Book I.

The choice of Gideon was a figure of our Lord’s Incarnation, the sacrifice of a kid, of the satisfaction for sins in the body of Christ; that of the bullock, of the abolition of profane rites; and in the three hundred soldiers was a type of the future redemption through the cross. The seeking of various signs by Gideon was also a mystery, for by the dryness and moistening of the fleece was signified the falling away of the Jews and the calling of the Gentiles, by the water received in a basin the washing of the apostles’ feet. St. Ambrose prays that his own pollution may be washed away, and praises the loving-kindness of Christ. The same water sent forth by the Son of God effects marvellous conversions; it cannot, however, be sent by any other, since it is the pouring forth of the Holy Spirit, Who is subject to no external power.

1. When Jerubbaal, as we read, was beating out wheat1    Judg. vi. 11. under an oak, he received a message from God in order that he might bring the people of God from the power of strangers into liberty. Nor is it a matter of wonder if he was chosen for grace, seeing that even then, being appointed under the shadow of the holy cross and of the adorable Wisdom in the predestined mystery of the future Incarnation, he was bringing forth the visible grains of the fruitful corn from their hiding places, and was [mystically] separating the elect of the saints from the refuse of the empty chaff. For these elect, as though trained with the rod of truth, laying aside the superfluities of the old man together with his deeds, are gathered in the Church as in a winepress. For the Church is the winepress of the eternal fountain, since from her wells forth the juice of the heavenly Vine.

2. And Gideon, moved by that message, when he heard that, though thousands of the people failed, God would deliver His own from their enemies by means of one man,2    Judg. vi. 14. offered a kid, and according to the word of the Angel, laid its flesh and the unleavened cakes upon the rock, and poured the broth upon them. And as soon as the Angel touched them with the end of the staff which he bore, fire burst forth out of the rock, and so the sacrifice which he was offering was consumed.3    Judg. vi. 19–21. By which it seems clear that that rock was a figure of the Body of Christ, for it is written: “They drank of that rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ.”4    1 Cor. x. 4. Which certainly refers not to His Godhead, but to His Flesh, which watered the hearts of the thirsting people with the perpetual stream of His Blood.

3. Even at that time was it declared in a mystery that the Lord Jesus in His Flesh would, when crucified, do away the sins of the whole world, and not only the deeds of the body, but the desires of the soul. For the flesh of the kid refers to sins of deed, the broth to the enticements of desire as it is written: “For the people lusted an evil lust, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?”5    Num. xi. 4. That the Angel then stretched forth his staff, and touched the rock, from which fire went out,6    Judg. vi. 21. shows that the Flesh of the Lord, being filled with the Divine Spirit, would burn away all the sins of human frailty. Wherefore, also, the Lord says: “I am come to send fire upon the earth.”7    S. Luke xii. 49.

4. Then the man, instructed and foreknowing what was to be, observes the heavenly mysteries, and therefore, according to the warning, slew the bullock destined by his father to idols, and himself offered to God another bullock seven years old.8    Judg. vi. 26. By doing which he most plainly showed that after the coming of the Lord all Gentile sacrifices should be done away, and that only the sacrifice of the Lord’s passion should be offered for the redemption of the people. For that bullock was, in a type, Christ, in Whom, as Esaias said, dwelt the fulness of the seven gifts of the Spirit.9    Isa. xi. 2. This bullock Abraham also offered when he saw the day of the Lord and was glad.10    S. John viii. 56. He it is Who was offered at one time in the type of a kid, at another in that of a sheep, at another in that of a bullock. Of a kid, because He is a sacrifice for sin; of a sheep, because He is an unresisting victim; of a bullock, because He is a victim without blemish.

