Letters & Polemics (CSEL) 64 part 11/15

If you saw a thief, you ran along with him, and with adulterers you cast in your portion. Likewise there: I will reprove you and set these things before your face. Likewise in Proverbs: He who shares with a thief hates his own soul. Likewise in first Corinthians: Neither thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners shall possess the kingdom of God. Likewise in the prophet Zechariah: And I turned and lifted up my eyes, and I saw, and behold a flying sickle, twenty cubits in length and ten cubits in breadth. And he said to me: This is the curse that goes forth against the evildoers who are over the face of the whole earth; for every thief and perjurer shall be punished out of it even unto death.

And I will bring it forth, says the Lord Almighty, and it shall enter into the house of the thief and into the house of him who swears falsely by My name in a lie, and it shall rest in the midst of his house, and shall consume him and its timber and its stones. Likewise in Exodus: But if anyone steal a calf or a sheep and kill it or sell it, he shall restore five calves for one calf, and four sheep for one sheep. Likewise there: But if he be poor and have not the means to restore, he shall be sold for the theft. But if what was stolen be found alive in his hands, from an ass to a sheep, he shall restore double. LXXV. THAT ONE MUST NOT GLORY IN THE WISDOM OF THE WORLD. In Proverbs: Be confident with your whole heart in the Lord, but be not lifted up in your own wisdom. Likewise there:

Be not wise in your own eyes: but fear God and turn away from all evil. Then there shall be health to your body and care for your bones. Likewise there: I saw a man who esteemed himself to be wise; but a fool had more hope than he. Likewise in Isaiah: Woe to those who are prudent in their own eyes and wise in their own sight. Likewise there: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will reject the prudence of the prudent. Likewise in Jeremiah: Thus says the Lord: Let not the wise glory in his wisdom, and let not the strong glory in his strength, and let not the rich glory in his riches:

but let him who glories glory in this, to know and understand that I am the Lord who show mercy and judgment and righteousness upon the earth; for in these is My will, says the Lord. Likewise the apostle to the Romans: For professing themselves to be wise, they became fools. Likewise in first Corinthians: Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? Likewise there: Behold your calling, brothers, that not many are wise according to the flesh, not many powerful, not many noble:

but God chose the foolish things of this world to confound the wise, and God chose the weak things of the world to confound the strong, and the base things and the contemptible things and the things that are not, He chose to bring to nought the things that are, that no flesh should glory before God. Likewise there: Let no one deceive himself. If anyone seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written: I will catch the wise in their own craftiness. And again: The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. LXXVI. THAT HONOURS ARE NOT TO BE SOUGHT AMBITIOUSLY. In Ecclesiasticus: Be not proud before the sight of the king, nor stand in the places of the powerful; for it is better that it be said to you:

Come up to me, than that you be humbled in the sight of the powerful. Do not seek leadership from God, nor a chair of honour from the king; do not justify yourself before the Lord, for He is the knower of the heart. Do not seek to be chosen as a judge, unless by your virtue you can break through iniquities, lest perchance you fear the face of the powerful and set a stumbling-block in your cunning. Likewise in the Gospel according to Matthew: The mother of the sons of Zebedee came to the Lord with her sons, worshipping Him and asking something of Him. But He said: What do you wish? She says: That these two sons of mine may sit, one at Your right hand and one at Your left, in Your kingdom. But Jesus said: You know not what you ask: can you drink the cup which I am about to drink? But they said: We can.

Jesus says to them: You shall indeed drink My cup, but to sit at My right hand or at My left is not Mine to give to you, but to those for whom it has been prepared by My Father. And when the other ten disciples heard this, they were indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus called them to Him and said: You know that the princes of the nations lord it over them, and the great exercise power over them. It shall not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your servant: just as the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many. But you seek to be exalted in little things, and to be diminished in the greatest.

But when you have been invited and enter to the supper, do not recline in the places of honour, lest perchance one more worthy than you come in, and the one who invited you draw near and say to you, 'Go still lower,' and you be put to shame. But if you recline in the lower place, one lower than you will arrive, and he who invited you to the supper will say to you, 'Go up still higher,' and this will be more profitable for you. For everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted. Likewise in the prophet Ezekiel: And all the trees of the field shall know that I am the Lord, who bring low the high tree and exalt the low tree, and dry up the green tree and make the withered tree flourish again. I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it. LXXVII.

