LETTER XXXIX.

A.D. 387.

S. AMBROSE in this Letter seeks to rouse Faustinus from excessive grief for his sister’s death, first on the ground of duty towards the children left to his care and protection, and then on the higher ground of submission to the Divine will, and realization of Christian hopes.

AMBROSE TO FAUSTINUS, GREETING.

1. I WAS well aware that you would grieve with bitter grief for the death of your sister: still you should not go into banishment, but rather give yourself back to us, for although mourners are little inclined to receive consolation, it is sometimes necessary for them. But you have fled to the recesses of the mountains, and made your dwelling in the caves of wild beasts, laying aside all customary human converse and, what is worse, the use of your own reason.

2. Is it in accordance with your esteem for your sister, that human nature, which ought to be much regarded by you for producing a woman so excellent, should on her account be of less value in your eyes? In quitting this life it doubtless was a consolation to her to believe that she left you behind her as a parent to your nephews, a guardian of their tender years, a succour to their destitution; but you so utterly withhold yourself both from your nephews and from us, that we do not reap any benefit from what she thus found a ground of consolation. These dear pledges invite you not to grieve, but to comfort them, that in seeing you they may believe their mother to be still alive. In you then let them recognize her; in you let them enjoy her presence, in you think that she still survives to them.

3. But you grieve that she has been lately cut off in the flower of her age. This however is the common fate not only of men, but of states and countries themselves. Coming from Bononia[192] you left behind you Claterna, Bononia itself, Matina, Rhegium; Brixillum was on your right, in front of you Placentia, by its very name still recalling its ancient lustre, on the left you saw with pity the wastes of the Apennines, you surveyed the fortresses of these once flourishing tribes, and remembered them with sorrowful affection. Do not then the carcases of so many half-ruined cities, and states stretched on their bier beneath your eyes, do not these remind you that the decease of one woman, holy and excellent as she was, is much less deplorable especially as these are for ever laid prostrate and destroyed, but she though removed from us for a while is passing a more blessed life elsewhere?

4. Wherefore I deem that you ought not so much to deplore her, as to offer for her your prayers; make her not sorrowful by your tears, rather commend her soul to God by oblations.

Sidenote: 2 Cor. v. 16.

Sidenote: Gal. ii. 20.

5. Perhaps however you will declare yourself to be secure of her merits and faith, you cannot endure the feeling of regret at seeing her no longer after the flesh, which is to you a better grief. And does not the Apostolic saying move you that _henceforth we know no man after the flesh; yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we Him no more_. For our flesh cannot be perpetual and lasting, it must needs die that it may rise again, it must be dissolved that it may rest, and sin come to an end. We too have known many according to the flesh, but now we know them no more. _We have known the Lord Jesus_, says the Apostle, _after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we Him no more_. For now He has put off the coil of the body, and is not seen in fashion as a Man, but has died for all and all are dead in Him, to the intent that being renewed by Him and quickened in the Spirit they may no longer live to themselves but to Christ. Wherefore the same Apostle also says elsewhere, _I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me_.

Sidenote: Acts ix. 1. &c.

Sidenote: 2 Cor. v. 17.

Sidenote: Gen. vi. 3.

Sidenote: 2 Cor. v. 17.

Sidenote: S. Matt. xiii. 52.

Sidenote: Cant. vii. 13.

6. And well indeed was it that he who had before known Christ after the flesh, who had before persecuted and oppressed with bitter hatred the disciples of the Man, and the attendants on His bodily presence, but who now recognized His invisible workings, discerning not His bodily presence but His power,――well indeed was it that he became the teacher of the Gentiles, and began to instruct and prepare the worshippers of His Divinity to become preachers of the Gospel. Wherefore he added, _if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature_, that is, he that is perfect in Christ is a new creature, for all flesh is imperfect. And the Lord saith, _My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh_. No carnal man then is in Christ, but _if any man be in Christ he is a new creature_, formed by newness not of nature but of grace. These _old things_ which are according to the flesh _have past away, all things are made new_. And what are they but the things which _the scribe instructed unto the kingdom of heaven_ knows, _like unto that householder, who brings forth out of his treasure things new and old_; neither old things without new, nor new things without old? Thus too the Church saith, _things new and old have I laid up for Thee_. For old things, that is, the hidden mysteries of the Law are passed away, all things are made new in Christ.

Sidenote: Gal. v. 6.

Sidenote: Ps. ciii. 5.

Sidenote: 2 Cor. v. 19, 20.

Sidenote: S. John i. 29.

Sidenote: 2 Cor. v. 21.

7. This is the new creature of which the Apostle writing to the Galatians saith, _For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing nor uncircumcision, but a new creature_, already our flesh now renewed flourishes, and having before borne the thorns of inveterate sin hath now found the fruit of grace. Why then need we grieve, if we can now say to the soul, _thy youth is renewed like the eagles_? And why should we bewail the dead, now that by our Lord Jesus _the world has been reconciled to the Father_? Since then we hold the benefits which Christ hath given, we are to you as well as to all ambassadors in Christ’s stead, that you may know His Gift to be irrevocable, that you may believe what you always have believed, and not bring your opinion into discredit by too much sorrow. For the Lord Jesus was made sin that He might _take away the sin of the world_, and we all might be _made the righteousness of God in Him_; now no longer subject to the penalty of sin, but sure of the reward of righteousness.

Farewell; love me, for I love you.