§ 8. Poverty and contempt for earthly things recommended to us by the example of Christ. CHRIST. But because it is a rare and difficult thing to be not high-minded, but humble amidst this world's riches and goods, I have shewn you a safer way. For I despised all things that I might teach you not to set your heart upon riches and the fleeting goods of earth, but rather to lay up treasures in heaven, where neither the rust nor the moth consume them.2 Did not I, when I was rich, 1 Ps. lxxxiii. 11. and the Lord of the universe, and in want of nothing,become poor for you? No sooner was I born than I embraced poverty in my life, and practised it ever after, both in my life and in my death. Is not the earth, with its fulness, mine? and yet, when I was born upon earth, I had scarcely where to lay my head; so that I was laid in the manger of a filthy stable, because there was not room for me in the inn.2 I have pronounced the poor blessed: such were those whom I chose to be my Mother and my Apostles; poor, I say, in this world, but rich in faith. I lived poor, I died upon the Cross naked and in want, and at last I was buried in the sepulchre of another. Behold, how the extremity of satiableness of your avarice! my poverty reproves the in O foolish mortals! True it is, that he who does not renounce all that he possesses (in heart, at least, as being ready to do so actually when required by my honour, or his own or his neighbours' salvation,) cannot be my disciple. See what it was that held back that youth who wished to follow me; it seemed to him too hard and painful a thing to leave his riches, and therefore he went away sorrowful. And why, even now, 1 Luke ix. 58. 2 Ib. ii. 7. 3 Matt. xix. 22. FF are they that follow me so few? Is it not that the greater number go after gold, and that, from the least even to the greatest, all are devoted to avarice? and, while they serve mammon, they neglect me; for no one can serve two masters ?! Oh, how disgraceful is it to Christians to usurp my Name, and be so unlike me in conduct and, as though they had received their soul for nought, to be so devoted to avarice, which is a service of idols, and boast in the multitude of their riches; and, like the nations that know not God and my providence, to be so troubled about many things, and solicitous about the present only, how they may lay up for themselves treasures upon earth! O ye sons of men, how long will you be dull of heart? why do you love vanity, and seek after lying?? Do you not believe to see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living? Is it thus you aspire after the eternal happiness that I have prepared for them that love and follow me? Is this the way that I have shewn to you? Bethink thee at least, O man, of my poverty, my wormwood, and my gall. MAN. O King of kings! the whole world and all that is in it is thine, and yet for Luke xvi. 13. 2. Ps. iv. 3. our sakes thou vouchsafedst to become destitute of all things: truly blessed is he who understands thee in thy poverty and want! Well hast thou called the poor in spirit blessed, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Oh, that I may merit to become poor and needy with thee, that by thy poverty I may be made rich. Give me to seek before all things the kingdom of God and his justice; but to be less careful for the necessaries (least of all the superfluities) of the body and its life; for these are burdens indeed, heavy and very troublesome to the man that would follow thy steps. Oh, that I may know how to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need;2 and learn, in whatever state I am, to be content therewith. For godliness with contentment is assuredly great gain.3 these earthly goods, the more he will abound in the eternal. Therefore, if thou too abandon all things, in affection at least, and follow me, thou shalt receive a hundredfold, and shalt possess eternal life. But if thou wouldst follow me, thou must also prepare thy soul for temptation; for all that will live godly in me must suffer persecution. For how shall a crown be given to one who has not fulfilled the conditions of the contest? Look at me, the pattern of all patience. Let but my Passion be called to mind, and there is nothing that may not be patiently endured. Think, then, what, and how greatly, I have suffered, and whatever thou sufferest will become light. For,not to speak of the very heavy pains and agonies that I sustained in my body, think only of the insults, injuries, and reproaches of my revilers, that fell upon me; and for what desert of mine? I healed the sick, fed the hungry, gave sight to the blind; went about doing good and healing all; I did amongst them works that no other man did. And which of them could convict me of sin? Not one; and yet they sharpened their tongues against me like a sword. Hence I was called a glutton and a wine-drinker, a 1 Ecclus. ii. 1. 2 2 Tim. iii. 12. 