be noticed, they are full of piety in their outward ceremonies, but within full of arrogance.  These are the members of the devil, for the devil neither eats, drinks, nor sleeps, he is neither a miser nor a wanton, but is within full of pride as are these.  By the ass we are to understand the simple people.  They are led in the way of sin by the ceremonies of the lazy, since they are not thought fit for the worship of the heart, and must be led by masses, penance, and indulgences, and they throw away what might be of profit for money and for candles.  The lazy give them council in their sermons:  Give some vestment, build a chapel, and thou wilt be freed from any danger of going to hell.  Do not believe these mountebanks; no outward act can bring you to Paradise, not even miracles and prophecy, but only the grace of God, if you have humility and love....  Before the ass stood an angel with a sword.  This is Christ, who speaks to the ass:  Walk no longer in the path of sin, for I have ready for you a great scourge.  The ass alone saw the angel; for the simple first hear the word of the Lord, but Balaam and such as are with him will hear nothing of it.  The ass left the path of captivity and went out into the field, into the way of the Lord.  “For the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hid in a field; which when a man found he sold all that he had and bought that field.”  So the simple go into the holy field of the Scriptures and say:  “Let me look around a little, for the flowers of this field bear fruit.”  Yea, our fathers, the prophets, apostles, and martyrs bore fruit, they who died with joy for the truth.  These are they who go into the field and speak the truth in the face of death.  Come into the city, where the nobles and the masters taken captive by sin crowd together, cry the lazy troop of monks:  O fathers, it would be well if when you spoke of these things, you touched not this string, by which you allow yourselves to fall into disgrace and disfavor.  They have said that already to me.  Our persecution begins if we begin to preach.  But Jesus was willing to die for the truth of what He said; should we forsake the truth in order not to displease men?  No, we will say it in every way, and with Balaam’s ass go into the field.

Think not that I am such a fool as to undertake these things without good reason.  I call heaven and earth to witness against me if I do not speak the truth.  For against all the world is my sermon; every one contradicts it.  If I go about with lies, then I have Christ against me; therefore I have heaven and earth against me, and how then could I stand?  As such a trifler with holy things how should I dare rise up?  Believe me, I speak the truth, I have seen it with my eyes, and touched it with my hands.  Believe it!  If I speak not the truth, I consign myself body and soul to destruction; but I tell you I am certain of the truth, and I would that all were as I am.  I say that of the truth on which I stand, not as tho I wished that others