These are the shows which God
exhibiteth
of things invisible.
Augustine - Exposition on the Psalms - v6
May they see, may they feel, that they are trifling ; and, intent as they are on the sights which please them, may at length look on themselves, and be displeased.
For in many we rejoice that this has already been done : and once we too sat there and were mad : and how many think we now sit there, who shall yet be, not only Christians, but also Bishops !
From what is
past, we conjecture what is to be : from what has already been done, we announce beforehand what God will do. Let your prayers be wakeful, ye groan not for nothing. Certainly they who have already escaped, praying for those who are still in danger, because they too having been among those in danger, are heard ; and God shall drag His people out of the captivity of Babylon ; by all means He shall redeem and deliver them, and the number of the saints
who bear the image of God shall be perfected. They shall not be there, whose image in His city God shall spurn and bring to nought, because they too in their city, that is in Babylon, have brought His image to nought. There shall be the people praising the Lord, whom now the Spirit of prophecy foreseeth, and bids us exult in hope, and long for the reality. Praise in unison thy God, O Jerusalem : praise
thy God, O Sion. Praise in unison, because thou con- ' onom. sistest of many : praise, because thou hast been made one1. iCor. 1o, We being many, saith the Apostle, are one in Christ. As
then we are many, we praise in unison; as we are one, we
praise. The same are many and one, because He in Whom ? unum. they are one* is ever One3,
wherefore, saith this Jerusalem, do I praise in unison the Lord, and, as Sion, praise my God? Jerusalem is the same as Sion. For different reasons has it the two names. Jerusalem meaneth 'visions of peace;' Sion meaneth
4 speco- ' watching4. ' See whether these words do not sound like
i^pecta- sights3; that the Gentiles may not think that they hare
unua.
g
cola,
siglus and we have none. Sometimes after the theatre or amphitheatre breaks up, when the crowd of lost ones begins to be vomited forth from that den, sometimes, retaining in
prayers
who pity us for losing the pleasures of this world. 389
their minds images of their vain amusements, and feeding Ver. their memory with things not only useless but even hurtful, 12' la" rejoicing in them as if they were sweet, while they are really deadly ; they see often, it may be, the servants of God pass
by, they recognise them by their garb or head-dress, or they
know them by sight0, and they say to one another, or in wardly, ' Wretched people, how much they lose I' Brethren,
let us return their good will (for they do mean it well) with prayers to the Lord. They wish us well; but he that Pt. 1),s. loveth iniquity, hateth his own soul. If he hateth his own
soul, how shall he love my soul ? Yet with a perverse, and empty, and vain good will, if indeed it may be called good will, they grieve that we lose what they love : let us pray that they lose not what we love. Behold of what character that Jerusalem is to be which he exhorteth to praise, or rather foreseeth will praise. For the praises of that city, when we shall see and love and praise, will not need to be urged on and stirred up by the voice of prophecy; but the Prophets now say this, to drink in as far as while
they remain in this flesh they can, the future joys of the blessed, and then giving them forth into our ears, to arouse in us love of that city. Let us burn with longing, let us not be slothful in spirit.
9. But see of what character that Jerusalem is to be, which is to praise God, and how it is to praise; in a sort of perfection of bliss. Praise in unison, saith he, O Jeru salem, the Lord; praise thy God, O Sion. And, as though it said, how shall I be safe to praise? he saith, for He hath
made strong the bars of thy gates. Observe, brethren. He
saith, He hath made strong the bars of thy gates. The ver. 13. making bars strong is not for open gates, but shut ones, wherefore most manuscripts read, He hath made strong
the 'bolls of thy gates. Observe, beloved. He biddeth 1 seras.
Jerusalem when closed in to praise the Lord. We praise
in unison now, we praise now; but it is amid offences.
Many where we wish not, enter in : many though we wish it
not, go out: therefore offences are frequent. And because Mat. 24,
iniquity hath abounded, saith the Truth, the love of many 12" waxeth cold: because men come in whom we cannot discern,
c There is a better reading in some Mss. : forte" for fronte, ' or they happen to know them. '
390 Explanation of the Parable
Psalm because men go out whom we cannot retain. Wherefore is <jxlVU- this ? Because not yet is there perfection, not yet is there
the bliss that shall be. Wherefore is this ? Because as yet it is the threshing-floor, not yet the garner. What there fore will be then, save no fear that aught of this kind will
Mat. 25, 1-- 13'
For praise in unison, O Jerusalem, the Lord; praise thy God, O Sion : for He hath made strong the bars of thy gates. He hath made strong. He said not only, He hath set, but, He hath made strong the bars of thy gates.
Let none go out, let none come in. Let none go out, we rejoice: let none come in, we fear. Nay, fear not this: when thou hast entered it will be said : only be thou in the number of virgins, who carried their oil with them.
10. For those virgins signify souls. For there were not really five, but among those five are thousands. For in the number five are understood thousands, not only of women but of men : for either sex is called woman, because they are the. Church: and either sex, that is, the Church, is
happen?
2Cor. 1l, called a virgin. / have espoused you to one husband, that
2-
J may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. Few have virginity in the flesh : all ought to have in heart. Virginity of the flesh is a body unsullied; virginity in heart is a faith uncorrupted. The whole Church therefore is called ' a Virgin,' and, in the masculine gender, ' the people of God,' and, ' one people,' and ' a single people,' and ' one
Church,' and ' one dove :' and in this virginity are thou sands of saints. The five virgins therefore signify all souls that are to enter into the kingdom of God, not without reason expressed by the number five, for the senses of the body known to all are five. For by five doors entereth every thing through the body into the soul : either by the eye entereth what thou lookest after amiss, or by the ears, or
by the smell, or by the taste, or by the touch. Whosoever hath admitted nothing that corrupteth by these five gates, is reckoned among the five virgins. Corruption is admitted through unlawful desires : but what is lawful and what not, the books of Scripture fully tell. Thou must then be among these five virgins : so shalt thou not fear that which is said, ' Let none enter:' for this is said, and shall be fulfilled; but it will be when thou hast entered; none shall shut the door
of the wise and foolish virgins. 391
against thee, but when thou hast entered, the gates of Ver. Jerusalem shall be shut, and the bars of its gates be made ------ strong. For if thou choosest either not to be a virgin in
heart, or, though a virgin, among the foolish virgins, thou
shalt remain outside, and knock in vain.
