136. With this Wine, therefore, O Lord my
God, cleanse the spiritual ears of our sovereign Emperor, to the end
that, just as men, being uplifted with common wine, love rest and
quietness, cast out the fear of death, have no feeling of
injuries, St. Ambrose seems
to refer to the phenomena of narcosis rather than those of alcoholic
inebriation. seek not that
which belongs to others, and forget
their own; and so he, too, intoxicated
with thy wine, may love peace, and, confident in the exultation of
faith, may never know the death of unbelief, and may display loving
patience, have no part in other men’s profanities, Cf.
1 Tim. v. 22: μηδὲ
κοινώνει
ἁμαρτίαις
ἀλλοτρίαις. and hold the faith of more account even
than kindred and children, as it is written: “Leave all
that thou hast, and come, follow Me.” S. Matt. xix. 21.