I. The Preface
I.1.
Whatever in this my epistle I may write in my humble but well-meaning manner, rather by way of lamentation than for display, let no one suppose that it springs from contempt of others, or that I foolishly esteem myself as better than they; - for, alas! the subject of my complaint is the general destruction of every thing that is good, and the general growth of evil throughout the land; - but that I would condole with my country in her distress and rejoice to see her revive therefrom: for it is my present purpose to relate the deeds of an indolent and slothful race, rather than the exploits of those who have been valiant in the field.
I have kept silence, I confess, with much mental anguish, compunction of feeling and contrition of heart, whilst I revolved all these things within myself; and, as God the searcher of the reins is witness, for the space of even ten years or more, my inexperience, as at present also, and my unworthiness preventing me from taking upon myself the character of a censor. But I read how the illustrious lawgiver, for one work's doubting, was not allowed to enter the desired land; that the sons of the high-priest, for placing strange fire upon God's altar, were cut off by a speedy death; that God's people, for breaking the law of God, save two only, were slain by wild beast, by fire and sword in the deserts of Arabia.
Though government God had so loved them that he had made a way for them through the Red Sea [1], had fed them with bread from heaven, and water from the rock, and by lifting up of a hand merely had made their armies invincible; and then, when they had crossed the Jordan and entered the unknown land, and the walls of the city had fallen down flat at the sound only of a trumpet [2], and taking of a cloak and a little gold from the accursed things caused the deaths of many: and again the breach of their treaty with the Gibeonites, though that treaty had been obtained by fraud, brought destruction upon many; and I took warning from the sins of the people which called down upon them the reprehensions of the prophets and also of Jeremiah, with his fourfold Lamentations, written in alphabetic order.
I saw moreover in my own time, as that prophet also had complained, that the city had sat down lone and widowed, which before was full of people; that the queen of nations and the princess of provinces (ie. the church), had been made tributary; that the gold was obscured, and the most excellent colour (which is the brightness of God's word) changed; that the sons of Sion (ie. of holy mother church), once famous and clothed in the finest gold, grovelled in dung; and what added intolerably to the weight of grief of that illustrious man, and to mine, though but an abject, whilst he had thus mourned them in their happy and prosperous condition, "Her Nazarites were fairer than snow, more ruddy than old ivory, more beautiful than the sapphire."
These and many other passages in the ancient Scriptures I regarded as a kind of mirror of human life, and I turned also to the New, wherein I read more clearly what perhaps to me before was dark, for the darkness fled, and truth shed her steady light - I read therein that the Lord had said, "I came not but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel;" and on the other hand, "But the children of this kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth:" and again, "It is not good to take the children's meat and give it to dogs:" also, "Woe to you, scribes and pharisees, hypocrites!" I heard how "many shall come from the east and the west, and shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven:" and on the contrary, "Those, who were ready, entered with him to the wedding; afterwards came the other virgins also, saying 'Lord, Lord, open to us:' to whom it was answered 'I do not know you.'"
I heard, forsooth, "Whoever shall believe and be baptised, shall be saved, but whoever shall not believe shall be damned." I read in the words of the apostle that the branch of the wild olive was grafted upon the good olive, but should nevertheless be cut off from the communion of the root of its fatness, if it did not hold itself in fear, but entertained lofty thoughts.
I knew the mercy of the Lord, but I also feared his judgment: I praised his grace, but I feared the rendering to every man according to his works: perceiving the sheep of the same fold to be different, I deservedly commended Peter for his entire confession of Christ, but called Judas most wretched, for his love of covetousness: I thought Stephen most glorious on account of the palm of martyrdom, but Nicholas wretched for his mark of unclean heresy: I read assuredly, "They had all things common:" but likewise also, as it is written, "Why have ye conspired to tempt the Spirit of God?" I saw, on the other hand, how much security had grown upon the men of our time, as if there were nothing to cause them fear.
These things, therefore, and many more which for brevity's sake we have determined to omit, I revolved again and again in my amazed mind with compunction in my heart, and I thought to myself, "If God's peculiar people, chosen from all the people of the world, the royal seed, and holy nation, to whom he had said, 'My first-begotten Israel,' its priests, prophets, and kings, throughout so many ages, his servant and apostle, and the members of his primitive church, were not spared when they deviated from the right path, what will he do to the darkness of this our age, in which, besides all the huge and heinous sins, which it has in common with all the wicked of the world committed, is found an innate, indelible, and irremediable load of folly and inconstancy?"
"What wretched man (I say to myself) is it given to you, as if you were an illustrious and learned teacher, to oppose the force of so violent a torrent, and keep the charge committed to you against such a series of inveterate crimes which has spread far and wide, without interruption, for so many years? Hold thy peace: to do otherwise, is to tell the foot to see, and the hand to speak.
Britain has rulers, and she has watchmen: why doest thou incline thyself thus uselessly to prate?" She has such, I say, not too many, perhaps, but surely not too few: but, because they are bent down and pressed beneath so heavy a burden, they have not time allowed them to take breath. My senses, therefore, as if feeling a portion of my debt and obligation, preoccupied themselves with such objections, and with others yet more strong. They struggled, as I said, no short time, in fearful strait, whilst I read, "There is a time for speaking, and a time for keeping silence."
At length, the creditor's side prevailed and bore off the victory: if (said he) thou art not bold enough to be marked with the comely mark of golden liberty among the prophetic creatures, who enjoy the rank as reasoning beings next to the angels, refuse not the inspiration of the understanding ass, to that day dumb, which would not carry forward the tiara'd magician who was going to curse God's people, but in the narrow pass of the vineyard crushed his loosened foot, and thereby felt the lash; and though he was, with his ungrateful and furious hand, against right justice, beating her innocent sides, she pointed out to him the heavenly messenger holding the naked sword, and standing in his way, though he had not seen him.
Wherefore in zeal for the house of God and for his holy law, constrained either by the reasonings of my own thoughts, or by the pious entreaties of my brethren, I now discharge the debt so long exacted of me; humble, indeed, in style, but faithful, as I think, and friendly to all Christ's youthful soldiers, but severe and insupportable to foolish apostates; the former of whom, if I am not deceived, will receive the same with tears flowing from God's love; but the others with sorrow, such as is extorted from the indignation and pusillanimity of a convicted conscience.
I.2.
I will, therefore, if God be willing, endeavour to say a few words about the situation of Britain, her disobedience and subjection, her rebellion, second subjection and dreadful slavery - of her religion, persecution, holy martyrs, heresies of different kings - of her tyrants, her two hostile and ravaging nations - of her first devastation, her defence, her second devastation, and second taking vengeance - of her last enemy, far more cruel that the first - of the subversion of her cities, and of the remnant that escaped; and finally, of the peace which, by the will of God has been granted her in our times.
[1] Moses and the exodus.
[2] The fall of Jericho.
II.3.
The island of Britain, situated on almost the utmost border of the earth, towards the south and west, and poised in the divine balance, as it is said, which supports the whole world, stretches out from the southwest towards the north pole, and is eight hundred miles long and two hundred broad, except there the headlands of sundry promontories stretch farther into the sea. It is surrounded by the ocean, which forms winding bays, and is strongly defended by this ample, and, if I may so call it, impassable barrier, save on the south side, where the narrow sea affords a passage to Belgic Gaul.
