4. A For I see those who are my authors, so that I may persist in my doctrines. For most prosperous things turn to the contrary, since they, by whom I appeared to be full of zeal, have acted by their own wickedness so that I might fall: they who deposed me at their own will, through the varied outcome of events overcome me in this contest: they did not threaten, but pressed hard. Now it is time to narrate those things which concern my calamity. There is a law, but the lawgiver is overcome. Sons, by your charity, I see a conspiracy prepared to wage war, and God affected by insults: I see the contest fallen, and the judge of the contest mourning: I see the persuasion of truth fading, and conspiracy prevailing. They object to me: "You have eaten and baptized." If I have done this, let it be anathema to me; let me not be numbered among the bishops; let me not be with the angels; let me not be acceptable to God. But if I did eat and baptize, I have done nothing inopportunely. Attend diligently to what I say, and I will not make an end of speaking. It does not weary me to speak, and it is safe for you if I speak. But let us return to our subject. They say that I ate and baptized. Let them then depose Paul, because he conferred baptism upon the jailer after supper (Acts 16:33). I dare say, let them depose Christ himself, because he bestowed communion on the disciples after supper. But these things are consistent and great for us: these are joyful signs of peace: these are the praises of the people. For me a crown, for you fruit. But you know, brothers, for what cause they wish to depose me. Because I did not spread out carpets, nor put on silken garments, and because I did not feed their gluttony. The offspring of the adder have flourished, the seed of Jezebel is still left: but yet even now grace contends with Elijah. Produce for me in the midst that wonderful and rich herald of life, I mean John the poor, who did not even possess a lamp; but he had Christ as his lamp: whose head was sought by the fellow-minister of Eve: who was also an impediment to the saints, who persecuted the prophets, who deceitfully preached a fast, who obtained a name equal to the viper, namely, dancing, for she danced before the meal was finished. She did not desire life, not a mass of wealth, not the dignity of a kingdom, not any other faculty; but tell me, I beg, what did she desire? The head of a man. But what do I say? Not only of a man, but also of an evangelist. Yet B she did not conquer the head, although she received it. She cut off the head by asking, she fulfilled wicked desire through a platter. See, and admire the power of God. The blameless man is accused, he is beheaded; but he who was struck on the head is at the right hand of Christ, while she receives inescapable punishment. Again her seed, a thorny growth, seeks and hastens. But Herodias seeks the head of John, again we begin a dance not with feet, but such as Mary once [offered], firm and immovable. Again John cries out and says: "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife" (Mark 6:18).
5. But what shall I say? The present time is of tears: for all things turn to ignominy, and time judges all things. Gold altogether produces glory. But come, let us bring forward David saying and crying out: "If gold should abound, do not set your heart upon it" (Ps. 61:11). But tell me, who was he who uttered such a voice? Did he not occupy the pinnacle of a kingdom? Did he not command in royal power? But he did not look to plunder, not to the destruction of piety, he did not care for treasures, but for a military levy; he did not require the consent of a wife. Flee, therefore, women, from strange meetings; do not give wicked counsel to men: but confirm yourselves from these words. Have we extinguished your flame? Has your heart been softened? But I know you, who are daughters of Mary, will receive utility. Others, however, are satisfied without wine, and drunk with avarice, as blessed Paul cries out and preaches with these words: "The love of money is the root of all evils" (1 Tim. 6:10). Thus foolish women stop their ears, and for good seed produce thorns. But, I beseech you, let us not sow our seed as if upon a rock. We are the agriculture of Christ, from whom let us hear, "Well done, good servant, enter into my house" (Matt. 25:23), lest perhaps in place of that voice it be said, "Wicked servant" (Ib. v. 26). But, I beseech you, let your manner of life shine before men, lest we make our salt foolish. But let us glorify, let us give thanks, the rich to the rich, the poor to the benign and lover-of-the-poor Christ, the powerful to his strong hand. And these things indeed concerning you. But perhaps God does not permit those things to be suffered which they machinate against me, so that he may approve me in calamities, because victory consists entirely in labors, and a crown is prepared through contests. For divine Paul said: "I have finished the course, I have kept the faith: as to the rest, there is laid up for me a crown of justice" (2 Tim. 4:7-8); with which crown the Lord of all will deem us worthy for eternity. Amen.
CONCERNING THE EXPULSION
Many indeed are the waves, and huge the billows; but I do not fear to be submerged: because I stand upon the rock. Let the sea rage, it cannot move the rock: let the waves rise as much as they will, the ship of Jesus cannot be overwhelmed. But what do they think? Should I fear death, to whom to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Philipp. 1:21)?
