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1. I Confess to you, holy brethren, I was afraid the cold would
have made you cold in assembling yourselves together; but since you
prove by this, your crowded assembly, that you are fervent in spirit,
I doubt not that you have also prayed for me, that I may pay you what
I owe. For I promised you in the name of Christ that, as the
shortness of the time prevented us from expounding it before, I would
today discuss why God was pleased to manifest the Holy Ghost in the
form of a dove. That this may be explained, this day has dawned on
us; and I perceive that from eagerness to hear, and pious devotion,
you have come together in greater number than usual. May God, by our
mouth, fulfill your expectation. For your coming together is of your
love; but love of what? If of us, even that is well; for we desire
to be loved by you, but not in ourselves. Because we love you in
Christ, do you love us in Christ in return, and let our love
mutually sigh towards God; for the note of the dove is a sighing or
moaning.
2. Now if the dove's note is a moaning, as we all know it to be,
and doves moan in love, hear what the apostle says, and wonder not
that the Holy Ghost willed to be manifested in the form of a dove:
"For what we should pray for as we ought," says he, "we know not;
but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings which cannot
be uttered." What then, my brethren? shall we say this, that the
Spirit groans where He has perfect and eternal blessedness with the
Father and the Son? For the Holy Spirit is God, even as the Son
of God is God, and the Father God. I have said "God" thrice,
but not three Gods; for indeed it is God thrice rather than three
Gods; because the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost are
one God: this you know full well. It is not then in Himself with
Himself in that Trinity, in that blessedness, in that His eternal
substance, that the Holy Spirit groans; but in us He groans because
He makes us to groan. Nor is it a little matter that the Holy
Spirit teaches us to groan, for He gives us to know that we are
sojourners in a foreign land, and He teaches us to sigh after our
native country; and through that very longing do we groan. He with
whom it is well in this world, or rather he who thinks it is well with
him, who exults in the joy of carnal things, in the abundance of
things temporal, in an empty felicity, has the cry of the raven; for
the raven's cry is full of clamor, not of groaning. But he who knows
that he is in the pressure of this mortal life, a pilgrim "absent from
the Lord," that he does not yet possess that perpetual blessedness
which is promised to us, but that he has it in hope, and will have it
in reality when the Lord shall come openly in glory who came before in
humility concealed; he, I say, who knows this doth groan. And so
long as it is for this he groans, he does well to groan; it was the
Spirit that taught him to groan, he learnt it from the dove. Many
indeed groan by reason of earthly misery. They are shattered, it may
be, by losses, or weighed down by bodily ailment, or shut up in
prisons, or bound with chains, or tossed about on the waves of the
sea, or hedged in by the ensnaring devices of their enemies.
Therefore do they groan, but not with the moaning of the dove, not
with love of God, not in the Spirit. Accordingly, when such are
delivered from these same afflictions, they exult with loud voices,
whereby it is made manifest that they are ravens, not doves. It was
with good reason that a raven was sent forth from the ark, and returned
not again; a dove was sent forth, and it returned. These two birds
Noah sent forth. He had there the raven, and also the dove. That
ark contained both kinds; and if the ark was a figure of the Church,
you see indeed that in the present deluge of the world, the Church
must of necessity contain both kinds, as well the raven as the dove.
Who are the ravens? They who seek their own. Who are the doves?
They who seek the things that are Christ's.
3. Therefore, when He sent the Holy Spirit He manifested Him
visibly in two ways by a dove and by fire: by a dove upon the Lord
when He was baptized, by fire upon the disciples when they were
gathered together. For when the Lord had ascended into heaven after
His resurrection, having spent forty days with His disciples, and
the day of Pentecost being fully come, He sent unto them the Holy
Spirit as He had promised. Accordingly the Spirit coming at that
time filled the place, and there was first a sound from heaven as of a
rushing mighty wind, as we read in the Acts of the Apostles, and
"there appeared unto them," it says, "cloven tongues as of fire,
and it sat upon each of them; and they began to speak with tongues, as
the Spirit gave them utterance." Here we have seen a dove descending
upon the Lord; there, cloven tongues upon the assembled disciples:
in the former, simplicity is shown; in the latter, fervency. Now
there are who are said to be simple, who are only indolent; they are
called simple, but they are only slow. Not such was Stephen, full
of the Holy Ghost: he was simple, because he injured no one; he was
fervent, because he reproved the ungodly. For he held not his peace
before the Jews. His are those burning words: "Ye stiff-necked
and uncircumcised of heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy
Spirit." Mighty impetuosity; but it is the dove without gall
raging. For that you know that he was fierce without gall, see how,
upon hearing these words, they who were the ravens immediately took up
stones and rushed together upon this dove. They begin to stone
Stephen; and he who a little before stormed and glowed with ardor of
spirit, who had, as it were, made an onset on his enemies, and like
one full of violence had attacked them in such fiery and burning words
as you have heard, "Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and
ears," that any one who heard those words might fancy that Stephen,
if he were allowed, would have them consumed at once, but when the
stones thrown from their hands reached him, with fixed knee he saith,
"Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." He held fast to the
unity of the dove. For his Master, upon whom the dove descended,
had done the same thing before him; who, while hanging on the cross,
said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."
