acceptabilem faciunt. Pudicitia enim animae est, plus propter Dei oculos quam hominum omnia bona facere; appetitiones turpium cogitationum compescere; omnes meliores se esse aestimare, nemini invidere; de semetipso nihil confidere, Dei semper auxilio res omnes committere, ante Dei oculos semetipsum constituere, haeretica pravitate sensum non maculare, catholicis per omnia consentire; Deo soli adhaerere, castitatem aeternae mentis Deo Christo offerre; omnia coepta opera bona mortis tantum termino finire; praesentes tribulationes animi fortitudine negligere, parvipendere; in terra praeter proximos nihil amare, cuncti amoris thesaurum in coelo constituere, et pro omni bono actu mercedem a Deo in coelestibus sperare. Pudicitia ornamentum nobilium est, exaltatio humilium, nobilitas ignobilium, pulchritudo debilium, prosperitas laborantium, solamen maerentium, augmentum omnis pulchritudinis, decus religionis, defensio criminum, multiplicatio meritorum, creatoris omnium Dei amicitia. CAPUT VI. Sextus abusionis gradus est dominus sine virtute, quia nihil proficit dominandi habere potestatem, si dominus ipse non habeat virtutis rigorem. Sed hic virtutis rigor, non tam exteriori fortitudine, quae et ipsa saecularibus dominis necessaria est, quam animi interiori fortitudine, exerceri debet. Saepe enim dominandi per animi negligentiam perditur fortitudo, sicut in Heli sacerdote factum fuisse comprobatur; qui dum severitate judicis peccantes filios non coercuit, in eorum vindictam, Dominus velut consentienti ferociter non pepercit. Tria ergo necessaria hos qui dominantur habere oportet: terrorem scilicet, et ordinationem, et amorem. Nisi enim ametur dominus pariter et metuatur, ordinatio illius constare minime potest. Per beneficia ergo et affabilitatem procuret ut diligatur, et per justas vindictas, non propriae injuriae, sed legis Dei, studeat ut metuatur. Propterea quoque, dum multi pendent in eo, ipse Deo adhaerere debet, qui illum in ducatum constituit; qui ad portanda multorum onera, ipsum veluti fortiorem solidavit. Paxillus enim nisi bene fortiter firmetur, et alicui fortiori adhaereat, omne quod in eo pendet cito labitur; et ipse solutus a rigore suae firmitatis, cum oneribus ad terram delabitur. Sic et princeps nisi suo Conditori pertinaciter adhaeserit, et ipse, et omne quod continet, cito depeirit. Quidam namque per dominandi officium plus Deo appropinquant, quidam imposito sibi dignitatis honore deteriores fiunt. Moyses namque, accepto populi ducatu, familiarius Dei locutionibus utebatur: Saul vero, filius Cis, postquam sceptra regni suscepit, per inobedientiae superbiam Deum offendit. Rex Salomon postquam patris sui David sedem obtinuit, Deus illum ultra omnes mortales velut ad innumerosi populi gubernationem sapientiae munere ditavit. E contrario vero Hieroboam, servus Salomonis, postquam regni domus David occupavit partem, ad idolorum cultum decem tribus Israel, quae erant in parte Samariae, diverterat. Per quae exempla evidenter ostenditur, quosdam in sublimiori statu ad majorem perfectionem crescere, quosdam vero per supercilium dominationis ad deteriora defluere. Per quod utrumque intelligitur eos qui ad meliora transcendunt, per virtutem animi et Dei auxilium posse id facere, et eos qui ad deteriora devertuntur, per mentis imbecillitatem pariter et negligentiam errare. Unde et dominum absque virtute fieri non decet, qui virtutem sine Dei auxilio nullatenus habet. Qui etenim multa tuetur, si non habet fortitudinem animi, non valet id agere, quoniam magna magnis infestationibus, vel adversitatibus solent laborare. Omnis ergo qui praeest, hoc primitus animi tota intentione procuret, ut per omnia de Dei adjutorio omnino non dubitet. Si namque coeperit in actibus suis auxiliatorem habere Dominum dominorum, nullus hominum contemptui poterit habere ejus dominatum: _Non enim est potestas nisi a Deo_ (_Rom_. XIII). Ipse enim elevat de stercore egenum, et sedere facit cum principibus populi sui, et deponit potentes de sede, et exaltat humiles; ut subditus fiat omnis mundus Deo et egeat gloria