Remarks by the Author

5. I did not wish, dear reader, to mix the weakness of my own language with the authority of the words of the Holy Spirit in that chapter. But allow me to note with you:

1. How sweet, easy, and engaging Eternal Wisdom is of herself, although she is so brilliant, so excellent, and so sublime! She calls men to teach them the means of being happy; she seeks them; she smiles upon them; she heaps upon them a thousand blessings; she anticipates them in a thousand different ways, even sitting at the door of their house to wait for them and give them tokens of her friendship.

Can anyone have a heart and refuse it to this gentle conqueror?

6. 2. How great is the misfortune of the mighty and the rich if they do not love Wisdom! How frightening are the words she addresses to them! They are inexpressible in our language: Horrende et cito apparebit vobis... Judicium durissimum his qui praesunt fiet... Potentes... potenter tormenta patientur. Fortioribus... fortior instat cruciato. [Wis 6:6,7,9]

Let us add to these words some of those she has spoken or had spoken since her Incarnation: Vae vobis, divitibus. Facilius est camelum per foramen acus transire quam divitem intrare in regnum caelorum. Matt. 19. Mark, Luke 18.

These last words were repeated so often by divine Wisdom when she lived on earth that three Evangelists reported them in the same manner, without changing anything; which ought to make the rich melt in tears, cry out, and howl: Agite nunc, divites, plorate, ululantes in miseriis quae advenient vobis! Jas 5. [Jas 5:1] But, alas! they have their consolation here below; they are as though bewitched by their pleasures and their riches, and they do not see the misfortunes hanging over their heads.

7. 3. Solomon gives his word that he will make a faithful and exact description of Wisdom, and that neither envy nor pride, which are contrary to charity, will prevent him from sharing a knowledge that was given him from heaven, so that he is not afraid that others may equal or surpass him in knowledge. [cf. Wis 6:24-26]

It is after the example of this great man that I shall explain simply what Wisdom is before her incarnation, in her incarnation, and after her incarnation, and the means of obtaining and preserving her.

But since I do not possess the abundance of knowledge and light that he had, I have less to fear from envy and pride than from my own insufficiency and ignorance, which I beg you to bear with and excuse through your charity.