Wherefore by the dove it is shown that they who are sanctified by the
Spirit should be without guile; and that their simplicity should not
continue cold is shown us by the fire. Nor let it trouble you that the
tongues were divided; for tongues are diverse, therefore the
appearance was that of cloven tongues. "Cloven tongues," it saith,
"as of fire, and it sat upon each of them." There is a diversity of
tongues, but the diversity of tongues does not imply schisms. Be not
afraid of separation in the cloven tongues; in the dove recognize
unity.
4. Hence in this manner it behoved the Holy Spirit to be manifested
when coming upon the Lord, that every one might understand that if he
has the Holy Spirit he ought to be simple as the dove, to have true
peace with his brethren, that peace which the kisses of doves signify.
Ravens have their kisses too; but in the case of the ravens it is a
false peace, in that of the dove a true peace. Not every one,
therefore, who says, "Peace be with you," is to be listened to as
if he were a dove. How then are the kisses of ravens distinguished
from those of doves? Ravens kiss, but they tear; the nature of doves
is innocent of tearing. Where consequently there is tearing, there is
not true peace in the kisses. They have true peace who have not torn
the Church. Ravens feed upon carrion, it is not so with the dove;
it lives on the fruits of the earth, its food is innocent. This,
brethren, is really worthy of admiration in the dove. Sparrows are
very small birds, but yet they kill flies at least. The dove does
nothing of this sort, for it does not feed on what is dead. They who
have torn the Church feed on the dead. God is mighty; let us pray
that they who are devoured by them, and perceive it not, may come to
life again. Many acknowledge that they do come to life again, for at
their coming we daily express joy with them in the name of Christ. Be
ye simple, but only in such wise that ye be fervent, and let your
fervor be in your tongues. Hold not your peace, speak with glowing
tongues, set those that are cold on fire.
5. For why, my brethren? Who does not see what they do not? And
no wonder; for they who are unwilling to return from that are just like
the raven that was sent forth from the ark. For who does not see what
they see not? They are unthankful even to the Holy Spirit Himself.
See, the dove descended upon the Lord, upon the Lord when
baptized: and thereupon was manifested that holy and real Trinity,
which to us is one God. For the Lord went up out of the water, as
we read in the Gospel: "And, lo, the heavens were opened unto
Him, and He saw the Spirit descending like a dove, and it abode
upon Him: and immediately a voice followed, Thou art my beloved
Son, in whom I am well pleased." The Trinity most manifestly
appears: the Father in the voice, the Son in the man, the Spirit
in the dove. In this Trinity let us see, as we do see, whereunto
the apostles were sent forth, and what it is wonderful those men do not
see. Not indeed that they really do not see, but that they really
shut their eyes to that which strikes them in the very face: that
whereunto the disciples were sent forth in the name of the Father, and
of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, by Him of whom it is said,
"This is He that baptizeth:" it was said, in fact, to His
ministers, by Him who has retained this authority to Himself.
6. Now this it was in Him that John saw, and came to know which he
did not know. Not that he did not know Him to be the Son of God,
or that he did not know Him to be the Lord, or not know Him to be
the Christ; or that he did not know this too, that it was He who
should baptize with water and with the Holy Ghost. This he did
know; but that he should do this so as to retain the authority to
Himself and transfer it to none of His ministers, this is what he
learnt in the dove. For by this authority, which Christ has retained
to Himself alone, and conferred upon none of His ministers, though
He has deigned to baptize by His ministers; by this authority, I
say, stands the unity of the Church, which is figured in the dove,
concerning which it is said, "My dove is one, the only one of her
mother." For if, as I have already said, my brethren, the
authority were transferred by the Lord to His minister, there would
be as many baptisms as ministers, and the unity of baptism would no
longer exist.
