Cavendum principibus, ne sceleratorum amicitiis conjungantur
Warning Against Wicked Friendships
Rulers must avoid close friendship with the wicked, because such bonds entangle them in sin.
But rulers must also be on their guard: they must not let themselves be joined in friendship with wicked men of this kind, or welcome such people into close familiarity. Of the wicked, says blessed Gregory (Pastoral , part. III, cap. 23), because we are joined incautiously in friendships, we are bound by faults.
Jehoshaphat's Blameworthy Alliance
The example of Jehoshaphat shows how even a righteous king is reproached for allying with the wicked, as confirmed by the prophetic rebuke in Chronicles.
So it is that Jehoshaphat, who is extolled with so many praises for his past life, is reproached for his friendship with King Ahab, as he is on the point of perishing. To him it is said by the Lord through the prophet: You offer aid to the impious one, and you are joined in friendship with those who hate the Lord, and so you indeed deserved the wrath of the Lord, but good works were found in you, because you removed the sacred groves from the land of Judah (II Chron.✦ 19:2, 3).
Hating the Enemies of God
The upright must distance themselves from the depraved and, with the perfect hatred exemplified by David, love what God loves and reject what opposes Him.
For the one who is most upright already diverges from that very source, insofar as our life aligns itself with the friendships of depraved people. David, from then on, as he bound himself entirely to the bonds of inner peace, testifies that he did not fear harmony with the wicked, saying: 'Did I not hate those who hate you, O God, and waste away over your enemies?' With hatred perfected, I hated them; they have become my enemies (Ps. 138:21–22). To hate the enemies of God with perfect hatred is to love what they were made to rebuke, to press down the ways of depraved people, and to benefit life.
Read the original Latin
Sed et cavendum est principibus, ne etiam hujusmodi sceleratorum amicitiis conjungantur, vel hujusmodi in familiaritatem suscipiant. « Malorum, inquit beatus Gregorius (Pastoral. , part. III, cap. 23), cum incaute amicitiis conjungimur, culpis ligamur. Unde Josaphat, qui tot de anteacta vita praeconiis attollitur, de Achab regis amicitiis pene periturus increpatur. Cui a Domino per prophetam dicitur: Impio praebes auxilium, et his qui oderunt Dominum amicitia jungeris, et idcirco iram quidem Domini merebaris, sed bona opera inventa sunt in te, eo quod abstuleris lucos de terra Juda (II Par. XIX, 2, 3).
Ab illo enim qui summe rectus est, eo ipso jam discrepat, quo perversorum amicitiis vita nostra concordat. » Hinc David, dum totum se ad foedera pacis internae constringeret, testatur quod cum malis concordiam non timeret, dicens: Nonne qui te oderunt, Deus, oderam illos, et super inimicos tuos tabescebam? Perfecto odio oderam illos, inimici facti sunt mihi (Psal. CXXXVIII, 21, 22). Inimicos etiam Dei perfecto odio odisse est, ad quod facti sunt diligere, et quod faciunt increpare, mores pravorum premere, vitae prodesse.
Scripture echoes
- ↩2Chr.19.2-2Chr.19.3 — And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and he said to King Jehoshaphat, Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, wrath is upon you from before the LORD. 2Chr.19.3 — Nevertheless, good things are found in you, because you have removed the Asherah poles from the land and have set your heart to seek God.
On the Person and Ministry of the King (De regis persona et regio ministerio) companion
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