Letter XI. To the Virgins of Æmona.
Æmona was a Roman colony not far from Stridon, Jerome's birthplace. The virgins to whom the note is addressed had omitted to answer his letters, and he now writes to upbraid them for their remissness. The date of the letter is 374 a.d.
This scanty sheet of paper shows in what a wilderness I live, and because of it I have to say much in few words. For, desirous though I am to speak to you more fully, this miserable scrap compels me to leave much unsaid. Still ingenuity makes up for lack of means, and by writing small I can say a great deal. Observe, I beseech you, how I love you, even in the midst of my difficulties, since even the want of materials does not stop me from writing to you.
Pardon, I beseech you, an aggrieved man: if I speak in tears and in anger it is because I have been injured. For in return for my regular letters you have not sent me a single syllable. Light, I know, has no communion with darkness, [142] and God's handmaidens no fellowship with a sinner, yet a harlot was allowed to wash the Lord's feet with her tears, [143] and dogs are permitted to eat of their masters' crumbs. [144] It was the Saviour's mission to call sinners and not the righteous; for, as He said Himself, "they that be whole need not a physician." [145] He wills the repentance of a sinner rather than his death, [146] and carries home the poor stray sheep on His own shoulders. [147] So, too, when the prodigal son returns, his father receives him with joy. [148] Nay more, the apostle says: "Judge nothing before the time." [149] For "who art thou that judgest another man's servant? To his own master he standeth or falleth." [150] And "let him that standeth take heed lest he fall." [151] "Bear ye one another's burdens." [152]
Dear sisters, man's envy judges in one way, Christ in another; and the whisper of a corner is not the same as the sentence of His tribunal. Many ways seem right to men which are afterwards found to be wrong. [153] And a treasure is often stowed in earthen vessels. [154] Peter thrice denied his Lord, yet his bitter tears restored him to his place. "To whom much is forgiven, the same loveth much." [155] No word is said of the flock as a whole, yet the angels joy in heaven over the safety of one sick ewe. [156] And if any one demurs to this reasoning, the Lord Himself has said: "Friend, is thine eye evil because I am good?"
[142] 2 Cor. vi. 14.
[143] Luke vii. 37 sqq.
[144] Matt. xv. 27.
[145] Matt. ix. 12, 13.
[146] Ezek. xxxiii. 11.
[147] Luke xv. 5.
[148] Luke xv. 20.
[149] 1 Cor. iv. 5.
[150] Rom. xiv. 4.
[151] 1 Cor. x. 12.
[152] Gal. vi. 2.
[153] Cf. Prov. xiv. 12.
[154] 2 Cor. iv. 7.
[155] Luke vii. 47.
[156] Luke xv. 7, 10.
[157] Matt. xx. 15.
Letter XII. To Antony, Monk.
The subject of this letter is similar to that of the preceding. Of Antony nothing is known except that some mss. describe him as "of Æmona." The date of the letter is 374 a.d.
While the disciples were disputing concerning precedence our Lord, the teacher of humility, took a little child and said: "Except ye be converted and become as little children ye cannot enter the kingdom of heaven." [158] And lest He should seem to preach more than he practised, He fulfilled His own precept in His life. For He washed His disciples' feet, [159] he received the traitor with a kiss, [160] He conversed with the woman of Samaria, [161] He spoke of the kingdom of heaven with Mary at His feet, [162] and when He rose again from the dead He showed Himself first to some poor women. [163] Pride is opposed to humility, and through it Satan lost his eminence as an archangel. The Jewish people perished in their pride, for while they claimed the chief seats and salutations in the market place, [164] they were superseded by the Gentiles, who had before been counted as "a drop of a bucket." [165] Two poor fishermen, Peter and James, were sent to confute the sophists and the wise men of the world. As the Scripture says: "God resisteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble." [166] Think, brother, what a sin it must be which has God for its opponent. In the Gospel the Pharisee is rejected because of his pride, and the publican is accepted because of his humility. [167]
Now, unless I am mistaken, I have already sent you ten letters, affectionate and earnest, whilst you have not deigned to give me even a single line. The Lord speaks to His servants, but you, my brother servant, refuse to speak to me. Believe me, if reserve did not check my pen, I could show my annoyance in such invective that you would have to reply--even though it might be in anger. But since anger is human, and a Christian must not act injuriously, I fall back once more on entreaty, and beg you to love one who loves you, and to write to him as a servant should to his fellow-servant. Farewell in the Lord.
[158] Matt. xviii. 3.
[159] Joh. xiii. 5.
[160] Luke xxii. 47.
[161] Joh. iv. 7.
[162] Luke vii. 40 sqq.: the heroine of this story is identified by Jerome with Mary Magdalene.
[163] Matt. xxviii. 1, 9.
[164] Matt. xxiii. 6, 7.
[165] Isa. xl. 15.
[166] 1 Pet. v. 5.
[167] Luke xviii. 9 sqq.