Verba Virginis ad sponsam, quomodo ipsa Virgo a quadruplici genere hominum salutatur, scilicet a veris amicis suis ex caritate et ab aliis ex timore pene et a reliquis, vt ditentur et honorentur, ab aliis vero ypocritis ex presumpcione venie. Prima duo genera remunerantur spiritualiter, tercium temporaliter; quartum est abhominabile.
The Sweet Offering of True Love
The Virgin describes those who offer their entire will to her out of pure devotion.
Mary says, "There are four kinds of people who greet me." The first are those who surrender their entire will and conscience into my hands, and whatever they do, they do it all for my honor. Their greeting is to me like a most sweet and delightful drink.
From Fear to Wisdom
Those who begin by fearing punishment are guided toward a deeper, rational love for God.
The second group consists of those who fear punishment and, because of that fear, keep themselves from sin. If they persevere in praising me, I grant them a lessening of that base fear, an increase in true love, and the knowledge by which they learn to love God rationally and wisely.
The Reward of Worldly Motives
Those who seek only worldly gain through their praise receive their reward in this life alone.
The third group consists of those who praise me highly, but with no intention or motive other than to increase their own worldly honor and temporary gain. Just as a lord who receives a gift sends back something of equal value to the giver, I do the same: because these people ask for worldly things and desire nothing more dearly, I give them what they want and reward them in this life.
The Abomination of Hypocrisy
The Virgin rejects the prayers of those who hide in sin while presuming upon her mercy.
The fourth group consists of those who pretend to be good, yet still take pleasure in their sin. They sin in secret whenever they can, so that people won't see them, thinking to themselves: 'The Virgin Mary is merciful, and as soon as she is called upon, she obtains forgiveness.' The clamor of these people pleases me just as much as a silver-plated vessel that is filled inside with the foulest filth, which no one can bear to smell. That is what some people are like, because of their wicked desire for sin.
Read the original Latin
Maria loquitur: "Quatuor genera hominum sunt, qui me salutant. Primi sunt, qui omnem voluntatem suam et conscienciam suam relinquunt in manus meas et, quidquid faciunt, totum faciunt pro honore meo. Horum salutacio est michi quasi potus suauissimus et delectabilis.
Secundi sunt, qui timent penam et ex timore se abstinent a peccato. Hiis ego do, si in laude mea perseuerauerint, diminucionem praui timoris et augmentacionem vere caritatis et scienciam, qua discant racionabiliter et sapienter Deum diligere.
Tercii sunt, qui satis in sublimi eleuant laudem meam sed nulla alia intencione et affectu, nisi vt honor temporalis et vtilitas transitoria eis accrescat.
Et ideo sicut dominus, cui aliquid donum mittitur et ipse remittit donanti equipollens aliquid, sic ego, quia ipsi temporalia petunt nec aliquid carius desiderant, propterea do eis, quod volunt, et remunero eis in presenti.
Quarti sunt, qui simulant se esse bonos et tamen peccatum habent in delectacione. Peccant enim occulte, cum possunt, ne videantur ab hominibus, cogitantes sic secum: 'Ipsa virgo Maria pia est et, mox vt inuocata fuerit, impetrat veniam'.
Horum clamor sic placet michi sicut vas, quod exterius est deargentatum et intus plenum fetidissimo stercore, quod nullus potest odorare. Tales sunt quidam per pessimam voluntatem peccati."
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