5. Holy Gideon then saw the mystery beforehand. Next he chose out three hundred for the battle, so as to show that the world should be freed from the incursion of worse enemies, not by the multitude of their number, but by the mystery of the cross. And yet, though he was brave and faithful, he asked of the Lord yet fuller proofs of future victory, saying: “If Thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, O Lord, as Thou hast said, behold I will put a fleece of wool on the threshing-floor, and if there shall be dew on the fleece and dryness on all the ground, I shall know that Thou wilt deliver the people by my hand according to Thy promise. And it was so.”11    Judg. vi. 36. Afterwards he asked in addition that dew should descend on all the earth and dryness be on the fleece.

6. Some one perhaps will enquire whether he does not seem to have been wanting in faith, seeing that after being instructed by many signs he asked still more. But how can he seem to have asked as if doubting or wanting in faith, who was speaking in mysteries? He was not then doubtful, but careful that we should not doubt. For how could he be doubtful whose prayer was effectual? And how could he have begun the battle without fear, unless he had understood the message of God? for the dew on the fleece signified the faith among the Jews, because the words of God come down like the dew.

7. So when the whole world was parched with the drought of Gentile superstition, then came that dew of the heavenly visits on the fleece. But after that the lost sheep of the house of Israel12    S. Matt. xv. 24. (whom I think that the figure of the Jewish fleece shadowed forth), after that those sheep, I say,13    Jer. ii. 13. “had refused the fountain of living water,” the dew of moistening faith dried up in the breasts of the Jews, and that divine Fountain turned away its course to the hearts of the Gentiles. Whence it has come to pass that now the whole world is moistened with the dew of faith, but the Jews have lost their prophets and counsellors.

8. Nor is it strange that they should suffer the drought of unbelief, whom the Lord deprived of the fertilising of the shower of prophecy, saying: “I will command My clouds that they rain not upon that vineyard.”14    Isa. v. 6. For there is a health-giving shower of salutary grace, as David also said: “He came down like rain upon a fleece, and like drops that drop upon the earth.”15    Ps. lxxii. [lxxi.] 6. The divine Scriptures promised us this rain upon the whole earth, to water the world with the dew of the Divine Spirit at the coming of the Saviour. The Lord, then, has now come, and the rain has come; the Lord has come bringing the heavenly drops with Him, and so now we drink, who before were thirsty, and with an interior draught drink in that Divine Spirit.

9. Holy Gideon, then, foresaw this, that the nations of the Gentiles also would drink by the reception of faith, and therefore he enquired more diligently, for the caution of the saints is necessary. Insomuch that also Joshua the son of Nun, when he saw the captain of the heavenly host, enquired: “Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?”16    Josh. v. 13. lest, perchance, he might be deceived by some stratagem of the adversary.

10. Nor was it without a reason that he put the fleece neither in a field nor in a meadow, but in a threshing-floor, where is the harvest of the wheat: “For the harvest is plenteous, but the labourers are few;”17    S. Luke x. 2. because that, through faith in the Lord, there was about to be a harvest fruitful in virtues.

11. Nor, again, was it without a reason that he dried the fleece of the Jews, and put the dew from it into a basin, so that it was filled with water, yet he did not himself wash his feet in that dew. The prerogative of so great a mystery was to be given to another. He was being waited for Who alone could wash away the filth of all. Gideon was not great enough to claim this mystery for himself, but “the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister.”18    S. Matt. xx. 28. Let us, then, recognize in Whom these mysteries are seen to be accomplished. Not in holy Gideon, for they were still at their commencement. Therefore the Gentiles were surpassed, for dryness was still upon the Gentiles, and therefore did Israel surpass them, for then did the dew remain on the fleece.

12. Let us come now to the Gospel of God. I find the Lord stripping Himself of His garments, and girding Himself with a towel, pouring water into a basin, and washing the disciples’ feet.19    S. John xiii. 4. That heavenly dew was this water, this was foretold, namely, that the Lord Jesus Christ would wash the feet of His disciples in that heavenly dew. And now let the feet of our minds be stretched out. The Lord Jesus wills also to wash our feet, for He says, not to Peter alone, but to each of the faithful: “If I wash not thy feet thou wilt have no part with Me.”20    S. John xiii. 8.