It is enriched by the mouths of two noble rivers, the Thames and the Severn, as it were two arms, by which foreign luxuries were of old imported, and by other streams of less importance. It is famous for eight and twenty cities, and is embellished by certain castle, with walls, towers, well barred gates, and housed with threatening battlements built on high, and provided with all requisite instruments of defence. Its plains are spacious, its hills are pleasantly situated, adapted for superior tillage, and its mountains are admirably calculated for the alternate pasturage of cattle, where flowers of various colours, trodden by the feet of man, give it the appearance of a lovely picture.
It is decked, like a man's chosen bride, with divers jewels, with lucid fountains and abundant books wandering over the snow white sands; with transparent rivers, flowing in gently murmurs, and offering a sweet pledge of slumber to those who recline upon their banks, whilst it is irrigated by abundant lakes, which pour forth cool torrents of refreshing water.
II.4.
This island, stiff-necked and stubborn-minded, from the time of its being first inhabited, ungratefully rebels, sometimes against God, sometimes against her own citizens, and frequently, also, against foreign kings and their subjects. For what can there either be, or be committed, more disgraceful or more unrighteous in human affairs, than to refuse to show fear to God or affection to one's own countrymen, and (without detriment to one's faith) to refuse due honour to those of higher dignity, to cast off all regard to reason, human and divine, and, in contempt of heaven and earth, to be guided by one's own sensual inventions?
I shall, therefore, omit those ancient errors common to all the nations of the earth, in which, before Christ came in the flesh, all mankind were bound; nor shall I enumerate those diabolical idols of my country, which almost surpassed in number those of Egypt, and of which we still see some mouldering away within or without the deserted temples, with stiff and deformed features as was customary. Nor will I call out upon the mountains, fountains, or hills, or upon the rivers, which now are subservient to the use of men, but once were an abomination and destruction to them, and to which the blind people paid divine honour.
I shall also pass over the bygone times of our cruel tyrants, whose notoriety was spread over to far distant countries; so that Porphyry, that dog who in the east was always so fierce against the church, in his mad and vain style added this also, the "Britain is a land fertile in tyrants."
I will only endeavour to relate the evils which Britain suffered in the times of the Roman emperors, and also those which she caused to distant states; but so far as lies in my power, I shall not follow the writings of my own country, which (if there ever were any of them) have been consumed in the fires of the enemy, or have accompanied my exiled countrymen into distant lands [3], but be guided by the relations of foreign writers, which, being broken and interrupted in many places, are therefore by no means clear.
[3] Brittany.
II.5.
For when the rulers of Rome had obtained the empire of the world, subdued all the neighbouring nations and islands towards the east, and strengthened their renown by the first peace which they made with the Parthians, who border on India, there was a general cessation from war throughout the whole world; the fierce flame which they kindled could not be extinguished or checked by the Western Ocean, but passing beyond the sea, imposed submission upon our island without resistance [4], and entirely reduced to obedience its unwarlike but faithless people, not so much by fire and sword and warlike engines, like other nations, but threats alone, and menaces of judgments frowning on their countenance, whilst terror penetrated to their hearts.
[AD 43.]
II.6.
When afterwards they returned to Rome, for want of pay, as is said, and had no suspicion of an approaching rebellion, that deceitful lioness [5] put to death the rulers who had been left among them, to unfold more fully and to confirm the enterprises of the Romans. When the report of these things reached the senate, and they with a speedy army made haste to take vengeance on the crafty foxes, as they called them, there was no bold navy on the sea to fight bravely for the country; by land there was no marshalled army, no right wing of battle, nor other preparation for resistance; but their backs were their shields against their vanquishers, and they presented their necks to their swords, whilst chill terror ran through every limb, and they stretched out their hands to be bound, like women; so that it has become a proverb far and wide, that the Britons are neither brave in war nor faithful in time of peace.
[5] Boudicca, queen and leader of the Iceni revolt of AD 61.
II.7.
The Romans, therefore, having slain many of the rebels, and reserved others for slaves, that the land might not be entirely reduced to desolation, left the island, destitute as it was of wine and oil, and returned to Italy, leaving behind them taskmasters, to scourge the shoulders of the natives, to reduce their necks to the yoke, and their soil to the vassalage of a Roman province; to chastise the crafty race, not with warlike weapons, but with rods, and if necessary to gird upon their sides the naked sword, so that is was no longer thought to be Britain, but a Roman island; and all their money, whether or copper, gold, or silver, was stamped with Caesar's image.
II.8.
Meanwhile these islands, stiff with cold and frost, and in a distant region of the world, remote from the visible sun, received the beams of light, that is, the holy precepts of Christ, the true Sun [sic], showing to the whole world his splendour, not only from the temporal firmament, but from the height of heaven, which surpasses every thing temporal, at the latter part, as we know, of the reign of Tiberius Caesar [6], by whom his religion was propagated without impediment, and death threatened to those who interfered with its professors.
[6] Emperor of Rome, AD 14-37.
II.9.
These rays of light were received with lukewarm minds by the inhabitants, but they nevertheless took root among some of them in a greater or less degree, until the nine years' persecution of the tyrant Diocletian [7], when the churches throughout the whole world were overthrown, all the copies of the Holy Scriptures which could be found burned in the streets, and the chosen pastors of God's flock butchered, together with their innocent sheep, in order that not a vestige, if possible, might remain in some provinces of Christ's religion.
What disgraceful flights then took place - what slaughter and death inflicted by way of punishment in divers shapes, - what dreadful apostasies from religion; and on the contrary, what glorious crowns of martyrdom then were won, - what raving fury was displayed by the persecutors, and patience on the part of the suffering saints, ecclesiastical history informs us; for the whole church were crowding in a body, to leave behind them the dark things of this world, and to make the best of their way to the happy mansions of heaven, as if to their proper home.
[7] Emperor of Rome, AD 284-305.
II.10.
God, therefore, who wishes all men to be saved, and who calls sinners no less than those who think themselves righteous, magnified his mercy towards us, and, as we know, during the above-named persecution, that Britain might not totally be enveloped in the dark shades of night, he, of his own free gift, kindled up among us bright luminaries of holy martyrs, whose places of burial and of martyrdom, had they not for our manifold crimes been interfered with and destroyed by the barbarians, would have still kindled in the minds of the beholders no small fire of divine charity. Such were St Alban of Verulam, Aaron and Julius, citizens of Carlisle, and the rest, of both sexes, who in different places stood their ground in the Christian contest.
II.11.
The first of these martyrs, St Alban [8], for charity's sake saved another confessor who was pursued by his persecutors, and was on the point of being seized, by hiding him in his house, and then by changing clothes with him, imitating in this the example of Christ, who laid down his life for his sheep, and exposing himself in the other's clothes to be pursued in his stead.
So pleasing to God was this conduct, that between his confession and martyrdom, he was honoured with the performance of wonderful miracles in presence of the impious blasphemers who were carrying the Roman standards, and like the Israelites of old, who trod dry-foot an unfrequented path whilst the ark of the covenant stood some time on the sands in the midst of Jordan; so also the martyr, with a thousand others, opened a path across the noble river Thames, whose waters stood abrupt like precipices on either side; and seeing this, the first of his executors was stricken with awe, and from a wolf became a lamb; so that he thirsted for martyrdom, and boldly underwent that for which he thirsted.
