Four Books of the Gospels 0.1–1.594

Nothing immortal is held in the frame of the world: not the globe, not the kingdoms of men, not golden Rome, not the sea, not the land, not the fiery stars of heaven. For the Father of all things has fixed a time that cannot be revoked, in which the last flame will seize and sweep away the whole world. Yet lofty deeds and the honour of virtue keep countless men alive through long ages, men whose fame and praises the poets heap up. Some are celebrated by the lofty songs that flow from the spring of Smyrna, others by the sweetness of Maro, son of the Mincius. Nor does the glory of those poets themselves spread less widely: it remains like an eternal glory, while the ages fly and the turning sky wheels the starry heaven round the lands and seas under the governance commanded to it. But if songs that weave lies into the deeds of men of old have earned so long a fame, for us sure faith will grant the immortal honour of a praise that lasts for ages and will repay our merit. For my song will be the life-giving deeds of Christ, a divine gift to the peoples, free from the charge of falsehood. Nor do I fear that the fires of the world will carry this work away with them; for this work perhaps will rescue me from the fire then, when Christ, the Judge, the glory of the Father enthroned on high, comes down flashing in a flame-spewing cloud. Come then! Let the Holy Spirit, author of song, be with me, and let the sweet Jordan water the mind of the singer with its pure stream, so that we may say what is worthy of Christ.

There was a king, Herod, cruel, in the nation of Judaea; under him was Zacharias, keeper of justice and priest of the temple, on whom the charge of guarding the temple pressed in his turn, in the appointed order of the chosen priests. To his bridal chamber clung a most worthy wife. Both had an equal care for just conduct; the precepts of the law held both bound together. They had no offspring, and their years were already declining, so that the gift might be the more welcome to those already in despair. But when Zacharias happened to be bringing incense to the sanctuary and the altar, a messenger was seen to come down from the opened heaven and to deliver to him alone the words he was commanded to bring (for the rest of the people were then praying, prostrate at the doors): "Why has the sight struck such terrible fear into your heart, when the grace of a joyful message should calm you? For the one Father of all things sends me down from the high throne of heaven and commands me now to come and speak with you, and he promises you a son soon from your dear wife, for whom great glory awaits, who by his birth will win many joys for the peoples; sober for ever, he will be filled with a bright divine power by the Spirit, shut in his mother's very womb. By his teaching he will turn the greater part of this people to the true way; he will be the first to know at once the Lord and God, and will renew the people."

"Remember to call him by the name John." To him the priest answered with confused mind: "My age stands against such promises, and offspring cannot come to the weary old, which God turned away and denied us in the first flower of youth." So spoke the trembling priest, and the messenger adds: "If any mortal promised you offspring, perhaps your mind's hesitation might rightly have lingered on despair in slow, clinging words. Now I, whom the Lord of heaven, the maker of the earth, willed to stand before his face as his minister, received by a man's ungrateful ears and sight, have delivered the commands of the supreme God only to have them scorned. Therefore the gift remains in the promises beyond recall, but your voice, the messenger of your quick mind, will be shut up, until all God's gifts are made sure to you." So he spoke, and mingled himself with the thin air. Meanwhile the people were long wondering why the priest delayed so long in the temple. Coming forth trembling, he showed by nods that he had seen a heavenly presence, and the loss of his poor voice. Then the priest returned home when his service was completed in its order, and the promises lightened the loss of speech; nor were the gifts of offspring long delayed.

But the wife kept the anxious joys of her womb hidden, until the light had five times filled the hollow moon. Then the same minister was sent down and brought greater commands to the ears of the virgin Mary. Betrothed to her kinsman for an appointed time, she was allowed by her parents' command to grow up chastely, hidden in a virgin's dwelling, and to keep the day. To her the messenger begins a calm speech: "Hail, you who will help the earth with saving offspring; cease to trouble your mind at this awesome sight. For by heaven's command your womb will conceive a son, whom God rejoices and commands to reign through all ages and to be believed his own offspring. When you have brought him into the light, let his name be Jesus." Then the virgin begins thus to him with fearful lips: "They say that no conception happens without a husband; from where, then, shall I hope that offspring will come to me?" The messenger replies quickly: "The lofty power of God will hover around you, overshadowing you, and the pure Spirit will come, most chosen virgin, and soon by a chaste word will command a boy to be born to you, glorious for the peoples, whom it is necessary to believe holy and to call the Son of the supreme God. So too your kinswoman, whom all believed barren, the wife of Zacharias, has lately drawn wonders from mortal seed into limbs worn out with age."