THAT WHOEVER DESPISES A MAN OF GOD DESPISES THE LORD. In Deuteronomy: And whatever man shall act in pride, so as not to obey the priest who stands to minister in the name of your God, or the judges who shall be in those days, that man shall die, and you shall take away the evil from Israel; and all the people, when they hear, shall fear and shall not commit injustice. Likewise in the first book of Kingdoms, the Lord to Samuel: They do not despise you, but me, that I should not reign over them. Likewise in the prophet Ezekiel: But the house of Israel will not hear you, because they will not hear me; for the whole house of Israel is contentious and hard of heart. Likewise in Exodus: For your murmuring is not against us, but against God. Likewise in the Gospel according to Luke, the Lord Jesus:

Whoever hears you hears me, and whoever despises you despises me; but whoever despises me despises him who sent me. Likewise the Apostle to the Thessalonians: Wherefore he who despises, despises not a man, but God, who has given his Holy Spirit within us. Likewise in the same place, second epistle: But you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. And if anyone does not obey our word, note that man by a letter, and do not associate with him, that he may be put to shame. LXXVIII. ON OBEDIENCE. In Exodus: If you hear the voice of the Lord your God, and do the things that are pleasing to him before him, and obey his commandments, and keep all his righteousness, none of the infirmity which I brought upon the Egyptians will I bring upon you.

For I am the Lord who heals you. Likewise in Proverbs: As a golden ornament upon a chain of sardius, as a golden earring set with precious sardius, so is a wise word in the ear of the obedient. Likewise in Ecclesiasticus: The children of wisdom are the church of the righteous, and their offspring is obedience and love. Likewise the Apostle to the Romans: But thanks be to God, that you were the servants of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine into which you have been delivered. And being made free from sin, you have become servants of righteousness. Likewise there: For as through the disobedience of one man many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of one many shall be made righteous. Likewise to the Corinthians, second epistle:

For to this end I wrote to you, that I might know the proof of you, whether you are obedient in all things. Likewise Peter the Apostle, first epistle: Therefore purify your souls unto obedience of the faith through the Spirit. LXXVIIII. THAT THE FAINT-HEARTED ARE NOT TO BE SCANDALIZED BUT RATHER CONSOLED. In the Gospel according to Matthew: Whoever shall scandalize one of these little ones who believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone be hung about his neck and he be cast into the deep. Likewise the Apostle to the Romans: Make no provision for the flesh in its desires. Receive him who is weak in the faith, not in disputes of thoughts. Likewise to the Galatians:

Brethren, even if a man be overtaken in any fault, you who are spiritual instruct such a one in the spirit of meekness, considering yourself, lest you also be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so you shall fulfil the law of Christ. Likewise to the Thessalonians, first epistle: Now we beseech you, brethren, admonish the unruly, comfort the faint-hearted, support the weak, be patient toward all. See that none render evil for evil to anyone, but always follow after that which is good, both among yourselves and toward all. Likewise to the Romans: Now we who are strong ought to bear the infirmities of those who are weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each one of you please his neighbour unto good edification.

For even Christ pleased not himself, but as it is written: The reproaches of them that reproached you fell upon me. For whatever things were written, were written for our instruction, that through patience and the consolation of the Scriptures we might have hope. Now may the God of all grant you to be of one mind among yourselves according to Christ Jesus, that with one accord and with one mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore receive one another, as Christ also received you, unto the glory of God. Likewise there: Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace, that you may abound in all hope, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

And I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of love and all knowledge, so that you are able to admonish one another. Likewise to the Corinthians, second epistle: But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but in part, that I may not overburden you all. Sufficient for such a one is this rebuke which is inflicted by the many, so that on the contrary you should rather forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up by excessive sorrow. Wherefore I beseech you that you confirm your love toward him. For to this end I also wrote, that I might know the proof of you, whether you are obedient in all things. But to whom you forgive anything, I also forgive; for what I have forgiven, I forgave it for your sakes in the person of Christ, that we be not overreached by Satan.

For we are not ignorant of his devices. Likewise to the Colossians: Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, righteousness, patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as the Lord forgave you, so also do you. LXXX. ON THE PRAISE OF VIRGINS. In the book of Wisdom: For blessed is the barren and undefiled woman who has not known the bed in transgression; she shall have fruit in the visitation of souls. And blessed is the eunuch who has not worked iniquity with his hands, nor devised wicked things against the Lord; for to him shall be given the choice gift of faith, and a more acceptable lot in the temple of God.

For the fruit of good labours is a good reputation, and the root of wisdom which does not fall away. Likewise Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians, first epistle: Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord, but I give counsel, as one who has obtained mercy to be faithful. I think therefore that this is good on account of the present necessity, that it is best for a man to be so. Likewise there: But this I say, brethren, the time is short; it remains that both those who have wives be as though they had none, and those who weep as though they wept not, and those who rejoice as though they rejoiced not, and those who buy as though they possessed not, and those who use this world as though they used it not; for the fashion of this world passes away. I would have you to be without anxiety.

