Chapter I. St. Bernard apologizes for the failure of the Second Crusade

I remember, dear Eugenius, Father in God and best of men. the promise which I made, alas ! too long ago. Now, late though it be. I propose to redeem my pledge. I should be ashamed of the delay if I were conscious of carelessness 01 contempt. This is not the case ; but, as you yourself know, we have fallen on evil times ; it seemed as though our social life, not to speak of our studies, was doomed to come to a standstill ; it was as though the Lord, provoked by our sins, were almost judging the world before the time, with equity indeed, but forgetful of his mercy. He has not spared the people, nor His own Name. Do they not say among the peoples, • Where is their God ' ? ! And no wonder. The sons of the Church, and they who bear the Christian name, lie prostrate in the desert, slain with the sword, or perished with hunger. Floods of strife have overwhelmed our rulers, and the Lord has made them to wander in the waste, where there is no way. Tribulation and misfortune are in their ways, terror, sorrow, and confusion in the chambers of kings themselves. Confusion dogs the footsteps of those that bring tidings of peace, that announce good things ! 4 We said ' peace ', and there is no peace ; we promised good things, and lo ! perplexity. It might be supposed we had therein been light or rash. We certainly ran therein not as uncertainly, but at your command, nay, rather at God's command given through you. Why then have we fasted, and He hath not beheld ? humbled our souls, and He knew not ? For in all these things His fury is not turned from us, but His hand is stretched out stilJ. How patiently, meanwhile, doth He listen to the impious words of the blasphemous Egyptians, ' He craftily led them out that He might slay them in the desert.' J We all know that the judgements of the Lord are true. But this judgement is such a great deep that I could almost justify myself for calling him blessed who is not offended thereat.

I Israelites, taking no account of their double disappointment, obeyed for the third time, and were then victorious. But we shall perhaps be asked, ' How are to know that the word has gone forth from the Lord ? What signs do you work, that we may believe you ? ' It is not for me to answer these questions ; I must spare my modesty. Do you answer for me, and for yourself, according as you have heard and seen, or, at all events, according as God has given you inspiration.

happen, I had rather that men murmured against us than against God. It is good for me if He condescends to use - a shield. I gladly welcome the tongues that speak against me, and the poisoned darts of blasphemers, if only they may not reach Him. I do not refuse to be dishonoured if only violence be not done to the glory of God. Who can give me the privilege of glorying thus, ; For thy sake have I suffered reproach, shame hath covered my face ' ? 1 My glory is to become a partner with Christ, who says, • the reproaches of them that reproached thee have fallen upon me.' Now at last my pen shall return to its proper work, and my discourse go on its way to the goal we set before us.