"This is the sixth month: so all things obey commands." Then the virgin: "See, as your words declare, the handmaid is ready now to serve the Lord who commands." The messenger departed and hid himself in the empty air. She then with swift steps entered the city of Judaea and the house of Zacharias and greeted Elisabeth, who was with child, and at once the limbs of the child shut in the womb leapt with a stronger movement in her lap. As soon as the mother started up, shaken with trembling, she was filled with the holy breath of the divine voice and cried aloud: "Happy woman, hail, who carry a happy child in the fold of your womb. Why has the just God willed to honour my house so greatly, that the mother of the high Godhead should visit it? See, the child in my womb leaps for joy, as soon as it heard Mary's first greeting. Happy is the one who believes that the words which God will deign to speak to his servants will soon be fulfilled." She, drawing breath through joy mixed with modesty, utters trembling words in a low voice: "My soul repays glorious praises and thanks to the Lord of the boundless world. This spirit can scarcely hold such joy, that he has deigned to raise me on high from lowliness, and the just God has willed me to be held blessed by all nations and ages.

See, he has taken the throne from the cruel and broken the proud; the lowly and needy he has enriched with abundant wealth." Then she stayed there three months in order, and returned to her own home, now sure of what was to come. And now the time was at hand when the turning day would compel Elisabeth to bring forth into the shores of light the child she was commanded to bear. At the news of the birth the crowd of kinsfolk gathered and ran; in numbers they celebrated wonderful joys and bade that he have his father's name. The mother refused this, and repeated that he be called John. Then they decided to consult the wishes of the mute father, and asked him to declare the name in writing. But, oh wonderful faith, when he tried to write on the tablets, he loosed his entangled tongue in sounding words. Soon the breath of the Spirit also entered his familiar mind, and, filled, he sang words that knew the future: "Let all celebrate praises and give thanks to the Father of the stars and the earth, the sea and mankind, because he has willed to visit and set free his own people. See, he blesses the ancient nation and, raising up the horn of salvation, grants light from the line of David. This is what the prophets of old sang in order; this is that salvation by which he snatches us from dark enemies, so that we may serve the Just One justly.

"But you, little boy, will be called a holy and worthy prophet, and soon you will go before the Lord on his way and lead his people through open light: through you all who follow your teaching will scorn error and break through the darkness of death." From then on the boy's life was always hidden in secret valleys, until, as the years required, he grew to full age for the prophet's office. Meanwhile wonders troubled the mind of Mary's betrothed, because he saw the plain weight of her womb, and he turned over within himself by what means he might hide the disgrace of his kinswoman, keeping it quiet, and refuse the marriage. As he pondered this, his limbs grew heavy with sleep, and above his fearful dreams he heard the voice of God: "Take in marriage the one betrothed to you, who is without any guilt, whose womb the Spirit has filled with holy offspring. The prophet sang that she would come, and the virgin's child, whose name is GOD WITH US." At once he followed these commands and kept the agreed betrothal. But then, as it happened, by the orders of Caesar Augustus a count of heads was being made through most of the earth in a new census; Quirinus then ruled Syria by right, and to him the peoples throughout all the towns declared their own lands, their means, their names and families.

