world wherewithal they might easily without therefore shelter themselves under the screen
THE WORKS OF ST. AUGUSTIN.
causeth that even such be admitted as bring no proof of a change of life for the better. For it doth not appear whether they come of purpose for the service of God, or whether running away empty from a poor and laborious life they want to be fed and clothed; yea, moreover, to be honored by them of whom they were wont to be despised and trampled on. Such persons therefore because they cannot excuse themselves from working by pleading infirmity Of body, seeing they are convicted by the custom of their past life, do therefore shelter themselves under the screen of an ill scholarship, that from the Gospel badly understood they should essay to pervert precepts apostolical: truly '* fowls of the air,'' but in lifting themselves on high through pride; and "°' grass of the field,'' but in being carnally minded.
unto the Gentiles, and they unto the Circumcision. But that he gave this precept to them who had not the like power, those many things already said do make manifest. But these brethren of ours rashly arrogate unto themselves, so far as I can judge, that they have this kind of power. For if they be evangelists, I confess, they have it: if ministers of the altar, dispensers of sacraments, of course it is no arrogating to themselves, but a plain vindicating of a right.
25. If at the least they once had in this world wherewithal they might easily without handiwork sustain this life, which property, when they were converted unto God, they disparted to the needy, then must we both believe their infirmity, and bear with it. For usually such persons, having been, not better brought up, as many think, but what is the truth, more languidly brought up, are not able to bear the labor of bodily works. Such peradventure were many in Jerusalem. For it is also written, that they sold their houses and lands, and laid the prices of them at the Apostles' feet, that distribution might be made to every one as he had need.* Because they were found, being near, and were useful to the Gentiles, who, being afar off,3 were thence called from the worship of idols, as it is said, ** Out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem,'' 4 therefore hath the Apostle called the Christians of the Gentiles their debtors: '' their debtors,' saith he; "they "are:'*" and" hath added the reason why, °° For if in their spiritual things the Gentiles have communicated, they ought also in carnal things to minister unto them.''5 But now there come into this profession of the service of God, both persons from the condition of slaves, or also freedmen, or persons on this account freed by their masters or about to be freed, likewise from the life of peasants, and from the exercise and plebeian labor of handicraftsmen, persons whose bringing up doubtless has been all the better for them, the harder it has been: whom not to admit, isa heavy sin, For many of that sort have turned out truly great men and meet to be imitated. For on this account also ** hath God chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty, and the foolish things of the world hath He chosen to confound them who are wise; and ignoble things of the world, and things which are not, as though they were,
26. That, namely, befalleth them which in undisciplined younger widows, the same Apostle saith must be avoided: '' And withal they learn to be idle; and not only idle, but also busy bodies and full of words, speaking what they ought not.''? This very thing said he concerning evil women, which we also in evil men do mourn and bewail, who against him, the.very man in whose Epistles we read these things, do, being idle and full of words, speak what they ought not. And if there be any among them who did with that purpose come to the holy warfare,* that they may please Him to whom they have proved themselves, these, when they be so vigorous in strength of body, and soundness of health, that they are able not only to be taught, but also, agreeably unto the Apostle, to work, do, by receiving of these men's idle and corrupt discourses, which they are unable, by reason of their unskilled rawness, to judge of, become changed by pestiferous contagion into the same noisomeness: not only not imitating the obedience of saints which quietly work, and of other monasteries ® which in most wholesome discipline do live after the apostolic rule; but also insulting better men than themselves, preaching up laziness as the keeper of the Gospel, accusing mercy as the prevaricator therefrom. For a much more merciful work is it to the souls of the weak, to consult for the fair fame of the servants of God, than it is to the bodies of men, to break bread to the hungry. Wherefore I would to God that these, which want to let their hands lie idle, would altogether let their tongues lie idle too.
that the things that are may be brought to nought: that no flesh may glory before God.'' © This pious and holy thought, accordingly,
For they would not make so many willing to imitate them, if the examples they set were. not merely lazy ones, but mute withal.
82 Tim. ii. 4. [See R.V.] 7 YOUimMevV. D3 9 Cassian. de Inst. x. 22.
t Acts xiii. 2; Gal. ii. 9. 3 Acts li. 39. 4Is, ii. 3. 2 Acts ii. 453 iv. 34+ 6 x Cor, i, 27-29. 5 Rom. xv. 27.