To sum up, he who does not accept the treatment applied by the Superior is inconsistent. For if he does not accept subordination, and asserts his own will, why does he remain with the Superior? Why does he also choose him as his leader? When a man has once accepted enrolment in the body of the brotherhood and has been judged a vessel fit for service, even if a command seem beyond his strength, let him cast the responsibility on him that gave the excessive order and show docility and obedience even unto death, remembering the Lord Who “became obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross.” But rebellion and contradiction argue many evils—faith diseased, hope a prey to doubt, a proud and overweening character. For no one disobeys a command unless he has first condemned the giver of the command, nor will a man who trusts in God’s promises and has his hope firmly fixed on them, ever shrink from performing orders, however laborious. For he knows “that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed.” And he who is persuaded that “whosoever humbleth himself shall be exalted” will show greater zeal than his preceptor expects, being aware that “our light affliction, which is for the moment, worketh for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory.”
1 j.e. by the Superior. Cass. Inst. iv. 9 gives a similar precept, based perhaps on B. but making the distinction one between juniors and seniors. Here those who hear confessions are not necessarily the oldest monks nor need they be priests; see Clarke p.96 and Intr. p. 40f.
2 napd tev mooeydvtav. 3 See B. 44, 122 for punishments.
Mt. v. 29 **, conflated with Mk. ix. 47.
1 Cor. v. 2 did tt before odyt **, 2€ae0% for %o67 K.
1 Tim. v. 20; used in similar fashion in Ben. Reg. Ixx.
5 Phil. ii. 8. A favourite text used 3 t. by B. It suggests. the thought that the monks succeeded to the sufferings (as also to the prerogatives) of the martyrs; see Intr. p. 43. Holl (p. 164) quotes Simeon of Thessalonica De Sacr. liii. (P.G. clv. 200c): “The life of the monks... which the Saviour Himself lived... being Himself a virgin and poor... and praying... and obeying the Father unto the death of the Cross.”
oF wWN
XXIX. — Concerning Him who Works with Pride or Murmuring
The work of a man who has murmured or has been detected in pride must not be mixed with that done by men humble in heart and of a contrite spirit; it must not be used at all by the pious. “For that which is exalted among men is an abomination before God.” And there is another command of the apostle: “Neither murmur ye, as some of them murmured, and perished by the destroyer.” Then there is this: “Not grudgingly or of necessity.” So the work of such men is unacceptable, like a blemished sacrifice—which it was impious to mingle with the offerings of other men. For if those who brought strange fire to the altar experienced such great wrath, surely it is perilous to accept a work springing from a mind hostile to God to assist us in keeping God’s commandments. “For what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? Or what portion hath a believer with an unbeliever?” Wherefore it saith: “The lawless, he that sacrificeth a calf for me, is as he that killeth a dog; and he that bringeth a meal offering is as he that bringeth swine’s blood.” Wherefore the works of the hesitating and gainsaying man are to be removed from the brotherhood. The Superiors must give strict attention to this matter, lest they violate the decree of him that said: “He that walked in a perfect way, he ministered unto me. He that wrought proudly did not dwell in the midst of my house”; and lest when a man mingles sin with his observance of the commandment and defiles his work by lazy shrinking from toil, or else by elation because of his achievement, they allow him to remain in his depravity in view of what they receive from him, not permitting him to attain a perception of his own sin. The Superior then must be persuaded that to be superior over a brother in a wrong fashion brings grievous and inexorable wrath upon himself. For his blood shall be required of his hands, as it is written. And the subordinate must be prepared to shrink from no command, not even the most difficult, persuaded that his reward is great in heaven. Nay rather, let the hope of glory gladden him who obeys, in order that the work of the Lord may be wrought in all joy and patience.
1 Rom. vili. 18 &roxarAirtecOa for &roxarvpbjvar™.
ot. xu. 12 t; S92) Cor iw Ltt.
4 So in the primitive Church the offerings of the excommunicate were not accepted. Watkins, A History of Penance, p. 156, quotes the Didascalia: “ God has said to you not to take from the wicked and help the Churches; it were profitable for you to be tortured by hunger rather than take from the wicked.” Cf. modern controversies about “tainted ’ money.
5 Lk. xvi. 15 S67: for 611 **, Spyrdv after 16 **, add éotw before évOTLov. Pay Corsxe 10;
7 2 Cor. ix. 7. The rest of the quotation occurs in Ben. Reg. v, which deals with murmuring.
Si Weveax 2. 2-2, Cor. va. 14, 1b. 10 Tsa. Ixvi. 3 6 &vowoc, 6 Obav wor Udoxov dg 6 a&roxtetvay xbva xal 6 Tecgépwy. ceutdarw, Oo atua berov (Sw. (B) 6 88 &vouog... ¢ d&mo-
HTEVVOY xbVa 6 dE &vapEPMV xT.)
2 OOS
XXX. — With What State of Mind the Superiors Should Care for the Brethren
Let not the Superior be elated by his high office, lest he lose the blessedness promised to humility, or even, being puffed up, fall into the condemnation of the devil. But let him be persuaded of this, that the care of many entails the service of many. So just as he that renders service to a number of wounded, wiping away the discharge from each separate wound and applying remedies according to the special needs of the case in front of him, takes his service as an opportunity not of pride but rather of humiliation, anxiety and struggle; such feelings and anxieties to an even greater degree ought he to have who has been entrusted with the task of healing the sicknesses of the brotherhood, since he is the servant of all and will have to give account for all. For in this way the aim will be fulfilled which the Lord had in mind when He said: “If any man among you would be first, let him be last of all and servant of all.”
1 If this stood alone it might be taken of the various superiors of several monasteries, in spite of the preceding “brotherhood” (singular). But F. 35 shows that a class of “superiors” within the one brotherhood is meant.
4 Pe. ci, 6, Te 3 Ezek. iti. 18. 4 See 1 Tim. iii. 6.
5 Mk. ix. 35 ** conflated with x. 48, 44 and Matt. xx. 26, 27.
XXXI. — That it is Necessary to Accept the Services Rendered by the Superior