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| Chapter I. St. Ambrose writes in praise of gentleness, pointing out how needful that grace is for the rulers of the Church, and commended to them by the meekness of Christ. As the Novatians have fallen away from this, they cannot be considered disciples of Christ. Their pride and harshness are inveighed against.
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Chapter I.
St. Ambrose writes in praise of gentleness, pointing out
how needful that grace is for the rulers of the Church, and commended
to them by the meekness of Christ. As the Novatians have fallen
away from this, they cannot be considered disciples of Christ.
Their pride and harshness are inveighed against.
1. If the highest
end of virtue is that which aims at the advancement of most, gentleness
is the most lovely of all, which does not hurt even those whom it
condemns, and usually renders those whom it condemns worthy of
absolution. Moreover, it is the only virtue which has led to the
increase of the Church which the Lord sought at the price of His own
Blood, imitating the lovingkindness of heaven, and aiming at the
redemption of all, seeks this end with a gentleness which the ears of
men can endure, in presence of which their hearts do not sink, nor
their spirits quail.
2. For he who endeavours to amend the faults
of human weakness ought to bear this very weakness on his own
shoulders, let it weigh upon himself, not cast it off. For we
read that the Shepherd in the Gospel2910
carried the
weary sheep, and did not cast it off. And Solomon says:
“Be not overmuch righteous;”2911
for restraint should temper righteousness. For how shall he offer
himself to you for healing whom you despise, who thinks that he will be
an object of contempt, not of compassion, to his physician?
3. Therefore had the Lord Jesus compassion
upon us in order to call us to Himself, not frighten us away. He
came in meekness, He came in humility, and so He said:
“Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will
refresh you.”2912
So, then,
the Lord Jesus refreshes, and does not shut out nor cast off, and fitly
chose such disciples as should be interpreters of the Lord’s
will, as should gather together and not drive away the people of
God. Whence it is clear that they are not to be counted amongst
the disciples of Christ, who think that harsh and proud opinions should
be followed rather than such as are gentle and meek; persons who, while
they themselves seek God’s mercy, deny it to others, such as are
the teachers of the Novatians, who call themselves pure.2913
| 2913 In order to
distinguish themselves from Catholics the Novatians assumed the name
καθαροί
“pure.” |
4. What can show more pride than this, since
the Scripture says: “No one is free from sin, not even an
infant of a day old;”2914
and David cries
out: “Cleanse me from my sin.”2915
Are they more holy than David, of
whose family Christ vouchsafed to be born in the mystery of the
Incarnation, whose descendant is that heavenly Hall which received the
world’s Redeemer in her virgin womb? For what is more harsh
than to inflict a penance which they do not relax, and by refusing
pardon to take away the incentive to penance and repentance?2916
| 2916 It is
necessary to vary the translation of the word pœnitentia in
this place, as it bears the meaning both of “penance,” the
temporal punishment inflicted on the sinner, and also of
“repentance.” | Now no one can repent to good
purpose unless he hopes for mercy.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
|