He who is without a wife is anxious about the things of the Lord, how he may please God; but he who has a wife thinks about the things of this world, how he may please his wife. The married woman and the virgin are divided. She who is unmarried thinks about the things of God, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit; but she who is married thinks about the things of this world, how she may please her husband. Likewise there: So then both he who gives his virgin in marriage does well, and he who gives her not does better. Likewise in the Gospel according to Matthew: But I say to you, that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of adultery, causes her to commit adultery. The disciples say to him: If such be the case of a man with his wife, it is not expedient to marry. But Jesus answered them:

Not all men receive this saying, but those to whom it is given. For there are eunuchs who were so born from their mother's womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom's sake. He who is able to receive it, let him receive it. LXXXI. ON CONJUGAL CONCORD AND THE ADORNMENT OF WOMEN. In Ecclesiasticus: In three things my spirit finds pleasure, which are approved before God and man: the concord of brethren, the love of neighbours, and a husband and wife who agree together. Likewise the Apostle to the Colossians: Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Likewise to Timothy, first epistle:

I desire therefore that the men pray in every place, lifting up holy hands without wrath and disputing. Likewise also that the women adorn themselves in orderly apparel with modesty and chastity, not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly garment, but as becomes women professing chastity through good works. Let a woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I do not permit a woman to teach, nor to have dominion over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. But she shall be saved through the bearing of children, if she continue in faith and truth and holiness with sobriety. Likewise to Titus:

But as for you, speak the things which become sound doctrine: that the aged men be sober, chaste, prudent, sound in faith, in love, and in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in holy behaviour, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things, that they may teach prudence; that they may instruct the young women to love their husbands and to love their children, to be prudent, chaste, keepers of the home, kind, and subject to their own husbands. The young men likewise exhort, that they be prudent in all things. Likewise Peter the Apostle in his first epistle: Wives, be subject to your own husbands, that even if any do not believe this word, they may be won without a word through the conduct of their wives, beholding your chaste conduct in fear.

Let their adorning not be the outward plaiting of hair, or the wearing of gold, or the putting on of garments or ornaments, but the hidden man of the heart, in the incorruptibility of a meek and modest spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. For after this manner in old time the holy women also, who hoped in the Lord, adorned themselves, being subject to the stronger vessel, their husbands; as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters you have become, doing well and not fearing any disturbance. Husbands likewise, dwelling with them according to knowledge, giving honour to the woman as to the weaker vessel, as to co-heirs of the grace and of life, that your prayers be not hindered. LXXXII. ON THE HOLINESS AND WORK OF WIDOWS.

In the third book of Kingdoms: And the Lord said to Elijah: Arise and go to Zarephath of Sidon; behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to feed you. And he arose and went to Zarephath of Sidon. And when he came there, behold, at the gate of the city a widow woman was gathering sticks. And Elijah cried out after her and said to her: Bring me a little water in a vessel that I may drink. And as she was going to fetch and bring the water, Elijah cried out again after her and said: Bring me bread that I may eat. And she said: As the Lord your God lives, I have no cake, but only a little flour in a jar and a little oil in a vessel; and behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and make it for myself and my sons, and we shall eat it and die.

And Elijah said: Fear not; go in and do according to your word, but first make me a little cake from it, and afterward make for yourself and your sons. For thus says the Lord: The jar of meal shall not fail, nor the cruse of oil be diminished, until the day when God gives rain upon the earth. And she went and did so, and both she and he and her sons ate; the jar of meal did not fail, nor the vessel of oil, according to the word of the Lord which he spoke by the hand of Elijah. Likewise in the book of Judith: And Judith was a widow in her house for three years and six months.

And she made herself a tent upon the roof of her house, and put sackcloth upon her loins, and fasted all the days of her life, except on the sabbaths and new moons and the feasts of the house of Israel. And she was of a very good countenance, and there was none that spoke an evil word against her, for she feared the Lord greatly. Likewise in the Gospel according to Luke: And there was Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser; and she was far advanced in her days, having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity, and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, serving with fastings and prayers night and day. Likewise: And Jesus, looking up, saw the rich who were casting their gifts into the treasury.

And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in two mites, and he said: Truly I say to you, that this poor widow has cast in more than all; for all these have cast into the gifts of God out of their abundance, but she out of that which she lacks has cast in all the living that she had. Likewise the Apostle to Timothy, first epistle: Honour widows who are truly widows. But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let her first learn to treat her own household piously and to requite her parents; for this is acceptable before God. But she who is truly a widow and desolate hopes in God and continues in prayers night and day. But she who lives in pleasures is dead while she lives. And command these things, that they may be blameless.

But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. Let a widow be chosen of not less than sixty years, who has been the wife of one husband, having a testimony in good works: if she has brought up children, if she has received strangers with hospitality, if she has washed the feet of the saints, if she has ministered to those suffering tribulation, if she has diligently followed every good work. But the younger widows refuse. Likewise in the Acts of the Apostles: Now in Joppa there was a certain widow named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas. She was full of good works and alms and many mercies which she did. And it came to pass in those days that she fell sick and died.

