The Good Name and the True Light

For what reason? We have this to say even here. Again, many among the rulers turned toward private interests. This same Ecclesiastes says: 'I saw slaves on horses and rulers riding about' (Eccl 10:7), and we cannot say for what reason he has this. But we can say in general that the things of men fall away. If, however, surpassing these, we become heavenly, no longer observing the temporal and apparent things, then we will lift ourselves to God, being able to know such things as follow after these.

For each one receives a reward according to his practice and his work. This is said regarding God by the Psalmist: 'You will render to each according to his works' (Ps 62:11). And even if the works are manifest, we do not trust in what kind of disposition is performing them. Moreover: 'And he made them in shadow.' The upward leading? He says this: 'Those having shone like the sun in the kingdom of their own Father' lived in the true days. In a manner of promising, he spoke concerning someone: 'I will fill him with length of days' (Dan 12:2). Indeed, these long days occurring toward the light of the truth are not shadowy; they are the prototypes. But the days which we can still receive while surrounded by flesh are shadowy.

Then one knows 'in part,' when 'the perfection has not yet come' (1 Cor 13:12), when he possesses the 'earnest of the Spirit' (Eph 1:14) and the light of the truth. Someone 'made these days in shadow,' but he did not know what would be behind him, whether he would surpass the shadow or fall down by it. And so that we may take the view from another example: the Jews have come to be in shadow, 'in the shadow' of days, not in the days themselves. For Moses, speaking the previous and true days, interprets: 'This is your life and this is the length of your days: to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul' (Deut 6:5).

But the love toward God occurring 'from all the soul and from all the disposition' does not work an increase of these days. For many diligent and God-fearing men were quickly transferred from life, and others, the most mediocre, lived long. For who will announce to man what will be behind him under the sun?...

One must take the word in two ways, so that this is both 'what shall be announced to him under the sun' (Ecclesiastes 1:9) and 'who else under the sun is able to announce'. Both are true. Furthermore, what is the leading up? This leading up is this: for both the man and the one striving to truly possess what is pleasant to him, it is asked 'who will announce to him, what will be after him under the sun'. It can be said here of the things that shine forth, those that lead up from the shadow, and those that guide from the temporal into the eternal. It is also possible to take this regarding the 'shadow' of righteousness, that 'who will announce to him, what will be to them under the sun', while still approaching righteousness. For he is no longer under the 'sun of righteousness' himself, having surpassed the shadow and having become in that truth seeing it 'face to face' (1 Cor 13:12).

A good name is preferred over oil, and the day of death over a day of birth. It exhorts to attend to a good reputation. For it has been said: 'A good reputation is praised by bones' (Prov 22:1). And we are accustomed to say that the one attending to virtue has acquired a good name, and the one living shamefully receives a bad name. Therefore, one is exhorted to attend to reputation. For this name, which seems to be sweet like oil, is good. Furthermore, is the spoken word clear? Those living well in life seem to be praised—but this can be with slander; such as the rich man remembered after Lazarus, and the one who heard: 'Fool, in this night they require your soul from you (Luke 12:20). But what you have prepared, what will it be?' Therefore, you prefer and choose this name of the seemingly good oil. But it is possible to take up the beautiful name, to make use of the chosen name of God. In order that the name not be bare, the good name consists according to virtue. And someone acquires this with toil and pain and sweat. But that which becomes sweet by chance often happens and is outside of their own striving. This is what the saint rejects, saying: 'Let not oil that sins anoint my head', which they think is sweet and oils themselves, but he says let it not be for me. For not every reputation is praiseworthy. The name here can be equal to reputation. Many are well-spoken of, who are able to exhaust others, claiming that they are rich, that they are rulers. This...