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Appendix to Augustine's Sermones: Sermones supposititii, Sermones 211-230

Sermons CCXV–CCXVII

Domine, suscipe spiritum meum (Act. VII, 58). Dominus Jesus Christus pro inimicis clamabat, Pater, ignosce illis; quia nesciunt quid faciunt (Luc. XXIII, 34): iste dicit, Ne statuas hoc illis in peccatum (Act. VII, 59). Et manifeste, fratres mei, in medio lapidantium istorum qui amplius saeviebat beatus apostolus Paulus praesens erat. Si ergo tunc daretur Stephano de lapidante vindicta, quomodo talem magistrum habuisset Ecclesia? His dictis emisit spiritum, ascendit in coelum, veniam meruit inimicis, gaudere meruit in coelis de amicitiis beati Pauli subsequentis: quia ipse est Dominus, qui facit habitare sterilem in domo matrem filiorum laetantem (Psal. CXII, 9). Ecce hoc meruit sanctus Stephanus qui videbat Filium hominis stantem, quem novimus ad dexteram Patris sedentem. Petamus eum, ut interpellet pro nobis, et pro peccatis nostris; et eruat nos a tantis periculis et parturitionibus universis, pro pietate sua, non pro conscientia nostra. Nam qui aut quanti fontes peccati nostri flammam possunt exstinguere? Ipse dignetur nostra crimina sepelire: ut sicut in monumento novo ad modicum commendavit membra sua, sic in fonte indulgentiae sepeliat peccata nostra, ut vobiscum semper gaudeamus in Ecclesia sacrosancta. Amen.

Lord, receive my spirit (Acts 7:58). The Lord Jesus Christ cried out for His enemies, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do (Luke 23:34): this man says, Do not lay this to them as a sin (Acts 7:59). And clearly, my brethren, in the midst of those stoning him, the blessed apostle Paul, who raged more than the rest, was present. If, then, vengeance had been granted to Stephen upon the one stoning him, how would the Church have had such a teacher? Having said these things, he gave up his spirit, he ascended into heaven, he merited pardon for his enemies, he merited to rejoice in heaven over the friendship of blessed Paul who followed after him: for He is the Lord Who makes the barren woman dwell in the house, the joyful mother of children (Ps. 112:9). Behold, this did holy Stephen merit, who saw the Son of Man standing, Whom we know to be seated at the right hand of the Father. Let us ask Him to intercede for us and for our sins, and to deliver us from such great dangers and from all travails, according to His mercy, not according to our conscience. For what fountains, or how many, can extinguish the flame of our sin? May He deign to bury our crimes: that as He entrusted His limbs for a little while to a new tomb, so He may bury our sins in the fountain of pardon, so that we may rejoice with you always in the most holy Church. Amen.

SERMO CCXV. In Natali sancti Stephani, VI.

Sermon 215. On the Birthday of Saint Stephen, 6.

1. Nativitatis Christi effectus. Hesterno die celebravimus Natalem, quo Rex martyrum natus est in mundo: hodie celebramus Natalem quo primicerius martyrum migravit ex mundo. Oportebat enim ut primum immortalis pro mortalibus susciperet carhem, et sic mortalis pro immortali sustineret mortem. Et ideo natus est Dominus, ut moreretur pro servo; ne servus timeret mori pro Domino. Natus est Christus in terris, ut Stephanus nasceretur in coelis. Ingressus est Dominus mundum, ut Stephanus ingrederetur in coelum. Altus ad humilia descendit, ut humiles ad alta ascenderent. Filius Dei factus est hominis filius, ut filios hominum faceret filios Dei. Fecit Christus miracula; fecit et Stephanus: sed Christus fecit sine Stephano; numquid Stephanus potuit facere sine Christo? Vivebat Stephanus de Christo, sicut sarmentum de vite. Miraris fructum de sarmento pendentem? Vide sarmentum de vite manantem.

