Letter 138

To the Same Person. "The spirit which God has caused to dwell in us yearns," it says [Scripture, James 4:5]. And what does the divine Spirit yearn for, and cherish, and love, if not the union, and concord, and mutual affection of the brethren? But love is conceived from humility and reverence, while hatred and bitter envy come from disdain and arrogance. For this reason it has been said that "God opposes the proud" [James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5], waging war against them on account of their senselessness, just as against Satan, who first fell sick with pride. But to the humble He gives grace, that is, He pours forth certain spiritual gifts upon those who strive to be humbled for God's sake.

Ἐπιποθεῖ, φησίν, τὸ πνεῦμα, ὃ κατώκησεν ὁ Θεὸς ἐν ἡμῖν. Τί δὲ ἐπιποθεῖ, καὶ στέργει, καὶ ἀγαπᾷ τὸ θεῖον Πνεῦμα, ἢ τὴν ἕνωσιν, καὶ ὁμόνοιαν, καὶ τὴν φιλαλληλίαν τῶν ἀδελφῶν; Ἡ δὲ ἀγάπη ἐκ ταπεινοφροσύνης καὶ εὐλαβείας κυΐσκεται, τὸ δὲ μῖσος καὶ ἡ πικρὰ βασκανία ἐκ τῆς ὑπεροψίας καὶ ἀλαζονείας προσέρχεται· διὸ εἴρηται, ὅτι «Ὁ Θεὸς ὑπερηφάνοις ἀντιτάσσεται», διὰ τὴν ἀπόνοιαν αὐτῶν ἀντιστρατευόμενος αὐτοῖς, καθάπερ τῷ πρώτως τὴν ὑπερηφανίαν νοσήσαντι Σατανᾷ. Ταπεινοῖς δὲ δίδωσι χάριν, τουτέστι, πνευματικά τινα πηγάζει δωρήματα, τοῖς διὰ τὸν Θεὸν ταπεινοῦσθαι σπουδάζουσι.