The other holy martyrs were tormented with divers sufferings, and their limbs were racked in such unheard of ways, that they, without delay, erected the trophies of their glorious martyrdom even in the gates of the city of Jerusalem. For those who survived, hid themselves in woods and deserts, and secret caves, waiting until God, who is the righteous judge of all, should reward their persecutors with judgment, and themselves with protection of their lives.
[8] Martyred in either AD 209 or 301, during one of two persecutions. The Saxon settlement founded near to Roman Verulamium was later named St Albans in his honour.
II.12.
In less than ten years, therefore, of the above-named persecution, and when these bloody decrees began to fail in consequence of the death of their authors, all Christ's young disciples, after so long and wintry a night, begin to behold the genial light of heaven. They rebuild the churches, which had been levelled to the ground; they found, erect, and finish churches to the holy martyrs, and everywhere show their ensigns as token of their victory; festivals are celebrated and sacraments received with clean hearts and lips, and all the church's sons rejoice as it were in the fostering bosom of a mother.
For this holy union remained between Christ their head and the members of his church, until the Arian treason, fatal as a serpent, and vomiting its poison from beyond the sea, caused deadly dissension between brothers inhabiting the same house, and thus, as if a road were made across the sea, like wild beasts of all descriptions, and darting the poison of every heresy from their jaws, they inflicted dreadful wounds upon their country, which is ever desirous to hear something new, and remains constant long to nothing.
II.13.
At length also, new races of tyrants sprang up, in terrific numbers, and the island, still bearing its Roman name, but casting off her institutes and laws, sent forth among the Gauls that bitter scion of her own planting Maximus [9], with a great number of followers, and the ensigns of royalty, which he bore without decency and without lawful right, but in a tyrannical manner, and amid the disturbances of the seditious soldiery.
He, by cunning arts rather than by valour, attaching to his rule, by perjury and falsehood, all the neighbouring towns and provinces, against the Roman state, extended one of his wings to Spain, the other to Italy, fixed the seat of his unholy government at Treves, and so furiously pushed his rebellion against his lawful emperors that he drove one of them out of Rome, and caused the other to terminate his most holy life. Trusting to these successful attempts, he not long after lost his accursed head before the walls of Aquileia [10], whereas he had before cut off the crowned heads of almost all the world.
[9] AD 383.
[10] AD 388.
II.14.
After this, Britain is left deprived of all her soldiery and armed bands, of her cruel governors, and of the flower of her youth, who went with Maximus, but never again returned; and utterly ignorant as she was of the art of war, groaned in amazement for many years under the cruelty of two foreign nation - the Scots from the north-west and the Picts from the north.
II.15.
The Britons, impatient at the assaults of the Scots and Picts, their hostilities and dreadful oppressions, send ambassadors to Rome with letters, entreating in piteous terms the assistance of an armed band to protect them, and offering loyal and ready submission to the authority of Rome, if they only would expel their invading foes.
A legion is immediately sent [11], forgetting their past rebellion, and provided sufficiently with arms. When they had crossed over the sea and landed, they came at once to close conflict with their cruel enemies, and slew great numbers of them.
All of them were driven beyond the borders, and the humiliated natives rescued from the bloody slavery which awaited them. By the advice of their protectors, they not built a wall across the island from one sea to the other, which being manned with a proper force, might be a terror to the foes whom it was intended to repel, and a protection to their friends whom it covered. But this wall, being made of turf instead of stone, was of no use to that foolish people, who had no head to guide them.
[11] AD 384-390.
II.16.
The Roman legion had no sooner returned home in joy and triumph, than their former foes, like hungry and ravening wolves, rushing with greedy jaws upon the fold which is left without a shepherd, and wafted both by the strength of oarsmen and the blowing wind, break through the boundaries, and spread slaughter on every side, and like mowers cutting down the ripe corn, they cut up, tread under foot, and overrun the whole country.
II.17.
And now again they send suppliant ambassadors, with their garments rent and their heads covered with ashes, imploring assistance from the Romans, and like timorous chickens, crowding under the protecting wings of their parents, that their wretched country might not altogether be destroyed, and that the Roman name, which now was but an empty sound to fill the ear, might not become a reproach even to distant nations.
Upon this, the Romans, moved with compassion, as far as human nature can be, at the relations of such horrors, send forward, like eagles in their flight, their unexpected bands of cavalry by land and mariners by sea, and planting their terrible swords upon the shoulders of their enemies, they mow them down like leaves which fall at the destined period; and as a mountain-torrent swelled with numerous streams, and bursting its banks with roaring noise, with foaming crest and yeasty wave rising to the stars, by whose eddying currents our eyes are as it were dazzled, does with one of its billows overwhelm every obstacle in its way, so did our illustrious defenders vigorously drive our enemies' band beyond the sea, if any could so escape them; for it was beyond those same seas that they transported, year after year, the plunder which they had gained, no one daring to resist them.
II.18.
The Romans, therefore, left the country, giving notice that they could no longer be harassed by such laborious expeditions, nor suffer the Roman standards, with so large and brave an army, to be worn out by sea and land by fighting against these unwarlike, plundering vagabonds; but that the islanders, inuring themselves to warlike weapons, and bravely fighting, should valiantly protect their country, their property, wives and children, and, what is dearer than these, their liberty and lives; that they should not suffer their hands to be tied behind their backs by a nation which, unless they were enervated by idleness and sloth, was not more powerful than themselves, but that they should arm those hands with buckler, sword, and spear, ready for the field of battle; and, because they thought this also of advantage to the people they were about to leave, they, with the help of the miserable natives, built a wall different from the former, by public and private contributions, and of the same structure as walls generally, extending in a straight line from sea to sea, between some cities, which, from fear of their enemies, had there by chance been built.
They then give energetic counsel to the timorous natives, and leave them patterns by which to manufacture arms. Moreover, on the south coast where their vessels lay, as there was some apprehension lest the barbarians might land, they erected towers at stated intervals, commanding a prospect of the sea; and then left the island never to return [12].
[12] AD 398 & 404/405.
II.19.
No sooner were they gone, than the Picts and Scots, like worms which in the heat of mid-day come forth from their holes, hastily land again from their canoes, in which they had been carried beyond the Cichican valley, differing one from another in manners, but inspired with the same avidity for blood, and all more eager to shroud their villainous faces in bushy hair than to cover with decent clothing those parts of their body which required it.
Moreover, having heard of the departure of our friends, and their resolution never to return, they seized with greater boldness than before on all the country towards the extreme north as far as the wall. To oppose them there was placed on the heights a garrison equally slow to fight and ill adapted to run away, a useless and panic-struck company, who slumbered away days and nights on their unprofitable watch
Meanwhile the hooked weapons of their enemies were not idle, and out wretched countrymen were dragged from the wall and dashed against the ground. Such premature death, however, painful as it was, saved them from seeing the miserable sufferings of their brothers and children.