11. Who are the foolish virgins? They also are five:
who, but they who have indeed continence of the flesh,
so as to avoid the corruptions which come from all the senses, which I just enumerated ? They avoid, so to speak,
the corruptions which come from all sides; yet they bear
not their good in their consciences before the eyes of God,
but desire to please men therewith, and follow the judg
ment of others. They hunt after the good opinions of the multitude ; they are of little value to themselves, while they
desire to be dear to those who see them : their own conscience sufficeth them not. Rightly do they carry no oil with
them. For oil is the state of glory itself, on account of its brightness and splendour. But what saith the Apostle ? Behold the wise virgins carrying oil with them : but let Gal. 6,4. every man prove his own work, and then shall he have glory
in himself alone, and not in another. These then are the wise virgins. But the foolish light indeed their lamps, that is, their works seem indeed to shine; but they shall fail and be extinguished, because they are not fed with oil from within. And while the Bridegroom tarrieth, they all sleep: for both sorts of men fall asleep in death, both the foolish and the wise ; while the Lord delayeth His coming, they sink into this bodily, visible death, which all Christians know that Scripture describes by sleep: as the Apostle said of them that were sick, For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. By sleep, he meaneth, die. But, lo, the Bridegroom shall come, and all shall rise, but not all shall enter. The works of the foolish virgins shall fail, because they have not the oil of conscience : nor shall they find from whom to buy, what their flatterers used to sell to them. For they are mocking, not grudging, who say to them, Go and buy for your selves. For the foolish had begged of the wise, and had said to them, Give us oil, for our lamps are gone out. What said the wise ? Lest perhaps there be not enough for us and
1 Cor. ' 30"
392 We must seek mercy by shewing mercy,
Psalm you, go rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. cxi. vii. "ph is was m facl remin<ling tbem, ' What do they now profit you, from whom ye were wont to buy flattery ? ' And while they were going, Scripture saith, the others went in, and the door was shut. While they are going in heart, while they are thinking on these things, while they, putting off from them their former purpose, are recalling back their past deeds, they, as it were, are going to them that sell : and
they find not others to aid them, they find not then to praise them those by whom they were wont to be praised, and to be roused, as they thought, to good works, not by the
of a good conscience, but by the incitement of another's tongue.
12. Those words too, lest perchance there be not enough for us, are said with great humbleness of thought. For the oil which we bear in our consciences is our judgment of
our own character, and it is difficult for a man to judge
perfectly concerning himself. My brethren, however much Phil. 3, a man advance, however much he reach forth unto those '''' things which are before, and forget those things which are
behind, if he once say to himself, ' It is well,' there cometh forth a rule from the storehouse of God ; it examineth him
strength
and who shall boast that he hath a pure heart, who shall boast that he is clean from sin? But what Jart. 2, saith Scripture, Judgment without mercy to him who hath
shewed no mercy. However much progress thou makest, thou must hope in mercy. For if justice without mercy be brought forth, in any one it will find what it may condemn. And what Scripture comforteth us? That which exhorteth us to shew mercy, that we be altogether frequent in giving what we have beyond our needs. For we have many superfluities, if we keep nothing but what is necessary ; for if we seek empty vanities, nothing is enough. My brethren,
seek what is enough for God's work, not what is sufficient for your greediness. Your greediness is no work of God. Your self, your body, your soul, this is all God's work. Enquire what is enough for them, and thou shalt see how little it is. Two pieces of money were enough for the widow to shew mercy with: two pieces of money were enough to buy the Kingdom of God. What is enough for
accurately,
and forgiveness by forgiveness. , 393
the giver of shows to clothe them that fight with wild beasts ver.
so often ? See that not only is it little which is enough for yourselves, but neither doth God Himself require much from thee. Find out how much He hath given thee, and take of that what is enough : all other things which remain as superfluities are the necessaries of others. The superfluities of the rich are the necessaries of the poor. Thou possessest what belongs to others, when thou possessest more than thou needest.
13- .
13. If then thou doest deeds of mercy of this kind, and specially that which costeth thee nothing, namely, forgive <<<<Matt. 6, we forgive, (wherein thou spendest nought but charity, 12' which groweth in the spending,) if thou doest, I say, and
art fervent in these good works of mercy,
works themselves will be needless then, because then there
will be no one miserable, to whom mercy may be shewn,)
thou wilt await in safety the judgment, in safety not so
much on account of thy righteousness, as on account of the mercy of God, because thou too hast first shewed mercy.
For judgment without mercy to him that hath shewed no Jam. 2, mercy: and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. Think13. not, brethren, that then He is not just when He sheweth
us no mercy, or that He departeth from the standard of His
justice. Both when He condemneth, He is just, and when
He sheweth mercy, He is just. For what so just as to
repay mercy to one who sheweth it first? What so just, as
that in what measure ye mete, it be measured to you again ? Matt. 7, Give to thy brother in need. What brother? To Christ. 2,
If then because in giving to thy brother, thou givest to Christ, and in Christ to God, Who is over all, blessed for Rom. 9, ever ; God hath willed to need at thy hand, and dost thou5-
hold thy hand back ? Certainly thou stretchest out thine
hand, and askest of God : hear then the Scripture ; let not Ecclm. thine hand be stretched out to receive, and shut when thou*'31' shouldest give. God willeth that somewhat be spent upon
Him, of that which He hath given. For what givest thou,
which He gave not? For what hast thou, which thou hast 1 Cor. 4, not received ? or rather, not to say to God, dost thou give 7"
aught to any one of what is thine own ? Of His thou givest Who biddeth thee give. Prefer to spend rather than to seize.
(which good
394 None can attain or fall away after the end of this life.
Psalm If then thou doest this, and in true humility sayest of that
crlYn. oil, lest haply there be not enough for us, then thou
enterest in, and the door is shut. Hear the Apostle saying
l Cor. *, so: to me it is a very small thing to be judged of you.
3'
For how can ye judge my conscience? How can ye examine with what mind I do what I do? How far can men judge of their neighbour? Surely a man can judge better about himself: but better can God judge about a man, than the man about himself. If then thou shalt have been such as this, thou shalt enter, thou shalt be among the five virgins ; the other foolish ones shall be shut out. For this thou hast in the Gospel. The door shall be shut, and they shall stand and cry, Open unto us, and it shall not be opened: for He hath made strong the bars of thy
gates: He hath made strong, saith he, the bars of thy gates: now thou art safe: in safety praise: praise without end. Firmly are thy gates shut : no friend goeth out: no enemy cometh in. He hath made strong the bars of thy gates.
14. He hath blessed thy children within thee. They roam not without, they wander not; within they rejoice, within they praise, within they are blest: within they no longer are in travail, for now they give not birth to any. They are sons, they are holy. These holy sons, now praising and rejoicing, their mother, love, has already travailed with and given birth to ; they are shut within, because love has gathered them. Hear love travailing with them : for the Apostle Paul, filled with love, having not only a father's but a mother's heart toward his sons, saith, My children, of whom I travail in birth again. When Paul travailed in birth with them, it was love that travailed in birth; when love travailed in birth with them, it was the Spirit of God
Gal. 4, 19"
Rom. 5, that travailed : for the love of God is shed abroad in our
5-
hearts, by the Holy Ghost, Which is given unto us. Let Him then gather whom He has travailed in birth with, and brought forth. Now the sons are within, they are safe. They have flown from the nest of fear, they have flown to the heavenly places, they have flown to everlasting abodes: they fear no longer any thing temporal.
15. He hath blessed thy children within thee. Who? He Who hath set peace as thy borders. How ye all exult !
The loveliness of the peace of God. 395
Love peace, my brethren. Greatly are we delighted, Vrr.
13'
What was it that shouted in you? The love of peace. What have I shewn to your eyes ? Wherefore shout ye, if ye love not ? Wherefore love ye, if ye see not ? But peace is invisible. What eye is there that hath seen her, so as to love her? Yet would ye not shout, if ye loved not.