1. The effect of the Nativity of Christ. Yesterday we celebrated the Birthday on which the King of martyrs was born into the world: today we celebrate the Birthday on which the first of the martyrs departed from the world. For it was fitting that first the Immortal should take on flesh for mortals, and thus the mortal should endure death for the Immortal. And therefore the Lord was born so that He might die for the servant, lest the servant should fear to die for the Lord. Christ was born on earth so that Stephen might be born in heaven. The Lord entered the world so that Stephen might enter into heaven. The High One came down to lowly things so that the lowly might ascend to high things. The Son of God was made a son of man so that He might make the sons of men sons of God. Christ worked miracles; Stephen worked them too: but Christ worked them without Stephen; could Stephen work them without Christ? Stephen lived from Christ, as the branch from the vine. Do you marvel at the fruit hanging from the branch? See the branch issuing from the vine.

2. Ob Christi confessionem lapidatur Stephanus. Eia, sancte Stephane, dic aliquid Judaeis, ut incipias lapidari, et possis coronari. Jaculare verba, et excipe saxa. Dic aliquid de incircumcisis cordibus, et morieris lapidibus. Dic aliquid de eo cujus nomen nolunt audire. Erubescant et saeviant, muta efficiantur labia dolosa (Psal. XXX, 19). Dic eis ubi vides vivum, quem irriserunt crucifixum. Dic eis ubi eum vides, et hic non vives; sed cum illo melius vives. Dic eis quia nihil est quod fecerunt; vivit quem occiderunt. Dic eis quia vides ad dexteram Patris stantem, quem irriserunt in cruce pendentem. Et ille inquit: Ecce video coelos apertos, et Filium hominis stantem ad dexteram Dei. At illi clamantes continuerunt aures suas. Aures clauserunt, et ad lapides cucurrerunt, impetumque fecerunt omnes in eum, et lapidabant Stephanum invocante⟨m⟩ Dominum, et dicentem, Adhaesit anima mea post te (Psal. LXII, 9), quia lapidatur caro mea pro te. Accipe spiritum meum (Act. VII, 55-58): et redde mihi promissum tuum.

2. Stephen is stoned for confessing Christ. Come, holy Stephen, say something to the Jews, so that you may begin to be stoned and may be crowned. Hurl words, and receive stones. Say something about uncircumcised hearts, and you will die by stones. Say something about Him Whose name they do not wish to hear. Let them blush and rage; let the deceitful lips be made dumb (Ps. 30:19). Tell them where you see living Him Whom they mocked when crucified. Tell them where you see Him, and you will not live here; but you will live better with Him. Tell them that what they did is nothing; He lives Whom they killed. Tell them that you see standing at the right hand of the Father Him Whom they mocked as He hung on the cross. And he says: Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. But they, crying out, stopped their ears. They closed their ears, and ran to the stones, and all made a rush upon him, and they stoned Stephen as he called upon the Lord and said, My soul has clung after Thee (Ps. 62:9), because my flesh is stoned for Thee. Receive my spirit (Acts 7:55–58): and give back to me Thy promise.

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(a) ‹anchor: not visible (sermon number in the heading)› · call in col 2145

Alias, de Sanctis 1.

Elsewhere, On the Saints 1.

(printed under page 335)

(b) ‹anchor: not visible (sermon title in the heading)› · call in col 2145

In Appendice nunc primum collocatur. Augustini nomine tanquam dubius caret apud Lovanienses, qui et Fulgentio episcopo in quibusdam manuscriptis adscribi testantur. Censet Vindingus nihil habere ab Augustino alienum. Nobis tamen dicendi genus Augustiniano plerumque humilius videtur, et magis concisum. Quae hic leguntur num. 3 ab istis verbis, n. 4, « Nam ut noverit Sanctitas vestra, « quantum valuerit oratio, » etc., reperies in sermone 382, inter Augustinianos. De num. 4 in fine et de num. 5 vide supra serm. 204, n. 2, 3, et serm. 205, n. 3.

Placed in the Appendix now for the first time. With the Louvain editors it lacks Augustine's name as doubtful; they also testify that in some manuscripts it is ascribed to Bishop Fulgentius. Vindingus judges that it contains nothing foreign to Augustine. To us, however, the manner of speaking seems generally humbler than Augustine's, and more clipped. What is read here in num. 3 [sic], from the words in n. 4, "For that your Holiness may know how much the prayer availed," etc., you will find in sermon 382, among the Augustinian sermons. On the end of num. 4 and on num. 5, see above, serm. 204, nn. 2, 3, and serm. 205, n. 3.