7. Mark, brethren; before our Lord Jesus Christ came to His
baptism (for it was after the baptism that the dove descended, whereby
John recognized something that was peculiar to Him, since he was
told, "Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending like a dove,
and remaining on Him, the same is He that baptizeth with the Holy
Ghost"), John knew that He it was that baptizeth with the Holy
Ghost; but that it should be with this peculiarity, that the
authority should not pass from Him to another, notwithstanding He
confers it, this is what he learnt there. And whence do we prove that
John did already know that the Lord was to baptize with the Holy
Ghost; so that what he must be understood to have learned by the dove
is, that the Lord was to baptize with the Holy Ghost in such wise
that the authority should not pass from Him to any other man? Whence
do we prove this? The dove descended after the Lord was baptized;
but before the Lord came to be baptized by John in the Jordan, we
have said that John knew Him, on the evidence of those words, in
which he says, "Comest Thou to me to be baptized? I have need to
be baptized of Thee."
Well, he did know Him to be the Lord, knew Him to be the Son of
God; how do we prove that he knew already that the same was He who
should baptize with the Holy Ghost? Before He came to the river,
whilst many people were running together to John to be baptized, he
says to them, "I indeed baptize you with water; but He that cometh
after me is greater than I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not
worthy to loose; the same shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and
with fire." Already he knew this also. What then did he learn from
the dove, that he may not afterwards be found a liar (which God
forbid we should think), if it be not this, that there was to be a
certain peculiarity in Christ, such that, although many ministers,
be they righteous or unrighteous, should baptize, the virtue of
baptism would be attributed to Him alone on whom the dove descended,
and of whom it was said, "This is He that baptizeth with the Holy
Ghost"? Peter may baptize, but this is He that baptizeth; Paul
may baptize, yet this is He that baptizeth; Judas may baptize,
still this is He that baptizeth.
8. For if the sanctity of baptism be according to the diversity of
merits in them that administer it, then as merits are diverse there
will be diverse baptisms; and the recipient will imagine that what he
receives is so much the better, the better he appears to be from whom
he received it. The saints themselves understand brethren, they that
belong to the dove, that have their part in that city of Jerusalem,
the good themselves in the Church, of whom the apostle says, "The
Lord knoweth them that are His" are endued with different graces,
and do not all possess like merits. Some are more holy than others,
some are better than others. Therefore if one receive baptism from
him, for example, who is a righteous saint, another from another who
is of inferior merit with God, of inferior degree, of inferior
continence, of inferior life, how notwithstanding is that which they
receive one, equal and like, if it be not because, "This is He
that baptizeth"? Just, then, as when the good and the better
administer baptism, one man does not receive a good thing, another a
better; but, notwithstanding that the ministers were one good the
other better, they receive what is one and equal, not a better in the
one case and a worse in the other; so, too, when a bad man
administers baptism, through the ignorance or forbearance of the
Church (for bad men either are not known as such, or are borne with;
the chaff is tolerated until the floor be fully purged at the last),
that which is given is one, not unlike because the ministers are
unlike, but like and equal because "This is He that baptizeth."
9. Therefore, beloved, let us see what those men desire not to
see; not what they may not see, but what they grieve to see, as
though it were shut against them. Whither were the disciples sent to
baptize as ministers, in the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost? Whither were they sent? "Go," said He,
"baptize the nations." You have heard, brethren, how that
inheritance comes, "Ask of me, and I will give Thee the nations
for Thine inheritance, and the utmost bounds of the earth for Thy
possessions." You have heard how that "from Sion went forth the
law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." For it was there
the disciples were told, "Go, baptize the nations in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."
We became attentive when we heard, "Go, baptize the nations." In
whose name? "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of
the Holy Ghost." This is one God; for it says not in the
"names" of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,
but "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost." Where thou hearest one name, there is one God; just as it
was said of Abraham's seed, and the Apostle Paul expounds it,
"In thy seed shall all nations be blessed; he said not, In seeds,
as in many, but as in one, and in thy seed which is Christ."
Wherefore, just as the apostle wished to show thee that, because in
that place it is not said "in seeds," Christ is one; so here too,
when it is said, "in the name," not in the names, even as these,
"in seed," not in seeds, is it proved that the Father, and the
Son. and the Holy Ghost are one God.
10. But lo, say the disciples to the Lord, we are told in what
name we are to baptize; Thou hast made us ministers, and hast said to
us, "Go, baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Ghost." Whither shall we go? Whither? Have you not
heard? To Mine inheritance. You ask, Whither shall we go? To
that which I bought with my blood. Whither then? To the nations,
saith He. I fancied that He said, Go, baptize the Africans in
the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Thanks be to God, the Lord has solved the question the dove has
taught us. Thanks be to God, it was to the nations the apostles were
sent; if to the nations, then to all tongues. The Holy Spirit
signified this, being divided in the tongues, united in the dove.
