Anf-03 v.iv.v.xvii Pg 11
Deut. xxiv. 12, 13.
Clearer still is a former passage: “Thou shalt remit every debt which thy neighbour oweth thee; and of thy brother thou shalt not require it, because it is called the release of the Lord thy God.”4102 4102
Anf-02 vi.iii.iii.xii Pg 23.1
Anf-03 v.iv.iii.xix Pg 11
Isa. lviii. 7, slightly changed from the second to the third person.
“keep their tongue from evil, and their lips from speaking guile: depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it:”2931 2931
Anf-03 v.iv.v.xvi Pg 56
Isa. lviii. 7.
By Ezekiel also He thus describes the just man: “His bread will he give to the hungry, and the naked will he cover with a garment.”4089 4089
Anf-03 v.iv.v.xvii Pg 28
Isa. lviii. 7.
also with, “Judge the fatherless, plead with the widow.”4119 4119
Anf-03 v.iv.v.xxxi Pg 4
Isa. lviii. 7.
because, no doubt, they are “unable to recompense” your act of humanity. Now, since Christ forbids the recompense to be expected now, but promises it “at the resurrection,” this is the very plan4728 4728 Forma.
of the Creator, who dislikes those who love gifts and follow after reward. Consider also to which deity4729 4729 Cui parti.
is better suited the parable of him who issued invitations: “A certain man made a great supper, and bade many.”4730 4730
Anf-03 v.iv.v.xxxvii Pg 6
Isa. lviii. 7.
This he did in the best possible way, by receiving the Lord, and entertaining Him in his house. “When thou seest the naked cover him.”4966 4966 In the same passage.
This he promised to do, in an equally satisfactory way, when he offered the half of his goods for all works of mercy.4967 4967
Anf-03 v.iv.v.xvi Pg 35
Deut. xv. 7, 8.
Loans are not usually given, except to such as ask for them. On this subject of lending,4068 4068 De fenore.
however, more hereafter.4069 4069 Below, in the next chapter.
Now, should any one wish to argue that the Creator’s precepts extended only to a man’s brethren, but Christ’s to all that ask, so as to make the latter a new and different precept, (I have to reply) that one rule only can be made out of those principles, which show the law of the Creator to be repeated in Christ.4070 4070 This obscure passage runs thus: “Immo unum erit ex his per quæ lex Creatoris erit in Christo.”
For that is not a different thing which Christ enjoined to be done towards all men, from that which the Creator prescribed in favour of a man’s brethren. For although that is a greater charity, which is shown to strangers, it is yet not preferable to that4071 4071 Prior ea.
which was previously due to one’s neighbours. For what man will be able to bestow the love (which proceeds from knowledge of character,4072 4072 This is the idea, apparently, of Tertullian’s question: “Quis enim poterit diligere extraneos?” But a different turn is given to the sense in the older reading of the passage: Quis enim non diligens proximos poterit diligere extraneos? “For who that loveth not his neighbours will be able to love strangers?” The inserted words, however, were inserted conjecturally by Fulvius Ursinus without ms. authority.
upon strangers? Since, however, the second step4073 4073 Gradus.
in charity is towards strangers, while the first is towards one’s neighbours, the second step will belong to him to whom the first also belongs, more fitly than the second will belong to him who owned no first.4074 4074 Cujus non extitit primus.
Accordingly, the Creator, when following the course of nature, taught in the first instance kindness to neighbours,4075 4075 In proximos.
intending afterwards to enjoin it towards strangers; and when following the method of His dispensation, He limited charity first to the Jews, but afterwards extended it to the whole race of mankind. So long, therefore, as the mystery of His government4076 4076 Sacramentum.
was confined to Israel, He properly commanded that pity should be shown only to a man’s brethren; but when Christ had given to Him “the Gentiles for His heritage, and the ends of the earth for His possession,” then began to be accomplished what was said by Hosea: “Ye are not my people, who were my people; ye have not obtained mercy, who once obtained mercy”4077 4077
Anf-02 vi.iii.iii.vi Pg 8.1
Anf-02 vi.iv.i.xix Pg 16.1
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge, Chapter 25
VERSE (20) - De 24:12-17 Job 24:7-10 Isa 58:7 Jas 2:15,16
