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| Of the Saviour's Doctrines and Miracles; and the Benefits he confers on those who own Subjection to him.
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Chapter
XV.—Of the Saviour’s Doctrines
and Miracles; and the Benefits he confers on those who own Subjection
to him.
The Son
of God invites all men to the practice of virtue, and presents himself
to all who have understanding hearts, as the teacher of his saving
precepts.3443
| 3443 This accords with the “margin of the Geneva Edition,”
and mentioned by Valesius, who gives also “in the Saviour’s
commands” and “in the Father’s commands,” which
latter is adopted by Heinichen. | Unless, indeed, we will deceive
ourselves; and remain in wretched ignorance of the fact, that for our
advantage, that is, to secure the blessing of the human race, he went
about upon earth; and, having called around him the best men of their
age, committed to them instructions full of profit, and of power to
preserve them in the path of a virtuous life; teaching them the faith
and righteousness which are the true remedy against the adverse power
of that malignant spirit whose delight it is to ensnare and delude the
inexperienced. Accordingly he visited the sick, relieved the infirm
from the ills which afflicted them, and consoled those who felt the
extremity of penury and want. He commended also sound and rational
sobriety of character, enjoining his followers to endure, with dignity
and patience, every kind of injury and contempt: teaching them to
regard such as visitations permitted by their Father, and the victory
is ever theirs who nobly bear the evils which befall them. For he
assured them that the highest strength of all consisted in this
steadfastness of soul, combined with that philosophy which is nothing
else than the knowledge of truth and goodness, producing in men the
generous habit of sharing with their poorer brethren those riches which
they have themselves acquired by honorable means. At the same time he
utterly forbade all proud oppression, declaring that, as he had come to
associate with the lowly, so those who despised the lowly would be
excluded from his favor. Such and so great was the test whereby he
proved the faith of those who owned allegiance to his authority, and
thus he not only prepared them for the contempt of danger and terror,
but taught them at the same time the most genuine confidence in
himself. Once, too, his rebuke was uttered to restrain the zeal of one
of his companions, who yielded too easily to the impulse of passion,
when he assaulted with the sword, and, eager to protect his
Saviour’s life, exposed his own. Then it was that he bade him
desist, and returned his sword to its sheath, reproving him for his
distrust of refuge and safety in himself, and declaring solemnly that
all who should essay to retaliate an injury by like aggression, or use
the sword, should perish by a violent death.3444
| 3444 Matt. xxvi.
52;
for “all they that take the sword shall perish by the
sword.” Note the characteristic inflation of style. Matthew takes
eight words, the English translators twelve, Constantine sixteen, and
his translator twenty-two ponderous words. | This is indeed heavenly wisdom, to
choose rather to endure than to inflict injury, and to be ready, should
necessity so require, to suffer, but not to do, wrong. For since
injurious conduct is in itself a most serious evil, it is not the
injured party, but the injuring, on whom the heaviest punishment must
fall. It is indeed possible for one who is subject to the will of God
to avoid the evil both of committing and of suffering injury, provided
his confidence be firm in the protection of that God whose aid is ever
present to shield his servants from harm. For how should that man who
trusts in God attempt to seek for resources in himself? In such a case
he must abide the conflict with uncertainty of victory: and no man of
understanding could prefer a doubtful to a certain issue. Again, how
can that man doubt the presence and aid of God, who has had experience
of manifold dangers, and has at all times been easily delivered, at his
simple nod, from all terrors: who has passed, as it were, through the
sea which was leveled by the Saviour’s word, and afforded a solid
road for the passage of the people? This is, I believe, the sure basis
of faith, the true foundation of confidence, that we find such miracles
as these performed and perfected at the command of the God of
Providence. Hence it is that even in the midst of trial we find no
cause to repent of our faith, but retain an unshaken hope in God; and
when this habit of confidence is established in the soul, God himself
dwells in the inmost thoughts. But he is of invincible power: the soul,
therefore, which has within it him who is thus invincible, will not be
overcome by the perils which may surround it. Likewise,3445
| 3445 Val. prefers πρὸς (“besides”) to παρὰ (“likewise, at the same time”), and is followed by
Bag. | we learn this truth from the victory of
God himself, who, while intent on providing for the blessing of
mankind, though grievously insulted by the malice of the ungodly, yet
passed unharmed through the sufferings of his passion, and gained a
mighty conquest, an everlasting crown of triumph, over all iniquity; thus
accomplishing the purpose of his own providence and love as regards the
just, and destroying the cruelty of the impious and unjust.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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