Chapter CXLIV. How he fostered unity among his sons, and spoke of it in a parable

191. It was ever his constant wish and watchful study to preserve among his sons the bond of unity, to the end that those who had been drawn by the same spirit and begotten by the same father might be peacefully nurtured in the bosom of one mother. He would have the greater united to the lesser, the wise joined to the simple by brotherly affection, the distant coupled together by the cement of love. He once put forth a moral parable, containing no little instruction. "Suppose," he said, "that all the Religious who are in the Church are gathered together in one chapter-general. Therefore, since lettered and unlettered are there, learned men and those that without learning know how to please God, one of the wise and one of the simple are appointed to preach. The wise man deliberates (for he is wise) and cogitates thus: ' There is no place for a display of learning here, where men perfect in learning are present; nor would it be in good taste for me to make myself conspicuous for curious disputation by uttering subtleties before the most subtle men. It will perhaps be more fruitful to speak simply.' The appointed day comes; the assemblies of the saints are gathered together, longing to hear the sermon. The wise man comes forth clothed in sackcloth and with ashes sprinkled on his head; and, to the astonishment of all, cuts his words short, preaching rather by action: ' We have promised great things,' he says, ' greater things have been promised to us, let us keep the former and sigh for the latter.

Pleasure is brief, punishment perpetual, the suffering short, the glory infinite. Many are called, few chosen, all rewarded.' The hearers' hearts are touched, they burst into tears, and reverence this truly wise man as a

Saint. But the simple man says in his heart: 'The wise man has been beforehand with me in all I was going to say or do! But I know what I will do: I know some verses of the Psalms; I will play the wise man, since the wise man has played the simple one! '

The next day's sitting comes: the simple man arises; proposes a psalm as his theme: and, filled with the

Spirit of God, discourses in virtue of the inspiration given him by God with such fervour, subtlety and sweetness that all, filled with amazement, may truly say ' God discourses with the simple ones '."

192. This moral parable which the man of God thus put forth he expounded as follows: "Our Religion," he said, M is a very great company, and as it were a general synod, gathered from men in every part of the world living after one pattern. Herein the wise turn to their own advantage that which belongs to the simple, when they see the illiterate with fiery energy seeking heavenly things, and those untaught by men wise through the Spirit in spiritual things. Herein also the simple make their profit out of the things that belong to the wise, when they see illustrious men who might live in the world gloriously anywhere, humbled to the same degree with themselves. This it is (he said) that makes the beauty of this blessed family to shine forth, whose manifold adornment affords no small pleasure to the father of the family."