These are the shows which God exhibiteth of things invisible. With how great beauty hath the perception of peace smitten your hearts ! Why should I go on to speak of peace, or of
when the love of peace crieth from your hearts. How
I had said nothing : explained nothing: I but read the verse, and ye shouted.
greatly doth it delight you !
I had
the praises of peace? Your feelings have anticipated all
I cannot attain to it :
weak. Let us all defer the praises of peace, till we come to the country of peace. There we shall praise it more fully, for we shall enjoy it more fully. If thus we love it when it is but begun in us, how shall we praise it when it is perfected ? Behold, this I say, O beloved sons, O children of the kingdom, O citizens of Jerusalem, in Jerusalem is the
vision of peace : and all who love peace are blest in her, and they enter in, when the doors are being shut, and the bars made strong. This, which when but named ye so love and esteem, this follow after, this long for: this love in your home, in your business, in your wives, in your sons, in your slaves, in your friends, in your enemies.
16. This is the peace which heretics have not. What doeth peace, while still in the uncertainties of this present region, in this pilgrimage of our mortal nature? wherein none is manifest to another, none can see the heart of another? What doeth peace? Itjudgeth not about things
uncertain ; it establisheth not things unknown : it is more
to believe well of a man than to suspect ill. It grieveth not, as having made a grievous error, when it thinketh well even of a bad man ; it doth grieve, as having made a deadly error, when it hath happened to think evil of a good man. ' I know not what he is; what loss is
believe that he good. If be uncertain, thou mayest be cautious, lest perchance be true yet thou mayest not condemn, as though were true. ' Thus doth peace bid
my words :
ready
I am unable :
I am too
is it
it
it
;
if I
it,
396 Refutation of the Donatists,
Psalm thee. Seek peace, she saith, and ensue it. What doth CxlVII* heresy bid? It condemneth those whom it kuoweth not; it condemneth the whole world : the whole world, it saith,
hath perished ; there is no Christian left, Africa alone re- maineth. Thou hast judged well. From what tribunal dost thou pass sentence on the whole world? In what court hath the world stood before thee ? I do not desire men to believe me, but that they believe not thee either : let Christ be believed, let the Spirit of God in the prophets be believed, let the law of Moses be believed. What said Moses of these times which were to come? To Abraham
Gen. 22, it was said, in thy seed shall all nations of the earth be blessed. Dost thou doubt what is meant by ' the seed of Abraham? ' When the Apostle hath spoken, I think thou wilt not doubt; or if thou doubtest about the Apostle too,
Jer. 6, wherefore peace, peace, when there is no peace ? What
Gal. 3, saitri the Apostle? To Abraham and his seed were the
16.
promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. Lo, hun dreds of years before it was said to Abraham, In thy seed shall all nations be blessed. What was said hundreds of years before, and believed by one man, that we now see fulfilled. Here we read here we see it, and dost thou come athwart and refuse it? What wilt thou say? Believe not. Believe not whom The Spirit of God God speaking to Abraham And whom am to believe Thee
say not this, thou wilt say. What then dost thou say to me? This man and that have handed down. Dost thou quote this from the Gospel, from the Apostle, from the Prophets? Examine all the Scriptures: read me this from what believe for thee believe not. From whence wilt thou read This, my father, saith he, told me this, my grandfather this, my brother this, my bishop. Yes but this God said to Abraham, In thy seed shall all nations be blessed. One man heareth this, and believeth, and happeneth in many cases after many ages. When
said, believed when fulfilled, doubted This then Moses said let the Prophets speak also. Behold the barter of our purchasing. Christ hangeth on the wood behold the Price at which He bought, and so shalt thou
:
it
isit ;
?
it is
I
;;? it ;
it is
it,
is it
1 it
I ;
?
;
? ? ? ;
I
?
who narrow the pale of Salvation. 397
see what He bought. He is about to buy somewhat: what
that somewhat is as yet thou knowest not. Behold, behold -- the Price, and thou shalt see the thing. His own Blood
He shed; with His own Blood He bought; with the Blood
of the immaculate Lamb He bought ; with the Blood of the only-begotten Son of God He bought. What was bought
with the Blood of the only-begotten Son of God ? Look
still what the Price was. The Prophet said long before it
took place, They pierced My Hands and My Feet, they p>>. 22, counted all My Bones. I behold, O Christ, a mighty Price; 16.
let me see what Thou hast purchased. All the borders ofPa. 22, the earth shall remember themselves, and be turned unto2^' the Lord. In one and the same Psalm I see the Purchaser,
and the Price, and the Purchase. The Purchaser, is Christ ;
the Price, His Blood ; the Purchase, the world. Let us hear the very words of prophecy contradicting heretical
Behold the Purchase of my Lord. Wilt thou
that I read it in the Psalm ? All the borders of the earth
shall remember themselves, and be turned unto the Lord,
and all the countries of the Gentiles shall worship before
Him. Behold Him too contending, behold Him defending
the right : for the Kingdom is His, and He shall rule over pa. 22, the Gentiles. Yes, He Who bought, even Christ, not he28, who apostatised, Donatus. They shall worship. Rightly
shall all the countries of the Gentiles worship before Him. Wherefore rightly ? Because the Kingdom is the Lord's,
and He shall rule over the Gentiles. So spake Moses, so
the Prophets, and thousands of other things have they said too. Who can count the testimonies to the Church scattered throughout the whole world? Who can count them ? there are not as many heresies against the Church, as there are testimonies of the Law for the Church. What
soundeth not thus ? what verse speaketh not this ?
All cry out for the Lord's unity, because He hath made the borders of Jerusalem peace. Dost thou, O heretic, bark
against this ? Therefore is it rightly said in reference to
that city, as it is written in the Apocalypse, without are dogs. Rev. 22, Thou barkest against this. Where hast thou passed j udgment 15-
on the whole world, as I said at the beginning? on what
tribunal? Why, on the arrogance of thine own heart.
questioners.
spake
page
Ver.
398 The witness of Moses and the Prophets should suffice : Psalm A lofty tribunal, but one that shall fall. Thus spake Moses,
CxlVI1'
Jam. 2,
thus spake the Prophets, and yet they believe not, who would be thought Christians.
17. A certain rich man was tormented in hell, and longed for a drop of water from the finger of the poor man who had lain despised before his gate, because he was burned in the flames. And when this was not granted to him, because there shall be judgment without mercy to him that hath shewed no mercy; when, I say, this was not granted to him, he said to Abraham, Father Abraham, I have five brethren ; send Lazarus to tell them what 1 am suffering
Lukeie, here, that they come not also into this place of torment. And what said Abraham to him ? They have there Moses and the Prophets. And ho said, Myfather Abraham, but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. Then said Abraham, If they hear not Moses and the Pro phets, neither will they believe though one went unto them
from the dead. Of whom said he, they have there Moses and the Prophets? Surely of those who were yet alive, who had yet abundant time of amendment, who had not yet come into those regions of torments. They have there, he saith, those whom they may hear, Moses and the Pro phets. They believe not these, but if one went unto them from the dead they will believe. If they hear not Moses and the Prophets, neither will they believe though one went unto them from the dead. This is Abraham's statement. Abraham's statement where and whence ? From some place on high, and full of rest and happiness, which he who was being tormented in the flame lifted up his eyes and saw ;
when in his bosom, that is in his secret place, he saw the poor man in happiness and exaltation, thence was that statement made. There God dwelleth, for God dwelleth
Phil, l, in His saints. Wherefore the Apostle wisheth and saith, To
2
be dissolved and to be with Christ is far better. So to the Luke23, thief it is said, To-day shall thou be with Me in paradise. The Lord then, dwelling with Abraham and in Abraham,
uttered that statement, They have there Moses and the
Prophets; if they hear not them, neither, though one rose from the dead, will they believe him. Ye have here, O ye heretics, Moses and the Prophets; as yet ye are alive, as
but we have also One risen from the dead.
