Manna And The Holy Spirit

Scriptum est de manna, quia secundum tempus illud si quis id ita assumpsisset ut praeceperat Deus, nutriretur ex eo; si quis vero contra præceptum Dei, et contra statutum divinitus modum voluisset assumere, non frueretur eo , ut vitali cibo, sed vermes ebullirent ex co. Et ita fiebat, ut una atque eadem species mannæ aliis quidem vermes et putredines generaret, aliis vero salubrem cibuin conferret, et vitae necessarium. Igitur et nostrum manna verbum Dei est, et apud nos ergo sermo Dei aliis efficitur ad salutem, aliis cedit ad poenam. Et propter hoc arbitror quod ipse Dominus et Salvator, qui est vivum Dei verbum, dicebat: In judicium ego veni in hunc mundum, ut non videntes videant, et videntes caeci fiant . Quanto melius esset nonnullis omnino nec audire verbum Dei , quam audire cum malitia, vel audire cum hypocrisi. Melius autem dicimus ad comparationem Vere autem melius , et vere rectius , ac perfectius est, ut qui audit verbum Dei , audiat corde bono et simplici , audiat corde recto et parato, ut quasi in terra bona fructificet et crescat. Haec in praefatione diximus propter nonnullos eorum qui ad audiendum non simplici, nec fideli mente conveniunt. De quibusdam dico catechumenis, quibus fortasse nonnulli etiam eorum qui jam baptismum consecuti sunt, sociantur. Non enim omnes qui ex Israel, ii sunt Israelitae; neque omnes qui loti sunt aqua, continuo etiam sancto Spiritu loti sunt: sicut econtrario non omnes qui in catechumenis numerantur, alieni sunt et expertes Spiritus sancti. Invenio enim in Scripturis divinis nonnullos catechumenorum dignos habitos Spiritu sancto, et alios accepto baptismo indignos fuisse sancti Spiritus gratia. Cornelius catechumenus erat, et antequam ad aquam veniret , meruit accipere Spiritum sanctum. Simon baptismum acceperat, sed quoniam cum hypocrisi accessit ad gratiam , repudiatur a dono Spiritus sancti. Nolo dubites et nunc esse in populo catechumenorum aliquos Cornelios , ad quos dici possit , quia misericordiae et orationes tuæ ascenderunt in coelam; et rursum in populo fidelium esse aliquos Simones, quibus confidenter dicendum sit: O plene omni dolo et fallacia, fili diaboli, inimice omnis justitiae. Haec ego ad correptionem mei ipsius loquor, non solum auditorum. Unus enim et ego sum ex iis, qui audiunt verbum Dei . Origen, In Numeros, Homilia III, Interprete Rufino Aquileiense Source: Migne PG 12.593c-594b

It is written concerning the manna, that if according to the time the Lord commanded it someone took it up, then he would be nourished by it, but if against the commandment of the Lord and against the divine statute someone wished to take it up, it would be of no benefit to him, even to such a degree that worms would crawl forth from the life giving bread. 1 Thus one and the same type of manna generated worms and rottenness for some and on others it conferred wholesome food, and what is needful for life. Therefore even with our manna among us, which is the word of God, for some the word is effective for salvation, but for others it brings forth punishment. Therefore that judge who is the Lord and Saviour, who is the living word of God, said, 'In judgment I have come into this world, even that those who do not see might see, and that those who do see become blind.' 2 How much better it would be for some not to hear the word of God at all, than to hear it in wickedness or as hypocrites. But it is better for us to give a comparison. Truly it is better and more righteous and more perfect that he who hears the word of God, hears it with a good and innocent heart, and with an upright and prepared heart, so that on earth he may put forth good fruits and grow. We have brought forth these remarks first because a number of those who hear are not innocent, nor are they faithful in their minds. About whom I say to the catechumens, regarding those with whom they associate and who have perhaps already received baptism, 'Not everyone from Israel is an Israelite.' 3 Not all who have been washed with water, then have the further washing of the Holy Spirit, and likewise and in an opposite sense not all who are accounted among the catechumens are foreign and unknown to the Holy Spirit. I have found in the Holy Scriptures that several catechumens were worthy of receiving the Holy Spirit, and others who had received baptism were unworthy of the grace of the Holy Spirit. Cornelius was a catechumen and even before he come to the water he was worthy of receiving the Holy Spirit. Simon received baptism but because he was a hypocrite for grace, he was denied the gift of the Holy Spirit. I do not doubt that even now there are some who are Cornelius among the people of the catechumens, to whom it is possible to say, that your mercy and prayers have ascended to heaven, and again that among the gathering of the faithful there are some who are Simon, to whom it must be forcefully said 'O full of every guile and deceit, O son of the devil, O enemy of all righteousness.' 4 I do not say these things only to the audience but even for my own correction, for I am one of those who hears the word of God. Origen, On Numbers, from the Third Homily, Translated by Rufinus of Aquileia. 1 Exod 16.20 2 Jn 9.39 3 Rom 9.6 4 Act 10 Act 13.10