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1 TIMOTHY V. 8.
"But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his
own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel."
MANY consider that their own virtue is sufficient for their
salvation, and if they duly regulate their own life, that nothing
further is wanting to save them. But in this they greatly err, which
is proved by the example of him who buried his one talent, for he
brought it back not diminished but entire, and just as it had been
delivered to him. It is shown also by the blessed Paul, who says
here, "If any one provide not for his own." The provision of which
he speaks is universal, and relates to the soul as well as the body,
since both are to be provided for.
"If any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own
house," that is, those who are nearly related to him, "he is worse
than an infidel." And so says Isaiah, the chief of the Prophets,
"Thou shalt not overlook thy kinsmen of thy own seed." (Isa.
lviii. 7, Sept.) For if a man deserts. those who are united by
ties of kindred and affinity, how shall he be affectionate towards
others? Will it not have the appearance of vainglory, when benefiting
others he slights his own relations, and does not provide for them?
And what will be said, if instructing others, he neglects his own,
though he has greater facilities; and a higher obligation to benefit
them?
Will it not be said, These Christians are affectionate indeed, who
neglect their own relatives? "He is worse than an infidel."
Wherefore? Because the latter, if he benefits not aliens, does not
neglect his near kindred. What is meant is this: The law of God and
of nature is violated by him who provides not for his own family. But
if he who provides not for them has denied the faith, and is worse than
an infidel, where shall he be ranked who has injured his relatives?
With whom shall he be placed? But how has he denied the faith?
Even as it is said, "They profess that they know God, but in works
they deny Him." (Tit. i. 16.) What has God, in whom they
believe, commanded? "Hide not thyself from thine own flesh."
(Isa. lviii. 7.) How does he then believe who thus denies God?
Let those consider this, who to spare their wealth neglect their
kindred. It was the design of God, in uniting us by the ties of
kindred, to afford us many opportunities of doing good to one another.
When therefore thou neglectest a duty which infidels perform, hast
thou not denied the faith? For it is not faith merely to profess
belief, but to do works worthy of faith. And it is possible in each
particular to believe and not to believe. For since he had spoken of
luxury and self-indulgence, he says that it is not for this only that
such a woman is punished, because she is luxurious, but because her
luxury compels her to neglect her household. This he says with
reason; for she that liveth to the belly, perishes hereby also, as
"having denied the faith." But how is she worse than an infidel?
Because it is not the same thing to neglect our kindred, as to neglect
a stranger. How should it be? But the fault is greater here, to
desert one known than one who is unknown to us, a friend than one who
is not a friend.
Ver. 9, 10. "Let not a widow be taken into the number under
threescore years old, having been the wife of one man. Well reported
of for good works."
He had said, "Let them learn first to show piety at home, and to
requite their parents." He had also said, "She that liveth in
pleasure is dead whilst she liveth." He had said, "If she provides
not for her own she is worse than an infidel." Having mentioned the
qualities which not to have would render a woman unworthy to be reckoned
among the widows, he now mentions what she ought to have besides.
What then? are we to receive her for her years?
What merit is there in that? It is not her own doing that she is
threescore years old. Therefore he does not speak of her age merely,
as, if she has even reached those years, she may not yet, he says,
without good works, be reckoned among the number. But why then is he
particular about the age? He afterwards assigns a cause not
originating with himself, but with the widows themselves.
Meanwhile let us hear what follows. "Well reported of for good
works, if she have brought up children." Truly, it is no
unimportant work to bring up children; but bringing them up is not
merely taking care of them; they must be brought up well; as he said
before, "If they continue in faith, and charity, and holiness."
(1 Tim. ii. 15.) Observe how constantly he sets kindnesses to
our own relatives before those to strangers. First he says, "If she
have brought up children," then, "If she have lodged strangers, if
she have washed the Saints' feet, if she have relieved the
afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work." But
what if she be poor? Not even in that case is she debarred from
bringing up children, lodging strangers, relieving the afflicted.
She is not more destitute than the widow who gave the two mites. Poor
though she be, she has an house, she does not lodge in the open air.
"If," he says, "she have washed the Saints' feet." This is
not a costly work. "If she have diligently followed every good
work." What precept does he give here? He exhorts them to
contribute bodily service, for women are peculiarly fitted for such
attendance, for making the bed of the sick, and composing them to
rest.
Strange! what strictness does he require of widows; almost as much as
of the Bishop himself. For he says, "If she have diligently
followed every good work." This is as though he meant that, if she
could not of herself perform it, she shared and cooperated in it.