Dei. CAPUT VII. Septimus abusionis gradus est Christianus contentiosus, qui, cum participationem nominis Christi per fidem et Baptismum susceperit, contra Christi dicta et propositum, mundi caduca delectamenta diligit. Omne enim de quo contenditur, aut propter propriam ejus rei dilectionem de qua agitur, aut propter alterius amorem, quae sub odiosa specie latet, appetitur. Quemadmodum, verbi gratia, bellum animoso compugnantium conflictu cum odiosa res sit, propter amorem victoriae et libertatis peragitur; et multae aliae dilectae species, sub odioso labore vel formidine, satis contentiose expetuntur. Unde patenter intelligitur nihil contendi posse, nisi propter dilectionem, speratam scilicet et subsequentem amabilem remunerationem. Qui igitur de mundo praesente ex quacumque causa contendit, perspicue ostendit quod illum diligit. Quomodo ergo mundum diligi per Joannem Spiritus sancti sermones interdicunt, qui ait: _Nolite diligere mundum, neque ea quae in mundo sunt_ (_I Joan_. II, 15). Mundi enim amor et Dei pariter in uno corde cohabitare non possunt, quemadmodum iidem oculi coelum pariter et terram nequaquam conspiciunt. Sed requirendum est si vere in mundo aliquid sit quod amari debeat, et quis sit ille mundus, quem diligi divina eloquia vetant. Terra ergo cum nascentibus ex ea, et metallis, et animantibus, et pulchritudine vestium, et oblectationibus ciborum, et iis quae ad haec pertinent, non diligi praecipitur; sed proximus, propter quem haec omnia facta sunt, amari jubetur. Haec enim omnia praedicta, velut non mansura, ad coelestem patriam pergentes concomitari nequeunt. Proximi vero velut mansuri regis cohaeredes, semetipsos licenter invicem diligunt. Quod ergo semper in mundo non manet, et cum mundo pariter deficiet, et ipse mundus non amari praecipitur; proximus autem, qui est pars regni coelestis, in terra et inter ima elementa, a regni coelorum appetitoribus non incongrue amatur, dum in suprema illa patria in aeternum cohaeres habebitur. Propterea vero mundus praesens non diligi imperatur, ne a Dei dilectione alienus, saeculi dilector quisque efficiatur. Non ergo debet contendi, quod non licet amari. Igitur Christianus, qui nominis Christi similitudinem tenet, morum quoque ejus similitudinem habere debet. Christianus enim nemo recte dicitur, nisi qui Christo moribus coaequatur. De Christo vero per Prophetam ita scribitur: _Ecce filius meus quem elegi, electus meus, complacuit in illo sibi anima mea: ponam Spiritum meum super eum. Non contendet, neque clamabit, neque audiet aliquis in platea vocem ejus_ (_Is_. XLII, 1; _Matth_. XII, 18). Ecce Christus non contendit, neque clamavit: et tu si morum Christi similitudinem tenere cupis, ne contendas, ne abusivus in Ecclesia Christianus existas. Suis enim sectatoribus Christus praecepit: _Nolite vocari rabbi; unus est enim pater vester, qui in coelis est. Omnes enim vos fratres estis_ (_Matth_. XXIII, 8), quibus ad supplicandum imperavit, cum dicit: _Sic autem orabitis: Pater noster qui in coelis, sanctificetur nomen tuum_ (_Matth_. VI, 9). Frustra ergo contendit patrem se habere in terra, qui patrem et patriam profitetur se habere in coelo. Cujus patriae nemo possessor efficitur, nisi qui de terrenae patriae contentione securus habetur. CAPUT VIII. Octavus abusionis gradus est, pauper superbus, qui, nihil habens, in superbiam extollitur: cum e contrario divitibus saeculi non superbe sapere per apostolum Paulum imperetur. Quid ergo stolidius potest fieri quam illum qui per infirmam miseriam velut in terram abjectus, extremus et humilis incedere et contristari debuerat, supercilioso superbiae tumore inflatam mentem contra Deum erigere? Per quod vitium lapsi corruerunt, qui in summo coeli conditi erant culmine. Quid ergo vult quasi potens in terra superbire, qui prae omnibus hominibus debuerat humilis apparere? Sed, ne de paupertate sua tristitiam habeant, quid a Deo recepturi sint pauperes attendant; ipse enim inquit: _Beati pauperes spiritu, quoniam ipsorum est regnum coelorum_ (_Matth_. V, 3). Recta namque dispensatione misericors