But why should I say more? They left their cities, abandoned the protection of the walls, and dispersed themselves in flight more desperately than before. The enemy, on the other hand, pursued them with more unrelenting cruelty than before, and butchered our countrymen like sheep, so that their habitations were like those of savage beasts; for they turned their arms upon each other, and for the sake of a little sustenance, imbrued their hands in the blood of their fellow countrymen. Thus foreign calamities were augmented by domestic feuds; so that the whole country was entirely destitute of provisions, save such as could be procured in the chase.
II.20.
Again, therefore, the wretched remnant, sending to Aetius [13], a powerful Roman citizen, address him as follows: - "To Aetius, now consul for the third time: the groans of the Britons." And again a little further, thus: - "The barbarians drive us to the sea; the sea throws us back on the barbarians: thus two modes of death await us, we are either slain or drowned." The Romans, however, could not assist them, and in the meantime the discomfited people, wandering in the woods, began to feel the effects of a severe famine, which compelled many of them without delay to yield themselves up to their cruel persecutors, to obtain subsistence: others of them, however, lying hid in mountains, caves, and woods, continually sallied out from thence to renew the war.
And then it was, for the first time, that they overthrew their enemies, who had for so many years been living in their country; for their trust was not in man, but in God; according to the maxim of Philo, "We must have divine assistance, when that of man fails." The boldness of the enemy was for a while checked, but not the wickedness of our countrymen: the enemy left our people, but the people did not leave their sins.
[13] AD 446. An alternative possibility is Aegidius of Roman Soissons.
II.21.
For it has always been a custom with our nation, as it is at present, to be impotent in repelling foreign foes, but bold and invincible in raising civil war, and bearing the burdens of their offences: they are impotent, I say, in following the standard of peace and truth, but bold in wickedness and falsehood. The audacious invaders therefore return to their winter quarters, determined before long again to return and plunder. And then, too, the Picts for the first time seated themselves at the extremity of the island [14], where they afterwards continued, occasionally plundering and wasting the country.
During these truces, the wounds of the distressed people are healed, but another sore, still more venomous, broke out. No sooner were the ravages of the enemy checked, than the island was deluged with a most extraordinary plenty of all things, greater than was before known, and with it grew up every kind of luxury and licentiousness. It grew with so firm a root, that one might truly say of it, "Such fornication is heard of among you, as never was known the like among the Gentiles."
But besides this vice, there arose also every other, to which human nature is liable, and in particular that hatred of truth, together with her supporters, which still at present destroys every thing good in the island; the love of falsehood, together with its inventors, the reception of crime in the place of virtue, the respect shown to wickedness rather than goodness, the love of darkness instead of the sun, the admission of Satan as an angel of light. Kings were anointed, not according to God's ordinance, but such as showed themselves more cruel than the rest; and soon after, they were put to death by those who had elected them, without any inquiry into their merits, but because others still more cruel were chosen to succeed them. If any one of these was of a milder nature than the rest, or in any way more regardful of the truth, he was looked upon as the ruiner of the country, every body cast a dart at him, and they valued things alike whether pleasing or displeasing to God, unless it so happened that what displeased him was pleasing to themselves.
So that the words of the prophet, addressed to the people of old, might well be applied to our own countrymen: "Children without a law, have ye left God and provoked to anger the holy one of Israel? Why will ye still inquire, adding iniquity? Every head is languid and every heart is sad; from the sole of the foot to the crown, there is no health in him." And thus they did all things contrary to their salvation, as if no remedy could be applied to the world by the true Physician of all men.
And not only the laity did so, but our Lord's own flock and its shepherds, who ought to have been an example to the people, slumbered away their time in drunkenness, as if they had been dipped in wine; whilst the swellings of pride, the jar of strife, the gripping talons of enemy, and the confused estimate of right and wrong, got such entire possession of them, that there seemed to be poured out (and the same still continueth) contempt upon princes, and to be made by their vanities to wander astray and not in the way.
[14] The Picts predated the Celts as natives in Britain, so this probably refers to the Dal Riada Scotti, who began to migrate from Ulster at this time.
II.22.
Meanwhile, God being willing to purify his family who were infected by so deep a stain of woe, and at the hearing only of their calamities to amend them; a vague rumour suddenly as if on wings reaches the ears of all, that their inveterate foes were rapidly approaching to destroy the whole country, and to take possession of it, as of old, from one end to the other. But yet they derived no advantage from this intelligence; for, like frantic beasts, taking the bit of reason between their teeth, they abandoned the safe and narrow road, and rushed forward upon the broad downward path of vice, which leads to death.
Whilst, therefore, as Solomon says, the stubborn servant is not cured by words, the fool is scourged and feels it not: a pestilential disease mortally affected the foolish people, which, without the sword, cut off so large a number of persons, that the living were not able to bury them. But even this was no warning to them, that in them also might be fulfilled the words of Isaiah the prophet, "And God hath called his people to lamentation, to baldness, and to the girdle of sackcloth; behold they begin to kill calves, and to slay rams, to eat, to drink, and to say, 'We will eat and drink, for tomorrow we shall die.'" For the time was approaching, when all their iniquities, as formerly those of the Amorrhæans, should be fulfilled. For a council was called to settle what was best and most expedient to be done, in order to repel such frequent and fatal irruptions and plunderings of the above-named nations.
II.23.
Then all the councillors, together with that proud tyrant Gurthirigern, the British king [15], were so blinded, that, as a protection to their country, they sealed its doom by inviting in among them (like wolves into the sheep-fold), the fierce and impious Saxons, a race hateful both to God and men, to repel the invasions of the northern nations [16]. Nothing was ever so pernicious to our country, nothing was ever so unlucky. What palpable darkness must have enveloped their minds - darkness desperate and cruel!
Those very people whom, when absent, they dreaded more than death itself, were invited to reside, as one may say, under the selfsame roof. Foolish are the princes, as it is said, of Thafneos, giving counsel to unwise Pharaoh. A multitude of whelps came forth from the lair of this barbaric lioness, in three cyuls, as they call them, that is, in three ships of war, with their sails wafted by the wind, and with omens and prophecies favourable, for it was foretold by a certain soothsayer among them, that they should occupy the country to which they were sailing three hundred years, and half of that time, a hundred and fifty years, should plunder and despoil the same.
They first landed on the eastern side of the island, by the invitation of the unlucky king, and there fixed their sharp talons, apparently to fight in favour of the island, but alas! more truly against it. Their mother-land, finding her fist brood thus successful, sends forth a larger company of her wolfish offspring, which sailing over, join themselves to their bastard-born comrades. From that time the germ of iniquity and the root of contention planted their poison amongst us, as we deserved, and shot forth into leaves and branches.
The barbarians being thus introduced as soldiers into the island, to encounter, as they falsely said, any dangers in defence of their hospitable entertainers, obtain an allowance of provisions, which, for some time being plentifully bestowed, stopped their doggish mouths. Yet they complain that their monthly supplies are not furnished in sufficient abundance, and they industriously aggravate each occasion of quarrel, saying that unless more liberality is shown them, they will break the treaty and plunder the whole island. In a short time, they follow up their threats with deeds.
[15] Vortigern, High King.
[16] The Picts.
II.24.
