I "2 nal people understand what was foretold by But not long after, one Alcimus, although Haggai the prophet, saying, "The glory of an alien from the sacerdotal tribe, was, this latter house shall be greater than that of through ambition, made pontiff, which was an the former." Now, that this is said of the impious thing. After almost fifty years, durnew testament, he showed a little above, where ing which they never had peace, although they he says, evidently promising Christ, "And I prospered in some affairs, Aristobulus first will move all nations, and the desired One assumed the diadem among them, and was shall come to all nations. In this passage made both king and pontiff. Before that, inthe Septuagint translators giving another deed, from the time of their return from the sense more suitable to the body than the Babylonish captivity and the rebuilding of Head, that is, to the Church than to Christ, the temple, they had not kings, but generals have said by prophetic authority, "The or principes. Although a king himself may things shall come that are chosen of the Lord be called a prince, from his principality in from all nations," that is, men, of whom Jesus governing, and a leader, because he leads the saith in the Gospel, “Many are called, but army, but it does not follow that all who are few are chosen."3 For by such chosen ones princes and leaders may also be called kings, of the nations there is built, through the new as that Aristobulus was. He was succeeded testament, with living stones, a house of God by Alexander, also both king and pontiff, who far more glorious than that temple was which is reported to have reigned over them cruelly. was constructed by king Solomon, and rebuilt After him his wife Alexandra was queen of after the captivity. For this reason, then, the Jews, and from her time downwards more that nation had no prophets from that time, grievous evils pursued them; for this Alexanbut was afflicted with many plagues by kings dra's sons, Aristobulus and Hyrcanus, when of alien race, and by the Romans themselves, contending with each other for the kingdom, lest they should fancy that this prophecy of called in the Roman forces against the nation Haggai was fulfilled by that rebuilding of the of Israel. For Hyrcanus asked assistance temple. from them against his brother. At that time Rome had already subdued Africa and Greece, and ruled extensively in other parts of the world also, and yet, as if unable to bear her own weight, had, in a manner, broken herself by her own size. For indeed she had come to grave domestic seditions, and from that to social wars, and by and by to civil wars, and had enfeebled and worn herself out so much, that the changed state of the republic, in which she should be governed by kings, was now imminent. Pompey then, a most illustrious prince of the Roman people, having entered Judea with an army, took the city, threw open the temple, not with the devotion of a suppliant, but with the authority of a conqueror, and went, not reverently, but profanely, into the holy of holies, where it was lawful for none but the pontiff to enter. Having established Hyrcanus in the pontificate, and set Antipater over the subjugated nation as guardian or procurator, as they were then called, he led Aristobulus with him bound. From that time the Jews also began to be Roman tributaries. Afterward Cassius plundered the very temple. Then after a few years it was their desert to have Herod, a king of foreign birth, in whose reign Christ was born. For the time had now come signified by the prophetic Spirit through the mouth of the patriarch Jacob, when he says, "There shall not be lacking a prince out of Judah, nor a teacher from his loins, until He shall come for whom it is reserved; and He is the For not long after, on the arrival of Alexander, it was subdued, when, although there was no pillaging, because they dared not resist him, and thus, being very easily subdued, received him peaceably, yet the glory of that house was not so great as it was when under the free power of their own kings. Alexander, indeed, offered up sacrifices in the temple of God, not as a convert to His worship in true piety, but thinking, with impious folly, that He was to be worshipped along with false gods. Then Ptolemy son of Lagus, whom I have already mentioned, after Alexander's death carried them captive into Egypt. His successor, Ptolemy Philadelphus, most benevolently dismissed them; and by him it was brought about, as I have narrated a little before, that we should have the Septuagint version of the Scriptures. Then they were crushed by the wars which are explained in the books of the Maccabees. Afterward they were taken captive by Ptolemy king of Alexandria, who was called Epiphanes. Then Antiochus king of Syria compelled them by many and most grievous evils to worship idols, and filled the temple itself with the sacrilegious superstitions of the Gentiles. Yet their most vigorous leader Judas, who is also called Maccabæus, after beating the generals of Antiochus, cleansed it from all that defilement of idolatry. 1 Hag. ii. 9. 2 Hag. ii. 7. 3 Matt. xxii. 14. expectation of the nations." There lacked not therefore a Jewish prince of the Jews until that Herod, who was the first king of a foreign race received by them. Therefore it was now the time when He should come for whom that was reserved which is promised in the New Testament, that He should be the expectation of the nations. But it was not possible that the nations should expect He would come, as we see they did, to do judgment in the splendor of power, unless they should first believe in Him when He came to suffer judgment in the humility of patience. CHAP. 46.