9. There is also a sword of the Spirit, which pierces the soul, as was said to Mary, S. Luke ii. 35. A sword shall pierce through thy own soul also, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. Is not the flesh united with the soul by a kind of fraternal bond? Is not discourse also related and akin to our mind? When therefore we check our discourse, that we may not incur the sin of much speaking, we put aside the rights of blood, and loose the bonds of this fraternal connexion. Thus by the force of reason the soul severs from itself its irrational and, as it were, cognate part.
10. And so Moses taught the people to rise against their neighbours, by whom faith was in danger of beingmocked, and virtue hindered, that whatever in us was straying from virtue, perplexed by error, or entangled in vice might be cut off. By this direction to the people he obtained not only a mitigation of the Divine wrath and a turning away of offence, but even conciliated for them grace.
11. Thus, according to our apprehension, we have explained, since you asked it, our sentiments. And do you, if you have aught preferable, impart it to us, that from you and from ourselves we may learn which to choose and follow.
Farewell: love me as a son, for I also love you.
LETTER LXVII.
S. AMBROSE begins by pointing out that Moses deferred to Aaron in matters connected with the Priesthood, and then goes on to dwell on the rarity and the blessing of true penitence.
AMBROSE TO SIMPLICIANUS, GREETING.
1. THE greatness of each person as regards his own functions is taught us in that Scripture lesson by which your attention has been justly attracted, that Moses, Num. xii. 8. than whom no man saw God more intimately, Deut. xxxiv. 10. neither arose there a prophet since in Israel whom the Lord knew face to face; he who was constantly Exod. xxxiv. 28. with the Lord forty days and nights, when he received the law in the Mount, he, I say, Ib. iv. 12. to whom the Lord gave the words which he should speak, is found to have approved the counsel of his brother Aaron more than his own. Was there then any man more prudent and learned than Moses? Nay, of Aaron himself we afterwards read that Num. xii. 1. together with Miriam he transgressed concerning the Ethiopian woman.
2. But I would have you carefully consider this very thing, how Moses excelled in knowledge, Aaron in counsel. Moses was the greatest prophet, who said of Christ, Deut. xviii. 15. Like unto me, unto Him shall ye hearken. And the Lord Himself says of him, S. Luke xvi. 31. if they hear not Moses and the prophets,neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. In the matter of prophecy therefore Moses is preferred as a prophet; but where the subject and function and office relates to the Priesthood, Aaron is preferred as being a Priest. Let us now treat the passage itself.