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TRACTATE 7 On 1 John 4.4-12 HIS WORLD, for all the faithful seeking their homeland , is just as the desert was for the people of Israel. They were indeed still wandering about and seeking their homeland; but with God as their leader they could not wander astray. God's command was the way for them. For while they were going about for forty years, the journey itself is accomplished in a very few stages and is known to all. They were held in delay because they were being trained, not because they were abandoned. What God promises us, therefore , is ineffable sweetness and good, as Scripture says, and you have often heard as we have recalled it: "what the eye has not seen nor the ear heard nor has it arisen into the heart of man."} But we are trained by temporal labors and instructed by the temptations of the present life. But if you do not wish to die of thirst in this desert, drink love. It is the fount that the Lord wished to put here in order that we may not faint on the way.2 And we shall drink of it more abundantly when we come to the homeland. (2) The Gospel hasjust now been read. To speak of the very words with which the reading was ended, what else have you heard about except love? For indeed we made a pact with our God in the prayer, that if we wish him to forgive us our sins, we also should forgive the sins that have been committed against us.3 But nothing forgives but love. Take love away from the heart; hatred takes hold of it; it knows not how to forgive. Let love be there, it forgives without anxiety as it is not straitened. But his whole epistle that we have undertaken to expound to you-see if it recommends anything other than love itself alone. And one need not fear that by [our] speaking 1. Cf. 1 Cor 2.9; and Is 64+ 3. See Mt 6.12; and Lk 11+ 217 2. Compare with Tr in Ev 5.1. 218 ST. AUGUSTINE often [about it], it may come into hatred. For what is loved if love should come into hatred? How love itself, by which other things come to be duly loved, ought to be loved! Therefore, let not the reality that never ought to hie away from the heart hie away from the mouth. 2. "Now," [John] says, "you are of God, little children, and have overcome him." Whom, except the Antichrist? For just before he had said, "Everyone who dissolves Jesus Christ and denies that he came in the flesh is not of God.,,4 We have already explained,5 if you remember, that all who violate love deny that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. For that love is commended to us that he also himself commends in the Gospel: "Greater love than this no one can have than that he lay down his life for his friends."6 How could the Son of God lay down his life for us unless he put on flesh whereby he could die? Whoever, then, violates love, whatever he may say with his tongue, by his life denies that Christ has come in the flesh; and he is an antichrist, whoever he is, wherever he comes. But what does [John] say to those who are citizens of that homeland for which we sigh? "You have overcome him." And how have they overcome? "Because greater is he who is in you than he who is in this world." That they might not ascribe the victory to their own strength and be overcome by the arrogance of pride-for whomever the devil has made proud, he conquers-wishing them to preserve humility, what did he say? "You have overcome him." Now every person who hears, "You have overcome ," lifts up his head, stretches out his neck, wishes to be praised.7 Do not extol yourself. See who has overcome in you. Why have you overcome? "Because greater is he who is in you than he who is in this world." Be humble, carry your Lord. Be a beast of burden for your Rider. It is good that he rules and leads. For ifyou do not have him as your Rider, you can stretch out the neck, you can kick up your heels. But woe to you without the Driver, for this freedom...

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