When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. And since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, entreating and saying: Do not delay to come to us. Then Peter arose and came with them; and when he had arrived, they led him into the upper room, and all the widows stood about him weeping and showing the coats and other garments, telling him how much Dorcas had made while she was with them. But Peter, having put them all out, kneeled down and prayed, and turning to the body he said: Arise in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ! And she immediately opened her eyes, and when she had seen Peter, she sat up; and giving her his hand, he raised her up alive.

And calling the saints and the widows, he presented her alive. And this was made known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. LXXXIII. THAT BY THE APOSTLE'S EXAMPLE WE MUST LABOUR WITH OUR HANDS. Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians: Give no place to the devil. Let him who stole steal no more, but rather let him labour, working that which is good, that he may have wherewith to give to him who suffers need. Likewise to the Thessalonians, first epistle: For you remember, brethren, our labour and toil: working night and day, wearied, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached among you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves toward you who believe:

As you know how we exhorted and comforted each one of you, as a father his own children, that you would walk worthily of God, who has called you into his own kingdom and glory. Likewise there: But we exhort you, brethren, to abound more and more, and to study to be quiet and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands the thing that is good, as we commanded you, that you may walk honestly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing of any man. Likewise to the Thessalonians, second epistle: Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which they received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us:

For we did not behave ourselves disorderly among you, nor did we eat anyone's bread for nothing, but in labour and toil, working night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you: not because we had not the power, but to make ourselves an example to you to imitate us. For even when we were with you, this we declared to you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some who walk disorderly among you, working not at all, but being busybodies. Now such we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work and eat their own bread. But you, brethren, do not grow weary in well-doing. Likewise in the Acts of the Apostles:

Now Paul had become known to Aquila, because they were of the same race and the same trade, and he stayed with them, doing work; for by trade they were tent-makers. Likewise there, Paul the Apostle: I have coveted no one's silver or gold or garment. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities, and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that so labouring you ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of our Lord Jesus, that he himself said: It is more blessed to give than to receive. LXXXIIII. THAT ONE OUGHT NOT TO SEARCH OUT THINGS TOO HIGH, NOR TO LISTEN TO HERETICS. In Deuteronomy: You shall not add to this word which I command you this day, neither shall you diminish from it.

Likewise in the Apocalypse: I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God shall lay upon him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the prophecy of this book, God shall take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city. Likewise in Proverbs: Drink water from your own vessels and from the fountain of your own wells, and let no stranger share with you. Likewise there: He who trusts in falsehoods feeds the winds; and the same man follows the flying birds; for he has forsaken the ways of his own vineyard, and wandered from the tracks of the cultivation of his own field; he walks through dry and desert places, and land set in droughts, and gathers barrenness with his own hands. Likewise there:

Withdraw therefore from strange water, and do not drink from a strange fountain, and you shall live a long time, and years of life shall be added to you. Likewise there: He who follows after vain things lacks understanding. Likewise there: Do not add to his commandments, lest you be reproved and be found a liar. Likewise in Ecclesiasticus: Seek not the things that are too high for you, and search not out the things above your strength; but the things which the Lord has commanded you, those think upon always, and in his many works be not curious. For their suspicion has led many astray, and detained their minds in vanity. Likewise there: Be not tossed about with every wind, and go not into every way, that the word of peace and knowledge may attend you. Likewise there: To whom does it suffice to declare his works?

There is no diminishing nor adding to them, nor finding out the great works of God. Likewise in the book of Wisdom: With difficulty do we estimate the things that are upon earth, and the things that are in our sight we find out with labour; but the things that are in the heavens, who shall search out? And who shall know your mind, unless you give wisdom? Likewise the Apostle to the Romans: O the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgements, and his ways past finding out! For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counsellor? Or who has first given to him, and it shall be recompensed to him? For of him, and through him, and in him are all things: to him be glory for ever and ever. LXXXV. ON FASTING. In Ecclesiasticus:

He who is baptized after touching a dead body, what does his washing profit him? So is the man who fasts in his sins and does the same things again: what does he profit by humbling himself? Who shall hear his prayer? To attend to the commandments and to depart from all iniquity is a saving sacrifice. Likewise in the prophet Isaiah: There is no rejoicing for the wicked, says the Lord. Cry aloud, and spare not; lift up your voice like a trumpet, and declare to my people their sins, and to the house of Jacob their iniquities. They seek me from day to day, and desire to know my ways, as a people that had done righteousness and had not forsaken the judgement of their God; they ask of me now a just judgement, and desire to draw near to God, saying: Why is it that we have fasted, and you have not seen it?