OF THE WORK OF MONKS. [DE OPERE MONACHORUM.] From the Retractations, ii. 21. To write the Book on the Work of Monks, the need which compelled me was this. When at Carthage there had begun to be monasteries, some maintained themselves by their own hands, obeying the Apostle; but others wished so to live on the oblations of the faithful, that doing no work whence they might either have or supply the necessaries of life, they thought and boasted that they did rather fulfill the precept of the Gospel, where the Lord saith, Behold the fowls of heaven, and the lilies of the field, (Matt. vi. 26). Whence also among laics of inferior purpose, but yet fervent in zeal, there had begun to arise tumultuous contests, whereby the Church was troubled, some defending the one, others the other part. Add to this, that some of them who were for not working, wore their hair long. Whence contentions between those who reprehended and those who justified the practice, were, according to their party affections, increased. On these accounts the venerable old Aurelius, Bishop of the Church of the same city, desired me to write somewhat of this matter; and I did so. This Book begins, "Jussioni tuæ, sancte frater Aureli." This work is placed in the Retractations next after that "On the Good of Marriage," which belongs to the year 401. with me also, that I may obey in such sort that from His gift, in the very usefulness of fruitful labor, I may understand that I am indeed obeying Him. 1. THY bidding, holy brother Aurelius, it that I should hereof write somewhat unto was meet that I should comply withal, with thee. May He therefore Himself be present so much the more devotion, by how much the more it became clear unto me Who, out of thee, did speak that bidding. For our Lord Jesus Christ, dwelling in thine inner part, and inspiring into thee a solicitude of fatherly 2. First then, it is to be seen, what is said and brotherly charity, whether our sons and by persons of that profession, who will not brothers the monks, who neglect to obey work: then, if we shall find that they think blessed Paul the Apostle, when he saith, "If not aright, what is meet to be said for their any will not work, neither let him eat," are correction? "It is not," say they, "of this to have that license permitted unto them; corporal work in which either husbandmen or He, assuming unto His work thy will and handicraftsmen labor, that the Apostle gave tongue, hath commanded me out of thee, precept, when he said, 'If any will not work, 1 2 Thess. iii. 10. [See R.V.] neither let him eat.'" For he could not be contrary to the Gospel, where the Lord Him 66 self saith, Therefore I say unto you, be not should be taken from him at last, and himsolicitous for your life, what ye shall eat, self cast into outer darkness? So, say they, neither for your body, what ye shall put on. do we also. We read with the brethren, who Is not the life more than meat, and the body come to us fatigued from the turmoil of the than raiment ? Consider the fowls of world, that with us, in the word of God, and heaven, that they sow not, nor reap, nor in prayers, psalms, hymns, and spiritual gather into barns; and your heavenly Father songs, they may find rest. We speak to them, feedeth them. Are not ye rather of more console, exhort, building up in them whatworth than they? But who of you by taking ever unto their life, according to their degree, thought can add to his stature one cubit? we perceive to be lacking. Such works if we And concerning raiment, why are ye solicit-wrought not, with peril should we receive of ous? Consider the lilies of the field, how the Lord our spiritual sustenance itself. For they grow; they labor not, neither spin; but this is it the Apostle said, "If any one will I say unto you, that not even Solomon in all not work, neither let him eat." Thus do his glory was arrayed like one of these. But these men deem themselves to comply with if the grass of the field, which to-day is, and the apostolic and evangelic sentence, when to-morrow is cast into the oven, God so cloth- both the Gospel they believe to have given eth; how much more you, (O ye) of little precept concerning the not caring for the faith! Be not therefore solicitous, saying, corporal and temporal indigence of this life, What shall we eat, or what shall we drink, or and the Apostle concerning spiritual work and wherewithal shall we be clad? for all these food to have said, "If any will not work, things do the Gentiles seek. And your neither let him eat." heavenly Father knoweth that ye need all these. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these shall be added unto you. Be not therefore solicitous for the morrow: for the morrow will be solicitous for itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." Lo, say they, where the Lord biddeth us be without care concerning our food and clothing: how then could the Apostle think contrary to the Lord, that he should instruct us that we ought to be in such sort solicitous, what we shall eat, or what we shall drink, or wherewithal we shall be clothed, that he should even burden us with the arts, cares, labors of handicraftsmen? Wherefore in that he saith, "If any will not work, neither let him eat;' works spiritual, say they, are what we must understand: of which he saith in another place, "To each one according as the Lord hath given: I have planted, Apollos hath watered; but God gave the increase." 