XXIII. And so also in those who fail to
receive the Gift, some are altogether animal or bestial, according as
they are either foolish or wicked; and this, I think, has to be added
to their other sins, that they have no reverence at all for this Gift,
but look upon it as a mere gift—to be acquiesced in if given
them, and if not given them, then to be neglected. Others know
and honour the Gift, but put it off; some through laziness, some
through greediness. Others are not in a position to receive it,
perhaps on account of infancy, That S. Gregory did
not reject infant Baptism is clear, from the directions given later on
in this Oration (c. xxviii; and cf. c. xvii. s. fin.). He is here
referring simply to the inability of infants to bring themselves to the
font whereby through the mistaken scruples of parents many must have
died unbaptized. or some perfectly
involuntary circumstance through which they are prevented from
receiving it, even if they wish. As then in the former case we
found much difference, so too in this. They who altogether
despise it are worse than they who neglect it through greed or
carelessness. These are worse than they who have lost the Gift
through ignorance or tyranny, for tyranny is nothing but an involuntary
error. i.e., The sins which
are due altogether to external tyranny do not involve guilt, inasmuch
as they are involuntary, whereas the guilt of sin is in the will. And I think
that the first will have to suffer punishment, as for all their sins,
so for their contempt of baptism; and that the second will also have to
suffer, but less, because it was not so much through wickedness as
through folly that they wrought their failure; and that the third will
be neither glorified nor punished by the righteous Judge, as unsealed
and yet not wicked, but persons who have suffered rather than done
wrong. For not every one who is not bad enough to be punished is
good enough to be honoured; just as not every one who is not good
enough to be honoured is bad enough to be punished. And I look
upon it as well from another point of view. If you judge the
murderously disposed man by his will alone, apart from the
act of murder, then you may reckon
as baptized him who desired baptism apart from the reception of
baptism. But if you cannot do the one how can you do the
other? I cannot see it. Or, if you like, we will put it
thus:—If desire in your opinion has equal power with actual
baptism, then judge in the same way in regard to glory, and you may be
content with longing for it, as if that were itself glory. And
what harm is done you by your not attaining the actual glory, as long
as you have the desire for it?