Letters412 Letter CDXII. To t., a young man, who had vowed to enter the monastic life.

To his very dear son T., Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux, health and that he may go forth to meet the Bridegroom and the Bride.

-i. I will speak to you in simple words: man is a being rational and mortal: the one of these qualities he owes to the grace of his Creator; the other is the consequence of sin. In the one we are companions of the dignity of the Angels; in the other, of the weakness of the brute creation. Yet each ought to be a motive to us to seek the Lord; both the dignity of reason and the fear of death. Be thou mindful of the promise that thou hast given to me, and in which I repose full confidence. I ask its performance; the time to redeem it approaches; have no fear, where there is nothing to fear. It is not a burden, but an honour, to serve the Lord in joy and gladness. I cannot grant to you a long delay: for while nothing is more certain than death, nothing is more uncertain than the hour of death. Your tender age is no safeguard against early death. The fruit is often torn from the tree by the hand or by a tempest, even while it is still green. Why do you rely upon your health and your comeliness?

0 beautiful youth, trust not over muck to your bloom. The flowers of the white privet fall, the dusky hyacinths are gathered (Virgil. Eel. ii. vv. 17, 18).

Come forth, come forth with Joseph from the house of Pharaoh and leave your mantle, that is, the glory of the world, in the hand of the Egyptian mistress; come forth from your country and your kindred; forget your own people and your father’s house; and the King shall be charmed with your beauty. The Child Jesus is not found among relations and acquaintances. Come forth from your father’s house to seek Him; for He came forth on your account from the house of His Father. His coming forth is from the height of heaven. Deservedly was He found of the Syro-Phoenician woman, who came forth from her own land and cried to him, saying: Have mercy upon mey 0 Son of David ¥ ox He upon whose lips is grace found, quickly replied to her: 0 woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt (S. Matt. xv. 22—28).

2. Satan perhaps may be hostile to Satan: but can the Spirit of truth possibly be contrary to Himself? It was He, 1 fully believe, who spoke to me by your mouth to tell me of your conversion. See then that you do not turn aside to the right hand or to the left; but come to Clairvaux according to your promise. This I have written to you briefly and in private, and send it by my dear son Gerard, your friend. Do not put forward any excuse. If your earnest desire is in the matter, if you still wish to be taught LETTER CDXIII.

and to be under a master; the Master is come and calleth for thee; He I mean in whom all the treasures of wisdom are hidden. It is He who teacheth man knowledge; who makes the tongues of infants eloquent, who openeth and no man shutteth, and who shutteth and no man openeth.