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4. First then we ought to
demonstrate that the blessed Apostle Paul willed the servants of
God to work corporal works which should have as their end a great
spiritual reward, for this purpose that they should need food and
clothing of no man, but with their own hands should procure these
for themselves: then, to show that those evangelical precepts from
which some cherish not only their sloth but even arrogance, are not
contrary to the Apostolical precept and example. Let us see then
whence the Apostle came to this, that he should say, “If any will
not work, neither let him eat,” and what he thereupon joineth on,
that from the very context2481
of this lesson may appear his
declared sentence. “We command you, brethren, in the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother
that walketh unquietly, and not according to the tradition which
they have received2482
of us. For yourselves know how ye
ought to imitate us; for we were not unquiet among you, neither ate
we bread of any man for nought, but in labor and travail night and
day working that we might not burden any of you: not for that we
have not power, but that we might give ourselves as a pattern to
you in which ye should imitate us. For also when we were with you,
we gave you this charge, that if any will not work, let him not
eat. For we have heard that certain among you walk unquietly,
working not at all, but being busy-bodies. Now them that are such
we charge and beseech in our Lord Jesus Christ, that with silence
they work, and eat their own bread.”2483
What can be said to these things,
since, that none might thereafter have license to interpret this
according to his wish, not according to charity, he by his own
example hath taught what by precept he hath enjoined? To him,
namely, as to an Apostle, a preacher of the Gospel, a soldier of
Christ, a planter of the vineyard, a shepherd of the flock had the
Lord appointed that he should live by the Gospel; and yet himself
exacted not the pay which was his due, that he might make himself a
pattern to them which desired what was not their due; as he saith
to the Corinthians, “Who goeth a warfare at any time at his own
charges? Who planteth a vineyard, and of its fruit eateth not? Who
feedeth a flock, and of the milk of the flock partaketh not?”2484
Therefore,
what was due to him, he would not receive, that by his example they
might be checked, who, although not so ordained in the Church, did
deem the like to be due to themselves. For what is it that he
saith, “Neither ate we bread of any man for naught, but in labor
and travail night and day working that we might not burden any of
you; not for that we have not power, but that we might give
ourselves as a pattern to you wherein ye should follow us?” Let
them, therefore, hear to whom he hath given this precept, that is,
they which have not this power which he had, to wit, that while
only spiritually working they should eat bread by corporal labor
not earned:2485
and as he
says, “We charge and beseech in Christ that with silence they
work and eat their own bread,” let them not dispute against the
most manifest words of the Apostle, because this also pertaineth to
that “silence” with which they ought to work and eat their own
bread.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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