Here the tongues are divided, there the dove unites them. The
tongues of the nations agreed, perhaps that of Africa alone
disagreed. What can be more evident, my brethren? In the dove the
unity, in the tongues the community of the nations. For once the
tongues became discordant through pride, and then of one became many
tongues. For after the flood certain proud men, as if endeavoring to
fortify themselves against God, as if aught were high for God, or
aught could give security to pride, raised a tower, apparently that
they might not be destroyed by a flood, should there come one
thereafter. For they had heard and considered that all iniquity was
swept away by a flood; to abstain from iniquity they would not; they
sought the height of a tower as a defense against a flood; they built a
lofty tower. "God saw their pride, and frustrated their purpose by
causing that they should not understand one another's speech, and thus
tongues became diverse through pride." If pride caused diversities of
tongues, Christ's humility has united these diversities in one. The
Church is now bringing together what that tower had sundered. Of one
tongue there were made many; marvel not: this was the doing of pride.
Of many tongues there is made one; marvel not: this was the doing of
charity. For although the sounds of tongues are various, in the heart
one God is invoked, one peace preserved. How then should the Holy
Spirit have been manifested when signifying a unity, if not by the
dove, so that it might be said to the Church brought into a state of
peace, "My dove is one "? How ought humility to have been
represented but by an innocent, sorrowing bird; not by a proud,
exulting bird like the raven?
11. But perhaps they will say: Well, as it is a dove, and the
dove is one, baptism there cannot be apart from the one dove.
Therefore if the dove is with thee, or if thou be thyself a dove, do
thou give me, when I come to thee, that which I have not. You know
that this is what they say; but you will presently see that it is not
of the voice of the dove, but of the clamor of the raven. For attend
a little, beloved, and fear their devices; nay, beware of them, and
listen to the words of gainsayers only to reject them, not to swallow
them and take them into your bowels. Do therein what the Lord did
when they offered Him the bitter draught, "He tasted, and spat it
out; " so also you hear and cast away. What indeed say they? Let
us see. Lo, Church, it is to thee it is said, "My dove is one,
the only one of her mother" to thee certainly is it said. Stop, do
not question me; prove first whether to me it was said; if it was said
to me, I would hear it at once. "To thee," saith he, "it was
said." I answer, in the voice of the Catholic Church, "To
me." And this answer, brethren, sounding forth from my mouth
alone, has sounded, as I believe, also from your hearts, and we all
affirmed together, yea, to the Catholic Church was it said, "One
is my dove, the only one of her mother." Apart from this dove, says
he further, there is no baptism: I was baptized apart from this
dove, consequently have not baptism; if I have not baptism, why dost
thou not give it me when I come to thee?
12. I also will put questions; let us meanwhile lay aside the
inquiry as to whom this was said, "My dove is one, the only one of
her mother; " as yet we are inquiring; it was said either to me or to
thee; let us postpone the question as to whom it was said. This is
what I ask, if the dove is simple, innocent, without gall, peaceful
in its kisses, not fierce with its talons, I ask whether the
covetous, the rapacious, the crafty, the sottish, the infamous,
belong to the members of this dove? are they members of this dove?
Far be the thought, says he. And who would really say this,
brethren? To speak of nothing else, if I mention the rapacious
alone, members of the hawk they may be, not members of the dove.
Kites seize and plunder, so do hawks, so do ravens; doves do not
plunder nor tear, consequently they who snatch and rob are not members
of the dove. Was there not even one rapacious person among you? Why
abides the baptism, which in this case the hawk, not the dove, has
given? Why do you not among yourselves baptize after robbers, after
adulterers, after drunkards? why not baptize after the avaricious
among yourselves? Are these all members of the dove? You so dishonor
your dove that you make those that have the nature of the vulture her
members. What, then, brethren, what say we? There are the bad and
the good in the Catholic Church, but with them the bad only. But
perhaps I say this with a hostile feeling: let this too be afterwards
examined. They do say, certainly, that among them are the good and
the bad; for, should they assert that they have only the good, let
their own credit it, and I subscribe. With us, let them say, there
are none but holy, righteous, chaste, sober men; no adulterers, no
usurers, no deceivers, no false swearers, no wine-bibbers; let them
say this, for I heed not their tongues I touch their hearts. But
since they are well known to us, and to you, and to their own, just
as you are known both to yourselves in the Catholic Church and to
them, neither let us find fault with them, nor let them flatter
themselves. We confess that in the Church there are good and bad,
yet as the grain and the chaff. Sometimes he who is baptized by the
grain is chaff, and he who is baptized by the chaff is grain.
