solation, to whom admonition, to whom encouragement, to whom discipline, to whom re- buke, to whom punishment; showing both how all are not due to all, and how to all love is due, and how injury is due to none.136 64.  Then, after this human love has nourished and invigorated the mind cleaving to thy breast, and fitted it for following God, when the divine majesty has begun to disclose itself as far as suffices for man while a dweller on the earth, such fervent charity is produced, and such a flame of divine love is kindled, that by the burning out of all vices, and by the purification and sanctification of the man, it becomes plain how divine are these words, "I am a consuming fire,"137 and, "I have come to send fire on the earth."138  These two utterances of one God stamped on both Testaments, exhibit with harmonious testimony, the sanctific- 59 ation of the soul, pointing forward to the accomplishment of that which is also quoted in the New Testament from the Old:  "Death is swallowed up in victory.  O death, where is thy sting?  Where, O death, is thy contest?"139  Could these heretics understand this one saying, no longer proud but quite reconciled, they would worship God nowhere but with thee and in thy bosom.  In thee, as is fit, divine precepts are kept by widely-scattered multitudes.  In thee, as is fit, it is well understood how much more heinous sin is when the law is known than when it is unknown.  For "the sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law,"140 136 [If this apostrophe had been addressed to "Christianity" rather than to the "Catholic Church," no Chris- tian could fail to see in it one of the noblest tributes ever bestowed on the religion of Christ.  Augustin identified Christianity with the organized body which was far from realizing the ideal that he here sets forth.  As an apo- strophe to ideal Christianity nothing could be finer.—A.H.N.] 137 Deut. iv. 24.  Retract. i. 7, § 5:—"The Pelagians may think that I have spoken of perfection as attainable in this life.  But they must not think so.  For the fervor of charity which is fitted for following God, and of force enough to consume all vices, can have its origin and growth in this life; but it does not follow that it can here accomplish the purpose of its origin, so that no vice shall remain in the man; although this great effect is produced by this same fervor of charity, when and where this is possible, that as the laver of regeneration purifies from the guilt of all the sins which attach to man’s birth, or come from his evil conduct, so this perfection may purify him from all stain from the vices which necessarily attend human infirmity in this world.  So we must understand the words of the apostle:  ‘Christ loved the Church, and gave himself for it; cleansing it with the washing of water by the word, that He might present it to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing’ (Eph. v. 25-27).  For in this world there is the washing of water by the word which purifies the Church.  But as the whole Church, as long as it is here, says, ‘Forgive us our debts,’ it certainly is not while here without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but from that which it here receives, it is led on to the glory which is not here, and to perfection." 138 Luke xii. 49. 139 Hos. xiii. 14; 1 Cor. xv. 54, 55. 140 1 Cor. xv. 56. 99 The Church Apostrophised as Teacher of All Wisdom.  Doctrine of the Catholic…