Page:Readings in European History Vol 2.djvu/83

 Germany before tJie Protestant Revolt 45 apostles inculcated grace, but never distinguished between gratia gratis data and gratia gratijicans. They exhorted to good works, but did not perceive the distinction between opus opera?is and opus operatum. They frequently urge char- ity upon us without dividing k< infused " from " acquired," or explaining whether charity be an accident or a substance, a created or an uncreated thing. Next to the theologians in their self-satisfaction may be The monks, ranked those who are commonly called the religious and the monks, both terms quite wide of the truth, since a good part of them are a long ways from religion, and as for the monks (whose name suggests solitude), they are to be met in every byway. I do not see who could be more miserable than they unless Folly came to their aid in many ways. Although every one so execrates that stripe of man that even a casual meeting with them is regarded as ominous, yet they have a magnificent idea of their own virtues. First they deem it the most exalted piety to have let learning so completely alone that they cannot even read. Then when they bray out the psalms — which they cannot understand — in the churches, they flatter themselves that they are delighting the ears of the saints with their sweet harmonies. Some of them laud their beggary and filth as great virtues and loudly clamor for bread from door to door. They beset the inns, coaches, and ships, not a little to the prejudice of other beggars. . . . The greater part of the monks exhibit such confidence in Confidence ceremonies and trivial human traditions that one would think ? f the monks rr- 1 1 £ ln mere cere " a single heaven would scarce suffice as a worthy reward tor mon i es an d their merits. They little think that Christ will put them off externals, with a " Who hath required these things at your hands ? " and will call them to account only for the stewardship of his legacy of love. One will confidently call attention to his paunch, filled with all kinds of fish ; another will pour out a hundred bushels of psalms ; a third will enumerate his myriad fastings and will tell how a single meal nearly killed him ; a fourth will produce as many ceremonies as would fill seven merchant ships ; a fifth will plead that for three- score years he never so much as touched money except he