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3. Christi ad exemplum pro inimicis orat. Oravit Christus pro suis crucifixoribus; oravit et Stephanus pro suis lapidatoribus. Dominus Jesus oravit affixus ligno; Stephanus genu flexo. Qui stando suum spiritum commendavit Domino, pro illorum delicto fixo genu oravit. Orabat Dominum pro inimicis, ut amicus, dicens, Ecce ego patior, ego lapidor, in me saeviunt, et in me fremunt; sed ne statuas illis hoc peccatum: quia, ut hoc dicam tibi, a te primo audivi. Ego servus tuus patior; sed multum interest inter me et te. Tu Dominus, ego servus; tu Verbum, ego auditor verbi; tu Magister, ego discipulus; tu Creator, ego creatura; tu Deus, ego homo. Multum interest inter peccatum istorum qui lapidant me, et illorum qui crucifixerunt te. Quando ergo dixisti, Pater, ignosce illis, quia nesciunt quid faciunt; pro magno peccato petisti, et me pro minimo petere docuisti. Domine, inquit, ne statuas illis hoc peccatum: tanquam diceret, Ego patior in carne; isti non pereant in mente. Illi lapides mittebant; et sanctus Stephanus orationes fundebat. Magna pietas, fratres, magna clementia. Prorsus qualia in mensa Domini sui comedit, talia et ipse in suo convivio praeparavit. Scriptum est enim: Ad magnam mensam sedisti, scito quonium talia te oportet praeparare (Eceli. XXXI, 12). Talia ergo in oratione exhibuit, qualia in sui Domini mensa comedit. Dominus Jesus Christus dixit, Pater, ignosce illis; quia nesciunt quid faciunt (Luc. XXIII, 34): sanctus Stephanus dixit, Ne statuas illis hoc peccatum; et hoc dicto obdormivit (Act. VII, 59). O somnum pacis! Quid illo somno tranquillius? Quid illo somno quietius? Qualis ibat ad amicos, qui sic diligebat inimicos?

3. After the example of Christ he prays for his enemies. Christ prayed for His crucifiers; Stephen too prayed for his stoners. The Lord Jesus prayed fastened to the wood; Stephen with bended knee. He who standing commended his spirit to the Lord, prayed with knee set down for their offence. He was praying to the Lord for his enemies, as a friend, saying: Behold, I suffer, I am stoned, they rage against me and they gnash at me; but lay not this sin to their charge: because, to say this to Thee, I heard it first from Thee. I, Thy servant, suffer; but there is a great difference between me and Thee. Thou art the Lord, I the servant; Thou the Word, I a hearer of the word; Thou the Master, I the disciple; Thou the Creator, I the creature; Thou God, I a man. There is a great difference between the sin of these who stone me and that of those who crucified Thee. When therefore Thou didst say, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do, Thou didst ask for a great sin, and Thou hast taught me to ask for a very small one. Lord, he says, lay not this sin to their charge: as if he were saying, I suffer in the flesh; let these not perish in the mind. They were hurling stones; and Saint Stephen was pouring out prayers. Great piety, brethren, great mercy. Truly such things as he ate at his Lord's table, such things he himself also prepared at his own banquet. For it is written: You have sat at a great table; know that you must prepare such things (Sir. 31:12). Such things therefore did he set forth in prayer as he ate at his Lord's table. The Lord Jesus Christ said, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34): Saint Stephen said, Lay not this sin to their charge; and having said this he fell asleep (Acts 7:59). O sleep of peace! What is more tranquil than that sleep? What more quiet than that sleep? What sort of man was he going to his friends, who so loved his enemies?

