3. But why do I not make
answer to myself, that these fair and clever similies, and charges
of this nature may be poured forth against all who are teachers of
any thing by any adversary, with abundance of wit and sarcasm? But
I thought that I ought to insert something of this kind in my
letter, in order to admonish them to give over such proceedings; so
that, as he1696
says,
apart from trifles of common-places, matter may
contend with
matter, cause with cause, reason with reason. Wherefore let them
give over that saying, which they have in their mouths as though of
necessity, when any one, who hath been for some long time a hearer,
hath left them; “The
Light hath made a passage through him.”
For you see, you who are my
chief care, (for I am not over anxious
about them,) how empty this is, and most easy for any one to find
fault with. Therefore I leave this for your own
wisdom to consider.
For I have no
fear that you will think me
possessed by indwelling
Light, when I was
entangled in the
life of this
world, having a
darkened
hope, of
beauty of
wife, of
pomp of
riches, of emptiness
of
honors, and of all other hurtful and
deadly pleasures. For all
these, as is not unknown to you, I ceased not to desire and
hope
for, at the time when I was their
attentive hearer. And I do not
lay this to the charge of their teaching; for I also confess that
they also carefully advise to
shun these. But now to say that I am
deserted by
light, when I have turned myself from all these
shadows
of things, and have determined to be content with that diet merely
which is necessary for health of body; but that I was enlightened
and shining, at a time when I loved these things, and was wrapped
up in them, is the part of a man, to use the mildest
expression, wanting in a keen insight into matters, on which he
loves to speak at length. But, if you please, let us come to the
cause in hand.
E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
