The Praise of David's Repentance.

399

VIII.

self down in supineness, on receiving of the Devil so fatal a MATT. wound; but quickly, or rather straightway, and with great 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

13.

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400

The Praise of David's Repentance.

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

401

VIII.

2 Is. 37,

2, 29.

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 sake2. And Exod. besides, on account of His favour towards him, He suffered 2, 24, 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. And3 Acts Christ too, discoursing with the Jews, signifies him after his 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? 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.

4

2 2,43.

[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.

402 The Imperfect are doubly harmed by their Sins.

HOMIL. Now if he needed so great a conversion, when will it be 10. possible for us to be saved, feeling insensible after so many

XXVI.

sins? For he that hath many good deeds, would easily even by this throw a shade over his sins; but he that is unarmed, wherever he may receive a dart, receives a mortal wound.

In order therefore that this may not be so, let us arm ourselves with good works; and if any offence have befallen us, let us wash it away: that we may be counted worthy, after having lived the present life to the glory of God, to enjoy the life to come; unto which may we all attain, by the grace and love towards man of our Lord Jesus Christ, to Whom be glory and might for ever and ever. Amen.

HOMILY XXVII.

MATT. viii. 14, 15.

And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, He saw his wife's mother laid and sick of a fever: and He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she arose and ministered unto Him1.

'unto

1, 31.

see

BUT Mark adds also, " immediately 2," meaning to declare them.' the time as well; but this Evangelist hath set down only the2 M ark miracle, without signifying besides the time. And whereas the others say, that she that lay ill did also entreat Him, this Luke 4, too he hath passed over in silence. But this comes not of any dissonance, but the one of brevity, the other of exact narrative.

But for what intent did He go into Peter's house? As it seems to me, to take food. This at least is declared when it is said,

She arose and ministered unto Him.

For He used to visit His disciples, (as Matthew likewise, when He had called him,) so honouring them and making them more zealous.

But do thou mark, I pray thee, herein also Peter's reverence towards Him. For though he had his wife's mother at home lying ill, and very sick of a fever, he drew Him not into his house, but waited first for the teaching to be finished, then for all the others to be healed; and then when He had come in, besought Him. Thus from the beginning was he instructed to prefer the things of all others to his own.

39.

v. 15.