When he cuts off luxury, he would have her provident, a good
economist, and at the same time continually persevering in prayer.
Such was Anna. Such strictness does he require of widows. Greater
even than of virgins, from whom he yet requires much strictness, and
eminent virtue. For when he speaks of "that which is comely," and
"that she may attend upon the Lord without distraction" (1 Cor.
vii. 35), he gives, in a manner, a summary of all virtue. You
see that it is not merely the not contracting a second marriage that is
enough to make a widow, many other things are necessary. But why does
he discourage second marriages? Is the thing condemned? By no
means. That is heretical. Only he would have her henceforth occupied
in spiritual things, transferring all her care to virtue. For
marriage is not an impure state, but one of much occupation. He
speaks of their having leisure, not of their being more pure by
remaining unmarried. For marriage certainly implies much secular
engagement. If you abstain from marriage that you may have leisure for
the service of God, and yet do not so employ that leisure, it is of
no advantage to you, (if you do not use your leisure,) to perform
all services to strangers, and to the Saints. If you do not thus,
you abstain from marriage not for any good end, but as though you
condemned the state. So the virgin, who is not truly crucified to the
world, by declining marriage, appears to condemn it as accursed and
impure.
Observe, the hospitality here spoken of is not merely a friendly
reception, but one given with zeal and alacrity, with readiness, and
going about it as if one were receiving Christ Himself. The widows
should perform these services themselves, not commit them to their
handmaids. For Christ said, "If I your Master and Lord have
washed your feet, ye ought also to wash one another's feet." (John
xiii. 14.) And though a woman may be very rich, and of the
highest rank, vain of her birth and noble family, there is not the
same distance between her and others, as between God and the
disciples. If thou receivest the stranger as Christ, be not
ashamed, but rather glory: but if you receive him not as Christ,
receive him not at all. "He that receiveth you," He said,
"receiveth Me." (Matt. x. 40.) If you do not so receive
him, you have no reward. Abraham was receiving men that passed as
travelers, as he thought, and he did not leave to his servants to make
the preparations for their entertainment, but took the greater part of
the service upon himself, and commanded his wife to mix the flour,
though he had three hundred and eighteen servants born in his house, of
whom there must have been many maidservants; but he wished that himself
and his wife should have the reward, not of the cost only, but of the
service. Thus ought we ever to exercise hospitality by our own
personal exertions, that we may be sanctified, and our hands be
blessed. And if thou givest to the poor, disdain not thyself to give
it, for it is not to the poor that it is given, but to Christ; and
who is so wretched, as to disdain to stretch out his own hand to
Christ?
This is hospitality, this is truly to do it for God's sake. But if
you give orders with pride, though you bid him take the first place,
it is not hospitality, it is not done for God's sake. The stranger
requires much attendance, much encouragement, and with all this it is
difficult for him not to feel abashed; for so delicate is his
position, that whilst he receives the favor, he is ashamed. That
shame we ought to remove by the most attentive service, and to show by
words and actions, that we do not think we are conferring a favor, but
receiving one, that we are obliging less than we are obliged. So much
does good will multiply the kindness. For as he who considers himself
a loser, and thinks that he is doing a favor, destroys all the merit
of it; so he who looks upon himself as receiving a kindness, increases
the reward. "For God loveth a cheerful giver." (2 Cor. ix.
7.) So that you are rather indebted to the poor man for receiving
your kindness. For if there were no poor, the greater part of your
sins would not be removed. They are the healers of your wounds, their
hands are medicinal to you. The physician, extending his hand to
apply a remedy, does not exercise the healing art more than the poor
man, who stretches out his hand to receive your alms, and thus becomes
a cure for your ills. You give your money, and with it your sins pass
away. Such were the Priests of old, of whom it was said, "They
eat up the sin of My people." (Hosea iv. 8.) Thus thou
receivest more than thou givest, thou art benefited more than thou
benefitest. Thou lendest to God, not to men.
Thou increasest thy wealth, rather than diminishest it. But if thou
dost not lessen it by giving, then it is indeed diminished!
"If she have received strangers, if she have washed the Saints'
feet." But who are these? The distressed saints, not any saints
whatever. For there may be saints, who are much waited on by every
one. Do not visit these, who are in the enjoyment of plenty, but
those who are in tribulation, who are unknown, or known to few. He
who hath "done it unto the least of these," He saith, "hath done
it unto Me." (Matt.
XXV. 40.)
MORAL. Give not thy alms to those who preside in the Church to
distribute. Bestow it thyself, that thou mayest have the reward not
of giving merely, but of kind service. Give with thine own hands.
