Taking it then these two evils have been warded off by the reading of choice books, we may suitably proceed with this holy and contemplative discourse which, as the fruit of the other two, may be delivered only to well prepared ears and minds.īefore the flesh has been tamed and the spirit set free by zeal for truth, before the world's glamour and entanglements have been firmly repudiated, it is a rash enterprise on any man's part to presume to study spiritual doctrines. And rightly so, for the former is the beginning of wisdom, the latter its culmination, for there is no true and consummate wisdom other than the avoidance of evil and the doing of good, no one can successfully shun evil without the fear of God, and no work is good without the observance of the commandments.ģ. Moreover, it causes the fear of God and the observance of his commandments to be preferred to all human pursuits and worldly desires. The other, by the use of enlightened reason, quickly perceives a delusive tinge in all that the world holds glorious, truly distinguishing between it and deeper truth. One uproots pernicious habits of mind and body with the hoe of self-control.
Since there are two evils that comprise the only, or at least the main, enemies of the soul: a misguided love of the world and an excessive love of self, the two books previously mentioned can provide an antidote to each of these infections. Now approach for this third loaf that, if possible, you may always recognize what is best. And then the book of Proverbs - has not your life and your conduct been sufficiently amended and enlightened by the doctrine it inculcates ? These are two loaves of which it has been your pleasure to taste, loaves you have welcomed as coming from the cupboard of a friend.
Now, unless I am mistaken, by the grace of God you have understood quite well from the book of Ecclesiastes how to recognize and have done with the false promise of this world. Solomon has bread to give that is splendid and delicious, the bread of that book called "The Song of Songs." Let us bring it forth then if you please, and break it.Ģ. Be ready then to feed on bread rather than milk. The preacher who desires to follow St Paul's method of teaching will give them milk to drink rather than solid food, and will serve a more nourishing diet to those who are spiritually enlightened: "We teach," he said, "not in the way philosophy is taught, but in the way that the Spirit teaches us: we teach spiritual things spiritually." And again: "We have a wisdom to offer those who have reached maturity," in whose company, I feel assured, you are to be found, unless in vain have you prolonged your study of divine teaching, mortified your senses, and meditated day and night on God's law. The instructions that I address to you, my brothers, will differ from those I should deliver to people in the world, at least the manner will be different. SERMON 42 FRATERNAL CORRECTION - TWO KINDS OF HUMILITY SERMON 41 THE INTELLECT, FAITH AND CONTEMPLATION SERMON 38 IGNORANCE OF GOD LEADS TO DESPAIR THE BEAUTY OF THE BRIDE SERMON 37 KNOWLEDGE AND IGNORANCE OF GOD AND OF SELF SERMON 35 THE BRIDEGROOM REPROVES THE BRIDE - TWO KINDS OF IGNORANCE SERMON 33 ENDS TO BE PURSUED -THE MYSTICAL NOONTIDE TEMPTATIONS TO BE AVOIDED SERMON 32 HOW CHRIST ADAPTS HIS GRACES TO PERSONAL NEEDS SERMON 30 MYSTICAL VINEYARDS AND THE PRUDENCE OF THE FLESH SERMON 29 ON DISCORD IN THE CHURCH AND IN COMMUNITIES SERMON 28 THE BLACKNESS AND BEAUTY OF THE BRIDEGROOM AND THE BRIDE
SERMON 27 THE BEAUTY OF THE BRIDE COMPARED TO THE CURTAINS OF SOLOMON WHY SHE IS CALLED A HEAVEN SERMON 26 THE BLACKNESS OF THE BRIDE COMPARED TO THE TENTS OF KEDAR BERNARD'S LAMENT FOR HIS BROTHER (Continued) SERMON 26 THE BLACKNESS OF THE BRIDE COMPARED TO THE TENTS OF KEDAR BERNARD'S LAMENT FOR HIS BROTHER SERMON 25 WHY THE BRIDE IS BLACK BUT BEAUTIFUL SERMON 24 DETRACTION AND MAN'S RIGHTEOUSNESS SERMON 23 IN THE ROOMS OF THE KING (Continued) SERMON 22 ON THE FOUR OINTMENTS OF THE BRIDEGROOM AND THE FOUR CARDINAL VIRTUES SERMON 21 THE LOVE OF THE BRIDE, THE CHURCH, FOR CHRIST SERMON 18 THE TWO OPERATIONS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT SERMON 17 ON THE WAYS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE ENVY OF THE DEVIL SERMON 16 MEANING OF THE NUMBER ‘7' AND THE QUALITIES OF TRUE CONFESSION SERMON 14 THE CHURCH OF CHRIST AND THE JEWS SERMON 13 OUR THANKSGIVING AND GOD'S GLORY SERMON 11 THANKSGIVING FOR CHRIST'S SAVING WORK SERMON 9 ON THE BREASTS OF THE BRIDE AND THE BRIDEGROOM SERMON 8 THE HOLY SPIRIT: THE KISS OF THE MOUTH SERMON 7 GOD'S INFINITE POWER, MERCY AND JUDGMENT SERMON 6 GOD'S INFINITE POWER, MERCY AND JUDGMENT SERMON 4 THE KISS OF THE LORD'S FEET, HANDS AND MOUTH (2) SERMON 3 THE KISS OF THE LORD'S FEET, HANDS AND MOUTH (1)