. MAY 10 196? A BR 60 .L52 v.lA John Chrysostom, d. 40/. The homilies of S. John Chrysostom, ... , on the LIBRARY OF FATHERS HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH, ANTERIOR TO THE DIVISION OF THE EAST AND WEST. TRANSLATED BY MEMBERS OF THE ENGLISH CHURCH. f YET SHALL NOT THY TEACHERS BE REMOVED INTO A CORNER ANY MORE, BUT THINE EYES SHALL SEE THY TEACHERS. Isaiah XXX. 20. OXFORD, JOHN HENRY PARKER; J. G. F. AND J. RIVINGTON, LONDON. MDCCCXLIII. V TO THE MOST REVEREND FATHER IN GOD WILLIAM LORD ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY, PRIMATE OF ALL ENGLAND, FOKJIERLY REGIUS PROFESSOR OF DIVINITY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD, THIS LIBRARY OF ANCIENT BISHOPS, FATHERS, DOCTORS, MARTYRS, CONFESSORS, OF CHRIST'S HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH, IS WITH HIS grace's PERMISSION RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED, IN TOKEN OF REVERENCE FOR HIS PERSON AND SACRED OFFICE, AND OF GRATITUDE FOR HIS EPISCOPAL KINDNESS. THE H O M 1 L 1 E S OF y S. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM, ARCHBISHOP OF CONSTANTINOPLE, EPISTLES OF ST. PAUL THE APOSTLE THE PHILIPPIANS, COLOSSIANS, AND THESSALONIANS, TRANSLATED, WITH NOTES AND INDICES. OXFORD, JOHN HENRY PARKER; J. G. F. AND J. RIVINGTON, LONDON. MDCCCXLIII. PREFACE. The present Volume completes the commentaries of St. Chrysostom on the shorter Epistles of St. Paul. It con- sists entirely of Homilies delivered at Constantinople, and one may perhaps remark some indications of a more matured and severer character than in earlier works. He refers several times to his responsibility as presiding in the Church, and sometimes threatens discipline as in that capacity, and from this it is that the date of the Homilies is chiefly to be gathered. The end of Hom. ix. on the Philippians, espe- cially p. 113. is sufficient for those Homilies. The close of Hom, iii. on Colossians, pp. 221 — 3. is still more express for them. Hom. viii. on 1 Thessalonians, p. 425. and Hom. iv. on 2 Thessalonians, p. 501 — 2. are to the like purpose. Hom. viii. on 1 Thessalonians, seems also to be that which is referred to in Hom. iii. on Ep. to Philemon, Tr. p. 361. as it contains a promise to discuss at some future time the subject there taken up. Phil. ii. 6. and Col. i. 15. &c. give rise to doctrinal dis- cussions. The readiness in argument, which they suppose in hearers, is greater than one would expect. Hom. v. on Colossians goes farther into the system of typical interpreta- tion than is usual with St. Chrysostom; though the system is in fact acknowledged by him frequently, as in the passage on marriage, which closes the Homilies on the Colossians, and which, though scarcely admissible in modern taste, is one of great value, and of a saintly purity. The close of Hom. iv. on Colossians is most instructive with regard to the use of the Historical Books of the Old Testament, and a 2 iv PREFACE. Ifoin. ix. poinis out one great use of the Psalms, for moral impression, and at the same time draws the necessary dis- tinction between that and the higlier aim of Hymns. In these Homilies he is particularly severe on luxury and dis- play, by his attacks on which he is known to have incurred the displeasure of the Empress Eudoxia, and much persecu- tion from her. A passage on the Holy Sacraments at the end of Hom. vi. on Colossians, one on Prayers for the departed in Hom. iii. on Philippians, and one in which he urges persons at enmity to immediate reconciliation, Hom. vi. on 1 Thessalonians, as well as that in Hom. iii. in Colossians, on imworthiness of Ministers, and several hints that occur about the order of Divine service, are well worthy of remark. Savile's text, with some comparison of others, was used for the Homilies on the Philippians, and that of the new Paris Edition, with Savile always at hand, for the rest. Collations of one Ms. in British Museum, (Burney 48. here marked B.) were also in hand, but those of Mss. at Venice and Florence came too late for part of the work. Tlie want of them is not however very material. The Bodleian Ms. referred to, as well as the Catena published by Dr. Cramer, contain only extracts. It is hoped that the Homilies on 2 Cor. will have the benefit of a well-adjusted text before the Translation is published, as they are preparing for publication by Mr. Field, whom the Editor has to thank for information on some par- ticulars, as well as for the benefit of having his accurate edition of the Homilies on St. Matthew to refer to. For the Translation of the Homilies on the Philippians, the Editors are indebted to the Rev. W. C. Cotton, M.A. of Ch. Ch. Chaplain to the Bishop of New Zealand; for that of the Homilies on the Colossians, to the Rev. J. Ash worth, M.A. Fellow of Brasenose College ; and for the rest of the volume, to the Rev. James Tweed, M.A. of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, the Translator of the Homilies on the Pastoral Epistles of St. Paul. The Index to the two former is by the PREFACE. V Rev. F. Bowles, M.A. of Exeter College, and to the latter by the Editor, which is noticed in order that the reader may find the less difficulty from any difference in the heads under which similar matter may be placed, as the two were made simultaneously to save time. A few points on which the Editor was not informed until the sheets were printed are noticed in the Addenda and Corrigenda. C. M. CONTENTS, EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS. INTRODUCTORY DISCOURSE. Page 1 . HOMILY I. Page 7. Phil. i. 1, 2. Paul and Timoiheus, the scrvmits of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at PJiilippi, fellow- Bishops and Deacons: Grace he unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. HOMILY 11. I Page 18. Phil. i. 8—11. For God is my record, lioiv greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; thai ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may he sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; being filled with the fruits of righteousness, ivhich are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. HOMILY IIL Page 30. Phil. i. 18—20. And I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and my hope, that hi nothing I shall be ashamed, hut that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by lifc^ or by death. viii CONTENTS. HOMILY IV. Page 40. Phil. i. 22—26. Yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to he icith Christ; which is far better: nevertheless, to abide in the fiesh is more needful for you. And having this confidence I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith ; that your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me, by my coming to you again. HOMILY V. Page 52. Phil. ii. 1—4. If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any com- fort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of o)ie mind. Let nothing he done through strife or vainglory: but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than them- selves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. HOMILY VL Page GO. Phil. ii. 5—8. Let this mind be in you, tvhich teas also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to he equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and teas made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion, as a man, Lie humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. CONTENTS. ix HOMILY VII. Page 75. Phil. ii. 5—11. Let this mind be in you ichicli was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal loith God; but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and teas made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly e.ralted Him, and given Him a Name which is above every name: that at the Na.ne of Jesus every knee should bow, of tilings in heaven, and tilings in earth, and things wider the earth : and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. HOMILY VIII. Page 90. Phil. ii. 12--l(j. Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, ?iot as in my presence only, but nou- much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which icorketh in you both to ivill and to do of His good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, uithout rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among ivhom ye shine as lights in the world; holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ. HOMILY IX. Page 101. Phil. ii. 19—21. But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send. Tnnotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your slate. For L have no man tikeminded, who will naturcdly care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things uliich are Jesus Christ's. X CONTENTS. HOMILY X. Page 1 16. Phil. iii. 1—3. Fituilly, my brethren, rejoice in ilie Lord. To write the same tJiinys to you, to me indeed is not grievous, hut for you it is safe. Beuare of doys, beivare of evil icorkers, beware of the concision. For ue are the circumcision, ivhich •worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in thefesh. HOMILY XI. Page 128. Phil. iii. 7—10. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom L have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in Him, not having mine oivn righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God, by faith : That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection. HOMILY XII. Page 138. Phil. iii. 13, 14. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing J do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toivard the mark for the prize of the high calling qf God in Christ Jesus. ' CONTENTS. xi HOMILY XIII. Page 145. Phil. iii. 18—21. [For many walk, of ivliom I have told you often, and noic tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, 2cho mind earthly things.) For our conversation is in heavvn; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ : Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the tvorking whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself. HOMILY XIV. Page 157. Phil. iv. 4—7. Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again L say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication icith thanksgiving let your re- quests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. HOMILY XV. Page 165. Phil. iv. 10—14. But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again: wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. Not that L speak in respect ofivant : for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and L know how to abound : every where and in all tilings I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to sujfer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate ivith my ajfliction. xii CONTENTS. EPISTLE TO TlliL COLOSSIANS. HOMILY I. Page 181. Col. i. 1, 2. P(Ui1, an Apostle of Jesus Christ hi/ the icill of God, and Timotlieus our brother, to the saints and faithful brethren. in Christ whicli are at Colosse: Grace be unto yoii, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. HOMILY II. Page 197. Col. i. 0, 10. For this cause tee also, since the day ice heard it, do not cease to pray for yon, and to desire that ye might he filled, ivith the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding ; That ye viight walk tcorthy of the Lord nnto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good icork, and increasing in the knowledge of God. HOMILY III. Page 212. Col. i. 15—18. Who is the Image of the iniisible God, the Firstborn of every creature: For by Him were all things created, that are in, heaven,and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they he thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things icere created by Him and for Him: And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist. And He is the head of tit c body, the Church. CONTENTS. xiii HOMILY IV. Page 224. Col. i. 21, 22. And you, that were sometimes enemies and alienated in your mind by ivicked works, yet now hath He reconciled in the body of His jiesh through death, to present you holy, and unblameable, and unreproveable in His sigltt. HOMILY V. Page 235. Col. i. 26—28. Even the mystery which hath been hid from ayes and from generations, but noio is inade manifest to His saints: to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; ichich is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that tie may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. HOMILY VI. Page 246. Col. ii. Q, 7. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him : Rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, aboujiding therein with thanksgiving. HOMILY VII. Page 256. Col. ii. 16—19. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and icorshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly pujfed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth uith the increase of God. xiv CONTENTS. HOMILY VIII. Page 269. Col. iii. 5—7. Mortify your Members which are upon the earth ; fornica- tion, uncleanncss, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and coi-etonsness, which is idolatry; for which things' sake, the wrath of God cometh upon the ehUdren of dis- obedience; in the which ye also walked sometime, when ye lived in them. HOMILY IX. Page 285. Col. iii. 16, 17. Let the word of Christ diccll in you richly in all wisdom ; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him. HOMILY X. Page 293. Col. iii. 18—25. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is Jit in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing in the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children, lest they be discouraged. Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh ; not with cyeservice, as menpleasers ; but in single- ness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men ; Knouing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance : for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong whicli he hath done : and there is no respect of persons with. God. Chap. iv. 1. Masters, give unto your servants that ichich is just and equal; knouiitg thai ye also have a Master in heaven. CONTENTS. XV HOMILY XI. Poge 306. Col. iv. 5, 6. Walk in wisdom tonard them that are icithout, redeeming the time. Let your speech he alway ivith grace, seasoned nith salt, that ye may know how ye ovyht to ansner every man . HOMILY XII. Page 318. Col. iv. 12, 13. Epaphras, nho is one of yon, a servant of Christ, saint eth. you, always striving for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. For I hear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that arc in Laodicca, and them in Hierapolis. FIRST EPTSTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS. HOMILY I. Page 335. 1 Thcss. i. 1, 2, 3. Paul, and Silvanus, and Timoiheus, unto the Church of the Thessalonians ivhich is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ : Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers ; Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus. Christ, in the sight of God and our Father. xvi CONTENTS. HOMILY II. Page 346. 1 Thess. i. 8, i), 10. For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in 3Iacedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that ive need not to speak any thimj. For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God ; And to wait for His Son from Heaven, Whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, Who delivered us from the wrath to come. HOMILY III. Page 358. 1 Thess. ii. 9, 10, 11, 12. For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail : for labouring night and day, because we would not be charge- able unto any of you, ive preached unto you the Gospel of God. Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: As ye know how we exhorted and con for ted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children. That ye would walk ivorthy of God, Who hath called you unto His kingdom and glory, HOMILY IV. Page 374. 1 Thess. iii. 5—8. For this cause, ichen I coidd no longer forbear, 1 sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain. But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought 7ts good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us ahcays, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you: Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you, in all our affliction and distress by your faith: For noiv ice live, if ye standfast in the Lord. CONTENTS. xvii HOMILY V. Page 386. 1 Thess. iv. 1, 2, 3. Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus^ that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God^ so ye would abound more and more. For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus Christ. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification. HOMILY VI. Page 396. 1 Thess. iv. 9, 10. But as touching brotherly love, ye need not that 1 write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of Godto love one another. And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia. HOMILY VIL Page 406. 1 Thess. iv. 13. But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concern- ing them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not even as others which have no hope. HOMILY VIII. Page 414. 1 Thess. iv. 15—17. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them ivhich are asleep. For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air : and so shall we ever be with the Lord. b xviii CONTENTS. HOMILY IX. Page 426. 1 Thess. V. 1, 2. But of the times and seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know jjerfectly that the day qf the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. HOMILY X. Page 440. 1 Thess. V. 12, 13. And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their ivork's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. HOMILY XI. Page 451. 1 Thess. V. 19—22. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; holdfast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. SECOND EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS. HOMILY I. Page 463. ARGUMENT. HOMILY IL Page 469. 2 Thess. i. 1, 2. Paid, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the Church qf the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ; Grace unto you, and peace, frotn God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. CONTENTS. xix HOMILY III. Page 481. 2 Thess. i. 9, 10. Who shall be jnmished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power; When He shall come to be glorified in His Saints, and to be admired in all them that believe. HOMILY IV. Page 491. 2 Thess. ii. 6—9. And now ye know what withholdeth, that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already tvork : only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan, HOMILY V. Page 502. 2 Thess. iii. 3 — 5. But the Lord is faithfxd. Who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and tvill do the things which we command you. And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient icaiting for Christ. ►MILIES.^ ::^ S. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM, ARCHBISHOP OF CONSTANTINOPLK, ON THE EPISTLE OF S. PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS. INTRODUCTORY DISCOURSE. Thb: Philippjans are of a city in Macedonia, called Philippi fi-oni its founder, a city that is a colony, as Luke saith^. 'B-omits Here that seller of purple was converted ^ a woman of uncom- clause. nion piety and heedfulness. Here the chief keeper of the^]'''"'^^'' prison* believed. Here vras Paul scourged with Silas. Here the magistrates requested them to depart, and were afraid of them, and the preaching had an illustrious commencement. And he bears them many and high testimonies himself, call- ing them his own crown, and saying they had suffered much. For, to you, he saith, it was granted of God'^, not only to be- phj], ^ lieve in Him. hut also to suffer for His sake. But when he 29- wrote to them, it happened that he was in bonds. Therefore he in the ' says, so that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the prte-^^'^V J't torium, calling the palace of Nero the praetorium. But he was bound and let go again % and this he shews by saying to Timothy, At my first answer no man stood by me, but alH Tim. 4, 16. » C. reads thus, as had been con- Timothy was with him, for that the 1'ectured. B. simply S«ir/*aipyXa|, the second to Timothy was written in a se- :eeper of the prison The ruler of the cond imprisonment, from which he was synagogue, as in the printed text, is not only released by martyrdom. The^rrf known to have been converted. answer belongs to the second imprison- ^ His statement amounts to this, ment. Betwt-en the two, it is probable that the present Epistle was written in that he visited the Philippians, accord- St. Paul's first imprisonment, when ing to his intention. B '2 Proof that St. Paul wrote in hisjirsl imprisonment. ivTwon.forsook nie : may it not be laid to their cfiarge, notwithstanding the Lord stood by me, and strengthened me. The bonds then, in which he was, he proves to have been before that defence. For that Timothy was not present then, is evident: for at my fifst answer, he says, no man stood by me: and this, by writing so, he was making known to him. He would iB.'beennot then, had he already known it', have written thus to him. presen . j^^^ when he wrote this Epistle, Timothy was with him. And Phil, 2, he shews it by what he says; but I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy shortly unto you. And again, him L hope to send presently , so soon as L shall see how it will go xoith ine. For he was loosed from his bonds, and again bound after he had been to them. But where he saith, Yea, and if" I he offered for the sacrifice and service of your faith, it is not as though this were now come to pass, but as much as to say, ' and whenever this takes place, I am glad,' raising them from their dejection at his bonds. For that he was not about to die at Phli. that time, is plain from what he saith, But L hope in the 2 24. ' * Lord that L myself shall come shortly unto you. And again, And having this confidence, L know that I shall abide and continue with you all. 2. But the Philippians had sent to him Epaphroditus, to carry him money, and to know the things concerning him; for they were most lovingly disposed toward him. For that they sent, hear himself saying, / have all, and abound; Lamfidl, having received of Epap)hrodiius the things sent from you. At the same time then they sent both to comfort him, and to know. For that they sent also to know of what concerned him, he shews at once in the beginning of the 2Savile Epistle, writing of his own matters 2, and saying. But L ivould has ra^ ye shoidd understand that the thinqs which happened unto me xar av- ^ ■^ ■» ^ T«», have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the Gospel. And omits again, Lhope to send Timothy shortly unto you, that Lalso may the ar- i,q of good comfort, wheu I know your state. This, that I also, Phil, is as if he meant, ' as you for full assurance sent to know the ^' ^^' things concerning me, so I also, that I may be of good com- fort, when I know the things concerning you.' Since then they had also been a long time without sending, but had then done Phil, it, (for this he proves by saying. Now at the last your care for 4, 10. . " The if is omitted, perhaps in order to put the objection in a strong light. Mailer of the Epistle. Character of the Philippians. 3 me hath flourished again,) and then they heard that he was inlNTnon. bonds, (for if they heard about Epaphroditus, that he wasphil.2, sick, he being no such very remai'kable person as Paul was,^®" much more was it even reasonable that they should be alarmed about Paul,) therefore in the opening of the Epistle he offers them much consolation about his bonds, shewing that they should not merely not be alarmed, but even rejoice. Then he also gives them counsel about unanimity and hu- mility, teaching them that this was their greatest safety, and that so they could easily overcome their enemies. For it is not being in bonds that is painful to your teachers, buf" their disciples not being of one mind. For the former brings even furtherance to the Gospel, but the latter distracts. 3. So then after admonishing them to be of one mind, and (•>) shewing that unanimity comes of humility, and then aiming a shaft at those Jews who were every where corrupting the doctrine under a shew of Christianity, and calling them dogs, and evil ivorkers, and giving admonition to keep^ a^^'^y phii. 3 from them, and teaching to whom it is right to attend, and ?