Tractates on the Gospel of John 13.17–13.18

So let no one sell you fables: “Pontius worked a miracle; and Donatus prayed, and God answered him from heaven.” First, either they are deceived or they deceive. Lastly, suppose he moves mountains: “But do not have love,” he says, “I am nothing.” Let us see whether he had love. I would believe it if he had not divided unity. For against these wonder-workers, if I may call them so, my God has put me on guard, saying, “In the last times false prophets will arise, working signs and wonders, so as to lead into error, if possible, even the elect: see, I have told you beforehand.” So the bridegroom has put us on guard, because we ought not to be deceived even by miracles. For sometimes a deserter too frightens a provincial; but whether he is in the camp, and whether that mark with which he is branded is of any use to him, is what one considers who does not want to be frightened and led astray. Let us hold to unity, then, my brothers: outside unity even one who works miracles is nothing. For the people of Israel was in unity, and did not work miracles; Pharaoh's magicians were outside unity, and they did things like Moses. The people of Israel, as I said, did not work them: who were saved with God, those who worked them or those who did not? The apostle Peter raised a dead person; Simon Magus did many things. There were certain Christians there who could do neither what Peter did nor what Simon did; but in what did they rejoice? That their names were written in heaven. For our Lord Jesus Christ said this to the disciples when they returned, for the sake of the faith of the nations. For the disciples themselves said, boasting, “See, Lord, in your name even the demons are subject to us.” They confessed well; they gave honor to Christ's name; and yet what does he say to them? “Do not rejoice in this, that the demons are subject to you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Peter cast out demons; some little old widow, some ordinary layman of whatever kind, who has love and holds the integrity of faith, does not do this. Peter is an eye in the body, that man a finger in the body; yet he is in the same body as Peter; and though a finger is worth less than an eye, it is not cut off from the body. It is better to be a finger and be in the body than to be an eye and be torn out of the body.

Therefore, my brothers, let no one deceive you, let no one lead you astray: love the peace of Christ, who was crucified for you, though he was God. Paul says, “Neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.” And does any one of us say that he is something? If we say that we are something and do not give him the glory, we are adulterers: we want ourselves to be loved, not the bridegroom. You, love Christ, and us in him, in whom you too are loved by us. Let the members love one another, but let all live under the head. Grief, my brothers, has compelled me to say much, and I have said little; I could not finish the reading. The Lord will help, so that it may be finished at a fitting time. For I did not want to burden your hearts further; I want them free for groans and prayers for those who are still deaf and do not understand.