PAGE good," etc. SERM. XXII. (LXXII.) SERM. XXIII. (LXXIII.) On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xii. 33, “Either make the tree good, and its fruit On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xiii. 19, etc., where the Lord Jesus explaineth the parables of the sower. 334 SERM. XXIV. (LXXIV.) — On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xiii. 52, “Therefore every scribe who hath been made a disciple to the kingdom of heaven," etc.. SERM. XXVI. (LXXVI.) — Again on Matt. xiv. 25, of the Lord walking on the waves of the sea, and of Peter tottering. SERM. XXV. (LXXV.) On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xiv. 24, "But the boat was now in the midst of the sea, distressed by the waves" SERM. XXX. (LXXX.) On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xvii. 19, "Why could not we cast it out?" etc., and on prayer SERM. XXVII. (LXXVII.) — On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xv. 21, "Jesus went out thence, and withdrew into the parts of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanitish woman," etc. SERM. XXVIII. (LXXVIII.) - On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xvii. 1, “After six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John his brother," etc. SERM. XXIX. (LXXIX.) — Again on the words of the Gospel, Matt. xvii., where Jesus showed Himself on the mount to His three disciples . . 342 · 347 · 349 SERM. XXXI. (LXXXI.) — On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xviii. 7, where we are admonished to beware of the offences of the world .. SERM. XXXII. (LXXXII.) — On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xviii. 15, "If thy brother sin against thee, go, shew him his fault, between thee and him alone:" and of the words of Solomon, he that winketh with the eyes deceitfully, heapeth sorrow upon men: but he that reproveth openly, maketh peace 349 352 SERM. XXXIV. (LXXXIV.) — On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xix. 17, "If thou wouldest enter into life, keep the commandments" 357 SERM. XXXIII. (LXXXIII.)—On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xviii. 21, "How oft shall my brother sin against me," etc. 362 SERM. XXXV. (LXXXV.) —On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xix. 17, "If thou wouldest enter into life, keep the commandments" 366 SERM. XXXVI. (LXXXVI.) — On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xix. 21, "Go, sell that thou hast, and give to the poor," etc. SERM. XXXVII. (LXXXVII.) — Delivered on the Lord's Day, on that which is written in the Gospel, Matt. xx. 1, “The kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that was a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard".. SERM. XXXVIII. (LXXXVIII.)-On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xx. 30, about the two blind men sitting by the way side, and crying out, "Lord, have mercy on us, thou Son of David" SERM. XXXIX. (LXXXIX.). 1 On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xxi. 19, where Jesus dried up the fig-tree; and on the words, Luke xxiv. 28, where He made a pretence as though He would go further. SERM. XL. (XC.) - On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xxii. 2, etc., about the marriage of the king's son. Against the Donatists: on Charity. Delivered at Carthage in the Restituta SERM. XLI. (XCI.) — On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xxii. 42, where the Lord asks the Jews whose son they said David was . SERM. XLII. (XCII.) · SERM. XLIII. (XCIII.) — On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xxv. 1, “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins". SERM. XLIV. (XCIV.) - On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xxv. 24, etc., where the slothful servant who would not put out the talent he had received, is condemned. SERM. XLV. (XCv.) — On the words of the Gospel, Mark viii. 5, etc., where the miracle of the seven loaves is related SERM. XLVI. (XCVI.) — On the words of the Gospel, Mark viii. 34, "If any man would come after Me, let him deny himself; " etc. And on the words, 1 John. ii. 15, "If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him " SERM. XLVII. (XCVII.) — On the words of the Gospel, Mark xiii. 32, “But of that day or that hour knoweth no one, not even the angels in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father SERM. XLVIII. (XCVIII.)