5. The Apostle therefore declares that it is from faith that our hope of righteousness in the spirit is to be derived, and that though called to liberty we are not Ib. v. 13. to use our liberty for an occasion to the flesh. Ib. 6. For neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. And therefore it is written, Deut. vi. 5. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God. Now he who loves also believes, and in believing each man begins to love. Abraham believed, and so began to love, and he believed not in part, but entirely. For otherwise he would not have perfect charity, for it is written, 1 Cor. xiii. 7. Charity believeth all things. If it believe not all things, charity does not seem to be perfect. Perfect charity then has all faith.
6. But I would not lightly assert that all faith has immediately perfect charity, for the Apostle says, Ib. 2. Though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. A Christian man has three principal virtues, Ib. 13. faith hope and charity, but the greatest of these is charity.
7. On the other hand I conceive the Apostle was led to say this by the tenor of his argument, for I cannot see how he who has all faith, so that he could remove mountains, can be destitute of charity; nor how such can be the case with that man who Ib. 2. understands all mysteries and all knowledge; especially as John says, 1 S. John v. 1. Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and the same Apostlehad said before, 1 S. John iii. 9. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin. Whence we infer that if he who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and he who is born of God sins not, then he who believes that Jesus is the Christ sins not. But if any man sin, he believes not, and he that believes not loves not, and he that loves not is subject to sin. So then he who sins loves not, 1 S. Pet. iv. 8. for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. But if charity exclude the desire of sin, it excludes also fear, charity then is full of perfect faith.
8. The Apostles too, who came to be His friends, said, S. Luke xvii. 5. Increase our faith, begging the good Physician to strengthen their failing faith. Their faith must indeed still have been weak, when even to Peter it could be said, S. Matt. xiv. 31. O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? Thus faith as the herald of charity preoccupies the mind, and prepares the ways of coming love. Thus where is the perfection of charity there is also all faith.
9. For this reason I conceive it is said that 1 Cor. xiii. 7. charity believeth all things, that is, leads faith to believe them all, and that a soul of this kind possesses all faith; and hence wherever is perfect charity there is all faith. Moreover, as it believes all things so also it is said to hope all things. And it is on this account the greatest, because it includes the other two.
10. He that has this charity fears nothing, for charity 1 S. John iv. 18. casteth out fear; and fear being thus banished and thrown aside, charity 1 Cor. xiii. 7. beareth all things, endureth all things. He who by charity endures all things, cannot fear martyrdom; and so in another place he speaks as a conqueror at the end of his course, Gal. vi. 14. The world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
Farewell, my son; love me for I also love you.
LETTER LXXIX.
S. AMBROSE here assures Bellicius, whose recovery from sickness had occurred just at the time when he professed himself a believer in Christ, that both his sickness and recovery were to be ascribed to his so doing, and exhorts him to endeavour to keep Christ near him, and to prepare himself with all diligence for the other Sacraments.