• ^ discoursing at length on moral points, and bringing them to order, and recalling them to themselves, by saing. The Zorr/phil. j, is at hand, he makes mention also, with his usual wisd(nn, of^' what had been sent, and then offers them abimdant consola- tion. But he appears in writing ever to do them special honour, and never in any place inserts* any thing of reproof, which is a proof of their virtue, in that they gave no occasion to their teacher, and that he wrote to them not in the way of re- buke, but throughout in the way of encouragement. And what I said at first I will again repeat, that this city had shewed great readiness for the faith ; inasmuch as the very jailor, (and you know it is a business full of all wickedness,) did at once, upon one miracle, both run to them, and receive Baptism with all his house. For the miracle that took place he saw alone, but the gain he reaped not alone, but jointly with his wife and his whole household. Nay, even the magistrates who scourged him seem to have done this rather from sudden impulse than from wickedness, both from their sending at once to d B. and Sav. mar. ' for the grievous « B. f^ofrl^nnv , which is certainly thing is not for teachers to be in bonds, right. but for' &o. B 2 4 Perseverance in works of Mercy. l.vTiioD. let him go, and from their being afterwards afraid. And he bears testimony to them not only in faith, or in trials, but Phil 4, also in well-doing, \vhei*e he says, That in the begimmig of the Gospel, ye sent once and again unto my necessity^ when no one else did so; for he says, no Church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only ; and he shews that their intermission had been rather from want of v- ^0- opportunity than from choice, saying. Not that ye cared not for me, but ye lacked opportunity. And this shews that he had a great afiection for them ; for that he loved them greatly Phil. 2, appears in his saying, For I have no man like minded, who will naturally care for your state; and again, Because I have you in my heart, and in my bonds, ^c. ('^) 4. Let us too then, knowing these things, and having so ■" ""'^'"■many patterns of charity, shew ourselves worthy of such ' B. examples, by being ready to suffer for Christ. But now the ' 'The* persecution is no more. So then, if there is nothing else, let us imitate their earnestness in well doing, and not think, if we have given once or twice, that we have fulfilled all. For we must do this through our whole life. For it is not once that we have to please God, but constantly. For the racer, if, after running even ten heats % he leave the remain- ing one undone, has lost all ; and we, if we begin with good works, and afterward faint, have lost all, and spoiled all. Prov. 3, Listen to that profitable admonition that saith, Let not tnerct/^ and truth forsake thee. He saith not do so once, nor the second time, nor the third, nor the tenth, nor the hundredth, but always; never, saith he, let them forsake thee. And he did not say. Do not thou forsake them, but, Let them not forsake thee, shewing that we are in need of them, and not they of us ; and teaching us that we ought to make every effort to keep them with us. For, Bind them, saith he, about thy neck. For as the children of the wealthy have an ornament of gold about their neck, and never put it off, because it exhibits a token of their high birth, so should we too wear mercy ever about us, shewing that we are Matt, children of the Merciful One, Who makes the sun to rise 6, 45. '^ liavkouiJien. and B.Sav. leXix't/i. Xet, and some say twelve. Theformermustberight, as theSsX/;t^ This is still in the person of Righteousness, see on Rom. 3, 22. Tr. St. Paul. Of this use of the word p. 94. St. PauVs bonds useful. Ill-meant preaching. 21 wise rather encouraged them. If then they, who were near Hom. the dangers, were not only nothing hurt, but received greater — — confidence, much more should you be of good cheer. Had he when in bonds taken it hardly, and held his peace, it were probable that they would be affected in like sort. But as he spoke more boldly when in bonds, he gave them more confidence than if he had not been bound. And how did his bonds turn to the furtherance of the Gospel? So God in His dispensation ordered, he means, that my bonds were not hid, my bonds ^ which were in Christ, which were for Christ. 'SoSav. In the ivhole prcetorium. For up to that time they so called the palace'^, nor in the praetorium only, but in the whole city. Ver. 14. And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to sj^eak the word without fear. This shews that they were of good courage even before, and spoke with boldness, but much more now. If others then, says he, are of good courage through my bonds, much more am I. If I am the cause of confidence to others, much more to myself And many " brethren in the Lord. As it was a great thing to say, My bonds give confidence to them, he therefore adds beforehand, in the Lord. Do you see how, when he was constrained to speak great things , he departs not from moderation.? are much more bold, he says, to speak the uord uithout fear ; the words " much more" shew that they had already begun. Ver. 15. Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife, and some also of good will. And what this means is worth enquiry. Since Paul was under restraint, many of the unbelievers, willing to stir up more vehemently the persecution from the Emperor, them- selves also preached Christ, in order that the Emperor's wrath might be increased at the spread of the Gospel, and all his anger might fall on the head of Paul. From my bonds then two lines of action have sprung. One party took great courage thereat; the other, from hope to work my destruction, set themselves to preach Christ; so)?ie of them through envy, •1 fia^iktia This is the eastern and nant of the Republic, despotic name, the other was a rem- ^ Gv. the more part of the. 22 Salati's dupes do good from bad motives. Phil, that is, envying iny reputation and constancy, and from de- — — '— ' sire of my destruction, and the spirit of strife, work with me ; or that they themselves may be esteemed, and from the ex- pectation that they will draw to themselves somewhat of my glory. And some also of goodwill, that is, without hypocrisy, with all earnestness. Ver. 16. The one preach Christ of contention, not purely. That is, not sincerely, nor from regard to the matter itself; but why.? supposing to add affliction to my bonds. For as they think that I shall thus fall into greater peril, they add affliction to affliction. O cruelty ! O devilish instigation ! They saw him in bonds, and cast into prison, and still they envied him. They would increase his calamities, and render him subject to greater anger: well said he, supposing, for it did not so turn out. They thought indeed to grieve me by this; but I rejoice that the Gospel was furthered. So it is possible to do a good work, from a motive which is not good! But not only is there no reward in store for such an action, but punishment. For as they preached Christ from a desire to involve the preacher of Christ in greater perils, not only shall they receive no reward, but shall be subject to venge- ance and punishment. Ver. 17. But the oilier of love, knowing tltat I am set for the defence of the Gospel. What means, thai I am set for the defence of the GospeV? It is, They are diminishing the weight of the account which I must give to God, and assisting me in my defence. What he means is this : I have been appointed to preach, I must give account, and answer for the work to which I have been appointed; they help with me, that my answer may be easy; for if there be found many who have been in- structed and have believed, my answer will be easy. Ver. 18. What then ? noiimihstanding every icay, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached. See the wisdom of the Man. He did not vehemently accuse them, but mentioned the result; what difference does it make to us, whether it be done in this or that way.^* not- withstanding, every way, tvhether in pretence or in truth, ' He takes the Gnspel here in the Gospel. Theodoret takes it of his being sense of St. Paul's preaching of the a champion of the Gospel among men. St. Paul rejoiced tvithout approving. 23 Christ is preached. He did not lay down the law and say, Hom. " Let Him be preached," but first he was reporting the event ; ^^' secondly, had he even spoken as laying down the law, not even thus did he give entrance to heresy. Let us examine, if you please, the matter, and we shall (3) discover that, even if he gave permission to preach as they preached, no entrance was given to heresy. How so ? In that they preached healthfully, though the aim and purpose on wdiich they acted was corrupted, still the preaching was not changed, and they were forced so to preach. And why ? Be- cause, had they preached otherwise than as Paul preached, had they taught otherwise than as he taught, they would not have increased the anger of the Emperor. But now by fur- thering his preaching, by teaching in the same way, and making disciples as he did, they had power to exasperate the Emperor, when he saw the multitude of the disciples nume- rous. But then some wicked and senseless man, taking hold of this text, says. Verily the}' would have done the contrary, they who have driven off those who had already believed, in- stead of making believers to abound, had they wished to annoy him. What shall we answer } That they looked to this thing only, how they might involve him in present danger, and leave him no escape; and thus they thought to grieve him, and to quench the Gospel, rather than in the other way. By that other course they would have extinguished the wrath of the Emperor, they would have let him go at large and preach again, but by this course they thought that be- cause of him all were ruined, could they but destroy him. The many however could not understand this, but certain bitter and deeply wicked men alone. Then, in this, says he, / do rejoice, yea, and icill rejoice. What means, yea, I ivill rejoice ? Even if this be done still more, he means. For they work with me even against their will; and will receive punishment for their toil, whilst I, who have nought contributed thereto, shall receive reward. Is there any thing beyond this villainy of the Devil, to devise the undertaking of a preaching that entails punishment on those who adopt it .'' Seest thou with how many evils he pierces through his own ! He contrives punishment and vengeance for them from the preaching, and from these labours. 1 Tim. 24 Heretics lose the reward o/uorks. Creatures good. For who else is there such an hater and an enemy of their salvation as to arrange all this ? Seest thou how he who wages war against the truth has no power, but rather wounds him- self, as one who kicks against the pricks ? Ver. 19. For I know, says he, that this shall turn to my salvation through your pray er, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Nothing is more villainous than the Devil. So does he eveiy where involve his own in useless toils, and rends them. Not only does he not suffer them to obtain the prizes, but he knows well how to subject them to punishment. For not only does he command them the preaching of the Gospel, but likewise fasting and virginity, in such sort asw^ill not only deprive them of their re ward, but will bring down hea\y evil on those who pursue that course. Concerning whom he says elsewhere. Having their consciences seared with a hot iron. 4, 2. Wherefore, I beseech you, let us give thanks to God for all things, since He hath both lightened our toil, and in- creased our reward. For such as among them live in virginity enjoy not the rewards, which they do who among us live chastely in wedlock; but they who live as virgins among the heretics are subject to the condemnation of the fornicators. All this springs from^ their not acting with a right aim, but as accusing God's creatures "^, and His unspeakable Wisdom. Let us not then be sluggish. God hath placed before us Moral. . , . m -t- i i contests withm measure, having no toil, i et let us not de- spise them for this. For if the heretics put themselves to the sti'etcti in useless labours, what excuse have we, if we will not endure those which are less, and which have a greater reward.? For which of Christ's ordinances is burdensome? which is grievous ? Art thou unable to live a virgin life ? Thou art permitted to marry. Art thou unable to strip thyself of all thou hast } Thou art permitted to supply the needs of others from what thou hast. Let your abimdance, he says, be a 8 14. supply /or their want. These things indeed appear burden- some; I mean, to despise money, and to overcome the desires of the body. But His other commands require no cost, no violence.'' For tell me, what violence is there in speaking no g So Sav. Ben. ' and why P From '' See on 1 Tim. 4. Horn. xii. and &c.' article Manichees in indices. Envy and discontent come of valuing earthly things. 25 ill, in simply abstaining from slander'? What violence is Hom. there in envying not another man's goods ? What violence • in not being led away by vain-glory ? To be tortured, and endure it, is the part of strength. The exercise of philo- sophy is the part of strength. To bear poverty through hfe is the part of strength. It is the part of strength to wrestle with hunger and thirst. Where none of these things are, but where you may enjoy your own, as becomes a Christian, without envying others, what violence ' is there ? ' There From this source springs envy, nay, rather all evils spring from "jf^n^. no other source than this, that we cleave to things present, sion to Mat. 1 1 For did you hold money and the glory of this world to be 12. ' ' nought, you would not cast an evil eye on its possessors. But since you gape at these things, and idolize them, and are (4) fluttered by them, for this reason envy troubles you, and vain- glory ; it all springs from idolizing the things of the present life. Art thou envious because another man is rich ? Nay, such an one is an object for pity and for tears. But you laugh, and answer straight, I am the object for tears, not he ! Thou art an object for tears, not because thou art poor, but because thou thinkest thyself wretched. For we weep for those, who have nothing the matter, and are discontented, not because they have any thing the matter, but because, without having, they think they have. For tell me, if any one, cured of a fever, still is restless and rolls about, lying in health on his bed, is he not more to be wept for than those in fever, not that he has a fever, for he has none, but because having no sickness he still thinks he has } And thou art an object for tears just because thou thinkest thyself so, not for thy poverty. For thy poverty thou art to be thought happy. Why enviestthouthe richman } Isit because hehassubjected himselfto many cares.? to a harder slavery? because he is bound by his own money, like a dog with ten thousand chains ? Even- ing overtakes him, night overtakes him, but the season of rest is to liim a time of trouble, of anguish, of pain, of care. There is a noise : he straightway jumps up. Has his neigh- bour been plundered ? He who has lost nothing cares more for it than the loser. For that man has lost once, but having endured the pain he lays aside his care ; but the ' Or ' in keeping from needless evil-speaking.' 26 Avarice throws away the natural rest God gives vs. Phil. Other has it always with him. Night comes on, the haven of — 2 — L our ills, the solace of our woes, the medicine of our wounds. For they who are weighed down by excess of grief, often give no ear to their friends, to their relations, to their inti- mates, ofttimcs not even to a father when he would give comfort, but take their very words amiss, (for worse than burning does the bitter of grief afflict our souls,) but when sleep bids them rest, none has the power to look him in the face. And as the body, when parched and worn down by struggling against the violence of the sunbeams, when it comes to a caravanserai with many fountains, and the soothing of a gentle breeze, so does night hand over our soul to sleep. Yea rather I should say, not night, nor sleep does this, but God, who knoweth our toil-worn race, has wrought this, while we have no compassion on ourselves, but, as though at enmity with ourselves, have devised a tyranny more powerful than natural want of rest — the sleeplessness vidiich Ecclus. comes of wealth. For it is said, The care of riches driveth ^^'-^' away sleep. See how great is the care of God. But He hath not committed rest to our will, nor our need of sleep to choice, but hath bound it up in the necessities of nature, that good may be done to us even against our wills. For to sleep is of nature. But we, as mighty haters of ourselves, like enemies and persecutors of others, have devised a tyranny greater than this necessity of nature, that, namely, which comes of money. Has day dawned.? Then such an one is in dread of the informers. Hath night overtaken him } He trembles at robbers. Is death at hand ? The thought, that he must leave his goods to others, preys upon him worse than death. Hath he a son? His desires are increased; and then he fancies himself poor. Has he none ? His pains are greater. Deemest thou him blessed, who is unable to receive pleasure from any quarter } Can you envy him thus tempest-tossed, while you yourself are placed in the quiet haven of poverty? Of a truth this is the imperfection of human nature ; that it bears not its good nobly, but casts insults on its very prosperity. And all this on earth ; but when we depart Thither, listen what the rich man, who was lord, as you say, of innumerable goods, (since for my part I call not these Dives and Lazarus. Discontent is Poverty. 27 things good, but indifferent,) listen to what this hjrd of innu- Hom. merable goods then said, and of what ' he then stood in need: Father Abrohafu, he exclaims, send Lazarus, that whom' with the tip of Iris finger he may drop water on my tongue, for I am scorched in thisfla?ne. For although that rich man had endured none of the things I have men- tioned, though he had passed his whole life without dread and care — why say I his whole life ? rather that one moment, (for it is a moment, our whole life^ is but one moment com- i gj^j pared with that eternity which has no end,) — though all things «'*"») ^^ had turned out according to his desire; must he not be pitied for these words, yea rather for these realities ? Was not your table once deluged with wine ? Now you are not master even of a drop of water, and that too, in your greatest need. Did not you neglect that poor man full of sores ? But now you ask a sight of him, and no one gives leave. He lay at your gate. But now in Abraham's bosom. You then lay under your lofty ceiling. But now in the fire of hell. These things let the rich men hear. Yea rather not the rich, (5) but the pitiless. For not in that he was rich was he punished, but because he shewed no pity; for it is possible that a man who is at the same time rich and pitiful, should meet with every good. And for this cause the rich man's eyes were fixed on no one else, but on him alone, who then begged his alms ; that he might learn from memory of his former actions, tliat his punishment was just. Were there not ten thousand poor men who were righteous.? But he, who then lay at his gate, alone is seen by him, to instruct him and us, how great a good it is to put no trust in riches. His poverty hindered not the one in obtaining the kingdom. His riches helped not the other to avoid hell. Where is the point at which a man is poor } where is the point at Mdiich he is reduced to beggary ' } He is not, he is not poor, who has nought, but he who desires many things! He is not rich who has large possessions, but he who stands in need of nothing. For what profit is there to possess the whole world, and yet live in more despair than he who has nothing. Their dispositions make men rich and poor, not the abundance or the want of money. Would you, who are a poor man, become rich? ' Or, ' Till when lasts poverty i' Till when beggary ?' 28 Little real disadvaiitiKje in poverty. Phil. You may have your will, and no one can hinder you. De- ' spise the world's vv^ealth, think it nought, as it is nought. Cast out the desire of wealth, and you are straightway rich. He is rich who desires not to become rich ; he who is unwilling to be poor, is the poor man. As he too is the diseased man'', who in health bemoans his case, and not the man who bears his disease more lightly than perfect health. So also he is • or < in poor, even here ' , who cannot endure poverty, but in the midst of too^ wealth thinks himself poorer than the poor; not he who bears his poverty more lightly than they their riches. He is truly the richer man. For tell me, wherefore fearest thou poverty .? wherefore trerablest thou? is it not by reason of hunger? is it not for thirst? is it not for cold? Is it not indeed for these things ? There is not, there is not any one who is ever destitute in Ecclus. these things ! For look at the generations of old, and see, ' ' did ever any trust in the Lord, and was forsaken? or did any man trust in Him, and was confounded? M.itt. 6, And again, Behold the fowls of the air, for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. No one can readily point us out any one who has perished by hunger and cold. Wherefore then dost thou tremble at poverty ? Thou canst not say. For if thou hast necessaries enough, wherefore dost thou tremble at it ? Because thou hast not a multitude of servants ? This truly is to be quit of masters ; this is continual happiness, this is free- dom from care. Is it because your vessels, your couches, your furniture are not formed of silver ? And what greater enjoyment than thine has he who possesses these things ? None at all. The use is the same, whether they are of this or that material. Is it because thou art not an object of fear to the many ? May you never become so ! For what pleasure is it that any should stand in dread and fear of thee ? Is it because thou art afraid of others? But thou canst not be alarmed. For Rom. woiddest thou not be afraid of the power ? do that which is ' ■ good, and thou shall have praise of the same. Does any say, It is because we are subject to contempt, and apt to suffer ill ? It is not poverty but wickedness which causes this; for many poor men have quietly passed through life, whilst rulers, ■< »»»•»;». Perhaps alludinsf to the sense ' insane.' Wealth moves envy ; the despised escape. 29 and the rich, and powerful, have ended their days more wretch- Hom. edly than evil doers, than bandits, than grave-robbers. For ^^' what poverty brings in thy case, that doth wealth in theirs. For that which they who would ill-treat thee do through thy con- temptible estate, they do to him from envy and the evil eye they cast upon him, and the latter still more than the former. This is the stronger craving to ill-treat another. He who envies does every thing with all his might and main, while the despiser ofttimes has even pity on the despised; and his very poverty, and utter want of power, has often been the cause of his deliverance. And sometimes by saying to him', " A great deed it will be if you make away with such an one ! If you slay one poor man, what vast advantage will you reap !" we may thus soften down his anger. But envy sets itself against the rich, and ceases notuntil it has wrought its will, and has poured forth its venom. See you, neither poverty nor wealth is good in itself, but our own disposition. This then let us bring to a good tone, this let us discipline in true wisdom. If this be well affected, riches cannot cast us out of the kingdom, poverty cannot make us come short. But we shall meekly bear our poverty, and re- ceive no loss in the enjoyment of future goods, nor even here on earth. But we shall both enjoy what is good on earth, and obtain the good things in heaven, which God grant that we may all obtain, through the grace and lovingkind- ness, &c. 1 The reading is doubtful, but the sense clear. HOMILY IIL Pkil. i. 18—20. And I therein do rejoice, yea, and icill rejoice. For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothiug I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnijied in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. (1) None of the grievous things which are in this present life can fix their fangs upon that lofty soul, which is truly philo- sophic, neither enmity, nor accusations, nor slanders, nor dangers, nor plots. It flies for refuge as it were to a mighty fortress, securely defended there against aU that attack it from this lower earth. Such was the soul of Paul; it had taken possession of a place higher than any fortress, the seat of spiritual wisdom, that is, true philoso])hy. For that of J J g those without' is mere words, and childish toys. But it is the hea- not of these we now speak, but at present concerning the things of Paul. That blessed one had both the emperor for his enemy, and in addition, many other foes many ways afflicting him, even with bitter slander. And what says he ? Not only do I not grieve nor sink beneath these things, but / even rejoice, yea, and will rejoice, not for a season, but always, will I rejoice for these things. For I knoic that this shall turn out to the salvation that awaits me. For how can it but so turn out, when even their enmity and jealousy to- Avards me further the Gospel .? Through your prayer, he St. Paul sought others' prayers. His trust in God. 31 adds, and tlte supply of ihe Spirit of Jesus Christ, according Hom. to my earnest eajpectation and my hope. Behold the humble- '— mmdedness of this blessed One ; he was stirring in the contest, he had done ten thousand exploits, he was now close to his crown, he was Paul, and what can one add to this ? still he writes to the Philippians, I may be saved through your prayer, I who have gained salvation through covmtless achievements. And the supply, saith he, of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. What means he by this supply ? it is as though he said, if I am thought worthy of grace through your prayers. For the meaning of supply is this, may the Spirit be supplied to me, be given to me more abundantly, unto salvation, that is, to deliverance, that I may escape the present as I did the former danger. Of this same matter he says, At tnyfrst^ Tim. ansiver no man stood with me, but all men forsook me ; / ' pray God it may not be laid to their charge : notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me. Now there- fore he predicts the same results, saying, through your prayers and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation, and my hope, for thus have I hope, says he. For that he may persuade us not to leave the whole matter to the prayers made for us % and contribute nothing ourselves, behold how he lays down his own part, which is Hope, the source of all good, as the Prophet says. Let thy Ps. 33, mercy, 0 Lord, be upon us, as we have hoped in Thee. And as it is written in another place, Look to the generations Ecclus. of old and see, did any one hope in the Lord, and was con- ' ' founded. And again, this same blessed one says, Hope maketh Rom. 6 not ashamed. ^' According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed. Do you see how great a thing it is to hope in God? Whatever happens, he says, I shall not be ashamed, i. e. they will not obtain the mastery over me, but in all boldness, as ahcays, so now also, Christ shall be magnified in my body. They forsooth expected to catch Paid in this snai*e, and to quench the preaching of the Gospel, as though their craftiness were of any power. This then, he says, shall not be so, I shall not now die, but as * So B. Sav.' to their prayers.' This parted Saints. See Hom. vi. on Stat, may possibly refer especially to de- tin. 32 Clirlst, how glorified, in St. VduVs life or death. Phil, always, so now, Christ shall be magnijied in my body. How __L__L so ? Ofttimus have I fallen into dangers, when all men gave us 2 Cor. ^Pj ^^^ what is more, when I myself did. For we had the 1 > 9- sentence of death in ourselves, but from all the Lord delivered me, so now too He shall be magnified in my body. And lest any one should suppose and say. If you die will He not then be magnified? Yes, he answers, I know He will, for this cause 1 said, not my life alone shall magnify Him, but my death too. At present he means by life, They will not destroy me, but even did they so, Christ will even thus be magnified. Howso? Through life, because He delivered me, but through my death, because even death itself could not persuade me to deny Him, since He gave me such readiness, and made me stronger than death. On the one hand because He freed me from peril; on the other, because He suffered me not to fear the tyranny of death: thus shall He be magnified through life and death. And this he says, not as though he were about to die, but lest on his death they should be affected as men are apt to be. But that you may know these his words did not point to immediate death, the thought that pained them most, see how (2) he relieves it by almost saying. These things I say, not as one about to die; wherefore he soon after adds, And having this confidence I know that I shall continue with you all. The words, in nothing I shall he ashamed, mean, that death brings no shame to me, but rather great gain. How so ? Because I am not immortal, but I shall shine more brightly than if I were so, for it is not the same thing for one immortal, and for him who must die, to despise death ; so that not even instant death is shame to me, yet shall I not die; in nothing shall I be ashamed, neither in life nor death. I will bear either nobly, whether life or death. Well says he! This is the part of a Christian soul ! but he adds, in all boldness. Seest thou how entirely I am freed from shame } For if the fear of death I ^a.doTpt- the kingdom of Heaven. Mourn for those who died in wealth, ^m-ds. and did not from their wealth think of any solace for 'i lia. ueoieu 13en. ?