20. For what these men are
about, who will not do bodily work, to what thing they give up
their time, I should like to know. “To prayers,” say they,
“and psalms, and reading, and the word of God.” A holy life,
unquestionably, and in sweetness of Christ worthy of praise; but
then, if from these we are not to be called off, neither must we
eat, nor our daily viands themselves be prepared, that they may be
put before us and taken. Now if to find time for these things the
servants of God at certain intervals of times by very infirmity are
of necessity compelled, why do we not make account of some portions
of times to be allotted also to the observance of Apostolical
precepts? For one single prayer of one who obeyeth is sooner heard
than ten thousand of a despiser. As for divine songs, however, they
can easily, even while working with their hands, say them, and like
as rowers with a boat-song,2541
so with godly
melody cheer up
their very toil. Or are we ignorant how it is with all workmen, to
what
vanities, and for the most part even filthinesses, of
theatrical
fables they give their
hearts and
tongues, while their
hands recede not from their
work? What then
hinders a
servant of
God while working with his
hands to
meditate in the
law of the
Lord, and
sing unto the Name of the
Lord Most High?
2542
provided,
of course, that to
learn what he may by memory rehearse, he have
times set apart. For to this end also those good works of the
faithful ought not to be lacking, for resource of making up what is
necessary, that the hours which are so taken up in storing of the
mind that those bodily works cannot be carried on, may not oppress
with want. But they which say that they give up their time to
reading, do they not there find that which the Apostle enjoineth?
Then what perversity is this, to refuse to be ruled by his reading
while he wishes to give up his time thereto; and that he may spend
more time in reading what is good, therefore to refuse to do what
is read? For who knows not that each doth the more quickly profit
when he reads good things, the quicker he is in doing what he
reads?
E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