There is a city of Judaea, Bethleem, which bore tuneful David, and which by right required the census of his family. Here Joseph, of David's line, registered Mary, writing her down as betrothed to him and declaring her with child. As lodging for the two of them, beneath the walls of the city of Bethleem, there was a very small dwelling of a poor country place. There the virgin, her child complete at the time now come, is delivered; swaddling bands of old cloth wrap the boy, and a hard manger is given him for a bed. Round about, the anxious watch over the flocks by night kept the shepherds awake through the glad pastures. See, by God's command a messenger was seen to come down from heaven, and sudden terror threw the shepherds' bodies, trembling with fear, on the green earth. And such a voice, sent from heaven, ran to the astonished men: "Put away the terror of your minds, take my words, shepherds, to whom I bring this great joy. For a boy is born of the illustrious line of David, who will soon spread light and gladness to the peoples. I will tell you this sign: that you may now see the boy filling the manger with his thin voice." As he spoke, thousands of the heavenly host join him, and all praise God and entreat him, and such a voice of the united army fills the air: "Glory, as is due, attends the supreme Father;

on earth a worthy peace will follow just men." And with these words they return to the secret places of heaven. The shepherds come quickly and see the boy lying in the lap of the manger; then in numbers they scatter far and wide the wandering seeds of swift report. Wondering, they praise; rejoicing, they were amazed that everything had turned out true to the night's warnings. The boy had seen the eighth day: see, it is necessary that he be circumcised according to the custom of the law and given a name. And the name given him was the one which the voice sent from God had once enjoined on Mary by heavenly warnings: Jesus. Moses had written the rules of the ancient law, among which he gave the command to offer the first offspring to be consecrated, from the ancient blood of the priests, and at the same time to bring unfledged doves to the shrine. When these rites were being kept by Mary in the temple, see, the old man Simeon, worthy to grasp heavenly voices in his mind, to whom a power that knew the future had once revealed that he would lay down the prison of his sick body and see death and rest as a free man, as soon as he had seen the praise of heaven and the salvation of the earth, Christ, whom all the oracles of the prophets promise, bringing the solemn doves to the temple.

And when he, weary, his body bent and now heavier with age, entered the temple, as the Spirit, the author, had prompted, see, at that moment he sensed that little Jesus had come to the temple in his mother's lap; with trembling arms he took the boy and joyfully spoke these words: "Now, now the Lord frees me, his servant, from the dark bonds of the body, and deigns to put an end to his words in peace. See, your splendid light surrounds our eyes and shines with its rays; having lit up all the nations of men, it adds glory to the thronging people of the Israelites. Why were the heart of mother Mary so amazed? This boy is given for the fall of the people; he will grant the peoples to be born again; a sign spoken against will come from him, and a sword gleaming with steel, running through what is owed to death, will pierce even his mother's soul, so that the dark folds of the hidden heart may be laid open." So God spoke in Simeon; soon, see, he fills a woman's mind with the holy breath of prophecy. Anna was advanced in age; in the flower of her youth the untimely death of her husband had left her a widow. But a chaste life in the temple and the worship of God had always taken the place of a husband; at the command of the Godhead she recognized Christ and spoke in like words.

Then, when the mother, and Joseph, wondering at everything, had fulfilled the solemn law for the boy's name, they gladly returned to their homeland and carried the boy back. There is a nation further off, familiar with the rising sun, skilled at noting the risings and settings of the stars; its leading men bore the name of Magi. Then some chosen men from there came down over long roads to Solyma, approached the king, and begged to be told what region of Judaea held the boy born to royal rule: they had come, they said, warned on the way by a shining star from the east, so that with suppliant right hand they might worship the venerable Godhead risen upon the earth. Herod in terror summoned by command the chiefs of the priests of Solyma and those who study the predictions of the ancient prophets, and ordered them to search the whole law, to make plain which is the city of Christ's birth, whom all the oracles of the prophets promise will come. Then it is made plain that he is to be born within the walls of Bethleem, he who must lead the holy people of the Israelites by holy power. Then Herod bids the Persians press on their journey and show him the boy, when found, so that he may worship him. See, in the midst of their journey they see the star running before them, furrowing the air with flames; it stopped at its highest point and showed the dwelling of the boy, lighting it up.