Otherwise, if his baptism who is baptized by the grain stands good,
and his who is baptized by the chaff not, then it is not true, "This
is He that baptizeth." But if it is true "This is He that
baptizeth," then what is given by the chaff stands good, and he
baptizeth in like manner as the dove. For the bad man (who
administers baptism) is not the dove, nor belongs to the members of
the dove, nor can he possibly be affirmed to be so, either with us in
the Catholic Church or with them, if they assert that their Church
is the dove. What then are we to understand, brethren? Since it is
evident, and known to all, and they must admit, though it be against
their will, that when with them bad men give baptism, it is not given
after those bad men; and with us, too, when the bad give baptism, t
is not given after them. The dove does not baptize after the raven;
why then would the raven baptize after the dove?
13. Consider, beloved, why also was there a something pointed out
by means of the dove, as that the dove namely, the Holy Spirit in
the shape of a dove came to the Lord on being baptized, and rested
upon Him, whilst by the coming of the dove John learned this, that
there dwelt in the Lord a power peculiarly His own to baptize?
Because it was by this power peculiar to Himself, as I have said,
the peace of the Church was made secure. And yet it may be that one
may have baptism apart from the dove; but that baptism apart from the
dove should do him good, is impossible. Consider, beloved, and
understand what I say, for by this deception they mislead such of our
brethren as are dull and cold. Let us be more simple and more fervent
See, say they, have I received, or have I not? I answer, Thou
hast received. Well, if I have received, there is nothing which
thou canst give me; I am safe, even on thine own evidence. For I
affirm that I have received, and thou, too, dost confess that I
have received: I am safe by the confession of both: what then dost
thou promise me? Why wouldst thou make me a Catholic, when thou
wouldst not give me anything further, seeing thou confessest that I
have already received that which thou affirmest thyself to possess?
But when I say, Come to me, I say that thou dost not possess, who
yet confessest that I do. Why dost thou say, Come to me?
14. The dove teaches us. From the head of the Lord she answers,
and says, Thou hast baptism, but the charity with which I groan thou
hast not. How is this says he, I have baptism, and have not
charity? Have I the sacraments, and not charity? Do not shout:
show me how can he who divides unity have charity? I, saith he, have
baptism. Thou hast; but that baptism, without charity, profits thee
nothing; because without charity thou art nothing. The baptism
itself, even in him who is nothing, is not nothing. Baptism,
indeed, is something, aye, something great, for His sake, of whom
it is said, "This is He that baptizeth." But lest thou shouldst
fancy that that which is great can profit thee aught, if thou be not in
unity, it was after He was baptized that the dove descended, as if
intimating, If thou hast baptism, be in the dove, lest what thou
hast profit thee not. Come, then, to the dove, we say; not that
thou mayest begin to have what thou hadst not before, but that what
thou didst have may begin to profit thee. For thou didst have baptism
to destruction without; if thou shalt have it within, it begins to
profit thee to salvation.
15. For not only was baptism not profitable to thee, and not also
hurtful Even holy things may be hurtful. In the good, indeed, holy
things are to salvation; in the evil, to judgment. For we certainly
know, brethren, what we receive, and what we receive is at any rate
holy, and no one says that it is not: and what says the apostle?
"But he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh
judgment to himself." He does not say that the thing itself is bad,
but that the evil man, by receiving it amis , receives the good thing
which he does receive to judgment. Was that morsel which the Lord
delivered to Judas evil? God forbid. The physician would not give
poison; it was health the physician gave; but by unworthily receiving
it, he who received it not being at peace, received it unto
destruction. So likewise also good heed to what thou hast; by that
very thing which thou hast thou wilt be condemned. Wherefore?
Because thou hast what belongs to the dove apart from the dove. If
thou hast what is the dove's in the dove, thou art safe. Suppose
thyself a soldier: if thou hast thy general's mark within the lines,
thou servest in safety; but if thou hast it out of bounds, not only
that mark will not be of advantage to thee for service, but thou wilt
even be punished as a deserter. Come, then, come, and do not say,
I have already, I have enough. Come; the dove is calling thee,
calling thee by her sighing. My brethren, to you I say, call by
groaning, not by quarreling; call by praying, by invitation, by
fasting; let them by your charity understand that you pity them. I
doubt not, my brethren, that if they see your sorrow they will be
astonished, and will come to life again. Come, then, come; be not
afraid; be afraid if thou do not come; nay, be not afraid, rather
bewail thyself. Come, thou wilt rejoice if thou wilt come; thou wilt
indeed groan in the tribulations of thy pilgrimage, but thou wilt
rejoice in hope. Come where the dove is, to whom it was said, "My
dove is one, the only one of her mother." Seest thou not the one
dove upon the head of Christ? seest thou not the tongues throughout
the whole world? It is the same Spirit by the dove and by the
tongues: if by the dove the same Spirit, and by the tongues the same
Spirit, then was the Holy Spirit given to the whole world, from
which Spirit thou hast cut thyself off, that thou mightest clamor with
the raven, not that thou mightest sigh with the dove. Come, then.