2 And a little after, "Each one shall receive his reward according to his own labor. We are God's fellow-workers; God's husbandry, God's building are ye: according to the grace which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder I have laid the foundation." As therefore the Apostle worketh in planting, watering, building, and foundation-laying, in that way whoso will not work, let him not eat. For what profiteth in eating spiritually to be fed with the word of God, if he do not thence work others' edification? As that slothful servant, what did it profit to receive a talent and to hide it, and not work for the Lord's gain? Was it that it 1 Matt. vi. 25-34. 21 Cor. iii. 5-10. 3. Nor do they attend to this, that if another should say, that the Lord indeed, speaking in parables and in similitudes concerning spiritual food and clothing, did warn that not on these accounts should His servants be solicitous; (as He saith, “When they shall drag you to judgment-seats, take no thought what ye shall speak. For it will be given you in that hour what ye shall speak: but it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father that speaketh in you."3 For the discourse of spiritual wisdom is that for which He would not that they should take thought, promising that it should be given unto them, nothing solicitous thereof;) but the Apostle now, in manner Apostolical, more openly discoursing and more properly, than figuratively speaking, as is the case with much, indeed wellnigh all, in his Apostolic Epistles, said it properly of corporal work and food, "If any will not work, neither let him eat:" by those would their sentence be rendered doubtful, unless, considering the other words of the Lord, they should find somewhat whereby they might prove it to have been of not caring for corporal food and raiment that He spake when He said, "Be not solicitous what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, or wherewithal ye shall be clothed." As, if they should observe what He saith, "For all these things do the Gentiles seek;" for there He shows that it was of very corporal and temporal things that He spake. So then, were this the only thing that the Apostle has said on this subject, "If any will not work, neither let him eat;" these words might be drawn over to another mean 3 Matt. x. 19, 20. ing: but since in many other places of his Epistles, what is his mind on this point, he most openly teaches, they superfluously essay to raise a mist before themselves and others, that what that charity adviseth they may not only refuse to do, but even to understand it themselves, or let it be understood by others; not fearing that which is written, "He would not understand that he might do good."1 fare at any time at his own charges? Who planteth a vineyard, and of its fruit eateth not? Who feedeth a flock, and of the milk of the flock partaketh not?''s Therefore, what was due to him, he would not receive, that by his example they might be checked, who, although not so ordained in the Church, did deem the like to be due to themselves. For what is it that he saith, "Neither ate we bread of any man for naught, but in labor and travail night and day working that we might not burden any of you; not for that we have not power, but that we might give ourselves as a pattern to you wherein ye should follow us?" Let them, therefore, hear to whom he hath given this precept, that is, they which have not this power which he had, to wit, that while only spiritually working they should eat bread by corporal labor not earned: and as he says, We charge and beseech in Christ that with silence they work and eat their own bread," let them not dispute against the most manifest words of the Apostle, because this also pertaineth to that silence with which they ought to work and eat their own bread. 66 6 4. First then we ought to demonstrate that the blessed Apostle Paul willed the servants of God to work corporal works which should have as their end a great spiritual reward, for this purpose that they should need food and clothing of no man, but with their own hands should procure these for themselves: then, to show that those evangelical precepts from which some cherish not only their sloth but even arrogance, are not contrary to the Apostolical precept and example. Let us see then whence the Apostle came to this, that he should say, “If any will not work, neither let him eat," and what he thereupon joineth on, that from the very context of this lesson may appear his declared sentence. "We command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves 5. I would, however, proceed to a more from every brother that walketh unquietly, searching and diligent consideration and and not according to the tradition which they handling of these words, had I not other have received 3 of us. For yourselves know how places of his Epistles much more manifest, ye ought to imitate us; for we were not un- by comparing which, both these are made quiet among you, neither ate we bread of any more clearly manifest, and if these were not man for nought, but in labor and travail in existence, those others would suffice. To night and day working that we might not the Corinthians, namely, writing of this same burden any of you: not for that we have not thing, he saith thus, "Am I not free? am I power, but that we might give ourselves as a not an Apostle? Have I not seen Christ Jesus pattern to you in which ye should imitate us. our Lord? Are not ye my work in the Lord? For also when we were with you, we gave you If to others I am not an Apostle, to you asthis charge, that if any will not work, let him suredly I am. For the seal of mine ApostleFor we have heard that certain ship are ye in the Lord. My defense to them among you walk unquietly, working not at which interrogate me is this. Have we not all, but being busy-bodies. Now them that power to eat and to drink? Have we not are such we charge and beseech in our Lord power to lead about a woman who is a sister,' Jesus Christ, that with silence they work, and as