Timore sublato simul.
(Ibid.)
The well-known epigram of Pontanus tersely describes another of his vices—
Vendit Alexander sacramenta, altaria, Christum.
Emerat ille prius, vendere jure potest.
[869] In comparing the labors of the pope with those of St. Paul, St. Bernard exclaims, “Numquid ad eum de toto orbe confluebant ambitiosi, avari, simoniaci, sacrilegi, concubinarii, incestuosi, et quæque istiusmodi monstra hominum, ut ipsius apostolica auctoritate vel obtinerent ecclesiasticos honores, vel retinerent?”—De Consideratione Lib. I. c. iv.
[870] According to St. Bonaventura, this scandalous doctrine was frequently taught.—Libell. Apologet. Quæst. I.
[871] Dial Mirac. Dist. XII. c. xix.
[872] Hali Meidenhad. (Early English Text Society, 1866.) The author at times trenches closely on Manichæism. It is true that he revives, with some variation, the ancient computation of the relative merits of the various conditions of life—“For wedlock has its fruit thirtyfold in heaven, widowhood sixtyfold; maidenhood with a hundredfold overpasses both” (p. 22); but while he thus faintly disavows an intention to revile marriage, he again and again alludes to it as wicked and impure per se. “Well were it for them, were they on the day of their bridal borne to be buried.... If thou askest why God created such a thing to be, I answer thee: God created it never such; but Adam and Eve turned it to be such by their sin, and marred our nature” (p. 8).
Virginity he asserts to be the highest attribute of humanity, and in heaven virgins are the equals of angels and the superiors of saints.—“Maidenhood is a grace granted thee from heaven.... ’Tis a virtue above all virtues, and to Christ the most acceptable of all” (p. 10). “To sing that sweet song and that heavenly music which no saints may sing, but maidens only in heaven.... But the maiden’s song is altogether unlike these, being common to them with angels. Music beyond all music in heaven. In their circle is God himself; and his dear mother, the precious maiden, is hidden in that blessed company of gleaming maidens, nor may any but they dance and sing” (pp. 18-20).