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32. Wherefore a few
witnesses, which the Lord deigns to suggest to my mind, I proceed
to mention, from out the teaching of Christ concerning humility,
such as perhaps may be enough for my purpose. His discourse, the
first which He delivered to His disciples at greater length, began
from this. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the
Kingdom of Heaven.”2105
And these without all controversy
we take to be humble. The faith of that Centurion He on this
account chiefly praised, and said that He had not found in Israel
so great faith, because he believed with so great humility as to
say, “I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my
roof.”2106
Whence
also Matthew for no other reason said that he “came” unto
Jesus, (whereas Luke most plainly signifies that he came not unto
Him himself, but sent his friends,) save that by his most faithful
humility he himself came unto Him more than they whom he sent.
Whence also is that of the Prophet, “The Lord is very high, and
hath respect unto things that are lowly: but what are very high He
noteth afar off;”2107
assuredly as not coming unto Him.
Whence also He saith to that woman of Canaan, “O woman, great is
thy faith; be it done unto thee as thou wilt;”2108
whom above He had called a dog,
and had made answer that the bread of the sons was not to be cast
to her. And this she taking with humility had said, “Even so,
Lord; for the dogs also eat of the crumbs which fall from their
masters’ table.” And thus what by continual crying she obtained
not, by humble confession she earned.2109
Hence also those two are set forth
praying in the Temple, the one a Pharisee, and the other a
Publican, for the sake of those who seem to themselves just and
despise the rest of men, and the confession of sins is set before
the reckoning up of merits. And assuredly the Pharisee was
rendering thanks unto God by reason of those things wherein he was
greatly self-satisfied. “I render thanks to Thee,” saith he,
“that I am not even as the rest of men, unjust, extortioners,
adulterers, even as also this publican. I fast twice in the week, I
give tithes of all things whatsoever I possess. But the Publican
was standing afar off, not daring to lift up his eyes to Heaven,
but beating his breast, saying, God be merciful unto me a
sinner.” But there follows the divine judgment, “Verily I say
unto you, the Publican went down from the Temple justified more
than that Pharisee.”2110
Then the cause is shown, why this
is just; “Forasmuch as he who exalteth himself shall be humbled,
and whoso humbleth himself shall be exalted.” Therefore it may
come to pass, that each one both shun real evils, and reflect on
real goods in himself, and render thanks for these unto “the
Father of lights, from Whom cometh down every best gift, and every
perfect gift,”2111
and yet be rejected by reason of
the sin of haughtiness, if through pride, even in his thought
alone, which is before God, he insult other sinners, and specially
when confessing their sins in prayer, unto whom is due not
upbraiding with arrogance, but pity without despair. What is it
that, when His disciples were questioning among themselves, who of
them should be greater, He set a little child before their eyes,
saying, “Unless ye shall be as this child, ye shall not enter
into the Kingdom of Heaven?”2112
Did He not chiefly commend
humility, and set in it the desert of greatness? Or when unto the
sons of Zebedee desiring to be at His side in lofty seats He so
made answer,2113
as that
they should rather think of having to drink the Cup of His Passion,
wherein He humbled Himself even unto death, even the death of the
Cross,2114
than with
proud desire demand to be preferred to the rest; what did He show,
save, that He would be a bestower of exaltation upon them, who
should first follow Him as a teacher of humility? And now, in that,
when about to go forth unto His Passion, He washed the feet of His
disciples, and most openly taught them to do for their
fellow-disciples and fellow-servants this, which He their Lord and
Master had done for them; how greatly did He commend humility?2115
And in
order to commend this He chose also that time, wherein they were
looking on Him, as immediately about to die, with great longing;
assuredly about to retain in their memory this especially, which
their Master, Whom they were to imitate, had pointed out to them as
the last thing. But He did this at that time, which surely He could
have done on other days also before, wherein He had been conversant
with them; at which time if it were done, this same would indeed be
delivered, but certainly would not be so received.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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