13. Come, then, Lord Jesus, put off Thy garments, which Thou didst put on for my sake; be Thou stripped that Thou mayest clothe us with Thy mercy. Gird Thyself for our sakes with a towel, that Thou mayest gird us with Thy gift of immortality. Pour water into the basin, wash not only our feet but also the head, and not only of the body, but also the footsteps of the soul. I wish to put off all the filth of our frailty, so that I also may say: “By night I have put off my coat, how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet, how shall I defile them?”21    Cant. v. 3.

14. How great is that excellence! As a servant, Thou dost wash the feet of Thy disciples; as God, Thou sendest dew from heaven. Nor dost Thou wash the feet only, but also invitest us to sit down with Thee, and by the example of Thy dignity dost exhort us, saying: “Ye call Me Master and Lord, and ye do well, for so I am. If, then, I the Lord and Master have washed your feet, ye ought also to wash one another’s feet.”22    S. John xiii. 13, 14.

15. I, then, wish also myself to wash the feet of my brethren, I wish to fulfil the commandment of my Lord, I will not be ashamed in myself, nor disdain what He Himself did first. Good is the mystery of humility, because while washing the pollutions of others I wash away my own. But all were not able to exhaust this mystery. Abraham was, indeed, willing to wash feet,23    Gen. xviii. 4. but because of a feeling of hospitality. Gideon, too, was willing to wash the feet of the Angel of the Lord who appeared to him,24    Whence this statement is derived cannot be ascertained. Possibly it is merely an assumption of St. Ambrose founded on his estimate of Gideon’s character. but his willingness was confined to one; he was willing as one who would do a service, not as one who would confer fellowship with himself. This is a great mystery which no one knew. Lastly, the Lord said to Peter: “What I do thou knowest not now, but shalt know hereafter.”25    S. John xiii. 7. This, I say, is a divine mystery which even they who wash will enquire into. It is not, then, the simple water of the heavenly mystery whereby we attain to be found worthy of having part with Christ.

16. There is also a certain water which we put into the basin of our soul, water from the fleece and from the Book of Judges; water, too, from the Book of Psalms.26    Ps. xxiii. [xxii.] 2. It is the water of the message from heaven. Let, then, this water, O Lord Jesus, come into my soul, into my flesh, that through the moisture of this rain27    Ps. lxxv. [lxxiv.] 11. the valleys of our minds and the fields of our hearts may grow green. May the drops from Thee come upon me, shedding forth grace and immortality. Wash the steps of my mind that I may not sin again. Wash the heel28    “Alia est iniquitas nostra, alia calcanei nostri, in quo Adam dente serpentis est vulneratus et obnoxiam hereditatem successionis humanæ suo vulnere dereliquit, ut omnes illo vulnere claudicemus.” St. Aug. Exp. Psal. xlviii. 6, and St. Ambrose, Enar. in Ps. xlviii. 9: “Unde reor uniquitatem calcanei magis lubricum deliquendi quam reatum aliquem nostri esse delicti.” This lubricum delinquendi, the wound of Adam’s heel, seems to have been understood of concupiscence, which has the nature of sin, and is called sin by St. Paul. of my soul, that I may be able to efface the curse, that I feel not the serpent’s bite29    Gen. iii. 15. on the foot of my soul, but, as Thou Thyself hast bidden those who follow Thee, may tread on serpents and scorpions30    S. Luke x. 19. with uninjured foot. Thou hast redeemed the world, redeem the soul of a single sinner.

