O earth, for I call yon to witness my complaint, since men, to whom I have given understanding, hear me not.
I have brought up children, and exalted them; but they have despised me. The ox knows his owner, and the ass his master's crib; but Israel has not known me, and my people has not understood.[1] How badly, I say, do men requite me, whom I have created and redeemed, that they might serve me; to whom I have given so many earthly blessings for the support of the body, but my Body and Blood for that of their soul! Surely they are become like to senseless beasts, or more dull rather than they, for they do not know their benefactor. Ignorant as they are, the brutes still know their masters; they obey and serve at their bidding those at whose stalls they are fed with only a little hay; but these ungrateful ones, to whom it has been given daily to enjoy my table and my heavenly feast, alas! have no regard for their benefactor.
§ 8. Christ's complaint against lukewarm and negligent priests.
But first my complaint is directed to you, O priests, who despise my name! Have I not chosen you to be my ministers and dispensers of the mysteries of God,[2] giving you such a power as I have given neither to the kings and princes of the earth, nor yet to the angels themselves? But how rarely is there one among you who seriously considers this in his heart! Who lights up my altar for nought? Who sacrifices to me of his own will? Is it not like people, like priest; all seek the things that are their own? Each one hastens to his own house, but my house is desolate.[3]
Often to perform the priest’s office, daily to stand at the holy altars and offer sacrifice to God, is held in low esteem, as the duty of common priests, who must live by the altar. But they whom I have exalted, and brought up very delicately, even they have despised me. For they are grown fat, and thick, and gross, and forsake God their Creator: and they who eat of my bread, and live in splendour on my patrimony, even they are greatly supplanting me. Would the nobles of a royal court thus deem themselves honoured, if the country people were daily to sit at the king’s table, and themselves to be busied with farming and cattle, and other meaner occupations?
Will not more be required of those to whom more is given? For the laity will be more easily excused by the