/a ji'S«£/f, ' through Iffitrr^tv, fhroitgh a g'/ass, as in the n figure,' but it should probably be 3<* text. 38 Prayers and alms to he offered for the departed. Phil, their soul, who had power to wash away their sins, and would ^' ^^' not. Let us weep for these in private, and topjether in public, but with propriety, with gravity, not so as to make exhibi- tions of ourselves; let us weep for these, not one day, or two, but all our life. Such tears spring not from senseless passion, but from true affection. The other sort are of senseless pas- sion. For this cause they are quicMy quenched, whereas if they spring from the fear of God, they always abide with us. Let us lament for them, let us assist them according to our power, let us think of some assistance for them, sn)all though it be, yet still able to help them. How and in what way? ]5y praying our- selves for them, by entreating others to make prayers for them, 1 1^\„ by continually giving to the ])oor on their behalf^. This deed avTiit hath some consolation ; for hear the words of God Himself, when 2 Kings He says, / ivill defend this city for Mine own sake, and for 20, 6. ]\jy servant David's sake. If the remembrance only of a just man has so great power, how, when deeds are done for one, will it not have power? Not in vain did the Apostles order that remembrance should be made of the dead in the dreadful Mysteries. They know, that great gain resulteth to them, and great assistance; for when the whole people stands with uplifted hands, a priestly assembly, and that awful o J. Sacrifice lies displayed^, how shall we not prevail with' God by nrai. jjm- entreaties for them? And this we do for those who have vrirofiu. departed in the faith % whilst the catechumens are not thought worthy even of this consolation, but are deprived of all means of help save one. And what is this? We may give to the poor on their behalf. This deed in a certain way refreshes them. For God wills that we should be mutually assisted ; else why hath He ordered us to pray for peace and the good estate of the world? why on behalf of all men? since in this ' See Horn. vi. on the Statues, Tr. a clergyman his executor. Euseh. Vit. p. 130, note c. also on 1 Cor. 15, 46. Const, iv. 71. speaks of Constantino Horn. xli. [8.] Tr. p. 59-2. On Stat, sharing in the prayers of the Faithful xxi. 15. Tr. p. 35'.). St. Chrys. makes in connection with his burial near the Flavian speak to Theodosius of the relics of the Apostles. He does not prayers for him after death, that might directly mention this as depending on be won by an act of mercy, comp. S. his Baptism, but the terms of the Eu- Ambr. de oh. Theod. ^. 37. Ten. de charistic prayer seem to have marked Corona, c. iii. speaks of oblations for this, and it is implied in the rule givea the deceased as a general tradition in by St. Cyprian, and the whole principle his time. St. Cyprian, Ep. G6. forbids of that commemoration stated in the Eucharistic prayer for one who makes passagecitedof St. Chrys. on 1 Cor. xv. JoVs intercessioji. Blessing of fearing God. 39 number are included robbers, violaters of tombs, thieves, men Hom. laden with untold crimes; and yet we pray on behalf of all; — — — perchance they may have repentance. As then we pray for those living, who differ nought from the dead, so too we may pray for them. Job offered sacrifice for his children, and freed them from their sins. It inay 6e, said he, that t/ieg Johi, 5. have cursed God in their hearts. Thus does one provide for thou or the rejoicing of you. are connected. Compare 2 Cor. .">, 12. = St. Chrys- seems to take your re- ^ The punctuation is alter, d. He joicing as ' the rejoicing which I Paul seems to be proving not the unity of the have in you.' The passage quoted from Spirit, hut the relation of that doctrine 2 Cor. 1, 14. shews that the two senses to practice. Christian endurance able to convince adversaries. 45 Spirit. See how the word one is used for concord. See Hom. how their minds being many are called one. Thus was it ' of old. For they were all, it is written, of one heart and of^^^'^ *> one soul. Striving together for the faith of the Gospel. Does he say, striving together with each other, as though the faith did strive ? How can this be ? for they did not wrestle among each other? But what he says is this, help each other, in your striving for the Gospel. Ver. 28. Aiul in nothing terrified hy your adversaries; which is to ihein an evident token of perdition, hut to you of salvation. Well said he, terrified, this is what befals us from our enemies, they only terrify. In nothing therefore, he says, whatever happens, whether dangers — whether plots. For this is the part of those who stand upright; the enemy can do nought but terrify only. Since it was likely that they should be affrighted, when Paul suffered such numberless ills, he says, I exhort you not only not to be shaken, but not to be terrified, yea rather to despise them heartily, for if ye are thus affected, ye will straightway, by this means, make evident at once their destruction, and your salvation. For when they see, that with their innumerable plots they are unable to terrify you, they will take it as a proof of their own destruction. For when the persecutors prevail not over the persecuted, the plotters over the objects of their plots, the powerful over those subject to their power, will it not be self evident, that their perdition is at hand, that their power is nought, that their part is false, that their ^ part is weak } And this he says comes of God. Ver. 29. For unto you it is given on behalf of Christ^ not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake. Again does he teach them moderation of spirit by refemng all to God, and saying that sufferings for Christ are of grace, the gift of grace, a free gift. Be not then ashamed of the gracious gift, for it is far more wonderful than the power of raising the dead, or working miracles, as there I am a debtor <= Chrysost. seems to make a false a change of person. Dounseus suggests opposition between txtUut and auruv, oV/ ra Jxt/viwv dx»j(')j; (for aj'^iv^;) ' That but if the reading is correct, this is the others' (principles) are true.' Com- really one of his rapid changes of the pare the letter of Antoninus quoted by point of view, though not amounting to Justin Martyr. Apol. 1. 70. 4(> Cliristians o/ old shnred llie Apostles snjferiny. Phil, but here I have Christ for my debtor. Wherefore ought we -1 1 not only not to be ashamed, but even to rejoice, in that we have this gift. Virtues he calls gifts, yet not in like sort as other things, for those are eutirely of God, but in these we have a shai*e. But since even here the greatest part is of God, he ascribes it entirely to Him, not to overturn our free ' «'V»*^- will, but to make us humble and rightly disposed '. grate- Ver. 30. Having the same conflict tthich ye saw in me. i.e. tul. Ye have an example. Here again he raises them up, by shewing them that every where their gifts were the same with his, their struggles were the same with his, both severally, and in that they did their part to bear his trials with him^ He said not, ye have heard, but ye have seen, for he strove too at Philippi. Truly this is an exceeding virtue. Where- Gal.3,4.fore writing to the Galatians, he said. Have ye suffered so many thiitys in vain, if it he yet in vain. And again, Heb.io writing to the Hebrews, he said. But call to remembrance 32. 33. ijifj former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions. Partly ivhilst ye icere made a gazing-stock hoth by reproaches and affictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. And again, writing to Macedonians*^, that is, to the 1 Thess. Thessalonians, he said. For they themselves shew of us, what 1'^- manner of entering in we had unto you. And again, For 2, 1. yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it 7vas not in vain. And in like sort does he witness the same things of them all, labours and strivings. Such things ye will not now find among us; now it is much if one suffer a little in goods alone. And in respect of their goods also he Heb.io, witnesses great things of them. For to some he says. For ^■^- ye took joyfully the spoiling of your goods; and to others, Rom. For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make 2^' ^^" a certain contribution for the poor ; and your zeal hath 9, 2. provoked very many. /A \ Seest thou the praises of the men of that time } But we endure not so much as buffetings or blows, we sustain neither insult nor loss of our possessions : they were straightway zealous, and all ' The construction is ditTicult, per- be put in because the Philippians were haps from a false reading. Macedonians too. K Some omit this clause, but it may Love yroHH cold. Men must he shavied into Virtue. 47 of them strove as martyrs, whilst we have grown cold in love to- Hom, IV. ward Christ. Again I am constrained to accuse things present; and what shall I do ? It is against my will, yet am I constrained. Were I able by my silence of things which are done, by holding my peace, and not mentioning aught, to remove them, it would behove me to be silent. But if the contrary comes to pass; for not only on our silence are these things not removed, but rather become worse ; we are forced to speak. For he who rebukes sinners, if he does nought else, suffers them not to go farther. For there is no spirit so shameless and rash, as not to turn, and remit the extravagance of its evil deeds, on hearing any one continually rebuking it. There is, there is in- deed, even in the shameless, a small portion of shame. For God hath sown in our nature the seeds of shame ; since fear was insufficient to bring us to a right tone, He hath prepared many other ways for avoiding sin. For example, the accu- sations of men, fear of the enacted laws'", love of reputation, the desire of forming friendships, all these are paths to avoid sin. Ofttimes that which has not been done for God's sake, has been done through shame, and that which has not been done for God's sake, hath been done for fear of men. That which we seek for is this, in the first place to learn not to sin, then we shall afterwards succeed in doing this for God's sake. Else why did Paul exhort those, who were about to over- come' their enemies, not by the fear of God, but on the score of waiting for the vengeance " } For hy so doing, he says, Rom. thou shalt heap coals of Jire on his head. For this is ' ^ * his first wish, that our virtue should be established. As 1 said then, there is in us a sense of shame. For we have many good natural afi'ections, which lead to virtue ; as, for example, all of us men are naturally moved to pity, and there is in our nature no other such good as this. Whence any one might reasonably enquire, wherefore these seeds have above all others been sown in our nature, by which we melt", I mean, at tears, by which we are turned to compassion, and are ready to pity. No one is naturally without anger'", no one ^ See on Stat. Horn. vi. ' x.a.ra.x.Xa.aiai . See on Stat. Hom. ' K^ariiv. He seems to mean ' to xiii. §. 9. Tr. p. 226. In thatand Hom. have them in their power.' xii. the law of nature is discussed at '' See on the passage, Hom. xxii. some length. Tr. p. 387. "" The Editor ventures to adopt the 48 Mercy rooted in our nature. Oil its type. Van., is naturally regardless of his reputation, no one is naturally —!—-'- above emulation, but pity lies deep in every one's nature, however fierce and ungentle he be. And what wonder is there, if we shew this toward men ? for we pity even beasts, such a superabundance of pity lies deep in us. If we see a lion's whelp, we are somewhat affected; much more when we see one of our own race. How many maimed are there ! often do we say, knowing that this is sufficient to lead us to pity. ' '^l"-"' Nothing so much pleases God as mercy'. Wherefore with rvvri. o J. .1 this the priests were anointed, and the kings, and the prophets, for they had, in oil, a ty])e of God's love to man; and they ' ixitu. further learnt, that rulers should have a greater share of mercy". It shewed that the S])irit is to come to men through mercy, since God pities and is kind to man. For, Thou hast mercy Wisd. upon all, it is written, ybr Thou canst do all things. For ' ■ this cause they were anointed with oil": and indeed it was from mercy He appointed the priesthood. And the kings were anointed with oil ; and would one praise a ruler, he can make mention of nothing so becoming him as mercy. For pity is peculiar to power. Consider that the world was established by pity", and then imitate thy Lord. The mercy of man is toward his neighbour, but the mercy of the Lord is Ecclus. upon all flesh. How over all flesh ? Whether you mean ' ■ sinners, or just men, we all need the mercy of God; we all enjoy il,be it Paul, be it Peter, or be it John. Listen to their own words, for there is no need of mine. For what says this 1 Tiin. blessed one? Bui I obtained mercy, because I did it igno- rantly. What then, was there afterwards no need of mercy ? 1 Coi. Hear what he says again ; But I laboured more abundantly °' ' than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which icas with Phil. i,me. And of Epaphroditus he says. For indeed he was sick, nigh unto death ; but God had mercy on him ; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 2 Cor. 1, And again he says. We were pressed out of measure above ' ^' strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life. But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God, ivho delivered us from such conjecture of Doiinai'us, aa^ytii fbrafyof, in the Latin version. ' idle' which makes no sense, and has " B. ' received the oil for a symhol.' accordingly been translated strmuus, • Comp. Wisd. 1, 14; 11, 24. Mercy of God to Saints, and to all Creation. 49 death'^, yea, and ivill deliver. And again, And I uas delivered Hom. out of the mouth of the lion ; and the Lord shall deliver me. And every where we shall find him boasting of this, that by 4,17.18. mercy he was saved. Peter too became so great, because (5) mercy was shewn him. Peter, Peter, Satan hath desired to Luke22, sift thee as icheat ; and I have jJrayedfor thee, that thyfaith^^' ^^* fail not. John too became so great through mercy, and in short all the Apostles. For listen to Christ when He hints at this, and says. Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen 3 ohnio, you. For we all have need of the mercy of God, as it is ^^' written, The mercy of God is over all flesh \ But if these men needed the mercy of God, what should one say of the rest? For why, tell me, doth He inake the sun to rise on the evil and the good? Did He withhold the rain for one year, would He not destroy all? And what if He caused overwhelming rain? what if He rained down fire? what if He sent flies? But why mention I these things? if He were to make darkness at once, would He not destroy all ? if He were to shake the earth, would not all perish? It is now seasonable to say, Wltat is man, that Thou art mindful of him? WerePs. 8, 4. He only to threaten the earth, all men would become one tomb. As a drop of tvater from the bucket, it is written, Is. 40, so are the nations in His sight, they shall be counted as very small dust, as the turning of the balance. It were as easy for Him to destroy all things, and to make them again, as for us to turn the balance. He then who has such power over us, and sees us sinning, and yet punishes us not, how is it but by mercy He is restrained? Learn' how beasts too exist and are preserved by mercy : Tlioii, Lord, shall save both Ps. 36, man and beast. He looked upon the earth, and filled it^^* with living things. And wherefore ? For thy sake ! And wherefore did he make thee? Was it not through His good- ness ? There nothing better than oil ' ! It is the cause of light both here and there. Then shall thy light break forth Is. 58, as the morning, saith the Prophet, if thou shewest pity upon ^' thy neighbour. And rightly so. For as natural oil affords 1 Sav. deaths, B. death. ' B. ' than mercy, O Beloved !' ' Ecclus. 18, 13. as above. Com- which may be right, but it seems pare Ps. 145, 9. and Job 4, 18. better to keep the allusion to w^hat has ' So B. and Sav. mar. gone before. 60 The merciful man shall obtain Mercy. Phil, light to seafaring men, thus here doth mercy grant us a great, — — '- a marvellous light on earth. Much mention doth Paul too Gal. 2, make of this mercy". In one place hear him say. Only that 1 Cor. ^'^ should remember the poor. And in another, If it be 16,4. rneet that I go also. And in every place, turn where you will, ye see him anxious ahout this very thing. And again, Tit. 3, And let ours also learn to maintain good works. And again, Tit. 3 These things are good and profitable unto men. Listen to ^- the words of a certain one which saith, Alms do deliver from 9. death ; and another, If Thou takest away pity. Lord, Lord, Ps. ISO, ^j^^ shall stand; and it is written % If Thou enterest intojudg- Ps. \\Z,ment with thy servant; another saith, A great thing is man, Prov. ^'^^^ ^'^ honourable thing is a merciful man. For this is 20, 6- the true character of man, to be merciful, yea rather the cha- LXX. racter of God, to shew mercy. Dost thou see, how strong is the mercy of God? This made all things, this formed the world, this made'' the angels, it was through mere goodness \ For this cause too He threatened hell, that we may attain unto the kingdom, and through mercy we do attain unto the kingdom. For wherefore, tell me, did God, being alone, create all things? was it not through goodness? was it not through love to men ? If you ask why such and such things are, you will always find your answer in Goodness. Where- fore let us shew mercy to our neighbours, that mercy may be shewn to us. These acts of mercy' we shew not so much to them, as lay up for ourselves against That Day. When the flame of fire shall be great, this mercy is that which will quench the fire, and bring light to us. Thus by this means shall we be freed from the fire of hell. For whence will God*" be compassionate and shew mercy ? Does not mercy come of love ? Nothing incenses God so much as to be pitiless. " A man was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents, and he was moved with compassion, and forgave him. And there were owing to that man from his fellow servant a " al. ' oil.' The («<) and (i) are con- 14, 13. Horn. xxv. Tr. p. 425. note g ; stantly interchanged in Mss. and per- and on Matt. 25. Horn. Ixxviii. init. also haps differed little in sound. Horn, on Stat. vi. Tr. p. 130. note c. * B. ' enter not' as in text. He may mean here to distinguish the y B. appointed (to their several fire of Hell, from which we may be charges.) freed, from that which is to rage, but • B. has not this clause. to be quenched. » al. This oil; see note ; and on Rom. *> So B. Sav. om. ' God.' God neither avenges nor forgives the revengeful. 51 hundred pence, and he caught him by the throat. Therefore Hom the Lord delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay 1- what was due." Let us on hearing this be merciful to those who are our debtors in money or in sins. Let no one remem- ber evils, except he wishes to punish himself. For if you foi'give him not, you act unjustly not so much toward him as yourself ^ If thou takest vengeance on him, God will not avenge; if thou lettest him go, He will either avenge thee, or remit thy sins. And how, if thou forgivest not thy neighbour, dost thou seek that kingdom ? Lest this should happen to us, let us forgive all, (for it is ourselves that we pardon,) that God may forgive us our trespasses, and so we may obtain the good things which are in store, through the grace and lovingkindness, &c. '^ So B. Sav. you annoy him not so much as you injure yourself. £ 2 HOMILY V. ^iTU, Phil. ii. 1 — 4. I/ there he therefore any consolation in Christ, if any com- fort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfil ye my Joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory : but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than them- selves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. (1) J'here is nothing better, there is nothing more affectionate, ^nk- tlian a spiritual teacher; such an one surpasses' the kindness of any natural father. For consider, how this holy one entreats the Philippians concerning the things which were to their own advantage. What says he, in exhorting them con- cerning concord, that cause of all good things? See how earnestly, how vehemently, with how much sympathy he speaks, If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, that B. one is, if ye have any comfort in Clmst, as if he^ had said. If thou makest any account of me, if thou hast any care of me, if thou hast ever received good at my hands, do this. This mode of earnestness we use when we claim a matter which we prefer to every thing else. For if we did not prefer it to every thing, we should not wish to receive in it our recompense, and acknowledge that by it all affection is shewn. We indeed remind men of our carnal claims ; for example, if a father were to sa}' to his son, If thou hast any reverence for thy St. Paul it'oulcl be repaid by their mutual love. 53 father, if any remembrance of my care in nourishing ihec, Hom. if any affection towards me, if any memory of the honour thou '■ — hast received of me, if any of my kimhiess, be not at enmity with thy brother ; that is, for all those things, this is what I ask in return. . But Paul does not so, for he calls to our remembrance no carnal, but all of them spiritual benefits. And what he says is this. If ye will give me any consolation in my tempt- ations, and encouragement in Christ, if any comfort of love, if ye will shew any communion in the Spirit, if ye have any bowels and mercies, fulfil ye my joy. If any bowels and mercies. Paul speaks of the concord of his disciples as mercy towards himself, thus shewing that the danger was ex- treme, if they were not of one mind. If I can obtain con- solation from you, if I can obtain any comfort from your love, if I can communicate with you in the Spirit, if I can commu- nicate with you in the Lord, if I can find mercy and pity at your hands, shew by your love the return of all this. All this have 1 gained, if ye love one another. Ver. 2. Fulfil ye my joy. That the exhortation might not seem to be made to people who were still deficient, see how he says not, " Cause me to rejoice," h\xi fulfil my joy ; that is, Ye have begun to plant it in me, ye have already given me some portion of peaceful- ness ', but I desire to arrive at its fulness ? Say, what wouldest 'ri (P.. thou ? that we deliver thee from dangers .' that we supply J°"j/J, somewhat to thy need } Not so, but that ye be like-minded., having the same love, in which ye have begun, beiny of one accord, of one mind. Oh how often does he repeat the same thing by reason of his great affection ! That ye he like- minded, he says, yea xaXhex, that ye be of one mind. For this he means by saying, as he proceeds, of one mind, which is more than of a like mind. Having the same love. That is, let it not be simply in faith alone, but in all other things ; for there is such a thing as to be like-minded, and yet not to have love. Having the same love, that is, love and be loved alike ; do not thou enjoy much love, and shew less love to others, so as to be covetous even in this matter ; and though there be that do this, yet do not thou sufi'er it in thyself. Of one accord^, he adds, ihai^ ^v- 54 Davger of vain-glory . True lowliness what. Phil, is, with one soul, deeming the bodies of all to be your own, — 2—^ not in substance, for that is impossible, but in purpose and intention. Let all things proceed as from one soul. What means of one accord i He shews when he says of one mind. i^javfljMa, Lg^- your mind ' be one, as if from one soul. which IS •' 7 /. the act Ver. 3. Let nothing be done through strife. soul -^^ finally demands this of them, and tells them the way how this may be. Let nothing be done through strife or vain-glory. This, as I always say, is the cause of all evil. Hence come fightings and contentions. Hence come en- vyings and strifes. Hence it is that love waxes cold, when we love the praise of men, when we are slaves to the honour which is paid by the many, for it is not possible for a man to be the slave of praise, and to be a true servant of God. How then shall we flee vain-glory ? for thou hast not yet told us the way. Listen then to what follows. But in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than ffvyx^i- himself Oh how full of true wisdom, how universal a gathering- word of our salvation is the lesson he has put forth 1 If thou feelest, he means, that another is greater than thyself, and persuadest thyself so, yea more, if thou not only sayest it, but art fully persuaded of it, then thou assignest him the *Ben. honour, and if thou assignest him the honour^, thou wilt not and if' ^^ displeased at seeing him honoured by another. Do not &f- then think him simply greater than thyself, but better', which ix^uy. is ^ ^sry great superiority, and thou wilt not think it strange ^'^- nor be pained thereby, if thou seest him honoured. Yea though he treat thee with scorn, thou wilt bear it nobly, for thou hast esteemed him greater than thyself Though he ^B.'thou revile thee, thou wilt submit. Though he treat thee ill*, en fn° thou wilt bear it in silence. For when once the soul is fully of.' persuaded that he is greater, it falls not into anger when it is ill-treated by him, nor yet into envy, for no one would envy those who are very far above himself, for all things are put to the account of his excellence. (2) Here then he instructs the one party to be thus minded. But when he too, who enjoys such honour from thee, is thus affected toward thee, consider what a double wall there is erected of inofl'ensiveness; for when thou esteemest him thus worthy of honour, aud he thee likewise, no painful thing can A broken spirit. Joseph^s humilHy. 