27. Indeed in all spiritual
delights, which unmarried women enjoy, their holy conversation
ought also to be with caution; lest haply, though their life be not
evil through haughtiness, their report be evil through negligence.
Nor are they to be listened to, whether they be holy men or women,
when (upon occasion of their neglect in some matter being blamed,
through which it comes to pass that they fall into evil suspicion,
from which they know that their life is far removed) they say that
it is enough for them their conscience before God, despising what
men think of them, not only imprudently2292
| 2292 al. “impudenter,”
“with lack of modesty.” |
but also cruelly; when they
slay
the
souls of others; whether of such as
blaspheme the way of
God,
who following their suspicion are displeased at what is the
chaste
life of the
Saints, as though it were shameful, or of such also as
make excuse, and
imitate, not what they see, but what they think.
Wherefore whosoever
guards his
life from charges of shameful and
evil deeds, does good to himself; but whosoever
guards his
character too, is merciful also towards others. For unto ourselves
our own
life is necessary, unto others our character; and certainly
even what we mercifully
minister unto others, for their
health,
abounds also to our own
profit. Whence not in
vain the
Apostle,
“We
provide good things,” saith he, “not only before
God, but
also before men;”
2293
also he saith, “Please ye all
men through all things; even as I also please all men through all
things, not seeking what is of
profit unto myself, but what unto
many, that they may be
saved.”
2294
Also in a certain exhortation he
says, “For the
rest,
brethren, whatsoever things are true,
whatsoever things are holy, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever
things are pure, whatsoever things are most dear, whatsoever things
are of good
report; if any
virtue, if any
praise, these things
think on, which ye have both
learned, and received, and heard, and
seen in me.”
2295
You see
how among many things, unto which by exhortation he
admonished
them, he neglected not to set, “whatsoever things are of good
report;” and in two words included all things, where he saith,
“if any
virtue, if any
praise.” For unto
virtue pertain the
good things of which He made mention above; but good
report unto
praise. I think that the
Apostle took not the
praise of men for any
great thing, saying in another place, “But to me it is the least
thing, that I be judged of you, or of day of man;”
2296
and in
another place, “If I were pleasing men, I should not be a
servant
of
Christ;”
2297
and again,
“For our
glory is this, the
testimony of our conscience.”
2298
But of
these two, that is, of a good
life, and a good
report, or as is
said more shortly, of
virtue and
praise, the one for his own sake
he most wisely kept, the other for the sake of others he most
mercifully
provided. But, forasmuch as human caution, how great
soever, cannot on every side
avoid most malevolent suspicions, when
for our good
report we shall have done whatever we rightly can, if
any, either by falsely pretending
evil things of us, or from
believing
evil of us, endeavor to stain our fair
fame, let there be
present the solace of conscience, and clearly also the
joy, in that
our
reward is great in
Heaven, even when men say many
evil things
of us,
2299
and we yet
live godly and righteously. For that
reward is as the pay of such
as serve as
soldiers, through the arms of
righteousness, not only
on the right
hand, but on the left also; that is to say, through
glory and mean
estate, through ill report and good report.
2300
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