6. Wisd. vii. 27.
POLITICAL WRITINGS 325
Psalms were composed. But we have akeady told you, beloved, that all things, which according to the letter befell that city, were our examples, and it can easily be proved that we are captives. For we breathe not the air of that our true Uberty: we enjoy not the purity of truth, and that wisdom, that remaining in herself maketh all things new.^ We are tempted by the delights of earthly things, and we struggle daily with Sie suggestions of unlawful pleasures; scarce do we breathe freely even in prayer: we understand that we are captives. But who led us captive? what men? what race? what king? If we are redeemed, we once were captives. Who hath redeemed us? Christ. From whom hath He redeemed us? From the devil. The devil then and his angels led us captive: and they would not lead us, unless we consented. We were led captive. Who our capturers were, I have said. For they are the thieves who wounded the traveller who went dowh from Jerusalem to Jericho, and left him wounded and half dead. Him He, our Keeper, that is, Samaritan, (for Samaritan meaneth 'keeper,') whom the Jews found fault with, and said. Say we not well that Thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? ^ of which two objections, the one He rejected, the other He accepted: /, He answered, have not a devil: yet He said not,
am not a Samaritan:' for had He not been our Samaritan, our Keeper, verily we had perished: —this Samaritan then, I say, passing by, saw the man left by the thieves hurt and wounded, and, as ye know, took care of him. Just as sometimes under the name of thieves are described those who have inflicted on us the wounds of sins, so,
6. Wisd. vii. 27.
7. John viii. 48.