CHAPTER VII S. Paul was illustrious, not for his miracles only, but for his eloquence
CHAPTER VII
S. Paul was illustrious, not for his miracles only, but for his eloquence
425. Tell me how he confounded the Jews who dwelt at Damascus, when he had not yet begun to work miracles. How did he overcome the Greeks? Why was he sent to Tarsus? Was it not because he mightily prevailed by his word, and pressed so hard upon them that not enduring their defeat, they were provoked even to kill him? For he had not yet begun to work miracles. Nor could any one say, that the multitude accounted him wonderful through the fame of his miracles, and that they who contended with him were daunted by the reputation of the man; for so far he conquered by his word alone.
426. How did he contend and dispute with those who endeavoured to Judaize in Antioch? Did not the Areopagite who was of that most superstitious city, with his wife, follow him, because of his speech alone? And how came Eutychus to fall from the window? Was it not because he protracted his discourse upon his doctrine to the dead of night?
427. And what occurred at Thessalonica, and Corinth? What at Ephesus, and in Rome itself? Did he not consume whole days and nights in succession, upon expounding the Scriptures? Why should we mention his disputes with the Epicureans and Stoics? for if I would reckon all, my speech would run to an excessive length.
428. Since then he appears to have made much use of his eloquence both before his miracles, and along with them, how will they yet venture to call unskilled him that was admired of all chiefly from his discourses and addresses?
429. Why did the Lycaonians suppose him to be Mercury? for that they were accounted gods, came of their miracles; but that he was Mercury was not owing to them, but to his discourse.
430. Wherein had this saint the prerogative over the other Apostles? And why throughout the world is he so much in the mouths of all? Why is he admired most of all, not among us alone, but among Jews and Greeks? Is it not because of the excellence of his epistles? by which he both profited, and will profit, not merely such as were believers then, but also those who have become such from that day to this, and those who are to be until the coming of Christ; nor will he ever cease to do this while the race of men endures.
431. For as a wall constructed of adamant, so his writings fortify the churches everywhere in the world. And like some noble chieftain, he stands even now among us, leading captive every thought unto the obedience of Christ, and casting down reasonings and every high thing which is exalted against the knowledge of God. Now all this he does, by those admirable epistles which he has left us, full of divine wisdom.
432. Not for the overthrow of spurious doctrines alone, and the defence of the genuine, are his writings proper for us, but they contribute in the greatest degree, to our living aright. For our prelates, by using these even now, frame and fashion, and lead on to spiritual beauty, the chaste virgin which he betrothed to Christ. By these they repel the diseases which threaten her, and preserve the health she gains. Such remedies has the unskilled one left us, and possessed of such virtue as they know well the proof of who employ them constantly!
433. That he himself gave great diligence in this matter, is from hence apparent.