they shall speak; blessed are they that have eyes, for they shall see. Even so our Lord arranging
in their order the members as it were of the soul, hath taught what is proper to each. Humility
qualifies1908 for the possession of the kingdom of heaven; meekness qualifies for possessing
the earth; mourning for consolation; hunger and thirst after righteousness for being filled;
mercy for the obtaining mercy; a pure heart for seeing God.
10. If then we desire to see God, whereby shall our eye be purified? For who would not
care for, and diligently seek the means of purifying that eye whereby he may see Him whom
he longeth after with an entire affection? The Divine record has expressly mentioned this
when it says, “purifying their hearts by faith.”1909 The faith of God then purifies the heart,
the pure heart sees God. But because this faith is sometimes so defined by men who deceive
themselves, as though it were enough only to believe (for some promise themselves even
the sight of God and the kingdom of heaven, who believe and live evilly); against these, the
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Apostle James, incensed and indignant as it were with a holy1910 charity, saith in his Epistle,
“Thou believest there is one God.” Thou applaudest thyself for thy faith, for thou markest
how that many ungodly men think there are gods many, and thou rejoicest in thyself because
thou dost believe that there is but one God; “Thou doest well: the devils also believe, and
tremble.”1911 Shall they also see God? They shall see Him who are pure in heart. But who
can say that unclean spirits are pure in heart? And yet they also “believe and tremble.”
11. Our faith then must be different from the faith of devils. For our faith purifies the
heart; but their faith makes them guilty. For they do wickedly, and therefore say they to the
Lord, “What have we to do with Thee?” When thou hearest the devils say this, thinkest thou
that they do not acknowledge Him? “We know,” they say, “who Thou art: Thou art the Son
of God.”1912 This Peter says, and is commended; the devil says it, and is condemned. Whence
cometh this, but that though the words be the same, the heart is different? Let us then make
a distinction in our faith, and not be content to believe. This is no such faith as purifieth the
heart. “Purifying their hearts,” it is said, “by faith.”1913 But by what, and what kind of faith,
save that which the Apostle Paul defines when he says, “Faith which worketh by love.”1914
That faith distinguishes us from the faith of devils, and from the infamous and abandoned
conduct of men. “Faith,” he says. What faith? “That which worketh by love,” and which
hopeth for what God doth promise. Nothing is more exact or perfect than this definition.
1908 Apta est.
1909 Acts xv. 9.
1910 Spiritali.
1911 Jas. ii. 19.
1912 Luke iv. 34; Matt. xvi. 16.
1913 Acts xv. 9.
1914 Gal. v. 6.
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On the words of the Gospel, Matt. Chap. v. 3 and 8, 'Blessed are the poor…