Sermons on the Song of Songs

How great pleasure He takes in the preaching of truth when it is accompanied with purity of mind, He gives us clearly to understand by the words which are added, “For thy voice is sweet.” Nevertheless, He at the same time insinuates that the voice cannot please Him, unless the face also is pleasing, since He immediately subjoins, “And thy face comely.” What can be the comeliness of the interior face except purity? The comeliness of purity pleases Him in many without the sweet voice of preaching. But He can take no pleasure at all in the latter unaccompanied by the former. Truth will not reveal itself, nor will wisdom entrust itself to minds that are impure. How then shall they preach what they have not seen? For it is written, “We speak what we know and we testify what we have seen.” And wilt thou be so presumptuous as to testify what thou hast not seen, and to speak what thou dost not know? Do you ask me, my brethren, whom I mean by the impure of mind? I mean every preacher who looks for the applause of men, who does not “deliver the Gospel without charge,” who preaches that he may eat, who “supposes gain to be godliness,” who seeks not fruit for his hearers but gifts for himself. Such persons have certainly impure minds. But although they cannot see the truth because of their impurity, nevertheless they have the presumption to proclaim it. Why will you be so premature? why not wait for the light? why would you attempt to do in the dark that which is a work of light? “It is vain for you to rise before the light,” as the Psalmist warns us. Now light is purity, light is that charity which “seeketh not her own.” Only let this light precede to illumine thy way, and the foot of thy tongue shall advance in security. The truth, which is concealed from the “haughty eye,” lies open to the simple. It is impossible that it should not allow itself to be seen by the pure of heart, and thus also proclaimed. “But to the sinner, God saith: Why dost thou declare My justices and take My covenants in thy mouth?” Many neglecting this purity undertake to preach the truth before they have seen it. The consequence is that either they fall into gross errors, talking at random and affirming what they know not; or else they forfeit all respect by giving their hearers occasion to say of them that while undertaking to teach others, they have not first taught themselves. From both these evils may your prayers obtain that we shall be always protected by the Bridegroom of the Church, Jesus Christ Our Lord, Who is over all things, God blessed for ever. Amen.