The Magi rejoice with great joy and greet the star, and after they saw the boy at his mother's breast, they threw themselves down and lay prostrate on the ground, and, bowed low, they made their prayer; then they gave three gifts, incense, gold and myrrh, to the King, the Man, and God. Soon fearful dreams troubled them all night long and bade them avoid the savage tyrant. So by other paths the Magi fled Herod's court and returned secretly to their homeland. Joseph too, moved by heavenly warnings, carried the boy himself, together with his mother, to Egypt. But fierce Herod believed that the one whom the Magi, skilled in the stars, had diligently sought was to succeed him. Troubled by their cautious departure, he ordered a horrible slaughter through the streets of Bethleem. All the infants, the tender people at the breast, he tore away with the sword, though charged with no guilt. This slaughter too had long been foretold, which good Hieremias, commanded by the divine power, laments: mothers, for the wretched death of their offspring, beating heaven heavily with dreadful cries. But when the fury was lulled and the savage cruelty of the tyrant was sated with the infants' horrible blood, he thinks he has destroyed all the poor children whom one or two years of mortal life had weighed upon.

Again, his limbs bound by a wondrous sleep, Joseph is urged by warnings to carry Mary and the boy from Egypt to the homeland, where happy Nazara gave the boy the name once foretold for him. And the voice of another prophet, inspired by God, once foretold: "My offspring will come, will come from deep Egypt, a light and salvation to the lands." The infant grew with swift steps of years; his wisdom, outrunning his age, went before it, and grace worthy of reverence shone in his face and words. And now he had reached twelve years of age, when his parents, keeping the rite of the Passover according to custom, were accustomed to bring the boy to the temple at the joyful feast every year. So they were there for the Passover, and when all the days of the festival were completed they were preparing to return to the homeland, when the boy, in the crowd, left the footsteps of his mother, his companion, and gladly sought the inner places of the temple. Through the streets of the city and through hidden houses, along the highways of the journey, among acquaintances and kinsfolk, his mother sought him; but when the third day came she returned quickly to the temple and found him set among the companies of the priests, discussing the obscurities of the laws with an assembly of old men. Hardly adequate was the old men's admiration at the boy's words; but his devoted mother said:

"Son, I have been seeking you, lost to us, with flowing tears, anxious, grieving with your father. What cause has separated you from your parents' steps and keeps you in the temple?" But he said: "Why do you seek me so, why? Do you not yet perceive, mother, that it is right for the son to dwell in his father's seat and house?" He said this, joined them on the way, and returned to the homeland; nor did his mother grasp the weight of so great a saying, yet she kept everything in order in the secret places of her heart. But the boy, by most sweet obedience, fittingly bound them both always to love of him. Meanwhile the course of the ages, running through what the ancient scripture owed, was drawing on all the promises. The offspring of Zacharias in the desert valleys called everyone with his cry to put off their stains, that they might receive the wonderful washing of the clear river, by which the soul's virtue, its filth washed away, might shine; as the prophet Esaias, commanded by the Godhead, sang: "A voice resounds far and wide in the desert valleys: build broad roads, let every path of the ways be straight, to bear the footsteps of the Lord worthily. The hills will sink, every valley will be filled; the good line of a straight road will correct its windings, and the Father and Lord of salvation grants to all to look on the serene light with bodily eyes." So the peoples came and, rushing from every side, filled the banks and eagerly sought the washing.

His garments were woven of camels' hair, a girdle of skin bound the prophet's waist, and wild honey supplied his slender fare. When he saw so many peoples, sprung from different places, rushing to the river, he began thus: "Offspring of a viperous race, who shows you how to escape the punishments you deserve and the wrath that presses on you? But, wretched men, if you repent, bear fitting fruit, and let no confidence in your descent puff up your minds. For easily, even from stones, a people will succeed to your name, since a degenerate offspring goes astray. Now, now, before the eyes of all, the raised edge of the axe presses close on the oaken roots. The barren woods will be cut down and will feed the fire. I have undertaken now to wash away past stains in the pure river; but another, stronger, will come, the thongs of whose feet I am not worthy to touch. He will wash the mind of man with the Holy Spirit and purge guilty hearts with balls of flame. In his hands the farmer's shovel is held; his own threshing floor of crops will be cleansed; the abundance of sifted grain will fill his barns, and eternal fire will devour the light chaff." So he spoke, and saw Jesus himself coming with swift steps through the wood to seek the venerable washing of the Jordan.

