Love and Correction

Non omnis qui parcit, amicus est; nec omnis qui verberat, inimicus. Meliora sunt vulnera amici, quam voluntaria oscula inimici. Melius est cum severitate diligere, quam cum lenitate decipere. Utilius esurienti panis tollitur, si de cibo securus iustitiam neglegat, quam esurienti panis frangitur, ut iniustitiae seductus acquiescat. Et qui phreneticum ligat, et qui lethargicum excitat, ambobus molestus, ambos amat. Quis nos potest amplius amare, quam Deus? Et tamen nos non solum docere suaviter, verum etiam salubriter terrere non cessat. Fomentis lenibus quibus consolatur, saepe etiam mordacissimum medicamentum tribulationis adiungens, exercet fame Patriarchas etiam pios et religiosos, populum contumacem poenis gravioribus agitat, non aufert ab Apostolo stimulum carnis tertio rogatus, ut virtutem in infirmitate perficiat. Diligamus etiam inimicos nostros, quia hoc iustum est, et hoc praecipit Deus, ut simus filii Patris nostri qui in coelis est, qui facit solem suum oriri super bonos et malos, et pluit super iustos et iniustos. Sed sicut ista dona eius laudamus, ita etiam flagella eius in eos quos diligit, cogitemus. Sanctus Augustinus Hipponensis, ex Epistula XCIII, Vincentio

Not every one who is merciful is a friend, nor is every one who strikes an enemy. Better the wounds of a friend than the offered kisses of an enemy. 1 Better it is to love with severity than to deceive with kindness. More good is done by taking away food from one who is hungry, if through care for food he is forgetful of righteousness, than by breaking bread with one who is hungry that he may be seduced to unrighteousness. He who binds the madman and he who rouses the indolent is vexatious to both, yet it is he who loves both. Who can love us more than God? And yet He not only give us sweet instruction but also troubles us with salutary fear, and this without end. To the soothing remedies by which He comforts He often adds the sharp medicine of tribulation; He troubles with famine even the pious and devout patriarchs, He vexes a rebellious people with heavier punishments, and He does not take away the goad in the flesh of the Apostle, though thrice entreated, that He may make strength perfect in weakness. 2 Let us indeed love our enemies, because this is right, and God commands it, that we may be sons of our Father who is in heaven, who makes His sun rise over the good and the wicked, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. 3 But as we give thanks for His gifts, so let us think on His correction of those whom He loves. Saint Augustine of Hippo, from Letter 93, To Vincentius 1 Prov 27:6 2 2 Cor 12:7-9  3 Mt 5:45