Sermons on the Song of Songs

Having overcome this temptation to despair, we have next to arm ourselves against human praise, which is evoked especially by holiness of life. Otherwise we shall run the risk of being wounded by the “arrow that flieth in the day,” that is to say, by vainglory. For, in a sense, good fame may truly be said to fly. And it flies in the day, because it springs from the works of light. But if this temptation also is blown aside like an idle vapour, it remains for the seducer to offer us something more substantial, namely, the riches and honours of the world, in the hope that he who refuses praise may still be willing to accept wealth and dignity. Consider here, my brethren, if this be not the order in which the temptations were presented to Our Lord in the desert. After the suggestion to throw Himself from the pinnacle of the temple, which was intended to excite vainglory, He was shown and offered all the kingdoms of the world. Do you, then, imitate your Master in resisting this third temptation also. If not, you must inevitably be overcome by the “business that walketh about in the dark,” which is hypocrisy. For this vice is born of ambition and makes its abode in obscurity, since it dissembles what it is and simulates what it is not. Busily intriguing at all times, it retains the appearance of piety as a disguise, laying claim to the merit of virtue and buying the honours thereof.

The last temptation is from the “noon-day devil,” who is wont to lie in wait particularly for the perfect. These, as being men of virtue, have escaped all other dangers, viz., from pleasures, applause, and honours. The tempter has now no other weapon wherewith to attack them openly. He comes therefore masked, since he no longer dares to show himself in his real character. And those whom he knows from experience will turn away in horror from manifest evil, he endeavours to seduce by a deceptive appearance of good. Even such as can say with the Apostle, “We are not ignorant of his devices,” have to be anxiously on their guard against this snare, and that the more, the further advanced they are in virtue. Hence it is that Mary was troubled at the angelic salutation, suspecting, as I think, some hidden deceit. Josue also refused to receive the friendly angel until he had satisfied himself that he was really a friend. For he inquired whether he was on his own side or was in league with his adversaries, as one who had experience of the cunning tricks of this “noon-day devil.” On a certain occasion, again, when the apostles were labouring at the oars, the wind being contrary and blowing the ship about, they saw the Lord walking on the sea; and supposing Him to be a spirit, they cried out for fear. Is it not plain that they then showed their dread and suspicion of the noon-day devil? And you remember the words of Holy Scripture that “in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking upon the sea.” It is therefore in the fourth watch, that is to say, in the final stage of our progress towards perfection, that we have to look out for this temptation. And we are given to understand that the higher a soul finds herself to be exalted, the more careful should she be in watching against the “invasion and the noon-day devil.” Furthermore, when the true Meridian manifested Himself to the disciples with the words, “It is I, fear not,” immediately they were enabled to put aside their suspicion of the counterfeit. Would to God that to us also, whenever specious falsity attempts to impose on us, the true Meridian, “the Orient from on high,” would “send forth His light and His truth” to expose the fraud and again, as in the beginning, to divide the light from the darkness, so that we may no longer deserve to be reproached by the Prophet as “putting darkness for light and light for darkness”!

I will next attempt to point out how these four temptations have attacked in their order even the mystical body of Christ, which is the Church, that is, unless so long a sermon would weary you. Well, I will make the exposition as brief as I can. Consider, then, the primitive Church, and see if it was not pervaded and most fiercely assailed by the “terror of the night.” For then surely it was night, when everyone who slew the saints thought he was doing a service to God. But when this temptation had been overcome and the tempest had passed over, the Church appeared in glory, and, according to the promise made to it, soon occupied the place of pre-eminence in the world. Then the enemy, enraged by his previous disappointment, cunningly exchanged the “terror of the night” for the “arrow that flieth in the day,” and with it, as St. Paul speaks, wounded “some of the Church.” For there arose vain men, who hungered after earthly glory and sought to make a name for themselves. Going forth from the Christian body, they began to afflict their holy mother by teaching diverse and perverse doctrines. But this second plague found a remedy in the wisdom of the doctors, as did the first in the patience of the martyrs.

The present generation, my brethren, is, through the mercy of God, free from both these dangers. But it is manifestly corrupted by the “business that walketh about in the dark.” Woe to this generation by reason of the leaven of the Pharisees! I mean, because of its hypocrisy, if indeed that ought to be called hypocrisy which is now too prevalent to lie concealed and too impudent to seek concealment. To-day the foul disease has spread itself throughout the whole body of Christ’s mystical Bride, the more incurable in proportion as it is widely extended, and the more deadly the more deeply it penetrates. Were one to rise up against holy mother Church, teaching open heresy, he would be cut off like an infected member, and cast forth to rot. Were a persecuting enemy to appear against her, she might perhaps hide herself from his violence. But now whom shall she cast forth, and from whom shall she hide herself? All are her friends and nevertheless all are her enemies. All are her children and, at the same time, all are her adversaries. All are her domestics, yet none give her peace. All are her neighbours, whilst all seek the things that are their own. They are Christ’s ministers, but they serve Antichrist. Honoured with the goods of the Lord, they refuse to render due honour to the Lord. Hence that worldly ornamentation which daily meets our eyes, that showy style of dress, more befitting a stage-player than a Christian cleric, that splendour of appointment which even kings might envy. Hence the gold mountings on bridles, saddles, and spurs; for such trappings are more carefully embellished than the altars of God. Hence the splendid tables, furnished with costly plate and delicate viands. Hence the “drunkenness and revellings.” Hence the music of the harp and the lyre and the flute. Hence the brimming winepresses, and the “storehouses full, flowing out of this into that.” Hence the phials of sweet perfumes. Hence the well-filled coffers. It is for the sake of such things that they desire to be, and do actually become provosts of churches, deans, archdeacons, bishops, archbishops. For these dignities are not now bestowed upon merit, but are given to that “business that walketh about in the dark,” namely, to ambition.