|
43. And thus a man who is resting upon faith, hope and love, and
who keeps a firm hold upon these, does not need the Scriptures except
for the purpose of instructing others. Accordingly, many live without
copies of the Scriptures, even in solitude, on the strength of these
three graces. So that in their case, I think, the saying is already
fulfilled: "Whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether
there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it
shall vanish away." Yet by means of these instruments (as they may
be called), so great an edifice of faith and love has been built up in
them, that, holding to what is perfect, they do not seek for what is
only in part perfect of course, I mean, so far as is possible in this
life; for, in comparison with the future life, the life of no just
and holy man is perfect here. Therefore the apostle says: "Now
abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these
is charity:" because, when a man shall have reached the eternal
world, while the other two graces will fail, love will remain greater
and more assured.
|
|