§23Quid ad haec respondemus, fratres carissimi? sacrilegas sterilitates et quadam tenebrarum nocte coopertas diuitum mentes qua ratione defendimus, qua excusatione purgamus? qui diaboli semis minores sumus, ut Christo pro pretio passionis et sanguinis uicem nec in modicis rependamus.
What do we answer to these things, dearest brethren? By what reason do we defend the sacrilegious barrenness and the minds of the rich covered with a certain night of darkness, with what excuse do we purge them? We who are inferior to the devil's underlings, so that we do not requite Christ even in small matters in return for the price of His passion and blood.
praecepta ille nobis dedit, quid facere seruos eius oporteret instruxit, operantibus praemium pollicitus et supplicium sterilibus comminatus sententiam suam protulit, quid iudicaturus sit ante praedixit.
He gave us commandments, instructed what His servants ought to do, promised a reward to those who work, and threatened punishment to the barren, brought forth His sentence, and foretold beforehand what He would judge.
quae potest excusatio esse cessanti, quae defensio sterili? nisi quod non faciente seruo quod praecipitur Dominus faciet quod minatur.
What excuse can there be for the lazy, what defense for the barren? Except that, if the servant does not do what is commanded, the Lord will do what He threatens.
qui et dicit: cum uenerit filius hominis in claritate sua et omnes angeli cum eo, tunc sedebit in throno claritatis suae et colligentur ante eum omnes gentes, et segregabit eos ab inuicem quemadmodum pastor segregat oues ab haedis, et statuet oues a dextera sua, haedos autem a sinistra.
Who also says: "When the Son of Man shall come in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory; and all nations shall be gathered before Him, and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on His left.
tunc dicet rex eis qui a dextera sua sunt: uenite benedicti patris mei, percipite regnum quod uobis paratum est ab origine mundi.
Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand: 'Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
esuriui enim et dedistis mihi manducare, sitiui et potastis me, hospes fui et abduxistis me, nudus et texistis me, infirmatus sum et uisitastis me, in carcere fui et uenistis ad me. tunc respondebunt ei iusti dicentes: Domine, quando te uidimus esurientem et pauimus, sitientem et potauimus? quando te uidimus hospitem et abduximus, nudum et uestiuimus? quando autem te uidimus infirmari aut in carcere et uenimus ad te? tunc respondens rex dicet eis: amen dico nobis, quamdiu fecistis uni horum ex fratribus meis minimis, mihi fecistis. tunc dicet illis qui a sinistra sunt: discedite a me, maledicti, in ignem aeternum quem parauit pater meus diabolo et angelis eius.
For I was hungry, and ye gave Me to eat; I was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took Me in; naked, and ye clothed Me; I was sick, and ye visited Me; I was in prison, and ye came unto Me.' Then shall the righteous answer Him, saying: 'Lord, when saw we Thee hungry, and fed Thee; or thirsty, and gave Thee drink? When saw we Thee a stranger, and took Thee in; or naked, and clothed Thee? Or when saw we Thee sick, or in prison, and came unto Thee?' And the King shall answer and say unto them: 'Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me.' Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand: 'Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared by My Father for the devil and his angels.
esuriui enim et non dedistis mihi manducare, sitiui et non potastis me, hospes fui et non abduxistis me, nudus et non uestistis me, infirmus et in carcere et non uenistis ad me. tunc respondebunt et ipsi dicentes: Domine, quando te uidimus esurientem aut sitientem aut hospitem aut nudum aut infirmum aut in carcere et non ministrauimus tibi? et respondebit illis: amen dico uobis, quamdiu non fecistis uni ex minimis his, neque mihi fecistis. et abibunt isti in ignem aeternum, iusti autem in uitam aeternam. quid potuit nobis maius Christus edicere? quomodo magis potuit iustitiae ac misericordiae nostrae opera prouocare? quam quod praestari dixit sibi quicquid egenti praestatur et pauperi, et se dixit offendi nisi egenti praestatur et pauperi, ut qui respectu fratris in ecclesia non mouetur uel Christi contemplatione moueatur et qui non cogitat in labore adque in egestate conseruum uel Dominum cogitet in ipso illo quem despicit constitutum.
For I was hungry, and ye gave Me no meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave Me no drink; I was a stranger, and ye took Me not in; naked, and ye clothed Me not; sick, and in prison, and ye visited Me not.' Then shall they also answer, saying: 'Lord, when saw we Thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto Thee?' And He shall answer them: 'Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to Me.' And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal." What greater thing could Christ declare to us? How could He more provoke the works of our justice and mercy, than by the fact that He said that whatever is shown to the needy and poor is shown to Himself, and that He said He is offended unless it is shown to the needy and poor, so that he who is not moved in the church by regard for his brother may at least be moved by the contemplation of Christ, and he who does not think of his fellow servant in labor and in want may at least think of the Lord abiding in that very person whom he despises?
§24Etidcirco, fratres carissimi, quibus metus in Deum pronus est et spreto calcatoque iam mundo ad superna et diuina animus erectus est, fide plena, mente deuota, operatione continua promerendo Domino obsequium praebeamus.
And therefore, dearest brethren, whose fear toward God is ready, and whose mind, having already despised and trampled upon the world, is raised up to heavenly and divine things, with full faith, devoted mind, and continuous work, let us offer obedience in deserving the Lord's favor.
demus Christo uestimenta terrena indumenta caelestia recepturi.
Let us give earthly garments to Christ, that we may receive heavenly clothing.
demus cibum et potum saecularem cum Abraham et Isaac et Iacob ad conuiuium caeleste uenturi.
Let us give secular food and drink, that we may come to the heavenly banquet with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
ne parum metamus plurimum seminemus.
Let us sow abundantly, lest we reap sparingly.
securitati ac saluti aeternae dum tempus est consulamus Paulo apostolo admonente et dicente: ergo dum tempus habemus, operemur quod bonum est ad omnes, maxime autem ad domesticos fidei.
Let us provide for our eternal security and salvation while there is time, as the apostle Paul admonishes and says: "Therefore, while we have time, let us work what is good toward all, but especially toward those of the household of faith.
bonum autem facientes non deficiamus, tempore enim suo metemus.
And let us not fail in doing good, for in due season we shall reap."