Chapter XXIV.

There are three things to be noticed in the actions of our life. First, our passions are to be controlled by our reason; next, we ought to observe a suitable moderation in our desires; and, lastly, everything ought to be done at the right time and in the proper order. All these qualities shone forth so conspicuously in the holy men of Old Testament time, that it is evident they were well furnished with what men call the cardinal virtues.

105. I think I have said enough on the art of speaking. Let us now consider what beseems an active life. We note that there are three things129    Cic. de Off. I. 39, § 141. to be regarded in connection with this subject. One is, that passion should not resist our reason. In that way only can our duties be brought into line with what is seemly. For if passion yields to reason we can easily maintain what is seemly in our duties. Next, we must take care lest, either by showing greater zeal or less than the matter we take up demands, we look as though we were taking up a small matter with great parade or were treating a great matter with but little care. Thirdly, as regards moderation in our endeavours and works, and also with regard to order in doing things and in the right timing of things, I think that everything should be open and straightforward.

106. But first comes that which I may call the foundation of all, namely, that our passions should obey our reason. The second and third are really the same—moderation in either case. There is room with us for the survey of a pleasing form, which is accounted beauty, and the consideration of dignity. Next follows the consideration of the order and the timing of things. These, then, are the three points, and we must see whether we can show them in perfection in any one of the saints.

107. First there is our father Abraham,130    Gen. xii. 1 ff. who was formed and called for the instruction of generations to come. When bidden to go forth from his own country and kindred and from his father’s house, though bound and held back by many ties of relationship, did he not give proof that in him passion was subject to reason? Who does not delight in the sweet charms of his native land, his kindred, and his own home? Their sweetness then delighted him. But the thought of the heavenly command and of an eternal reward influenced him more. Did he not reflect that he could not take his wife with him without the greatest danger, unused as she was to hardships, and so tender to bear insults, and so beautiful as to be likely to arouse the lust of profligate men? Yet he decided somewhat deliberately to undergo all this rather than to escape it by making excuses. Lastly, when he had gone into Egypt, he advised her to say she was his sister, not his wife.

108. See here what passions are at work! He feared for the chastity of his wife, he feared for his own safety, he had his suspicions about the lust of the Egyptians, and yet the reasonableness of performing his duty to God prevailed with him. For he thought that by the favour of God he could be safe everywhere, but if he offended the Lord he could not abide unharmed even at home. Thus reason conquered passion, and brought it into subjection to itself.

109. When his nephew was taken captive,131    Gen. xiv. 14. without being terrified or dismayed at the hordes of so many kings, he resumed the war. And after the victory was gained he refused his share of the spoil, which he himself had really won. Also, when a son was promised him, though he thought of the lost vigour of his body, now as good as dead, and the barrenness of his wife, and his own great age, he believed God, though it was against the law of nature.132    Gen. xv. 4; xvii. 15.

110. Note how everything meets together here. Passion was not wanting, but it was checked. Here was a mind equable in action, which neither treated great things as unimportant or little things as great. Here there was moderation in different affairs, order in things, fitness of occasion, due measure in words. He was foremost in faith, conspicuous in virtue, vigorous in battle, in victory not greedy, at home hospitable, and to his wife attentive.

111. Jacob also, his holy grandson, loved to pass his time at home free from danger; but his mother wished him to live in foreign parts, and so give place to his brother’s anger.133    Gen. xxvii. 42 ff. Sound counsels prevailed over natural feelings. An exile from home, banished from his parents, yet everywhere, in all he did, he observed due measure, such as was fitting, and made use of his opportunities at the right time. So dear was he to his parents at home, that the one, moved by the promptness of his compliance, gave him his blessing, the other inclined towards him with tender love. In the judgment of his brother, also, he was placed first, when he thought that he ought to give up his food to his brother.134    Gen. xxv. 34. St. Ambrose at times gets carried away by his subject and says more than is warranted by the words of the Bible. Cf. also II. § 101; II. § 154; III. § 64. For though according to his natural inclinations he wished for food, yet when asked for it he gave it up from a feeling of brotherly affection. He was a faithful shepherd of the flock for his master, an attentive son-in-law to his father-in-law; he was active in work, sparing in his meals, conspicuous in making amends, lavish in repaying. Nay, so well did he calm his brother’s anger that he received his favour, though he had feared his enmity.135    Gen. xxxiii. 4.