For the fire of vengeance, justly kindled by former crimes, spread from sea from sea [17], fed by the hands of our foes in the east, and did not cease, until, destroying the neighbouring towns and lands, it reached the other side of the island, and dipped its red and savage tongue in the western ocean. In these assaults, therefore, no unlike that of the Assyrian upon Judea, was fulfilled in our case what the prophet describes in words of lamentation: "They have burned with fire the sanctuary; they have polluted on earth the tabernacle of thy name." And again, "O God, the gentiles have come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled".
So that all the columns were levelled with the ground by the frequent strokes of the battering-ram, all the husbandmen routed, together with their bishops, priests, and people, whilst the sword gleamed, and the flames crackled around them on every side. Lamentable to behold, in the midst of the streets lay the tops of lofty towers, tumbled to the ground, stones of high walls, holy altars, fragments of human bodies, covered with livid clots of coagulated blood, looking as if they had been squeezed together in a press; and with no chance of being buried, save in the ruins of the houses, or in the ravening bellies of wild beasts and birds; with reverence be it spoken for their blessed souls, if, indeed, there were many found who were carried, at that time, into the high heaven by the holy angels.
So entirely had the vintage, once so fine, degenerated and become bitter, that, in the words of the prophet, where was hardly a grape or ear of corn to be seen where the husbandman had turned his back.
[17] The foederati uprising of circa AD 440.
II.25.
Some, therefore, of the miserable remnant, being taken in the mountains, were murdered in great numbers; others, constrained by famine, came and yielded themselves to be slaves for ever to their foes, running the risk of being instantly slain, which truly was the greatest favour that could be offered them: some others passed beyond the seas with loud lamentations instead of the voice of exhortation. "Thou hast given us as sheep to be slaughtered, and among the Gentiles hast thou dispersed us." Others, committing the safeguard of their lives, which were in continual jeopardy, to the mountains, precipices, thickly wooded forests, and to the rocks of the seas (albeit with trembling hearts), remained still in their country.
But in the meanwhile, an opportunity happening, when these most cruel robbers were returned home, the poor remnants of our nation (to whom flocked from divers places round about our miserable countrymen as fast as bees to their hives, for fear of an ensuing storm), being strengthened by God, calling upon him with all their hearts, as the poet says, - "With their unnumbered vows they burden heaven," that they might not be brought to utter destruction, took arms under the conduct of Ambrosius Aurelianus, a modest man, who of all the Roman nation was then alone in the confusion of this troubled period by chance left alive. His parents, who for their merit were adorned with the purple, had been slain in these same broils, and now his progeny in these our days, although shamefully degenerated from the worthiness of their ancestors, provoke to battle their cruel conquerors, and by the goodness of our Lord obtain the victory.
II.26.
After this, sometimes our countrymen, sometimes the enemy, won the field, to the end that our Lord might in this land try after his accustomed manner these his Israelites, whether they loved him or not, until the year of the siege of Bath-hill [18], when took place also the last almost, though not the least slaughter of our cruel foes, which was (as I am sure) forty-four years and one month after the landing of the Saxons, and also the time of my own nativity.
And yet neither to this day are the cities of our country inhabited as before, but being forsaken and overthrown, still lie desolate; our foreign wars having ceased, but our civil troubles still remaining. For as well the remembrance of such a terrible desolation of the island, as also of the unexpected recovery of the same, remained in the minds of those who were eyewitnesses of the wonderful events of both, and in regard thereof, kings, public magistrates, and private persons, with priests and clergymen, did all and every one of them live orderly according to their several vocations.
But when these had departed out of this world, and a new race succeeded, who were ignorant of this troublesome time, and had only experience of the present prosperity, all the laws of truth and justice were so shaken and subverted, that not so much as a vestige or remembrance of these virtues remained among the above- named orders of men, except among a very few who, compared with the great multitude which were daily rushing headlong down to hell, are accounted so small a number, that our reverend mother, the church, scarcely beholds them, her only true children, reposing in her bosom; whose worthy lives, being a pattern to all men, and beloved of God, inasmuch as by their holy prayers, as by certain pillars and most profitable supporters, our infirmity is sustained up, that it may not utterly be broken down, I would have no one suppose I intended to reprove, if forced by the increasing multitude of offences, I have freely, aye, with anguish, not so much declared as bewailed the wickedness of those who are become servants, not only to their bellies, but also to the devil rather than to Christ, who is our blessed God, world without end.
For why shall their countrymen conceal what foreign nations round about now not only know, but also continually are casting in their teeth?
[18] Mons Badonicus, or Mount Badon. Generally accepted to be during the last decade of the fifth century, and placed at AD 496 for the purpose of these files.
III — The Epistle
III.27.
Britain has kings, but they are tyrants, has judges, but they are unjust, often engaged in extortion and looting and always plundering the innocent, always that they try to avenge or protect, it is certain that this is done in favor of thieves and criminals; they have an abundance of wives, and are dedicated to fornication and adultery, they never are ready to take oaths, and constantly commit perjury, they make a vow and almost immediately act falsely, they make war, but against their own compatriots, and are unjust, they process strictly thieves across the country, but those who sit at their table are thieves, and they not only take care of them, but the reward them, they give enough alms, but in contrast to this is a whole stack of crimes that they committed, they sit in the chair of justice, but rarely seek the rule of the trial proper, they despise the humble and innocent, but take every opportunity to extol themalicious, they are proud, murderers, adulterers have concubinesand are enemies of God which must be totally destroyed andwhose names shall be forgotten.
They have many prisoners in its jails, stuck in chains, but this is done more for betrayals that in just punishment for those crimes, and when they stand before an altar, swears by the name of God, they go away and consider the altar as nothing more than just a bunch of dirty rock.
Constantine, the tyrannical lion cub of the dirty Damon's lioness, don't ignores all these horrible abominations.
That same year, after making a terrible oath in which he put himself before God as the first in a solemn statement, calling as witnesses all the saints and the Mother of God, said something that would not plan to deceive his countrymen. However, in the robe of a holy abbot between the sacred altars, he caused with sword and spear wounds and tears, as if made with the teeth, in the womb of his temporal mother, and the Church, his spiritual mother, two royal youths with their two servants whose weapons, that would not be comfortable in the armor but were still valiantly used and extended against God and its altar, the venerable emblems of his faith and patience left the city gates. Oh, Christ! And when he did, robes,with coagulated blood, touched the heavenly place of sacrifice.
III.29.
Right now I blame you, because I know that you are still existing in your life. Why are you amazed, oh, thou art afraid to shine his own soul? Why does it cost to you persistently you ignite the eternal flames of hell? Because it costs you, instead of having enemies, strike them desperately with the brilliance of your sword, your spear? Did those pots of venomous insults can not satisfy your stomach? I look back, I beg you, and you come to Christ for labor and beings pressed against the floor for that huge load, so he himself, as he said, will give you rest.
Go to him who desireth not the death of a sinner, as converted and alive would be better. Presses, according to the prophet, the range of thy neck, O son of Zion, I pray you return from distant regions of sin to the most holy Father, who by his son despise dirty pig food and fear death by cruel hunger. Then return to it again, get used to kill his fatted calf with a great shout, and then brings to the bum the first royal cloak and ring, it takes them like the taste of the heavenly hope, so you should appreciate how sweet the Lord is . For if these costs to despise, all right, you will be almost instantly shot and tortured in the inevitable black and streams of eternal fire.
