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narrow way, being both confident and in fear: in fear because MATT. of the precipices on either side, confident because of Jesus 13. our Guide. Let us travel on, sober and wakeful. For though but for a little while one slumber, he is swept away quickly.

[8.] For we are not more perfect than David, who by a little carelessness was hurled into the very gulf of sin. Yet he arose again quickly. Look not then to his having sinned only, but also to his having washed away his sin. For to this end He wrote that history, not that thou shouldest behold him fallen, but admire him risen; to teach thee, when thou art fallen, how thou shouldest arise. Thus, as physicians choose out the most grievous diseases, and write them in their books, and teach their method of cure in similar cases; if so be men having practised on the greater, may easily master the less; even so God likewise hath brought forward the greatest of sins, that they also who offend in small things may find the cure of these easy, by means of the other: since if those admitted of healing, much more the less.

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Let us look then to the manner both of the sickness, and of the speedy recovery of that blessed man. What then was the manner of his sickness? He committed adultery and murder. For I shrink not from proclaiming these things with a loud voice. Since if the Holy Ghost thought it no shame to record all this history, much less, ought we tova draw any shade over it. Wherefore I not only proclaim "*" it, but I add another circumstance also. For in fact, whosoever hide these things, they most of all men throw his virtue into the shade. And as they that say nothing of the battle with Goliath deprive him of no small crowns, so also they that hurry by this history. Doth not my saying seem a paradox? Nay, wait a little, and then ye shall know that with reason have we said this. For to this end do I magnify the sin, and make my statement stranger, that I may the more abundantly provide the medicines.

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σονται

What is it then which I add? The man's virtue; which makes the fault also greater. For all things are not judged alike in all men. For mighty men (it is said) shall be2iraotńmightily tormented: and He that knew his Lord's will, Wisdom and doeth it not, shall be beaten with many stripes3. that more knowledge is a ground of more punishment. this same reason the Priest, if he commit the same sin as

Sok

3 Luke

For 12, 47.

398 David's Sin aggravated, to enhance his Repentance.

HOMIL. those under government, shall not have the same to endure, but things far more grievous.

XXVI. 8, 9.

Perhaps, seeing the charge against him amplified, ye tremble and fear, and marvel at me, as though I were going down a precipice. But I am so confident on that righteous man's behalf, that I will proceed even farther; for the more I aggravate the charge, so much the more shall I be able to shew forth the praise of David.

"And what more than this," you will say," can be uttered ?” Abundantly more. For as in the case of Cain, what was done was not a murder only, but worse than even many murders; for it was not a stranger, but a brother, whom he slew; and a brother who had not done but suffered wrong; not after many murderers, but having first originated the horrid crime: so here too that which was perpetrated was not murder only. For it was no ordinary man that did it, but a Prophet: and he slays not him that had done wrong, but him that had suffered wrong; for indeed he had been mortally wronged, by the forcing away his wife: nevertheless after that he added this also.

[9.] Perceive ye, how I have not spared that righteous one? how without any the least reserve I have mentioned his offences? But yet, so confident am I concerning his defence, that after so great load as this of his sin, I would there were present both the Manichæans who most deride all this, and they that are diseased in Marcion's way', that I might fully stop their mouths. For they indeed say "he committed murder and adultery;" but I say not this only, but have also proved the murder to be twofold, first from him who suffered the wrong, then from the quality of the person who offended. For it is not the same thing, for one to whom the Spirit was vouchsafed, and on whom so great benefits had been conferred, and who had been admitted to such freedom of speech, and at such a time of life, to venture on crimes of that sort; as without all these, to commit this self-same thing. Nevertheless even in this respect is that illustrious man most of all worthy of admiration, that when he had fallen into the very pit of wickedness, he did not sink nor despair, nor cast him

f Both these sects ascribed the Old Testament to an Evil Principle, and argued against it from such cases as

this of David. Of Marcion, see S. Iren. i. 29; iv. 45. Of Manes, St. Aug. contra Faustum, xxii. 5, 66.

The Praise of David's Repentance.

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self down in supineness, on receiving of the Devil so fatal a MATT. wound; but quickly, or rather straightway, and with great 13. force, he gave a more fatal blow than he had received.

And the same thing occurred, as if in war and in battle some barbarian had struck his spear into the heart of a chieftain, or shot an arrow into his liver, and had added to the former wound a second more fatal than it, and he that had received these grievous blows, when fallen, and wallowing in much blood all about him, were first to rise up quickly, then to hurl a spear at him that wounded him, and exhibit him dead on the ground in a moment. Even so in this case also, the greater thou declarest the wound, so much the more admirable dost thou imply the soul of him that was wounded to be, that he had power after this grievous wound both to rise up again, and to stand in the very forefront of the battle array, and bear down him that had wounded him.