4. Orationi Stephani debetur conversio Sauli. Nam ut noverit Sanctitas vestra, quantum valuerit oratio sancti Stephani martyris, recurrite nobiscum ad illum adolescentem persecutorem, nomine Saulum, sicut ex libro Actuum Apostolorum, dum legeretur, audivimus: qui cum sanctus Stephanus lapidaretur, et ab ipso omnium lapidantium vestimenta servabantur, ut tanquam in manibus omnium ipse lapidare videretur, qui ad lapidandum omnes exertos reddebat. Hic cum iret in via, subito circumfulsit illum lux de coelo; et cadens in terram audivit vocem de coelo dicentem sibi: Saule, Saule, quid me persequeris? Durum est tibi contra stimulum calcitrare. Et ille dixit: Tu quis es, Domine? Et Dominus ad eum: Ego sum Jesus Nazarenus, quem tu persequeris (Id. IX, 3-5). Quid mihi et tibi? Quare te erigis contra me malo tuo; et non potius te humilias bono tuo? Ad tanta mala quae commisisti in me, olim quidem debui perdere te; sed Stephanus servus meus oravit pro te. Saule, Saule, quid me persequeris? Sed quia insanis contra nomen meum, ego te faciam servum meum.

4. To Stephen's prayer is owed the conversion of Saul. For that your Holiness may know how much the prayer of the holy martyr Stephen availed, run back with us to that young persecutor, Saul by name, as we heard from the book of the Acts of the Apostles while it was being read: who, when Saint Stephen was being stoned, and the garments of all the stoners were being kept by him, so that he himself seemed to be stoning as if in the hands of all, he who made all of them stripped for the stoning. As this man was going on the way, suddenly a light from heaven shone round about him; and falling to the ground he heard a voice from heaven saying to him: Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goad. And he said: Who art Thou, Lord? And the Lord to him: I am Jesus of Nazareth, Whom you persecute (Acts 9:3–5). What have I to do with you? Why do you raise yourself up against Me to your own harm, and do not rather humble yourself to your own good? For such great evils as you have committed against Me, I ought long since to have destroyed you; but Stephen My servant prayed for you. Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? But because you rage against My name, I will make you My servant.

5. Sauli crimen et indulgetur et vindicatur. O Saule, lupe rapax, comedisti: exspecta paululum, et digeres. Dicam plane, elisus est filius perditionis; et erectus est vas electionis. Nam si sanctus Stephanus sic non orasset, Ecclesia Paulum hodie non haberet. Sed ideo erectus est Paulus; quia in terra inclinatus exauditus est sanctus Stephanus. Ergo quod fecit Saulus, patietur Paulus; quod fecit persecutor, patietur praedicator; quod fecit lupus, patietur agnus: sic enim est in tali homine vindicandum. Discat pati quod faciebat, sentiat et ipse quod aliis inferebat. Dicitur Ananiae a Domino Jesu Christo, Vade ad eum, et signa eum charactere meo; multa enim patietur pro nomine meo (Ibid., 15, 16). Abiit Ananias, baptizavit Saulum, et fecit Paulum; baptizavit lupum, et fecit agnum; baptizavit persecutorem, et fecit praedicatorem. Coepimus habere praedicatorem, quem sanctus Stephanus habuit lapidatorem. Sic ergo exauditus est sanctus Stephanus, ut ejus orationibus deleretur peccatum quod commiserat Saulus. Commendemus ergo nos orationibus ejus. Multo magis enim nunc exauditur pro veneratoribus suis, qui sic exauditus est tunc pro lapidatoribus suis.

5. Saul's crime is both pardoned and punished. O Saul, ravening wolf, you have eaten: wait a little, and you will digest. I will say it plainly: the son of perdition has been dashed down, and the vessel of election has been raised up. For if Saint Stephen had not prayed thus, the Church would not have Paul today. But Paul was raised up for this reason, that Saint Stephen, bowed down on the ground, was heard. Therefore what Saul did, Paul will suffer; what the persecutor did, the preacher will suffer; what the wolf did, the lamb will suffer: for so must it be punished in such a man. Let him learn to suffer what he was doing; let him too feel what he was inflicting on others. It is said to Ananias by the Lord Jesus Christ: Go to him, and sign him with My mark; for he will suffer many things for My name (Acts 9:15–16). Ananias went away, baptized Saul, and made Paul; he baptized a wolf, and made a lamb; he baptized a persecutor, and made a preacher. We have begun to have as preacher him whom Saint Stephen had as stoner. Thus then was Saint Stephen heard, that by his prayers the sin which Saul had committed might be blotted out. Let us therefore commend ourselves to his prayers. For much more is he now heard on behalf of those who venerate him, who was thus heard then on behalf of those who stoned him.

