Chapter 34

That the perfect life of such as have believed our faith, is a great testimony of the Truth thereof; and how fare Christians have exceeded all other Nations, in goodness of life.

SINCE we have made mention of the goodness, & virtue, which hath been found in our Christian Martyrs, it is not reason that I forbear to let thee know, how great a testimony of their Faith, is the perfect life of them that believe it. Since¹ God being good, and the maker of all things that are good, all reason telleth us, that God is a friend to the good; since every one loveth another that is like himself; & every cause, the effect, which is produced by it. Now if he be a friend, he is to help them in their necessities, whereof the greatest of all, is the salvation of their souls. And (c) saved they can never be, without the knowledge of God; nor can they know him so as to be saved by him, if he do not discover himself unto them. It therefore remains, that since none of these things can be denied; & if on earth there be any such knowledge of God,² as by which men may be saved, God giveth this to Christians; since amongst them, there have been, and are, people of the most elevated life, and most perfect manners, that hath been seen, in any time, or in any generation.

It seems that the Philosophers were the flower of Nature, and the very beauty thereof; where it seemeth that she employed all her strength towards that which concerned living well, in conformity of reason. But laying aside those deformed sins, which S. Hierome imputeth to the chief of those Philosophers; and to speak of some who appeared to carry more resemblance of virtue in them, than others did; so much do they, of the Christian Church, exceed those others, as that we have weak, and young women amongst us of more virtue than they had, who were yet, amongst them, esteemed for heroical men. For who amongst them, will be able to equal the courage, and ●oy, wherewith S. Catherine. S. Agnes, S. Lucy, S. Agatha, with innumerable others like to them, did offer themselves to most grievous torments, and to death it sel●e, for the love of Truth, and Virtue. And if in the virtue of Fortitude which seemeth to be so much estranged from the weakness of that sex, these did so fare exceed those others, as well in number, as in the greatness of the torments, and their ●oy in suffering them; how much greater will the excess be, in Humility Charity, and other Virtues, which are not so incompatible with their sex? And although we now give but these, for an example or pastern of the rest, yet thou seest the innumerable store of men, and women, who in every particular state, have served our Lord, with a perfect life, in the Christian Church. Some of which having been sublimed in this world, and abounding in all kind of riches, and humane prosperity; and then at the present, possessing much, and expecting to inherit great states, and kingdoms, have despised all this; and to please God the more, have chosen the life of the Cross, in poverty, and affliction, and in obedience, both to God and men. And all this, with so great testimony of virtue, both in the interior and exterior, as strooke them to admiration who conversed with them.

People there hath been in our Church, which as S. Paul saith, hath shined in the world, like lamps of heaven; and, being compared to the rest of the world, they are found to excel them, beyond comparison; which the most obstinate person cannot deny, if he will but consider the life of a S. Paul, and of the other Apostles, and Apostolical men, who have been in the Church. And since there hath been so great goodness in this Christian people, as by their works we find to be evident; what scruple can we have to affirm, that either there is no knowledge of God on earth, or else that these men had it, as persons who were more beloved of God, and did serve themselves better of his knowledge, and employ themselves more, upon pleasing him that gave it. In no sort can it be said, that the world is without some such knowledge of God, as is necessary for salvation. For this were to say, that the chief creatures which God made under heaven, and for whose sake he created all things, should all be lost; for want of means which God might give them to be saved. But³ God is no such thing, as that he will thut the gate of salvation against us; nor can it stand so with the bowels of his mercy, and goodness, as that he can be without friends, to whom even here, he may do great favours, and much more in heaven.

