health, except where there is true immortality? But if it be true immortality, and no corrup-
tion, no wasting, what need will there be there of nourishment? Therefore, when you hear
it said, “They shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob;”2636 get not your body, but
your soul in order. There shall thou be filled; and this inner2637 man has its proper food. In
relation to it is it said, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for
they shall be filled.”2638 And so truly filled shall they be that they shall hunger no more.
15. Therefore did the Lord graft in at once the wild olive tree, when He said, “Many
shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob,
347
in the kingdom of heaven;” that is, they shall be grafted into the good olive tree. For Abraham,
and Isaac, and Jacob, are the roots of this olive tree; “but the children of the kingdom,” that
is, the unbelieving Jews, “shall go away into outer darkness.” The “natural branches shall
be broken off,” that the “wild olive tree may be grafted in.” Now why did the natural branches
deserve to be cut off, except for pride? why the wild olive tree to be grafted in, except for
humility? Whence also that woman said, “Truth, Lord, yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which
fall from their masters’ table.”2639 And thereupon she hears, “O woman, great is thy faith.”2640
And so again that centurion, “I am not worthy that Thou shouldest come under my roof.”2641
“Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.”2642 Let us then
learn, or let us hold fast, humility. If we have it not yet, let us learn it; if we have it, let us not
lose it. If we have it not yet, let us have it, that we may be grafted in; if we have it already,
let us hold it fast, that we may not be cut off.
2636 Matt. viii. 11.
2637 Interior venter.
2638 Matt. v. 6.
2639 Matt. xv. 27.
2640 Matt. xv. 28.
2641 Matt. viii. 8.
2642 Matt. viii. 10.
730
On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xv. 21,’Jesus went out thence, and withdrew…