A.D. 1292. WBTTCNOS OE THE YIEGT3T HILDEGABDE. course which they had confirmed in this manner, the doctors and wise men who then persist in the catholic faith, will expel the persecutors in every direction ; but yet, not all ; because some of them are very brave soldiers in the just service of God. And also they will not be able to influence some congregations of the saints whose conversion is holy. On which account they give counsel to the chiefs and to the rich men, to coerce those masters of the churches, and other spiritual men their subjects, with clubs and rods, so that they may be made just. And this will be done with respect to some of them. On which account, some being alarmed, will murmur against it, according to that saying which was spoken of Heli, ' Many of the just will keep my words, who will not be confounded with those errors, so as to be destroyed with their foundations/ But those seducers, at the beginning of the seduction of their error, will say to the woman : * It is not lawful for us to be with you ; but as you have not proper teachers, whatever we say to you and command you, that do, and you shall be saved and in this manner they bring women to join them, and lead them into their errors, that they may say, in the pride of their arrogant minds, ' We have all conquered.' But afterwards they will unite with the same women in the secret female way, and their iniquity and heresy will be laid bare. But of those who are so, I say, thus shall iniquity purge away iniquity, and be. brought upon you, as it is written, ' He has made darkness his hiding-place round about his tabernacle, as in the clouds of the air/ For God, owing to your wicked conduct, will bring to vengeance these things which are without light, in which he will conceal himself from you without any help, since he has cried for justice upon us, but he will call you unjust. For law and doctrine come from heaven, in which you would dwell, if you were an ornament of virtue and a fragrant garden of delight. But you are an evil example in the minds of men, as a stream of fair fame does not flow from you, so that you have neither food to eat, nor vestments to cover you in right respect of your souls ; but your works are unjust and without the fruit of knowledge, owing to which your honour will perish, and the crown will fall from your heads. Thus, injustice challenges and demands justice, and searches out every scandal, as it is written, ' Woe to that man by whom offence cometh.' For it must be that the wicked works of men be purified by tribulation and sorrow, but still.