17. This is the special excellence of Thy loving-kindness, wherewith Thou hast redeemed the whole world one by one. Elijah was sent to one widow;31    1 [3] Kings xvii. 9. Elisha cleansed one;32    2 [4] Kings v. 14. Thou, O Lord Jesus, hast at this day cleansed a thousand. How many in the city of Rome, how many at Alexandria, how many at Antioch, how many also at Constantinople! For even Constantinople has received the word of God, and has received evident proofs of Thy judgment. For so long as she cherished the Arians’ poison in her bosom, disquieted by neighbouring wars, she echoed with hostile arms around. But so soon as she rejected those who were alien from the faith she received as a suppliant the enemy himself, the judge of kings, whom she had always been wont to fear, she buried him when dead, and retains him entombed.33    Athanaricus, king or judex of the West Goths in Dacia, defeated in 369 by the Emperor Valens. Subsequently, in 380, being defeated by the Huns and some Gothic chiefs, he was forced to take refuge in Constantinople, when he was received with all the honour due to his rank. He died the next year. How many, then, hast Thou cleansed at Constantinople, how many, lastly, at this day in the whole world!

18. Damasus cleansed not, Peter cleansed not, Ambrose cleansed not, Gregory cleansed not;34    Damasus of Rome, Peter of Alexandria, Gregory of Constantinople, and St. Ambrose himself. Peter had died by this time, but the fact was probably not yet known at Milan. for ours is the ministry, but the sacraments are Thine. For it is not in man’s power to confer what is divine, but it is, O Lord, Thy gift and that of the Father, as Thou hast spoken by the prophets, saying: “I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh, and their sons and their daughters shall prophesy.”35    Joel ii. 28. This is that typical dew from heaven, this is that gracious rain, as we read: “A gracious rain, dividing for His inheritance.”36    Ps. lxviii. [lxvii.] 9. For the Holy Spirit is not subject to any foreign power or law, but is the Arbiter of His own freedom, dividing all things according to the decision of His own will, to each, as we read, severally as He wills.37    1 Cor. xii. 11.

LIBER PRIMUS.

599 PROLOGUS.

0703A

In Gedeonis electione Dominicae incarnationis figuram fuisse: in haedi sacrificio peccatorum per Christi corpus expiandorum: in vituli, profanorum sacrorum abolendorum: in trecentis denique militibus futurae per crucem redemptionis. Quod plura petierit signa idem Gedeon, mysterii fuisse; per velleris enim siccitatem ac madefactionem, Judaeorum infidelitatem, gentiumque vocationem significatas: per rorem autem pelvi exceptum pedum apostolorum ablutionem. Hac sibi pedum mundari sordes orat Ambrosius, simulque Christi benignitatem laudat. Quam utile sit hanc imitari! Eamdem aquam a Dei Filio missam in orbe mirabiles conversiones operari: sed ab alio mitti non posse, cum sit effusio Spiritus 0703B Sancti, qui alienae potestati non subjicitur.

1. Hierobaal cum sub arbore, ut legimus (Judic. VI, 11), quercu, tritici messem virga caederet, accepit oraculum, ut a potestate alienigenarum in libertatem Dei populum vindicaret. Nec mirum si est electus ad gratiam, cum sub umbra jam tum sacrae crucis et venerabilis sapientiae praedestinato incarnationis futurae mysterio constitutus, feracis segetis sensibilia de latibulis frumenta produceret, electionemque sanctorum a purgamentis inanis paleae sequestraret: qui tamquam virga veritatis exerciti, superflua veteris hominis cum ejus actibus deponentes, quasi in torculari, ita in Ecclesia congregantur; Ecclesia enim torcular est fontis aeterni, in qua coelestis 0703C vitis fructus exundat.

2. Quo motus oraculo Gedeon, cum audisset quod deficientibus licet populorum millibus, in uno viro Dominus plebem suam ab hostibus 600 liberaret 0704A (Ibid., 14); obtulit haedum caprarum, cujus carnem, secundum praeceptum angeli, et azyma supra petram posuit et ea jure perfudit: quae simul ut virgae cacumine, quam gerebat angelus, Dei contigit, de petra ignis erupit; atque ita sacrificium quod offerebatur, absumptum est (Ibid., 19 et seq.). Quo indicio declaratum videtur quod petra illa typum habuerit corporis Christi; quia scriptum est: Bibebant de consequenti eos petra, petra autem erat Christus (I Cor. X, 4). Quod utique non ad divinitatem ejus, sed ad carnem relatum est, quae sitientium corda populorum perenni rivo sui sanguinis inundavit.

