49. [XLV.]—Ambrose Teaches with What Eye Christ Turned and Looked Upon Peter.

That repentance, indeed, itself, which beyond all doubt is an action of the will, is wrought into action by the mercy and help of the Lord, is asserted by the blessed Ambrose in the following passage in the ninth book of the same work:115    “In the ninth book of the same work,” says St. Augustin. The reference, however, is to book x. of the editions, c. 89, on Luke xxii. 61. “Good, says he, “are the tears which wash away sin. They upon whom the Lord at last turns and looks, bewail. Peter denied Him first, and did not weep, because the Lord had not turned and looked upon him. He denied Him a second time, and still wept not, because the Lord had not even yet turned and looked upon him. The third time also he denied Him, Jesus turned and looked, and then he wept most bitterly.” Let these persons read the Gospel; let them consider how that the Lord Jesus was at that moment within, having a hearing before the chief of the priests; whilst the Apostle Peter was outside,116    Matt. xxvi. 69, 71. and down in the hall,117    Mark xiv. 66. sitting at one time with the servants at the fire,118    Luke xxii. 55. at another time standing,119    John xviii. 16. as the most accurate and consistent narrative of the evangelists shows. It cannot therefore be said that it was with His bodily eyes that the Lord turned and looked upon him by a visible and apparent admonition. That, then, which is described in the words, “The Lord turned and looked upon Peter,”120    Luke xxii. 61. was effected internally; it was wrought in the mind, wrought in the will. In mercy the Lord silently and secretly approached, touched the heart, recalled the memory of the past, with His own internal grace visited Peter, stirred and brought out into external tears the feelings of his inner man. Behold in what manner God is present with His help to our wills and actions; behold how “He worketh in us both to will and to do.”

CAPUT XLV.

49. Ipsam denique poenitentiam, quam procul dubio voluntas agit, Domini misericordia et adjutorio fieri ut agatur, in nono ejusdem operis libro beatus dicit Ambrosius, ita loquens: «Bonae lacrymae, quae culpam lavant. Denique quos Jesus respicit, plorant . Negavit primo Petrus, et non flevit, quia non respexerat Dominus: negavit secundo, non flevit, quia adhuc non respexerat Dominus: negavit et tertio, respexit Jesus, et ille amarissime flevit» (Lib. 10, n. 89, ad Luc. XXII, 61). Legant isti Evangelium, et videant Dominum Jesum tunc intus fuisse, cum a sacerdotum principibus audiretur: apostolum vero Petrum foris et deorsum in atrio cum servis ad focum nunc sedentem, nunc stantem, sicut veracissima et concordissima Evangelistarum narratione monstratur. Unde non potest dici, quod corporalibus oculis eum Dominus visibiliter admonendo respexerit. Et ideo quod ibi scriptum est, Respexit eum Dominus (Luc. XXII, 61); intus actum est, in mente actum est, in voluntate actum est . Misericordia Dominus latenter subvenit, cor tetigit, memoriam revocavit, interiore gratia sua visitavit Petrum, interioris hominis usque ad exteriores lacrymas movit et produxit affectum. Ecce quemadmodum Deus adjuvando adest voluntatibus et actionibus nostris: ecce quemadmodum et velle et operari operatur in nobis.