16. But thou art anxious, it may be, and sayest, I was baptized
without; I fear lest therefore I am guilty, in that I was baptized
without. Already thou beginnest to know what thou hast to bewail.
Thou sayest truly that thou art guilty, not because of thy receiving,
but because of thy receiving without. Keep then what thou hast
received; amend thy receiving it without. Thou hast received what is
the doves apart from the dove. Here are two things said to thee:
Thou hast received, and, Apart from the dove thou hast received.
In that thou hast received, I approve; that thou hast received
without, I disappprove. Keep then what thou hast received, it is
not changed, but recognized: it is the mark of my king, I will not
profane it. I will correct the deserter, not change the mark.
17. Boast not of thy baptism because I call it a red baptism.
Behold, I say that it is so the whole Catholic Church says that it
is so the dove regards it, and acknowledges it, and groans because
thou hast it without; she sees therein what she may acknowledge, sees
also what she may correct. It is a real baptism, come. Thou
boastest that it is real, and yet wilt thou not come? What then of
the wicked, who do not belong to the dove? Saith the dove to thee,
Even the wicked, among whom I groan, who belong not to my members,
and it must needs be that I groan among them, have not they that which
thou boastest of having? Have not many drunkards baptism? Have not
many covetous? Have not many idolaters, and, what is worse, who are
such as stealth? Do not the pagans resort, now Christians secretly
seek out diviners and consult astrologers. And yet these have
baptism; but the dove groans among ravens. Why then dost thou boast
in the having it? This that thou hast, the wicked man also has.
Have thou humility, charity, peace; have thou the good thing which
as yet thou hast not, so that the good thing which thou hast may profit
thee.
18. For what thou hast, even Simon Magus had: the Acts of the
Apostles are witness, that canonical book which has to be read in the
Church every year. You know that every year, in the season following
the Lord's Passion, that book is read, wherein it is written, how
the apostle was converted, and from a persecutor became a preacher;
also, how on the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit was sent in cloven
tongues as of fire. There we read that in Samaria many believed
through the preaching of Philip: and he is understood to have been
either one of the apostles or one of the deacons; for we read there
that seven deacons were ordained, among whom is the name of Philip.
Well, then, through the preaching of Philip the Samaritans
believed; Samaria began to abound in believers. This Simon Magus
was there. By his magical arts he had so befooled the people, that
they fancied him to be the power of God. Impressed, however, by the
signs which were done by Philip, he also believed; but in what manner
he believed, the events that followed afterwards proved. And Simon
also was baptized. The apostles, who were at Jerusalem, heard
this. Peter and John were sent to those in Samaria; they found many
baptized; and as none of them had as yet received the Holy Ghosts in
like manner as He at that time descended, so as that they on whom the
Holy Spirit came should speak with tongues, for a manifest token that
the nations would believe, they laid their hands on them, praying for
them, and they received the Holy Ghost. This Simon who was not a
dove but a raven in the Church, because he sought his own things, not
the things which are Jesus Christ's; whence he loved the power which
was in the Christians more than the righteousness Simon, I say, saw
that the Holy Spirit was given by the laying on of the hands of the
apostles (not that it was given by them, but given in answer to their
prayers), and he said to them, " How much money will ye that I
give you, so that by the laying on of my hands also, the Holy Ghost
may be given? And Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee,
because thou thoughtest that the gift of God was to be bought with
money." To whom said he, "Thy money perish with thee"?
Undoubtedly to one that was baptized. Baptism he had already; but he
did not cleave to the bowels of the dove. Understand that he did not;
attend to the very words of the Apostle Peter, for he goes on,
"Thou hast no part nor lot in this faith: for I see that thou art in
the gall of bitterness." The dove has no gall; Simon had, and for
that reason he was separated from the bowels of the dove. What did
baptism profit him? Do not therefore boast of thy baptism, as if that
were of itself enough for thy salvation. Be not angry, put away thy
gall, come to the dove. Here that will profit thee, which without
not only did not profit thee, but even was prejudicial to thee.