3 Ib. ii. 5. blasphemer, the son of a carpenter, one cast out by the prince of the devils, one who had a devil, a seducer and seditious person, a Samaritan and friend of publicans; nay, I was reputed with the wicked, esteemed guilty of death, and worse than a robber; made the reproach of men, and the outcast of the people. And all this I suffered, to leave you an example, that you might follow my footsteps. Why, then, O men, do you weep, why do you sigh, when perchance you have to bear with injurious words? Think diligently what opposition I suffered from sinners against myself, that you may not be wearied, and grow fainthearted.1 Have I thus had opposers and contradicters, and would you wish all to be your friends and benefactors? Where will your patience meet with its crown, if no adversity is to put it to the test? Surely, if I, when innocent and undefiled in all things, was nevertheless exposed to envy and calumny, it was to teach you that it is in vain for you to seek to be free from them here. I was to suffer, and so to enter into my glory.2 Thou errest, thou errest, my son, if it is another life that thou lookest for. Shall the disciple be above his mas1 Heb. xii. 3. 2 Luke xxiv. 26. MAN. It is my whole wish, O Lord, to be, and be reckoned among thy sons; and, therefore, I refuse not to be corrected by my Father. And this will be my consolation, if thou spare not to afflict me with sorrow; only do not correct me in thy anger. I desire to suffer with thee, O Christ Jesus! let me now share of thy sufferings, that hereafter I may share thy consolations. For I know that if we suffer with thee, we shall also reign with thee.1 ter, and the servant greater For whom the Lord loves he chastises, and scourges every son whom he receives. But if thou wouldst be without chastisement, of which all are made partakers, see if thou art not a bastard, and not a true-born son. Now all chastisement for the present indeed seems not to bring with it joy, but sorrow; but afterwards it will yield to them that are exercised by it the most peaceable fruit of justice. 1 Proy. iii, 12; Heb. xii. 6. 10. The sovereign charity of Christ to be most admired and imitated. CHRIST. But in and above all this, consider especially the love with which I have desired and consummated the work of your salvation. So great was this love, that the many waters of grief and affliction could not overwhelm it. My Father, for your sakes, spared not even his own and only Son, nor did I spare myself. Yes, I loved you to the end, and, as a good Shepherd, laid down my life for my sheep: but greater love than this has no man, that he lay down his life for his friends.3 ΜΑΝ. Nay, Lord, thou hadst greater, in laying it down even for thy enemies. For while we were still thy enemies, we were reconciled 12 Tim. ii. 12. 2 Cant. viii. 7. 3 John xv. 13. by thy death both to thee and to thy Father. Can it be thought that any other love is, or has been, or will be like this? Scarcely for a just man will one die; but in dying for our sins thou hast suffered for the unjust. It is thou who camest to justify sinners freely, to make slaves thy brethren, captives thy co-heirs, exiles kings. Is there, O Jesus, one that is not heated by thy love, which gives heat and light to all things? For its going out is from the end of heaven, and there is no one that can hide himself from its heat. The very publicans too and sinners thou rejectest not, but receivest them, and eatest with them. And to thy very enemies, who seek to inflict upon thee injuries, insults, and death itself, thou strivest to do good. Oh, strange are the wonders which thou hast done upon earth! § 11. In the Cross of Christ is the sum of all virtue. CHRIST. But thou wouldst wish, perhaps, to have all this comprised in a single lesson. Behold, Mount Calvary is the school of all virtue and perfection, but the chair of the teacher is the Cross itself. This have I ascended, and, as it were, with outstretched arms have invited all men to me, saying, "Come 1 Rom. v. 7. 2 Ps. xviii. 7. to me, all you that labour and are burdened, and I will refresh you:" when lifted up from the earth, I drew all things to myself by the irresistible power of my doctrine, that is, by my example and by my love. See the greatness of my Apostle's proficiency in this school, who professed that he knew nothing but Jesus, and him crucified. This too is the reason why he bore my marks in his body, and confidently exhorted others: Be ye followers of me, as I also am of Christ.3 Therefore, go thou up also to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of frankincense. But alas, how few care to ascend thither with me! I find more to share my Table than my Cross. Oh, how many thousands had I once satisfied with bread! how many sick had I healed! how many blind and lame had I cured! but where were they when I went to the mountain carrying my Cross? Who was there then that would plead my cause? True it is that I have trodden the winepress alone, and of the Gentiles there was not a man with me.5 Alone I bore your infirmities, all my acquaintance fled from me, I was for 11 John xii. 32. 2 Gal. vi. 17. 3 1 Cor. xi. 1. 4 Cant. iv. 6. 5 Isa. lxiii. 3. 6 Ps. lxxxvii. 9. |