Chapter VII.
Then
will the Evangelist
repeat this to the wretched beings, “Go ye
160
into outer darkness, where shall be weeping and gnashing of
teeth.” O ye miserable men, whom these words do not now impress!
They shall then see their own punishment, and the glory of others. Let
them use this present world, provided they do not enjoy that eternity
which is prepared for the saints. Let them abound in riches: let them
rest on gold; provided that there they be found needy and destitute.
Let them be wealthy in this world, provided they be poor in eternity,
for it is written regarding them, “The rich were in
161
want, and suffered hunger.” But the
Scripture has added what follows respecting the good,—“but
those who seek the Lord shall not want any good
thing.”
Therefore, my sister, although those people mock at us,
and although they call us foolish and unhappy, let us all the more
joyfully exult in such reproaches, by which glory is heaped up for us,
and punishment for them. And do not let us laugh at their folly, but
rather grieve over their unhappiness; because there is among them a
large number of our own people, whom if we win over, our glory shall be
increased. But however they may conduct themselves, let
them be to us as Gentiles and publicans; but
let us keep ourselves safe and sound. If they rejoice now over us
lamenting, it will be our turn afterwards to rejoice over their
suffering. Farewell, dearest sister, and tenderly beloved in
Christ.
160
St.
Matt. xxii. 13
.
161
Ps. xxxiv. 10
: the above rendering entirely departs
from the Hebrew text.