A I do not desire riches, I do not shrink from poverty, I do not fear death. For my life is directed solely for your benefit; but I beseech you, maintain your love and be of good cheer. For no one will be able to tear us away from you. For those whom Christ has joined, let no man separate. But if this is said of a woman and a man: *For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall cleave to his wife, and they shall be two in one flesh* (Gen. 2:24): if a marriage bond of this kind cannot be separated by man, much less can the Church be torn from its shepherd. But you attack me. What will your attack harm me, except that you will make me more illustrious by your attacks, while you wear out your own strength? For it will be hard for you to kick against the goad: for you will not blunt the goad, but you will wound your own feet by kicking (Act. 9:5); nor will the waves, which are dashed against the rock, accomplish anything more than to break and dissolve themselves, and vanish as they are turned into foam. There is nothing stronger than the Church of Christ: if anyone proposes to attack it, it is necessary that he wear out his own strength: for it is like someone planning to wage war against heaven. If you wage war against a man, perhaps you will conquer, or perhaps you will be conquered; but no power will be able to conquer the Church. The Church belongs to God, who is stronger than all. Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He (1 Cor. 10:22)? God has founded this which you endeavor to shake B. Or do you wish to test the power of the Lord? He is the One *who looketh upon the earth, and maketh it tremble* (Psal. 103:32); and again, He who commands, and at His trembling it is made solid. Have you not seen how many times He has made your trembling city stand? Much more will He be able to confirm His own trembling Church; for the Church is much stronger than the earth, yes, and stronger than heaven. *Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away* (Matth. 24:35). What words? *You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it* (Ib. 16:18). But if you do not believe the word, believe the very deeds and works. How many tyrants have set out to attack the Church of God? How many torments, how many crosses have they applied, setting out fires, furnaces, wild beasts, monsters, swords, and they could accomplish nothing? Where now are those who did these things, and where are they who endured them bravely? Now those are oppressed by eternal punishments, and these are raised to eternal joys: for the Church shines brighter than the sun, and its persecutors are covered in perpetual darkness. Do you not read the Scripture, that they were only eleven, and yet could not be conquered? Now, when the whole world is filled with a multitude of the pious, how will they be able to be conquered? *Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.* And rightly so, for the Church of God is dearer than heaven. For heaven was not made for the sake of heaven, but heaven for the sake of the Church. Therefore, I ask, let nothing of those things you see being done disturb you. Let us place before our eyes Peter walking upon the waters, and hesitating a little, and on account of this being in danger for a moment, not on account of the power of the waves, but on account of the weakness of his faith. Did we come here by human will, or were we brought here on account of a man? And I do not say these things C arrogantly, nor moved by boastfulness, but I desire to confirm your spirits, which perhaps are troubled. Observe, therefore, how *the earth shook and trembled* (Psal. 17:8), and yet the city did not collapse. How, O most impure devil, do you think you can overthrow the Church, you who have not been able to overthrow trembling walls? The Church is not in walls, but in the multitude of the faithful. See how strong, how immovable you stand, bound not by iron, but by faith. And why do I speak of so great a multitude? You cannot conquer one faithful person. O devil, do you not know what the martyrs have done to you? How a young girl, tender in age, immature in years, frequently entered the arena, and was found stronger than iron, when you were tearing her sides, yet you could not move her faith? The flesh frequently failed in torments, and the strength of faith did not fail; the body was consumed, and the mind could not be bent; the substance perished, and patience persisted. If, therefore, you have been conquered frequently by one girl, how do you expect to be able to overcome the faith of this so great and so faithful a multitude? Do you not hear the Lord’s voice saying: *For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them* (Matth. 18:20)? What, then, where there is such a great multitude of the faithful bound by the bonds of love? I do not trust in my own strength, I have the Scripture of my Lord, I hold His hand; that promise is safe enough for me, that will render me secure and intrepid; even if the earth is moved, I hold the promise of my Lord. I read His hand; it is for me an impregnable wall. Do you wish that I recite the Lord’s promise to you? *Behold,* He says, *I am with you all days, even unto the consummation of the age* (Id. 28:20). Christ is with me, whom shall I fear? Even if the waves rise, and even if the whole sea is stirred up against me, even if the fury of princes rages, all those things will be to me as spiderwebs, and more fragile than spiders. And if it were not for your weakness, today I would not hesitate to go where they wish. For I always say: *Lord, thy will be done* (Id. 6:10): not what he wants, or he wants, but what You want: Your will is for me a most strong tower, and a stable rock, and a faithful staff. If You wish me to remain here with You, I give thanks: if You do not wish it, I offer the same thanks. Let no one disturb you, brothers; only pray: for the devil moves these things for no other reason than to break up your religious studies, and to extinguish your exercises, which you were performing in prayers and vigils. But he will not prevail, nor will he snatch from you your religious studies: unless he finds you more solicitous, and makes you more fervent. Tomorrow I will go out with you to prayers: and where I am, there you will be; and where you are, there I will be. We are one body, and neither the head will be separated from the body, nor the body from the head, even if we are divided by place, but we are joined by love; I will not be torn from you even by death. For even if my body dies, my soul lives, and will hold the memory of you. You are for me D fathers, you are for me a mother, you are for me life, you are for me grace: if you progress, it will please me. You are my crown, and my riches; you are my treasure. I am prepared to be sacrificed for you a thousand times over: and not even grace to me...