Chapter IX.
In what way faith is necessary for repentance. Means for paying our debts, in which work, prayer, tears, and fasting are of more value than money. Some instances are adduced, and St. Ambrose declares that generosity is profitable, but only when joined with faith; it is, moreover, liable to certain defects. He goes on to speak of some defects in repentance, such as too great haste in seeking reconciliation, considering abstinence from sacraments all that is needed, of committing sin in hope of repenting later.
80. , then, it is
fitting for us to believe both that sinners must repent and that
forgiveness is to be given on repentance, yet still as hoping for
forgiveness as granted upon faith, not as a debt, for it is one thing
to earn, and another presumptuously to claim a right. Faith asks
for forgiveness, as it were, by covenant, but presumption is more akin
to demand than to request. Pay first that which you owe, that you
may be in a position to ask for what you have hoped. Come with
the disposition of an honest debtor, that you may not contract a fresh
liability, but may pay that which is due of the existing debt with the
possessions of your faith.
81. He who owes a debt to God has more help
towards payment than he who is indebted to man. Man requires
money for money, and this is not always at the debtor’s
command. God demands the affection of the heart, which is in our
own power. No one who owes a debt to God is poor, except one who
has made himself poor. And even if he have nothing to sell, yet
has he wherewith to pay. Prayer, fasting, and tears are the
resources of an honest debtor, and much more abundant than if one from
the price of his estate offered money without faith.
82. Ananias was poor, when after selling his land
he brought the money to the
apostles, and was not able with it to pay
his debt, but involved himself the more. That widow was rich who cast her
two small pieces into the treasury, of whom Christ said: “This poor widow hath cast in more than they all.” For God requires not money but faith.
83. And I do not deny that sins may be diminished
by liberal gifts to the poor, but only if faith commend what is
spent. For what would the giving of one’s whole property
benefit without charity?
84. There are some who aim at the credit of
generosity for pride alone, because they wish thereby to gain the good
opinion of the multitude for leaving nothing to themselves; but whilst
they are seeking rewards in this life, they are laying up none for the
life to come, and having received their reward here they cannot hope
for it there.
85. Some again, having, through impulsive
excitement and not after long consideration, given their possessions to
the Church, think that they can claim them back. These gain
neither the first nor the second reward, for the gift was made
thoughtlessly, its recall sacrilegiously.
86. Some repent of having distributed their
property to the poor. But they who are doing penance must not
repent of this, lest they repent of their own repentance. For
many seek for penance through fear of future punishment, being
conscious of their sins, and having received their penance are held
back by fear of the public entreaties. These persons seem to have
sought for repentance for their evil deeds, but to exercise it for
their good ones.
87. Some seek penance because they wish to
be at once restored to communion. These wish not so much to loose
themselves as to bind the priest, for they do not put off the guilt
from their own conscience, but lay it on that of the priest, to whom
the command is given: “Give not that which is holy to the
dogs, neither cast your pearls before the swine;” that is to say, that partaking of the holy Communion is not to be allowed to those polluted with impurity.
88. And so one may see those walking in other
attire, who ought to be weeping and groaning because they had defiled
the robe of sanctification and grace; and women loading their ears with
pearls, and weighing down their necks, who had better have bent to
Christ than to gold, and who ought to be weeping for themselves, because they have lost the pearl from heaven.