-OF THE BIRTH OF OUR SAVIOUR, down their back alway." Therefore, when While Herod, therefore, reigned in Judea, and Cæsar Augustus was emperor at Rome, the state of the republic being already changed, and the world being set at peace by him, Christ was born in Bethlehem of Judah, man manifest out of a human virgin, God hidden out of God the Father. For so had the prophet foretold: "Behold, a virgin shall conceive in the womb, and bring forth a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which, being interpreted, is, God with us."2 He did many miracles that He might commend God in Himself, some of which, even as many as seemed sufficient to proclaim Him, are contained in the evangelic Scripture. The first of these is, that He was so wonderfully born, and the last, that with His body raised up again from the dead He ascended into heaven. But the Jews who slew Him, and would not believe in Him, because it behoved Him to die and rise again, were yet more miserably wasted by the Romans, and utterly rooted out from their kingdom, where aliens had already ruled over them, and were dispersed through the lands (so that indeed there is no place where they are not), and are thus by their own Scriptures a testimony to us that we have not forged the prophecies about Christ. And very many of them, considering this, even before His passion, but chiefly after Wherefore if we read of any foreignerHis resurrection, believed on Him, of whom that is, one neither born of Israel nor received it was predicted, “Though the number of the by that people into the canon of the sacred children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, books-having prophesied something about the remnant shall be saved."3 But the rest Christ, if it has come or shall come to our are blinded, of whom it was predicted, "Let knowledge, we can refer to it over and above; their table be made before them a trap, and not that this is necessary, even if wanting, a retribution, and a stumbling-block. Let but because it is not incongruous to believe their eyes be darkened lest they see, and bow that even in other nations there may have been 1 Gen. xlix. 10. 2 Isa vii. 14, as in Matt. i. 23. 3 Isa. x. 22, as in Rom. ix. 27, 28. CHAP. 47. WHETHER BEFORE CHRISTIAN TIMES THERE WERE ANY OUTSIDE OF THE ISRAELITE RACE WHO BELONGED TO THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE HEAVENLY CITY, HAGGAI'S PROPHECY, IN WHICH HE SAID THAT THE GLORY OF THE men to whom this mystery was revealed, and CHAP. 48.—THAT who were also impelled to proclaim it, whether they were partakers of the same grace or had no experience of it, but were taught by bad angels, who, as we know, even confessed the present Christ, whom the Jews did not acknowledge. Nor do I think the Jews themselves dare contend that no one has belonged This house of God is more glorious than to God except the Israelites, since the increase that first one which was constructed of wood of Israel began on the rejection of his elder and stone, metals and other precious things. brother. For in very deed there was no other Therefore the prophecy of Haggai was not people who were specially called the people fulfilled in the rebuilding of that temple. For of God; but they cannot deny that there have it can never be shown to have had so much been certain men even of other nations who glory after it was rebuilt as it had in the time belonged, not by earthly but heavenly fellow- of Solomon; yea, rather, the glory of that ship, to the true Israelites, the citizens of the house is shown to have been diminished, first country that is above. Because, if they deny by the ceasing of prophecy, and then by the this, they can be most easily confuted by the nation itself suffering so great calamities, case of the holy and wonderful man Job, who even to the final destruction made by the was neither a native nor a proselyte, that is, Romans, as the things above-mentioned prove. a stranger joining the people of Israel, but, But this house which pertains to the new tesbeing bred of the Idumean race, arose there tament is just as much more glorious as the and died there too, and who is so praised by living stones, even believing, renewed men, the divine oracle, that no man of his times is of which it is constructed are better. But it put on a level with him as regards justice and was typified by the rebuilding of that temple piety. And although we do not find his date for this reason, because the very renovation in the chronicles, yet from his book, which of that edifice typifies in the prophetic oracle for its merit the Israelites have received as of another testament which is called the new. canonical authority, we gather that he was in When, therefore, God said by the prophet just the third generation after Israel. And I named, “And I will give peace in this place," 3 doubt not it was divinely provided, that from He is to be understood who is typified by that this one case we might know that among typical place; for since by that rebuilt place other nations also there might be men pertain- is typified the Church which was to be built by ing to the spiritual Jerusalem who have lived Christ, nothing else can be accepted as the according to God and have pleased Him. And meaning of the saying, "I will give peace in it is not to be supposed that this was granted this place," except I will give peace in the to any one, unless the one Mediator between place which that place signifies. For all typi God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,' was di- cal things seem in some way to personate those vinely revealed to him; who was pre-an- whom they typify, as it is said by the apostle, nounced to the saints of old as yet to come "That Rock was Christ." Therefore the in the flesh, even as He is announced to us as glory of this new testament house is greater having come, that the self-same faith through than the glory of the old testament house; Him may lead all to God who are predesti- and it will show itself as greater when it shall nated to be the city of God, the house of God, be dedicated. For then "shall come the deand the temple of God. But whatever proph-sired of all nations," as we read in the Heecies concerning the grace of God through brew. For before His advent He had not Christ Jesus are quoted, they may be thought yet been desired by all nations. For they to have been forged by the Christians. So knew not Him whom they ought to desire, in that there is nothing of more weight for confuting all sorts of aliens, if they contend about this matter, and for supporting our friends, if they are truly wise, than to quote those divine predictions about Christ which are written in the books of the Jews, who have been torn from their native abode and dispersed over the whole world in order to bear this testimony, so that the Church of Christ has everywhere increased. II Tim. ii. 5. whom they had not believed. Then, also, according to the Septuagint interpretation (for it also is a prophetic meaning), "shall come those who are elected of the Lord out of all nations." For then indeed there shall come only those who are elected, whereof the apostle saith, "According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world." For the Master Builder who said, "Many are Yet them spoke in the tongues of all nations; thus signifying that the unity of the catholic Church would embrace all nations, and would in like manner speak in all tongues. called, but few are chosen," did not say this of those who, on being called, came in such a way as to be cast out from the feast, but would point out the house built up of the elect, which henceforth shall dread no ruin. because the churches are also full of those CHAP. 50.-OF THE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL, who shall be separated by the winnowing as in the threshing-floor, the glory of this house is not so apparent now as it shall be when every one who is there shall be there always. CHAP. 49.—OF THE INDISCRIMINATE INCREASE ARE IN THIS WORLD MIXED WITH THE ELECT. WHICH IS MADE MORE FAMOUS AND POWER- First Then was fulfilled that prophecy, "Out of Sion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord out of Jerusalem;" and the prediction of the Lord Christ Himself, when, after the resurrection, "He opened the understanding" of His amazed disciples" that they In this wicked world, in these evil days, might understand the Scriptures, and said when the Church measures her future lofti- unto them, that thus it is written, and thus it ness by her present humility, and is exercised behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the by goading fears, tormenting sorrows, dis- dead the third day, and that repentance and quieting labors, and dangerous temptations, remission of sins should be preached in His when she soberly rejoices, rejoicing only in name among all nations, beginning at Jerusahope, there are many reprobate mingled with lem."7 And again, when, in reply to their the good, and both are gathered together by questioning about the day of His last comthe gospel as in a drag net; and in this ing, He said, "It is not for you to know the world, as in a sea, both swim enclosed with- times or the seasons which the Father hath out distinction in the net, until it is brought put in His own power; but ye shall receive ashore, when the wicked must be separated the power of the Holy Ghost coming upon from the good, that in the good, as in His you, and ye shall be witnesses unto me both temple, God may be all in all. We acknowl- in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, edge, indeed, that His word is now fulfilled and even unto the ends of the earth."8 who spake in the psalm, and said, "I have of all, the Church spread herself abroad from announced and spoken; they are multiplied Jerusalem; and when very many in Judea and above number."3 This takes place now, since Samaria had believed, she also went into He has spoken, first by the mouth of his fore- other nations by those who announced the runner John, and afterward by His own gospel, whom, as lights, He Himself had mouth, saying, "Repent: for the kingdom of both prepared by His word and kindled by heaven is at hand.' He chose disciples, His Holy Spirit. For He had said to them, whom He also called apostles,5 of lowly birth,"Fear ye not them which kill the body, but unhonored, and illiterate, so that whatever are not able to kill the soul." And that they great thing they might be or do, He might be and do it in them. He had one among them whose wickedness He could use well in order to accomplish His appointed passion, and furnish His Church an example of bearing with the wicked. Having sown the holy gospel as much as that behoved to be done by His bodily presence, He suffered, died, and rose again, showing by His passion what we ought to suffer for the truth, and by His resurrection what we ought to hope for in adversity; saving always the mystery of the sacrament, by which His blood was shed for the remission of sins. He held converse on the earth forty days with His disciples, and in their sight ascended into heaven, and after ten