62. Cf. On 3.7. 63. Cf. Is 9.2 (NAB 9.1).
174 ST. AUGUSTINE you, before Philip called you." For he made such a statement, "You are the Son of God, you are the King of Israel," as Peter did at a considerably later time when the Lord said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona, because flesh and blood has not revealed it to you, but my Father who is in heaven." And there he named him rock and praised the support of the Church in this faith. This man now says, "You are the Son of God, You are the King of Israel." Why? Because it was said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."
2 1. It must be asked whether that fig tree signifies anything.
Hear him, my brothers. "We found a fig tree, cursed because it had only leaves and no fruit." In the beginning of the human race Adam and Eve, when they had sinned, made coverings for themselves from fig leaves thus fig leaves are understood as sins. Now Nathanael was under the fig tree, as under the shadow of death. The Lord saw him about whom it was said, "A light has arisen for those who were sitting under the shadow of death." What, then, was said to Nathanael? Do you say to me, O Nathanael, "Where do you know me from?" This very moment you are speaking with me because Philip called you. He saw that he, whom he had called through his apostle, already belonged to his Church. O thou Church, O thou Israel in which there is no guile! If you are the people of Israel in which there is no guile, you now, this very moment, have recognized Christ through the apostles, as Nathanael recognized Christ through Philip.
(2) But his mercy saw you before you recognized him when you were lying under sin. For did we seek Christ first, and did he not seek us? Did we sick men come to the physician, and the physician not to the sick? Had not that sheep been lost, and, leaving the ninety-nine behind, did not the shepherd seek for and find it which he joyfully carried back on his
61. Cf. Mt 21.19, Mk 11.13, and Lk 13.6; Augustine's quotation corresponds to no one of these. 62. Cf. On 3.7. 63. Cf. Is 9.2 (NAB 9.1).