399
yet ye can hear, as yet ye can amend, as yet it is allowed Ver. you to bridle your violence, to hold the truth : consider 18' , with yourselves whether it be right to listen to Moses and
the Prophets, who have given so great proofs of their credibility, when we see the affairs of men running in the
course which they foretold. Why do ye still hesitate to believe Moses and the Prophets? Why do ye hesitate
to listen ? Do ye perchance seek one rising from the dead, whether He too can tell you about His Church ? This is what the rich man in hell sought; he was blamed because he sought this ; Moses and the Prophets ought to have been enough for his brethren. For this cause did he ask in vain, that ye now, being warned by his example, might not ask in vain and too late, and be tormented like
What said the Gen. 22,
Hear Moses and the Prophets. What said Moses ?
him.
In thy seed shall all nations be blessed.
All the borders
themselves, and be turned unto the Lord. Wilt thou still 27. say to me, * Let one rise from the dead; I believe not, unless one come from thence and tell me ? ' O Lord, thanks
Thy mercy : Thou didst will to die, that one might rise from
the dead ; and that one, not any body, but the Truth, Who
rose from the dead. He Who could have spoken the truth concerning the place of the dead1, though He went not thither, 1 de in- yet on account of what foolish and wicked men say, lo, He fer"' died, lo, He rose from the dead* . What sayest thou, O heretic, << ab in- what sayest thou ? Now let me hear thee ; all thy excuses are
at an end; though thou wast to speak the words of the rich
man in hell, Christ hath risen from the dead : deignest thou
to listen even to Him ? Behold, what thou alive longedst
for, like the rich man when dead : He is risen from the
grave: it is not thy father nor thy grandfather that have risen : it is not they, who have discredited some with the name of traditoresd. ' But suppose they have not discredited them, but have spoken the truth : wilt thou know how little it is to me ? Let us hear at the same time what He said, Who hath risen from the grave. Why should I delay longer? Let us hear, let the Gospel now be opened, let what was done be read as if it were being done : let things which
d The Donatists called the Catholics given up their copies of the Scripture* ' traditores,' accusing them of having in times of persecution.
Prophets ?
of
the earth shall remember
pg- 23
to
400 Proofs given by our Lord of His Resurrection.
Psalm have been done be set before our eyes, that we may avoid cilvn. what are to come. Behold, Christ rising from the dead, shewed Himself to His disciples. This was His bridal: He is the Bridegroom ; the Church, His Spouse. Behold
the Bridegroom, Who was said to be dead, destroyed, at an end; behold, He hath risen whole as before; behold, He is shewn to the eyes of His disciples ; behold, He is offered to the handling of their hands ; behold, they touched the scars, which were despaired of as wounds. He manifested Him self for their eyes to see, for their hands to handle ; they think Him a spirit, for they despaired of His safety. He encourageth them, He strengtheneth them in the faith ;
Lnke24, Handle Me and see, for a spirit hath not flesh and bones,
39* * "
as ye see Me have. They touch, they rejoice, they tremble: and while they yet trembled for joy : thus thou hast#it written. Things which are exceedingly joyful, though they are sure, yet are they not believed. A certain doubt, as though a man were slow to believe, hides the feelings of him who has what he sought. A man must needs rejoice the more, when what he despaired of has come to him. So to season and increase their joy, He willed not to be at once known. He held the sight of His disciples, specially of those two whom He found conversing by the way,
Lute24, already in despair, and saying, But we trusted that it had been He which should have redeemed Israel. This they had thought, but now thought no longer. Hope was no longer with them, yet Christ was with them: but He Who gave them back Himself, gave them back hope too. Afterwards then, after that they had recognised Him in the breaking of bread, when He shewed Himself to the other disciples, and they thought that He was a spirit, He said,
Luke24, Handle me and see, for a spirit hath not Jlesh and bones, as
JJ' ye see Me have. And while they yet trembled for joy,
Luke24, He saith unto them, Have ye here any meat ? He took,
41,
He blessed, He ate, He gave to them. The truth of His Body was set forth, all suspicion of deceit was removed. What then ? Knew ye not that all things must be fulfilled which are written in the Law of Moses and in the Prophets and in the Psalms concerning Me? And because they believed Moses and the Prophets, (for that was true which Abraham said, Ifthey hear not Moses and the
All evidence against the Donalists. 401
Prophets, neither will they believe though one rose from the v"r. dead:) because, I say, they believed Moses and the Prophets, -- and were not of the number of those whom Abraham found
fault with, they heard what the Lord said, Knew ye not
that all things must he fulfilled which are written in the
Law of Moses and in the Prophets and in the Psalms con cerning Me? Behold them who believed Moses and the Prophets, see how on their testimony they believe Him Who
rose from the dead. Then opened He their understanding Lule24, that they should understand the Scriptures ; and said unto45- 46*
them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise again from the dead the third day.
18. Here thou hast the Bridegroom of the Church. And about Him Moses was not silent, the Prophets were not silent, that Christ should rise from the dead on the third day ; that He should suffer, and then rise. The Bridegroom is described to us, that we may make no mistake. But certain persons come forward, and, because we are not wrong in the Bridegroom, they themselves too seem to believe the same as we do about the Bridegroom, that they may draw us away from the members of the Bridegroom ; they say to us, ' Yes, He is the Bridegroom, Whom ye believe, and we
believe Him too, but the Bride is not the Church, whom ye hold to be. ' What then is? 'The party of Donatus. ' And this what thou sayest: dost thou say this, or the Bridegroom ? Dost thou say or God by Moses Behold,
through Moses hold the Church thy seed shall all nations be blessed. the Spirit of God by the Prophets Prophets hold the Church
said by Moses, In Dost thou say or Behold, through the
said by the Prophet, All the borders of the earth shall remember themselves, and be turned to the Lord. Behold, already hold the
testimony of the Law and the testimony of the Prophets: let us hear moreover Him Who rose from the dead. He sheweth Himself as the Bridegroom we hold Him. He confirmed this by proof, by exhibiting testimonies. For this Moses and the Prophets said, that behoved Christ to
suffer, and to rise again the third day. Now then since we both hold the Bridegroom from these words, and think that thou now art beginning with me to believe both
vol. VI. r1
d : it,
I
it,
: is? it is
it
I
?