19. Neither say, I will not come, because I was baptized
without. So, begin to have charity, begin to have fruit, let there
be fruit found in thee, and the dove will send thee within. We find
this in Scripture. The ark was made of incorruptible wood. The
incorruptible timbers are the saints, the faithful that belong to
Christ. For as in the temple the living stones of which it is built
are said to be faithful men, so likewise the incorruptible timbers are
they who persevere in the faith. In that same ark, then, the timbers
were incorruptible. Now the ark is the Church, it is there the dove
baptizeth; for the ark was borne on the water, the incorruptible
timbers timbers were baptized without, such as all the trees that were
in the world. Nevertheless the water was the same, not another sort;
all had come from heaven, or from abysses of the fountains. It was
the same water in which the incorruptible timbers which were in the ark
were baptized, and in which the timbers that were without were
baptized. The dove was sent forth, and at first found no rest for its
feet; it returned to the ark, for all was full of water, and it
preferred to return rather than be rebaptized. But the raven was sent
out before the water was dried up. Rebaptized, it desired not to
return, and died in those waters. May God avert from us that
raven's death. For why did not the raven return, unless because it
was taken off by the waters? rest for its feet, whilst the water was
crying to it on every side, "Come, come, dip thyself here;" just
as these heretics cry, "Come, come, here thou hast it;"
the dove, finding no rest for its feet, returned to the ark. And ark
sends you out to speak to them; and what did the dove afterwards?
Because there were timbers without that were baptized, it brought back
to the ark an olive branch. That branch had both leaves and fruit.
Let there not be in thee words only, nor leaves only; let there be
fruit, and thou returnest to the ark, not of thyself, the dove calls
thee back. Groan ye without, that ye may call them back within.
20. Moreover, as to this fruit of the olive. if the matter be
examined, you will find what it was. The fruit of the olive signifies
charity. How do we prove this? Just as oil is kept down by no
liquid, but bursting through all, bounds up and overtops them; so
likewise charity cannot be pressed to the bottom, but must of necessity
show itself at the top. Therefore the apostle says of it, "Yet show
I unto you a more excellent way." Since we have said of oil that it
overtops other liquids, in case it should not be of charity, the
apostle said," I show you a more excellent way," let us hear what
follows. "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and
have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling
cymbal." Go now, Donatus, and cry, "I am eloquent;" go now,
and cry, "I am learned." How far eloquent? How far learned?
Hast thou spoken with the tongues of angels? Yet though thou wert to
speak with the tongues of angels, not having charity, I should hear
only sounding brass and tinkling cymbals. I want solidity; let me
find fruit among the leaves; let there be not words merely, let them
have the olive, let them return to the ark.
21. But I have the sacrament, thou wilt say. Thou sayest the
truth; the sacrament is divine; thou hast baptism, and that I
confess. But what says the apostle? "If I should know all
mysteries, and have prophecy and all faith, so that I could remove
mountains;" in case thou shouldest say this, "I believe; enough
for me." But what says James? "The devils believe and tremble."
Faith is mighty, but without charity it profits nothing. The devils
confessed Christ. Accordingly it was from believing, but not from
loving, they said, "What have we to do with Thee?" They had
faith, but not charity; hence they were devils. Boast not of faith;
so far thou art on a level with the devils. Say not to Christ, What
have I to do with Thee? For Christ's unity speaks to thee. have
fruit, and thou returnest to the ark. The reason why we seek you is,
because you are bad; for if you were not bad, we should have found
you, and would not be seeking you. He who is good is already found;
he who is bad is still sought after. Consequently, we are seeking
you; return ye to the ark. "But I have baptism already." "
Though I should know all mysteries, and have prophecy and all faith,
so as to remove mountains, but have not charity, I am nothing."
Let me see fruit there; let me see the olive there, and thou art
called back to the ark.
23. But what sayest thou? "Behold, we suffer many evils."
Would that ye suffered these for Christ, not for your own honor!
