LVI.—To the Dissembler.

Dost thou dissemble with the law that was given with such public announcement, crying out in the heavenly word of so many prophets?  If a prophet had only cried out to the clouds,15    Or, “If one prophet only had cried out to the world.” the word of the Lord uttered by him would surely suffice.  The law of the Lord proclaims itself into so many volumes of prophets; none of them excuses wickedness; thus even thou wishest from the heart to see good things; thou art also seeking to live by deceits.  Why, then, has the law itself gone forth with so much pains?  Thou abusest the commands of the Lord, and yet thou callest thyself His son.  Thou art seen, if thou wilt be such without reason.  I say, the Almighty seeks the meek to be His sons, those who are upright with a good heart, those who are devoted to the divine law; but ye know already where He has plunged the wicked.

LVI.---DISSIMULATORI.

Dissimulas legem tanto praeconio latam, In tot prophetarum coelesti voce clamantem? 0243B Si propheta tantum declamasset in nubem, Sufficeret utique Domini vox missa per illum. In tot prophetarum volumina lex Domini proclamat; Malitias nullus dimittit: ita aeque de corde Vis bona videre, et fraudibus vivere quaeris. Lex ipsa cur ergo processit tanto labore? Abuteris Domini mandata, et te filium inquis. 0244A Tu si talis eris sine caussa, videris, inquam. Omnipotens mites quaerit sibi filios esse, Rectos corde bono, devotos legi divinae: Immites autem jam scitis ubi demersit.