約伯倫理 第 1298 章

66. Despising their attempts, the devout preacher ever toils for the conversion of sinners. — For to the man who first sinned it was said: 'Thou art earth, and unto earth shalt thou go' (Gen. 3:19). But the trumpets sound, when the powers of this world terribly forbid the saints to speak. Since therefore the preacher, inflamed with the zeal of the Holy Spirit, even when set amid tortures, does not cease to draw whatever sinners to himself, fervent he doubtless 'swallows the ground,' because when he in no way dreads the threats of the persecutors, he counts the blaring of the trumpet as nothing. For what else is the trumpet, which announces the crisis of battle, than the voice of secular powers, which, being scorned, prepares the contest of death for those who resist? 67.

The example of the Apostles, especially of St. Paul. — This trumpet had sounded from the chief priests, when they forbade the scourged apostles to speak of God, as it is written: 'They charged them, having beaten them, that they should not speak in the name of Jesus' (Acts 5:40). But let us see how the blaring of the trumpet does not terrify God's horse. Peter says: 'We ought to obey God rather than men' (ibid., 29). And to others also who persecuted, he says: 'For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard' (Acts 4:20). The horse of God therefore does not fear the blaring of the trumpet, because the excellent preacher, despising the powers of the world, dreads no sounds of threats. 68. Let us see another horse of God, how he swallows the ground, how no terror of the trumpet touches him (Acts

14:18-21). It is written: 'There came certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the multitudes and stoned Paul, they dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. But as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up and entered into the city, and the next day departed with Barnabas to Derbe. And when they had preached the gospel to that city and had taught many, they returned to Lystra and Iconium and Antioch, confirming the souls of the disciples.' Let us weigh therefore what threats could restrain this horse, when death itself cannot forbid him from his purpose. Behold, he is overwhelmed with stones, yet is not turned away from the word of truth. He can be killed, he cannot be overcome;

as though slain he is cast outside the city, but within the city on another day the preacher is found unharmed. O how strong is the infirmity dwelling in this man! O how victorious the punishment! O how sovereign the patience! By being cast down he is provoked to act; by blows he is raised up to preach salvation; by punishment he is refreshed to drive away the weariness of labor. What adversity therefore shall overcome him whom punishment cherishes? But this horse of Peter despises even the arrows of the quiver, because he scorns the counsels of malice; he overcomes the brandished spear, because he steels his breast even against the wounds of open persecution; he breaks through the shield set against him, because by reasoning he subdues resisting disputation; he swallows the ground, because by exhortation he converts sinners into his own body;

he counts the sounding of the trumpet as nothing, because he tramples underfoot the voice of any threatening prohibition, however terrible. But it is a lesser thing that is said, that the strong man perseveres in labors; it is still greater that he exults in adversities. Whence there follows: