life of john picus earl of mirandola - The Center for Thomas More ...

[101]
Reins
Night
The mean how a man
may soonest come to
perfection
[102]
The flesh to rest in
hope what it is.
48 Thomas More’s Life of John Picus
respect of it I repute (as Saint Paul saith 1 ) for dung. But forasmuch as
to have this light of understanding whereby a man may know this gift
that is given him of God to be the gift of God, therefor ⌐ the prophet
suingly° ¬ saith, Benedicam Dominum qui tribuit mihi intellectum–that is to
say, “ I shall bless our Lord, Which hath given me understanding.” But
insomuch as a man oftentimes intendeth after reason to serve God,
and, that notwithstanding, yet sensuality and the flesh repugneth,°
then is a man perfect when that not his soul only but also his flesh
draw forth to Godward, after those words ⌐ of the prophet in another
psalm ¬ : Cor meum et caro mea exultaverunt in Deum vivum–that is to say,
“My mind and my flesh both have joyed in the living God.” 2 And for
this the prophet saith here suingly, Et usque ad noctem increpuerunt me renes
mei–“ My reins ⌐ (or kidneys) ¬ hath chidden me unto the night,” that
is to say, my reins, in which is wont to be the greatest inclination to
concupiscence, not only now inclineth me not to sin but also chideth
me, that is to say, withdraw me from sin unto the night, that is to say,
they so far forth withdraw me from sin that willingly they afflict and
pain my body. Affliction is ⌐ in Scripture ¬ oftentimes signified by the
night, ⌐ because it is the most discomfortable season ¬ . Then ⌐ suingly
the prophet ¬ showeth what is the root of this privation ⌐ or taking away
of fleshly concupiscence in man, ¬ saying, Providebam Deum semper in
conspectu meo–“I provided° God always before my sight.” For if a man
had God always before his eyes as a ruler of all his works, and in all
his works should neither seek his own lucre, 3 his glory, nor his own
pleasure, but only the pleasure of God, he should shortly be perfect.
And forasmuch as he that so doth prospereth in all things, therefore
it followeth, Ipse a dextris est mihi ne commovear–“He is on my right hand
that I be not moved or troubled.” Then the prophet declareth how great
is the felicity of a just man, which shall be everlastingly blessed both
in body and in soul; and therefore he saith, Laetatum est cor meum–“My
soul is glad,” knowing that after death heaven is made ready for him.
Et caro mea requiescet in spe–“And my flesh shall rest in hope,” that is to
say, that though it joy not by and by, as in receiving his ⌐ glorious ¬ estate
immediately after the death, yet it resteth in the sepulchre with this
4 suingly next / 7 repugneth resist / 22 provided placed, kept
1. as …saith: Cf. Philippians 3:8.
2. Cor…God: Psalm 83:2.
3. lucre: The Latin has utilitatem, “advantage” (CW 1:370, 371).
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