E4P54S
Scholium — Part IV
Latin
Quia homines raro ex dictamine rationis vivunt, ideo hi duo affectus nempe humilitas et pœnitentia et præter hos spes et metus plus utilitatis quam damni afferunt atque adeo quandoquidem peccandum est, in istam partem potius peccandum. Nam si homines animo impotentes æque omnes superbirent, nullius rei ipsos puderet nec ipsi quicquam metuerent, qui vinculis conjungi constringique possent? Terret vulgus nisi metuat; quare non mirum quod prophetæ qui non paucorum sed communi utilitati consuluerunt, tantopere humilitatem, pœnitentiam et reverentiam commendaverint. Et revera qui hisce affectibus sunt obnoxii, multo facilius quam alii duci possunt ut tandem ex ductu rationis vivant hoc est ut liberi sint et beatorum vita fruantur.
English (Elwes 1883)
As men seldom live under the guidance of reason, these two emotions, namely, Humility and Repentance, as also Hope and Fear, bring more good than harm; hence, as we must sin, we had better sin in that direction. For, if all men who are a prey to emotion were all equally proud, they would shrink from nothing, and would fear nothing; how then could they be joined and linked together in bonds of union? The crowd plays the tyrant, when it is not in fear; hence we need not wonder that the prophets, who consulted the good, not of a few, but of all, so strenuously commended Humility, Repentance, and Reverence. Indeed those who are a prey to these emotions may be led much more easily than others to live under the guidance of reason, that is, to become free and to enjoy the life of the blessed.
Modern English
Because people rarely live by the guidance of reason, these two affects — humility and repentance — along with hope and fear bring more benefit than harm. So if we must err, better to err in that direction. For if all who are at the mercy of their affects were equally proud, they would feel shame at nothing and fear nothing; what bonds could hold them together? Fear keeps the masses in check, so it is no surprise that the prophets, who looked to the common good rather than to the good of a few, commended humility, repentance, and reverence so insistently.
Those subject to these affects can in fact be led far more easily than others to live by the guidance of reason, that is, to become free and to enjoy a blessed life.