Chap. XLV
That credit is not to be given to all men; and that men are prone to offend in words.
1. Grant me help, O Lord, in my tribulation, for vain is the aid of man. Psalms lix.
[USCCB: Psalms lx. 13.]
How often have I not found faith there, where I thought I might depend upon it?
And how often have I found it where I did not expect it?
Vain therefore is all hope in men; but the safety of the Just is in thee, O Lord.
Blessed be thou, O Lord my God, in all things that befal us.
We are weak and unsettled, we are quickly deceived and changed.
2. Who is the man that is able to keep himself so warily, and with so much circumspection in all things, as not to fall sometimes into some deceit or perplexity?
But he that trusts in thee, O Lord, and seeks thee with a simple heart, does not so easily fall;
And if he lights into some tribulation, in what manner soever he may be entangled therewith, he will quickly be rescued or comforted by thee; for thou wilt not forsake forever him that trusts in thee.
A trusty friend is rarely to be found, that continues faithful in all the distresses of his friend.
Thou, O Lord, thou alone art most faithful in all things, and besides thee there is no other such.
3. Oh! how wise was that holy soul that said, My mind is strongly settled and grounded upon Christ. St. Agatha.
If it were so with me, the fear of man would not so easily give me trouble, nor flying words move me.
Who can foresee all things, or who is able to provide against all future evils?
If things foreseen do yet often hurt us, how can things unlooked for fail of wounding us grievously?
But why did I not provide better for myself, miserable wretch as I am? Why also have I so easily given credit to others?
But we are men, and are but frail men, though by many we are reputed and called angels.
To whom shall I give credit, O Lord? to whom but thee? Thou art the truth, which neither canst deceive nor be deceived.
And on the other side, Every man is a liar, (Psalms cxi.) infirm, unstable, and subject to fail, especially in words; so that we ought not readily to believe even that which in appearance seems to sound well.
4. How wisely didst thou forewarn us to take heed of men, (Matthew. x. 17.) and that man’s enemies are those of his own household. (Matthew. x. 36.) And that we are not to believe, if any one should say, Behold here, or behold there. Matthew xxiv.
I have been taught to my cost, and I wish it may serve to make me more cautious, and not to increase my folly.
Be wary, saith one, be wary, keep in thyself what I tell thee: and whilst I hold my peace, and believe the matter to be secret, he himself cannot keep the secret which he desired me to keep, but presently discovers both me and himself, and goes his way.
From such tales and such unwary people defend me, O Lord, that I may not fall into their hands, nor ever commit the like.
Give to my mouth truth and constancy in my words, and remove far from me a crafty tongue.
What I am not willing to suffer, I ought by all means to shun.
5. O how good a thing and how peaceable it is to be silent of others, nor to believe all that is said, nor easily to report what one has heard; to lay one’s self open to few; always to seek thee the Beholder of the Heart; and not to be carried about with every wind of words; but to wish that all things both within and without us may go according to the pleasure of thy will!
How secure it is for the keeping of heavenly grace, to fly the sight of men, and not to seek those things that seem to cause admiration abroad; but with all diligence to follow that which brings amendment of life and fervour!
To how many hath it been hurtful to have their virtue known, and over-hastily praised? How profitable indeed hath grace been kept with silence in this frail life, which is all but a temptation and a warfare?