Cast into the furrow thyself. Here it is not required to handle the
plow, to yoke the ox, to wait the season, nor to break up the earth,
or to contend with the frost. No such trouble is required here, where
thou sowest for heaven, where there is no frost nor winter nor any such
thing. Thou sowest in souls, where no one taketh away what is sown,
but it is firmly retained with all care and diligence. Cast the seed
thyself, why deprive thyself of thy reward. There is great reward in
dispensing even what belongs to others. There is a reward not only for
giving, but for dispensing well the things that are given. Why wilt
thou not have this reward? For that there is a reward for this, hear
how we read that the Apostles appointed Stephen to the ministry of the
widows. (Acts vi. 5-7.)
Be thou the dispenser of thine own gifts. Thine own benevolence and
the fear of God appoint thee to that ministry. Thus vainglory is
excluded. This refreshes the soul, this sanctifies the hands, this
pulls down pride. This teaches thee philosophy, this inflames thy
zeal, this makes thee to receive blessings. Thy head, as thou
departest, receives all the blessings of the widows.
Be more earnest in thy prayers. Inquire diligently for holy men, men
that are truly such, who, in the retirement of the desert, cannot
beg, but are wholly devoted to God. Take a long journey to visit
them, and give with thine own hand. For thou mayest profit much in
thine own person, if thou givest. Dost thou see their tents, their
lodging? dost thou see the desert? dost thou see the solitude? Often
when thou hast gone to bestow money, thou givest thine whole soul.
Thou art detained, and hast become his fellow-captive, and hast been
alike estranged from the world.
It is of great benefit even to see the poor. "It is better," he
saith, "to go to the house of mourning, than to the house of
feasting."
(Eccles. vii. 2.) By the latter the soul is inflamed. For if
thou canst imitate the luxury, then thou art encouraged to
self-indulgence, and if thou canst not, thou art grieved. In the
house of mourning there is nothing of this kind. If thou canst not
afford to be luxurious, thou art not pained; and if thou canst, thou
art restrained. Monasteries are indeed houses of mourning. There is
sackcloth and ashes, there is solitude, there is no laughter, no
pressure of worldly business. There is fasting, and lying upon the
ground; there is no impure savor of rich food, no blood shed, no
tumult, no disturbance, or crowding. There is a serene harbor.
They are as lights shining from a lofty place to mariners afar off.
They are stationed at the port, drawing all men to their own calm,
and preserving from shipwreck those who gaze on them, and not letting
those walk in darkness who look thither. Go to them, and make friends
with them, embrace their holy feet, more honorable to touch than the
heads of others. If some clasp the feet of statues, because they bear
but a likeness of the king, wilt thou not clasp his feet who has
Christ within him, and be saved? The Saints' feet are holy,
though they are poor men, but not even the head of the profane is
honorable. Such efficacy is there in the feet of the Saints, that
when they shake off the dust of their feet, they inflict punishment.
When a saint is among us, let us not be ashamed of anything that
belongs to him. And all are saints, who unite a holy life with a
right faith and though they do not work miracles nor cast out devils,
still they are saints.
Go then to their tabernacles. To go to the monastery of a holy man a
is to pass, as it were from earth to heaven. Thou seest not there
what is seen in a private house. That company is free from all
impurity. There is silence and profound quiet. The words "mine and
thine" are not in use among them. And if thou remainest there a whole
day or even two, the more pleasure thou wilt enjoy. There, as soon
as it is day, or rather before day, the cock crows, and you see it
not as you may see it in a house, the servants snoring, the doors
shut, all sleeping like the dead, whilst the muleteer without is
ringing his bells. There is nothing of all this. All, immediately
shaking off sleep, reverently rise when their President calls them,
and forming themselves into a holy choir, they stand, and lifting up
their hands all at once sing the sacred hymns. For they are not like
us, who require many hours to shake off sleep from our heavy heads.
We indeed, as soon as we are waked, sit some time stretching our
limbs, go as nature calls, then proceed to wash our face and our
hands; afterwards we take our shoes and clothes, and a deal of time is
spent.
It is not so there. No one calls for his servant, for each waits
upon himself: neither does. he require many clothes, nor need to
shake off sleep. For as soon as he opens his eyes, he is like one who
has been long awake in collectedness. For when the heart is not
stifled within by excess of food, it soon recovers itself, and is
immediately wakeful. The hands are always pure; for his sleep is
composed and regular. No one among them is found snoring or breathing
hard, or tossing about in sleep, or with his body exposed; but they
lie in sleep as decently as those who are awake, and all this is the
effect "of the orderly state of their souls. These are truly saints
and angels among men. And marvel not when you hear these things. For
their great fear of God suffers them not to go down into the depths of
sleep, and to drown their minds, but it falls lightly upon them,
merely affording them rest. And as their sleep is, such are their
dreams, not full of wild fancies and monstrous visions.
