LXI.—In the Church to All the People of God.

I, brethren, am not righteous who am lifted up out of the filth, nor do I exalt myself; but I grieve for you, as seeing that out of so great a people, none is crowned in the contest; certainly, even if he does not himself fight, yet let him suggest encouragement to others.  Ye rebuke calamity; O belly, stuff yourself out with luxury.  The brother labours in arms with a world opposed to him; and dost thou, stuffed with wealth, neither fight, nor place thyself by his side when he is fighting?  O fool, dost not thou perceive that one is warring on behalf of many?  The whole Church is suspended on such a one if he conquers.  Thou seest that thy brother is withheld, and that he fights with the enemy.  Thou desirest peace in the camp, he outside rejects it.  Be pitiful, that thou mayest be before all things saved.  Neither dost thou fear the Lord, who cries aloud with such an utterance; even He who commands us to give food even to our enemies.  Look forward to thy meals from that Tobias who always on every day shared them entirely with the poor man.  Thou seekest to feed him, O fool, who feedeth thee again.  Dost thou wish that he should prepare for me, who is setting before him his burial?  The brother oppressed with want, nearly languishing away, cries out at the splendidly fed, and with distended belly.  What sayest thou of the Lord’s day?  If he have not placed himself before, call forth a poor man from the crowd whom thou mayest take to thy dinner.  In the tablets is your hope from a Christ refreshed.

LXI.---IN ECCLESIA, OMNI POPULO DEI.

0247B Justus ego non sum, fratres, de cloaca levatus: Nec me supertollo, sed doleo vestri, qui cerno Ex tanto populo nullum in agone coronari. Certe si non ipse pugnat, vel suggerat illis. Cladem objurgatis; o venter effercite luxu, Laborat frater adversante mundo sub armis, Et fartus opibus nec pugnas, nec pugnanti te sistis? 0248A Stulte, non intendis unum bellare pro multis? In talem pendet Ecclesia tota, si vincat. Abstineri vides fratrem, et pugnare cum hoste. Optas tu in castris pacem, foras ille repugnat: Misericors esto, ut sis ante omnia salvus. Nec metuis Dominum praeconio tanto clamantem: Inimicis etiam qui jubet alimenta praebere, Prandia ab eo prospice Tobia, qui semper Omnibus omnino diebus cum paupere sumpsit. Pascere tu quaeris, stulte, qui te denuo pascat. Vis ille mihi paret, qui componi proponit? Laute cibatum distento ventre declamat Oppressus inopia frater juxta tabescens. De die dominica quid dicis? si non ante locavit, Excita de turba pauperem, quem ad prandium ducas. 0248B In tabulis spes est vestra de Christo refecto.