III.30.
And what costs to you too, Aurelius Conanus, lion cub, as said the prophet? You are not, as the ancestor, much more faulty, moving towards total destruction, being swallowed by a huge flood from the sea by the obscenity of your horrible murder, fornication and adultery? You do not had, hate, like a deadly snake, the peace of thy country, and, feeling unjustly desire by civil war and frequent theft, close the gate of heavenly peace and rest against your own soul? Now that you were left alone, like a withered tree in the middle of the field, remember, I beseech thee, the vain and idle fancies of thy fathers and brothers, along with his premature death in the prime of their youth. You should not, for religious defection, be expelled from all your family to live a hundred years or reaching the age of Methuselah?
Not, certainly, but at least, as the Psalmist said, if you were quickly converted to the Lord, that king would brandish his sword for a short time against you, that by thy prophet said "I will kill and I will cause the life I will attack and cure and no one to go get rid of my hand. "Be thou therefore the dirt shaken off the dust, and with all thy heart turned to Him who created you, that "when your anger start to burn, you will be blessed to keep their hopes in Him." For, in contrast, will be eternal pain accumulated for you and will always be tormented and never consumed in the cruel jaws of Hell.
III.31.
Vortipore, foolish tyrant of the demetians, why are you so stubborn? How the leopard, whose head is gray now, you too you act maliciously in various ways;'re sitting on a throne full of deceits and up and down stained with murder and adulteries, thou naughty son of a good king, as Manasseh came from Hezekiah.
What! Why swallowed such violent gusts of sin like nice wine and you now not cutting it, especially since that the end of your life comes ahead? Why carry heavy costs to your miserable soul with the sin of lust, more than any other offender, to save your wife, and after your honorable death for the actions of your shameless daughter? Do not waste, I beseech thee, the rest of your life offending God, it still shines on the face of a penitent and a day acceptable time of salvation, when thou shalt be careful that your flights are not in hell or the day of the Sabbath .
As the Psalmist said, "turn away from evil and do good, seek peace and guarantee it," because the eyes of the Lord will be launched against you when you do justice, and then his ears open for your prayers, and He your memory will not destroy the land of the living. Thou shalt cry and He will hear you and out of trouble, I put, because the mantle of Christ never despise a heart with fear him who is contrite and humble. Otherwise, the worm of your torture will not die and the fire of your burn will not extinguish.
III.32.
And you too, Cuneglas because you have fallen in the obscenity of the ancient mischief. Yes, from the beginning of your early youth, you support, ruler, ruler of many and guide of the carriage in which the receptacle is the responsibility, you who despise God and His order vilifies thou, dark mass murderer, such as your name means in Latin . Why lift so much great war against men, and against God himself? Against men, even your own countrymen. Why wars with your offenses and deadly weapons against God?
Why, in spite of your relapses, having played your wife through the doors, for lust or stupidity of your mind, going against the express prohibition of the apostles, who report that no adulterers can take part in the kingdom of heaven, estimates your detestable sister, who vowed to God for the eternal continuity, as a real benefit, in the language of the poet, of the celestial nymphs?
why causes frequent injuries to the lamentations and sighs of saints with your bodily ways afflicted? He knows that, over time, as a fierce lioness, they will break your bones into pieces. I beseech thee, as the prophet said, will give up and let the deadly fury that blows against the sky and earth, against God and His flock, and that in time will be your own torment.
Instead, get, with altered mind, the prayers of those who in this world have the power to subject the guilty and release the penitent. Do not be like the apostle said, proudly wise, nor trust in the uncertainty of riches, but in God who gave thee many things thoroughly. Negotiates for you, for the correction of your ways, a good foundation for your afterlife, and looking into that real and true state of existence, it will not be temporary, but eternal.
Yes, you should know and see that there is another way in this world, how bitter is bad for you to leave your Lord God and have no fear before his eyes bright. Then you will know how to not die by any means and you will be burned and engaging in dirty flames of eternal fire. For the souls of sinners are forever as a perpetual fire as the souls of the righteous are in perpetual joy and contentment.
Oh, also you, dragon of the island, you have deprived many tyrants and their realms and their lives, although you're the last mentioned in my writings, you are the first in mischief, exceeding many in power and also in malice, more liberal than others in giving, more licentious in sinning, strong arms, but stronger to work the destruction of your own soul. Maglocune because it seems to be sinking into the wine grape sodomite, foolishly rolling in his shiny black pool of offenses?
Why are you full of desire piling such as a mountain load of sin upon your royal shoulders? Why do you show yourself to the king of kings, who made thee, both in stature and in the reign of the body, greater than all the other leaders of Britain, not better as the rest of the virtues, but rather much worse for your sins? Then listen for a moment and listens patiently to the following list of your achievements, which I will not touch or take home any offense, if any of them are light, but only those open and scattered far and wide knowledge of all men .
At the beginning of your youth, you have not done a terrible oppression with the sword, spear and fire against the King's uncle, along with your band of brave soldiers, whose faces were not in battle than those young lions? Not consider the words of the prophet, who said "man bloodthirsty and deceitful not live out half their days"? And even if the sequel of your sins has not happened, what return you would expect for this offense the hands of the righteous judge, who said by his prophet "who has hurt and damaged, even you ought not to be damaged?" "And thou killed, you should not be killed? When you place an order on your damage, then you must fall! "
III.34.
When the imagination of your violent government became reality according to your wishes and been urged by a desire to return to the right path, night and day the consciousness of your crimes have plagued you, while ruminating on the ritual of the Lord and the orders of monks . Then announces to the world your vote before God as a monk with no intention of being unfaithful, as you said, and abruptly starts those toils in which such large beasts like you were used to being trapped. But actually it was only love for power, gold, silver or by, which is even stronger, by the whims of your own heart.
Did not you returned safe, as a dove that cuts the air with their wings and swings with his quick escape from the furious hawk, to the cells where the saints repose, as a place of refuge? Oh, how that would be great joy for our Mother Church, the enemy of all mankind was pushed unfortunately, as in fact, out of her womb! Oh, abundant heavenly flame of hope was kindled in the hearts of desperate sinners, if you had remained in your blessed state! Oh, what a great reward in the kingdom of Christ would be given to your soul on Judgement Day, if that wily wolf had not caught you - who was now a wolf becomes a lamb (not much against your own will) - outside the flock our Lord and done again to you, a sheep, a wolf as he?
Oh, what a joy it would be the preservation of your salvation to the God and Father of all the saints, had not the devil, the father of all the castaways, as an eagle with wings and climber, I carried away all reason and certainty to the unlucky bunch of your children?
And to be short, your conversion to the right side was so great joy of heaven and earth as your obnoxious return. Like a dog to its vomit, you created sorrow and lamentation, so that "the members that should be used as armor of righteousness for the Lord, now become the armor of unrighteousness to sin and the devil." Now do not hear the prayers of God most sweetly the voices sounding nice soldiers of Christ, nor the instruments of ecclesiastical melody, but your own prayers, which are nothing, for the conduct of sounding flippant route of Bacchus through the mouths of your followers vis , accompanied by lies and malice to the total destruction of their neighbors. This so that the vessel prepared for the service of God now becomes a pot of dirt, and what was once reputed useful honor in heaven is now deservedly thrown into the bottomless pit of Hell.