But the prophet forbade him, protesting, and spoke thus: "Do you deign to be plunged in the waters by my hands, when your washing could better cleanse me?" So spoke John, and Jesus answered him thus: "Allow it now, for this is fitting: so the holy order of righteousness that we must follow will be fulfilled in all things." Saying this, he went down into the glassy waters of the river. As he rose, the manifest presence of God shone out. The golden sky of the sevenfold heaven was split, and the Spirit, bearing a bodily form, came down from on high in the likeness of an airy dove from a cloud, and poured his holy breath over the body of Jesus. Then the voice of God, sent forth, ran through the long void and addressed Christ, washed in the waters and anointed with the breath: "You, my Son, I testify today with joy, are begotten of me; this glory of my offspring pleases me." Then he sought the shady mountains and the lairs of wild beasts, and the Father's ministers vied swiftly to offer him service; soon the demon's envy seized his dark mind with terror, and meanwhile the deceitful cunning of that sick one did not fail to tempt Christ. Forty suns had passed in order since any nourishment of food or drink had been given him; but the fasts of a firm heart, joined one to another, held the secret places of his mind on the kingdom over the earth.

Then at last the body warned him to seek food. Meanwhile the deceit of horrid wickedness tempted him: "If God has truly begotten you," he said, "you will be able with a strong word to command all these stones to take the use and form of wheaten bread." Christ answers this: "Such things do not frighten me now; for I remember that it is written that the easy substance of bread will not alone sustain the life of the believer, but power fills devout hearts by the word of God." But again the tempter hastened to weave his tricks, fitting them with crafty arts. For as soon as he perceived that Christ had set foot within the walls of the city, the livid power made him stand on the marble summit of the temple. Then he approached him thus, with the deceiving poison of his voice: "If God is truly your Father, from the summit of the temple you will hurl your body with a leap through the empty air. Scripture will be your witness, which openly promises that the supreme Father has given his ministers such a command, that they be eager to protect a body that falls by accident; and they will run to lift your limbs with servant hands, lest striking a stone hurt the soles of your feet." Christ returned contrary words to these: "I must rather remember the heavenly scripture, that confident boldness must not tempt the powers of the Lord." Again, soon the raging deceit perceived Christ standing on the lofty ridges of a steep mountain, and showed him the gleaming kingdoms through the world:

"Do you see," he said, "how great is the glory of such great things? I can grant all of it to your kingdom at once, if you worship and adore me who give such things." Then Jesus rejected him as he pressed thus with words: "Begone, mad rage of pestilent poison, so that the command may always cling to us unmoved, that the just man devoutly adore the Lord of heaven, and serve and venerate the name of the One for ever." Driven off by such words, the demon fled through pathless places. When he learned that John had been plunged into the shadows of prison, he pressed down the grief in his sad heart and decided to settle in the territory of the Zebulonites, so that the saying of Esaias might agree with the long course of events: "The land of the Zebulonites and the region named Naphtali, and the way beyond the sea, far through the fields of Galilee, and beyond the Jordan: the nations and peoples shut in darkness will see a great and sudden light, and for those who sit in the shadow of death a kindly will rises, shining with the light of faith." So Christ announced, calling out, that the gifts of God who reigns were at hand, the abundant proclamation of salvation. And passing by, he saw along the shores of the sea two brothers, Simon, very firm, worthy of the surname Peter, and Andrew with him, setting the winding folds of linen as snares for fish in the marble waters.