- On the words of the Gospel, Luke vii. 2, etc., on the three dead persons whom the Lord raised SERM. XLIX. (XCIX.) On the words of the Gospel, Luke vii. 37, " And behold, a woman who was in the city, a sinner;" etc. On the remission of sins: against the Donatists SERM. L. (c.) On the words of the Gospel, Luke ix. 57, etc., where the case of the three persons is treated of, of whom one said, "I will follow Thee whithersoever Thou goest," and was disallowed: another did not dare to offer himself, and was aroused; the third wished to delay, and was blamed SERM. LI. (CI.) — On the words of the Gospel, Luke x. 2, "The harvest is plenteous," etc.. PAGE 420 422 SERM. LII. (CII.) — On the words of the Gospel, Luke x. 16, “He that rejecteth you rejecteth Me 425 429 SERM. LIV. (Civ.) — Again, on the words of the Gospel, Luke x. 38, etc., about Martha and Mary . SERM. LV. (Cv.) - On the words of the Gospel, Luke xi. 5, "Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight," etc. . . . SERM. LVI. (CVI.) — On the words of the Gospel, Luke xi. 39, "Now do ye Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter," etc. SERM. LVII. (CVII.)- On the words of the Gospel, Luke xii. 15, “And He said unto them, Take heed, and keep yourselves from all covetousness".. SERM. LVIII. (cv.)—On the words of the Gospel, Luke xii. 35, “Let your loins be girded about, and your lamps burning; and be ye yourselves like " etc. And on the words of the 34th Psalm, v. 12, What man is he that desireth life," etc. . SERM. LIX. (CIX.) On the words of the Gospel, Luke xii. 56 and 58, “Ye know how to interpret the face of the earth and the heaven;" etc.; and of the words, "For as thou art going with thine adversary before the magistrate, on the way give diligence to be quit of him," etc. SERM. LX. (CX.) - On the words of the Gospel, Luke xiii. 6, where we are told of the fig-tree, which bare no fruit for three years; and of the woman which was in an infirmity eighteen years; and on the words of the ninth Psalm, v. 19, "Arise, O Lord; let not man prevail: let the nations be judged in Thy sight" 443 SERM. LXI. (CXI.)—On the words of the Gospel, Luke xiii. 21 and 23, where the kingdom of God is said to be "like unto leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal;" and of that which is written in the same chapter, "Lord, are they few that are saved?" . . . 445 SERM. LXII. (CXII.) — On the words of the Gospel, Luke xiv. 16, "A certain man made a great supper; " etc. (Delivered in the basilica Restituta) SERM. LXIII. (CXIII.) —On the words of the Gospel, Luke xvi. 9, "Make to yourselves friends by means of the mammon of unrighteousness," etc. 446 449 SERM. LXIV. (CXIV.)-On the words of the Gospel, Luke xvii. 3, "If thy brother sin, rebuke him; " etc., touching the remission of sins. (Delivered at the Table of St. Cyprian, in the presence of Count Boniface). 452 SERM. LXV. (cxv.)- On the words of the Gospel, Luke xviii. 1, "They ought always to pray, and not to faint:" etc. And on the two who went up into the temple to pray: and of the little children who were presented unto Christ. 454 - 470 SERM. LXXIII. (CXXIII.)—On the words of the Gospel, John ii. 2, "And Jesus also was bidden, and His disciples, to the marriage." .. SERM. LXXIV. (CXXIV.) gate a pool," etc. SERM. LXVI. (CXVI.)—On the words of the Gospel, Luke xxiv. 36, "He Himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you." etc. 456 SERM. LXVII. (CXVII.) - On the words of the Gospel, John i. 1, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God," etc. Against the Arians. SERM. LXVIII. (CXVIII.) — On the same words of the Gospel, John i., "In the beginning was the Word," etc. 465 Serm. LXIX. (CxIx.) — On the same words, John i., “In the beginning was the Word,” etc. . SERM. LXX. (cxx.) — On the same words of John i., “In the beginning was the Word,” etc. . SERM. LXXI. (cxxI.)—On the words of the Gospel, John i. 10, "The world was made through Him," etc.. 469 SERM. LXXII. (CXXII.)