Chapter XIII.—It is Not Enough that God Know Us to Be Chaste:  We Must Seem So Before Men.  Especially in These Times of Persecution We Must Inure Our Bodies to the Hardships Which They May Not Improbably Be Called to Suffer.

Perhaps some (woman) will say:  “To me it is not necessary to be approved by men; for I do not require the testimony of men:182    Comp. John v. 34; 1 Cor. iv. 3.  God is the inspector of the heart.”183    Comp. 1 Sam. xvi. 7; Jer. xvii. 10; Luke xvi. 15.  (That) we all know; provided, however, we remember what the same (God) has said through the apostle:  “Let your probity appear before men.”184    See Phil. iv. 5, 8; Rom. xii. 17; 2 Cor. viii. 21.  For what purpose, except that malice may have no access at all to you, or that you may be an example and testimony to the evil?  Else, what is (that):  “Let your works shine?”185    See Matt. v. 16; and comp. de Idol., c. xv. ad init.  Why, moreover, does the Lord call us the light of the world; why has He compared us to a city built upon a mountain;186    Matt. v. 14. if we do not shine in (the midst of) darkness, and stand eminent amid them who are sunk down?  If you hide your lamp beneath a bushel,187    Matt. v. 15; Mark iv. 21; Luke viii. 16; xi. 33. you must necessarily be left quite in darkness, and be run against by many.  The things which make us luminaries of the world are these—our good works.  What is good, moreover, provided it be true and full, loves not darkness:  it joys in being seen,188    See John iii. 21. and exults over the very pointings which are made at it.  To Christian modesty it is not enough to be so, but to seem so too.  For so great ought its plenitude to be, that it may flow out from the mind to the garb, and burst out from the conscience to the outward appearance; so that even from the outside it may gaze, as it were, upon its own furniture,189    Supellectilem.—(a furniture) such as to be suited to retain faith as its inmate perpetually.  For such delicacies as tend by their softness and effeminacy to unman the manliness190    Effeminari virtus. of faith are to be discarded.  Otherwise, I know not whether the wrist that has been wont to be surrounded with the palmleaf-like bracelet will endure till it grow into the numb hardness of its own chain!  I know not whether the leg that has rejoiced in the anklet will suffer itself to be squeezed into the gyve!  I fear the neck, beset with pearl and emerald nooses, will give no room to the broadsword!  Wherefore, blessed (sisters), let us meditate on hardships, and we shall not feel them; let us abandon luxuries, and we shall not regret them.  Let us stand ready to endure every violence, having nothing which we may fear to leave behind.  It is these things which are the bonds which retard our hope.  Let us cast away earthly ornaments if we desire heavenly.  Love not gold; in which (one substance) are branded all the sins of the people of Israel.  You ought to hate what ruined your fathers; what was adored by them who were forsaking God.191    Comp. Ex. xxxii.  Even then (we find) gold is food for the fire.192    Ex. xxxii. 20.  But Christians always, and now more than ever, pass their times not in gold but in iron:  the stoles of martyrdom are (now) preparing:  the angels who are to carry us are (now) being awaited!  Do you go forth (to meet them) already arrayed in the cosmetics and ornaments of prophets and apostles; drawing your whiteness from simplicity, your ruddy hue from modesty; painting your eyes with bashfulness, and your mouth with silence; implanting in your ears the words of God; fitting on your necks the yoke of Christ.  Submit your head to your husbands, and you will be enough adorned.  Busy your hands with spinning; keep your feet at home; and you will “please” better than (by arraying yourselves) in gold.  Clothe yourselves with the silk of uprightness, the fine linen of holiness, the purple of modesty.  Thus painted, you will have God as your Lover!

CAPUT XIII.

Aliqua forsitan dicat: Non est mihi necessarium hominibus probari, nec enim testimonium hominum requiro; Deus conspector est cordis (I Reg., XVI, 7). Scimus omnes, cum tamen , quid idem per Apostolum 1331B dixerit, recordemur: Probum vestrum coram hominibus appareat (Phil., IV 5). Ad quid, nisi ut malitia ad vos accessum omnino non habeat, et ut malis et exemplo et testimonio sitis? Aut quid est: luceant opera vestra? Aut quid nos Dominus lumen terrae vocavit ? Quid civitati supra montem constitutae comparavit (Matth., V, 14), si non relucemus inter tenebrosos et exstamus inter demersos? Si lucernam tuam sub modium abstruseris, in tenebris derelicta a multis incurseris necesse est . Haec sunt, quae nos luminaria mundi faciunt, bona scilicet nostra. Bonum autem, duntaxat verum et plenum, 1332A non amat tenebras, sed gaudet videri et ipsa denotatione sui exsultat . Pudicitiae christianae satis non est esse, verum et videri. Tanta enim debet esse plenitudo ejus, ut emanet ab animo in habitum et cructet a conscientia in superficiem, ut et foris inspiciat quasi suppellectilem suam, quae conveniat fidei continendae in perpetuum. Discutiendae enim sunt deliciae, quarum mollitia et fluxu fidei virtus effeminari potest. Caeterum nescio an manus spatalio circumdari solita in duritia catenae stupescere sustineat. Nescio an crus de periscelio in nervum se patiatur arctari . Timeo cervicem, ne margaritarum et smaragdorum laqueis occupata locum spathae non det. Quare, benedictae, meditemur duriora, et non sentiemus; 1332B relinquamus laetiora, et non desiderabimus; stemus expeditae ad omnem vim, nihil habentes quod relinquere timeamus. Retinacula ista sunt spei nostrae. Projiciamus ornamenta terrena, si coelestia optamus. Ne dilexeritis aurum, in quo prima delicta populi Israelis denotantur (Cf. Exod., XXXII, 2, sqq.). Odisse debetis, quod Judaeos perdidit , quod derelinquentes Deum adoraverunt. Etiam tunc aurum ignis est esca . Caeterum tempora christianorum semper et nunc vel maxime non auro, sed ferro transiguntur. Stolae martyriorum praeparantur, angelis bajulis sustinentur . Prodite vos jam medicamentis 1333A et ornamentis exstructae prophetarum et apostolorum, sumentes de simplicitate candorem, de pudicitia ruborem, depictae oculos verecundia et os taciturnitate , inserentes in aures sermonem Dei, annectentes cervicibus jugum Christi. Caput 1334A maritis subjicite, et satis ornatae eritis. Manus lanis occupate , pedes domi figite, et plus quam in auro placebunt . Vestite vos serico probitatis, byssino sanctitatis, purpura pudicitiae. Taliter pygmentatae Deum habebitis amatorem.