Tractates on the Gospel of John
TRACTATE 6 149
Have you spoken with the tongues of angels? And yet if you were to speak with the tongues of angels, not having love, I would hear sounding brasses and tinkling cymbals. I seek something solid; let me find fruit among the leaves. Let there not be only words; let them have the olive, let them return to the ark.
21. But, you will say, I have the sacrament. You say the truth. The sacrament is divine; you have baptism, and I admit it. But what does the same Apostle say? "If I know all the sacraments, and have prophecy and all faith so as to move mountains,"'''^ perhaps to prevent you from also saying, "I have believed and that is enough for me." But what does James say? "The demons also believe and tremble."*^*' Faith is great, but it gives no benefit at all if it should lack love. Even the demons confessed Christ. Therefore by believing, not by loving, they said, "What have we to do with you?"'^' (2) They had faith, they did not have love; therefore they were demons. Do not boast about faith; thus far you must be compared to the demons. Do not say to Christ, "What have I to do with you?" For the unity of Christ speaks to you. Come, learn peace, return to the dove's inwardness. You were baptized outside; have the fruit, and you return to the ark.
22. And you say, "Why do you seek us if we are evil?" That you may be good. We are seeking you for the very reason that you are evil. For if you were not evil, we should have found you, we would not be seeking you. He who is good has already been found; he who is evil is still being sought. And so we are seeking you; return to the ark. But I already have baptism. "If I know all sacraments, and have prophecy and all faith so as to move mountains, yet do not have love, I am nothing." Let me see fruit there, let me see the olive, and you are called back to the ark.
23. But what do you say? "Look, we suffer many evils."
65. Cf. 1 Cor 13.2. With Berrouard, HomeliesI—XVI, 393, I translate sacramenta as "sacraments" rather than "mysteries," as its own context requires, to fit Augustine's use of the word here.
66. Cf. Jas 2.ig. I translate daemones as "demons" rather than "devils" to keep a Neo-Platonic flavor.
67. Mk 1.24. 68. Cf. 1 Cor 13.2.