August 6

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.—Romans 8:38, 39.

THESE are great things here mentioned. But the reason we do not enter into them is, because we have not so great love. Yet still though they are great, as he wished to show that they were nothing beside the love wherewith he was loved of God; after it he then places his own, lest he should seem to be saying great things of himself. And what he says is somewhat of this kind. Why speak, he means, of this present, and evils inherited in this life? For even if a person were to tell me of things to

20 come, and of powers; of things, such as death and life; of powers, such as angels and archangels, and all the superior orders of beings; even these would be little to me compared with the love of Christ. For even if a person were to threaten me with that future death to which there is no death, to separate me from Christ, nor if he promised the life without end, would I agree to it. Why mention kings here below and consuls? this one or that? for if you tell me of angels, or all the powers above, or all existing things, or all that are to come, they are all small to me, both those in the earth, and those in heaven, and those under the earth, and those above heaven, compared to this charm. Then as these were not enough to set before them the strong desire which he had, he gives a being to others again of like magnitude, and says nor any other creation. And what he means is nearly this, even if there be any other creation as great as the visible, and as great as the intelligible, none of them parts me from that love. This he says not as if the angels attempted it, or the other powers, far from it, but as wishing to show quite to the utmost the love he had toward Christ. For Christ he loved not for the things of Christ, but for his sake the things that were his, and to him alone he looked, and one thing he feared, and that was falling from that love. For this thing was in itself more dreadful than hell, as to abide in it was more desirable than the kingdom.

What then should we now deserve, when he is found not to esteem even the things in heaven as compared with the desire for Christ, and we set more store by things of mire and clay than by Christ. And he out of desire of him would take up with falling into hell, and being banished from the kingdom, if the choice between the two were put to him? but we are not even above the present life. Are we worthy then to touch his very shoes, when we have come to be so far short of his largeness of mind? For he for Christ's sake does not think any thing of a kingdom; but we think slightingly of himself, and things of his we make great account of. And would it were of things of his. But now it is not even this; but with a kingdom set before us we let that alone, and keep pursuing shadows and dreams all our days. And yet God in his love toward man and exceeding gentleness, hath done the same as if an affectionate father should, on his son's becoming disinclined to a continual stay with him, manage to bring this about in another way. For since we have not the right feeling of desire after him, he keeps putting divers other things before us, so as to hold us to himself. Yet not even for this do we abide with him, but we keep springing off to childish playthings. Not so Paul, but like a noble-spirited child, who is open and attached to his father, he seeks only after the Father's presence, and other things he sets not so much store by; or, rather, it is much more than a child. For he does not value the Father and things that are his at the same rate, but when he looks to the Father, he counts them nothing, but would choose rather to be chastised and beaten, so he was with him, than to be apart from him and indulge his case. Let us then shudder, all of us, that do not even feel above money for the sake of God, or rather such of us as do not feel above it for our own sakes. For it was Paul alone who suffered in good earnest all things for Christ's sake, not for the sake of the kingdom, or his own honor, but owing to his affection to him.

"His love, surpassing far The love of all beneath, We find within our hearts, and dare The pointless darts of death.

"Stronger than death or hell The sacred power we prove; And conqu'rors of the world, we dwell In heaven, who dwell in love."