But, as I said, at the crowing of the cock their President comes,
and gently touching the sleeper with his foot, rouses them all. For
there are none sleeping naked. Then as soon as they have arisen they
stand up, and sing the prophetic hymns with much harmony, and well
composed tunes. And neither harp nor pipe nor other musical instrument
utters such sweet melodies, as you hear from the singing of these
saints in their deep and quiet solitudes. And the songs themselves too
are suitable, and full of the love of God. "In the night," they
say, "lift up your hands unto God. With my soul have I desired
Thee in the night, yea with my spirit within me will I seek Thee
early," (Isa. xxvi. 9.) And the Psalms of David, that cause
fountains of tears to flow. For when he sings, "I am weary with my
groaning, all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with
my tears" (Ps. vi. 6): and, again, "I have eaten ashes like
bread." (Ps. cii. 9.) "What is man that thou art mindful of
him?" (Ps. viii. 4.) "Man is like to vanity, his days are as
a shadow that passeth away." (Ps. cxliv. 4.) "Be not afraid
when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased"
(Ps. xlix. 16); and, "Who maketh men to be of one mind in a
house" (Ps. lxviii. 6): and, "Seven times a day do I praise
Thee, because of Thy righteous judgments" (Ps. cxix. 164):
and, "At midnight will I rise to give thanks unto Thee, because of
Thy righteous judgments" (Ps. cxix. 62): and, "God will
redeem my soul from the power of the grave" (Ps. xlix. 15):
and, "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I
will fear no evil, for Thou art with me" (Ps. xxiii. 4): and,
"I will not be afraid for the terror by night, nor for the arrow that
flieth by day, nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness, nor
for the destruction that wasteth at noonday" (Ps. xci. 5, 6):
and, "We are counted as sheep for the slaughter" (Ps. xliv.
22): he expresses their ardent love to God. And again, when they
sing with the Angels, (for Angels too are singing then,) "Praise
ye the Lord from the Heavens." (Ps. cxlviii. 1.) And we
meanwhile are snoring, or scratching our heads, or lying supine
meditating endless deceits. Think what it was for them to spend the
whole night in this employment.
And when the day is coming on, they take rest again; for when we
begin our works, they have a season of rest. But each of us, when it
is day, calls upon his neighbor, takes account of his outgoings, then
goes into the forum; trembling he appears before the magistrate, and
dreads a reckoning. Another visits the stage, another goes about his
own business. But these holy men, having performed their morning
prayers and hymns, proceed to the reading of the Scriptures. There
are some too that have learned to write out books, each having his own
apartment assigned to him, where he lives in perpetual quiet; no one
is trifling, not one speaks a word. Then at the third, sixth, and
ninth hours, and in the evening, they perform their devotions, having
divided the day into four parts, and at the conclusion of each they
honor God with psalms and hymns, and whilst others are dining,
laughing, and sporting, and bursting with gluttony, they are occupied
with their hymns. For they have no time for the table nor for these
things of sense. After their meal they again pursue the same course,
having previously given themselves a while to sleep. The men of the
world sleep during the day: but these watch during the night. Truly
children of light are they! And while the former, having slept away
the greater part of the day, go forth oppressed with heaviness, these
are still collected, remaining without food till the evening, and
occupied in hymns. Other men, when evening overtakes them, hasten to
the baths, and different recreations, but these, being relieved from
their labors, then betake themselves to their table, not calling up a
multitude of servants, nor throwing the house into bustle and
confusion, nor setting before them high-seasoned dishes, and
rich-steaming viands, but some only partaking of bread and salt, to
which others add oil, whilst the weakly have also herbs and pulse.
Then after sitting a short time, or rather after concluding all with
hymns, they each go to rest upon a bed made for repose only and not for
luxury. There is no dread of magistrates, no lordly arrogance, no
terror of slaves, no disturbance of women or children, no multitudes
of chests, or superfluous laying by of garments, no gold or silver,
no guards and sentinels, no storehouse. Nothing of all these, but
all there is full of prayer, of hymns, and of a spiritual savor.
Nothing carnal is there. They fear no attacks of robbers, having
nothing of which they can be deprived, no wealth, but a soul and
body, of which if they are robbed, it is not a loss but a gain. For
it is said, "To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."
(Phil. i. 21.) They have freed themselves from all bonds.
