22. There also is said at
what work the Apostle wrought. “After these things,” it says,
“he departed from Athens and came to Corinth; and having found a
certain Jew, by name Aquila, of Pontus by birth, lately come from
Italy, and Priscilla his wife, because that Claudius had ordered
all Jews to depart from Rome, he came unto them, and because he was
of the same craft he abode with them, doing work: for they were
tent-makers.”2549
This if
they shall essay to
interpret allegorically, they show what
proficients they be in ecclesiastical learning, on which they
glory
that they bestow all their time. And, at the least, touching those
sayings above recited, “Or I only and
Barnabas, have we not
power
to forbear working?” and, “We have not used this
power;”
2550
and,
“When we might be burdensome to you, as
Apostles of
Christ,”
2551
and,
“
Night and day working that we might not burden any of you;”
2552
and,
“The
Lord hath
ordained for them which
preach the
Gospel, of the
Gospel to
live; but I have used none of these things:”
2553
and the
rest of this
kind, let them either
expound otherwise, or if by most
clear shining
light of
truth they be put to it, let them understand
and obey; or if to obey they be either
unwilling or unable, at
least let them own them which be willing, to be better, and them
which be also able, to be happier men than they. For it is one
thing to plead
infirmity of body, either truly alleged, or falsely
pretended: but another so to be
deceived and so to
deceive, that it
shall even be thought a
proof of
righteousness obtaining more
mightily in
servants of
God, if
laziness have gotten
power to
reign
among a set of ignorant men. He, namely, who shows a true
infirmity
of body, must be humanely dealt withal; he who pretends a false
one, and cannot be
convicted, must be left unto
God: yet neither of
them fixeth a
pernicious rule; because a good
servant of
God both
serves his manifestly infirm
brother; and, when the other
deceives,
if he believes him because he does not think him a bad man, he does
not
imitate him that he may be bad; and if he believe him not; he
thinks him
deceitful, and does, nevertheless, not
imitate him. But
when a man says, “This is true
righteousness, that by doing no
bodily
work we
imitate the
birds of the
air, because he who shall
do any such work, goes against the Gospel:” whoso being infirm in
mind hears and believes this, that person, not for that he so
bestows all his time, but for that he so erreth, must be mourned
over.
E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
