教牧守則·對話錄與書信 第 10 章

That one, therefore, that one by all means ought to be drawn to the example of living, who, dying to all the passions of the flesh, now lives spiritually; who has set aside the prosperities of the world, who dreads no adversities, who desires the inward things alone. To whose intention the body, well agreeing, neither wholly resists through weakness, nor the spirit greatly through contumacy. Who is not led to covet what belongs to others, but bestows freely of his own. Who, through the bowels of piety, is quickly bound to forgive, yet, never forgiving more than is fitting, is not bent down from the citadel of rectitude. Who perpetrates nothing unlawful, but bewails as his own the things perpetrated by others.

Who, out of the affection of his heart, has compassion on another's infirmity, and so rejoices in a neighbour's good as in his own advancement. Who so presents himself as imitable to others in all that he does, that among them he has nothing whereof he need at least blush concerning past deeds. Who so studies to live that he may be able to water even the parched hearts of his neighbours with the streams of doctrine. Who by the use and experiment of prayer has already learned that he can obtain from the Lord whatever he shall have asked, to whom already through the effect it is, as it were, especially said: While thou art yet speaking, I will say, Behold, here I am (Isai. 58:9). For if perchance someone should come that he might lead us to intercede on his behalf before some powerful man, who is a friend to him but unknown to us, we straightway answer:

We cannot come to intercede, because we have no acquaintance of familiarity with him. If therefore a man blushes to be made an intercessor before a man of whom he by no means presumes, with what mind does he seize the place of intercession before God on behalf of the people, who knows not through the merit of his life that he is familiar with His grace? Or how does he ask pardon for others from Him, who knows not whether He is appeased toward himself? On which matter yet another thing is more anxiously to be dreaded, lest he who is believed able to appease wrath should himself deserve it from his own guilt. For we all clearly know that when he who is displeasing is sent to intercede, the mind of the angered is provoked to worse.

He therefore who is still bound by earthly desires, let him beware lest, more grievously kindling the wrath of the strict Judge, while he is delighted by the place of glory, he become to those under him the author of ruin.