the mystical temple of god 634 little trust is to be given to what they say. Yet it is not possible to satisfy everybody either. Although Paul was eager to please all in the Lord, and became all things to all men, yet it mattered little to him that he was subject to human judgment [cf.1 Cor 4:3]. He did a lot, as much as he was able, for the edification and salvation of others: but at times, he could not hold back that he would not be judged or even despised by others. Therefore he committed all to God, who knows all things; and he defended himself by patience and humility against the talking of those who spoke unfair things of him, or even thought groundless and inaccurate things and discussed all that they wished about him. Yet at times he did respond, lest he give scandal to the weak by his silence. Who are you, Christian, that you should fear mortal man? What can anyone achieve by attacking you with words and injuries? He hurts himself rather than you; yet he will not be able to escape God’s judgment, whoever he is.” Therefore, “cast your heart in the Lord, and do not fear human judgment” (On the Imitation of Christ, l. 3, Ch. 36).157 It is not the fault of the bell if it is improperly struck, when it is good. Finally the best means to win and keep a good name is as follows: slander nobody, do not listen to those who do so, do not be grudging in your praises of others. When Caesar set about restoring the statues of Pompey,158 someone said to him that he was setting up his own. Thus feeling no envy for another’s glory, he was spreading his own. Some honoring the deeds and virtues of the saints are moved to do equal things and become saints. 157 IC, Bk. III, Ch. 36. It should be noted that the words “cast ... judgment” are placed at the beginning of chapter 36, from which this quotation comes. 158 Caesar, Julius (d. 44 B.C.), defeated Pompey in the year 48 B.C. at the battle of Pharsalus, and Pompey was killed soon afterwards, thus gaining Caesar absolute power in the Roman state. “Caesar, with the measure intended to show his desire for pacification, issued an amnesty and wished even to have the statues of Silas and Pompey the Great restored...” Levi, Mario Attilio, Caesar, Gaius Iulius: EI IX, 872. According to Plutarch, Cicero’s judgment on this action of Caesar’s was as follows: “He did not allow the statues of Pompey which had been pulled down to lie on the ground, but restored them, and it was then said by Cicero that “Caesar by restoring Pompey’s images made firm his own;” see: Plutarch, Caius Julius Caesar, LVII, 3: Lives, vol. II, Paris 1878, p. 876.
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