Sidonius Apollinaris (bk. 9, epistle to Principius) signifies [that] those Christians who are less furnished with virtues are joined to the rest, [the] more perfect, in the Church, as the Gabaonites [to] the Israelites; and he wishes the same conjunction for himself too, on the day of judgment: “pray,” he says, “that — by a desirable and religious departure [death], having discharged [ourselves] of the anxieties and burden of the present life, when the holy day of judgment shall have shone forth — we may, at the resurrection, be joined to your ranks [as] imitators, or [at least] under the occasion of a Gabaonite servitude; because, according to the heavenly promises which they pledged concerning the sons of faith to be gathered from the nations, so may pardon console us the guilty, while glory awaits you the blessed; and [so that], though we be divided by a difference of deeds, yet [we be] not [divided] by a distance of places.” But already before, Origen (homily 10) had signified almost the same, saying [that] by the Gabaonites are signified Christians who will indeed be saved, but as [it were] through fire — namely, with some penalty — just as the Gabaonites remained safe and unharmed, yet not without every [i.e. not without some] penalty. “Those Gabaonites,” he says, “I reckon to be a certain small portion of those who are to be saved — yet so that they are saved not without the branding of some mark.” And afterward: “although the Gabaonites confessed that they had heard and knew of the divine marvels, yet they did nothing worthy of faith, nothing [done] with admiration of such great virtues. And therefore Jesus, seeing the narrow and scanty purpose in their faith, keeps a most just moderation toward them, that they might merit salvation — [they] who, although they had brought little of faith, yet would not receive the sum of the kingdom or of liberty, for this [reason], that their faith was ennobled by no accession of works — since the Apostle James pronounces faith without works to be held [as] dead. Yet it is to be known — inasmuch as we are taught by the shadowings-forth of figures of this kind — that if there be any such [people] among us, whose faith has only this much, that they come to the Church, and bow their head [and] render services to the priests, honor the ministers [servants of the day], [and] contribute something to the adornment of the altar or the Church, yet apply no zeal to cultivate also their morals, amend their acts, put off their vices, cultivate chastity, mitigate anger, restrain avarice, curb rapacity, and remove from their mouth evil-speaking and foolish talk, or scurrility and the poisons of detractions — let such [people], who will not amend themselves, but persevere in these [faults] to the last old age, know that a part and lot with the Gabaonites is to be assigned them by the Lord Jesus.” But to me it seems [that] by the Gabaonites are also signified [those] who, although they were formerly proud and arrogant (for “Gabaon” imports “elation,” as above, q. 1), now humble themselves in food, drink, clothing, and all [their] furniture.
(col. 985)
These indeed at the beginning do not yet have true humility, and so seem humble as if falsely and feignedly; yet through that humiliation they try to come to true humility, and by it to conciliate and win over JESUS for themselves — lest they perish with the other impious nations of the Canaanites (of whom above), but be joined by covenant to CHRIST JESUS, be preserved by him, and serve him and his members in whatever way it shall please him. Does he wish them to become camp-servants [calones]? They are ready: they go to the woods; they take axes; they cut down trees; they divide and saw the felled [wood]; the divided and cut [wood] they load on beasts and shoulders, and carry to the house of God, to the altar of God. Does he wish them to be sutlers [lixae]? “We are in [thy] hand,” they say, “O great Leader, we are thine: what seems good and right to thee, do to us” (v. 25). To all services of whatever kind — provided they be received by CHRIST JESUS into grace and friendship — they are most ready: they refuse no kind of office, of labor, of contempt and lowliness. And these, although in this age they may seem cursed before men, are yet so dear to God that, if anyone injure them — even Saul, or some King — he most sharply avenges their injury, and wills them to be forever there, where is the place which he deigns to choose. Among these Gabaonites [thus] humbling themselves — and now sincerely, in unfeigned faith and charity, ministering to the Lord’s tabernacle — may I be [reckoned], I pledge myself, O good JESUS. AMEN.