7. Consider the sun the moon and the stars; these heavenly luminaries, although they shine with an excellent brightness, are yet but creatures, and rise and set in performance of their daily task, obeying the ordinance of the eternal Creator, dispensing the radiance wherewith they are clothed, and giving light by night and by day. As often as the sun is obscured by clouds, as often as is it hiddenby the interposition of the earth, or when the rays of its light are intercepted, eclipses occur, and,as the Scripture saith, Ps. civ. 19. The moon knoweth her going down[179]. She knows when she shines with a full, and when with a diminished orb. The stars also are overclouded and disappear, while going through the service of this earthly ministry, not willingly indeed but in hope; for they hope for the reward of this their toil from Him Who subjected them. Wherefore they go through it for His sake, that is, to do His will.
8. Nor is it surprising that they bear it with patience, knowing that their Lord, the Creator of all things in heaven and in earth, took upon Him our frail body and our servile state. Should not they then patiently bear the bondage of their corruption, seeing that the Lord of all humbled Himself even to death for the whole world, took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made the sin of the world, nay even a curse for us? Wherefore the heavenly bodies although they groan in that they are subject to the vanity of this world, yet follow the example of His goodness, and console themselves with the expectation of being delivered from the bondage of corruption into the liberty of glory, when the adoption of the sons of God, that is, the redemption of all men, shall have arrived. For when Rom. xi. 25, 26. the fulness of the Gentiles shall be come in, then all Israel shall be saved. For what people will He not pardon when He even pardons that persecuting people, who said, S. John xix. 6. Crucify Him, crucify Him, and, S. Matt. xxvii. 25. His blood be on us and on our children. Rom. viii. 20. But since even the heavenly creation is subject to vanity, albeit in hope, will not He Who is truly Mercy itself and the Redeemer of the world, suffer even the perfidy and insolence into which these men through the vanity of the world have fallen to obtain pardon?
9. To conclude then, both this great and glorious sun, and this moon which is not obscured by the shades of night, and these stars which are the garniture of the heaven, all these now suffer the bondage of corruption, for all creatures are corruptible, and the heavens shall perish and S. Matt. xxiv. 35. the heaven and earth pass away. But hereafter the sun and moon and the stars of heaven shall rest in the glory ofthe sons of God, when God shall be 1 Cor. xv. 28. all in all, He Who now in His immensity and mercy is in thee and in us.
10.And shall we not believe that the Angels themselves, who in the toils of this world fulfil divers ministries, Rev. iii. 1 &c. as we read in the Revelation of S. John, do not also groan when made the ministers of vengeance and destruction? Seeing that their life is blessed, would they not rather pass it in their ancient state of tranquillity than be interrupted by the infliction of vengeance on our sins? They who rejoice in the salvation of one sinner must surely groan over the miseries of so grievous sins.
11. If therefore the creatures and powers of heaven suffer the bondage of corruption, but still in hope, that hereafter they may rejoice on our behalf and together with us, let us also alleviate the sufferings of this present time by the hope and expectation of future glory. Farewell, my son; love me, for I love you.
LETTER XXXV.
IN this Letter S. Ambrose continues his comment on the passage of S. Paul, especially on the ‘groans of creation.’
AMBROSE TO HORONTIANUS.
1. MY former Letter was a reply to your inquiry; this is a part of my answer, supplemental not contradictory to the former. In reviewing the latter part of the passage I was struck, I confess, with his adding, Rom. viii. 22. we know that every creature groaneth, seeing that previously he had said without any addition, Ib. 20. The creature was made subject to vanity. For he said not every creature, but, the creature was made subject. And again he says, Ib. 21. Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption. But in the third place he adds that Ib. 22. every creature groaneth together.