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SERMO CCXVI. In Natali sancti Stephani, VII.

Sermon 216. On the Birthday of Saint Stephen, 7.

1. Stephanus hic degens Trinitatem vidit. Magnifica martyrum solemnitas compellit affectionem nostram, verbi divini vobis tradere semina pretiosa. Unde rogamus ut pluviae coelesti corda vestra praeparetis; ut jactantes semina vestra, fructum centesimum afferatis. Pium ergo diem beatissimi martyris Stephani hodie celebramus: non quo natus est mundo, sed quo per passionem migravit ad coelum. Magnum decus meruit verbi divini, ut et leviticum honorem placitum exhiberet, et egregium martyrium consummaret. Duplicem gratiae sanctimoniam accepit in coelestibus regnis (quia sancte Deo vixit in terris) anima ejus secundum sententiam Salomonis (Prov. XXXI, 21). Beati Apostoli vocem audivimus: Despondi enim vos, dicit Christianis, uni viro, virginem castam exhibere Christo (II Cor. XI, 2). Beatus autem Stephanus Christum meruit diligere; ut meruisset eum de terra in coelo videre, sicut dicit, Ecce video coelos apertos, et Filium hominis stantem a dextris Dei (Act. VII, 55). O cor mundum, quod bene novit Deum! Nunc illud evangelicum quod dicitur de lapide qui reprobatus fuerat, Hic factus est in caput anguli (Psal. CXVII, 22), completum est praeconium. Et iterum, Beati mundo corde, quoniam ipsi Deum videbunt (Matth. V, 8). Videte quid meruit beatissimus Stephanus post exitum corporalem, qui hic adhuc corpore positus Trinitatem meruit ipsam videre.

1. Stephen, while dwelling here, saw the Trinity. The magnificent solemnity of the martyrs compels our affection to hand on to you the precious seeds of the divine word. Hence we ask that you prepare your hearts for the heavenly rain, so that, casting your seeds, you may bring forth fruit a hundredfold. We therefore celebrate today the holy day of the most blessed martyr Stephen: not the day on which he was born into the world, but that on which through his passion he passed to heaven. He merited the great distinction of the divine word, so that he both displayed the pleasing Levitical honour and consummated an outstanding martyrdom. His soul received a double sanctity of grace in the heavenly kingdoms (because he lived holily to God on earth), according to the saying of Solomon (Prov. 31:21). We have heard the voice of the blessed Apostle: For I have betrothed you, he says to Christians, to one husband, to present a chaste virgin to Christ (2 Cor. 11:2). Now blessed Stephen merited to love Christ, so that he merited to see Him from earth in heaven, as he says, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God (Acts 7:55). O pure heart, which knew God well! Now that proclamation of the Gospel which is spoken of the stone that had been rejected, This has become the head of the corner (Ps. 117:22), has been fulfilled. And again, Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God (Matt. 5:8). See what the most blessed Stephen merited after his bodily departure, who, while still placed here in the body, merited to see the Trinity itself.

2. Mira Stephani in lapidatores charitas. Tunc Judaei alienati a vita sanctorum, lapidare cogitaverunt beatum Stephanum. Judaei virum Dei lapidabant; ille rogabat aspiciens Deum. Ille aspiciebat divinitatem; et propriam exercebant Judaei feritatem. Veniebant super eum lapides quasi nimbi; et ille fixis genibus orabat pro delictis populi scelerati. Beatus Stephanus orabat pro peccatis eorum; et illi pietatem nullam ponebant in eum. Quid agis, Saule? quid martyr in Martyrem saevis; quia et tu lapidaberis manibus alienis? Judaei lapidabant; et Saulus servabat vestes eorum. Beatus Stephanus Deum exorabat pro iniquitatibus eorum: qui a Domino Christo tale accepit vocabulum, unde corona martyrii depingat triumphum. Sic enim per linguam graecam nomen accepit corona, quod latine interpretatur Vita perpetua. Et ideo conversi mecum deprecemur beatissimum Martyrem Christi; ut meritis ipsius nobis imploret coronam in vita perpetua, ut cum eo simus in saeculorum saecula. Amen.