55 possibly arise, for if this conduct when shewn by one is suffi- Hom. cieut to destroy all strife, who shall break down the safe- : guard, when it is shewn by both ? Not even the devil himself. The defence is threefold, and fourfold, yea manifold, for humility is the cause of all good; and that you may learn this, listen to the prophet, saying. For Thou desirest not sacrifice, Ps. 5i, else would I give it: Thou delightest not in burnt offering. ' The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart, 0 God, Thou ii-ilt not despise. He does not require simply humility, but an excess of humility. As in the case of bodily substances, that which is broken will not rise against that which is solid, but, how many ills soever it may suffer, will perish itself rather than attack the other, so too the soul, even if constantly suffering ill, will choose rather to die, than to avenge itself by attack. How long shall we be puffed up thus ridiculously? For Moral. as we laugh, when we see children drawing themselves up, and looking haughty, or when we see them picking up stones and throwing them, thus too is the haughtiness ^ i ia-«y«« of men, the offspring of a puerile intellect, and an unformed mind. Why are earth and ashes proud } Art thou high- minded, O man.? and why.? tell me what is the gain.? Whence art thou highminded against those of thine own kind ? Dost not thou share the same nature ? the same life ? Hast not thou received like honour from God .? But thou art wise .? Thou oughtest therefore to be thankful, not to be puffed up. Haughtiness is the first act of ingratitude, for it denies '' the gift of grace. He that is puffed up, is puffed up as if he had excelled by his own strength, and he who thinks he has thus excelled is ungrateful toward Him who bestowed that honour. Hast thou any good .? Be thankful to Him who gave it. Listen to what Joseph said, and what Daniel. For when the king of Egypt sent for him from the prison, and in the presence of all his host asked him con- cerning that matter in which the Egyptians who were most learned in these things had forsaken the field, when he was on the point of being exalted over all, and of appearing wiser than the astrologers, the enchanters, the magicians, and all the ^ Lit. ' takes away,' i. e. takes the credit from the Giver. 56 Joseph and Daniel gave God the glory of all. Phil, wise men of those times, and that from captivity and servitude, _^'-^ and he but a youth, (and his glory was thus greater, for it is not the same thing to shine when known, and contrary to expectation, so that its being unlooked for rendered him the more admirable ;) what then did he say, when he came before Pharaoh ? Was it, ' Yea, I know the dream?' Not so, but what? When no one urged it on him, he said from his own excellent spirit. Do not interpretations belong to God'f Behold he straightway glorified his Master, where- fore he himself was also glorified. And this is no slight step to glory. For that God had revealed it to him was a far greater thing than if he had excelled himself. Moreover, he hence shewed that his words were worthy of credit, and this was a very great proof that God was with him. There is no Rom. 4, one thing so good, as to be the friend of God. For if, says ^'jbra- t^6 Scripture, he ^ were justijied by trorks, he hath tchereof ham to glory, but not before God. For if he who has been vouchsafed grace maketh his boast in God, that he is loved of Him, because his sins are forgiven, he too that worketh hath whereof to boast, but not before God, as the other; (for this very thing' is a proof of our excessive weak- ness ;) he who has received wisdom of God, how much more admirable is he ? He glorifies God, and is glorified of Him, 1 Sam. for He says, them that honour 3Ie, I trill honour. 2) 30. Again, listen to him who descended from Joseph, than whom Ezek. no one was wiser Art thou wiser ^, says he, than Daniel ? 28, 3. -pj^jg Daniel then, when all the wise men that were in Babylon, and the astrologers moreover, the prophets, the magicians, the enchanters, yea when the whole of their wisdom was not only coming to be convicted, but to be wholly destroj^ed, (for their being destroyed was a clear proof that they had deceived be- fore,) this Daniel coming forward, and preparing to solve the king's question, does not take the honour to himself, but first Dan. 2, ascribcs the whole to God, and says. But as for me, 0 king, '^^- it is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have beyond all ib. 46. men. And the King worshipped him, and commanded that « Gen. 40, 8. This he said to the ^ He may mean our boasting of sucA baker and cupbearer in prison, but he things as we do, or the fact that our also said to Pharaoh, It is not in me : goodness extends not to God. God shall give Pharaoh an ansii'er of « E. V. Thmi art, but the sentence pence, c. 41, 18. is of an ironical turn. TJie Apostles unassuming. Meanness exemplijied. 57 they should offer an oblation. Seest thou his humility? Hom. seest thou his excellent spirit? seest thou his habit of lovvli- — 1. ness ? Listen also to the Apostles, saying at one time, Why Acts 3, look ye so earnestly on us, as though hy our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk ? And again. We ^5'^^ ^'*' also are men of like passions tvith you. Now if they thus refused the honours paid them, men who by reason of the humility and power of Christ wrought greater deeds than Christ, (for He says, He that believeth in Me shall do John 14, greater works than those that I do,) shall not we wretched and miserable men do so, who cannot even beat away gnats*", much less devils ? who have not power to benefit a single man, much less the whole world, and yet think so much of ourselves that the devil himself is not like us ? There is nothing so foreign to a Christian soul as haugh- (3) tiness. Hauohtiness, I say, not boldness nor courage, for these are congenial. But these are one thing, and that another; so too humility is one thing, and meanness, flattery, and adulation, another. I will now, if you wish, give you examples of all these qualities, for these things which are contraries, seem in some way to be placed near together, as the tares to the wheat, and the thorns to the rose, so that babes will easily be deceived, while they who are men in truth, and are skilled in spiritual husbandry, know how to separate what is really good from the bad. Let me then lay before you examples of these qualities from the Scriptures. What is flattery, and meanness, and adulation? Ziba flattered' David out of 2 Sam. season, and falsely slandered his master. Much more did g^^: j^j^"^* Ahitophel flatter Absalom. But David was not so, but he 17, 1-4. was humble, for the deceitful are flatterers, as the magicians are, when they say, O king, live for ever. v. Dan. We shall find much to exemplify this in the Acts of St. ^' *• Paul. Wlien he disputed with the Jews he did not flatter them, but was humble-minded, (for he knew how to speak boldly,) as when he says. Men and brethren, though I have \. Acts 28, 17. h This hyperbolical expression may ' Compare 2 Sam. 19, 26. He means have a moral meaning with respect to that Ziba had recourse to unworthy petty annoyances ; and in allusion to means of winning David's favour. And the fan used in the Holy Eucharist, that Ahitophel was ready to serve Goar. p. 76. Bingham xv. c. 3. §. 6. Absalom from selfish motives. 58 Examples of Humility, Courage, Meanness, Audacity. Phil, committed nothing against the people, or customs of our — 'fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem. That these were the words of humility, listen how he V. Acts rebukes them in what follows, Well spake the Holy Ghost, ib.'26. Hearing ye shall hear., and shall not understand, and seeing ye shall see, and not ])erceive. Seest thou his courage? Behold also the courage of John Mark the Baptist, which he used before Herod; when he said, // is 6 18 1 'bro- ^^^^i lawful for thee to have thy brother^ Philip's wife. This ther's „.as boldness, this was courage. But not so the words of wife. oi • • • 2 "Sam. Shimei, when he said. Come out, thou bloody man, and yet he ' '• too spake with boldness; but this is not courage, but audacity, and insolence, and an unbridled tongue. Jezebel too re- proached Jehu, when she spoke of the slayer of his master'', but this was audacity, not boldness. Elias too reproached, 1 Kings bQt this was boldness and courage; / have not troubled Israel, but thou and thy fathefs house. Again, Elias spake ib. 21. with boldness to the whole people, saying, How long tcill ye ■ go lame on both your thighs ? Thus to rebuke was boldness and courage. This too the prophets did, but that other was audacity. Would you see words both of humility and of freedom', ^Cor.4, lij^tgj-j to St. Paul, saying. But icilh me it is a very small thing tha.t I should be judged of you, or of man'' s Judgment ; yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by ^CoT.6,)jiygg/j'^ ygf djji J not hereby justified. This is of a spirit that becomes a Christian; and again. Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not be/ore the saints ? Would you see the flattery of the foolish Jews? listen to Jolini9, them, saying, We have no king but Ccesar. Would you see 2Cor.4,hiiutiility ? listen to Paul again, when he says, For we ^- preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus'' sake. Would you see flattery and 1 Sam. audacity? Audacity in the case of Nabal, and fattery in ii' * that of the Ziphites? How the one reviled, and how the other 23^2o' ^" piii'pose betrayed David ? Would you see the icisdom of 1 Sam'. David, which was not flattery, how he gat Saul into his power, 26, 5- 12. k 2 Kings 9, 31. Had Zimri peace ' Sav. in text. ' of servility,' which w/io slew his master ? does not suit the next quotation so well. How to distinguish between such qualities. 59 and yet spared him ? Would you see the flattery of those Hom. who murdered Mephibosheth ", whom David slew ? In fine, ^- and to sum up all, audacity is shewn when one is enraged, and insults another for no just cause, either to avenge himself, or from unjust excitement; but boldness and courage are when we dare to face perils and deaths, and despise friend- ships and enmities for the sake of what is pleasing to God. Again, flattery and meanness are when one courts another not for any right end, but hunting after some of the things of this life; but humility, when one does this for the sake of things pleasing to God, and descends from his own proper station that he may perform something great and admirable. If we know these things, happy are we if we do them. For to know them is not enough. For Scripture says. Not the Uom. 2, hearers of the laiv, but the doers of the law shall be justified. ^^' Yea, knowledge itself condemneth, when it is without action and deeds of virtue. Wlierefore that we may escape the condemnation, let us follow after the practice, that we may obtain those good things that are promised to us by the grace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ. " 2 Sam. 4, 8. So some copies of LXX, for Ishbosheth. HOMILY VI. Phil. ii. 5—8. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesits: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness qf men: and being found in fashion as a man. He humbled Himself, and become obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (1) Our Lord Jesus Christ, when exhorting His disciples to great actions, places before them Himself, and the Father, and Matt. 5, the Prophets, as examples; as when He says, For thus they Luke 6 did unto the Prophets which ivere before you; and again, If they 23. have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you ; and. Learn 20. ^ of Me, for I atn meek; and again. Be ye merciful, as your Matt. Pather which is in heaven is merciful. This too the blessed 11,29. . . -^ ^ Luke 6, Paul does; in exhorting them to humility, he brings forward Christ. And he does so not here only, but also when he discourses of love towards the poor, he speaks in this wise. 2 Cor. 8, For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor. Nothing rouses a great and philosophic soul to the performance of good works, so much as learning that in this it is likened to God. What encouragement is equal to this ? None. This Paul well knowing, when he would exhort tliem to humility, first beseeches and supplicates them, then to awe " them he ' ifTQi^Tixut, usually to shame, here sentiug to them the presence of the rather to make serious, i. e. by repre- Holy Spirit. See Phil. ii. 12, 13. One Text of St. Paul overthrows numerous Heresies. 61 says, That ye standfast in one Spirit ; he says also, that it is Hom. to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salva- 1_ Hon. And last of all he says this. Let this mind be in you, P^n. i, which was also in Christ Jesus, Who, being in the form Q/"phii. 2, God, thought it not robbery to be equal with Qod, but made ^—'^• Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant. Attend, I entreat you, and rouse yourselves, for as a sharp two-edged sword, wheresoever it falls, though it be Heb. 4, among ten thousand phalanxes, easily cuts through and de- j^^^ ^ stroys, because it is sharp on every side, and nought can 16. bear its edge; so are the words of the Spirit. For by these words he has laid low the followers of Arius of Alexandria, of Paul of Samosata, of Marcellus of G alatia, of Sabellius the Libyan, of Marcion that was of Pontus, of Valentinus, of Manes, of Apollinarius of Laodicea, of Photinus, of Sophro- nius, and, in one word, all the heresies. Rouse yourselves then to behold so great a spectacle, so many armies falling by one stroke, lest the pleasure of such a sight should escape you. For if when chariots contend in the horse race there is nothing so pleasing as when one of them dashes together *» and overthrows whole chariots with their drivers, and after throwing down many with the charioteers that stood thereon, drives by alone towards the goal, and the end of the course, and amid the applause and clamour which rises on all sides to heaven, with coursers winged as it were by that joy and that applause, sweeps over the whole ground ; will not the pleasure be much greater here, when by the grace of God we overthrow at once and in a body the combinations and devilish machinations of all these heresies together with their charioteers ? And if it seem good to you, we will first arrange the heresies themselves in order. Would you have them in the order of their impiety, or of their dates? Let us take the order of time, for it is difficult to judge of the order of their impiety. First then let Sabellius" the Libyan come forward. What does he assert ? that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, b B. and Sav. mar. irwyx^ouirai , <= See Euseb. vii. 6. his heresy had which seems better than *gaw<7-a;, 'dashes been held before by Praxeas, he was against,' but the latter suits the illus- himself later than Marcion. tration. G2 The ' Form of God' implies Divine Personality. Phil, are mere names given to one Person. Marcion"" of Pontus ' says, that God the Creator of all things is not good, nor the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, but that there is another righteous One% and that the Son did not take flesh for us. Marccllus', and Photinus^, and Sophronius assert, that the Word is an energy, instead of a substance, and that this energy dwelt in Him who was of the seed of David, and not a personal substance. Arius confesses indeed the Son, but only in word ; for he says that He is a creature, and much inferior to the Father, and others say that He has not a soul. Seest thou the cha- riots standing ? See then their fall, how he overthrows them all together, and with a single stroke. How then does he throw them down ? Let the same mind he in you, he says, which was in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, thought it not rohhery to he equal with God. By this Paul*" of Samosata has fallen, and Marcellus, and Sabellius. For he says, Being in the form of God. If in the form, how sayest thou, O wicked one, that He took His origin from Mary, and was not before ? and how again, that He was an energy? For it is written, being in the form of God, He took the form of a. servant. Tell me, the form of a servant, is it the energy of a servant, or the nature of a servant ? Thou wilt say, " Truly the nature of a servant." Thus too the form of God, is the nature of God, and therefore not an energy. Behold Marcellus of Galatia, Sophronius and Photinus have fallen. (2) Behold Sabellius too. It is written. He thought it not robbery to he equal with God. Now equality is not predi- cated, where there is but one person, for that which is equal hath somewhat to which it is equal. Seest thou not the substance of two Persons, and not empty names without things ? Hearest thou not the eternal pre-existence of the Only -begotten } And thus much against these. Lastly, What shall we say against Arius', who asserts the Son is of a different substance ? Tell me now, what means, He took the form of a servant ? it means, He became Man. <* Euseb. iv. 11. Tertullian wrote a e Theodoret. v. 11. treatise against him. •■ Euseb. vii. 27 — 30. • Tert. adv. Marc. i. 6. * See St. Ath. Disc. i. c. \\. §. 4. f Theod. ii. 6. 8. Socr. ii. 19, 20. Tr. p. 237. No unequal Divinity found in Scripture. 63 Wherefore being in the form of God, He was God. For Hom. one form and amoiher form is named, if the one be true, the '— other is also. The form of a servant means, Man by nature, wherefore the form of God means, God by nature. And he not only bears record of this, but of His equality too, as St. John also doth, and that He is in no way inferior to the Father, for he saith. He thought it not a thing to seize^, tok*"?- be equal with God. Now what is their wise reasoning ? Nay,'**' say they, he proves the very contrary ; for he says, that, bei?ig in the form of God, He seized not equality with God. Now if He were God, how was He able to seize upon it f and is not this without meaning? Who would say that one, being a man, seized not on being a man ? for how would any one seize on that which he is ? No, say they, but he means that being a lesser God, He seized not upon being equal to the great God, Who was greater than He. Is there then a great and a lesser God ? And do ye bring in the doctrines of the heathens to those of the Church ? With them there is a greater and a lesser God. If it be so with us, I know nought of the matter, for you will find it no where in the Scriptures : there you will find a great God throughout, a lesser one no where. If He were little, how would he be God ? If man is not greater or lesser, but the nature is one, and if that which is not of this one nature is not man, how can there be a lesser or a greater God, who is not of that same nature ? He who is little is not God, for He is every where called great in the Scriptures; Great is the Lord, and greatly to bePs.A8,i, praised, says David. This is said of the Son also, for he always calls Him Lord; and again, Thou art great, and Ps. 86 doest wondrous things. Thou art God alone. And again, ^^* Great is our Lord, and great is His power ^ and of His great- Ps. 164, ness there is no end. But this, says Arius, is spoken of the Father, but the Son is less^ Thou sayest so, but the Scripture the contrary :' ^/«^er. as of the Father, so it speaks of the Son ; for listen to Paul, saying, Lj)oking for that blessed hope, and the glorious xit. 2 appearing of the great God. But can he^ have said ap-j^; pearing of the Father ? Nay, that he may the more con- ^^ ,1,« vince you, he has added to the appearing of the great God. ^ E. V. robbery, but St. Chrys. takes it otherwise, and it seems rightly. 64 Our Lord's riyht implied in ' not seizing.^ Phil. Is it then not said of the Father? By no means. For the ^^' ^"^' sequel suffers it not which says, The appearing of the great Middle- God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ. See, the Son is great ton on also, llow then speakest thou of small and great? Listen to the Prophet too, calling him The Messenger ' of Is&.Qfi.O^eat counsel. The Messenger of great counsel, is He not great Himself? Tlie mighty God, is He small and not great ? What mean then these shameless and bold men when they say, that being small He is a God ? I repeat ofttimes what they say, that ye may the more avoid them. He being a lesser God seized not for Himself to be like the greater God ! Tell me now, (but think not that these words are mine,) if He were, as they say, lesser, and far inferior to the Father in power, how could He possibly seize to Himself equality with God ? For an inferior nature could not seize for him- self admission into a greater ; for example, a man could not seize on being equal to an angel in nature; a horse could not, though he wished it, seize on being equal to a man in nature. But besides all that, I will say this too. What does Paul wish to establish by this example ? You will surely say, to lead the Philippians to humility. To what purpose then would he have brought forward this example ? For no one who would exhort to humility speaks thus ; " Be thou humble, and think less of thyself than of thine equals in honour, for such an one who is a slave has not risen against his master. Do thou imitate him." This, any one would say, is not humility, but arrogance". Learn ye what humility is, ye who have a devilish pride! What then is humility? To be lowly minded. And he is lowly minded who humbles himself, not he who is lowly by necessity To explain what I say; and do ye attend; he who is lowly minded, when he has it in his power to be high minded, is humble, but he who is so because he is not able to be high minded, is no longer humble. For instance, If a King subjects himself to his own iiru^xv officer, he is humble, for he descends from his high estate; but if an officer does so, he is not lowly minded ; for how ? he has not humbled himself from any high estate. It is not ' See also Jer. 32, 18. some copies ■" a^oto'ias. He means either that of LXX omit the latter part of Is. 9, calling it humility were arrogance, or C. probably because it was not under- ' this is not a question of humility bnt stood. of presumption.' Xo praise /or not claiming uhat in not d>ie. 05 possible to show " luiinble-inindediiess except it be in our power Hom. to do otherwise, for if it is incimibent upon us to be humble ^^' even against our will, this is no excellency which comes from the spirit or the will, but is from necessity. This virtue is called hnnible-ndndedness ", because it is the humbling ''^a»'£"'»- of the ramd ^ , ^^^^^^, If he who has it not in his power to snatch at another's i"'*'^"' goods, continues in the possession of his own ; should we praise him, tliink you, for his justice ? I trov/ not, and why? The praise of free choice is taken away by the necessity. If he, who has it not in his power to usurp and be a king, remains a private citizen, should we praise him for his quietness ? I trow not. The same rule applies here. For praise, O ye senseless ones, is not given for abstaining from these things, but for the performance of good deeds; the former is free indeed from blame, but partakes not yet of praise, the latter is worthy of commendation. Observe ac- cordingly that Christ gives praise for this, when He says, Come, ye blessed of My FatJier, inherit f/ie kingdom prepared ^^^^^ for you from, the foundation of the world. For I was an 35.' hiwgred, and ye gave Ale meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink. He did not say, Because ye have not been covetous, because ye have not robbed ; these are slight things; but because ye saw Me an hungred, and fed Me. Who ever praised either his friends or his enemies in this sort } No one ever praised even Paul : Why say Paul ? no one ever praised even a common man, as thou wouldest praise Christ, because he did not take that rule which was not his due. To admire for such things as this, is to give evidence of much evil. And why ? because with evil men this is a matter of praise, as of one that stealeth, if he steal Eph. no more. It is otherwise among good men; for a man is^'^^- not to be praised because he has not seized on that rule and that honour which was not his due. What folly is this? Again, (attend, I entreat you, for the reasoning is long,) Who would ever exhort to humility from such grounds as this ? Examples ought to be much greater than the subject, to which we are exhorting, no one will be moved by what is foreign to the subject. For instance, when Christ would lead " The aorist implies an net of humility. F GG Example must he from a stronger rase. Phil, us to do t'oocl to our enemies, He sets before us a great 2 5-8 - hut, being ^ in the form of God? This is the same as the ^i'^^^.. saying, I am that I am. Form implies that there is no dif-Ai'^" ference so far as it is form. It is not possible that things of 14.' ' one substance should have the form of another, as no man has the form of an Angel, neither has a beast the form of a man. How then should the Son ? Now in our own case, since we men are of a compound nature, form pertains to the body, but in the case of a simple and uncompounded nature it is altogether of the substance. But if thou contendest that he speaks not of the Father, because the word is used without the article, I say that in many places this is meant, though the word be used without the article. Why say I, in many places .? for in this very place he says, He thought it not robbery to be equal with God, using the word without the article, though speaking of God the Father. 