3. Jam tunc igitur in mysterio declaratum est, quia Dominus Jesus in carne sua totius mundi peccata 0704B crucifixus aboleret: nec solum delicta factorum, sed etiam cupiditates animorum. Caro enim haedi ad culpam facti refertur; jus ad illecebras cupiditatum, sicut scriptum est: Quia concupivit populus cupiditatem pessimam, et dixerunt: Quis nos cibabit carne (Num. XI, 4)? Quod igitur extendit angelus virgam, et tetigit petram, de qua ignis exivit (Judic. VI, 21); ostendit quod caro Domini Spiritu repleta divino, peccata omnia humanae conditionis exureret. Unde et Dominus ait: Ignem veni mittere in terram (Luc. XII, 49).

4. Advertit igitur vir doctus et praesagus futuri superna mysteria; et ideo secundum oracula occidit vitulum a patre suo idolis deputatum, et ipse septennem alium vitulum immolavit Deo (Judic. VI, 25). 0704C Quo facto manifestissime revelavit post adventum Domini omnia gentilitatis abolenda sacrificia, solumque sacrificium Deo Dominicae passionis pro redemptione populi deferendum. Etenim vitulus ille 0705A erat in typo Christus, in quo septem spiritalium plenitudo virtutum, sicut Esaias dixit (Esai. I, 2), habitabat. Hunc vitulum et Abraham obtulit, quando diem Domini vidit, et gavisus est (Joan. VIII, 56). Hic est qui nunc in haedi typo, 601 nunc in ovis, nunc in vituli offerebatur. Haedi, quod sacrificium pro delictis sit; ovis, quod voluntaria hostia: vituli, quod immaculata sit victima.

5. Praevidit ergo mysterium sanctus Gedeon. Denique trecentos elegit ad praelium (Judic. VII, 6); ut ostenderet non in numero multitudinis, sed in sacramento crucis mundum ab incursu graviorum hostium liberandum. Et tamen licet fortis et fidus, pleniora adhuc de Domino futurae victoriae documenta quaerebat, dicens: Si salvas in manu mea Israel, 0705B quemadmodum locutus es, Domine; ecce ego pono lanae vellus in area: et si ros factus fuerit super vellus, et super omnem terram siccitas, cognoscam quia in manu mea secundum promissa tua populum liberabis. Et ita factum est (Judic. VI, 36 et seq.). Sed adjecit postea, ut rursum ros proflueret super totam terram, et siccitas esset in vellere.

6. Quaerit fortasse aliquis utrumnam quasi incredulus esse videatur, qui frequentibus informatus indiciis adhuc plura poscebat? Sed quemadmodum potest videri quasi ambiguus incertusque tentasse, qui mysteria loquebatur? Non ergo ille ambiguus, sed providus, ne nos ambigeremus. Nam quomodo ille ambiguus, cujus precatio habebat effectum? Unde autem securus adorsus esset praelium, nisi intellexisset 0705C oraculum: ros enim in vellere fides erat in Judaea; quia, sicut ros, Dei verba descendunt (Deut. XXXII, 2).

7. Ergo quando totus orbis infructuoso aestu gentilis superstitionis arebat, tunc erat ros ille coelestis visitationis in vellere. Postea vero quam oves quae (Matth. XV, 24) perierunt domus Israel (unde puto figuram Judaici velleris adumbratam), oves, inquam, illae fontem aquae vivae negarunt (Jerem. II, 13), ros fidei humentis exaruit in pectoribus Judaeorum, meatusque suos fons ille divinus in corda gentium derivavit (Esai. III, 2). Inde est quod nunc fidei rore totus orbis humescit: at vero Judaei prophetas suos et consiliarios perdiderunt.

