Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament

¹⁰ But see, I admit that Africa is under the midday sun; although Egypt is rather under the meridian, under the midday sun than Africa. Now after what fashion This Shepherd is there in Egypt, they who know, will acknowledge; and for them that know not, let them enquire how large a flock lie gathers there, how great a multitude He has of holy men and women who utterly despise the world. That flock has so increased, that it has expelled superstitions even thence. To pass over how it has in its increase banished thence the whole superstition of idols, which had been firmly fixed there; I admit what you say, O evil companions; I admit it altogether, I agree that Africa is in the South, and that Africa is signified in that which is said, “Where do You feed, where do You lie down under the midday sun?”

But do you too equally observe how that up to this point these are the words of the Bride, and not yet of the Bridegroom. Hitherto it is the Bride that says, “Tell me, O Thou whom my soul loves, where You feed, where Thou dost lie down in the midday, lest by chance I light, as one veiled.” O you deaf, and blind one, if in the “midday” you see Africa, why in her that is “veiled” do you not see the Bride? “Tell me,” she said, “O Thou whom my soul loves.” Without doubt she addresses her Spouse, when she says, “whom” [in the masculine] “my soul loves.”

Just as if it were said, Tell me, O you whom [in the feminine] “my soul loves;” we should understand that the Bridegroom spoke these words to His Bride; so when you hear, “Tell me, O you whom” (in the masculine) “my soul loves, where You feed, where Thou liest down;” add to this, to her words belongs also what follows, “In the midday.” I am asking, “where You feed in the midday, lest by chance I light as one veiled upon the flocks of Your companions.” I consent entirely, I admit what you understand of Africa; it is signified by “the midday.”

But then as you understand it, the Church of Christ beyond the sea is addressing her Spouse, in fear of falling into the African error, “O Thou whom my soul, loves, tell me,” teach me. For I hear that “in the midday,” that is in Africa, there are two parties, yea rather many schisms. “Tell me,” then, “where You feed,” what sheep belong to You, what fold Thou biddest me love there, whereunto ought I to unite myself. “Lest by chance I light as one veiled.” For they mock me as if I were concealed, they mock me as destroyed, as though I existed nowhere else.

“Lest,” then, “as one veiled,” as if concealed, “I light upon the flocks,” that is, upon the congregarious of the heretics, your companions; the Donatists, the Maximinianists, the Rogatists and all the other pests who gather without, and who therefore scatter; “Tell me,” I pray You, if I must seek my Shepherd there, that I fall not into the gulf of re-baptizing. I exhort you, I beseech you by the sanctity of such nuptials, love this Church, be in this holy Church, be this Church; love the good Shepherd, the Spouse so fair, who deceives no one, who desires no one to perish. Pray too for the scattered sheep; that they too may come, that they too may acknowledge Him, that they too may love Him; that there may be One Flock and One Shepherd. Let us turn to the Lord, etc.