1 would add our own explanation, but I fear that I shall overwhelm your minds. Meanwhile remember what has been said for their refutation; meanwhile let us root out the f2 0'8 Our safety in God, Who cants away scorners. Phil, thorns, and then will we scatter the good seed after that the 2 5 8 . ' thorns have been rooted out, and a little rest has been given to the land ; that when rid of all the evil thence contracted, it may receive the divine seed with full virtue. MoitAL. Let us give thanlis to God for what has been spoken ; let us intreat Him to grant us the guarding and safe keeping thereof, that both we and ye may rejoice, and the heretics may be put to shame. Let us beseech Him to open our mouth for what follows, that we may with the same earnest- ness lay down what appertains to ourselves. Let us suppli- cate Him to vouchsafe us a life worthy of the faith, that we may live to His glory, and that His name may not be blas- I.«..")2,5. phemed through us. For, woe unto you, it is written, through n htI^ whom the name of God is blasphemed. If we, when we have a son, (and what is there more our own than a son,) if we when we have a son, and ai"e blasphemed through him, if we turn away from him, and will not receive him ; how much more will God, when He has ungrateful servants who blaspheme and insult Him, turn away from them and hate them ? And who will take up him whom God hates and ' e'llai- turns away from, but the devil and his angels^ ? And whom- (lons. soever his angels take, what hope of salvation is left for him.? John 10 As long as we are in the hand of God, no one is able to ^*^- pluck us out, for that hand is strong; but when we fall away from that hand and that help, then are we lost, then are we exposed, ready to be snatched away, to be trodden down of Ps.62,3. all, like as a bonding wall, and a tottering fence, for when the wall is weak, it is easy to be attacked of all. Think not this which I am about to say refers to Jerusalem alone, but to all Tsa. 5, men. And what was spoken of Jerusalem ? Now will I LXX. ^^'^9 ^^ ^^'y u:ell-belored a song touching His vineyard. My ' E. V. well -beloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill, and /^ ''^' made a fence about it, and surrounded it with a dike, and planted it with the vine of Sorech, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also dug a winepress in it, and I looked that it should bri)ig forth grapes, and it brought forth wild - Gr. grapes^. And now, O men ofJudah and inhabitants of Jeru- thorns. saleni, judge betueen Me and My vineyard. JMiat should have been done to My vineyard, that I have not done to it ? Where- fore, when I looked that if shonld bring forth grapes, brought Satan suffered to waste the unfruitful vineyard. 69 it forth wild grapes? Now therefore T will tell you what I Hom. ivill do to My vineyard: I will take a nay the hedge thereof '— and it shall he for a prey, and I will break down the wall thereof, and it shall be troddc?i down. And I will leave My vineyard, it shall not he pruned or digged, hut thorns shall come up ujjou it, as upon a desert land. Iicill also command tl^e clouds, that they rai}i no rain upon it. For the vineyard, of the Lord, of Hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of.Judah His pleasant plant. I looked that it should do judgment, but it did iniquity, and a cry instead ofrighteousness. This is spoken also of every soul. For when God who loveth man hath done all that is needful, and man then bringeth forth thorns instead of grapes, He will take away the fence, and break down the v/all, and we shall be for a prey. For hear what another prophet speaks in his lamentations: IVhy hast thou then broken Vs. 80, down her hedges., so that all they which pass by the way do pluck her ? The hoar out of the wood doth waste it, and the iiild beast of the field^ doiJt devour it. In the former ' a««"«>- place He speaks of the Mede and Babylonian, here nought "''^"^* is said of them, but the boar, and the solitary beast is the devil and all his host. He calls him solitary beast, willing to set before us his ferocity and impurity. When the Scrip- ture would shew us his rapacity, it saith. As a roaring lion v. i Vet. Jie walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: when his^'^' poisonous, his deadly, his destructive nature, it calleth him a snake, and a scorpion ; Tread, saith He, on serpents andv. Luke scorpions, and over all the jjoiver of the enemy : when it would ' ' represent his strength as well as his venom, it calleth him a dragon ; as when it says, That leviathan ichom thou hast made Ps. 104, to play therein. Scripture every uhere calleth him a dragon, p^' ^^ and a crooked serpent, and an adder; he is a beast of many 13. 14. folds, and varied in his devices, and his strength is great, he 51" 9.' ' moves all things, he disturbs all things, he turns all things up^^^'^- and down. But fear not, neither be afraid; watch only, and he 2. ' ' will be as a sparrow; /'re'fi'r/, saith He,o;i serjjents andscorpnons. If we will, He causes him to be trodden down under our feet. See now what scorn is it, yea, what misery, to see (5) him standing over our heads, who has been given to us to tread down. And whence is this? it is of ourselves. If we choose, he becomes great ; and if we choose, he becomes 70 Salnn could not enter into Judas tili permitted. Phil, of small power. If wo take liecd to ourselves, and take up -^ — ^our stand with Him who is our King, he draws himself in, and will be no better than a little child in his warfare against us. Whensoever ws stand apart from Him, he puffeth him- self up greatly, he uttereth terrible sounds, he grindeth his teeth, because he finds us without our greatest help. For he will not approach to us, except God permit him ; for if he dared not to enter into the herd of swine, except by God's permission, how much less into men's souls. But God does permit him, either to chasten, or to punish us, or to make us more approved, as in the case of Job. Seest thou that he came not to him, neither dared to be near him, but trembled and quaked .? Why speak I of Job ? When he leaped upon Judas, he dared nof to seize on him wholly, and to enter into him, until that Christ had severed him from the sacred band. He attacked him indeed from without, but he dared not enter in, but when he saw him cut off from that holy flock, he leaped upon him with more than wolfish vehemence, and left him not till he had slain him with a double death. These things were written for our admonition. What gain have we from knowing that one of the twelve was a traitor } what profit? what advantage.? Much. For, when we know whence it was that he arrived at this deadly counsel, we shall be on our guard from it, that we too suffer not the like. Whence came he to this } From the love of money. He was a thief. So drunken was he with this love, that he betrayed the Lord of the world for thirty pieces of silver. What can be worse than this madness.? Him to whom nothing is equivalent, isa. 40, nothing is equal, be/ore whom the nations are as nothing. Him did he betray for thirty pieces of silver, A grievous tyrant indeed is the love of gold, and terrible in putting the soul beside itself. A man is not so beside himself through drunkenness'' as through love of gold, not so much from mad- ness and insanity as from love of gold. For tell me, why didst thou betray Him } He called thee, when a man unmarked and unknown. He made thee one of the twelve. He gave thee a share in His teaching. He pro- mised thee ten thousand good things. He caused thee to work r B. had not power. Mor. Tr. p. 231. 1 See on Rom. 7, 11. Horn. xiii. Judas' treason bred from the one sin of avarice. 71 wonders, thou wert sharer of the same table, the same Hom. jom'neys, the same company, the same intercom'se, as the — - rest. And were not these things sufficient to restrain thee ? For what reason didst thou betray Him ? Wliat hadst thou to charge Him with, O wicked one? Rather, what good didst thou not receive at His hands? He knew thy mind, and ceased not to do His part. He often said. One of you shall Matt. betray 3Ie. He often marked thee, and yet spared thee, and ' ^ * though He knew thee to be such an one, yet cast thee not out of the band. He still bore with thee, He still honoured thee, and loved thee, as a true disciple, and as one of the twelve, and last of all, (oh, for thy vileness!) He took a towel, and with His own unsullied hands He washed thy polluted feet, and even this did not keep thee back. Thou didst steal the things of the poor, and that thou mightest not go on to greater sin. He bore this too. But He persuaded thee not. Hadst thou been a beast, or a stone, shouldest thou not have been changed by these kindnesses towards thee, by these won- ders, by this teaching ? Though thou wast thus brutalized, yet still He called thee, and by wondrous works. He drew thee, that wast more senseless than a stone, to Himself. Yet for none of these things didst thou become better. Ye wonder perhaps at such folly of the traitor; dread there- fore that which wounded him. He became such from avarice, from the love of money. Cut out this passion, for to these diseases does it give birth ; it makes us impious, and causes '' us to be ignorant of God, though we have received ten thousand benefits at His hands. Cut it out, I entreat you, it is no common disease, it knoweth how to give birth to a thousand destructive deaths. We have seen his tragedy'.' ^aV«. Let us fear lest we too fall into the same snares. For this was it written, that we too should not suffer the same things. Hence did all the Evangelists relate it, that they might restrain us. Flee then far from it. Covetousness consisteth not alone in the love of much money, but in loving money at all. It is grievous avarice to desire more than we need. Was it talents of gold that persuaded the traitor ? Nay, but thirty pieces of silver. He betrayed his Lord for thirty ' Krx^ufKiuti^ti, which when used diate than ' prepares.' without a preposition is more imme- 72 C/oisl's covimands tonlnidicied hij Maiinuon. Phil, ijieces of silver! Do ye not remember what I said before, 2 5-8. . — ^ that covetousness is not shewn in receiving nuicli, but rather in receiving little things ? See how great a crime he conj- niitted for a little gold, rather not for gold, but for pieces of silver. It cannot, it cannot be that an avaricious man should ever see the face of Christ! This is one of the things which are impossible. It is the root of evils, and if he that possesses one evil thing, falls from that glory, where shall he stand wlu) bears with him the root, lie who is the slave of money, cannot be a true servant of Christ. Christ Himself hath Matt. 6, declared that the thing is impossible. Ye cfuuiot, He says, serve God and Mammon , and, No man can serve ttro masters, for they lay upon us contrary orders. Christ says, " Spare the poor;" Mammon says, " Take from them even that they have." Christ says, " Empty thyself of what thou hast ;" Mammon says, " Take also what they have '." Seest thou (C) the opposition, seest thou the strife ? Would ye that I shew how a man cannot easily obey both, but must despise one ? Nay, does it need proof? How so .'' Do we not see in very deed, that Christ is despised, and Mammon honoured ? Perceive ye not how that the very words are painful } How ' much more then the thing itself? But it does not appear so painful in reality, because we are possessed with the disease. Now if the soul be but a little cleansed of the disease, as long as it remains here, it can judge right; but when it departs elsewhere, and is seized by the fever, and is engaged in the pleasure of the thing itself, it hath not its perception Luke clear, it hath not its tribunal uncorrupt. Christ says, Wlio- ^'^y'^'^- .soever he he of you iJuil /orsaketli not all that he halh^he cannot he Mij discijde; Mannnon says, " Take the bread from Is. 58 7. the hungry." Christ says, IVJien thou seest the naked, cover Ih.58, 7. him; the other says, " Stri]) the naked." Christ says, Thou shaft not hide tJnjself from thine own Jlesh, and those of 'Seel thine own house'; Mannnon says'-^, " Thou slialt not pity 8 'an/' t^O'^o ^'^ thine own seed ; though thou seest thy mother or Gal. 6, thy father in want, despise them." Why say I fother or 2 See mother ? " Thine own soul," he says, " destroy it also." Mark p^^^ j^g \^ obeyed ! Alas ! that he, who commands us cruel, ' So Ben. Sav. ' what thou hast not.' ' B. ' And if the word, how.' Hard say unja needful for Correction. 73 and mad, and brutal tliinf^s, is listened to rather than He who Hom. VI. bids us gentle and healthful things ! For this is hell ap- pointed; for this, fire; for this, that river of fire; for this, the worm that dieth not. I know that many hear me say these things with pain, and indeed it is not without pain I say them. Ikit why need 1 say these things 1 I could wish the things concerning the kingdom to be ever my discourse, of the rest ^ of the ' ^- en- I- , n -i 1 <-, • joyment waters oi rest, ot the green pastures, as the Scn])ture says. He maketli me to lie donni in green pastures, He leadelh me P*- ^3, beside the still ttaters, there He maketh me to dwell. 1 could wish to speak of the place, whence sorrow and wo?<;v?- Is-5ij ing slialljlee away. I could wish to discourse of the pleasures of being with Christ, though they pass all expression and all understand- ing. Yet would I speak of these things according to my power. But what shall I do? it is not possible to speak concerning a kingdom" to one that is diseased and in fever; then we must needs speak of health. It is not possible to speak of honour to one that is brought to trial, for at that time his desire is that he be freed from judgment, and penalty, and punishment. If this be not effected, how shall the other be } It is for this cause that I am continually speaking of these things, that we may the sooner pass over to those other. For this cause does God threaten hell, that none may fall into hell, that we all may obtain the kingdom ; for this cause we too make mention continually of hell, that we may thrust you onward towards the kingdom, that when we ha\'e softened your minds by fear, we may bring you to act worthily of the kingdom. Be not then displeased at the heaviness of our words, for the heaviness of these words lightens our souls from sin \ Iron is heavy, and the hammer is heavy, but it forms vessels fit for use, both of gold and silver, and straightens things which arc crooked ; and if it were not heavy, it would have no_power to straighten the distorted substance. Thus too our heavy speech has power to bring the soul into its proper tone. Let us not then flee from heaviness of speech, nor the strokes it gives; the stroke " He means an earthly kingdom in " Al. ' is the very thing that gives the firat instaiico. occasion to onr souls to fly from sins.' 74 Sin no a vnisl be pained lo save Uitnn from Hell. Phil, is iiot given tliat it may break in jjicces or tear the soul, but ' ' ' to straighten il. We know how we strike, how by the grace of God we inflict the stroke, so as not to crush the vessel, but to polish it, to render it straight, and meet for the Master's use, lo offer it glittering in soundness, and skilfully wrought against that Day of the river of fire, to offer it having no need of that burning pile. For if we expose not ourselves to fire here, we must needs be burned there, it 1 Cor. cannot be otherwise; For the daii of the Lord is revealed hu 3 13. . . because fit'c- Better is it that ye be burned for a little space by our it shall words, than for ever in that flame. That this will indeed be he. , so, is plain, and I have ofttimes given you reasons'" which cannot be gainsaid. We ought truly to be persuaded from the Scriptures alone, but forasmuch as some are contentious, we have brought forward many arguments from reason. Nothing hinders that I now mention them, and what were they ? God is just. We all acknowledge this, both Greeks and Jews, and Heretics, and Christians. But many sinners have had their departure without punishment, many righteous men have had their departure after suffering ten thousand grievous things. If then God be just, where will He reward their good to the one, and their punishment to the other, if there be no hell, if there be no resurrection } This reason then do ye constantly repeat' to them and to yourselves, and it will not suffer you to disbelieve the resurrection, and whoso dis- believes not the resurrection will take care to live with all heed so as to obtain eternal happiness, which God grant that we all do, by the grace and lo^•ingkindness of our Lord Jesus Christ, with Whom, &c. y See on Roin. 16, 16. Horn. xxxi. ' Ku-niro^m, sing as a charm. Moral. Tr. p. 494. HOMILY VII. Phil. ii. 5—11. Let this mind be in you which ivas also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God; but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of inen: and being found in fashion as a man. He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a Name which is above every name : that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth ; and that every tongue shoidd confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 1 HAVE said all that pertains to the heretics. It is befitting (1) that I now speak of what is our own. They say, that the words, He thought it not robbery, are of wrongfully seizing \ We have proved, that this is altogether vapid and imperti- nent, for no man would exhort another to humility on such grounds, nor in this sort does he praise God, or even man. What is it then, beloved ? Give heed to what I now say. Since many men think, that, when they are lowly, they are deprived of their proper right, and debased. Paul, to take away this fear, and to shew that we must not be affected thus, says concerning God, that God, tlie only-begotten Son of the Father, Who was in the form of God, Who was no whit a Meaning, ' He thought it not a of ' a gain.' Our language does not robbery for Himself to commit.* The seem capable of expressing it exactly, phrase being always used in the sense 76 Usurpers dare not lay tlteir r an inconsistency ^; and M'herefore do you not first of all solve this difficulty, for as you think that this conti'adicts us, so do we say that the other contradicts you. lie says not, " as the form of a servant," nor " in the likeness of the form of a servant," nor " in the fashion of the form of a servant," but He took ihe form of a servant. AVhat then is this.»^ for there is a contradiction. There is no contradiction. God forbid ! it is a cold and ridiculous argument of theirs. He took, say they, the form of a servant, when He girded Himself with a towel, and washed the feet of His disciples. Is this the form of a servant } Nay, this is not the form, but the work of a servant. It is one thing to take ^ the work of a sen^ant, and another to take the form of servant. Why did he not say, He did the work of a servant, which were clearer ? For no where in Scripture is form put for " work," for the differ- ence is great ; the one is the result of nature, the other of action. In common speaking too we never use " form" for " work." Besides, according to them. He did not even perform the work of a servant, neither girded Himself For if all was a mere shadow, there was no reality. If He had not real hands, how did He wash their feet .'' If He had not real loins, how did He gird Himself with a towel? and what Johni3,kind of garments did He take.? for Scripture says, He took ^^" his garments. As then not even the work is found to have really taken place, but it was all a deception, so neither did He wash the feet of His disciples. For if that incorporeal nature was not made manifest, it ^ was not in a body. Who then washed the disciples' feet .'' » Old Lat. ' nature.' ' opus servi esse.' f This seems to be understood, and S or He. The sense is difficult, the iiiia.1 to mean ' n thinj?,' Imt Lat. Old Lat. ' For if He was an incor- Our Lord ivherein like, wherein luilike to men. 79 Again, what shall we say to contradict Paul of Samosata ? Hom. what did he affirm ? The very same. But it is no emptying of 1- Himself, that one of human nature, and a mere man, should wash his fellow-servants. For what we said against the Arians, we must repeat against these too, for they differ not from one another, save by a little space of time ; both the one and the other affirm the Son of God to be a creature. What then shall we say to them ? If He being a man washed man, He emptied not. He humbled not Himself. If He being a man seized not on being equal with God, He is not deserving of praise. That God should become man, is great, unspeakable, inexpressible humility; but what humility is there in that one, who was a man, should do the works of men .' And where is the work of God ever called ilie form of God ? for if He were a mere man, and was called the form of God by reason of His works, why do we not say the same of Peter, for he wrought greater deeds than Christ Himself? Why say you not of Paul, that he had the form of God? Why did not Paul give an example of himself, for he wrought very many servile works, and refused none. He says, For we j^reach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, 2 Cor. and ourselves ijour servants for Jesus'" sake. These are absurdities and trifles ! Scripture says, He emptied LLimself. How did He empty Himself? tell me. What was His emptying ? what His humiliation ? was it because He wrought wonders ? But this Paul and Peter did, so that this was not peculiar to the Son. What means this which he says. Being made in the likeness of men ? He had many things belonging to us, and many He had not ; for instance, He was not born of wedlock. He did no sin. These things had He which no man has. He was not what He seemed only, but He was God also; He seemed to be a man, but He was not like the mass of men, though He were like them in flesh. He means then, that He was not a mere man. Where- fore he says, in the likeness of men. For we indeed are soul and body, but Fie was God, and soul and body, wherefore he says, in the likeness. For lest when you hear that He emptied Himself, you should think that some change, and poreal being, He was not seen, He was first ' not,' and has ' and was not,' but not in a body.' Ben. Lat. omits the without Greek authority. 4,5. 