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On the Bishop |
Excerpted from Revelationes |
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[These are] the words of the faith of the bride to Christ. They are how John the baptist brought to the bride certainty of Christ, who was speaking to him, and about the happiness of the good rich man, and how the indiscreet bishop, on account of his foolishness and his wicked life, acted like an ape."That rich man, who was in such a state that he feared that something of his was acquired by evil means, and who was worried lest his goods be spent uselessly and against God. He, as he unwillingly possessed his possessions and the esteem of the world, freely desired to be separated from them. He was disturbed about the loss of souls and the dishonoring of God, and although he was compelled to have something elegant from his divine stewardship, nevertheless he still concentrated with all his heart on the love of God. This rich man, being of such a kind, is a fortunate and happy rich man, and dear to God." Quarta est, quod licet habet manus et pedes, attamen cum digitis et manibus calcat lutum. Sic episcopus iste fatuus est quasi simia curiosus in mundi vanitate deformatus a laudabili operatione. Quid facit digitus nisi demonstrationem rei vise, sicut ego videns Deum in humanitate demonstravi eum digito. 'Ecce', inquiens, 'agnus Dei'. Quid ergo sunt digiti episcopi nisi mores sui laudabiles, quibus demonstrare deberet iustitiam Dei et eius caritatem? Nunc autem in operibus suis demonstrat, quod est dives et generosus, sapiens mundi et prodigus pecuniarum. Simia quoque habet faciem humanam sed speciem reliquam belvinam. Sic iste animam quidem habet signaculo Dei insignitam sed per propriam cupiditatem deformatam. Quarto sicut simia tangit et calcat cum pedibus et manibus lutum, sic iste affectu et opere terrenis inhiat avertens vultum suum a caelestibus et inclinans ad terrena tamquam animal obliviosum. Numquid talis mitigat iram Dei? Nequaquam, sed magis provocat contra se iustitiam Dei." |