judex coeli regnum illis committit quibus regni terrarum participationem inter mortales abstulit, ut ipse dives in coeli sede appareat qui in terra penitus nihil procurat. Cavendum ergo pauperibus est ne, dum per egestatem et necessitatem terrenum regnum praetereunt, per mentis etiam impudentiam coelorum regna amittant. Cum enim Dei dispensatione paupertatem necessariam acceperunt, in ipsorum arbitrio pendet utrum pauperes spiritu sint. Non quibuscumque namque pauperibus coeli regna promittuntur, sed his tantummodo in quibus divitiarum inopiam animorum humilitas comitatur. Pauper enim humilis pauper spiritu appellatur, qui, cum egenus foris cernitur, numquam in superbiam elevatur: quoniam ad appetenda regna coelorum plus valet mentis humilitas, quam praesentium divitiarum temporalis paupertas. Etenim humiles qui bene divitias possessas habent, possunt pauperes spiritu appellari: superbos autem nihil habentes, haud dubium est beatitudine paupertatis privari. De quibus utrisque sancta Scriptura ita loquitur: _Est quasi dives nihil habens, et est quasi pauper, cum in multis divitiis sit_ (_Prov_. XIII, 7). Quasi pauper ergo in multis divitiis est dives humilis spiritu; et nihil habens quasi dives est pauper superbus mentis affectu. Nobilis ergo inopia est mentis humilitas, et ineptae divitiae sunt animorum enormitas. Providendum est ergo pauperibus, ut semetipsos, quales sint, intelligant; et quia rebus consequi quod cupiunt non valent, mentis tumore superbire desinant. CAPUT IX. Nonus abusionis gradus est, rex iniquus. Etenim regem non iniquum, sed correctorem iniquorum esse oportet. Inde in semetipso nominis sui dignitatem custodire debet: nomen enim regis intellectualiter hoc retinet, ut subjectis omnibus rectoris officium procuret. Sed qualiter alios corrigere poterit, qui proprios mores, ne iniqui sint, non corrigit? quoniam in justitia regis exaltatur solium, et in veritate regis solidantur gubernacula populorum. Justitia vero regis est neminem injuste per potentiam opprimere, sine personarum acceptione inter virum et proximum suum juste judicare, advenis et pupillis et viduis defensorem esse, furta cohibere, adulteria punire, iniquos non exaltare, impudicos et histriones non nutrire, impios de terra perdere, parricidas et pejerantes vivere non sinere, ecclesias defendere, pauperes eleemosynis alere, justos super regni negotia constituere, senes et sapientes et sobrios consiliarios habere, magorum, ariolorum pythonissarumque superstitionibus non intendere, iracundiam differre, patriam fortiter et juste contra adversarios defendere, per omnia in Deo confidere, prosperitatibus animum non elevare, cuncta adversa patienter tolerare, fidem catholicam in Deum habere, filios suos non sinere impie agere, certis horis orationibus insistere, ante horas congruas cibum non gustare. _Vae enim terrae cujus rex puer est, et cujus principes mane comedunt_ (_Eccle_. X, 10). Haec regni prosperitatem in praesenti faciunt, et regem ad coelestia regna meliora perducunt. Qui vero regnum non secundum hanc legem dispensat, multas nimirum adversitates imperii tolerabit. Idcirco enim pax saepe populorum rumpitur, et offendicula etiam de regno suscitantur, terrarum quoque fructus diminuuntur, et servitia populorum praepediuntur, multi et varii dolores prosperitatem regni inficiunt, charorum et liberorum mortes tristitiam conferunt, hostium incursus provincias undique vastant, bestiae armentorum et pecorum greges dilacerant: tempestates aeris et hyemis terrarum foecunditatem et maris ministeria prohibent, et aliquando fulminum ictus segetes et arborum flores et pampinos exurunt. Super omnia vero regis injustitia, non solum praesentis imperii faciem offuscat, sed etiam filios suos et nepotes, ne post se regni haereditatem teneant, obscurat. Propter piaculum enim Salomonis, regnum domus Israel Dominus de manibus filiorum ejus dispersit. Et propter justitiam David regis, lucernam de semine ejus semper in Hierusalem reliquit (III _Reg_. XI, 31-35). Ecce quantum justitia regis saeculo valeat, intuentibus perspicue patet. Est