—On the words of the Gospel, John i. 48, "When thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee." etc.. On the words of the Gospel, John v. 2, "Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep SERM. LXXV. (cxxv.) — Again in John v. 2, etc., on the five porches, where lay a great multitude of im potent folk, and of the pool of Siloa . . SERM. LXXVI. (cxxvI.) — On the words of the Gospel, John v. 19, "The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father doing" . . SERM. LXXVII. (CXXVII.) — On the words of the Gospel, John v. 25, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour cometh, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear shall live." etc.; and on the words of the Apostle, "Things which eye saw not," etc., 1 Cor. ii. 9 . . 486 SERM. LXXVIII. (CXXVIII.) — On the words of the Gospel, John v. 31, "If I bear witness of Myself," etc.; and on the words of the Apostle, Gal. v. 16, “ Walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth," etc.. SERM. LXXIX. (CXXIX.) On the words of the Gospel, John v. 39, "Ye search the scriptures, because ye think that in them ye have eternal life," etc. Against the Donatists SERM. LXXX. (CXXX.) — On the words of the Gospel, John vi. 9, where the miracle of the five loaves and the two fishes is related .. SERM. LXXXI. (CXXXI.)- On the words of the Gospel, John vi. 53, "Except ye eat the flesh," etc.; and on the words of the Apostles; and the Psalms. Against the Pelagians. (Delivered at the Table of the Martyr St. Cyprian, the 9th of the Calends of October,—23d Sept., on the Lord's Day) SERM. LXXXII. (cxxxII.) — On the words of the Gospel, John vi. 55, “For My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He that eateth My flesh," etc. SERM. LXXXIII. (CXXXIII.) — On the words of the Gospel of John vii. 6, etc., where Jesus said that He was not going up unto the feast, and notwithstanding went up SERM. LXXXIV. (cxxxiv.)—On the words of the Gospel, John viii. 31, “If ye abide in My word, then are ye truly My disciples," etc. . SERM. LXXXV. (cxxxv.) — On the words of the Gospel, John ix. 4 and 31, "We must work the works of Him That sent Me," etc. Against the Arians. And of that which the man who was born blind and received his sight said, "We know that God heareth not sinners" SERM. LXXXVI. (cxxxvi.)—On the same Lesson of the Gospel, John ix., on the giving sight to the man that was born blind. PAGE 496 498 501 504 506 509 512 514 .... SERM. LXXXVII. (CXXXVII.) - The tenth chapter of the Gospel of John. Of the Shepherd, and the hireling, and the thief SERM. LXXXVIII. (CXXXVIII.) On the words of the Gospel, John x. 14, "I am the good Shepherd," etc. 523 527 Against the Donatists. SERM. LXXXIX. (CXXXIX.)—On the words of the Gospel, John x. 30, "I and the Father are One." SERM. XC. (CXL.) — On the words of the Gospel, John xii. 44, "He that believeth on Me, believeth not on Me, but on Him That sent Me." Against a certain expression of Maximinus, a bishop of the Arians, who spread his blasphemy in Africa where he was with the Count Segisvult SERM. XCI. (CXLI.)- On the words of the Gospel, John xiv. 6, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life," 531 SERM. XCII. (CXLII.)- On the same words of the Gospel, John xiv. 6, "I am the way," etc. SERM. XCIII. (CXLIII.)—On the words of the Gospel, John xvi. 7, "I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away," etc. SERM. XCIV. (CXLIV.) — On the same words of the Gospel, John xvi. 8, " He will convict the world in respect of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgement" SERM. XCV. (CXLV.)-On the words of the Gospel, John xvi. 24, "Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My Name;" and on the words of Luke x. 17, “Lord, even the demons are subject unto us in Thy Name" SERM. XCVI. (CXLVI.) — On the words of the Gospel, John xxi. 16, “Simon, son of John, lovest thou Me?" etc. SERM. XCVII. (CXLVII.)-On the same words of the Gospel of John xxi. 15, "Simon, son of John, lovest thou Me more than these?" etc. 538 540 • 543 544 SERMONS ON SELECTED LESSONS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. SERMON I. [LI. BENEDICTINE EDITION.] OF THE AGREEMENT OF THE EVANGELISTS MAT- LORD. 4 2. Now what more marvellous, what more magnificent thing could our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and also the Son of man (for this also He vouchsafed to be), grant to us, than the gathering into His fold not only of the spectators of these foolish shows, but even some 1. MAY He, beloved, fulfil your expectation of the actors in them; for He hath combated + who hath awakened it: for though I feel confi- unto salvation not only the lovers of the comdent that what I have to say is not my