Pyrobolia, seu de ignitis Sathanae telis, commonefactio theologica

on the left, and on the right, and it is a noble question, which ones harm the servants of God more: those on the left, which are twisted against us in many ways in adverse circumstances, or truly those on the right, which are twisted against us in prosperous things?

Indeed, I conclude that there is more danger to the Saints from the darts that are sent from the right than from those that are vibrated from the left, because the former harm through a deceptive appearance of good, they cause faith and the invocation of God to languish, and they foster and confirm philautian self-love and kenodoxian vainglory. The latter, however, ignite faith and invocation, and they make one circumspect, because they show our infirmity to be so great that we are never without need of God’s help.

For example, the sycophantic dart, with Satan as the author, sent and twisted by a cursed man, does not harm the Saints. For to be accused by the wicked is a kind of praise. And, by the testimony of Cyprian, lies do not deceive for long.

Conversely, hyperbolic praises, even if they proceed from the pious, do harm, according to the sentiment of Ignatius the martyr: Oi me epainountes mastigousi me Those who praise me excessively, scourge me. For the Wise Man truly said: As a crucible is for silver, and a furnace for gold, so is a man to the mouth of one who praises him. Proverbs 27:21. How often does it happen that he who bore unjust reproach with an equal mind becomes worse through praise, which he knows well he did not deserve? It is better, therefore, to hear the rebuke of the Wise Man than for one to hear the song of fools. Ecclesiastes 7:6.

XV.

But what you would wonder at most is that sometimes darts are twisted against us, inflamed by Satan, but eagerly accepted by us ourselves, which we fix into our own hearts. You will say, good words. Which of us becomes so stupid that he would harm himself, or so insane that he would become his own enemy? And yet this is neither new nor disapproved by the wise: No one is harmed except by himself. Satan knows from the effects that many evils from within esothen are delights to our Flesh. Therefore, when he vibrates an ignited dart against us, he calls these to his aid. He notices that you are impatient and not at all tolerant of evils. Therefore, he attacks you through his organs with savage words or injuries, so that, being exacerbated, you strive to pay back evil for evil, and in that way, while you desire to harm him who wishes to harm you with an ignited spike, you occur naked in the Flesh, not in the Spirit, and exhibit yourself to be struck, while you provoke the Behemoths with a straw.