"Now," he said, "you catch fish in the high surges of the sea; but if you are willing to follow me, mighty gains will come to you from a most beautiful hunting of men." They at once, sure, with steadfast heart, threw aside their nets and together followed his precepts. After that, when he saw the brothers James and John weaving snares of spotted net for the flocks of the sea, and gave the same call from the shore, they left their father Zebedee in the stern, following at once the most beautiful commands of salvation. From there Christ went through the land of Galilee sowing the holy proclamation of the kingdom, instilling it into the peoples, and giving swift healing to the infirm and sick; and soon frequent report, spreading far, already filled Syria, telling in a thousand words of Christ's present gifts. Then in rivalry they brought to Christ those consumed by the wasting of sickness and bound by various ills, whose limbs' strength a long wasting had ravaged and consumed with pain; but with an easy gift he quickly restored them all, healthy, to wonderful joy. And now the diseases of the soul itself and savage frenzies, and the madness of mind that follows the moon's course, departed, ordered out by the heavy weight of his word.

Thronging round him as he worked great wonders, mixed crowds followed, men of Solyma and Syrians, Judaea crowded with peoples, the people of Galilee, and those whom the Jordan divides with its pooled stream. Seeing these peoples, he sat down on a very high rock and began thus to the disciples who encircled his lap: "Happy the humble, whom a poor spirit surrounds, for the sublime kingdom of heaven receives them. Like them are the meek, whom gentleness crowns: the most beautiful land is owed to their right. So too great consolations will follow those who mourn. Those who now seek the food and drink of righteousness, a full abundance of the table awaits, to satisfy them. Happy is he who has grieved from his heart at the lot of the wretched, for the ample mercy of the Lord will await him. Happy those who look on heaven with a pure heart: God, made visible, will be open to them through all ages. The peacemakers God adopts into the number of his offspring. Very happy those whom gnashing persecution presses for righteousness: for them the palace of heaven will soon be opened. Rejoice, you who hold to just works and whom headlong injury will drive with savage goads; for a very great reward is kept for you in heaven, for such was the persecution of the prophets. Learn that you are the savour of salt on this earth.

If this savour loses its power and now grows stale, what substance of salt will sharpen the taste once it is spent? Nor does any use remain for worthless salt after that, except to be thrown far away and trampled by every foot. You are the bright light of the world (do not hide it). For who could hide a city set on lofty rocks? So let your light reach all, and let the glory of your deeds be set under the clear light. Let the glory of your Father be praised by all, whose royal throne is high heaven. I have not come now to dissolve the ancient laws, nor to overturn the commands that the old prophets laid down; for all things will remain to be fulfilled for you through me. I speak truly: until the destruction of heaven and earth and sea comes, not even a letter of the law, or the slender mark of a small stroke, will be lacking, but all things will come to pass in the appointed order of the age. For if anyone dares to loosen the least part of a commandment, and by his daring teaches men likewise, he will bear the name of least in the heavenly seat. But whoever keeps the rule of his own conduct and also hands on the precepts of the ancients inviolate, will be great and bear a great name beyond the stars. You have heard the command in the rule of the ancient law:

"If anyone has stained his hands with human blood, he as guilty will pay the penalty to the avenging sword." But I will command that no one dare to rise up in anger or be moved by burning hatred of a brother. For he, guilty, pays the penalty under a just judge. Nor will a lesser flame follow the insults of those who call a brother by the name of fool or wretch. But if, venerating the altars, you wish to offer a gift, and then it touches the inner places of your silent mind that you have taken up a quarrel with a brother at home, leave all the gifts you have brought there at the entrance, and first run quickly to seek peace. Then, when you are reconciled to brotherly love, offer welcome gifts to God with a tranquil heart. Moreover, there is always a power of the body opposed to you; let it be cured by a swift love of chastity, while it walks with you through the crossroads of swift life. For the use of a polluted body will accuse you and set you, bound, before the lofty judge. The ministers will drag you, condemned, to savage chains, and you will not be released from the darkness of the black prison until the last portion of the smallest coin is paid. Not unknown to you, I think, is the law's safeguard forbidding the body adultery; but now my commands curb the hidden schemings of the inner mind:

the penalty for what is desired must be paid no less than for what is done. If perhaps the straying of your right eye ensnares you, quickly tear out the author of the wretched fall and throw it far away. For it is better to lose a small member than to give the whole body to the flames and roll the soul with it into everlasting punishment. And if your right hand leads your mind astray, it is better to cut off the cause of error with the sword than to surrender the whole body to eternal flames. The ancients command that if anyone breaks off a marriage, he write a bill of divorce, the deadly words of the law. Only the adulteress will rightly leave her husband's house; but let the other wives remain, for a deserted wife will lose the rights of chaste modesty, and her husband will be the author of it. The ancient laws forbid tongues perjury, but let the boldness of swearing yield to our commands. It is not lawful for a man to swear by high heaven, which is the seat of the Lord; nor will anyone ever swear by the earth, which bears the footsteps of God, nor by the venerable name of the city of Solyma, which is the great king's own. Nor will anyone be allowed to swear by his own head, for you see that you have no power over the least hair, to change its colour to white or black. Let "it is, it is" suffice; what is not, say: "it is not."

Whatever goes beyond these, the foul power of poison creeps in and suggests it, wholly deceitfully, to the sick mind. You hold the precepts of the law, long made public: let like vengeance always follow the one who does harm; but tranquil patience will better conquer evil. And if anyone strikes one side of your face with his palm, remember at once to offer the other side. If anyone, pressing his claim by the power of a judge, will take away your tunic, yield willingly, and let him take your cloak with him too. If perhaps someone orders you to go a road of a thousand paces and bear the labour of a heavy load, go on at once and accompany him for twice as much again. If anyone in need asks, or pretends to be in need, give generously, pitying from the heart; and if anyone begs a loan, grant it, and do not withdraw a gentle face. Nor let it please you to help only your friends, or with blind hatred to count your enemies deserving of it. Rather, I will command you always to show mild compliance to all, and to soften God with kindly prayers for the life of those who rejoice to destroy you and pursue you fiercely with hostile minds and hatred. For our Father has given the common light of the sun and common rains to the just and to the wicked." But if we honour only the friends joined to us, what place can there be here for a just reward?

A race given to gain serves friendship only. But you, be like your perfect Parent. Wherever a fine occasion for righteousness opens, avoid the eyes of men; for no reward will remain to follow such a deed afterward: only the barren praise of the crowd will applaud. What the right hand does, let it do; it will be fitting that the left not know; then the only searcher of the hidden heart will repay worthy rewards for just merits. There are some whom the boasting of a swollen mind lifts up; they rejoice that crowds stand by at their prayers, and they weary the day, drawing it out with flowing words; to such vows the empty fruit of display is the reward. But let the secret inner rooms of the house be closed upon chaste prayers, and you will worship God in few words. The Father himself knows the trembling of your heart. We say nothing when God is absent; the hidden caves of the breast cover nothing shut away; God is present and sees all things. Let it please you, then, to sum up your prayer in these words: "Father, dwelling on the starry summit of heaven, may the reverence of your name, we pray, be hallowed in us, high Father; may your kingdom come in peace to the world, and may a kindly light disclose it.

As in heaven, so on earth may your bright will be done; may the life-giving substance of holy bread come to us today; may your generosity soon release and forgive the countless debts of our depraved error; and grant that we no less forgive what is owed us by our own. Let the savage temptation of the foul demon be far away, and let your right hand lift us out of evils into the light." For so the Father will forgive the peoples their offences, if you are willing to forgive one another your sins and not to turn a hard heart against faults. The fasts of the people are also most pleasing to God; but many labour to disfigure their own faces, so that their fasts may catch the empty fame of men. But you, your hair shining with pleasant olive oil, wash your joyful face from pure springs, so that the Father alone, seeing the deep service of a devoted heart, may praise it and repay the merit. It is vain to watch over talents buried in the ground. There rust and devouring moths rule, and thieves carry off everything dug from its hiding place. Store up treasures for yourselves on the summit of heaven; neither rust nor moths nor the horrid band of thieves will carry them off. Where your wealth is stored, there your hearts too are held under the same rule. The light of the body is that by which you see the common light;