own, but bats of men with beasts, but even the combatGod's, yet with far more reason do I say, what ants themselves, for He also was made a spectacle the Apostle in his humility saith, "We have this Himself. Hear how. He hath told us Himtreasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency self, and foretold it before He was made a specof the power may be of God, and not of us." "tacle, and in the words of prophecy announced I do not doubt accordingly that you remember beforehand what was to come to pass, as if it my promise; in Him I made it through whom were already done, saying in the Psalms, "They I now fulfil it, for both when I made the promise, did I ask of the Lord, and now when I fulfil it, do I receive of Him. Now you will remember, beloved, that it was in the matins of the festival of the Lord's Nativity, that I put off the question which I had proposed for resolution, because many came with us to the celebration of the accustomed solemnities of that day to whom the word of God is usually burdensome; but now I imagine that none have come here, but they who desire to hear, and so I am not speaking to hearts that are deaf, and to minds that will disdain the word, but this your longing expectation is a prayer for me. There is a further consideration; for the day of the public shows has dispersed many from hence, for whose salvation I exhort you to share my great anxiety, and do you with all earnestness of mind, entreat God for those who are not yet intent upon the spectacles of the truth, but are wholly given up to the spectacles of the flesh; for I know and am well assured, that there are now among you those who have this day despised them, and have burst the bonds of their inveterate habits; for men are changed both for the better and the worse. By daily instances of this kind are we alternately made joyful and sad; we joy over the reformed, are sad over the corrupted; and therefore the Lord doth not say that he who beginneth, shall be saved, "But he that endureth unto the end shall be saved." 3 2 Muneris. 1 2 Cor. iv. 7. 3 Matt. x. 22. pierced My hands and My feet, they told all My bones." 5 Lo! how He was made a spectacle, for His bones to be told! and this spectacle He expresseth more plainly, "they observed and looked upon Me." He was made a spectacle and an object of derision, made a spectacle by them who were to show Him no favour indeed in that spectacle, but who were to be furious against Him, just as at first He made His martyrs spectacles; as saith the Apostle, "We are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men." Now two sorts of men are spectators of such spectacles; the one, carnal, the other, spiritual men. The carnal look on, as thinking those martyrs who are thrown to the beasts, or beheaded, or burnt in the flames, to be wretched men, and they detest and abhor them; but others look on, like the holy Angels, not regarding the laceration of their bodies, but admiring the unimpaired purity of their faith. A grand spectacle to the eyes of the heart doth a whole mind in a mangled body exhibit! When these things are read of in the church, you behold them with pleasure with these eyes of the heart, for if you were to behold nothing, you would hear nothing; so you see you have not neglected the spectacles to-day, but have made a choice of spectacles. May God then be with you, and give you grace with gentle persuasiveness to report your spectacles to your friends, whom you have Ipsos venatores venatus est ad salutem. 6 i Cor. iv. 9. 5 Ps. xxii. 16, 17. been pained to see this day running to the am- He had avoided the womb of a woman, it might phitheatre, and unwilling to come to the church; have betokened, as it were, that He could have that so they too may begin to contemn those contracted defilement from her; but by how things, by the love of which themselves have be- much He was in His own substance more incapacome contemptible, and may, with you, love ble of defilement, by so much less had He cause God, of whom none who love Him can ever be to fear the woman's womb, as though He could ashamed, for that they love Him who cannot contract defilement from it. But by being born be overcome: let them, as you do, love Christ, of a woman, He purposed to show to us some who by that very thing wherein He seemed to high mystery. For of a truth, brethren, we be