And how great a thing this is, they best know, whosoever are fallen into grievous sins. For it is not so much a proof of a generous and vigorous soul to walk upright, and to run all the way; (for such a soul hath the good Hope going along with it, to cheer and to rouse it, to nerve and render it more zealous ;) as after those innumerable crowns, and so many trophies, and victories, having undergone the utmost loss, to be able to resume the same course. And that what I say may be made plain, I will endeavour to bring before you another example, not at all inferior to the former.

For imagine, I pray thee, some pilot, when he had compassed seas without number, and sailed over the whole ocean; after those many storms, and rocks and waves, to sink, having with him a great freight, in the very mouth of the harbour, and hardly with his naked body to escape this grievous shipwreck; how would he naturally feel towards the sea, and navigation, and such labours? Will such a one then ever choose, unless he be of a very noble soul, to see a beach, or a vessel, or a harbour? I trow not; but he will lie hiding his face, seeing night all through the day, and shrinking from all things; and he will choose rather to live by begging, than to put his hand to the same labours.

But not such was this blessed man; but though he had undergone such a shipwreck, after those innumerable troubles

400

The Praise of David's Repentance.

HOMIL. and toils, he stayed not with his face covered, but launched

XXVI.

9 10. his vessel, and having spread his sails, and taken the rudder in hand, he applies himself to the same labours, and hath made his wealth more abundant again. Now if to stand be so admirable, and not to lie down for ever after one has fallen; to rise up again, and to do such deeds, what crowns would not this deserve?

And yet surely there were many things to drive him to despair: as first, the greatness of his sins; secondly, that not at the beginning of life, when our hopes also are more abundant, but near the end, these things befel him. For neither doth the merchant, who hath just gone out of the harbour and been wrecked, grieve equally with him, who after very many traffickings strikes on a rock. Thirdly, that when he had already obtained great wealth, he incurred this. Yea, for by that time he had stored up no small merchandise: for instance, the deeds of his early youth, when he was a shepherd; those about Goliath, when he set up the glorious trophy; those pertaining to his self-command respecting Saul. Since he shewed forth even the evangelical long-suffering, in that he got his enemy ten thousand times into his hands, and continually spared him; and chose rather to be an outcast from his country and from liberty, and from life itself, than to slay him that was unjustly plotting against him. Likewise after his coming to the kingdom, there were noble deeds of his to no small amount.

And besides what I have said, his credit also among the many, and his fall from glory so bright, would cause no ordinary perplexity. For the purple did by no means so much adorn him, as the stain of his sin disgraced him. And ye know of course what a great thing it is for evil deeds to be exposed, and how great a soul is required in such an one, not to despond after the censure of the multitude, and when he hath so many witnesses of his own offences.

Nevertheless all these darts that noble person drew out of his soul, and so shone forth after this, so wiped out the stain, became so pure, that his offspring even after his death had their sins mitigated by him: and that which was said of Abraham, we find God saying the same of this man also; or rather, much more of the latter. For with respect to the

God's Testimony to David's Repentance.

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Patriarch it is said, I remembered my covenant with MATT. Abraham1; but here He saith not "the covenant," but how? 12. I will defend this city for my servant David's sake. Andi Exod. besides, on account of His favour towards him, He suffered 2, 24. 2 Is. 37, not Solomon to fall from the kingdom, great as the sin was 35. which he had committed. And so great was the glory of the man, that Peter, so many years after, in exhorting the Jews, spake on this wise: Let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried3. And Acts Christ too, discoursing with the Jews, signifies him after his 2, 29. sin to have had the Spirit vouchsafed to such a degree, that he was counted worthy to prophesy again even concerning His Godhead; and thereby stopping their mouths, He said, How then doth David in spirit call Him Lord, saying, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand*24 Matt. And much as with Moses, so it fell out also with David. Ps. 110, For as Miriam, even against Moses' will, was punished by 1. God for her insolence to her brother, because He greatly 5 Numb. loved the holy man; even so this man, injuriously treated 12, 13. by his son, God did swiftly avenge, and that against his will.

These things then are sufficient, yea rather before all others these are sufficient to indicate the man's excellency. For when God pronounces His judgment, we ought to inquire no further. But if ye would become particularly acquainted with His self command, ye may by perusing his history after his sin, perceive his confidence towards God, his benevolence, his growth in virtue, his strictness unto his last breath.

22,43.

[10.] Having then these examples, let us be sober, and let us strive not to despond, and if at any time we fall, not to lie prostrate. For not to cast you into slothfulness, did I speak of the sins of David, but to work in you more fear. For if that righteous man through a little remissness received such wounds, what shall we have to suffer, who are every day negligent? Do not therefore look at his fall, and be remiss, but consider what great things he did even after this, what great mournings, how much repentance he shewed forth, adding his nights to his days, pouring forth fountains of tears, washing his couch with his tears, withal clothing himself in sackcloth.

14.