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Sermo 10, aduersus quinque haereses.

1. Quinque genera hostium.

[P. 1101]Debitor sum, fateor, non necessitate cogente, sed, quod est vehementius, charitate. Non tam ad compellendum potest esse molestus exactor, quam ad reddendum devotus est debitor. Sed ut impleam quod promisi, adjuvate me sanctis orationibus vestris, ut Deus omnipotens det gratiam sermonibus meis, et satisfaciam piis mentibus et auribus vestris. Si meminisse dignamini qui in tempore adfuistis, quinque hostium genera esse diximus: contra quae expugnanda inducias postulavimus, ut necessaria arma praeparare possemus. Promissus dies illuxit, nos quoque impigre ad certamen Domino adjuvante processimus. Adjutorium nostrum a Domino, qui fecit coelum et terram ¹. Quisquis fidelium Christi militum his fuerit armis munitus, non cujusquam formidabit personam, non terrore temporis a certamine revocabitur. Eia, fratres, certamen in promptu est, fervet opus, urget adversarius, spicula parat, jacere tentat, nemo expavescat. Fratres, plures [P. 1102] sunt nobiscum quam cum illis. Nobiscum est Moyses ille magnus amicus Dei, qui ut hostem vinceret praeliantem, manus ad coelum extendit, jam tunc figuram crucis Christi ostendens: ipse divino imperio, tumentis ponti volventes flexuosis sinibus undas, uno virgae percussu trajiciendo populo aridos vertit in campos. Nobiscum est Jesus post Moysen populi dux Israelitici, fortissimus praeliator, cujus etiam nomen indicat Salvatorem: ipse potentia sua et divina fiducia, diem, sui cursus metas ne perageret, statuit; et nocti ne accederet imperavit. Ipse gentium reges, non singillatim, sed congregatim superavit, captivavit, humiliavit, occidit. Nobiscum est David manu fortis; quid dicam? servus Dei, electus Dei, amicus Dei, parens Dei: noverat et bene noverat, non solum parcere subjectis et debellare superbos ², verum etiam virtutes ostendere et patientiam custodire. Ipse inimicos suos cum persequeretur, non perniciosus, et cum vinceret, non exstitit impius. Nobiscum sunt alii atque alii sancti viri, qui omnia futura praeviderunt et praedixerunt. Non est ergo quod terreat vos: et tantum exspectate, audite et orate, intentior et auctior circa me vestra sit oratio. Non diutius immoremur, jam quae proposuimus prosequamur.

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Against Five Heresies

1. Five kinds of enemies.

[P. 1101] I confess, I am a debtor, not compelled by necessity, but, which is more vehement, by charity. An enforcer cannot be as troublesome in compelling as a debtor is devoted in repaying. But to fulfill what I promised, help me with your holy prayers, that Almighty God may grant grace to my words, and I may satisfy your pious minds and ears. If you remember, those who were present at the time, we said there were five kinds of enemies: against which we asked for a truce to prepare necessary arms. The promised day has dawned, and we too have eagerly advanced to the contest with the Lord's help. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth ¹. Whoever of the faithful soldiers of Christ is armed with these weapons will not fear anyone's person, nor be recalled from the contest by the terror of the time. Come on, brothers, the contest is at hand, the work is fervent, the adversary urges, prepares darts, attempts to throw them, let no one be afraid. Brothers, more [P. 1102] are with us than with them. With us is that great friend of God, Moses, who, to conquer the fighting enemy, extended his hands to heaven, already then showing the figure of the cross of Christ: by divine command, he turned the rolling waves of the swelling sea into dry fields with a single strike of his rod for the people to cross. With us is Joshua, the leader of the Israelite people after Moses, a very strong warrior, whose name also indicates Savior: he, by his power and divine confidence, stopped the day from completing its course, and commanded the night not to approach. He overcame, captured, humbled, and killed the kings of the nations, not individually, but collectively. With us is David, strong in hand; what shall I say? Servant of God, chosen of God, friend of God, parent of God: he knew and knew well, not only to spare the submissive and to conquer the proud ², but also to show virtues and maintain patience. He, when pursuing his enemies, was not destructive, and when he conquered, he was not impious. With us are other holy men, who foresaw and foretold all future things. Therefore, there is nothing to frighten you: only wait, listen, and pray, let your prayer around me be more attentive and increased. Let us not linger longer, let us now pursue what we have proposed.