angels. For they are happy in the enjoyment of Him whom
CHAP. XXX.] WflO IS OUR NEIGHBOUE ? 25 to remove it. Now, if this be so, what does it become us to do who live in the fellowship of the love of God, the enjoyment of whom is true happiness of life, to whom all who love Him owe both their own existence and the love they bear Him, concerning whom we have no fear that any one who comes to know Him will be disappointed in Him, and who desires our love, not for any gain to Himself, but that those who love Him may obtain an eternal reward, even Himself whom they love ? And hence it is that we love even our enemies. For we do not fear them, seeing they cannot take away from us what we love ; but we pity them rather, because the more they hate us the more are they separated from Him whom we love.
For if they would turn to Him, they must of necessity love Him as the supreme good, and love us too as partakers with them in so great a blessing.
Chap. xxx.— Wliether cmgels are to he rc.clconed our iieigUjours.
31. There arises further in this connection a question about angels. For they are happy in the enjoyment of Him whom we long to enjoy ; and the more we enjoy Him in this life as through a glass darkly, the more easy do we find it to bear our pilgrimage, and the more eagerly do we long for its termination. But it is not irrational to ask whether in those two commandments is included the love of angels also. For that He who commanded us to love our neighbour made no exception, as far as men are concerned, is shown both by our Lord Himself in the Gospel, and by the Apostle Paul. For when the man to whom our Lord delivered those two commandments, and to whom He said that on these hang all the law and tlie prophets, asked Him, "And who is my neighbour?" Lie told him of a certain man who, going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, fell among thieves, and was severely wounded by them, and left naked and half dead.-^ And He showed him that nobody was neighbour to this man except him who took pity upon him and came forward to relieve and care for him. And the man who had asked the question admitted the truth of this when he was himself interrogated in turn. To whom our Lord says, "Go and do thou likewise;" teaching us that he is our neigh-
1 Luke X. 29, foU.