Hear what follows: They, indeed, boast sometimes, because they do
many alms, give to the poor; because they suffer afflictions: but it
is for Donatus, not for Christ. Consider how thou sufferest; for
if thou sufferest for Donatus, it is for a proud man: thou art not in
the dove if thou art suffering for Donatus. Donatus was not the
friend of the Bridegroom; for had he been, he would have sought the
glory of the Bridegroom, not his own. See the friend of the
Bridegroom saying, "This is He that baptizeth." He, for whom
thou art suffering, was not the friend of the Bridegroom. Thou hast
not the wedding garment; and if thou art come to the feast, thou wilt
be put out of doors; nay, thou hast been cast out of doors already,
and for that reason thou art wretched: return at length, and do not
boast. Hear what the apostle says: "Though I should distribute all
my goods to the poor, and give my body to be burnt, but have not
charity." See what thou dost not have. "Though," he saith, "I
should give my body to be burnt;" and that, too, for the name of
Christ; but since there are many who do this boastfully, not with
charity, therefore, "Though I should give my body to be burnt, and
have not charity, it profiteth me nothing." It was by charity those
martyrs, who suffered in time of persecution, did this; but these men
do it of their vanity and pride; for in the absence of a persecutor,
they throw themselves headlong into destruction. Come, then, that
thou mayest have charity. "But we have our martyrs." What
martyrs? They are not doves; hence they attempted to fly, and fell
over the rock.
24. You see then, my brethren, that all things cry against them,
all the divine pages, all prophecy, the whole gospel, all the
apostolic letters, every sigh of the dove, and yet they awake not,
they do not yet rouse from their sleep. But if we are the dove, let
us groan, let us persevere, let us hope; God's compassion will be
with you, that the fire of the Holy Spirit may glow in your
simplicity; and they will come. There must be no despairing; pray,
preach, love; the Lord is able to the utmost. Already they begin to
be sensible of their shame; many have become sensible of it, and
blushed; Christ will aid, that the rest also may become sensible of
it. However, my brethren, at least let the chaff alone remain
there; let all the grain be gathered together; let whatever has borne
fruit among them return to the ark by the dove.
25. Failing everywhere else, what do they now allege against us,
not finding what to say? They have taken away our houses, they have
taken away our estates. They bring forward wills. "See, Gaius
Seius made a grant of an estate to the church over which Faustinus
presided." Of what church was Faustinus bishop? What is the
church? To the church over which Faustinus presided, said he. But
Faustinus presided not over a church, but over a sect. The dove,
however, is the Church. Why cry out? We have not devoured houses;
let the dove have them. Let inquiry be made who the dove is, and let
her have them. For you know, my brethren, that those houses of
theirs are not Augustin's; and if you know it not, and imagine that
I delight in the possession of them, God knows, yea, knows my
judgment respecting those estates, and even what I suffer in that
matter; He knows my groaning, since He has deigned to impart to me
somewhat of the dove. Behold, there are those estates; by what right
dost thou assert thy claim to them? By divine right, or by human?
Let them answer: Divine right we have in the Scriptures, human
right in the laws of kings. By what right does every man possess what
he possesses? Is it not by human right? For by divine right, "The
earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof." The poor and the
rich God made of one clay; the same earth supports alike the poor add
the rich. By human right, however, one says, This estate is mine,
this house is mine, this servant is mine. By human right,
therefore, is by right of the emperors. Why so? Because God has
distributed to mankind these very human rights through the emperors and
kings of this world. Do you wish us to read the laws of the emperors,
and to act by the estates according to these laws? If you will have
your possession by human right, let us recite the laws of the
emperors; let us see whether they would have the heretics possess
anything. But what is the emperor to me? thou sayest. It is by
right from him that thou possessest the land. Or take away rights
created by emperors, and then who will dare say, That estate is
mine, or that slave is mine, or this house is mine? If, however,
in order to their possessing these thing, men have received rights
derived from kings, will ye that we read the laws, that you may be
glad in having even a single garden, and impute it to nothing but the
clemency of the dove that you are permitted to remain in the communion
of the Catholic Church, usurp peace, may not dare to possess
anything in the name of the Church. pe 26. But what have we to do
with the emperor? treating of human right. And yet the apostle would
have us obey kings, would have us honor kings, and said, "Honor the
king." Do not say, What have I to do with the king? As in that
case, what have you to do with the possession? It is by the rights
derived from kings that possessions are enjoyed. Thou hast said,
What have I to do with the king? Say not then that the possessions
are thine; which men enjoy their possessions, thou hast referred
them. But it is with divine right I have to do, saith he. Well,
let us read the Gospel; let us see how far extends the Catholic
Church of Christ, upon whom the dove came, which taught, "This is
He that baptizeth." In what way, then, can he possess by divine
right, who says, "I baptize;" whilst the dove says, "This is
He that baptizeth;" whilst the Scripture says, "My dove is one,
the only one of her mother"? Why have you torn the dove? nay,
rather, have torn your own bowels? For while you are yourselves torn
to pieces, the dove continues entire. Therefore, my brethren, if,
driven from every point, they have nothing to say, I will tell them
what to do; let them come to the Catholic Church, and together with
us, they will have not only the earth, but Him also who made heaven
and earth.
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