CHAPTER IX

Of his labours, and his patience toward his enemies

(1)

IT were a long task to tell of the labours which he underwent in preaching, the conflicts of disputation which he maintained against subverters of the faith, and the exhortations which he delivered to strengthen in their holy purposes the brethren and sisters who had given themselves to the devout life. These things are most clearly shown in the letters which he wrote to divers persons for their consolation. Thus he says in one letter written to the priests in Amsterdam, who were very well known to him. “Be not afraid, my most beloved, if ye have heard my evil report from the men of Kempen. All things are turning out as I hope in accordance with the will of God. Let Charity burn within us with no sluggish flame but fiercely. Let us despise these filthy communications and be ensamples of the Most High, to the Glory of our Creator.”

When he perceived that many prelates of the Church were opposed to him, and that his preaching was being hindered by the envy of his enemies, and that he was forbidden to preach by an edict craftily obtained, he yielded in a spirit of humility to this rage and envy, being unwilling to stir up a tumult amongst the people against the clergy. Moreover, he said to the^common folk who took ill this inhibition as having been obtained by falsehood: 21“They are our prelates, and as is fitting and due we wish to obey their edicts; for we seek not to hurt any, nor to stir up a scandal. The Lord well knoweth His own whom He hath chosen from the beginning, and He will also call them by His grace, without our aid, in what manner soever He will.” He therefore held his peace for a time, and meanwhile gave himself to private exhortation, counting out the riches of the Word of Consolation with an eager heart to all who came to him,—as also the blessed Paul saith:—“and I myself will be spent for your souls, seeking not what is profitable to myself but to many.”

(2) He also caused several books of sacred theology to be written out by the pupils whom he attracted to him by his excellent discourses: he paid them wages, inviting them to come to his own house and hear the Word of God more often, that so he might dispose them to chastity, and to the amending of their lives, by which means they might become partakers of everlasting blessedness, being fashioned to a new and holy life, if they should renounce worldly courses. Meanwhile with Godly prudence he did not pay all their wages at one time, but divided the money into several portions, in order that they might often come, and with such opportunities for intercourse with him might find grace; and these men came the more gladly as they saw beneficent acts of holiness abounding in him—for Gerard earnestly strove to win some of these writers to Christ, a purpose which by the favour of God was shortly brought to pass. He loved to speak with such simpleminded and less learned men rather than with the wise of the world, because the innocent and the 22needy for the most part give place to the purposes of God more readily than the worldly-wise who trust in their own wisdom. For which things’ sake the prophet David said, “The innocent and the upright have adhered to me because I have waited on Thee.”

(3) A certain man of the order of mendicants, a Religious in garb, but a worker of mischief in speech, began to speak against the venerable Master in many things, and when he could not overcome him, he hastened to the Curia at Rome to bring a suit against this man of God, or by some other crafty device to impose silence upon him: which thing he would have feared to do if he had been moved by the Spirit of God: but the Just Judge, the Lover of peace, ordered things otherwise than as this turbulent person had expected, for being suddenly smitten by sickness while upon his journey, he died; and his whole device fell to the ground and came to naught.

There was another man of the order of preachers who was eloquent in discourse and had the fame and dignity of one in great esteem. This man having heard of the bright reputation of the venerable Master, rejoiced with exceeding charity thereupon, and congratulated Gerard with sincerity of mind. He sent him a friendly letter composed in elegant language, speaking highly of the good work which Gerard had begun, and urging him not to be broken down by the assaults of froward men, but to trust in God and stand firm, and to refresh Christian people with yet more copious draughts of the water that floweth from Heaven. Having heard this and having read the letter, the Master, who was tried in many things, embraced the writer, his fellow-worker in holy exhortation, 23with the arms of charity, and was strengthened by his letter, as by an oracle of God, for the work of preaching.