25. If at the least they once
had in this world wherewithal they might easily without handiwork
sustain this life, which property, when they were converted unto
God, they disparted to the needy, then must we both believe their
infirmity, and bear with it. For usually such persons, having been,
not better brought up, as many think, but what is the truth, more
languidly brought up, are not able to bear the labor of bodily
works. Such peradventure were many in Jerusalem. For it is also
written, that they sold their houses and lands, and laid the prices
of them at the Apostles’ feet, that distribution might be made to
every one as he had need.2557
Because they were found, being
near, and were useful to the Gentiles, who, being
afar off,
2558
were
thence called from the
worship of
idols, as it is said, “Out of
Zion shall go forth the
law, and the word of the
Lord from
Jerusalem,”
2559
therefore
hath the
Apostle called the
Christians of the Gentiles their
debtors: “their
debtors,” saith he, “they are:” and hath
added the reason why, “For if in their
spiritual things the
Gentiles have communicated, they ought also in
carnal things to
minister unto them.”
2560
But now there come into this
profession of the service of
God, both persons from the condition
of
slaves, or also freed-men, or persons on this account freed by
their masters or about to be freed, likewise from the
life of
peasants, and from the
exercise and plebeian
labor of
handicraftsmen, persons whose bringing up doubtless has been all
the better for them, the harder it has been: whom not to admit, is
a heavy
sin. For many of that sort have turned out truly great men
and meet to be
imitated. For on this account also “hath
God
chosen the
weak things of the
world to
confound the things which
are mighty, and the foolish things of the
world hath He chosen to
confound them who are
wise; and ignoble things of the
world, and
things which are not, as though they were, that the things that are
may be brought to nought: that no
flesh may
glory before
God.”
2561
This pious
and holy thought, accordingly, causeth that even such be admitted
as bring no
proof of a change of
life for the better. For it doth
not appear whether they come of purpose for the service of
God, or
whether running away empty from a
poor and laborious
life they want
to be fed and
clothed; yea, moreover, to be
honored by them of whom
they were wont to be
despised and
trampled on. Such persons
therefore because they cannot excuse themselves from working by
pleading
infirmity of body, seeing they are
convicted by the
custom
of their past
life, do therefore shelter themselves under the
screen of an
ill scholarship, that from the
Gospel badly understood
they should essay to pervert
precepts apostolical: truly “
fowls
of the
air,” but in lifting themselves on high through
pride; and
“grass of the field,” but in being carnally minded.
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