[1003] Cant. i. 3, 4.--Cp. Serm. i. § 8 (end). [1004] Col. iv. 3. SERMONS OF ST. BERNARD ON THE PASSING OF MALACHY Sermon I (November 2, 1148.)[1005] 1. A certain abundant blessing, dearly beloved, has been sent by the counsel of heaven to you this day; and if it were not faithfully divided, you would suffer loss, and I, to whom of a surety this office seems to have been committed, would incur danger. I fear therefore your loss, I fear my own damnation,[1006] if perchance it be said, _The young children ask bread, and no man offereth it unto them_.[1007] For I know how necessary for you is the consolation which comes from heaven, since it is certain that you have manfully renounced carnal delights and worldly pleasures. None can reasonably doubt that it was by the good gift of heaven, and _determined by_ divine _purpose_,[1008] that Bishop Malachy should fall asleep among you to-day, and among you have his place of burial, as he desired. For if not even a leaf of a tree _falls_ to _the ground without_ the will of God,[1009] who is so dull as not to see plainly in the coming of this blessed man, and his passing, a truly great purpose of the divine compassion?[1010] _From the uttermost parts of the earth he came_[1011] to leave his earth here. He was hastening, it is true, on another errand; but we know that by reason of his special love for us he desired that most of all.[1012] He suffered many hindrances in the journey itself, and he was refused permission to cross the sea till the time of his consummation was drawing near,[1013] and the goal which could not be passed. And when, with many labours, he came to us _we received him as an angel of God_[1014] out of reverence for his holiness; but he, out of his very deeply rooted _meekness and lowliness_,[1015] far beyond our merits, received us with devoted love. Then he spent a few days with us in his usual health: for he was waiting for his companions, who had been scattered in England, when the baseless distrust of the king was hindering the man of God. And when they had all assembled to him, he was preparing to set out to the Roman Court, on his way to which he had come hither;[1016] when suddenly he was overtaken by sickness, and he immediately perceived that he was being summoned rather to the heavenly palace, _God having provided some better thing for us_, lest going out from _us he should be made perfect_ elsewhere.[1017]