enim pax populorum tutamen patriae, immunitas plebis, munimentum gentis, cura languorum, gaudium hominum, temperies aeris, serenitas maris, terrae foecunditas, solatium pauperum, haereditas filiorum, et sibimet ipsi spes futurae beatitudinis. Attamen sciat rex quod, sicut in throno hominum primus constitutus est, sic et in poenis, si justitiam non fecerit, primatum habiturus est. Omnes namque quoscumque peccatores sub se in praesenti habuit, supra se modo implacabili, in illa poena futura habebit. CAPUT X. Decimus gradus abusionis est episcopus negligens; qui gradus sui honorem inter homines requirit, sed ministerii sui dignitatem coram Deo, pro quo legatione fungitur, non custodit. Primum namque ab episcopo, quid sui nominis dignitas teneat, inquiratur, quoniam, cum episcopus nomen graecum sit, speculator interpretatur. Quare vero speculator ponitur, et quid a speculatore requiritur, Dominus ipse denudat, cum sub Ezechielis prophetae persona, episcopo officii sui rationem denuntiat, ita inquiens: _Speculatorem dedi te domui Israel. Audiens ergo ex ore meo sermonem, nuntiabis eis ex me. Si autem videris gladium venientem, et tu non annuntiaveris ut revertatur impius a via sua, ipse quidem impius in iniquitate sua morietur, sanguinem autem ejus de manu tua requiram. Si autem tu annuntiaveris, et ille non fuerit reversus, ipse quidem in iniquitate sua morietur, sed tu animam tuam liberasti_ (_Ezech_. III, 17). Decet ergo episcopum, qui omnium speculator positus est, peccata diligenter attendere, et postquam attenderit, sermone, si potuerit et actu corrigere; si non potuerit, juxta Evangelii regulam, scelerum operarios declinare: _Si enim_, inquit in Evangelio Dominus, _peccaverit in te frater tuus, corripe illum inter te et ipsum solum. Si te audierit, lucratus eris fratrem tuum: si te non audierit, adhibe tecum adhuc unum vel duos testes, ut in ore duorum vel trium testium stet omne verbum: si illos non audierit, dic Ecclesiae: si Ecclesiam non audierit, sit tibi sicut ethnicus et publicanus_ (_Matth_. XVIII, 15). Tali ordine expellendus est quicumque doctori vel episcopo adhaerere noluerit. Et qui tali ordine expulsus fuerit, ab alio aliquo doctore vel episcopo non debet recipi. De sacerdote namque scriptum est in lege: _Viduam aut repudiatam non accipiat uxorem_ (_Levit_. XXI, 7). Qui ergo illum excommunicatum a catholico, illo non permittente, sibi jungit, jura sacerdotii sancti, in quo Christianorum genus electum est, excedit. Hac ratione episcopum, ad eos quibus in speculationem positus est, esse oportet. Caeterum vero, qualis in semetipso esse debeat, Paulus apostolus exponit: ut ad gradum episcopi veniens sit sobrius, prudens, castus, sapiens, modestus, hospitalis, filios habens subditos cum omni castitate, testimonium habens bonum ab his qui foris sunt, proferens doctrinae fidelem sermonem; antequam episcopus sit, non plures habens uxores quam unam; non percussor, non bilinguis, non ebriosus, non neophytus, ut per haec ipse ostendat in opere, quod alios docet in sermone doctrinae (I _Tim_. III, 2). Caveant ergo negligentes episcopi quod in tempore vindictae Dominus per Prophetam conqueritur, dicens: _Pastores muti demoliti sunt populum meum, et non pascebant gregem meum pastores, sed pascebant semetipsos_ (_Ezech_. XXXIV, 8); sed potius procurent hi quos constituit Dominus super familiam suam, dare illis cibum in tempore suo mensuram tritici, puram scilicet et probatam doctrinam, quatenus veniente Domino mereantur audire: _Euge, serve bone et fidelis, quia supra pauca fuisti fidelis, supra multa te constituam: intra in gaudium domini tui_ (_Matth_. XXV, 23). CAPUT XI. Undecimus abusionis gradus est plebs sine disciplina, quae, cum disciplinae exercitationibus non servit, communi se perditionis laqueo constringit: iram etenim Domini absque disciplinae rigore non evadit. Atque idcirco Psalmistae vocibus indisciplinatae plebi praedicatur: _Apprehendite disciplinam, ne quando irascatur Dominus_ (_Psal_. II, 12). Disciplina vero morum est ordinata correctio et majorum praecedentium