I
I
it
:
402 Christ Himself bears witness to the Catholic Church.
Psalm these words of Moses and the Prophets, let us believe Him
cxlvi^ also Wh0 rose from the dead. Let Him go on, and say,
' O Lord, I see now Christ the Bridegroom : it is done ; let
none separate me from the members of Thy Bride, and so
Thou be not to me the Head, if I be not among her
members. Tell me somewhat about the Church too, for I
no longer doubt about her Bridegroom. ' Hear about the
Luke24, Church too : He goeth on and saith, that in His Name
4'-
should be preached repentance and remission of sins. Nothing could be truer: that in His Name should be preached repentance and remission of sins.
past, we conjecture what is to be : from what has already been done, we announce beforehand what God will do. Let your prayers be wakeful, ye groan not for nothing. Certainly they who have already escaped, praying for those who are still in danger, because they too having been among those in danger, are heard ; and God shall drag His people out of the captivity of Babylon ; by all means He shall redeem and deliver them, and the number of the saints
who bear the image of God shall be perfected. They shall not be there, whose image in His city God shall spurn and bring to nought, because they too in their city, that is in Babylon, have brought His image to nought. There shall be the people praising the Lord, whom now the Spirit of prophecy foreseeth, and bids us exult in hope, and long for the reality. Praise in unison thy God, O Jerusalem : praise
thy God, O Sion. Praise in unison, because thou con- ' onom. sistest of many : praise, because thou hast been made one1. iCor. 1o, We being many, saith the Apostle, are one in Christ. As
then we are many, we praise in unison; as we are one, we
praise. The same are many and one, because He in Whom ? unum. they are one* is ever One3,
wherefore, saith this Jerusalem, do I praise in unison the Lord, and, as Sion, praise my God? Jerusalem is the same as Sion. For different reasons has it the two names. Jerusalem meaneth 'visions of peace;' Sion meaneth
4 speco- ' watching4. ' See whether these words do not sound like
i^pecta- sights3; that the Gentiles may not think that they hare
unua.
g
cola,
siglus and we have none. Sometimes after the theatre or amphitheatre breaks up, when the crowd of lost ones begins to be vomited forth from that den, sometimes, retaining in
prayers
who pity us for losing the pleasures of this world. 389
their minds images of their vain amusements, and feeding Ver. their memory with things not only useless but even hurtful, 12' la" rejoicing in them as if they were sweet, while they are really deadly ; they see often, it may be, the servants of God pass
by, they recognise them by their garb or head-dress, or they
know them by sight0, and they say to one another, or in wardly, ' Wretched people, how much they lose I' Brethren,
let us return their good will (for they do mean it well) with prayers to the Lord. They wish us well; but he that Pt. 1),s. loveth iniquity, hateth his own soul. If he hateth his own
soul, how shall he love my soul ? Yet with a perverse, and empty, and vain good will, if indeed it may be called good will, they grieve that we lose what they love : let us pray that they lose not what we love. Behold of what character that Jerusalem is to be which he exhorteth to praise, or rather foreseeth will praise. For the praises of that city, when we shall see and love and praise, will not need to be urged on and stirred up by the voice of prophecy; but the Prophets now say this, to drink in as far as while
they remain in this flesh they can, the future joys of the blessed, and then giving them forth into our ears, to arouse in us love of that city. Let us burn with longing, let us not be slothful in spirit.
9. But see of what character that Jerusalem is to be, which is to praise God, and how it is to praise; in a sort of perfection of bliss. Praise in unison, saith he, O Jeru salem, the Lord; praise thy God, O Sion. And, as though it said, how shall I be safe to praise? he saith, for He hath
made strong the bars of thy gates. Observe, brethren. He
saith, He hath made strong the bars of thy gates. The ver. 13. making bars strong is not for open gates, but shut ones, wherefore most manuscripts read, He hath made strong
the 'bolls of thy gates. Observe, beloved. He biddeth 1 seras.
Jerusalem when closed in to praise the Lord. We praise
in unison now, we praise now; but it is amid offences.
Many where we wish not, enter in : many though we wish it
not, go out: therefore offences are frequent. And because Mat. 24,
iniquity hath abounded, saith the Truth, the love of many 12" waxeth cold: because men come in whom we cannot discern,
c There is a better reading in some Mss. : forte" for fronte, ' or they happen to know them. '
390 Explanation of the Parable
Psalm because men go out whom we cannot retain. Wherefore is <jxlVU- this ? Because not yet is there perfection, not yet is there
the bliss that shall be. Wherefore is this ? Because as yet it is the threshing-floor, not yet the garner. What there fore will be then, save no fear that aught of this kind will
Mat. 25, 1-- 13'
For praise in unison, O Jerusalem, the Lord; praise thy God, O Sion : for He hath made strong the bars of thy gates. He hath made strong. He said not only, He hath set, but, He hath made strong the bars of thy gates.
Let none go out, let none come in. Let none go out, we rejoice: let none come in, we fear. Nay, fear not this: when thou hast entered it will be said : only be thou in the number of virgins, who carried their oil with them.
10. For those virgins signify souls. For there were not really five, but among those five are thousands. For in the number five are understood thousands, not only of women but of men : for either sex is called woman, because they are the. Church: and either sex, that is, the Church, is
happen?
2Cor. 1l, called a virgin. / have espoused you to one husband, that
2-
J may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. Few have virginity in the flesh : all ought to have in heart. Virginity of the flesh is a body unsullied; virginity in heart is a faith uncorrupted. The whole Church therefore is called ' a Virgin,' and, in the masculine gender, ' the people of God,' and, ' one people,' and ' a single people,' and ' one
Church,' and ' one dove :' and in this virginity are thou sands of saints. The five virgins therefore signify all souls that are to enter into the kingdom of God, not without reason expressed by the number five, for the senses of the body known to all are five. For by five doors entereth every thing through the body into the soul : either by the eye entereth what thou lookest after amiss, or by the ears, or
by the smell, or by the taste, or by the touch. Whosoever hath admitted nothing that corrupteth by these five gates, is reckoned among the five virgins. Corruption is admitted through unlawful desires : but what is lawful and what not, the books of Scripture fully tell. Thou must then be among these five virgins : so shalt thou not fear that which is said, ' Let none enter:' for this is said, and shall be fulfilled; but it will be when thou hast entered; none shall shut the door
of the wise and foolish virgins. 391
against thee, but when thou hast entered, the gates of Ver. Jerusalem shall be shut, and the bars of its gates be made ------ strong. For if thou choosest either not to be a virgin in
heart, or, though a virgin, among the foolish virgins, thou
shalt remain outside, and knock in vain.
