Chapter XX.

Familiarity with good men is very advantageous to all, especially to the young, as is shown by the example of Joshua and Moses and others. Further, those who are unlike in age are often alike in virtues, as Peter and John prove.

97. It is a very good thing to unite oneself to a good man. It is also very useful for the young490    Cic. de Off. II. 13, § 46. to follow the guidance of great and wise men. For he who lives in company with wise men is wise himself; but he who clings to the foolish is looked on as a fool too. This friendship with the wise is a great help in teaching us, and also as giving a sure proof of our uprightness. Young men show very soon that they imitate those to whom they attach themselves. And this idea gains ground from the fact that in all their daily life they grow to be like those with whom they have enjoyed intercourse to the full.

98. Joshua the son of Nun became so great, because his union with Moses was the means not only of instructing him in a knowledge of the law, but also of sanctifying him to receive grace. When in His tabernacle the majesty of the Lord was seen to shine forth in its divine Presence, Joshua alone was in the tabernacle. When Moses spoke with God, Joshua too was covered by the sacred cloud.491    Ex. xxiv. 12 ff. The priests and people stood below, and Joshua and Moses went up the mount to receive the law. All the people were within the camp; Joshua was without the camp in the tabernacle of witness. When the pillar of a cloud came down, and God spoke with Moses, he stood as a trusty servant beside him; and he, a young man, did not go out of the tabernacle, though the old men who stood afar off trembled at these divine wonders.

99. Everywhere, therefore, he alone kept close to holy Moses amid all these wondrous works and dread secrets. Wherefore it happens that he who had been his companion in this intercourse with God succeeded to his power.492    Deut. xxxiv. 9. Worthy surely was he to stand forth as a man who might stay the course of the river,493    Josh. iii. 15 ff. and who might say: “Sun, stand still,” and delay the night and lengthen the day, as though to witness his victory.494    Josh. x. 12, 13. Why?—a blessing denied to Moses—he alone was chosen to lead the people into the promised land. A man he was, great in the wonders he wrought by faith, great in his triumphs. The works of Moses were of a higher type, his brought greater success. Either of these then aided by divine grace rose above all human standing. The one ruled the sea, the other heaven.495    Ex. xiv. 21. Cf. also Josh. x. 12.

100. Beautiful, therefore, is the union between old and young. The one to give witness, the other to give comfort; the one to give guidance, the other to give pleasure. I pass by Lot, who when young clung to Abraham, as he was setting out.496    Gen. xii. 5. For some perhaps might say this arose rather owing to their relationship than from any voluntary action on his part. And what are we to say of Elijah and Elisha?497    1 [3] Kings xix. 21. Though Scripture has not in so many words stated that Elisha was a young man, yet we gather from it that he was the younger. In the Acts of the Apostles, Barnabas took Mark with him, and Paul took Silas498    Acts xv. 39, 40. and Timothy499    Acts xvi. 3. and Titus.500    Tit. i. 5.

101. We see also that duties were divided amongst them according to their superiority in anything. The elders took the lead in giving counsel, the younger in showing activity. Often, too, those who were alike in virtue but unlike in years were greatly rejoiced at their union, as Peter and John were. We read in the Gospel that John was a young man, even in his own words, though he was behind none of the elders in merits and wisdom. For in him there was a venerable ripeness of character and the prudence of the hoarhead. An unspotted life is the due of a good old age.

CAPUT XX.

0129B

Omnibus multum prodesse bonorum familiaritatem, maxime vero adolescentibus: hoc Jesu Nave ac Moysi, aliisque exemplis probari: quibus subjicitur qui aetate sint dispares, virtute interdum pares esse, ut Petrus ac Joannes patefaciunt.

97. Plurimum itaque prodest unicuique bonis jungi. Adolescentibus quoque utile, ut claros et sapientes viros sequantur; quoniam qui congreditur sapientibus, sapiens est: qui autem cohaeret imprudentibus, imprudens agnoscitur. Et ad instructionem itaque plurimum proficit, et ad probitatis testimonium. Ostendunt enim adolescentes eorum se imitatores esse, quibus adhaerent; et ea convalescit opinio, quod ab his vivendi acceperint similitudinem, 0129C cum quibus conversandi hauserint cupiditatem.

98. Inde tantus Jesus Nave, quod eum non solum erudivit ad Legis scientiam Moysi copula, verum etiam sanctificavit ad gratiam (Exod. XXIV, 13). Denique cum in ejus tabernaculo divina refulgere praesentia videretur majestas Domini, solus erat in tabernaculo Jesus Nave. Moyses cum Deo 94 loquebatur, Jesus pariter nube sacra tegebatur. Presbyteri et populus deorsum stabant; Jesus cum Moyse ad accipiendam Legem ascendebat (Exod. XXXIII, 11). Omnis populus intra castra erat, Jesus extra castra in tabernaculo testimonii. Cum columna nubis descenderet, et loqueretur cum Moyse, quasi fidus astabat minister: nec exibat de tabernaculo 0129D juvenis, cum seniores longe positi divina trepidarent miracula.

0130A 99. Ubique igitur inter admiranda opera et reverenda secreta sancto Moysi individuus adhaerebat. Unde factum est ut qui fuerat socius conversationis, fieret successor potestatis (Deut. XXXIV, 9). Merito vir hujusmodi evasit, ut sisteret fluminum cursus (Josue III, 15 et seq.), diceret: Stet sol, et staret sol (Josue X, 12, 13); quasi ejus spectator victoriae noctem differret, diem produceret: quid! (quod Moysi negatum est) solus eligeretur, ut populum introduceret in terram repromissionis. Magnus vir fidei miraculis, magnus triumphis. Illius augustiora opera, hujus prosperiora. Uterque igitur divina subnixus gratia, ultra humanam processit conditionem (Exod. XIV, 21): ille mari, hic coelo imperavit.

100. Pulchra itaque copula seniorum atque adolescentium 0130B (Gen. XII, 4). Alii testimonio, alii solatio sunt: alii magisterio, alii delectationi. Omitto quod Abrahae adhaesit Loth adolescentulus etiam proficiscenti; ne forte hoc propinquitatis magis fuisse existimetur, et necessariae potius quam voluntariae adjunctionis. Quid Eliam atque Elisaeum loquamur? Licet non expresse Elisaeum juvenem Scriptura significaverit, advertimus tamen et colligimus juniorem fuisse (III Reg. XIX, 21). In Actibus apostolorum Barnabas Marcum assumpsit, Paulus Silam, Paulus Timotheum, Paulus Titum (Act. XII et alibi).

101. Sed illis superioribus videmus divisa officia, ut seniores consilio praevalerent, juniores ministerio. Plerumque etiam virtutibus pares, dispares 0130C aetatibus, sui delectantur copula, sicut delectabantur Petrus et Joannes. Nam adolescentem legimus in Evangelio Joannem et sua voce, licet meritis et sapientia nulli fuerit seniorum secundus, erat enim in eo senectus venerabilis morum et cana prudentia. Vita enim immaculata bonae senectutis stipendium est.