{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/210/2100296.htm","path":"chr/ecf/210/2100296.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/210/2100296.htm","text":"By collating similar passages with 1 Sam. iii. 25, St. Ambrose shows that the meaning is not that no one shall intercede, but that the intercessor must be worthy as were Moses and Jeremiah, at whose prayers we read that God spared Israel.\n40. But you say, It is written: \u201cIf a man sin against the Lord, who shall entreat for him?\u201d 2968 First of all, as I already said before, I might allow you to make that objection if you refused penance to those only who denied the faith. But what difficulty does that question produce? For it is not written, \u201cNo one shall entreat for him;\u201d but, \u201cWho shall entreat?\u201d that is to say, the question is, Who in such a case can entreat? The entreaty is not excluded.\n41. Then you have in the fifteenth Psalm: \u201cLord, who shall dwell in Thy tabernacle, or who shall rest upon Thy holy hill?\u201d 2969 It is not that no one, but that he who is approved shall dwell there, nor does it say that no one shall rest, but he who is chosen shall rest. And that you may know that this is true, it is said not much later in the twenty-fourth Psalm: \u201cWho shall ascend into the hill of the Lord, or who shall stand in His holy place?\u201d 2970 The writer implies, not any ordinary person, or one of the common sort, but only a man of excellent life and of singular merit. And that we may understand that when the question is asked, Who? it does not imply no one, but some special one is meant, after having said \u201cWho shall ascend into the hill of the Lord?\u201d the Psalmist adds: \u201cHe that hath clean hands and a pure heart, who hath not lift up his mind unto vanity.\u201d 2971 And elsewhere it is said: \u201cWho is wise and he shall understand these things?\u201d 2972 And in the Gospel: \u201cWho is the faithful and wise steward, whom the Lord shall set over His household to give them their measure of wheat in due season?\u201d 2973 And that we may understand that He speaks of such as really exist, the Lord added: \u201cBlessed is that servant, whom his Lord when He cometh shall find so doing.\u201d 2974 And I am of opinion that where it is said, \u201cLord, who is like unto Thee?\u201d 2975 it is not meant that none is like, for the Son is the image of the Father.\n42. We must then understand in the same manner, \u201cWho shall entreat for him?\u201d as implying: It must be some one of excellent life who shall entreat for him who has sinned against the Lord. The greater the sin, the more worthy must be the prayers that are sought. For it was not any one of the common people who prayed for the Jewish people, but Moses, 2976 when forgetful of their covenant they worshipped the head of the calf. Was Moses wrong? Certainly he was not wrong in praying, who both merited and obtained that for which he asked. For what should such love not obtain as that of his when he offered himself for the people and said: \u201cAnd now, if Thou wilt forgive their sin, forgive; but if not, blot me out of the book of life.\u201d 2977 We see that he does not think of himself, like a man full of fancies and scruples, whether he may incur the risk of some offence, as Novatian says he dreads that he might, but rather, thinking of all and forgetful of himself, he was not afraid lest he should offend, so that he might rescue and free the people from danger of offence.\n43. Rightly, then, is it said: \u201cWho shall entreat for him?\u201d It implies that it must be such an one as Moses to offer himself for those who sin, or such as Jeremiah, who, though the Lord said to him, \u201cPray not thou for this people,\u201d 2978 and yet he prayed and obtained their forgiveness. For at the intercession of the prophet, and the entreaty of so great a seer, the Lord was moved and said to Jerusalem, which had meanwhile repented for its sins, and had said: \u201cO Almighty Lord God of Israel, the soul in anguish, and the troubled spirit crieth unto Thee, hear, O Lord, and have mercy.\u201d 2979 And the Lord bids them lay aside the garments of mourning, and to cease the groanings of repentance, saying: \u201cPut off, O Jerusalem, the garment of thy mourning and affliction. and clothe thyself in beauty, the glory which God hath given thee for ever.\u201d 2980\nS. Luke xii. 42.\n336:2974\nS. Luke xii. 43.\n336:2975 336:2976 336:2977 336:2978 336:2979 336:2980","title":"Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Ser. II, Vol. X: Dogmatic Treatises, Ethical Works, and Sermons.: Chapter IX. By collating similar passages with 1 Sam. iii. 25, St. Ambrose shows that the meaning is not that no one shall intercede, but that the intercessor must be worthy as were Moses and Jeremiah, at whose prayers we read that God spared Israel.","type":"page"}