112. What shall I say of Joseph?136    Gen. xxxix. He certainly had a longing for freedom, and yet endured the bonds of servitude. How meek he was in slavery, how unchanging in virtue, how kindly in prison! Wise, too, in interpreting, and self-restrained in exercising his power! In the time of plenty was he not careful? In the time of famine was he not fair? Did he not praiseworthily do everything in order, and use opportunities at their season; giving justice to his people by the restraining guidance of his office?

113. Job also, both in prosperity and adversity, was blameless, patient, pleasing, and acceptable to God. He was harassed with pain, yet could find consolation.

114. David also was brave in war, patient in time of adversity, peaceful at Jerusalem, in the hour of victory merciful, on committing sin repentant, in his old age foreseeing. He preserved due measure in his actions, and took his opportunities as they came. He has set them down in the songs of succeeding years; and so it seems to me that he has by his life no less than by the sweetness of his hymns poured forth an undying song of his own merits to God.

115. What duty connected with the chief virtues was wanting in these men?137    Cic. de Off. I. 5. In the first place they showed prudence, which is exercised in the search of the truth, and which imparts a desire for full knowledge; next, justice, which assigns each man his own, does not claim another’s, and disregards its own advantage, so as to guard the rights of all; thirdly, fortitude, which both in warfare and at home is conspicuous in greatness of mind and distinguishes itself in the strength of the body; fourthly, temperance, which preserves the right method and order in all things that we think should either be done or said.

CAPUT XXIV.

Tria in vitae actibus observanda, nimirum ut rationi appetitus subjiciatur, ut in studiis justa servetur moderatio, denique ut suo quaeque tempore atque ordine gerantur. Quae omnia in sanctis veteris Testamenti viris adeo praefulserunt, ut manisfestum sit eos cardinalibus, quas vocant, virtutibus egregie 0055B instructos fuisse.

105. De ratione dicendi satis dictum puto, nunc de actione vitae quid congruat, consideremus. Tria autem in hoc genere spectanda cernimus: unum, ut rationi appetitus non reluctetur; hoc enim solummodo possunt officia nostra illi decoro convenire. Si enim appetitus rationi obediat, facile id quod deceat in omnibus officiis conservari potest. Deinde ne majore studio quam res ipsa est quae suscipitur, vel minore: aut parvam magno ambitu suscepisse, aut magnam inferiore destituisse videamur. Tertium de moderatione studiorum, operumque nostrorum: de ordine quoque rerum et de opportunitate temporum, non dissimulandum puto.

0055C 106. Sed primum illud quasi fundamentum est omnium, ut appetitus rationi pareat: secundum et tertium idem est, hoc est, in utroque moderatio. Vacat enim apud nos speciei liberalis, quae pulchritudo habetur, et dignitatis contemplatio. Sequitur de ordine rerum, et de opportunitate temporum. Ac per hoc tria sunt, quae videamus utrum in aliquo sanctorum consummata possimus docere.

107. Primum ipse pater Abraham, qui ad magisterium futurae successionis informatus et instructus est, jussus, exire de terra sua, et de cognatione sua, et de domo patris sui (Gen. XII, 1 et seq.); nonne multiplicatae necessitudinis praestrictus affectu, tamen appetitum rationi obedientem praebuit? 0055D Quem enim terrae suae, cognationis, domus quoque propriae gratia non delectaret? Et hunc ergo mulcebat suorum suavitas, sed imperii coelestis 30 et remunerationis aeternae consideratio movebat amplius. Nonne considerabat uxorem imbecillem ad labores, teneram ad injurias, decoram ad incentiva insolentium, sine summo non posse duci periculo? Et tamen subire omnia, quam excusare consultius 0056A dijudicavit. Deinde cum descenderet in Aegyptum, monuit ut diceret se sororem esse, non uxorem ipsius.