80 Union of Xdlnres iritJiont ('hiitujo or Coi)ftisio)i. Phil, degeneracy, and loss is lieve ; lie says, whilst lie remained ~^-^'- wliat lie was, lie took that which He was not, and being John i,niade flesh He remained God, in that He was the Word. In this then He was like man, and for this cause Paul says, and in fashion, not to say that His nature degenerated, or that any confusion was here, but He became man in fashion''. For when he had said that He took the form of a servant, he made bold' to say this also, seeing that the first would silence all objectors ; since when he says, In the likeness of sinful flesh, he says not that He had not flesh, but that that flesh sinned not, but was like to sinful flesh. Like in what } in nature, not in sin, therefore was His like a sinful soul. As then in the former case he speaks of simi- larity, because He was not equal in every thing, as His not being born of wedlock. His being without sin. His being not a mere man, he well said as a man, for He was not one of the many, but as one of the many. The Word who was God did not degenerate into man, nor was His substance changed, but he appeared as a man ; not to delude us with a phantom, but to instruct us in humility. When therefore ho says, as a man, this is what he means, since He calls Him a 1 Tim. Man elsewhere also, when he says, there is one God, and ' ' one 3Iediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus. Thus much against these heretics. I must now speak against such as deny that He took a souP; if the form of God is " perfect God," then {\\e form of a servant is " a perfect servant." Again our argument turns against the Arians. Bei7ig in the form of God, it is written, lie thought it not robbery to be equal u-ith God. We do not find " He became," " He took," concerning His divinity, but He emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; concerning his humanity we find He took, He became. He became the latter. He took the latter. He was the former. Let us not then confound nor divide the natures. There is one God, there is one Christ, the Son of God ; when I say " One," I mean a union, not a confusion, the one Nature did not degenerate into the other, but was united with it. *i Ben. reads fp(^riiiart as one word. as he bad used so strong an expression ' i. e. without fear of giving coun- of reality; or as p. 81. tenaiu'c to the Docet.'P, or Marcionites, ^ The Apollinarian heresy. Our Lord's obedience a token of His Sons/rip. 81 He humbled Himself, being made obedient unto death, Hom. even the death of the cross. See, says one, He became '— obedient, not being^equal to Him Whom He obeyed. O ye obstinate ones and unwise ! This doth not at all lower Him. For we too ofttimes become obedient to our friends, yet this makes us not inferior. He became obedient willingly as a Son to His Father; He fell not thus into a servile state, but by this very act above all others guarded His wondrous Sonship, by thus greatly honouring the Father. He honoured the Father, not that thou shouldest dishonour Him, but that thou shouldest the rather admire Him, and learn from this act, that He is a true Son, in honouring His Father more than all besides. No one hath thus honoured God. As was His height, such was the correspondent humiliation which He underwent. As He is greater than all, and no one is equal to Him, so in honouring His Father, He surpassed all, not by necessity, nor unwillingly. This too is part of His excellence, yea, words fail me. Truly it is a great and unspeakable thing, that He became a servant; that He under- went death, is far greater; but there is something still greater, and more strange; what is this? All deaths are not alike; His death seemed to be the most ignominious of all, to be full of shame, to be accur.sed; for it is written. Cursed /,sDeut. every one that hangetJi on a tree. For this cause the JcwSq^^j g* eagerly desired to slay Him in this manner, to make Him a 13. reproach, that if no one fell away from Him by reason of His death, yet they might from the manner of His death. For this cause two robbers were crucified with Him, and He in the midst, that He might share their ill repute, and that the Scripture might be fulfilled, And he tvas numbered with the is. 53, transgressors. Yet so much the more doth truth shine forth, * so much the more doth it become bright; for when His enemies plotted such things against His glory, and it yet shines forth, the wonder appeareth still greater. It was not by slaying Him simply, but by slaying Him in such sort did they think to make Him abominable, to prove Him more abominable than all men, but they availed nothing. And both the robbers also were such impious ones, (for it was afterward that the one repented,) that, even when on the cross, they reviled Him ; neither the consciousness of G 82 Christ humbled and exalted as Man. Phil, their own sins, nor iheir present punishment, nor their suffer- ' " '■ ing the same things, restrained their madness. Wherefore the one spake to the other, and silenced him by saying, Luke Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same con- ' ' demnation ? So great was their wickedness. Yet hence He received no hurt to His own glory, wherefore it is written, God hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a Name which is above every name. When the blessed Paul hath made mention of the flesh, he fearlessly speaks of all His humiliation. For until he had mentioned that He took the form of a ser- vant, and while he was speaking of His Divinity, behold how loftily he doth it, (loftily, I say, according to his power; for he speaks not according to His worthiness, seeing that he is not able.) Being in the form of God, He thought it not robbery to be equal with God. But when he had said, that He became Man, henceforth he discourseth of His low estate, being confident that the mention of His low estate would not harm His Divinity, since His flesh admitted this. Ver. 9 — 11. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Hiiii a Name which is above every name : that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth ; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. We well say against the heretics. If this is spoken of one who was not incarnate, if of God the Word, how did He highly exalt Him ? Was it' as if He gave Him something more than He had before? He would then have been made imperfect in this point, and would have been made perfect for our sakes. For if He had not done good deeds to us. He would not have obtained that honour ! And hath given Him a Name. See, He had not even a name, as they say ! But how, if He received it as His due, is He found here" to have received it by grace, and as a gift.'* And that a Name which is above every name: and of what kind let us see is that Name.'* that at the Name of Jesus, saith He, every knee should bow. They (the heretics) explain name by glory. This glory then is above all glory, and this glory is in short that all worship Him ! But ye hold yourselves far off" from the greatness of God, who think that 1 B. andfor this reason exalt Him, as if. ■" B, adds, here. Glory of Christ is the glory of the Father. 83 ye know God, as He knoweth Himself, and from this it is Hom. "^ VII. plain, how far off ye are from right thoughts of God. And this is plain from hence. Is this ', tell me, glory ? Therefore ' i. e.his before men were created, before angels or before arch- ^°^^ '^' angels, He was not in glory. If this be the glory which is above every glory, (for this is the meaning of above every name,) though He were in glory before, yet was He in glory inferior to this. It was for this then that He made the things that are, that He might be raised to glory, not fi'om His own goodness, but because He required glory from us ! See ye not their folly ? see ye not their impiety .'' Now if they had said this of Him that was incarnate, there had been reason, for God the Word" allows that this be said of His flesh. It touches not His divine nature, but has to do altogether with the dispensation. But if this be explained of His divinity, no pardon remains for such impiety. So that" when we say God made Man immortal ; though I speak of man as a whole ^, I understand what I say. What means 2 «..j) ^,; of things in heaven, and things in the earthy and things'*'"'- under the earth ? It means the whole world, and angels, and archangels, and men, and devils; or that both the just and sinners. And every tongue, should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. That is, that all should say so ; and this is glory to tlie Father. Seest thou how wherever the Son is glorified, the Father is also glorified? Thus too when the Son is dishonoured, the Father is dishonoured also. If this be so with us, where the difference is great between fathers and sons, much more in respect of God, where there is no difference, doth honour and dishonour p pass on to Him. If the world be subjected to the Son, this is glory to the Father. And so when we say that He is perfect, want- ing nothing, and not inferior to the Father, this is glory to the Father. This is a great proof of His power, and goodness, and wisdom, that He begat such a Son, no whit inferior, neither in goodness nor wisdom. When I say that He is wise as the Father, and no whit inferior, this is a proof of the great wisdom of the Father ; when I say that He is n So B. Edd. The Word of God. P B. insult. ° SitTt, read perhaps iirvi^, ' as.' G 2 84 Living to God' a (flonj. Satan /ell by pride. Phil, powerful as the Father, this is a proof of the Father's "^^ — '- power. When I say that lie is good as the Father, this is the gi'eatest evidence of His goodness, that He begat such (a Son), in no whit less or inferior to Himself. When I say that He begat Him not inferior in substance but equal, and not of another substance, in this I again wonder at God, His power, and goodness, and wisdom, that He hath manifested to us Another, of Himself, such as Him- self, except in His not being the Father. Thus whatsoever great things I say of the Son, ])ass on to the Father. Now if this small and light matter (for it is but a light thing to God's glory that the world should worship Him) is to the glory of God, how much more so are all those other things.? Moral. Let US then believe to His glory, let us live to His glory, for one is no use without the other ; when we glorify Him rightly, but live not rightly, then do we especially insult Him, because we are enrolled under Him as a Master and Teacher, and yet despise Him, and stand in no dread of His fearful judgment seat. It is no wonder that the heathen live impurely. This merits not such condemnation. But that Christians, who partake in such great mysteries, who enjoy so great glory, that they should live thus impurely, this is worst of all, and unbearable. For consider ^, He was obedient to the uttermost, wherefore He received the honour which is on high. He became a servant, wherefore He is Lord of all, both of Angels, and of all other. Let us too not suppose then that we descend from what is our due, when we humble ourselves. For thus in all likelihood may we be more highly exalted; then do we especially become admirable. For that the lofty man is really low, and that the lowly man is exalted, the sentence of Christ sufficiently declares. Let us however examine the matter itself. What is it to be humbled } Is it not to be blamed, to be accused, and calum- niated .? What is it to be exalted ? Is it not to be honoured, to be pi-aised, to be glorified } Well. Let us see how the matter is. Satan was an angel, he exalted himself. What then? was he not humbled beyond all other.? has he not the earth as his place .' is he not condenmed and accused by all .? Paul was a man, and humbled himself. What then } is he p So B. Edd, For tell me. St. Paul, David, and oihers, humble, hut exalted. 85 not admired ? is he not praised ? is he not lauded ? is he not Hom. . VII. the friend of Christ? Wrought he not greater things than ■ Christ? did he not ofttimes command the devil as a captive slave ? did he not carry him about as an executioner '^ ? did he not hold him up to scorn ? held he not his head bruised under his feet ? did he not with much boldness beg of God that others too might do the same? Why speak I of this? Absalom exalted himself, David humbled himself; which of the twain was raised up, which became glorious? For what could be a more evident proof of humility than these words which that blessed Prophet spoke ot Shimei, Let him curse, 2 Kings for the Lord hath hidden him'. The Publican humbled ^^' ^^" himself, although his act can hardly be called humility, yet it was in a right minded manner he spake those things which he said. The Pharisee exalted himself, — ^but if it seems good let us dismiss persons, and search into the matter. Let there be two men, both rich, and highly honoured, and elevated by wisdom and power, and other worldly advantages ; then let one of them seek honour from all, let him be angry if he receive it not, let him require more than is due and exalt himself; let the other despise the whole matter, and bear himself unkindly towards no one on this account, and evade honour when offered to him. AVhich then is the greater, he who receives it not and yet seeks it, or he who despises it when given? It is plain that the latter is, and with reason; for it is not possible to obtain glory any other way than by fleeing from glory, for as long as we pursue it, it flies from us, but when we flee from it, it pursues us. If thou wouldest be glorious, do not desire glory. If thou wouldest be lofty, do not make thyself lofty. And further, all honour him who does not grasp at glory, but spurn him who seeks it. For the nature of man somehow or other is fond of contention, and leans to contrary feeling. Let us therefore despise glory, for thus we shall be enabled to become lowly, and still more to become exalted. Exalt not thyself, that thou mayest be exalted by another; he that is exalted by himself is not exalted by others, he who is humbled by himself is not 1 See on 1 Tim. 1, 20. Hom. v. (2) "■ Edd. here insert, 'And if you Tr. p. 44. where he says, that Satan please we will examine the very case seems to have been forced to execute itself.' B. omits this, and Sav. has It judgment. in brackets. 86 Conceit and pride icorse than weakness of mind. Phil, humbled by others. Haughtiness is a great evil, it is better 2,9-11 o o 7 26, 12. 12, 16. to be a fool than haughty; for in the one case, the folly is only a perversion of intellect, but in the other case it is still worse ; for it is folly joined with madness : the fool is an evil to himself; but the haughty man is a plague to others too. This misery comes of senselessness. One cannot be haughty-minded without being a fool ; and he that is brim- ' «T- full of folly is haughty \ Prov. Listen to the Wise Man, who says, Seest tliou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him. Seest thou how it was not without reason I said, that the evil of which I am speaking is worse than that of folly, for it is written. There is more hope of a fool than of him? Where- Kom.^ fore, St. Paul too said. Be not wise in your own conceits. Tell me what description of bodies do we say are in good health, those which are much inflated, and are inwardly full of much air and water, or those which are kept low, and have their surface such as marks restraint .'' It is manifest that we should choose the latter. So too with the soul, that which is puffed up has a worse disease than dropsy, whilst that which is under restraint is freed from all evil. How great then are the good things which lowliness of mind bringeth to us! What wouldest thou have'.'' Forbearance.? freedom from anger ? love to our fellow men .'' soberness ? attentiveness } All these good things spring from lowly- mindedness, and their contraries from haughtiness : the haughty man must needs be insolent, a brawler, wrathful, bitter, sullen, a beast rather than a man. Art thou strong, and proud thereat.'* Thou shouldest rather he humble on this account. Why art thou proud for a thing of nought ? For a lion is bolder than thou, a wild boar is stronger, and thou art not even as a fly in comparison with ihem. Robbers too, and violaters of tombs, and gladiators, and even thine own slaves, and those perchance who are the worst subjects, are stronger than thou. Is this then a fit subject for praise ? Art thou proud of such a matter ? Bury thyself for shame ! But art thou handsome and beautiful .'' This is the boast of crows ! Thou art not fairer than the peacock, as regards either its colour or its plumage ; the bird beats thee in plumage, • B. Have vou not from this? Men proud of things in. which brutes excel them. 87 it far surpasseth thee in its feathers ^ and in its colour. The Hom. ... . . VII swan too is passing fair, and many other birds, with whom if, — ; — '- thou art compared thou wilt see that thou art nought. Often too worthless boys, and unmarried girls, and harlots, and effeminate men have had this boast ; is this then a cause for (6) arrogance? But art thou rich? Whence so.? what hast thou ? Gold, silver, precious stones ! This is the boast of robbers, of man-slayers, of those who work in the mines. That which is the labour of criminals becomes to thee a boast! But dost thou adorn and deck thyself out .'' Well, we may see horses also decked out, and among the Persians camels too, and for men, all such as are about the stage. Art thou then not ashamed to boast thyself of these things, if unreasoning animals, and slaves, and man-slayers, and effeminate, and robbers, violaters of tombs, share with thee ? Dost thou build splendid palaces } and what of this } Many jackdaws dwell in more splendid houses, and have more noble retreats. Dost thou not see how many, who were mad after money, have built houses in fields and desert places, that are retreats for jackdaws ? But art thou proud on account of thy voice ? Thou canst by no means sing more shrilly than the swan or the nightingale. Is it for thy varied knowledge of arts ? But what is wiser than the bee in this; what embroiderer, what painter, what geometrician, can imitate her works } Is it for the fineness of thy apparel ? But here the sjDiders beat thee. Is it for the swiftness of thy feet? Again the first prize is with unreasoning animals, the hare, and the gazelle, and all the beasts' which are not wanting in swiftness of foot. Hast thou travelled much ? Not more than the birds ; their transit is more easily made, they have no need of provisions for the way, nor beasts of burden, for their wings are all-sufficient for them ; this is their vessel, this their beast of burden, this their car, this is even their wind, in short, all that a man can name. But art thou clear sighted ? Not as the gazelle ; not as the eagle. Art thou quick of hearing ? the ass is more so. Of scent? the hound suffers thee not to surpass him. Art thou a good provider ? yet thou art inferior to the ant. Dost thou * irtXtirirai is better with a word beasts that are not left behind by the after it, read perhaps ttrtitif, ' and the birds for swiftness of foot.' 88 Good men only really above brule animals. Phil, trathcr gold ? Yet not as the Indian ants. Art thou proud '- because of thy healtli ? Unreasoning creatures are far better than we both in habit of body, and in independence, for they Matt. 6 fear no poverty. Behold the fowls of the air, for they sow 26- not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. ' And surely,' lie means, ' God has not created the irrational animals superior to ourselves.' Dost thou mark what want of consideration is here ^ Dost thou observe the lack of all investigation .'' Dost thou observe the great advantage which we derive from an investigation of the points t He, whose mind is lifted up above all men, is found to be even lower than the irrational creatures. But let us have pity upon him, and not follow his example ; nor because the limits of our mortal nature are too narrow for his conceit of himself, let us proceed to lower him" to the level of the beasts that are without reason, but let us lift him up from thence, not for his own sake, for he derives no better fate, but that we may set forth the loving-kindness of God, and the honour which He has vouchsafed us. For there are things, 3'es, there are things wherein the irrational animals have no participation with us. And of what sort are these } Piety, and a life based on virtue. Here thou canst never speak of fornicators, nor of effeminate persons, nor of murderers, for from them we have been severed. And what then is this which is found here .? We know God, His Providence we acknow- ledge, and are embued with true philosophy concerning im- mortality. Here let" the irrational animals give place. They cannot contend with us in these points. We live in self- command ''. Here the irrational animals have nothing in common with us. For, while coming behind all of them, we exercise dominion over them; for herein lies the superiority of our dominion, that, while coming behind them, we yet bear rule over them : that thou mightest be instructed that the cause of these things is, not thyself, but God who made thee, and gave thee reason. We set nets and toils for them, we drive them in, and they are at our mercy. Sobriety of mind, a compliant temper, mildness, contempt of money, are prerogatives of our race ; but since thou who art " So B. Edd, it. y cutp^cviuf/.tv. The word may be used " B. om. ' let." of sobriety, cliastity, or moderation. Man\s real excellencies and hopes. 89 one of those blinded by presumption^ hast none of these, Hom. thou doest well in entertaining notions either above the level , of mankind, or beneath the very irrational creatures. Forv««^{v«v. this is the nature of blind presumption and of audacity; it is either unduly elevated, or on the other hand it is equally depressed, never observing a proper proportion. We are equal to Angels in this respect, that we have a Kingdom pledged to us, the choir % unto which Christ is joined. He that is a man may be scourged, yet does he not succumb. A man laughs at death, is a stranger to fear and trembling, he does not covet the larger portion. So that they all who are not like this are beneath the irrational animals. For when in the things of the body thou wouldest have the advantage, but hast no advantage in the things that concern the soul, how art thou aught else than inferior to the irrational animals .? For bring forward one of the vicious and unthinking, of those that are living in excess and to self^. The horse surpasses'^ «»/>■"• him in warlike spirit, the boar in strength, the hare in swift- " "^' ness, the peacock in grace, the swan in fineness of voice, the elephant in size, the eagle in keenness of sight, all birds in wealth. Whence then dost thou derive thy title to rule the irrational creatures ? from reason .? But thou hast it not ? for when thou ceasest to make a due use of it, thou dost on the other hand degenerate into something inferior to them; for when thou possessing reason art more irrational than they^ it had been better hadst thou never from the first become capable of exercising reason. For it is not the same thing after having received dominion to betray the trust, but to let pass the season to receive it. That sovereign, who is below the level of his guards, had better never have had on the puri:)le. And it is the very self-same thing in this case. Knowing then that without virtue we are inferior to the very irrational animals, let us exercise ourselves therein, that we may become men, 3'ea rather Angels, and that we may enjoy the promised blessings, through the grace and lovingkindness of our Lord Jesus Christ, with Whom, &c. * n fiiri X ;^;«g8/a, see Rev. xiv. 4. HOMILY VIII. Phil. ii. 12—16. Wherefore, my helmed, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to ivill and to do of His good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; holding forth the word of life ; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ. (1) The admonitions, which we give, ought to be accompanied with commendations, for thus they become even welcome, when we refer those, whom we admonish, to that measure of zeal which they have themselves exhibited; as Paul, for instance, did here ; and observe with what singular discretion; Wherefore, my beloved, he says; he did not say simply ' be obedient,' not until he had first commended them in these words, as ye have always obeyed; \. e. ' it is not other men, but your own selves, whom I bid you take example bj,' and why, much more in my absence? ' Ye seemed perhaps at that time to be doing every thing out of respect to me, and from a principle of shame, but that is no longer so ; if then ye make it evident that ye now strive more earnestly, it is also made evident that neither then was it done out of considera- tion to me, but for God's sake.' Tell me, what wouldest thou? Fear of God needful. How to learn it. 91 ' not that ye give heed to me, but that ye work out your own Hom. salvation with fear and trembling f for it is impossible for_I£Il one, who lives devoid of fear, to set forth any high or com- manding example ; and he said not merely with fear., but he added, and with trembling, which is an excessive degree of fear, as he was desirous to make them take the better heed. Such fear had Paul: and therefore he said, I fear lest having ICot.9, preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. For if without the aid of fear temporal things can never be achieved, how much less spiritual matters ; for I desire to know, who ever learnt his letters without fear? who ever became a pro- ficient in any art, without fear? But if, when the devil does not lie in the way, where indolence is the only obstacle, so much of fear is necessary merely in order that we may master that indolence which is natural to us ; where there is so fierce a war, so great hindrances, how can we by any possibility be saved without fear? And how may this fear be produced? If we but consider that God is every where present, that He heareth all things, that He seeth all things, not only whatsoever is done and said, but also all that is in the heart, and in the depth of the soul, for He is a Discerner of lite thoughts and intents ofthefieh. 4, ' ' 12 heart, if we so dispose ourselves, we shall not do or say or imagine aught that is evil. For, tell me, if thou hadst to stand constantly near the person of a ruler, wouldest not thou stand there with fear? and how standing in God's presence, dost thou laugh and throw thyself back, and not conceive fear and dread? Let it never be that thou de- spisest His longsuffering; for it is to bring thee to repentance that He is longsuffering ; and when thou doest aufjht, never allow thyself to do it, without being sensible that God is present in all things, for He is present. So then whether eating, or preparing to sleep, or giving way to passion, or robbing another, or whatever thou art about, consider that God is standing by, and thou wilt never be led into laughter, never be inflamed with rage. If this be thy thought con- tinually, thou wilt continually be in fear and trembling, for- asmuch as thou art standing beside the King. The builder, though he be experienced, though he be perfectly master of his art, yet stands withy away', let the voice of lamentation^ cease. Let us thank God '^KCTtrti under all events : let us do all things without murmuring ; let us be cheerful, and let us become pleasing to Him in all things, that we attain the good things to come, by the grace and lovingkindness of our Lord Jesus Christ, with Whom, &c. '' Wixa-^i. See on Stat. Horn. v. (4.) while there is life there is hope. Still Tr. p. 103. note s. Here however he a more thorough feeling of God's mercy, rather means sins that might have been and of our own ignorance, would make committed. He certainly rather strains us better understand the general use of the principle of trying to view things thanksgiving in our funeral service, as they are, seeing that, to us at least. HOMILY IX. Phil. ii. 19, 20, 21. But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, ivhen I know your state. For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's. He had said, that the things which have happened untovhw.i, me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the Gosjjel; ^^' ' so that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the jialace. Again, Yea., and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service Phil. 2, of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. By these ' " words he strengthened them. Perchance they might suspect that his former words wt^re spoken just to comfort them. What then does he? how does he fi-ee them from this sus- picion ? By saying, / will send Timothy shortly unto you, for they desired to hear all things that concerned him. And wherefore said he not, " that ye may know my state," but, " that I may know yours .'"' Because Epaphroditus would have reported his state before the arrival of Timothy. Where- fore further on he says, Yet I supposed it necessary to send^^^-'^y to you Epa2)hroditus, my brother. But he means, I wish to learn of your affairs, for it was likely that he had remained long time with Paul through his bodily weakness. So that it is suitably he says, I wish to knoio your state. See how he refers every thing to Christ, even the mission of Timothy, 102 St. PauVs care io know about the Pftilippians. Phil, saying, / tncst in the Lord Jesus, that is, I have good hope !i .'God will grant me this, that I too may be of good courage, when I know your state. As I refreshed you when ye heard the very things of nie which ye had prayed for, that the Gospel had advanced, that its enemies were put to shame, that the means by which they thought to injure, rather made me rejoice ; thus too do I wish to learn of your affairs, that I may be of good courage when I know your state. Here he shews that they ought to rejoice for his bonds, and to be con- formed to them, for they begat in him great pleasure, for the words, that I too may he of good coinfort, imply that ye be so too. Oh, what longing had he toward Macedonia! he testifies 1 Thess. the same to the Thessalonians, when he says. But we, brethren, ^lfr<>p'(tct-^^^^^9 taken^ from you for a short time, SfC. Here he says, uffSUris I trust to send Timothy that I may know your state, which is a proof of excessive care: for when he could not himself be with them, he sent his discij^les, as he could not endure to remain, even for a little time, in ignorance of their state. For he did not learn all things by revelation of the Spirit, and for this we can see some reason; for if the disciples had believed that it were so, they would have lost all sense of shame % but now from expectation of concealment, they were more easily corrected. In a high degree did he call their attention by saying, that I too may he of good comfort, and rendered them more zealous, so that, when Timothy came he might not find any other state of things, and report it to him. He seems to have acted in like sort in his own person, when he delayed his coming to the Corinthians, that they might repent; where- 2Cor. i,fore he wrote, to spare you I came not as yet to Corinth; for his love was manifested not simply in reporting his own state, but in his desire to learn of theirs, for this is the part of a soul which has a care of others, which takes thought for them, which is always wrestling in spirit for them. At the same time too, he lionours them by sending Timothy. ' What sayest thou.? dost thou send Timothy? and wherefore?' Because I have no one likeminded; that is, » He means, that if they thought he provement, in the hope of standing well knew their exact condition hy revela> in his eyes. Such motives are of course tion, they would lose a motive for im- still apart of our moral education. Timothy likeminded with hii/i. His diisinterestedness. 103 none of those whose care is like mine, none who will natu- Hom. rally ^ care for you. Had he then none likeminded of those • who were with them? Not one; and what means this? None '""'''"* who has yearnings and takes thought for you as I do. No one will lightly choose, he means, to make so long a journey for this purpose. Timothy is the one with me who loves you *". For I might have sent others, but there was none like him. This then is that likemindedness, to love the disciples as the master loves them. Wlto, says he, will naturally'^ care^yvvhen we say that a certain man is poor. Had he willed, they say, he might have been rich, and then tauntingly add, His father, his grandfather, and 1 know not who was so ; but now see what a robe he wears ! But what ? tell me, ought he to go about naked ? You then start nice questionings on these points, but see lest thou thus speakest against thyself. Matt. 7, Listen to that exhortation of Christ, which says, Judge not, that ye he not judged. He might it is true, if he had willed, have led a trader's or a merchant's life, and would surely not have lacked. But he would not. Tell me then, what is he here profited } Does he wear silken robes ? Does he j^roudly clear his way through the forum \vith a troop of followers } Is he borne along on horseback ? Does he build houses, having where to dwell .^ If he act so, I too accuse him, and spare him not, but declare that he is unworthy of the priesthood. For how can he exhort others not to spend all their lime on these superfluities, who cannot advise himself? But if he does wrong, in that he has suffi- cient for support, would you have him lead a vagabond life, and beg ? Wouldest not thou too, his disciple, be put to shame ? For if thy father in the flesh did this, thou wouldest think shame of the thing. Wilt thou not then veil thy head, if thy spiritual father be compelled so to do ? Yea, wouldest Ecclus. thou not rather wish to sink into the earth ? It is written, A ' ' father in dishonour is a reproach to the children. But what? Should he perish with famine .'' This were not like a pious man ; for God willeth it not. But when we speak to them of these things, straightway they philosophize. It is written, say Mat.io, they. Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, neither tuo coats, nor yet staves, whilst these men have three or four garments, and beds well spread. I am forced now to heave a bitter sigh, and, but that it had been indecorous, 1 had wept too ! How so ? Because we are such curious searchers into the motes of others, while we feel not the beams in our own eyes. Tell me, why sayest thou not this to thyself? The answer is. Because the command is laid All bound to moderation. Danger of evil speaking. Ill only on our Teachers. When then Paul says, having food Hom. and raiment, let ns be tlterewitli content, says he this only ^"^* to Teachers ? By no means, but to all men ; and this is clear, q g!™* if we will begin higher, and go through the passage. For when he had said, Godliness uitli contentmoit is great gain, i Tim. and we brought nothing into this norkl, and it is certain we^'^^ can carry nothing out, he then straightway adds. And haui/ig6, 7. food and raiment, let ns be therewith content; bnt theg that q g'™' will he rich, fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish, and hurtful lusts. You see that this is spoken to all; (5) and how is it when he says again. Make not provision, for^om. the flesh to fdfil the lusts thereof, is not this said absolutely ' " to all? and what when he says. Meats for the belly, and /Ae J.,^"'"'^' belly for meats, but God shall destroy both it and them; or what when he says, But she that liveth in pleasure, is dead]. '^*"^" while she liveth, speaking of" widows. Is then this widow a Teacher? Has not he said himself, Suffer not a uoman io\^^^' teach, nor to usurp authority over the man'^ But if a widow, in old age, (and age has need of great attendance,) and a woman's nature too, (for the race of woman's sex, being weak, has need of more refreshment,) if then, when both the age and the nature are a hindrance, he suffers her not to live in luxury, but says that she is dead, (for he did not simply forbid a life of luxury, but said, she who liveth in luxury is dead while she liveth,) and thus hath cut her off, (for she that is dead is cut off,) what indulgence then will any man have, who does those things, for which a woman and an aged one too is punished ? Yet no one gives a thought to these things, no one searches them out, and this I have been compelled to say, not from any wish to free the priests from these charges, but to spare you. They indeed suffer no harm at your hands, even if it is with cause and justice that they are thus charged of being greedy of gain; for, whether ye speak, or whether ye forbear, they must there give an account to the Judge, so that your words hurt them not at all ; but if your words are false besides, they for their part gain by these false accusations, whilst ye hurt yourselves by these means. But it is not so with you; for be the things true, which ye bring against them, or be they false, ye speak ill of them to your hurt. And how 112 TJie Aponiles used ordinary conveniences of life. Phil. SO ? If they bo true, in tliat ye judge your Teachers, and sub- -1 — '- vert order, ye do it to your liurt. For if we must not judge a brother, much less a Teacher. But if they be false, the Mat. 12, punishment and retribution is intolerable; for oi every idle word that men shall speak they shall give account. For your sake then I thus act and labour. But as I said, no one searches out these things, no one busies himself about these things, no one communes with himself on any of these things. Would ye that I should add Lukei4, still more } Whosoever forsaketh not all that he hath, is not Matt 'worthy of Me. What when He says. It is hard for a rich man 10, 37. to enter into the kingdom of heaven ? What when He says M°itt^.' again, Woe unto you that are rich, for ye have received your 19,23. consolation? No one searches this out, no one bears it in Mark . . . . . . 10, 24. mind, no one reasons with himself, but all sit as severe inqui- 2^" ® ' sitors on other men's cases. Yet this is to make themselves sharers in the charges. But listen, that for your own sake I may free the priests from the charges, which ye sa}' lie against them, for the persuasion that they transgress the law of God, inclines you not a little towards evil. Come then, let us Mat.io, examine this matter. Christ said. Provide neither nold nor 9. 10. . . . . silver, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor girdle, nor yet staves. What then ? tell me, did Peter transgress this com- mand } Surely he did so, in having a girdle and a garment, and shoes, for that he had them, listen to the words of the Acts 12, Angel, Gird thyself, and hind on thy sandals. And yet he ^* had no such great need of sandals, for at that season a man may go even unshod; their great use is in the winter, and yet he had them. What shall we say of Paul, when he writes thus 2 Tim. to Timothy. Do thy diligence to come before winter? He 2'Tin) Siv6S him orders too and says, The cloke that I left at Troas 4, 13. with Carpus bring with thee, and the hooks, hut especially the parchments. See he speaks of a cloke, and no one can say that he had not another which he wore, for if he did not wear one at all, it were superfluous to order this one to be brought, and if he could not be without one to wear, it is clear he had a second. Acts 28, What shall we say of his remaining tivo whole years in his '^^- own hired house? Did then this chosen vessel disobey Gal. 2, Christ? this ma.n who said. Nevertheless I live: yrt not J, 20. :/ ' St. Paul provided foi- his proper clotlting. 113 but Christ liveth in me, concerniiie; whom Christ testified, Hom. IX saying, He is a chosen vessel unto Me ? I ought to leave this difficulty with you, without supplying any solution to the 15. ' question. I ought to exact of you this penalty for your negligence in the Scriptures, for this is the origin of all such difficulties. For we know not the Scriptures, we are not trained in the law of God, and so we become sharp inquirers into the faults of others, whilst we take no account of our own. I ought then to have exacted from you this penalty. But what shall I do ? I am a father. Fathers freely give to their sons many things beyond what is fitting : when their fatherly compassion is kindled, on seeing their child with downcast look, and wasted with grief, they feel sharper pangs than he, and rest not until they have removed the ground of his dejection. So be it at least here, be ye at least dejected at not re- ceiving, that ye may receive well. What then shall I say ? They opposed not, God forbid ! but diligently followed the commands of Christ, for those commands were but for a season, and not endunng ; and this I say not from conjecture, but from the divine Scriptures. And how.'* St. Luke relates that Christ said to His disciples, ' When I sent you uithout^vk^- purse, and scrip, and girdle, and shoes, lacked ye any thing'^ ' And they said, Nothing. But for the future provide them.' But tell me, what could he do ? could he have but one coat ? How then? If need was that this be washed, should he because without it, stay at home 1 should he without it go abroad in an unbecoming manner, when need called ? Con- sider what a thing it would have been that Paul, who made the circuit of the world with such great success, should remain at home for want of raiment, and thus hinder his noble work. And what if violent cold had set in, or rain had drenched it, or perhaps frozen in, how could he dry his raiment? must he again remain without it? And what if cold had deprived his body of strength? must he waste away with disease, and be unable to speak ? For hear what he says to Timothy, to prove that they were not furnished with adaman- tine bodies, Use a little wine for thy stomacKs sake, andi Tim. . . . 5 23 thine often infirmities. And again, when he speaks of ' another, / supposed it necessary to send to you your PiiiJ- 2, 25. I 114 Chris fs Ministers why not clothed by miracle. Phil, messenger, and him that ministered to my wants. For indeed ~j-^Ae was sick, nigh unto death; but God had mercy on him, 27. ' and not on him only, but on me also. So that they were subject to every sort of sickness. What then } ir.ust they die ? By no means. For what cause then did Christ at that time give them that command ? To shew His own power, and to prove that in after times He was able to do it, though He did it not. But wherefore did He not do it ? They were Deut° ^"ch more admirable than the Israelites, whose shoes did 29, 6. not wax old, neither their gannents, and that too whilst they were journeying through that desert where the globing rays of the sun strike so hoi, that they consume even stones. Why then did he order it thus ? For thy sake. For since thou wouldest not remain in health, but be full of wounds, He gave you that which might serve for medicine. And this is hence manifest ; for tell rac, could He not Himself have fed them.'' If he gave to thee, who wast at enmity with Him, would He not much more have given to Paul .'' He who gave to the Israelites, those murmurers, those fornicators, those idolaters, would He not much more have given to Peter, who left all for His sake } He who suffered wicked men to possess ought, would He not much more have freely given to John, who for Him forsook his father ? Yet He would not : through your hands he feeds them, that you may be sanctified. And see the excess of His lovingkindness. He chose that His disciples should be in want, that thou mightest be a little refreshed. But you say, if He had freed them from all want, they would have been much more admirable, far more glorious. But then that which is to thee salvation would have been cut off. God willed not then that they should be admirable, but that they should rather be lowered, that thou mightest be saved. He hath suffered them to be less accounted of, that thou mightest be able to be saved. The Teacher who re- ceiveth is not equally reverenced, but he who receives not is chiefly honoured. But then in the latter case the disciple is not benefitted, he is hindered of his fruit. Seest thou the wisdom of God who thus loveth man ? For as He Himself sought not His own glory, nor had respect to Himself, but when He was in glory, chose to be dishonoured for thy sake, IVe should look to others^ good deeds, and our own faults. 115 thus too is it in the case of your Teachers. When He Hom. might have made them highly reverenced, He preferred that — they should be subject to contempt for thy sake, that thou mightest be able to profit, that thou mightest be able to be rich. He is in want of the things of this life, that you may abound in things spiritual. He hath shewn in many ways that He might have made them above all want. But that for thy sake He suffers them to be in want, this too He shews in like sort. Knowing then these things, let us turn om'selves to well doing, not to accusations. Let us not be over curious about the failings of others, but take account of our own ; let us bear in mind the excellencies of other men, while we reckon up our own faults, for thus shall we be well- pleasing to God. For he who looks at the faults of others, and at his own excellencies, is injured in two ways ; by the latter he is carried up to arrogance, through the former he falls into listlessness. For when he perceives that such an one hath sinned, very easily will he sin himself; when he perceives that he hath in ought excelled, very easily be- cometh he arrogant. He who consigns to oblivion his own excellencies, and looks at his failings only, whilst he is a curious enquirer of the excellencies, not the sins, of others, is profited in many ways. And how ? I will tell you. When he sees that such an one hath done excellently, he is raised to emulate the same ; when he sees that he himself hath sinned, he is rendered humble and modest. If we act thus, if we thus regulate ourselves, we shall be able to obtain the good things which are promised, through the grace and lovingkindness of our Lord Jesus Christ, with Whom, &c. 1 2 HOMILY X. Phil. iii. 1—3. Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but /or you it is safe. Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Dejection and care, whenever they strain the soul beyond due measure, bereave it of its native force. And therefore Paul raises up the Philippians, who were in great despondency, and they were in despondency because they did not know how matters were with Paul; they were in despondency, because they thought that it was already over with him, because of the preaching, because of Epaphroditus. It is in giving them assurance on all these points that he introduces the words, Finally, my brethren^ rejoice. 'You no longer have,' he says, ' cause for despondency. You have Epaphro- ditus, for whose sake you were grieved. You have Timothy; I am myself coming to you; the Gospel is gaining ground. What is henceforth wanting to you ? Rejoice !' Gal. 4, Now he calls the Galatians indeed children, but these 19 brethren. For when he aims either to correct any thing or to shew his fondness, he calls them ' children ;' but when he addresses them with greater honour, ' brethren' is the title. Finally, my brethren, he says, rejoice in the Lord. He said rightly in the Lord, not * after the world,' for this is no rejoicing. These tribulations, he says, which are according Judaizing teachers wliij called dogs. 117 to Christ bring joy. To write the same things to you, to me Hom. indeed is not grievous, hut for you it is safe. Beitare of — -- dogs. Dost thou mark how he forbears to bring in the exhortation at the beginning ? But after he had given them much commendation, after he had shewn his admiration of them, then he does this, and again repeats his commendation. For this mode of speech seems* to bear somewhat hard upon them. Wherefore he overshadows it on every side. But whom does he style ' dogs ?' There were at this place some of those, whom he hints at in all his Epistles, base and con- temptible Jews, greedy of vile lucre and fond of power, who, desiring to draw aside many of ihe faithfiil, preached both Christianity and Judaism at the same time, corrupting the Gospel. As then they were not easily discernible, there- fore he says, beware of dogs: the Jews are no longer children ; once the Gentiles were so called, but now those. Where- fore ? because as the Gentiles were strangers both to God and to Christ, even so are these become this now. And he thereby shews forth their shamelessness and violence, and their infinite distance from the relation of children, for that the Gentiles were once called ' dogs,' hear what the Canaan- itish woman says, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the Ma.tt. crumbs ichich fall from their masters' table. But that they ' might not have this advantage, since even dogs are at the table, he adds that, whereby he makes them aliens also, say- ing, Beiiare of evil workers; and he admirably expressed himself, beware of evil workers, for they work, he means, but for a bad end, and a work that is much worse than idle- ness, plucking up what is laid in goodly order. Ben are, he says, oftJie concision. The rite of circumcision was venerable in the Jews' account, forasmuch as the Law itself gave way thereto, and tlie Sabbath was less esteemed than it. For that circumcision might be performed the Sabbath was broken ; but that the Sabbath might be kept, circumcision was never broken ; and mark, I pray, the dis- pensation of God. This is found to be even more solemn than the Sabbath, as not being omitted at certain times ''. » Sav. mar. might otherwise seem. possibly he construed. Hence Downes •> B. and Ven. omit h, giving this proposes to omit ^« or read ira^aXfi- sense. The common reading cannot (phTira., and place the comma before KUTCt' 1 18 Carnal circumcision why called concision. Phil. When then it is (hmv awav, much more is the Sabbath. 3 1-3 *' ' ' ■ Wherefore Paul makes a concision of the name, and says, Beware of tlie concision, and he did not say ' that circum- cision is evil, that it is superfluous,' lest he should strike the men with dismay, but he manages it more wisely, withdrawing them from the thing, but gratifying them with the word, nay, rather with the thing too, in a more serious way. But not so in tlie case of the Galatians, for since in that case the disease was great, he forthwith adopts the remedy of amputation with open front and with all boldness, but in this case, as they had done nothing of the sort, he vouchsafes them the gratification of the title, he banishes both those and these % and says, Ben-are of the concision ; for zee are llie circum- cision— how .? — which worship God in the spirit, and have no confidence in the Jlesh. He said not that * we try the one circumcision and the other, which is the better of the two ;' but he would not even allow it a share in the name ; but what does he say? That circumcision is eowcmow. Why? Because they do nothing but cut the flesh about. For when what is done is not of the law, it is nothing else than a concision and cutting about of the flesh ; it was then either for this reason that he called it so, or because they were trying to cut the Church about ; and we too call the thing ' cutting about' in those who do this at random, without aim and without skill. Now if you must seek circumcision, he says, you will find it among us, who worship God in spirit, i. e. who worship Him spiritually. (2) For answer me, which is superior, the soul or the body ? Evidently the former. Therefore neither is that circumcision superior, but this is the only circumcision; for while the type stood, He rightly brought it forward in conjunction, Jerem. writing, CircumcisB yourselves to the Lord, and take away ^' *■ the foreskins of your hearts. In the same way in the Epistle Rom. 2, to the Romans he does away with it, saying, for he is not a Jew which is one outwardly, neither is that circumcision which is outward i7i the Jiesh ; but he is a Jew which is one tv^iffxtrai, making it, ' This which is "^ B. ' and cast out the others/ more solemn than the Sabbath is found which seems to make better sense, as not to be adopted in certain times.' there do not appear to be two parties But ' certain times' suits the other excluded, sense better. Name of the reality given for a while to types. 119 inwardly, and circumcision is that of the hearty in the spirit, Hom. and not in the letter. And lastly, he takes from it the very '- — name, ' neither is it circumcision,' he maintains, for the type, while the reality is yet to come, is called this, but when the truth has come, it no longer retains the title. As in delineation, a man has drawn a king in outline; so long as the coloiu's are not put on we say, Lo, there is the king*^, but when they are added, the outline ' is lost in the reality, and ceases to ' «■«'*«;. shew; and then too^ we say, ' Look at the king/ And he said not, ' for the circumcision is in us,' but we are the circum- cision, and justly; for this is the Man, the circumcision in virtue, this is really the Man ^. But in the case of those he^ Com- did not speak so : but he said, beware of the concision, for q^j^_ g they were henceforth in a condition of ruin and of wicked- 1^- ness. Then shewing that circumcision is no longer performed in the body but in the heart, he says, And hate no confidence v. 4. in the flesh; though I might also have confidence in the flesh. What does he call confidence here, and in the flesh ? Boasting, boldness, a high tone. And he did well to add this ; for if, being of the Gentiles, he had condemned the circumcision, and not only the circumcision, but all those that adopted it out of place, it would have seemed that he was denying it because he wanted the high ancestry of Judaism, as being a stranger to its solemn rites, and having no part therein. But as it is, he, who, though a sharer, yet blames them, does not therefore blame them as having no share in them, but as disowning them ; not from ignorance, but most especially from acquaintance with them. Accordingly observe what he says in his Epistle to the Galatians also; having been brought into a necessity of saying great things about himself, how even in these circumstances does he manifest nought but humility. For ye have heard of my conversation in time past, he says, Gal. i in the Jews'" religion; and again here; if any other man^^- thinketh that he hath ought ichereof he might trust in the flesh, I more. And he immediately added, an Hebrew of •* So Ven. Edd. ' it is not called a ^ rorWi ko). This rather favours the king,' which almost contradicts the reading of the printed copies ahove. sense. Old Lat. makes the contrast With that it would be, ' and then we between the picture and the real king, even say.' Otherwise it means ' al- but that is clearly from an imperfect though that is hidden which we called reading. Comp. Heb. x. 1. a king before.' 