Implicit Obedience

“John Cassian makes mention of one, who lutllvtgly fetched water near two miles every day for a whole year together, to j)oicr it upon a dead, dry stick, at the command of his superior, when no reasoji else could be given for it. And of another it is recorded, that he professed that if he were enjoined by his superior to put to sea 17i a ship which had neither mast, tackling, nor any other fitrniture, he woidd do it; and when he was asked how he could do this without hazard of his discretion, he answered. The wisdom must be in him that hath power to coinmand, not in him that hath power to obey. These are instances of implicit obedience to a poor fallible human authority, and are by no means to be imitated. But when it is God who gives the command, we cannot carry a blind obedience too far, since there can be no room for questioning the wisdom and goodness of any of his precepts. At Christ’s command it is wise to let down the net at the very spot where we have toiled in vain all the night. If God bids us, we can sweeten water with salt, and destroy poison with meat, yea, we may walk the waves of the sea, or the flames of a furnace. Well said the Blessed Virgin, “Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.” My heart, I charge thee follow thy Lord’s command without a moment’s question, though he bid thee go forward into the Red Sea, or onward into a howling wilderness.