44. Next let not man, now
that he knoweth that by the grace of God he is what he is, fall
into another snare of pride, so as by lifting up himself for the
very grace of God to despise the rest. By which fault that other
Pharisee both gave thanks unto God for the goods which he had, and
yet vaunted himself above the Publican confessing his sins. What
therefore should a virgin do, what should she think, that she vaunt
not herself above those, men or women, who have not this so great
gift? For she ought not to feign humility, but to set
it forth: for the feigning of humility is greater pride. Wherefore
Scripture wishing to show that humility ought to be true, after
having said, “By how much thou art great, by so much humble
thyself in all things,” added soon after, “And thou shalt find
grace before God:” assuredly where one could not
humble one’s self deceitfully.