Sermons on the Song of Songs

Now, some one may say to me, “How can I hope to advance who am envious of my brother’s progress?” But I ask, dost thou suffer this against thy will? If so, there is only feeling, not consent. What troubles thee is a passion which time shall weaken, not an action deserving of reproof. Only be careful not to make friends with it, by “devising iniquity on thy bed.” That is to say, do not consider how thou mayst foster the malady and feed the pestilence by persecuting the innocent, finding fault with his virtuous actions, thwarting, misrepresenting, or otherwise impeding his praiseworthy undertakings. Provided I am endeavouring to go forward, and am “stretching forth myself to the things that are before,” I shall suffer no harm from that whereof I can say, “It is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.” “There is now, therefore, no condemnation to them that” yield not their “members to serve iniquity”; who preserve their tongues from detraction, and their other members and faculties from hurting or injuring the innocent in any way whatever; who are rather ashamed of the evil disposition they discover in themselves, and by prayer, by tears, and confession are striving to subdue their passions, grown strong by previous indulgence; and who, finally, have learned from their indifferent or ill success in this matter to be more gentle towards their brethren and more humble in themselves. What right-minded judge shall condemn the man who has learned from his Lord to be “meek and humble of heart”? No, it is impossible that he should be out of the way of salvation, who proves himself an imitator of the Saviour, the Bridegroom of the Church, Jesus Christ Our Lord, Who is over all things, God blessed for ever. Amen.