34 1 John iii. 13. Gr. u9ma=j, Vulg. vos.
44 [Love; beneficence.-Augustine throughout these homilies amply vindicates his own declaration that the epistle on which he is commenting relates largely to charity; and his glowing words not only exhibit love as one star in the constellation of Christian graces, but as a deep and joyous principle and centre of life, "a well of water" within, from which refreshing streams of beneficence will spontaneously gush forth.
He controverts those in his day who taught that it was enough to have the truth, to possess right opinions, and that such need not be forward in sacrificing aught for the truth's sake, or to help their brethren. And in kindly reproof of such indolent and ignorant self seeking, he points the earnest believer to whom comes the lofty utterance of the apostle, lay down life, if need be, for thy brother, and who shrinks from such a test, to a lower evidence of the Christ-like mind, within the reach of all, and from which all may go up higher-"help thy brother in his necessity, relieve his wants; if not ready to do this for the brother before your eyes, how can you pretend love to the unseen Father and Friend?"
As the apostle's reprehension of errorists in his day is applicable in refutation of many false opinions rife in our times, so his and Augustine's fervent commendation of the surpassing excellence of love, and the absolute need, for the believer, of uniformly and constantly manifesting it in act and life, can never be superfluous, can never grow old.
Indifferentism as to doctrine, and careless coldness with respect to the sufferings of others, against both of which St. John lifts up his voice, if not peculiar to our day and nation, are yet deplorable evils among us, demanding energetic and practical protests from those who love the truth and love man.-J. H. M.]
2 [Better, "judge ill," i.e., condemn.-J. H. M.]
14 Matt. vi. 1-3. Infra, Hom. viii. 19, Serm. cxlix. 10-13.
15 Comp. de Serm. Dom. in Monte, ii. 6-9, where having discussed and rejected several other explanations, St. Augustine rests in the interpretation, that "the left hand" denotes the carnal will looking aside to earthly rewards and the praise of men: "the right hand," the singleness of heart which looks straight forward to the will and commandment of God. Serm. cxlix. 15; Enarr. in Psa. 65, sec. 2.
22 2 Cor. vi. 11, 12; id. xii. 15.
32 Luke viii. 32. Dimisit, not misit: so, Expulsa et in porcos permissa daemonia: "the demons cast out from the man and allowed to go into the swine." Quaest. Evang. ii. 13. Quod in porcas in montibus pascentes ire permissa sunt, &c. "That they were allowed to go into the swine feeding upon the mountains, betokens unclean and proud men over whom through the worship of idols the demons have dominion."
34 Enarr. in Ps. cxxx. sec. 1; Serm. cccliv. 7.