93. And what is that city but Jerusalem
which is in heaven, in which is the kingdom of God? This is a
good possession which brings eternal fruit. A good possession
which is not left here, but is possessed there. He who possesses
this says: “The Lord is my portion.” Ps. lxxiii.
[lxxii.] 26. He says not, My portion
stretches and extends from this boundary to that. Nor does he
say, My portion is amongst such and such neighbours, except perchance
amongst the apostles, amongst the prophets, amongst the saints of the
Lord, for this is the righteous man’s portion. He does not
say, My portion is in the meadows, or in the woods, or the plains,
except perchance those wooded plains in which the Church is found, of
which it is written: “We found it in the wooded
plains.” Ps. cxxxii.
[cxxxi.] 6. He
does not say, My portion consists of herds of horses, for “a
horse is a vain thing for safety.” Ps. xxxiii.
[xxxii.] 17. He does not say, My portion
consists of herds of oxen, asses, or sheep; except perchance he reckons
himself amongst those which know their Owner, and wishes to company
with the ass which does not shun the crib Isa. i. 3. of Christ; and that Sheep is his
portion which was led to the slaughter, and that Lamb which was dumb
before the shearer, and opened not His mouth, Isa. liii. 7. in Whose humiliation judgment has
been exalted. Well does he say “before the shearer,”
for He laid aside what was additional, not His own essence, on the
cross, when He laid aside His Body, but lost not His
Divinity.