Truly, "The voice of gladness is in the tabernacles of the
righteous." (Ps. cxviii. 15.)
There is no such thing to be heard there as wailing and lamentation.
Their roof is free from that melancholy and those cries. Deaths
happen there indeed, for their bodies are not immortal, but they know
not death, as death. The departed are accompanied to the grave with
hymns. This they call a procession, not a burial; and when it is
reported that any one is dead, great is their cheerfulness, great
their pleasure; or rather not one of them can bear to say that one is
dead, but that he is perfected. Then there is thanksgiving, and
great glory, and joy, every one praying that such may be his own end,
that so his own combat may terminate, and he may rest from his labor
and struggles, and may see Christ. And if any is sick, instead of
tears and lamentations they have recourse to prayers. Often not the
care of physicians, but faith alone relieves the sick. And if a
physician be necessary, then too there is the greatest firmness and
philosophy. There is no wife tearing her hair, nor children bewailing
their orphan state before the time, nor slaves entreating the dying man
to give them an assurance that they shall be committed to good hands.
Escaping from all these, the soul looks but to one thing at its last
breath, that it may depart in favor with God. And if disease
occurs, the causes of it are matter of glory rather than of reproach,
as in other cases. For it proceeds not from gluttony nor fullness of
the head, but from intense watchfulness and fasting, or the like
causes; and hence it is easily removed, for it is sufficient for its
removal to abate the severity of these exercises.
Tell me then, you will say, whether any one could wash the Saints'
feet in the Church? Whether such are to be found among us? Yes:
undoubtedly they are such. Let us not, however, when the life of
these saints is described despise those that are in the Churches.
There are many such often among us, though they are in secret. Nor
let us despise them, because they go from house to house, or go into
the forum, or stand forth in public. God hath even commanded such
services, saying, "Judge the fatherless, plead for the widow."
(Isa. i. 17.) Many are the ways of being virtuous, as there
are many varieties of jewels, though all are called jewels; one is
bright and round on all sides, another has some different beauty. And
how is this? As coral has, by a kind of art, its line extended, and
its angles shaped off, and another color more delicious than white,
and the prasius above every green, another has the rich color of
blood, another an azure surpassing the sea, another is more brilliant
than the purple, and thus rivaling in their varieties all the colors of
flowers or of the sun. Yet all are called jewels. So it is with the
Saints. Some discipline themselves, some the Churches. Paul
therefore has well said, "If she have washed the Saints' feet, if
she have relieved the afflicted." For he speaks thus, that he may
excite us all to imitation. Let us hasten then to perform such
actions, that we may be able hereafter to boast that we have washed the
Saints' feet. For if we ought to wash their feet, much more ought
we to give them our money with our own hands, and at the same time
study to be concealed. "Let not thy left hand know," He says,
"what thy right hand doeth." (Matt. vi. 3.)
Why takest thou so many witnesses? Let not thy servant know it,
nor, if possible, thy wife. Many are the impediments of the
deceitful one. Often she who never before interfered, will impede
such works, either from vainglory, or some other motive. Even
Abraham, who had an admirable wife, when he was about to offer up his
son, concealed it from her, though he knew not what was to happen,
but was fully persuaded that he must slaughter his son. What then,
would any one that was but an ordinary man have said? Would it not
be, "Who is this that perpetrates such acts?" Would he not have
accused him of cruelty and brutality? His wife was not even allowed to
see her son, to receive his last words, to witness his dying
struggles. But he led him away like a captive. That just man though
not of any such thing, inebriated as he was with zeal, so that he
looked only how to fulfill that which was commanded. No servant, no
wife was present, nay, he himself knew not what would be the issue.
But intent upon offering up a pure victim, he would not defile it with
tears, or with any opposition. Mark too with what gentleness Isaac
asks, "Behold the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a
burnt offering?": and what was the father's answer? "My son,
God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering." (Gen.
xxii. 7, 8.) In this he uttered a prophecy that God would
provide Himself a burnt offering in His Son, and it also came true
at the time. But why did he conceal it from him who was to be
sacrificed? Because he feared lest he should be astounded, lest he
should prove unworthy. With such care and prudence did he act
throughout this affair! Well then hath the Scripture said, "Let
not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth." If we have one
dear to us as one of our own members, let us not be anxious to show to
him our charitable works, unless it be necessary. For many evils may
arise from it. A man is excited to vainglory, and impediments are
often raised. For this reason let us conceal it, if possible, from
our own selves, that we may attain the blessings promised, through the
grace and lovingkindness of Jesus Christ our Lord, with whom,
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