11. Who are the foolish virgins? They also are five:
who, but they who have indeed continence of the flesh,
so as to avoid the corruptions which come from all the senses, which I just enumerated ? They avoid, so to speak,
the corruptions which come from all sides; yet they bear
not their good in their consciences before the eyes of God,
but desire to please men therewith, and follow the judg
ment of others. They hunt after the good opinions of the multitude ; they are of little value to themselves, while they
desire to be dear to those who see them : their own conscience sufficeth them not. Rightly do they carry no oil with
them. For oil is the state of glory itself, on account of its brightness and splendour. But what saith the Apostle ? Behold the wise virgins carrying oil with them : but let Gal. 6,4. every man prove his own work, and then shall he have glory
in himself alone, and not in another. These then are the wise virgins. But the foolish light indeed their lamps, that is, their works seem indeed to shine; but they shall fail and be extinguished, because they are not fed with oil from within. And while the Bridegroom tarrieth, they all sleep: for both sorts of men fall asleep in death, both the foolish and the wise ; while the Lord delayeth His coming, they sink into this bodily, visible death, which all Christians know that Scripture describes by sleep: as the Apostle said of them that were sick, For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. By sleep, he meaneth, die. But, lo, the Bridegroom shall come, and all shall rise, but not all shall enter. The works of the foolish virgins shall fail, because they have not the oil of conscience : nor shall they find from whom to buy, what their flatterers used to sell to them. For they are mocking, not grudging, who say to them, Go and buy for your selves. For the foolish had begged of the wise, and had said to them, Give us oil, for our lamps are gone out. What said the wise ? Lest perhaps there be not enough for us and
1 Cor. ' 30"
392 We must seek mercy by shewing mercy,
Psalm you, go rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. cxi. vii. "ph is was m facl remin<ling tbem, ' What do they now profit you, from whom ye were wont to buy flattery ? ' And while they were going, Scripture saith, the others went in, and the door was shut. While they are going in heart, while they are thinking on these things, while they, putting off from them their former purpose, are recalling back their past deeds, they, as it were, are going to them that sell : and
they find not others to aid them, they find not then to praise them those by whom they were wont to be praised, and to be roused, as they thought, to good works, not by the
of a good conscience, but by the incitement of another's tongue.
12. Those words too, lest perchance there be not enough for us, are said with great humbleness of thought. For the oil which we bear in our consciences is our judgment of
our own character, and it is difficult for a man to judge
perfectly concerning himself. My brethren, however much Phil. 3, a man advance, however much he reach forth unto those '''' things which are before, and forget those things which are
behind, if he once say to himself, ' It is well,' there cometh forth a rule from the storehouse of God ; it examineth him
strength
and who shall boast that he hath a pure heart, who shall boast that he is clean from sin? But what Jart. 2, saith Scripture, Judgment without mercy to him who hath
shewed no mercy. However much progress thou makest, thou must hope in mercy. For if justice without mercy be brought forth, in any one it will find what it may condemn. And what Scripture comforteth us? That which exhorteth us to shew mercy, that we be altogether frequent in giving what we have beyond our needs. For we have many superfluities, if we keep nothing but what is necessary ; for if we seek empty vanities, nothing is enough. My brethren,
seek what is enough for God's work, not what is sufficient for your greediness. Your greediness is no work of God. Your self, your body, your soul, this is all God's work. Enquire what is enough for them, and thou shalt see how little it is. Two pieces of money were enough for the widow to shew mercy with: two pieces of money were enough to buy the Kingdom of God. What is enough for
accurately,
and forgiveness by forgiveness. , 393
the giver of shows to clothe them that fight with wild beasts ver.
so often ? See that not only is it little which is enough for yourselves, but neither doth God Himself require much from thee. Find out how much He hath given thee, and take of that what is enough : all other things which remain as superfluities are the necessaries of others. The superfluities of the rich are the necessaries of the poor. Thou possessest what belongs to others, when thou possessest more than thou needest.
13- .
13. If then thou doest deeds of mercy of this kind, and specially that which costeth thee nothing, namely, forgive <<<<Matt. 6, we forgive, (wherein thou spendest nought but charity, 12' which groweth in the spending,) if thou doest, I say, and
art fervent in these good works of mercy,
works themselves will be needless then, because then there
will be no one miserable, to whom mercy may be shewn,)
thou wilt await in safety the judgment, in safety not so
much on account of thy righteousness, as on account of the mercy of God, because thou too hast first shewed mercy.
For judgment without mercy to him that hath shewed no Jam. 2, mercy: and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. Think13. not, brethren, that then He is not just when He sheweth
us no mercy, or that He departeth from the standard of His
justice. Both when He condemneth, He is just, and when
He sheweth mercy, He is just. For what so just as to
repay mercy to one who sheweth it first? What so just, as
that in what measure ye mete, it be measured to you again ? Matt. 7, Give to thy brother in need. What brother? To Christ. 2,
If then because in giving to thy brother, thou givest to Christ, and in Christ to God, Who is over all, blessed for Rom. 9, ever ; God hath willed to need at thy hand, and dost thou5-
hold thy hand back ? Certainly thou stretchest out thine
hand, and askest of God : hear then the Scripture ; let not Ecclm. thine hand be stretched out to receive, and shut when thou*'31' shouldest give. God willeth that somewhat be spent upon
Him, of that which He hath given. For what givest thou,
which He gave not? For what hast thou, which thou hast 1 Cor. 4, not received ? or rather, not to say to God, dost thou give 7"
aught to any one of what is thine own ? Of His thou givest Who biddeth thee give. Prefer to spend rather than to seize.
(which good
394 None can attain or fall away after the end of this life.
Psalm If then thou doest this, and in true humility sayest of that
crlYn. oil, lest haply there be not enough for us, then thou
enterest in, and the door is shut. Hear the Apostle saying
l Cor. *, so: to me it is a very small thing to be judged of you.
3'
For how can ye judge my conscience? How can ye examine with what mind I do what I do? How far can men judge of their neighbour? Surely a man can judge better about himself: but better can God judge about a man, than the man about himself. If then thou shalt have been such as this, thou shalt enter, thou shalt be among the five virgins ; the other foolish ones shall be shut out. For this thou hast in the Gospel. The door shall be shut, and they shall stand and cry, Open unto us, and it shall not be opened: for He hath made strong the bars of thy
gates: He hath made strong, saith he, the bars of thy gates: now thou art safe: in safety praise: praise without end. Firmly are thy gates shut : no friend goeth out: no enemy cometh in. He hath made strong the bars of thy gates.
14. He hath blessed thy children within thee. They roam not without, they wander not; within they rejoice, within they praise, within they are blest: within they no longer are in travail, for now they give not birth to any. They are sons, they are holy. These holy sons, now praising and rejoicing, their mother, love, has already travailed with and given birth to ; they are shut within, because love has gathered them. Hear love travailing with them : for the Apostle Paul, filled with love, having not only a father's but a mother's heart toward his sons, saith, My children, of whom I travail in birth again. When Paul travailed in birth with them, it was love that travailed in birth; when love travailed in birth with them, it was the Spirit of God
Gal. 4, 19"
Rom. 5, that travailed : for the love of God is shed abroad in our
5-
hearts, by the Holy Ghost, Which is given unto us. Let Him then gather whom He has travailed in birth with, and brought forth. Now the sons are within, they are safe. They have flown from the nest of fear, they have flown to the heavenly places, they have flown to everlasting abodes: they fear no longer any thing temporal.
15. He hath blessed thy children within thee. Who? He Who hath set peace as thy borders. How ye all exult !
The loveliness of the peace of God. 395
Love peace, my brethren. Greatly are we delighted, Vrr.
13'
What was it that shouted in you? The love of peace. What have I shewn to your eyes ? Wherefore shout ye, if ye love not ? Wherefore love ye, if ye see not ? But peace is invisible. What eye is there that hath seen her, so as to love her? Yet would ye not shout, if ye loved not.
These are the shows which God exhibiteth of things invisible. With how great beauty hath the perception of peace smitten your hearts ! Why should I go on to speak of peace, or of
when the love of peace crieth from your hearts. How
I had said nothing : explained nothing: I but read the verse, and ye shouted.
greatly doth it delight you !
