CHAPTER VI Priests the ministers of God’s greatest gifts
CHAPTER VI
Priests the ministers of God’s greatest gifts
190. The priests of the Jews had authority to take away leprosy of body, or rather, by no means to take it away, but only to examine such as had been freed from it; and you know how the office of priests was then contended for. But these have received authority not over leprosy of body, but impurity of soul, not to examine when it has been taken away, but altogether to remove it.
191. Therefore such as despise them, are much more criminal, and are worthy of a greater vengeance than those who were associated with Dathan; for, although they affected a dignity which did not appertain to them, they, notwithstanding, still entertained a certain admiring opinion in regard to it, and this they proved by pursuing it with so much eagerness: but these, when the office has been adorned more excellently, and has received so great a development, have displayed their audacity in a contrary manner, but to a much greater degree than those did.
192. For as regards the amount of contempt, it is not the same thing to pounce upon an honour which does not pertain to you, and to despise it; but the one is as much beyond the other, as the interval between loathing and admiring.
193. What soul then is so base as to slight such good things? No one, I should say, unless it were subject to a demoniacal impulse.
194. But I come back again to where I started from. Not in chastising only, but in benefiting, God has given to priests a greater power than that of our natural parents: and the two differ as much as the present and the future life.
195. For the one beget us unto this life, and the others unto that. Neither can our parents avert from us bodily death, nor repulse impending disease; but these frequently save the soul when it is afflicted and ready to perish,—securing to some a milder chastisement, and not permitting others to fall in any degree; not by teaching only, and admonition, but also by aiding them through prayer.
196. Nor only when they regenerate us, have they authority to forgive sins, but also (they have authority to forgive) such sins as come afterwards: for, he says, “Is any sick among you? let him call for the presbyters of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith shall save him that is sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.”
197. Moreover, natural parents, if their children should come into collision with any of their superiors and those who have great influence, cannot benefit them at all: but priests have reconciled, not rulers, nor kings, but God himself oftentimes when angry with them.
198. After this, will any one still venture to condemn me for arrogance? After what has been said, I imagine, so strong a pious affection will control the souls of those who hear, that they will no longer condemn for arrogance and venturesomeness those who evade the honour, but those who come forward of their own accord, and are eager to get possession of it for themselves.
199. For if those who have had committed to them the government of cities, when they have not happened to be wise and very watchful, have overturned their cities and ruined themselves; of how much power, think you, both in himself and from on high, to keep himself from sin, has he need, whose lot it is to beautify the Bride of Christ?