2. Stephen's wonderful charity towards those who stoned him. Then the Jews, estranged from the life of the saints, resolved to stone blessed Stephen. The Jews were stoning the man of God; he was praying, looking upon God. He was gazing upon the Godhead; and the Jews were exercising their own savagery. Stones came upon him like rainstorms; and he, on bended knees, was praying for the offences of the wicked people. Blessed Stephen was praying for their sins; and they showed no pity towards him. What are you doing, Saul? Why do you, a martyr, rage against a Martyr, since you too will be stoned by the hands of others? The Jews were stoning; and Saul was guarding their garments. Blessed Stephen was entreating God for their iniquities: he who received from the Lord Christ such a name, whereby the crown of martyrdom may portray his triumph. For thus through the Greek tongue the crown received its name, which in Latin is interpreted Perpetual Life. And therefore, turning with me, let us beseech the most blessed Martyr of Christ, that by his merits he may implore for us a crown in perpetual life, so that we may be with him for ages of ages. Amen.

SERMO CCXVII. In Natali sancti Stephani, VIII.

Sermon 217. On the Birthday of Saint Stephen, 8.

1. Quoniam video nostras disputationes graphio ceraque ligari, et nequaquam sumus idonei lectitare; adjuvate me ipsum, quaeso, intercessu vestro apud Martyrem istum, quem Gamaliel stolatus revelavit, Saulus spoliatus lapidavit, et Christus pannis involutus ditavit, et pretioso lapide coronavit. Triumphalis est dies iste, beatissimi, triumphalis est dies sancti Stephani martyris. A lapidantibus morte condemnatus,

1. Since I see that our discourses are being bound with stylus and wax, and we are by no means fit to read them over, help me myself, I beg, by your intercession with this Martyr, whom Gamaliel, clad in his stole, revealed, whom Saul, stripped, stoned, and whom Christ, wrapped in swaddling cloths, enriched and crowned with a precious stone. Triumphal is this day, most blessed ones, triumphal is the day of the holy martyr Stephen. Condemned to death by those who stoned him,

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(a) ‹anchor: not visible (sermon number in the heading)› · call in col 2147

Alias, de Diversis 96.

Elsewhere, On Various Subjects 96.

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In Appendice nunc primum collocatur. Dubium habent Lovanienses, falsum Verlinus et Vindingus. Nihil hic sapit Augustinum, imo ab ipso abhorrent plurima, veluti quod dicitur in Stephano, « nunc illud Evangelii de lapide qui re- « probatus fuerat, Hic factus est in caput anguli, comple- « tum esse praeconium. » Et quod « hic adhuc in corpore « positus Trinitatem meruit ipsam videre. » Impurum denique et minus aptum dicendi genus.

Placed in the Appendix now for the first time. The Louvain editors hold it doubtful, Verlin and Vindingus spurious. Nothing here savours of Augustine; indeed very many things are repugnant to him, such as what is said of Stephen, "that now the proclamation of the Gospel about the stone which had been rejected, 'This has become the head of the corner,' was fulfilled." And that "while still set in the body he was found worthy to see the Trinity itself." Finally, the manner of speaking is impure and less apt.

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Alias, de Sanctis 6.

Elsewhere, On the Saints 6.

(printed under page 336)

(d) ‹anchor: "Stephani, VIII"› · call in col 2147

In Appendice nunc primum collocatur. De hujus veritate dubitandi locum relinquunt Lovanienses: Verlinus vero et Vindingus falsitatis argumenta proferunt ex auctoris stilo et ingenio ducta, quae in re adeo perspicua recensere nihil juvat. Fulgentio, sicuti Lovanienses testantur, codices quidam tribuunt; ex nostris autem nonnulli Maximo, sed perperam.

Placed in the Appendix now for the first time. The Louvain editors leave room for doubt about its genuineness; Verlin and Vindingus, however, bring forward proofs of its spuriousness drawn from the author's style and cast of mind, which in so plain a matter there is no point in reviewing. Some codices, as the Louvain editors testify, attribute it to Fulgentius; and some of ours to Maximus, but wrongly.

