Of deeper matters, and God’s hidden judgments which are not to be inquired into.
“My Son, beware thou dispute not of high matters and of the hidden judgments of God; why this man is thus left, and that man is taken into so great favour; why also this man is so greatly afflicted, and that so highly exalted. These things pass all man’s power of judging, neither may any reasoning or disputation have power to search out the divine judgments. When therefore the enemy suggesteth these things to thee, or when any curious people ask such questions, answer with that word of the Prophet, ‘Just art Thou, O Lord, and true is Thy judgment,’ and with this, ‘The judgments of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether.’ My judgments are to be feared, not to be disputed on, because they are incomprehensible to human understanding.
“And be not given to inquire or dispute about the merits of the Saints, which is holier than another, or which is the greater in the Kingdom of Heaven. Such questions often beget useless strifes and contentions: they also nourish pride and vain glory, whence envyings and dissensions arise, while one man arrogantly endeavoureth to exalt one Saint and another another. But to wish to know and search out such things bringeth no fruit, but it rather displeaseth the Saints; for I am not ‘the God of confusion, but of peace;’ which peace consisteth more in true humility than in self-exaltation.
“Some are drawn by zeal of love to greater affection to these Saints or those; but this is human affection rather than divine. I am He Who made all the Saints: I gave them grace, I brought them glory; I know the merits of everyone; ‘I prevented them with the blessings of My goodness.’ I foreknew my beloved ones from everlasting, ‘I chose them out of the