Letters9 Letter IX. To the same, then archbishop of Cologne (A.D. 1132)
Letter IX. To the same, then archbishop of Cologne (A.D. 1132)
He exhorts Bruno, then recently created Archbishop of Cologne, to fear.
I have received with respect the Letter of your Grace, and have attended with care to what you have enjoined. If I have succeeded, you will have proof. But enough respecting that. Permit me in the same spirit of charity to say what follows. If it is certain that all those who are called to the ministry, are chosen also to the Kingdom, certainly the Archbishop of Cologne is secure of his own salvation. But if Saul was chosen to the kingdom, and Judas to the priesthood, by no other than God Himself, and it cannot be disproved that Scripture asserts this, then it is needful for even the Archbishop of Cologne to fear. But if that declaration holds good even in our own time (and it is true that it does)
that not many noble, not many powerful, not many wise are called by God (1 Cor. i. 26), has not the Archbishop of Cologne a triple cause for fearing? Let us, then, who are raised to high dignities, study not to be high-minded, but to fear, and condescend to those of low estate. Have they made you chief? it is said, be among them as one of the rest (Ecclus. xxxii. i); and again, The greater thou art, the more humble thyself in all things (Ecclus. xxx. 18). It is the counsel of the wise, and listen to that of Wisdom Himself, who says He that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger (S. Luke xxii. 26). We know from other passages that those who have authority will have to meet a strict judgment (Wisd. vi. 5). Fear, then, ye that are powerful. The servant, also, that knoweth his Lord's will, and doeth it not, he shall beat with many stripes (S. Luke xii. 47). Fear, then, ye that are learned. Let the noble fear, for the Judge of all is not an acceptor of persons. That triple bond of necessary reason for fear will be very difficult to break through. Do I seem hard because I do not flatter, because I inculcate fear, which is the beginning of wisdom, upon a friend? May it be granted to me always so to benefit my friends; that is, by inspiring into them a salutary fear, rather than to deceive them by flattery. To that He incites me who says: Happy is the man who feareth alway (Prov. xxviii. 14); and He deters me from flattery who says: O My people, they who flatter thee cause thee to err (Is. iii. 12, VuLG.).
Dignationis vestrae suscepi scripta devotus, et ad injuncta sollicitus fui; et si profui, vos probabitis. Sed de hoc satis. Porro in eadem charitate audeo quae sequuntur. Si cunctos qui vocantur ad ministerium, constat eligi et ad regnum, profecto securus est Coloniensis archiepiscopus. Quod si etiam et Saulem in regno, et Judam in sacerdotio legitur elegisse non alius quam ipse Deus; et non potest solvi Scriptura quae hoc asserit: timeat necesse est et Coloniensis archiepiscopus. Si vero (quod verum est) et illa sententia hodie quoque viget, quia non multos nobiles, non multos potentes, non multos sapientes elegit Deus, nunquid non triplicem quoque habet timendi causam Coloniensis archiepiscopus? Curemus ergo in alto positi, non altum sapere, sed timere, sed humilibus consentire. Principem, inquit, te constituerunt: esto in illis tanquam unus ex illis: et iterum: Quanto major es, tanto humilia te in omnibus. Sapiens est qui hoc consulit, quippe haud secus sentiens ab ipsa Sapientia quae ait: Qui major est vestrum, fiat sicut minor. Alioquin judicium durum his qui praesunt: timeat potestas. Servus quoque sciens voluntatem domini sui, et non faciens digna, vapulabit multis (Luc. XII, 47): timeat qui cognovit litteraturam. Timeat nobilis, quia judex omnium non est acceptor personarum. Iste profecto necessarii timoris funiculus triplex difficile rumpitur. Durusne videor, quia non blandior, quod metum incutio, quod amico cupio initium sapientiae? Sic mihi contingat semper beare amicos, id est, terrendo salubriter, non adulando fallaciter. Ad illud me provocat qui dicit: Beatus homo qui semper est pavidus. Ab hoc revocat qui ait: Popule meus, qui te beatificant, in errorem inducunt.