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extra civitatem lapide est praecipitatus, corpore pernecatus, capite vulneratus, lapide conquassatus, et angulari lapide coronatus. Pulcher erat minister, quia pulcher erat et Magister; pulcher erat ubique Stephanus iste, in corde et corpore. De Magistri pulchritudine cantatur in Psalmo, Speciosus forma prae filiis hominum, diffusa est gratia in labiis tuis (Psal. XLIV, 3): et ipsi cantamus in Psalmo, Specie tua et pulchritudine tua intende, prospere procede et regna (Ibid., 5). Stephano ergo martyri et pulchritudo erat corporis, et flos aetatis, et eloquentia sermocinantis, et sapientia sanctissimae mentis, et operatio divinitatis. Invidia magna exstiterat Judaeis ob christianae causam professionis.

he was cast down by stones outside the city, put to death in body, wounded in the head, shattered by a stone, and crowned with the corner-stone. Beautiful was the minister, because beautiful too was the Master; this Stephen was beautiful everywhere, in heart and in body. Of the Master's beauty it is sung in the Psalm, Beautiful in form above the sons of men, grace is poured out on Thy lips (Ps. 44:3); and we ourselves sing in the Psalm, In Thy comeliness and Thy beauty attend, proceed prosperously and reign (ibid. 5). So the martyr Stephen had both beauty of body and the flower of youth, and the eloquence of a speaker, and the wisdom of a most holy mind, and the working of divinity. Great envy had arisen among the Jews on account of the cause of the Christian profession.

2. Videbant enim Stephanum Judaei Judaeum, in medio Judaeorum, in civitate metropolitana parentum suorum disputantem contra sacra Judaeorum, et contra sacrificia, et contra Legem, et contra circumcisionem, contraque sabbata. Exsurgentes in iracundiam, et concipientes venenata sensa, loquebantur ad invicem sibi talia verba: Quid est istud? quid est hoc? quid agimus? quid facimus? quid dicimus? quid vult sibi iste homo et juvenis et pulcher, et eloquentissimus et sapientissimus homo? Nam signa magna et mirabilia facit iste homo, et sine causa Christus mortuus est homo. Venite, inquiunt, fratres, simulque conveniamus in unum; faciamus consilium, confirmemus falsum testimonium. Fecimus contra Dominum; faciamus et contra famulum. Diximus contra Dominum, Expedit ut unus moriatur, quam tota gens pereat (Joan. XVIII, 14); dicamus contra famulum, Exterminemus eum de terra viventium, et nomen ejus non memoretur amplius (Jerem. XI, 19). Quando consilium contra Jesum fecimus, multum nobis profuimus; quia praevaluimus. Circumvenimus, dedimus, accepimus, ligavimus, tradidimus, superavimus, oppressimus, crucifiximus. Amatori cupiditatis dedimus pecuniam, quam de mammona iniquitatis distraximus unusquisque. Ligavimus incapabilem Filium virginitatis, tradidimus judici judicem aequitatis, superavimus superantem imperium vanitatis, oppressimus opprimentem superbiam calamitatis, conspuimus faciem sanctitatis, et crucifiximus caeci Filium majestatis. Occidimus, sepelivimus, ejusque sepulcrum annulo nostro signavimus; sed ab angelo resignatum invenimus. Sepulcrum signatum custodientibus custodibus tradidimus, et miraculum resurrectionis videntibus pecuniam, ut Pilato mentirentur, contulimus, testimoniaque produximus; et confusione vigilantes caruimus.