regularum observatio. De qua disciplina Paulus apostolus ita loquitur dicens: _In disciplina perseverate; tamquam filiis vobis offert se Deus. Quod si extra disciplinam estis, cujus participes facti estis? Omnes enim adulteri, et non filii estis_ (_Hebr_. XII, 8). Qui ergo adulteri, sine disciplina sunt, et coelestis regni haereditatem non capiunt: si filii autem paternae disciplinae correctiones ferunt, et haereditatem quandoque recipcre posse non desperent. De qua etiam disciplina Esaias quidem indisciplinatae plebi praedicat, dicens: _Quiescite agere perverse, discite bene facere_ (_Isa_. I, 16). Et ad eamdem Psalmista consona voce compsallit, dicens: _Declina a malo, et fac bonum_ (_Psal_. XXIII, 15). Infelix ergo est qui abjicit disciplinam. Audet enim extra milites aliquid qui, Dominum crucifigentes, non ejus sciderunt tunicam, qui Ecclesiae Christi scindit disciplinam. Sicut enim tunica totum corpus praeter caput tegitur, ita disciplina, omnis Ecclesia, praeter Christum, qui caput est Ecclesiae et sub disciplina non est, protegitur et ornatur. Ipsa vero tunica contexta desuper fuerat per totum, quia eadem disciplina Ecclesiae a Domino de coelo tribuitur et integratur. De qua Dominus cum ad Patrem ascendisset, postquam resurrexit a mortuis, ad Apostolos suos loquebatur, dicens: _Vos autem sedete hic in civitate, quoadusque induamini virtute ex alto_ (_Luc_. XXIV, 49). Tunica ergo corporis Christi disciplina Ecclesiae est: qui autem extra disciplinam est, alienus est a corpore Christi. _Non scindamus igitur illam, sed sortiamur de illa cujus sit_ (_Joan_. XIX, 24); id est, non solvamus quidquam de mandatis Domini, sed unusquisque in quo vocatus est, in eo permaneat apud Dominum. CAPUT XII. Duodecimus abusionis gradus est populus sine lege, qui, dum Dei dicta et legum scita contemnit, per diversas errorum vias eumdem perditionis laqueum incurrit. De quibus viis sub persona praevaricatoris populi, humanum genus Propheta ita deplangit: _Nos autem sicut oves erravimus, unusquisque in viam suam declinavit_ (_Isa_. LIII, 6), de quibus viis etiam Sapientia loquitur per Salomonem: _Multae viae videntur hominibus rectae, et novissima earum deducunt ad mortem_ (_Prov._ XIV, 12). Quae utique multae perditionis viae tunc inceduntur, cum una regalis via, lex Dei videlicet, quae neque ad dexteram neque ad sinistram declinat, per negligentiam deseritur. De qua scilicet via Dominus Jesus Christus, qui est finis legis ad justitiam onmi credenti, denuntiat: _Ego sum via, veritas et vita, neque venit ad Patrem nisi per me_ (_Joan_. XIV, 6). Ad quam viam omnes homines communiter invitat, dicens: _Venite ad me, omnes qui laboratis et onerati estis, et ego reficiam vos_ (_Matth_. XI, 28); _quia non est personarum acceptio apud Deum_ (_Rom_. II, 11), ubi non est Judaeus, nec Graecus, masculus et femina, servus et liber, barbarus et Scytha, sed omnia in omnibus Christus: omnes enim unum sunt in Christo Jesu. Dum ergo Christus finis legis est, qui sine lege sunt, sine Christo fiunt. Igitur populus sine lege, populus sine Christo est. Abusivum ergo in temporibus Evangelii populum sine lege fieri, quando Apostolis in cunctas gentes licentia praedicationis data est, quando tonitruum Evangelii per cunctas saeculi partes intonuit, quando Gentes quae non sectabantur justitiam, apprehenderunt justitiam; quando qui de longe fuerant, facti sunt prope in sanguine Christi: qui aliquando non populus, nunc autem populus Dei in Christo; quando est tempus acceptabile, et dies salutis, et tempora refrigerii in conspectu Altissimi; quando unaquaeque gens habet testem resurrectionis; quando ipse Dominus protestatur, dicens: _Ecce ego vobiscum sum omnibus diebus usque ad consummationem saeculi_ (_Matth_. XXVIII, 20). Non itaque simus sine Christo in hoc tempore transitorio, ne sine nobis Christus esse incipiat in futuro. *** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DE DUODECIM ABUSIONIBUS SAECULI *** Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will be renamed. 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