overcome, overcame the whole world. For grant too, that if the Lord had willed to become He hath overcome the whole world as we see, man without being born of a woman, it were my brethren; He hath subjected all powers, He easy to His sovereign Majesty. For as He hath subjugated kings, not with the pride of sol- could be born of a woman without a man, so diery, but by the ignominy of the Cross: not by could He also have been born without the woman. the fury of the sword, but by hanging on the But this hath He shown us, that mankind of Wood, by suffering in the body, by working in neither sex might despair of its salvation, for the Spirit. His body was lifted up on the the human sexes are male and female. If thereCross, and so He subdued souls to the Cross; fore being a man, which it behoved Him assurand now what jewel in their diadem is more edly to be, He had not been born of a woman, precious than the Cross of Christ on the fore- women might have despaired of themselves, as heads of kings? In loving Him you will never mindful of their first sin, because by a woman be ashamed. Whereas from the amphitheatre was the first man deceived, and would have how many return conquered, because those are thought that they had no hope at all in Christ. conquered, for whom they are so madly inter- He came therefore as a man to make special ested! still more would they be conquered choice of that sex, and was born of a woman were they to conquer. For so would they be to console the female sex, as though He would enslaved to the vain joy, to the exultation of a address them and say; "That ye may know depraved desire, who are conquered by the very that no creature of God is bad, but that unregcircumstance of running to these shows. For ulated pleasure perverteth it, when in the behow many, my brethren, do you think have this ginning I made man, I made them male and day been in hesitation whether they would go female. I do not condemn the creature which here or there? And they who in this hesitation, I made. See I have been born a Man, and born turning their thoughts to Christ, have run to the of a woman; it is not then the creature which church, have overcome, not any man, but the I made that I condemn, but the sins which I devil himself, him that hunteth 2 after the souls made not." Let each sex then at once see its of the whole world. But they who in that hes- honour, and confess its iniquity, and let them itation have chosen rather to run to the amphi- both hope for salvation. The poison to deceive theatre, have assuredly been overcome by him man was presented him by woman, through whom the others overcame overcame in Him woman let salvation for man's recovery be prewho saith, "Be of good cheer, I have overcome sented; so let the woman make amends for the the world."3 For the Captain suffered Himself sin by which she deceived the man, by giving to be tried, only that He might teach His soldiers birth to Christ. For the same reason again, to fight. women were the first who announced to the Apostles the Resurrection of God. The woman in Paradise announced death to her husband, and the women in the Church announced salvation to the men; the Apostles were to announce to the nations the Resurrection of Christ, the women announced it to the Apostles. Let no one then reproach Christ with His birth of a woman, by which sex the Deliverer could not be defiled, and to which it was in the purpose of the Creator to do honour.7 3. That our Lord Jesus Christ might do this, He became the Son of man by being born of a woman. But now, would He have been any less a man, if He had not been born of the Virgin Mary." one may say. "He willed to be a man; well and good; He might have so been, and yet not be born of a woman; for neither did He make the first man whom He made, of a woman." Now see what answer I make to this. You say, Why did He choose to be born of a woman? I answer, Why should He avoid being born of a woman? Granted that I could not show that He chose to be born of a woman; do you show why He need have avoided it. But I have already said at other times, that if 1 Spiritaliter. 2 Venatorem. 3 John xvi. 33. 4. But, say they, "how are we to believe that Christ was born of a woman?" I would answer, by the Gospel which hath been preached and is still preached to all the world. But these men, blind themselves, and aiming to blind |