12. We ought to remember by what name Christ calls His people, by what title He names His flock. He calls them sheep, that their Christian innocence may be like that of sheep; He calls them lambs, that their simplicity of mind may imitate the simple nature of lambs. Why does the wolf lurk under the garb of sheep? why does he who falsely asserts himself to be a Christian, dishonour the flock of Christ? To put on the name of Christ, and not to go in the way of Christ, what else is it but a mockery of the divine name, but a desertion of the way of salvation; since He Himself teaches and says that he shall come unto life who keeps His commandments, and that he is wise who hears and does His words; that he, moreover, is called the greatest doctor in the kingdom of heaven who thus does and teaches;26    [Matt. v. 19.] that, then, will be of advantage to the preacher what has been well and usefully preached, if what is uttered by his mouth is fulfilled by deeds following? But what did the Lord more frequently instil into His disciples, what did He more charge to be guarded and observed among His saving counsels and heavenly precepts, than that with the same love wherewith He Himself loved the disciples, we also should love one another? And in what manner does he keep either the peace or the love of the Lord, who, when jealousy intrudes, can neither be peaceable nor loving?

XII. Meminisse debemus quo vocabulo plebem suam Christus appellet, quo titulo gregem suum nuncupet. Oves nominat, ut innocentia christiana ovibus aequetur (Joan. X, 2; Matth. X, 16); agnos vocat, ut agnorum naturam simplicem simplicitas mentis imitetur. Quid sub vestitu ovium lupus latitat? quid gregem Christi qui se christianum mentitur infamat? Christi nomen induere et non per Christi viam pergere, quid aliud quam praevaricatio est divini nominis, quam desertio itineris salutaris? quando ipse doceat et dicat eum ad vitam venire qui mandata servaverit, et eum esse sapientem qui verba ejus audierit 0646C et fecerit, doctorem quoque eum maximum in regno coelorum vocari qui fecerit et sic docuerit (Matth. V, 19); tunc praedicanti profuturum quod bene atque utiliter praedicatum fuerit, si id quod ore promitur factis sequentibus impleatur. Quid vero insinuavit crebrius discipulis suis Dominus, quid inter salutaria monita et praecepta caelestia custodiendum magis servandumque mandavit, quam ut eadem dilectione qua discipulos ipse dilexit, nos quoque invicem diligamus (Joan. XIII, 34)? Quomodo autem vel pacem Domini vel charitatem tenet qui, intercedente zelo, nec pacificus potest esse nec charus?