8. Nec mirum si perfidiae subeant siccitatem, 0705D quos Dominus Deus prophetici imbris ubertate privavit, dicens: Mandabo nubibus meis ne pluant super vineam istam (Esai. V, 6). Est enim propheticae nubis pluvia salutaris, sicut et David dixit: Descendit sicut pluvia in vellus, et sicut stillicidia stillantia super terram (Psal. LXXI, 6). Hanc nobis Scripturae divinae totius mundi pluviam pollicebantur, quae rigaret orbem sub Domini Salvatoris adventu Spiritus rore divini. Venit ergo jam Dominus, venit et pluvia, venit Dominus stillicidia secum coelestia deferens; 0706A et ideo jam nos bibimus, qui ante sitiebamus, et divinum illum Spiritum haustu interiore potamus.

9. Hoc ergo praevidit sanctus Gedeon, quia verum et spiritalem rorem etiam gentium nationes erant fidei perceptione bibiturae, et ideo diligentius exploravit; est enim necessaria cautela sanctorum. Siquidem etiam Jesus Nave cum vidisset ducem militiae coelestis, interrogavit: Noster es, an adversariorum (Jos. V, 13)? ne forte aliquibus 602 adversarii praestigiis falleretur.

10. Non tamen otiose quod vellus non vel in campo posuit, vel in prato: sed posuit in area, ubi messis est tritici: Messis enim multa, operarii autem pauci (Luc. X, 12); eo quod per fidem Domini futura esset messis fecunda virtutum.

0706B 11. Nec illud otiose quod exsiccavit vellus Judaicum, et rorem ejus misit in pelvim, ut repleretur aqua, non tamen ipse eo rore pedes lavit (Judic. VI, 39, 40). Alii debebatur tanti praerogativa mysterii. Exspectabatur ille qui sordes omnium solus posset abluere. Non erat tantus Gedeon, qui hoc sibi mysterium vindicaret. Non enim Gedeon, sed Filius hominis venit non ministrari, sed ministrare (Matth. XX, 28). Itaque cognoscamus in quo haec mysteria videantur esse completa. Non in sancto Hierobaal; adhuc enim erant illa principia. Ideo gentes victae, quia siccitas erat adhuc in gentibus: ideo Israel vicit, quia ros tunc manebat in vellere.

12. Veniamus ad Dei Evangelium. Invenio Dominum 0706C spoliantem se vestimenta, et praecingentem se linteo, mittentem aquam in pelvim, lavantem pedes discipulorum (Joan. XIII, 4 et seq.). Haec erat aqua ros ille coelestis, hoc prophetabatur quod illo rore coelesti discipulorum suorum Dominus Jesus pedes lavaret. Et nunc extendantur pedes animorum nostrorum. Vult Dominus Jesus et nostros lavare pedes; non enim Petro soli, sed unicuique dicit fideli: Nisi lavero tibi pedes, non habebis mecum partem (Ibid., 8).

13. Veni ergo, Domine Jesu, exue te vestimenta, quae propter me induisti: esto nudus, ut nos misericordia tua vestias. Praecinge te propter nos linteo, ut nos tui muneris immortalitate praecingas. Mitte aquam in pelvim: lava non solum pedes, sed etiam 0706D caput: nec solum corporis nostri, sed etiam mentis vestigia. Volo exuere omnes nostrae sordes fragilitatis; ut et ego dicam: Nocte exui tunicam meam, quomodo induam eam? Lavi pedes meos, quomodo inquinabo illos (Cant. V, 3)?

