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| Chapter VII. How the excellence of gifts consists not in miracles but in humility.
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Chapter VII.
How the excellence of gifts consists not in miracles but
in humility.
Finally the Author
Himself of all miracles and mighty works, when He called His disciples
to learn His teaching, clearly showed what those true and specially
chosen followers ought chiefly to learn from Him, saying: “Come
and learn of Me,” not chiefly to cast out devils by the power of
heaven, not to cleanse the lepers, not to give sight to the blind, not
to raise the dead: for even though I do these things by some of My
servants, yet man’s estate cannot insert itself into the praises
of God, nor can a minister and servant gather hereby any portion for
himself there where is the glory of Deity alone. But do ye, says He,
learn this of Me, “for I am meek and lowly of
heart.”1955
For this it is
which it is possible for all men generally to learn and practise, but
the working of miracles and signs is not always necessary, nor good for
all, nor granted to all. Humility therefore is the mistress of all
virtues, it is the surest foundation of the heavenly building, it is
the special and splendid gift of the Saviour. For he can perform all
the miracles which Christ wrought, without danger of being puffed up,
who follows the gentle Lord not in the grandeur of His miracles, but in
the virtues of patience and humility. But he who aims at commanding
unclean spirits, or bestowing gifts of healing, or showing some
wonderful miracle to the people, even though when he is showing off he
invokes the name of Christ, yet he is far from Christ, because in his
pride of heart he does not follow his humble Teacher. For when He was
returning to the Father, He prepared, so to speak, His will and left
this to His disciples: “A new commandment,” said He,
“give I unto you that ye love one another; as I have loved you,
so do ye also love one another:” and at once He subjoined:
“By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have
love to one another.”1956
He says not:
“if ye do signs and miracles in the same way,” but
“if ye have love to one another;” and this it is certain
that none but the meek and humble can keep. Wherefore our predecessors
never reckoned those as good monks or free from the fault of vainglory,
who professed themselves exorcists among men, and proclaimed with
boastful ostentation among admiring crowds the grace which they had
either obtained or which they claimed. But in vain, for “he who
trusteth in lies feedeth the winds: and the same runneth after birds
that fly away.”1957
For without
doubt that will happen to them which we find in Proverbs: “As the
winds and clouds and rain are very clear so are these who boast of a
fictitious gift.”1958
And so if any
one does any of these things in our presence, he ought to meet with
commendation from us not from admiration of his miracles, but from the
beauty of his life, nor should we ask whether the devils are subject to
him, but whether he possesses those features of love which the Apostle
describes.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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