also the other Apostles, and the brethren eat their own bread." What can be said to of the Lord, and Cephas?" See how first these things, since, that none might there- he shows what is lawful to him, and therefore after have license to interpret this according lawful for that he is an Apostle. For with to his wish, not according to charity, he by that he began, "Am I not free? am I not an his own example hath taught what by precept Apostle?" and proves himself to be an Aposhe hath enjoined? To him, namely, as to an tle, saying, "Have I not seen Christ Jesus Apostle, a preacher of the Gospel, a soldier of our Lord? Are not ye my work in the Lord ?" Christ, a planter of the vineyard, a shepherd Which being proved, he shows that to be lawof the flock, had the Lord appointed that he ful to him which was so to the other Apostles; should live by the Gospel; and yet himself that is, that he should not work with his exacted not the pay which was his due, that hands, but live by the Gospel, as the Lord he might make himself a pattern to them appointed, which in what follows he has most which desired what was not their due; as he saith to the Corinthians, "Who goeth a war not eat. 1 Ps. xxxvi. 3, (35, 4.) “noluit intelligere ut bene ageret." 5 1 Cor. ix. I-7. 6 Gratuitum. 7 Enucleatius. 8 So Griesbach and Lachmann. But text recept. "Am I not an Apostle? am I not free?" 9" Sororem mulierem." 66 66 openly demonstrated; for to this end did also that he, as himself witnesseth, did at his own faithful women which had earthly substance charges go a warfare. In the Gospel, namely, go with them, and minister unto them of their it is written, "Thereafter also Himself was substance, that they might lack none of those making a journey through cities and villages things which pertain to the necessaries of this preaching and evangelizing of the kingdom life. Which thing blessed Paul demonstrates of God; and the twelve with Him, and certo be lawful indeed unto himself, as also the tain women which had been healed of evil other Apostles did it, but that he had not spirits and infirmities: Mary who is called chosen to use this power he afterwards men- Magdalene, out of whom seven devils had tions. This thing some not understanding, gone forth, and Joanna wife of Chuza Herod's have interpreted not a woman which is a steward, and Susanna, and many others, who sister," when he said, "Have we not power ministered unto Him of their substance." to lead about a sister a woman;" but, a This example of the Lord the Apostles did sister a wife." They were misled by the am- imitate, to receive the meat which was due biguity of the Greek word, because both unto them; of which the same Lord most wife" and "woman' " is expressed in Greek openly speaketh: "As ye go," saith He, by the same word. Though indeed the "preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is Apostle has so put this that they ought not to at hand. Heal the sick, raise the dead, have made this mistake; for that he neither cleanse lepers, cast out devils. Freely have says a woman" merely, but "a sister ye received, freely give. Possess not gold woman; nor "to take" (as in marriage), nor silver nor money in your purses, neither but to take about" (as on a journey). scrip on your journey, neither two coats, Howbeit other interpreters have not been neither shoes, neither staff: for the workman misled by this ambiguity, and they have inter- is worthy of his meat."5 Lo, where the Lord preted woman" not "wife." appointeth the very thing which the Apostle doth mention. For to this end He told them not to carry all those things, namely, that where need should be, they might receive them of them unto whom they preached the kingdom of God. 66 66 6. Which thing whoso thinks cannot have been done by the Apostles, that with them women of holy conversation should go about wheresoever they preached the Gospel, that of their substance they might minister to their necessities, let him hear the Gospel, and 7. But lest any should fancy that this was learn how in this they did after the example granted only to the twelve, see also what of the Lord Himself. Our Lord, namely, ac- Luke relateth: "After these things," saith cording to the wont of His pity, sympathiz- he, "the Lord chose also other seventy and ing with the weak, albeit Angels might minis- two, and sent them by two and two before ter unto Him, had both a bag in which should His face into every city and place whither He be put the money which was bestowed doubt- was about to come. And He said unto them, less by good and believing persons, as neces- The harvest indeed is plentiful, but the sary for their living, (which bag He gave in laborers few: ask ye therefore the Lord of charge to Judas, that even thieves, if we could the harvest, that He would send forth laborers not keep clear of such, we might learn to into His harvest. Go your ways: behold, I tolerate in the Church. He, namely, as is send you as lambs in the midst of wolves. written of him, "stole' what was put therein:') Carry neither purse nor scrip nor shoes, and and He willed that women should follow Him salute no man by the way. Into whatsoever for the preparing and ministering what was house ye shall enter, first say, Peace be to necessary, showing what was due to evangelists this house. And if the son of peace be there, and ministers of God as soldiers, from the your peace shall rest upon him: if not, it people of God as the provincials; so that if shall return to you. And in the same house any should not choose to use that which is remain, eating and drinking such things as due unto him, as Paul the Apostle did not are with them: for the workman is worthy of choose, he might bestow the more upon the his hire." Here it appears that these things Church, by not exacting the pay which was were not commanded, but permitted, that due to him, but by earning his daily living of whoso should choose to use, might use that his own labors. For it had been said to the which was lawful unto him by the Lord's apinn-keeper to whom that wounded man was pointment; but if any should not choose to brought, "Whatever thou layest out more, at use it, he would not do contrary to a thing my coming again I will repay thee.' The commanded, but would be yielding up his Apostle Paul, then, did "lay out more," 3 in own right, by demeaning himself more merci5 Matt. x. 7-10. 