days sent the promised Holy Spirit. It was given as the chief and most necessary sign of His coming on those who had believed, that every one of might not be frozen with fear, they burned with the fire of charity. Finally, the gospel of Christ was preached in the whole world, not only by those who had seen and heard Him both before His passion and after His resurrection, but also after their death by their successors, amid the horrible persecutions, diverse torments and deaths of the martyrs, God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost," that the people of the nations, believing in Him who was crucified for their redemption, might venerate with Christian love the blood of the martyrs which they had poured forth with devilish fury, and the very kings by whose laws the Church had been laid waste might become profitably subject to that name they had cruelly striven to take away from the earth, and might begin to persecute the false gods for whose sake the worshippers of the true God had formerly been persecuted. .—THAT THE CATHOLIC FAITH MAY BE CHAP. 51.- HERETICS. suffer persecution." 4 Because even when those who are without do not rage, and thus there seems to be, and really is, tranquillity, which brings very much consolation, especially to the weak, yet there are not wanting, doned manners torment the hearts of those who live piously, since by them the Christian and catholic name is blasphemed; and the dearer that name is to those who will live piously in Christ, the more do they grieve that through the wicked, who have a place within, it comes to be less loved than pious minds desire. The heretics themselves also, since they are thought to have the Christian name and sacraments, Scriptures, and profession, cause great grief in the hearts of the pious, both because many who wish to be Christians are compelled by their dissensions to hesitate, and many evil-speakers also find in them matter for blaspheming the Christian name, because they too are at any rate called Chris ners and errors of men, those who will live piously in Christ suffer persecution, even when no one molests or vexes their body; for they suffer this persecution, not in their bodies, but in their hearts. Whence is that word, "According to the multitude of my griefs in my heart; But the devil, seeing the temples of the demons deserted, and the human race running to the name of the liberating Mediator, has moved the heretics under the Christian name to resist the Christian doctrine, as if they could be kept in the city of God indifferently without any correction, just as the city of confusion indifferently held the philosophers who were of diverse and adverse opinions. Those, therefore, in the Church of Christ who savor anything morbid and depraved, and, on being corrected that they may savor what is wholesome and right, contumaciously resist, and will not amend their pestiferous and deadly dogmas, but persist in defending tians. By these and similar depraved manthem, become heretics, and, going without, are to be reckoned as enemies who serve for her discipline. For even thus they profit by their wickedness those true catholic members of Christ, since God makes a good use even of the wicked, and all things work together for good to them that love Him. For all the enemies of the Church, whatever error blinds or malice depraves them, exercise her patience if they receive the power to afflict her corporally; and if they only oppose her by wicked thought, they exercise her wisdom: but at the same time, if these enemies are loved, they exercise her benevolence, or even her beneficence, whether she deals with them by persuasive doctrine or by terrible discipline. And thus the devil, the prince of the impious city, when he stirs up his own vessels against the city of God that sojourns in this world, is permitted to do her no harm. For without doubt the divine providence procures for her both consolation through prosperity, that she may not be broken by adversity, and trial through adversity, that she may not be corrupted by prosperity; and thus each is tempered by the other, as we recognize in the Psalms that voice which arises from no other cause, "According to the multitude of my griefs in my heart, Thy consolations have delighted my soul." 2 Hence also is that saying of the apostle, "Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation." 3 196 for he does not say, in my body. Yet, on the other hand, none of them can perish, because the immutable divine promises are thought of. And because the apostle says, "The Lord knoweth them that are His;3 for whom He did foreknow, He also predestinated [to be] conformed to the image of His Son,' none of them can perish; therefore it follows in that psalm, "Thy consolations have delighted my soul."7 But that grief which arises in the hearts of the pious, who are persecuted by the manners of bad or false Christians, is profitable to the sufferers, because it proceeds from the charity in which they do not wish them either to perish or to hinder the salvation of others. Finally, great consolations grow out of their chastisement, which imbue the souls of the pious with a fecundity as great as the pains with which they were troubled concerning their own perdition. Thus in this world, in these evil days, not only from the time of the bodily presence of Christ and His apostles, but even from that of Abel, whom first his wicked brother slew because he was righteous, and thenceforth even to the end of this world, the Church has gone forward on pilgrimage amid the persecutions of the world and the consolations of God. |