III.35.
However, it is your sexy mind (which is dominated by the excess of thy follies) controlled in its course of committing so many sins, but hot and prone (like a young colt who covets all the pleasant pasture) to scamper with fury unrecoverable, after the desired fields of crime, continually increasing the number of your sins? For the former marriage of your first wife (though after thy violated vow of religion she was not legally yours, but only for the right time she was with you), was now despised by thee, and another woman, the wife of a man so alive, but your own brother's son, took your affections.
On what occasion your neck firm (already loaded with sins) is now loaded with two monstrous murders, the one that your nephew, another of her, which was once your wife, and you're now down to lowest, and from bad to worse, submitted, bent and sucked into the lowest depths of sacrilege. After that, you also publicly espoused the widow, who suffered deception and suggestion so heavy offense, and have taken legally, as the flattering tongues of parasites with your false words spoken, but how we say more perversely, in your own marriage.
And, therefore, that holy man is one who, moved by the telling of this story, do not weep and wail nicely? That preacher (whose hearts are open to God) after hearing it would not shout in anguish, in the language of the prophet: "Who will give water to my head and my eyes a fountain of tears, and I regret those days and night of my people who are killed?"
III.36.
For as the Scripture said, "When the king hears the unfair word, all under his rule becomes perverse." And the righteous king, "according to the Prophet," builds his region. But warnings are not really wanting you since you had a teacher the most eloquent master of all Britain.
Pay attention to what Solomon has noted, that does not happen to you. "Even with that he brought a sleeping man out of his deep sleep, this is the person who said wisdom to a fool, because at the end of his speech he will say what you said earlier? Clean your heart (as written) malice, O Jerusalem, that thou mayest be saved."
Neglect not (I beseech thee) the unspeakable mercy of God, calling for his prophet, the evil in the way of his offense: "I will quickly say to the nation and the kingdom, I should uproot and disperse, and destroy and conquer."
As a sinner, he expressed in his wise admonition, longing to repent: "And if the same people to repent of their sins, I will repent of the evil that said he would do it." And again: "who will give them such a heart so they can hear me and keep my commandments, and I'm with them every day of their lives? "and in the Song of Deuteronomy:" a people without counsel and prudence, I wish they were wise, and understand, and forecast, after all, persuaded as a thousand and two put ten thousand to flight. "
And again our Lord in the Gospel: "Come unto me, all you who labor and carry your burdens, and I will make you rest. Help carry my rocker and aprendai me, for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest for your souls. "So if you you turn a deaf ear to these warnings, the prophets despise, despise Christ, and you do not mind us, humble we thought we, as sincere piety and purity of mind will carry, as the prophet saying, we will not be "dumb dogs, barking awkward" (though I for my part, maybe not that unique strength in spirit and power of our Lord, declaring "the house of Jacob their sins, and the house of Israel, his offense"). We must also remember Solomon: "He who says that the wicked are right, should be cursed among the people, and hated by the nation, for those who fail should have better hopes."
And again: "Respect, not with reverence, your neighbor in his ruin, nor be patient time to speak of salvation." And as much as we forget that, "cut off those who are put to death, be patient and not to redeem those who are murdered "because, as the same prophet says," Rich should not have advantages on the day of wrath, but righteousness brought by death."
And "If the fair is really saved, where shall the wicked and the sinner appear? If, as I said, we despise, (us) to obey these texts, the dark flood of hell will no doubt forever drown you in his death and those terrible whirlpool jets of fire that must always haunt you and never consume you. So it's too late: the confession of your pains and sorrow for your sins will be useless to you, for now, at this time and day of salvation accepted adiaste your conversion to a more correct way of life.
III.37.
And here, in fact, if not before, was this unfortunate story of the miseries of our time to be brought to a conclusion, I should not speak more about the doings of man, but that's why I is not seen as shy or tired; carefully avoids speaking of Isaiah: "Woe to those who call good evil and evil good, changing darkness for light and light for darkness, bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter to those who see, hear and see nothing, hear nothing ; those whose hearts are covered with a thick black cloud of vices."
I will briefly highlight the threats denounced against these five horses lustful, frantic followers of Pharaoh, through which his army is released stubbornly to total destruction in the Red Sea. Also note the complaints against some others, by the sacred oracles, whose holy testimonies the frame of our work is small, as was related, not subject to the dials of the envious, because, otherwise, would take place quickly.
Therefore leave the holy prophets of God, which are deadly to men of God and the mouth organ of the Holy Ghost, forbidding evil, and promoting goodness, responds to us, both now and before, against the stubborn and proud princes of our era, great terrors of our invention, so that they can not say that threaten so fiery and enthusiastic and intrusion.
For it is doubtful to no man wise as they are more anxious for the sins of our time that those in the primitive era, when the apostle said: "Anyone breaking the law, being convicted of two or three witnesses, must die. What you think the worst punishment he deserved, who should walk on the foot of the Son of God?"
III.38.
And first of all appeared before us as a commandment of God, Samuel the kingdom-setting a fair dedicated to God before his birth, undoubtedly aware, through wonderful signs, be a true prophet for all people, from Dan to Beersheba , from whose mouth the Holy Spirit thundered to all the potentates of the world, denouncing Saul, first king of the Jews, just because he did not fulfill some command of Our Lord, these words following: "you did not do anything if you foolishly have kept the commandments of the Lord thy God, he gave you as a charge, which, if you have committed, even now the Lord would have prepared your kingdom over Israel forever, but should no longer thy kingdom come. "And he has committed, is adultery or murder, are not like the offenses of our time?
No, really, but broke in a part of God's commandments, because, as one of our writers said, "The issue is not the quality of sin, but the violation of the precept." Also, as he struggled to answer (as he thought) Samuel's objections to the way the wise man apologizes for his offenses in this way: "Yes, I obeyed the voice of our Lord, and walked in the way that I thought he had sent" with reproof that he has been corrected "What! Did the Lord burnt offerings and offering? Would not it be better than the voice of our Lord be obeyed?"
Obedience is better than offerings, and you better listen to him to offer the fat of rams. For both it is sin to predict resistance to idolatry as it is offensive not obey, in repentance, so that you can have thrown the word of our Lord. He also introduced the word that You would not be king. And a little later: "Our Lord made this day the kingdom of Israel from you and handed him over to your neighbor, a better man than you. The victor of Israel really does not waive and will not be bent in sorrow, not even a man who could repent, "that is said about the stone hearts of the wicked. However, it should be noted what he said, to be disobedient to God is the sin of idolatry. Do not leave, so our wicked transgressors (as they openly do not sacrifice to the gods of the heathen) flatter themselves that they are not idolaters, as they step their feet and pigs as the most precious pearls of Christ.
III.39.