6 Luke x. 1-7 1" Auferebat." 31 Cor. ix. 7-15; and 2 Cor. xi. 7. 2 Luke x. 35. 2 4 Luke viii, 1-3. [See R.V.] fully and laboriously in the Gospel in the which he would not accept even the hire which was his due. Otherwise the Apostle did contrary to a command of the Lord: for, after he had shown it to be lawful unto him, he hath straightway subjoined, “But yet have I not used this power. working; but that all alike had this power, of which these availed not themselves in "laying out more" upon the Church; so as in those places where they preached the Gospel they judged to be meet for the weak. And for this reason, that he might not seem to have found fault with his fellow-Apostles, he goes on to 8. But let us return to the order of our say: "Who goeth a warfare at any time at discourse, and the whole of the passage itself his own charges? Who feedeth a flock, and of the Epistle let us diligently consider. of the milk of the flock partaketh not? Speak "Have we not," saith he, "leave to eat and I these things as a man? Saith not the Law to drink? have we not leave to lead about a the same? For in the law of Moses it is woman, a sister?" What leave meant he, written, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that but what the Lord gave unto them whom He treadeth out the corn. Doth God care for sent to preach the kingdom of heaven, saying, oxen? Or saith he it for our sake altogether? "Those things which are (given) of them, For our sakes truly is it written, because he eat ye; for the workman is worthy of his that plougheth ought to plough in hope, and hire;" and proposing Himself as an example he that thresheth in hope of partaking of the of the same power, to Whom most faithful fruits."3 By these words the Apostle Paul women did of their means minister such sufficiently indicates, that it was no usurping necessaries? But the Apostle Paul hath done unto themselves of aught beyond their due on more, from his fellow-Apostles alleging a the part of his fellow-Apostles, that they proof of this license permitted of the Lord. wrought not bodily, whence they might have For not as finding fault hath he subjoined, the things which to this life are necessary, "As do also the other Apostles, and the but as the Lord ordained, should, living by brethren of the Lord, and Cephas;" but that the Gospel, eat bread gratuitously given of hence he might show that this which he them unto whom they were preaching a would not accept was a thing which, that it gratuitous grace. Their charges, namely, was lawful for him to accept was proved by they did like soldiers receive, and of the fruit the wont of the rest also his fellow-soldiers. of the vineyard by them planted, they did, as "Or I only and Barnabas, have we not power need was, freely gather; and of the milk of to forbear working?" Lo, he hath taken the flock which they fed, they drank; and of away all doubt even from the slowest hearts, the threshing-floor on which they threshed, that they may understand of what working they took their meat. he speaks. For to what end saith he, "Or I only and Barnabas, have we not power to forbear working?" but for that all evangelists and ministers of God's word had power received of the Lord, not to work with their hands, but to live by the Gospel, working only spiritual works in preaching of the kingdom of heaven and edifying of the peace of the Church? For no man can say that it is of that very spiritual working that the Apostle said, "Or I only and Barnabas, have we not power to forbear working?" For this power to forbear working all those had: let him say then, who essays to deprave and pervert precepts Apostolical; let him say, if he dares, that all evangelists received of the Lord power to forbear preaching the Gospel. But if this is most absurd and mad to say, why will they not understand what is plain to all, that they did indeed receive power not to work, but works bodily, whereby to get a living, because "the workman is worthy of his hire," as the Gospel speaks. It is not therefore that Paul and Barnabas only had not power to forbear 9. But he speaks more openly in the rest which he subjoins, and altogether removes all causes of doubting. "If we unto you,” saith he, "have sown spiritual things, is it a great matter if we shall reap your carnal things?" What are the spiritual things which he sowed, but the word and mystery of the sacrament of the kingdom of heaven? And what the carnal things which he saith he had a right to reap, but these temporal things which are indulged to the life and indigency of the flesh? These however being due to him he declares that he had not sought nor accepted, lest he should cause any impediment to the Gospel of Christ. What work remaineth for us to understand him to have wrought, whereby he should get his living, but bodily work, with his own bodily and visible hands? For if from spiritual work he sought food and clothing, that is, to receive these of them whom he was edifying in the Gospel, he could not, as he does, go on to say, If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless, 31 Cor. ix. 7-10. [See R.V.] |