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| Third Suggestion.
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Chapter
XXIII.—Third Suggestion.
“Through the mouths of others also that
serpent is wont to speak in this wise: We adore visible images in
honour of the invisible God.766
| 766 [To chaps.
23–36 a parallel is afforded by Homily XI.
4–18.—R.] | Now this is
most certainly false. For if you really wished to worship the
image of God, you would do good to man, and so worship the true image
of God in him. For the image of God is in every man, though His
likeness is not in all, but where the soul is benign and the mind
pure. If, therefore, you wish truly to honour the image of God,
we declare to you what is true, that you should do good to and pay
honour and reverence to man, who is made in the image of God; that you
minister food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, clothing to the
naked, hospitality to the stranger, and necessary things to the
prisoner; and that is what will be regarded as truly bestowed upon
God. And so far do these things go to the honour of God’s
image, that he who does not these things is regarded as casting
reproach upon the divine image. What, then, is that honour of God
which consists in running from one stone or wooden figure to another,
in venerating empty and lifeless figures as deities, and despising men
in whom the image of God is of a truth? Yea, rather be assured,
that whoever commits murder or adultery, or anything
that causes suffering or injury to
men, in all these the image of God is violated. For to injure men
is a great impiety towards God. Whenever, therefore, you do to
another what you would not have another do to you, you defile the image
of God with undeserved distresses. Understand, therefore, that
that is the suggestion of the serpent lurking within you, which
persuades you that you may seem to be pious when you worship insensible
things, and may not seem impious when you injure sensible and rational
beings.
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