I had
the praises of peace? Your feelings have anticipated all
I cannot attain to it :
weak. Let us all defer the praises of peace, till we come to the country of peace. There we shall praise it more fully, for we shall enjoy it more fully. If thus we love it when it is but begun in us, how shall we praise it when it is perfected ? Behold, this I say, O beloved sons, O children of the kingdom, O citizens of Jerusalem, in Jerusalem is the
vision of peace : and all who love peace are blest in her, and they enter in, when the doors are being shut, and the bars made strong. This, which when but named ye so love and esteem, this follow after, this long for: this love in your home, in your business, in your wives, in your sons, in your slaves, in your friends, in your enemies.
16. This is the peace which heretics have not. What doeth peace, while still in the uncertainties of this present region, in this pilgrimage of our mortal nature? wherein none is manifest to another, none can see the heart of another? What doeth peace? Itjudgeth not about things
uncertain ; it establisheth not things unknown : it is more
to believe well of a man than to suspect ill. It grieveth not, as having made a grievous error, when it thinketh well even of a bad man ; it doth grieve, as having made a deadly error, when it hath happened to think evil of a good man. ' I know not what he is; what loss is
believe that he good. If be uncertain, thou mayest be cautious, lest perchance be true yet thou mayest not condemn, as though were true. ' Thus doth peace bid
my words :
ready
I am unable :
I am too
is it
it
it
;
if I
it,
396 Refutation of the Donatists,
Psalm thee. Seek peace, she saith, and ensue it. What doth CxlVII* heresy bid? It condemneth those whom it kuoweth not; it condemneth the whole world : the whole world, it saith,
hath perished ; there is no Christian left, Africa alone re- maineth. Thou hast judged well. From what tribunal dost thou pass sentence on the whole world? In what court hath the world stood before thee ? I do not desire men to believe me, but that they believe not thee either : let Christ be believed, let the Spirit of God in the prophets be believed, let the law of Moses be believed. What said Moses of these times which were to come? To Abraham
Gen. 22, it was said, in thy seed shall all nations of the earth be blessed. Dost thou doubt what is meant by ' the seed of Abraham? ' When the Apostle hath spoken, I think thou wilt not doubt; or if thou doubtest about the Apostle too,
Jer. 6, wherefore peace, peace, when there is no peace ? What
Gal. 3, saitri the Apostle? To Abraham and his seed were the
16.
promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. Lo, hun dreds of years before it was said to Abraham, In thy seed shall all nations be blessed. What was said hundreds of years before, and believed by one man, that we now see fulfilled. Here we read here we see it, and dost thou come athwart and refuse it? What wilt thou say? Believe not. Believe not whom The Spirit of God God speaking to Abraham And whom am to believe Thee
say not this, thou wilt say. What then dost thou say to me? This man and that have handed down. Dost thou quote this from the Gospel, from the Apostle, from the Prophets? Examine all the Scriptures: read me this from what believe for thee believe not. From whence wilt thou read This, my father, saith he, told me this, my grandfather this, my brother this, my bishop. Yes but this God said to Abraham, In thy seed shall all nations be blessed. One man heareth this, and believeth, and happeneth in many cases after many ages. When
said, believed when fulfilled, doubted This then Moses said let the Prophets speak also. Behold the barter of our purchasing. Christ hangeth on the wood behold the Price at which He bought, and so shalt thou
:
it
isit ;
?
it is
I
;;? it ;
it is
it,
is it
1 it
I ;
?
;
? ? ? ;
I
?
who narrow the pale of Salvation. 397
see what He bought. He is about to buy somewhat: what
that somewhat is as yet thou knowest not. Behold, behold -- the Price, and thou shalt see the thing. His own Blood
He shed; with His own Blood He bought; with the Blood
of the immaculate Lamb He bought ; with the Blood of the only-begotten Son of God He bought. What was bought
with the Blood of the only-begotten Son of God ? Look
still what the Price was. The Prophet said long before it
took place, They pierced My Hands and My Feet, they p>>. 22, counted all My Bones. I behold, O Christ, a mighty Price; 16.
let me see what Thou hast purchased. All the borders ofPa. 22, the earth shall remember themselves, and be turned unto2^' the Lord. In one and the same Psalm I see the Purchaser,
and the Price, and the Purchase. The Purchaser, is Christ ;
the Price, His Blood ; the Purchase, the world. Let us hear the very words of prophecy contradicting heretical
Behold the Purchase of my Lord. Wilt thou
that I read it in the Psalm ? All the borders of the earth
shall remember themselves, and be turned unto the Lord,
and all the countries of the Gentiles shall worship before
Him. Behold Him too contending, behold Him defending
the right : for the Kingdom is His, and He shall rule over pa. 22, the Gentiles. Yes, He Who bought, even Christ, not he28, who apostatised, Donatus. They shall worship. Rightly
shall all the countries of the Gentiles worship before Him. Wherefore rightly ? Because the Kingdom is the Lord's,
and He shall rule over the Gentiles. So spake Moses, so
the Prophets, and thousands of other things have they said too. Who can count the testimonies to the Church scattered throughout the whole world? Who can count them ? there are not as many heresies against the Church, as there are testimonies of the Law for the Church. What
soundeth not thus ? what verse speaketh not this ?
All cry out for the Lord's unity, because He hath made the borders of Jerusalem peace. Dost thou, O heretic, bark
against this ? Therefore is it rightly said in reference to
that city, as it is written in the Apocalypse, without are dogs. Rev. 22, Thou barkest against this. Where hast thou passed j udgment 15-
on the whole world, as I said at the beginning? on what
tribunal? Why, on the arrogance of thine own heart.
questioners.
spake
page
Ver.
398 The witness of Moses and the Prophets should suffice : Psalm A lofty tribunal, but one that shall fall. Thus spake Moses,
CxlVI1'
Jam. 2,
thus spake the Prophets, and yet they believe not, who would be thought Christians.
17. A certain rich man was tormented in hell, and longed for a drop of water from the finger of the poor man who had lain despised before his gate, because he was burned in the flames. And when this was not granted to him, because there shall be judgment without mercy to him that hath shewed no mercy; when, I say, this was not granted to him, he said to Abraham, Father Abraham, I have five brethren ; send Lazarus to tell them what 1 am suffering
Lukeie, here, that they come not also into this place of torment. And what said Abraham to him ? They have there Moses and the Prophets. And ho said, Myfather Abraham, but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. Then said Abraham, If they hear not Moses and the Pro phets, neither will they believe though one went unto them
from the dead. Of whom said he, they have there Moses and the Prophets? Surely of those who were yet alive, who had yet abundant time of amendment, who had not yet come into those regions of torments. They have there, he saith, those whom they may hear, Moses and the Pro phets. They believe not these, but if one went unto them from the dead they will believe. If they hear not Moses and the Prophets, neither will they believe though one went unto them from the dead. This is Abraham's statement. Abraham's statement where and whence ? From some place on high, and full of rest and happiness, which he who was being tormented in the flame lifted up his eyes and saw ;
when in his bosom, that is in his secret place, he saw the poor man in happiness and exaltation, thence was that statement made. There God dwelleth, for God dwelleth
Phil, l, in His saints. Wherefore the Apostle wisheth and saith, To
2
be dissolved and to be with Christ is far better. So to the Luke23, thief it is said, To-day shall thou be with Me in paradise. The Lord then, dwelling with Abraham and in Abraham,
uttered that statement, They have there Moses and the
Prophets; if they hear not them, neither, though one rose from the dead, will they believe him. Ye have here, O ye heretics, Moses and the Prophets; as yet ye are alive, as
but we have also One risen from the dead.
