Spirit and the Church (cf. section 6 and Tractate 5.20). Here it symbolizes (continued)
136 ST. AUGUSTINE and the better the person from whom one seems to have received something, so much the more does he suppose that he is receiving a better thing. But understand this, brothers, that the saints themselves, the good who are associated with the dove,^' who are associated with the destiny of that city of Jerusalem, the good themselves in the Church, about whom the Apostle says, "The Lord knows who are his,"^' [these saints] possess different graces; they do not all have equal merits. Some are holier than others, some are better than others. Therefore if one should be baptized, for instance, by a true saint, while another by one with less merit before God, one of lesser hierarchical rank,'^' with less continence and of a lesser spiritual life, why, nevertheless, is that which they have received one and equal and identical, except that "He it is who baptizes"? (2) Therefore, Just as when a good man and a better man baptize, one man does not receive a good [baptism] and the other a better one, but even though the ministers are one good and the other better, what they have received is one and identical, not better in one and inferior in the other, so also when an evil man baptizes, either for some lack of knowledge or from some toleration on the part of the Church (for either the evil are not known or they are tolerated; even chaff is tolerated until the wheat on the threshing-floor has been completely winnowed),^"* that which has been given is one, and it is not unequal because the ministers are unequal, but is equal and identical because, "He it is who baptizes."
9. Therefore, my dearest people, let us see what they do not wish to see, not what they cannot see, but what they would grieve to see, as if it were made inaccessible to them. Where were the disciples sent in the name of the Father and of the
21. The dove has a double symbolic purpose; it represents both the Holy Spirit and the Church (cf. section 6 and Tractate 5.20). Here it symbolizes the Church. On dove imagery in Augustine's sermons see Poque, 1.19-20, 332-33422. 2 Tm 2.19. 23. Following Berrouard, Homelies I— XVI, 359. 24. Cf. Mt 3.12 and Lk 317.