14. Quanta ista majestas est! Quasi minister pedes famulorum tuorum lavas, quasi Deus rorem mittis e coelo. Nec solum pedes lavas, sed etiam ut tecum recumbamus invitas, et exemplo nos tuae dignationis hortaris dicens: Vocatis me dominum et magistrum, 0707A et bene facitis; sum etenim. Si ergo ego lavi pedes vestros dominus et magister, et vos invicem lavate pedes vestros (Joan. XIII, 13, 14).

15. Volo ergo et ego pedes lavare fratrum meorum, volo Domini implere mandatum, volo in me non verecundari, non dedignari quod ipse prius fecit. Bonum mysterium humilitatis; quia dum alienas sordes lavo, meas abluo. Sed non hoc omnes haurire poterant mysterium. Lavare voluit quidem et Abraham pedes, sed hospitalitatis affectu (Gen. XVIII, 4). Volebat et Gedeon lavare pedes angelo Domini qui apparuit sibi: sed volebat uni, volebat quasi is qui deferret obsequium, non qui donaret consortium. 603 Hoc mysterium magnum est, quod nemo cognovit. Denique Petro dixit: Quod ego facio 0707B tu nescis, cognosces postea (Joan. XIII, 7). Hoc, inquam, divinum mysterium est, quod etiam qui laverint, requirent. Non est ergo simplex aqua coelestis mysterii, per quam consequimur, ut partem cum Christo habere mereamur.

16. Est et quaedam aqua quam mittamus in pelvim animae nostrae, aqua de vellere et libro Judicum, aqua de libro Psalmorum (Psal. XXII, 2). Aqua est ros coelestis oraculi. Veniat igitur, Domine Jesu, haec aqua in meam animam, in meam carnem; ut hujus humore pluviae nostrarum convalles mentium atque intimi cordis arva viridescant (Psal. LXXI, 6). Veniant in me stillicidia tua, gratiam immortalitatemque rorantia. Dilue gressus mentis meae, ne iterum 0708A peccem. Ablue animi mei calcaneum, ut possim abolere maledictum (Gen. III, 15); ne morsum serpentis interiore pede sentiam, sed, sicut ipse jussisti sequentibus te, ut serpentes et scorpiones illaeso possim calcare vestigio (Luc. X, 19). Redemisti mundum, redime unius animam peccatoris.

17. Haec est specialis tuae praerogativa pietatis, qua totum mundum in singulis redemisti. Elias ad unam missus est viduam (III Reg. XVII, 9), Elisaeus mundavit unum (IV Reg. V, 14): tu nobis, Domine Jesu, hos hodie mille mundasti. Quantos in urbe Roma, quantos Alexandriae, quantos Antiochiae, quantos etiam Constantinopoli! Nam etiam Constantinopolis jam Dei verbum recepit, et evidentia meruit tui documenta judicii. Etenim quamdiu venena 0708B Arianorum suis fovebat inclusa visceribus, bellis finitimis inquieta, muros armis circumsonabat hostilibus. Postea vero quam fidei exsules abdicavit, hostem ipsum judicem regum, quem semper timere consueverat, deditum vidit, supplicem recepit, morientem obruit, sepultum possidet. Quantos ergo et Constantinopoli, quantos postremo toto hodie in orbe mundasti!

18. Non mundavit Damasus, non mundavit Petrus, non mundavit Ambrosius, non mundavit Gregorius; nostra enim servitia, sed tua 604 sunt sacramenta. Neque enim humanae opis est divina conferre; sed tuum, Domine, munus et Patris est, qui locutus est per prophetas, dicens: Effundam de 0709A Spiritu meo super omnem carnem, et prophetabant filii et filiae eorum (Joel. II, 21). Hic est in typo ros ille coelestis: haec pluvia voluntaria, sicut legimus: Pluviam voluntariam segregans Deus haereditati suae (Psal. LXVII, 18). (Alias cap. I.) Non enim Spiritus sanctus aut potestati alienae est subjectus aut juri; sed suae libertatis arbiter, omnia pro auctoritate propriae voluntatis dividens, sicut legimus (I Cor. XII, 10), singulis prout vult.