Letter IX. To the Same, Then Archbishop of Cologne

(A.D. 1132.)

He exhorts Bruno, then recently created Archbishop of Cologne, to fear.

I have received with respect the Letter of your Grace, and have attended with care to what you have enjoined. If I have succeeded, you will have proof. But enough respecting that. Permit me in the same spirit of charity to say what follows. If it is certain that all those who are called to the ministry, are chosen also to the Kingdom, certainly the Archbishop of Cologne is secure of his own salvation. But if Saul was chosen to the kingdom, and Judas to the priest hood, by no other than God Himself, and it cannot be dis proved that Scripture asserts this, then it is needful for even the Archbishop of Cologne to fear. But if that declaration holds good even in our own time (and it is true that it does) that not many noble, not many powerful, not many wise are called by God (1 Cor. i. 26), has not the Archbishop of Cologne a triple cause for fearing? Let us, then, who are raised to high dignities, study not to be high-minded, but to fear, and condescend to those of low estate. Have they made you chief? it is said, be among them as one of the rest (Ecclus. xxxii. i); and again, The greater thou art, the more humble thyself in all things (Ecclus. xxx. 18). It is the counsel of the wise, and listen to that of Wisdom Himself, who says He that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger (S. Luke xxii. 26). We know from other passages that those who have authority will have to meet a strict judgment (Wisd. vi. 5). Fear, then, ye that are powerful. The servant, also, that knoweth his Lord's will, and doeth it not, he shall beat with many stripes (S. Luke xii. 47). FYar, then, ye that are learned. Let the noble fear, for the Judge of all is not an acceptor of persons. That triple bond of necessary reason for fear will be very difficult to break through. Do I seem hard because I do not flatter, because I inculcate fear, which is the beginning of wisdom, upon a friend? May it be granted to me always so to benefit my friends; that is, by inspiring into them a salutary fear, rather than to deceive them by flattery. To that He incites me who says: Happy is the man who feareth alway (Prov. xxviii. 14); and He deters me from flattery who says: O My people, they ivho flatter thee cause thee to err (Is. iii. 12, VuLG.).