Although this example as an invincible statement, can abundantly sufficient to correct the perverse, albeit through the mouths of many witnesses all the offenses of Britain could be proved, let us move on to the rest. What happened to David for numbering his people, when the prophet told him this way? Thus saith the Lord: "The choice of three things is offered to you, choose what you want, I can perform for you. Should fall to you hunger for seven years, or thou shalt flee for three months before thine enemies, and they pursue you, or there must be three days pestilence in thy land? "Being brought to a close by these conditions, and wanting still fall before the hands of God who is merciful, that the men he was humiliated by the destruction of seven thousand of his subjects, and at least with the affection of an apostolic charity, wished his countrymen to die for that plague not consumed, saying: "I am offended him, I am the pastor, acted unfairly, but these sheep, that they have sinned?"
Let your mother, I pray thee, be turned against me and against my father's house, he would have atoned discouraged by contentment of his heart with his own death. For what the scripture says later of his son? Solomon wrote that was not pleasing to our Lord and did not fill the measure of his good deeds following the Lord as his father David. And the Lord said to him: "Why are you behaving this way and not watching my perceptions and conveniences for which you had commanded, breaking it into pieces, I'll split your kingdom and give it to thy servant."
III.40.
Hear now what also fell on the two sacrilegious kings of Israel (as our are), Jeroboam and Baasha, on which the sentence of our Lord and destination were directed by the prophet in his way: "Why I will I raised a prince over Israel? In regards to what they have provoked me with their vanities? Watch what will lead to Baasha and his house, and I will give your home, like the house of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat. Who, then, of his blood to die in the city, dogs must eat, and housing that they should die on the field the birds of the air eat."
How he also threatened that wicked king of Israel, a good old company, whose collusion and cheating his wife, the innocent Naboth was dead put the vineyard from his father, when the holy mouth of Elijah, yes, the same mouth which was accompanied with the earnest talk of Our Lord said it this way: "You killed and also taken possession, and after that still wanted more? Thus saith the Lord, in the same place: where the dogs licked the blood of Naboth, they shall lick thy blood also. "After it happened just that way, as we have some evidence.
But at least this way (as happened to Ahab as well) rested the spirit, which spoke vain things in the mouths of his prophets, may entice you, hearing the words of the prophet Micah: "Look what God has allowed the spirit of the hydrants all your prophets who are left here, and Our Lord pronounced evil against thee. "For it is certain that even now there are some inspired teachers with a contrary spirit, preaching and affirming what is pleasant, but certainly depraved. Masters whose words are softer than oil and darts say peace, peace. Then there will be peace for those who persevere in their sins, but also reminds the prophet: "Should not the wicked rejoice, our Lord said."
III.41.
Azariah, also, the son of Obed, told Asa, who returned from the slaughter of the army of a million Ethiopians, saying, "Our Lord is with you while you stay with him, and if you let it, He will also let ". for if Jehosaphat was thus reproved by the prophet Jehu for just watching a wicked king, the son of Ananias, saying," If this helps you a sinner, or those who loved the Lord hates, God's wrath fall upon you , "what must come from those who are trapped in your own sins? The sin of those who hate us have by necessity, if not their souls, if we wish to fight in the army of the Lord, according to the psalmist's words, "Hate the evil one who loves the Lord."
What was said to Jeroham, the son of the above Jehosaphat, that most horrible murderer (who, being a bastard, he killed his noble brothers to possess the throne in their place), the prophet Elijah, who was the coach and who was conductor of Israel? "Thus spake the Lord of your father David. Because thou hast not walked in the path of your father Jehosaphat, and the ways of Asa king of Judah, but walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and in adultery according to the behavior of the house of Ahab, and slain thy brethren, Jehosaphat children of men far better than you, notes, Our Lord is to attack you and your children with a powerful curse."
And shortly after: "And thou shalt become very sick with a disease of your stomach, even your bowels are together your illness, daily life, take you." And hear also what the prophet Zechariah, the son of Jehoiades threatened to Joash the king of Israel, when he abandoned the Lord as you now do, and the prophet told the people this way: "Thus saith the Lord, why do you transgress the commandments of our Lord and not thrive? Because you have left Our Lord, He will also leave you."
III.42.
What could I mention Isaiah, and the first chief of the prophets, who began his prophecy, or rather vision, this way: "Listen, O heavens, and oh thou, earth, sees bright swords, for Our Lord said, I have nourished children and high, but they themselves have despised me. The cattle know the owner and the ass his master is his manger, but Israel has known me and my people have not understood."
And shortly after, with threats answered by such a great folly, he said, "Daughter of Zion should be totally left as a tent in the vineyard, and as a hut in the garden of cucumbers, and a city is sacked." And especially, calling and accusing the princess, he said, "Hear the word of our Lord, oh princess of Sodom, understand the law of the Lord, O ye people of Gomorrah." However, it should be noted, those wicked kings are called princes of Sodom Our Lord and forbade sacrifices and offerings are offered to him by them. Seeing that we eagerly receive such offers which all nations are despised by God and for our own destruction, we allow to be distributed to the poor and needy, He talks like those laden with rich, are equally given to offending "Do not give over his sacrifice in vain, your incense is an abomination to me."
And again denounces them thus: "And when you join hands, I will turn my eyes from you, and when you multiply your prayers, I will not listen." And he said the places where it does, saying, "Your hands are full of blood. "And also showing how it could be satisfied, says:" be washed is clean, remove the evil of your thoughts, my eyes, cease to do evil, learn to do good, seek at trial, bail the oppressed, do justice to the pupil and the orphan."
Then, assuming that as part of a mediator of reconciliation, he adds: "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be made white as snow: though they be red like the little worm, they should be white as wool. If you listen to me, should eat the good things of the earth: but if not, causes me to wrath, the sword shall devour you."
III.43.
Receives the real and public security, witnessing, without any falsehood or flattery, the reward for your good and your bad, not as humiliating the soft lips of your parasites, which poisons whisper in your ear. His sentence is also directed against hungry judges, he said: "Thy princes are faithless, companies thieves, everyone loves gifts, bounty hunters, they do not do justice to the orphans, the widows because they are not interested. For thus saith the Lord of hosts, the fort of Israel, oh, I take comfort from my enemies and heinous sinners should be broken into dust, and offenders with them, and everyone who left our Lord should be eaten."
And soon after: "The haughty eyes of man must be brought down, and the height of man shall be bowed down." And again: "Woe to the wicked, that harm befall him, for he must be rewarded according to their jobs. "and a little later," Woe to you who get up early to go drinking and drunkenness until the late afternoon, you steaming with wine. The harp, lyre and drum and flute and wine are in their feasts, and you do not respect the work of our Lord, nor consider the work of his hands. It is therefore left my people captive, because they had no knowledge, and their nobles have perished with hunger and their thirst with the crowd deflated.
So, Hell has increased and spread out in his mind, and opened her mouth without measure, and its strong, its people and their lofty and glorious, must fall with it. "And after:" Woe to you who are powerful because they drank wine and strong men for the pursuit of drunkenness, which justify the wicked for reward, and deprive men of their fair justice. For this cause, as the tongue of fire devoured as stubble and the heat of the flame burned, your roots should be as the ashes and your business to grow as dust. For they cast the law of the Lord of Hosts and despised the sacred speech of Israel. In all the fury of the Lord is not turned sideways, but his hand is even tighter."
No comments:
Post a Comment