Page:Readings in European History Vol 1.djvu/117

 TJie Rise of the Papacy 81 The preacher should make himself beloved, but not seek popularity for its own sake. who is over others ought to study to be loved, that he may be heard ; and yet not to seek his own popularity for itself, lest he be found by a secret usurpation in thought to oppose him whom by his office he appeareth to serve. This Paul well signifieth, when he maketh manifest to us the secrets of his desires, saying, " Even as I please all men in all things " ; who nevertheless saith again, " If I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ." Paul therefore pleaseth and pleaseth not, because in that he desireth to please, he seeketh not that he himself, but that through him the Truth, should please men. The spiritual guide ought also to know that vices for the vices cloak most part feign themselves to be virtues. For niggardliness |^ e ^^ s often cloaketh itself under the name of frugality; and lavish- ness, on the other hand, hideth itself under the title of bounty. Often an inordinate forgiveness is thought to be kindness, and unbridled wrath is reckoned the virtue of spiritual zeal. Often headlong action is supposed to be the efficiency of speed, and slowness apes the deliberation of seriousness. Hence the ruler of souls must needs distinguish with watchful care between virtues and vices; lest either nig- gardliness take possession of his heart, and he be delighted to appear frugal in his distributions; or when a thing is lavishly expended, he should boast himself as bountiful in showing mercy; or by forgiving that which he ought to smite, he should drag his subjects to eternal punishments; or by smiting ruthlessly that which is wrong, he do more grievous wrong himself; or by unreasonably hastening that which might have been done duly and seriously, he should render it of no esteem; or by putting off the merit of a good action, he should change it for the worse. Inasmuch, then, as we have shown what manner of man Many men the pastor ought to be, let us now make known after what ^. ny manner he teacheth. For, as Gregory Nazianzen of rever- end memory hath taught long before us, one and the same