108. Adverte, quanti appetitus. Timebat uxoris pudori, timebat propriae saluti, suspectas habebat Aegyptiorum libidines; et tamen praevaluit apud eum ratio exsequendae devotionis. Consideravit enim quod Dei favore ubique tutus esse posset, offenso autem Domino, etiam domi non posset illaesus manere. Vicit igitur appetitum ratio, et obedientem sibi praestitit.

109. Capto nepote, non perterritus neque tot regum turbatus populis, bellum repetit: victoria potitus, praedae partem cujus ipse fuit auctor, recusavit (Gen. XIV, 14 et seq.). Promisso quoque sibi 0056B filio, cum consideraret emortui corporis sui vires depositas, sterilitatem conjugis, et supremam senectutem, etiam contra usum naturae Deo credidit (Gen. XV, 6).

110. Adverte convenire omnia. Appetitus non defuit, sed repressus est: animus aequalis gerendis, qui nec magna pro vilibus, nec minora pro magnis duceret, moderatio pro negotiis, ordo rerum, opportunitas temporum, mensura verborum. Fide primus, justitia praecipuus, in praelio strenuus, in victoria non avarus, domi hospitalis, uxori sedulus.

111. Sanctum quoque ejus nepotem Jacob delectabat domi securum degere: sed mater voluit peregrinari, ut daret fraternae iracundiae locum (Gen. XXVII, 24 et seq.). Vicit appetitum consilii salubritas. Exsul 0056C domo, profugus a parentibus, ubique tamen convenientem mensuram negotiis tenuit, et temporibus opportunitatem reservavit. Acceptus domi parentibus, ut alter maturitate provocatus obsequii benedictionem daret, alter amore pio propenderet (Gen. XXV, 34). Fraterno quoque judicio praelatus, cum cibum suum fratri cedendum putasset: delectabatur utique alimento secundum naturam, sed secundum pietatem cessit petito. Pastor domino gregis fidus, socero gener sedulus, impiger in labore, in convivio parcus, in satisfactione praevius, in remuneratione largus (Gen. XXXI, 6 et seq.). Denique sic fraternam mitigavit iracundiam; ut cujus verebatur inimicitias, adipisceretur gratiam (Gen. XXXIII, 1).

112. Quid de Joseph loquar, qui utique habebat 0056D cupiditatem libertatis, et suscepit servitii necessitatem? Quam subditus in servitute, quam in virtute constans, quam benignus in carcere, sapiens in interpretatione, in potestate moderatus, in ubertate providus, in fame justus, ordinem laudis rebus adjungens, et opportunitatem temporibus, aequitatem populis officii sui moderatione dispensans (Gen. XXXIX, 1 et seq.)?

0057A 113. Job quoque juxta secundis, atque adversis rebus irreprehensibilis, patiens, gratus Deo atque acceptus, vexabatur doloribus, sed se consolabatur (Job. II, 3 et seq.).

31 114. David etiam fortis in bello, patiens in adversis, in Hierusalem pacificus, in victoria mansuetus, in peccato dolens, in senectute providus, rerum modos, vices temporum per singularum sonos servavit aetatum; ut mihi videatur non minus vivendi genere, quam canendi suavitate praedulcis immortalem Deo sui fudisse meriti cantilenam (I Reg. XVII).

115. Quod his viris principalium virtutum officium defuit? Quarum primo loco constituerunt prudentiam, quae in veri investigatione versatur, et scientiae plenioris infundit cupiditatem: secundo 0057B justitiam, quae suum cuique tribuit, alienum non vindicat, utilitatem propriam negligit, ut communem aequitatem custodiat: tertio fortitudinem, quae et in rebus bellicis excelsi animi magnitudine, et domi eminet, corporisque praestat viribus: quarto temperantiam, quae modum, ordinemque servat omnium, quae vel agenda, vel dicenda arbitramur.