2. For the Jews saw Stephen, a Jew, in the midst of the Jews, in the metropolitan city of his forefathers, disputing against the sacred rites of the Jews, and against the sacrifices, and against the Law, and against circumcision, and against the sabbaths. Rising up in anger, and conceiving poisoned thoughts, they spoke such words to one another: What is this? what is this? what are we doing? what are we to do? what are we to say? what does this man mean, both young and beautiful, a most eloquent and most wise man? For this man does great and wonderful signs, and it was for nothing that the man Christ died. Come, they say, brothers, and let us gather together as one; let us take counsel, let us establish false testimony. We acted against the Lord; let us act also against the servant. We said against the Lord, It is expedient that one man should die, rather than that the whole nation perish (John 18:14); let us say against the servant, Let us destroy him from the land of the living, and let his name be remembered no more (Jer. 11:19). When we took counsel against Jesus, we profited ourselves much, because we prevailed. We ensnared, we gave, we received, we bound, we handed over, we overcame, we oppressed, we crucified. To the lover of greed we gave money, which each of us paid out from the mammon of iniquity. We bound the uncontainable Son of virginity, we handed over to a judge the Judge of equity, we overcame Him who overcomes the empire of vanity, we oppressed Him who oppresses the pride of calamity, we spat upon the face of holiness, and, blind as we were, we crucified the Son of majesty. We killed Him, we buried Him, and we sealed His tomb with our ring; but we found it unsealed by an angel. We handed over the sealed tomb to guards to guard it, and to those who saw the miracle of the resurrection we gave money, that they might lie to Pilate, and we brought forth testimonies; and by being watchful we escaped confusion.

3. Sed et nunc, inquiunt sibi, o viri, quid agimus, quid facimus, quid dicimus, qui unum Christum occidimus, et multos Christianos conspicimus? Ecce, inquiunt, in uno Christo a nobis occiso, ducenti sunt discipuli ejus. De ipso numero nostro et Nicodemus sacerdos noster est, et tria et quinque millia hominum ad eorum Baptismum cucurrerunt: multas Judaeas et Graecas et Barbaras nationes baptizaverunt, et suis sacrariis praeposuerunt. Ecce adhuc, quod est nobis pejus ac deterius, septem diaconos ordinaverunt, inter quos unus qui vocatur Stephanus, et juvenis et pulcher et eloquentissimus et sapientissimus est prae omnibus, signis miraculorum est plenus; et si est plenus, necesse est ut confluat ad eum noster populus, et in nostram confusionem apud omnes Judaeos sit magnificatus, nisi nostris manibus fuerit lapidatus. Cur ergo, inquiunt, adhuc stamus? Quem exspectamus? Quare tardamus? Stephanum istum nostrae confusionis demonstratorem publicum publice rapiamus ad concilium, in nostrum eum statuamus medio, pontificali perturbemus synodo, testimonio opprimamus falsissimo, faciamus ministro quod fecimus et magistro. Si enim non dubitavimus magistrum lanceare, non debemus dubitare Stephanum lapidare. Consenseruntque omnes Judaei impietatis viri, ad homicidium semper parati. Rapiunt Stephanum, ad suumque perducunt concilium. Exagitant et perturbant, et interrogant, audiunt

3. But even now, they say to one another, O men, what are we doing, what are we to do, what are we to say, we who killed the one Christ, and behold many Christians? Behold, they say, in the one Christ killed by us, there are two hundred disciples of His. From our very own number Nicodemus too, our priest, is [one of them], and three and five thousand men have run to their Baptism: they have baptized many Jewish and Greek and barbarian nations, and set them over their sanctuaries. Behold further, what is worse and more grievous for us, they have ordained seven deacons, among whom one who is called Stephen, both young and beautiful and most eloquent and most wise above all, is full of signs of miracles; and if he is full, it is inevitable that our people will flock to him, and that to our confusion he will be magnified among all the Jews, unless he is stoned by our hands. Why then, they say, do we still stand here? Whom are we waiting for? Why do we delay? Let us publicly drag this Stephen, the public exhibitor of our confusion, to the council, let us set him in our midst, let us confound him before the pontifical synod, let us crush him with most false testimony, let us do to the minister what we did also to the Master. For if we did not hesitate to pierce the Master with a lance, we ought not to hesitate to stone Stephen. And all the Jews, men of impiety, ever ready for murder, agreed. They seize Stephen and lead him to their council. They harass and confound, and question, they hear

Editors' notes and page, col. 2148

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running head: APPENDIX. 2148
marginal letters: (none)
old-edition numerals: (none)
other: column begins with word-fragment "tus" broken from col. 2147; left-column fragments belong to col. 2147 and are not set; "caeci Filium majestatis" set as printed (cæci), taken as nominative plural with the subject, possibly for caeli, UNSURE; "Specie tua et" italic, final letter faint, UNSURE; stray mark after "Judaeas" at line end ignored; "Digitized by Google" stamp not set