This proof of our Faith, being taken from the life of Christians, was much esteemed, and recommended by the holy Apostles, in the beginning of the Catholic Church. Amongst whom S. Peter⁴ saith, I et women be subject to their husbands, that so if there be any who beleecue not the word of God even without that word they may be gained, by the good conversation of their wives, beholding their holy manner of life, in the fear of God. Where by⁵ the force of virtuous life doth well appear, since it was able to convert infidels; which, by the preaching of the Apostles, (though that had been used with great efficacy, and even with working of miracles) could not be gained. S. Paul saith, That being to go from one place to another, he had no need that they to whom he had preached, should give him letters of favour to countenance him, with those others to whom he was about to preach. And he saith to the⁶ Corinthians, You are my letter, which is known and read by all. And this he saith, because the virtuous manner of life that they held, (by means of his preaching, & labours) were a sufficient letter to declare who S. Paul was; and how proficable his presence was; and he saith, That all men did know and read this letter, because any nation, how barbarous soever it be, howsoever it understand not the language of words, yet⁷ doth it understand the language of good example, and of the virtue which it seethe to be put in practice; and thence it is, that men grow to esteem much, the man who hath such disciples. It is also for this, that the same Apostle saith in another place, That servants, who are Christians, should serve their Lords, and masters, with so good a will that they might in all things do honour, to the doctrine of Christ our Saviour. The meaning is, that their life was to be such, as to testify, that the Christian faith and doctrine, should be held thereby to be true. And how much this point importeth, our Lord (who knoweth all things) did teach us well, when (praying to his eternal Father, and interceding with him, for Christians), he said these words; I ask of thee that all they may be one thing, as thou O Father, art in me, and I in thee; that all they may be one, and the same thing in us; that so the world may believe, that thou hast sent me.

Certainly,⁸ this is a great verity, which here the supreme truth hath told us; That if we Christians were perfect keepers of the Law which we have (the principal commandment whereof, is that of charity) we should cause such an admiration in men of the world, that see us (we being equal unto them, under the law of nature, and much superior to them in virtue), that they would render themselves to us, as the weak do to the strong, and as the low to the high; & they would believe that God dwelleth in us, by seeing us made able to do those things, to which their power doth not arrive; and they would give glory to God, who is the master of such servants. And then would it be fulfilled, that we should be the letter of Jesus Christ, from which all might take their lessons; and that we did set forth and commend his doctrine; and that we were a good odour to him, since we speak well of him, by occasion of the life we lead.

But⁹ thou O Lord dost know, that although there have been in thy Church very many, so always there are some, whose life doth shine like a great light; which even the Infidels, (if they would) might be drawn to look upon, for the discovery of Truth, and so to save themselves; yet¹⁰ so dost thou also know, O Lord how many there are in thy Church (which containeth Christians both good and bad) who not only are no means to make infidels know, and honour thee, but rather to alienate themselves from thee: and to blind their souls more and more; and so, instead of the honour which they should give thee, upon the hearing the name of a Christian, they do more pestilently blaspheme thee. It seemeth to their deceived judgement, that he cannot be true God, or Lord, who hath servants that live so ill. But thou O Lord, hast provided a day for thyself, wherein thou wilt complain of this offence, and say, My name is blasphemed, upon your occasion, amongst the infidels; and to chastise him with severe punishment, who in steed of gathering together with thee, that which was scattered, (as he ought to have done) doth either scatter that which was gathered, or doth hinder it from being so. And¹¹ then wilt thou make the whole world understand well mough, that thou art good, though thou have servants that be wicked. For the sins which they commit, displease thee. And thou dost forbid them by thy commandments, and thou dost severely punish them.

Footnotes

1. Another excellent consideration, of the perfection of the life of many of them who profess the Christian Catholic Faith. ↩

2. No salvation without faith which i● entirely, and precisely true. ↩

3. God is infinitely good. ↩

4. 1. T●●. 3.
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5. The hero●call virtue of ●ens hue● doth prove the truth of their Religion. ↩

6. 1. C●●. 1.
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7. Good life in others, is a language which the most ignorant men alive can understand. ↩

8. Note and live accordingly. ↩

9. Yea & even the wickedest devil in hell, must in his hart acknowledge it to be true. ↩

10. A woeful thing it is to be a wicked Christian, & their damnation will be worse than that of Infidels. ↩

11. Let men be as wicked as they will, God will still be just & good. ↩