Chapter III. That it is unworthy of Prelates of the Church to be constantly engaged in hearing and deciding lawsuits

Tell me, I pray thee, what kind of life is it to be daily occupied from dawn to dusk in pleading causes or listening to pleaders ? And would to God the day were sufficient for the evil thereof ! But alas ! the litigations even encroach upon the night. Hardly enough time is left free to satisfy the poor body's natural need of rest, and then up again to resume the wrangling ! " Day to day uttereth " lawsuits, " and night to night sheweth " malice (Ps. xviii. 3). Things have come to such a pass that it is no longer possible for thee, not alone to enjoy in peace the delights of contemplation, but even to alternate labour with repose, or to secure even an occasional interval of leisure. I have no doubt that in thy judgment also this is a deplorable state of affairs. But it is idle for thee to lament the evil, if thou takest no pains to correct it. In the meantime, however, until thou art in a position to apply a proper remedy, I would have thee to persevere in this disposition of salutary discontent, and never to allow any use or custom to reconcile thee to what thou art now bewailing. " Thou hast struck them and they have not grieved," said the Prophet to God, speaking of the Jews (Jer. v. 3). Do not thou follow their evil example. Endeavour rather to make .thine own the sentiments and the language of the just man, who said, " For what is my strength that I can hold out ? Or what is my end that I should keep patience ? My strength is not the strength of stones, nor is my flesh of brass " (Job vi. 11, 12). Patience is doubtless a noble virtue. But I should be sorry to see thee exercising it with regard to these thy distractions. There are seasons and circumstances in which impatience is more commendable. Surely thou wouldst not approve of the patience of those to whom St. Paul said, " You gladly suffer the foolish : whereas you yourselves are wise " (2 Cor. xi. 19) ? Unless I mistake, the Apostle is here speaking ironically. He does not mean to praise but rather to mock at the submissiveness of the Corinthians, who, having been seduced by the pseudo-apostles, surrendered themselves to their guidance, and most patiently endured to be inoculated by them with all kinds of strange and corrupt superstitions. Hence he goes on to say, " For you suffer if a man bring you into bondage" (2 Cor. xi. 20). Now to suffer thyself to be made a slave when thou hast it in thy power to be free, is certainly not true patience. I wish thee, therefore, to realise fully the sort of servitude to which, all unsuspecting, thou art beyond a doubt being daily reduced. It is an indication of a callous mind to be insensible of one's own constant misery. According to the Prophet, " vexation giveth understanding to the hearing " (Is. xxviii. 19). That is true, yet only when the vexation is not excessive ; for otherwise, instead of giving understanding, it will io ON CONSIDERATION beget indifference, as it is written, " The wicked man, when he is come into the depth of evils, contemneth " (Prov. xiii. 3). Rouse thyself, therefore, and I do not say : be on thy guard against, but fly with horror from this most cruel yoke of servitude, which even now threatens thee, yea, which is already beginning to press heavily upon thee. Or dost thou think thou art not therefore a slave because in bondage not to one but to all ? But there can be no more bitter or degrading servitude than that of the Jews, which follows them everywhere, since everywhere they encounter their taskmasters. And is not thy condition the same ? For tell me, if thou canst, when or where art thou ever free, ever secure, ever thine own ? No, uproar and tumult are thy constant attendants : go whither thou wilt, thou canst not escape from the oppressive yoke of thy thraldom.