Chapter XI. That the Pontiff should follow the Example of Christ in dealing with Sacrilegious Traffic

If thou wouldst be a true disciple of Christ, let thy zeal be enkindled and thy authority exerted against this impudence, this universal plague. Look at the example which the Master has given thee, and remember His words, " If any man minister to Me, let him follow Me " (John xii. 26). He, so far from granting a hearing to the sacrilegious traffickers, made a whip to scourge them out of the temple. He would neither listen to their words nor waste His own upon them ; for He did not sit to judge their cause, but pursued them with chastisement. Nevertheless He did not< hide from them the reason of His severity, telling them that they had turned the house of prayer into a place of traffic (John ii. 16). " Go, and do thou in like manner " . (Luke x. 37). Let those who are now imitating the traffickers of the temple, feel ashamed of thy countenance, if that is possible ; otherwise, let them dread thy anger. For thou also art armed with a scourge. Let the money-changers tremble ; let their money be to them a source, not of confidence, but of fear ; let them be anxious to hide their gold from thee, as knowing that thou art more ready to pour it out than to accept it. By acting in this manner with constancy and zeal, thou shalt gain many, converting the hunters after filthy lucre to more honourable occupations ; and thou shalt also preserve many from the temptation to this vice, for they will not dare to attempt what they behold thee so much opposed to. A further advantage from this mode of acting is, that it will enable thee to secure those intervals of leisure which I have so earnestly recommended. For thou shalt have many a vacant hour to devote to consideration, if, according to my counsel, thou wilt dismiss some causes unheard, refer others to subordinates, and decide such as are worthy to come before thine own tribunal after as brief an investigation as is consistent with thoroughness.

I have something more to say on this subject of consideration, but I will reserve it for another book. And so I will now bring the present to its conclusion, lest the prolongation of so caustic a discourse should be for thee as a double burden.