Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament

⁶ Peradventure you are saying, “What does he mean, that he is so often saying this? A second and a third time he says it; and scarcely ever speaks, but when he says it.” Would that I may not say it in vain! For men there are unthankful to grace, attributing much to poor and disabled nature. True it is, when man was created he received great power of free-will; but he lost it by sin. He fell into death, became infirm, was left in the way by the robbers half dead; the Samaritan, which is by interpretation keeper, passing by lifted him up on his own beast; he is still being brought to the inn. Why is he lifted up? He is still in process of curing. “But,” he will say, “it is enough for me that in baptism I received remission of all sins.” Because iniquity was blotted out, was therefore infirmity brought to an end? “I received,” says he, “remission of all sins.” It is quite true. All sins were blotted out in the Sacrament of Baptism, all entirely, of words, deeds, thoughts, all were blotted out. But this is the “oil and wine” which was poured in by the way. You remember, beloved Brethren, that man who was wounded by the robbers, and half dead by the way, how he was strengthened, by receiving oil and wine for his wounds. His error indeed was already pardoned, and yet his weakness is in process of healing in the inn. The inn, if you recognise it, is the Church. In the time present, an inn, because in life we are passing by: it will be a home, whence we shall never remove, when we shall have got in perfect health unto the kingdom of heaven. Meanwhile receive we gladly our treatment in the inn, and weak as we still are, glory we not of sound health: lest through our pride we gain nothing else, but never for all our treatment to be cured.

7. “Bless the Lord, O my soul.” Say, yea say to your soul, You are still in this life, still bearest about a frail flesh, still “does the corruptible body press down the soul;” still after the entireness of remission have you received the remedy of prayer; for still, while your weaknesses are being healed, do you say, “Forgive us our debts.” Say then to your soul, you lowly valley, not an exalted hill; say to your soul, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.” What benefits? Tell them, enumerate them, render thanks. What benefits? “Who forgives all your iniquities.” This took place in baptism. What takes place now? “Who heals all your weaknesses.” This takes place now; I acknowledge. But as long as I am here, “the corruptible body presses down the soul.” Say then also that which comes next, “Who redeems your life from corruption.” After redemption from corruption, what remains? “When this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your contention?” There rightly, “O death, where is your sting?” You seek its place, and findest it not. What is “the sting of death”? What is, “O death, where is your sting?” Where is sin? You seek, and it is nowhere. For “the sting of death is sin.” They are the Apostle's words, not mine. Then shall it be said, “O death, where is your sting?” Sin shall nowhere be, neither to surprise you, nor to assault you, nor to inflame your conscience. Then it shall not be said, “Forgive us our debts.” But what shall be said? “O Lord our God, give us peace: for You have rendered all things unto us.”