399
yet ye can hear, as yet ye can amend, as yet it is allowed Ver. you to bridle your violence, to hold the truth : consider 18' , with yourselves whether it be right to listen to Moses and
the Prophets, who have given so great proofs of their credibility, when we see the affairs of men running in the
course which they foretold. Why do ye still hesitate to believe Moses and the Prophets? Why do ye hesitate
to listen ? Do ye perchance seek one rising from the dead, whether He too can tell you about His Church ? This is what the rich man in hell sought; he was blamed because he sought this ; Moses and the Prophets ought to have been enough for his brethren. For this cause did he ask in vain, that ye now, being warned by his example, might not ask in vain and too late, and be tormented like
What said the Gen. 22,
Hear Moses and the Prophets. What said Moses ?
him.
In thy seed shall all nations be blessed.
All the borders
themselves, and be turned unto the Lord. Wilt thou still 27. say to me, * Let one rise from the dead; I believe not, unless one come from thence and tell me ? ' O Lord, thanks
Thy mercy : Thou didst will to die, that one might rise from
the dead ; and that one, not any body, but the Truth, Who
rose from the dead. He Who could have spoken the truth concerning the place of the dead1, though He went not thither, 1 de in- yet on account of what foolish and wicked men say, lo, He fer"' died, lo, He rose from the dead* . What sayest thou, O heretic, << ab in- what sayest thou ? Now let me hear thee ; all thy excuses are
at an end; though thou wast to speak the words of the rich
man in hell, Christ hath risen from the dead : deignest thou
to listen even to Him ? Behold, what thou alive longedst
for, like the rich man when dead : He is risen from the
grave: it is not thy father nor thy grandfather that have risen : it is not they, who have discredited some with the name of traditoresd. ' But suppose they have not discredited them, but have spoken the truth : wilt thou know how little it is to me ? Let us hear at the same time what He said, Who hath risen from the grave. Why should I delay longer? Let us hear, let the Gospel now be opened, let what was done be read as if it were being done : let things which
d The Donatists called the Catholics given up their copies of the Scripture* ' traditores,' accusing them of having in times of persecution.
Prophets ?
of
the earth shall remember
pg- 23
to
400 Proofs given by our Lord of His Resurrection.
Psalm have been done be set before our eyes, that we may avoid cilvn. what are to come. Behold, Christ rising from the dead, shewed Himself to His disciples. This was His bridal: He is the Bridegroom ; the Church, His Spouse. Behold
the Bridegroom, Who was said to be dead, destroyed, at an end; behold, He hath risen whole as before; behold, He is shewn to the eyes of His disciples ; behold, He is offered to the handling of their hands ; behold, they touched the scars, which were despaired of as wounds. He manifested Him self for their eyes to see, for their hands to handle ; they think Him a spirit, for they despaired of His safety. He encourageth them, He strengtheneth them in the faith ;
Lnke24, Handle Me and see, for a spirit hath not flesh and bones,
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as ye see Me have. They touch, they rejoice, they tremble: and while they yet trembled for joy : thus thou hast#it written. Things which are exceedingly joyful, though they are sure, yet are they not believed. A certain doubt, as though a man were slow to believe, hides the feelings of him who has what he sought. A man must needs rejoice the more, when what he despaired of has come to him. So to season and increase their joy, He willed not to be at once known. He held the sight of His disciples, specially of those two whom He found conversing by the way,
Lute24, already in despair, and saying, But we trusted that it had been He which should have redeemed Israel. This they had thought, but now thought no longer. Hope was no longer with them, yet Christ was with them: but He Who gave them back Himself, gave them back hope too. Afterwards then, after that they had recognised Him in the breaking of bread, when He shewed Himself to the other disciples, and they thought that He was a spirit, He said,
Luke24, Handle me and see, for a spirit hath not Jlesh and bones, as
JJ' ye see Me have. And while they yet trembled for joy,
Luke24, He saith unto them, Have ye here any meat ? He took,
41,
He blessed, He ate, He gave to them. The truth of His Body was set forth, all suspicion of deceit was removed. What then ? Knew ye not that all things must be fulfilled which are written in the Law of Moses and in the Prophets and in the Psalms concerning Me? And because they believed Moses and the Prophets, (for that was true which Abraham said, Ifthey hear not Moses and the
All evidence against the Donalists. 401
Prophets, neither will they believe though one rose from the v"r. dead:) because, I say, they believed Moses and the Prophets, -- and were not of the number of those whom Abraham found
fault with, they heard what the Lord said, Knew ye not
that all things must he fulfilled which are written in the
Law of Moses and in the Prophets and in the Psalms con cerning Me? Behold them who believed Moses and the Prophets, see how on their testimony they believe Him Who
rose from the dead. Then opened He their understanding Lule24, that they should understand the Scriptures ; and said unto45- 46*
them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise again from the dead the third day.
18. Here thou hast the Bridegroom of the Church. And about Him Moses was not silent, the Prophets were not silent, that Christ should rise from the dead on the third day ; that He should suffer, and then rise. The Bridegroom is described to us, that we may make no mistake. But certain persons come forward, and, because we are not wrong in the Bridegroom, they themselves too seem to believe the same as we do about the Bridegroom, that they may draw us away from the members of the Bridegroom ; they say to us, ' Yes, He is the Bridegroom, Whom ye believe, and we
believe Him too, but the Bride is not the Church, whom ye hold to be. ' What then is? 'The party of Donatus. ' And this what thou sayest: dost thou say this, or the Bridegroom ? Dost thou say or God by Moses Behold,
through Moses hold the Church thy seed shall all nations be blessed. the Spirit of God by the Prophets Prophets hold the Church
said by Moses, In Dost thou say or Behold, through the
said by the Prophet, All the borders of the earth shall remember themselves, and be turned to the Lord. Behold, already hold the
testimony of the Law and the testimony of the Prophets: let us hear moreover Him Who rose from the dead. He sheweth Himself as the Bridegroom we hold Him. He confirmed this by proof, by exhibiting testimonies. For this Moses and the Prophets said, that behoved Christ to
suffer, and to rise again the third day. Now then since we both hold the Bridegroom from these words, and think that thou now art beginning with me to believe both
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402 Christ Himself bears witness to the Catholic Church.
Psalm these words of Moses and the Prophets, let us believe Him
cxlvi^ also Wh0 rose from the dead. Let Him go on, and say,
' O Lord, I see now Christ the Bridegroom : it is done ; let
none separate me from the members of Thy Bride, and so
Thou be not to me the Head, if I be not among her
members. Tell me somewhat about the Church too, for I
no longer doubt about her Bridegroom. ' Hear about the
Luke24, Church too : He goeth on and saith, that in His Name
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should be preached repentance and remission of sins. Nothing could be truer: that in His Name should be preached repentance and remission of sins.
