On True Wisdom

...John, resounding with words more angelic than human original: "iohannem angelica potius quam humana verba resonantem". Let those who love gentleness in the Lord take heed, and let them fear the truth. For the Lord is both sweet and upright. You should love Him because He is sweet, but fear Him because He is upright. As one who is gentle, He spoke and was silent; but as one who is just, [He says]: "Will I always be silent?" A reference to Isaiah 42:14, contrasting God's current patience with His eventual judgment. The Lord is merciful and compassionate. Yes, clearly. Add further: He is long-suffering; add yet more: and He is of great mercy. But fear that which is at the end: He is also truthful. The Lord is gentle, the Lord is long-suffering, the Lord is merciful; but the Lord is also just and truthful.

He grants you a space for correction correptiothe act of reproof or self-correction leading to amendment of life, but you love delay more than amendment. You were evil yesterday; be good today. And if you have spent this very day in malice, at least change tomorrow. You are always waiting, and you promise yourself much from the mercy of God, as if He who promised you forgiveness through His patience also promised you a tomorrow's longer life. How do you know what tomorrow may bring? A reference to Proverbs 27:1: "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring."

You say rightly in your heart: "When I have corrected myself, God will forgive all my sins." I cannot deny it; God has promised forgiveness to those who are corrected and converted. // For in whatever prophet you read to me that God promised forgiveness to the corrected, you do not read to me that God promised you a long life.

Therefore, men are endangered by both: by hoping and by despairing—by contrary things and by contrary affections. By hoping, he is deceived who says: "God is good, God is merciful; I will do what pleases me, I will give free rein to my desires wherever I wish, so that I may fulfill the longing of my soul." Why is this? Because...