Page:King Alfred's West-Saxon Version of Gregory's Pastoral Care (2).djvu/447

438 necessary for them not to commit more grievous sins because of their confidence, that is, that through their elation they are not to fall into the pit of pride, lest they be swallowed up in the vortex of their elation. For often, when they outwardly subdue the little sins, they are internally puffed up with vainglory. And when the mind is internally subdued by pride, it very soon overflows and runs out, and appears in open evil. Therefore, those who abstain from the little sins, and yet sometimes plunge into the great ones, are to be admonished to avoid falling from the position which they think they occupy externally, lest their elation at their small amount of righteousness prove their road to a great sin according to the judgment and requital of the severe Judge. When they think that they have abstained from little sins by their own strength, they are very rightly forsaken by God, until they fall into greater sins; that, falling, they may understand that they did not stand of themselves, that the mind which was formerly elated at a small amount of good may be humbled to a great evil. They are to be admonished to understand that they often sin still worse by bewaring of little sins than they do with great ones; because they simulate innocence by bewaring of the little ones. But they do not exculpate themselves at all when they commit the great and open ones. It is an open evil in the sight of God to commit great sins, but it is the simulation of holiness in the sight of men to forego little and commit great sins. Therefore it was said in the Gospel, to the Pharisees that they blew away the fly and swallowed the camel. As if he openly said: "Ye avoid small evils, and devour the great." That is the same which was again blamed through the mouth of Truth, that is Christ; he said: "Ye tithe your mint and dill and cummin, and leave untithed what is more precious than your other possessions, and the commandments which are still greater in the law ye do not observe that is, justice and mercy and faith." We must not hear without attention how he mentioned the least valuable plants that grow in gardens, and yet very fragrant. By the fragrance are signified hypocrites, who aspire to the reputation of sanctity, and yet do little good; and although they do not do too much good, they desire great reputation, and to be praised far and wide.