THE KING’S BUSINESS
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that is well known. You see in what sor rows and what opposition I must now live, and I can say with Jeremiah: “O, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of strife and contention to the whole •earth!?’ But where is a father or a mother that can say I have led their son into sin; one that can say I have ruined her husband or his wife? Everybody knows my manner <*f life, therefore it is right for you to believe that I speak the truth which everybody knows. You think it is impossible for a man to do what the faith I have preached tells him to do: with God it would be easy for you. OPEN YOUR EYES The ass alone saw the angel, the others did not; so open your eyes. Thank God, many have them open. You have seen many learned men whom you thought wise,, and they have withstood our cause: now they believe; many noted masters who were hard and proud against u s; now humility casts them down. You have also seen many women turn from their vanity to simplicity; vicious youths who are now improved and conduct themselves in a new way. Many, indeed, have received this doctrine with humility. That doctrine has stood firm, no matter how attached with the intention of showing that it was a doctrine opposed to Christ. God does that to manifest His wisdom, to show it finally overcomes all other wisdom. And He is willing that His servants be spoken against that they may show their patience and humility, and for the sake of His love not to be afraid of martyrdom. O ye men and women, I bid you to this tr,uth; let those who are in captivity con tradict you as much as they will, God will come and oppose their pride. Ye proud, however, if you do not turn about and become better, then will the sword and the pestilence fall upon you; with famine and war will Italy be turned upside down. I foretell you this because I am sure of i t : if I were not, I would not mention it. Open your eyes as Balaam opened his eyes
on Christ, I leaned on His grace, I hoped; leave off thine anger and threatening, thou canst not get me away from the wall. I say to all of you: Come to the truth, forsake your vice and your malice, that I may not have to tell you of your grief. I say it to you, O Italy, I say it to you, 0 Rome, I say it to all of you; return and do penance. There stands before you the holy truth; she can not fall; she can not bend or give way; wait not until the blows fall. A NARROW PATH In everything am I oppressed;, even the spiritual power is against me with Peter’s mighty key. Narrow is my path and full of trouble; like Balaam’s ass, I must throw myself on the ground and cry: “See, here I am; I am ready to die for the truth.” But when Balaam beat his fallen beast, it said to him : “What have I done to thee ?” So I say to you: “Come here and tell me: what have I done to you ? Why do you beat me ? I have spoken the truth to you: I have warned you to choose a virtuous life; I have led many souls to Christ”. But you answer: “Thou hast spoken evil of us, therefore, thou shouldst suffer the stripes thou deservest.” But I named no one, I only blamed your vices in general. If you have sinned, be angry with yourselves, not with me. I name none of you, but If the sins I have mentioned are without question yours, then they and not I make you known. As the smitten beast asked Balaam, so I ask you: “Tell me, am I not your ass? and do you not know that I have been obedient to you to ,this very moment, that I have even done what my superiors have com manded, and have always behaved myself peaceably?” You know this, and because I am now so entirely different, you may well believe that a great cause drives me to it. Many knew me as I was at first'; if I remained sp I could have had as much honor as I wanted. I lived six years among you, and now I speak otherwise, nevertheless I announce to you the truth
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