120 St. PaiiVs high slate as a Jew, by birth and life. P"^L. /7,^ Hebreivs. He did not say this primarily, but after having — '■ said, if any other man, shewing the necessity, shewinj^ that it was on their account that he spoke. If ye have confidence^ he says, / much more. This I now say, as I have been hitherto silent. And observe the absence of all ungracious- ness in the repi-oofs, for by forbearing to do it by name, he gave them the op])ortunity of retracing their steps. If any other 7nan thinketh; and it was well to say, thinketh, either inasmuch as they really had no such confidence, or as that confidence was no real confidence, for all was by necessity, and not of choice. Circumcised on the eighth day ; and he sets down the first that wherein they chiefly boasted, viz. the ordinance of circumcision, next, cf the stock of Israel. He pointed out both these circumstances, that he was neither a proselyte, nor born of proselytes ; for from his being circum- cised on the eighth day, it follows that he was not a proselyte, and from his being of the stock of Israel, that he was not of proselyte parents. But that you may not imagine that he was of the stock of Israel as coming of the ten tribes, he says, of the tribe of Benjamin. So that he was of the more approved portion, for the place of the priests was in the lot of this tribe. An Hebrew of Hebrews. By this he shews that he was not a proselyte, but, from of old, of distinguished Jews ; for he might have been of Israel, and yet not an Hebrew of^ Hebrews, for many had already ruined the thing®, and were strangers to the language, by intermixing with other races; it is either this then, or the great superiority of his birth, that he shews by this. According to the law a Pharisee. He is coming now to the cu'cumstances dependent on his own will ; for all those things were apart from the will, for his being circumcised was not of himself, nor that he was of the stock of Israel, nor that he was of the tribe of Benjamin. So that, even among these he has a larger share, even though there were really mauy who pai'- took with him. Where then are we to place the rather ? Particularly herein that he was not a proselyte, and that he was of the distinguished tribe, and this from his ancestors of old, v.liich things belonged not to many. But since none of them are matters of choice, he proceeds to those which are, f (yhere means ' descended from.' « i. e. the purity of their descent. WJuit Sf. Paul gave up. Riclies burdetisome. 121 wherein we have the rather. As touching the law., a Pharisee ; Hom. co7icerning zeal., persecuting the Church. This last he says, " ' because the first alone is not sufficient to shew the force of the rather. For it is possible to be a Pharisee even, and yet not very zealous. According to righteousness. Since it is possible to be adventurous, or to act thus'' from ambition, and not out of zeal for the law, as the High Priests did. Yet he was no such person, but, according to the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. If then both for purity of descent, and earnestness, and habits, and mode of life, I surpassed all, why have I renounced all those dignities, he asks, but because I found that the things of Christ are better, and better far ? Wlierefore he added ; but what things were^- 7. gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. A course of life thus strictly regulated, and entered upon Moral. from earliest childhood, such unblemished extraction, such \^) dangers, plots, labours, forwardness, did Paul renounce, counting them but loss, which before were gain, that he might win Christ. But we do not even contemn money, that we may win Christ, but prefer to fail of the life to come rather than of the good things of the present life. And yet this is nothing else than loss; for tell me now, let us examine in de- tail the conditions of riches, and see whether it be not loss accompanied with inexpressible trouble, and without any gain. For tell me, what is the advantage of those stores of costly garments, what good do we gain when we are arrayed in them ? None, nay, we are only losers. How so ? Because even the poor man, in his cheap and threadbare clothing, docs not bear the scorching in time of heat any wise worse than yourself, nay, rather he bears it better, for clothes that are threadbare and worn single allow more ease to the body, but not so with those which are new made, though they be finer than the spider's web. Besides, you, from your excessive self-importance, wear even two and three inner garments, and often a cloak and girdle, and breeches too, but no one blames him if he wears but a single shirt ; so that he is the man that bears the heat most easily. It is owing to this that we see such men sweating, but the poor subject to nothing of the h i. e. to shew zeal, as he had done in persecuting. 122 Use of rich ornaments a loss. Phil, sort. Since then his cheap clothing, which is sold for a — '—^ trifle, answers the same or even a better purpose to him, and those clothes, which oblige a man to pay down much gold, do only the same thing, is not this great superabundance so much loss? For it has added nothing in respect of its use and service, whereas your purse is emptied of so much the more gold, while the thing has only the same use and em- ployment. You, then, who have riches, have purchased one which cost an hundred pieces of gold, or even more, whereas the poor man has bought one for a trilling sum of silver. Do you perceive the loss ? No, for your pride will not let you see it. Would you have us make out this account in the case of the gold ornaments too, which men put alike about their horses and their wives .? For besides the other evils, the possession of money makes fools of men ; thus they account their wives and horses to be worthy of the same honour and ornaments, for both are the same ; and they would make themselves finer by the same means as the very beasts that carry them, or as the very skins of the awnings, wherein they are borne. What now is the use of decking out a mule or a horse with gold ? or the lady, that has such a weight of gold and jewels about her person, what does she gain? ' But the ornaments are never worn out,' he answers. Now those that are knowing in such things declare that, to a great degree, they are liable to this very mischief: that in the baths very often both the jewels and gold ornaments lose much of their value. But be it so, and grant that they are not injured, tell me, what is the gain ? And how is it when they drop out, and are lost ? is there no loss sustained .'' And how when they draw down upon you envy and intrigues ? is there no loss then .? For when they do the wearer no good, but rather inflame the eyes of the envious, and act as an incite- ment to the robber, do they not become loss .'' And again, say, when a man may use them for a serviceable purpose, but is unable on account of the extravagance of his wife, and is obliged to starve and to stint himself, that he may see her aiTayed in gold, is it not a matter of loss ? For it was on this account that goods have their name from use', not that we ' i. e. ;^^iifi»Ta, from xz^'^'^' * *" ^se.' Ornaments soon lire. IVealth soon to he left. 193 should use them thus like goldsmiths' samples, but that we Hom. should do some good therewith; so then when love of gold ^' does not allow this, is not the whole thing loss ? for he that dares not use them forbears the use as if they were another's property, and there is no use of them in any way. Again, how is it when we erect splendid and spacious mansions, decorated with columns, marbles, porticos, arcades, and in every possible way, setting images and statues every where? Many indeed even call demons out of these^, butl'-^-the let us omit the examination of those points. What too is the meaning of the gilded ceiling? Does it not supply the same need as to him, whose house is on a moderate scale? ' But there is great delight in it,' he says. Yes, for the first or second day, but afterwards, none at alP. For if the sun does not strike us with wonder, from its being customary, much more do works of art fail, and we only look at them like things of clay. For tell me, what does a range of pillars contribute to make your dwelling superior to others, or the finest statues, or the gilding spread over the wall? Nothing; rather, these come of luxury and insolence, and overweening pride and folly; but in every case, it is things requisite and needed, and not superfluities, that ought to engage us. Do you see that the thing is loss ? Do you see that it is superfluous and unprofitable ? for if it supplies no further use or delight, (and it does, in the course of time, bring satiety,) it is nothing else than loss, and vain-glory is the hindrance, which will not let us see this. Did Paul then forsake those things which he ' counted gain,' and do not we even quit our loss, for Christ's sake ? How long shall we be rivetted to the earth ? How long till we shall look up to heaven ? Do ye not mark the aged, what little perception they have of the past ? Do ye not mark those that are finishing their course, both men in age, and men in youth ? Do ye not see persons in the midst of life bereft of them ? Why are we so wedded to unstable objects? Why are we linked to things that are shifting ? How long before we lay hold of the things that last ? What would not the old ^ Sav. Mar. adds, iXX' airXui "frareu, aXXk tr^ealfrarttt, ' B ' But stands there for nothing.' Ven. B. &XX' i^lrrarai, ' But ' But is tiresome, ceases.' 124 III effects of riches. Benefit of giving them up. Phil, give, were it granted them to divest themselves of their old —1—^ age ? How irrational then to wish to return to our former youth, and gladly to give every thing for the sake of this, that we might become younger, and yet when it is ours to receive a youth that knows no old age, a youth too, which, joined with great riches, hath far more of spirit, to be unwil- ling to give up a little trifle, but to hold fast things that con- tribute not a whit to the present life. They can never rescue you from death, they have no power to drive away disease, to stay old age, or any one of those events, which happen by necessity and according to the law of nature. And do you still hold to them ? Tell me, what do you gain ? Therefrom come drunkenness, gluttony, pleasures contrary to nature and various in kind, which are far worse torturers than the hardest masters. These are the advantages which we gain from riches, nor is there one besides, since we are not so minded, for if we had had the mind, we might have won heaven itself for our in- heritance by our riches. ' So then riches are good,' he says. It is not riches, but the will of the possessor that effects this, for that it is the will that does it, see from hence ; it is in the power even of a poor man to win heaven. For, as I have often said, God does not regard the amount of the gifts, but the will of the givers ; it is possible even for one in poverty, who has given but little, to bear off all, for God requires a measure proportioned to our ability, neither will riches secure heaven to us, nor poverty, hell ; but a good or a bad will, either one or the other. This then let us correct, this let us resto e, this 1 i us regulate, and all will then be easy to us. For as the artificer works the wood the same, whether his axe be of iron or of gold, rather he does it the better with an implement of iron, so here too, tlie straight })ath of virtue is Matt, more easily kept in a state of poverty. For touching riches ■'9j2i. Christ says. It is easier fur a camel to go throu.h the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of Heaven. But He has made no such declarations about V 19 poverty; nay, the very reverse. Sell thy goods, a) id give to the poor, and come follow Me ; as if the act of following were to spring from the will'. 1 B. and Sav. mar. ' from the selling,' w^xiriui, which is probably right. How to use all things for God. 125 Never then let us flee from poverty as an evil, for it is the Hom, procurer of heaven. Again, let us never follow riches as a ^' good ; for they are the ruin of such as walk unwarily, but, in every thing directing our eyes to God, let us, as occasion requires, use those gifts which He has vouchsafed us, both strength of limbs, and abundance of money, and every other gift; for it is unnatural that we, who have our being from Him, should make these things serviceable to others, yet not to Him, Who has made us. He formed thine eyes : make them serviceable to Him, not to the devil. But how serviceable to Him ? By contemplating His creatures and glorifying Him, and by withdrawing them from all gaze at women. But thine hands did He make ? Preserve them for His use, not for the devil, not putting them out for robbery and rapine, but for His commandments and for good deeds, for earnest prayers, for holding out help to the fallen. Hath He made thine ears ? Give these to Him, and not to effeminate™ strains nor to disgraceful tales. Let all tlty communication, he says, Ecclus. be in the law of the Most High. And again he says, Stand^->^J'- in the multitude of the elders, and cleave unto him that is u'ise. Has He made thy mouth ? Let it do nought that is displeasing to Him, but sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Let no corrupt communication proceed out ofyour^^h.i, mouth, says the Apostle, hut that which is good for the use of ' edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearers ; for edification and not for subversion, for fair words and not for evil speaking and plotting against other, but the very oj^posite. He hath made thy feet, not that thou shouldest run to do evil, but to do good. He made thy belly, not that thou shouldest cram it to bursting, but to practise lessons of wisdom. For the production of children, He implanted desire in thy mind, not for fornication, nor for adultery. He gave thee understanding, not to make of thee a blasphemer or a reviler, but that thou mightest speak fair words. He gave us both money to be used on fitting occasion, and strength likewise to be used on fitting occasion. He instituted arts, that our present state of existence might be held together by them, not that we should withdraw ourselves from spiritual things, '" S/axjxXas-jtisva/f , ' broken,' so called from using the chromatic scale to excess. 126 Value of Jewels imaginary. Thil not that wc should devote ourselves to the base arts but to -' ' the necessary ones, that we might minister to one another's good, and not that we should plot one against another. He gave us a roof, that it might afford shelter from the rain, and no more, not that it should be decked out with gold, while the poor man perishes with hunger. He gave clothing to cover us, not to make a display withal, not that things like these should have much gold lavished upon them, and that Christ should perish naked. He gave you a place of shelter, not that you should keep it to yourself, but to offer it to others also. He gave thee land, not that, cutting off" the chief portion of it, you should spend the good gifts of God upon harlots, and dancers, and actors, and flute players, and harp players, but upon those that hunger and are in want. He gave you the sea to sail on, that you might not be wearied with journeying, not that you should pry into its depths, and bring up thence precious stones and all the other things of the same kind, nor that thou shouldest make this thy business. ' Why then are there precious stones ?' he says. Nay, do you rather tell me, why there are precious stones, and how these become so valuable ? Is it by their strength ? Js it by their use ? Nay, for that matter, those that are not of this kind are rather more for use, for those may be conducive to building, but these to no puqjose, and those are stronger than the other. ' But these,' he says, ' produce a fine effect. How so? it is a matter of fancy. Are they whiter? No, they are not whiter than pure white marble, nor nearly equal to it. But are they stronger? Not even this can be said for them". Well then, are they more useful ? are they larger ? Not even this. Whence then are they so admired .'' From no other cause than fancy. For if they are neither more beautiful, (for we shall find others more shining and more white,) nor more" useful, nor stronger, whence came they to be so admired ? Was it not from mere fancy ? Why then did God give them ? They were not His gift, but it is your own imagination that they are any thing great. ' How is it, then,' he answers, ' that even the Scripture shews admiration of them ?' So far " He refers to pearls. " So B. Jewels and purple not the true ortuimeuts. 127 it addresses itself to your fancy. As a master too in talking Hom. to a child often admires the same object as it does, when he — '— desires to attract and engage it. Wliy do you aim at finery in your clothing? Clothe yourself with a garment and with sandals. But where is there any reason for these things ? David declares, that the jiidy- Ps. 19, merits of the Lord are more to he desired than gold, yea than muchjine gold. With these adorn thee! With these con- tent thee''! But where is any reason for these things? These, beloved, are of no use. Had they been of use, he would not have bidden us despise them. And for Holy Scripture, it speaks with reference to our notion, and this too is an instance of God's lovingkindness. ' Why then,' he asks, ' did He give purple and the like?' These are things that come of God's majesty. For He has willed by other things also to shew forth His own riches. As He gave you corn too by itself; but from this you make many things, cakes and sweetmeats, of every sort and variety, having much enjoyment; but besides this, vain-glory also gave rise to all these inventions. For it pleased you to set them before every thing. For if a foreigner or a rustic, who was ignorant of them, should put the question, and, seeing your admiration, were to say, ' Why do you admire these?' What have you to say? that they are fair to look at ? But it is not the case- Let us then give up such notions, and lay hold of the things that are truly real. These are not, but simply pass away, only flowing past like a river. Wherefore I charge you, let us take our stand upon the rock, that we may both escape being easily turned about, and that we may obtain the good things to come, by the grace and lo\dngkindness of our Lord Jesus Christ, with Whom, &c. P Thus Sav. Ben. and B. place this clause after ' sandals,' omitting there But where is any reason,' &e. HOMILY XL Phil. iii. 7—10. But what things were gain to me^ those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have sujfered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in Him, not having inine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God, by faith: That I mayknoio Him, and the j)ower of His resurrection. In our contests with heretics, we must make the attack with minds in vigour, and that incessantly, for thus giving them no leisure for taking breath, we can throw into confusion their array, and easily obtain the mastery. Wherefore, Milling to pre- pare you, from the Scriptures, for such contests as these, that hence too ye may be able to put to silence the gainsayers, I will begin my present discourse whei'e the last ended. And what was its end? one will say. Having enumerated every Jewish boast, both those from his birth, and those that were from choice, he added. But ichat things were gain to me, all these I count to be but lo sfor the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord; for Whoin L have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but du?ig, that L may win Christ. Here the heretics make their attack: for even this comes of the wisdom of the Spirit, to suggest to them hopes of victory, that they may undertake the fight. For if it had been spoken plainly, they would have acted here as they have done in other places, they would have Heretics entrapped by St. PmtVs words on the Laiv. 129 blotted out the words, they would have denied the Scripture, Hom. XI when they were unable at all to look it in the face. But as - in the case of fishes, that which can take them is so con- cealed that they may swim up, and does not lie open to view ; this in truth hath come to pass here too, in that the Law hath been called loss by Paul. The Law, they say, is called dung by Paul, it is called loss. It was not possible to gain Christ except I counted this as loss. All these things induced the heretics to accept this passage, thinking it to be favourable to them : but when they had taken it, then did he enclose them on all sides with his nets. Lo what? say they, when they make their attack. Lo ! the Law is called loss, is called dung ; how then do ye say, that it is of God ? But these very words are favourable to the Law, and how they are so, shall be hence manifest. Let us attend accu- rately to his very words. He said not. The Law is loss : but I counted it loss. But when he spake of gain, he said not, I counted them, but tltey were gain. But when he spake of loss he said, I counted: and this rightly; for the former was naturally so, but the latter became so, from my opinion. ' Wliat then ? Is not the Law loss ?' It is : but for Christ. ' But now it hath become gain.' It was not counted gain, says he, but was so : as if he had said, Consider how great a thing it was: to bring men, brutalized in their nature, to the shape of men. If the law had not been, grace would not have been given. ' Wherefore ?' Because it became a sort of bridge ; for when it was impossible to mount on high from a state of great abasement, a ladder was formed. And if he who has ascended has no longer need of the ladder, he does not for this reason despise it, but is grateful to it. For it has placed him in such a position, as no longer to require it. And yet for this very reason, that he doth not require it, it is just, he means, that he should acknowledge his obligation, for without it he could not have ascended. And thus is it with the Law, it hath led us up on high; wherefore it was gain, but for the future we esteem it loss. * How ?' Not because it is loss, but because grace is far greater. For as a poor man, that was in hunger, as long as he has silver, escapes hunger, but when he finds gold, and is unable to keep both, considers K 130 The T.av uas yaui an leading to Christ. Phil, it loss to retain the former, and having thrown it away, takes —2 — ^ the gold coin ; he throws it away, not because the silver is loss, for it is not ; but because it was impossible to take both at once, he was conipellod to leave one. Thus too is it here: the Law is not loss, but for a man to cleave to the Law, and desert Christ. Wherefore it is then loss when it leads us away from Christ. But if it sends us on to Him, it is no longer so. For this cause he saith it is loss, i. c, for Christ it is loss ; if for Christ, it is not so naturally. But why doth not the Law suffer us to come to Christ.' For this very cause, he tells us, was it given. And Christ is the fulfilling of the Law, and Chiist is the end of the Law. It doth suffer us, if we will obey it ; he then M'ho obeyeth the Law, leaves that same Law. It sutlers him, if we take heed to it, but if we do not take heed, it suffers him not. Yea. doubtless, and I count all tilings but loss. Why, he means, do I say this of the Law } Is not the world good } Is not the present life good? but if they draw me away from Christ, I count these things loss. Why? /or the excellency of Hie knowledge of Jesus Christ my Lord, For when the suu hath appeared, it is loss to sit by a candle; so that the loss comes by comparison, by the superiority of the other. You see that Paul makes a comparison from superiority, not from diversity of kind ; for that which is superior, is superior to somewhat of like nature to itself So that he shews the connection of that knowledge by the same means, by which he draws the superiority from the comparison. For Whom I hare suffered the loss of all tilings, and do count them dung, that I may win Christ. It is not yet manifest, whether he uses the word dung of the Law, for it is likely that he applies it to the things of this world. For when he says, the things ichich icerc gain to me, those J counted loss for Christ ; yea doubt- less, he adds, / count all things loss'; all things, he means, things past, and things present, and, if you wish, the Law too, it is not even so insulted. For dung comes from corn, and the strength of the corn is the dung, I mean, the chaff. Wherefore the dung was useful in its former state. For we pluck it together with the corn, and had there been no dung, there would have been no corn. Thus too is it with th(^ Law. The highest Righteousness comes by grace. 131 Seest thou, how every where he calls it loss, not absolutely, Hom. but for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but- ^ ' loss: wherefore? Again he adds,/br the excellency of the ^~' knowledge (of Him), for Whom I have suffered the loss of all things. Then he adds, ^rherefore too I count all things to be loss, that I may gain Christ. See how, from every point, he lays hold of Christ as his foundation^, and suffers not the Law to be any where exposed, '»e"Va- or receive a blow, but guards it on every side. And that I may be found in Him, not having my own righteousness tihicli is of the Law. If he who had righteoasness, ran to this other righteousness because his own was nothing, how much rather ought they, who have it not, to turn to Him ? Well said he, Not having mine own righteousness, not that which I gained by labour and toil, but that which I found from grace. If then he who was so excellent is saved by grace, much more are you. For since it was likely they would say that the righteousness which comes from toil is the greater, he shews that it is dung in comparison with the other. For otherwise I, who was so excellent in it, would not have cast it away, and taken refuge with the other. But what is that other } That which is from the faith of God, i. e. it too is given by God. This is the righteousness of God, it is alto- gether a gift, and the gifts of God far exceed those worthless good deeds, which come from our own diligence. But what is this faith ? By faith, he says, that I may know Him ; so then the knowledge is by faith, and without faith it is impossible to know Him. But how ? Through it we must know the power of His resurrection. For \\hat rea- soning can demonstrate to us the Resurrection ? None, but faith only. For if the resurrection of Christ, Who was ac- cording to the flesh, is known by faith, how can the genera- tion of the Word of God be comprehended by reasoning ? For the resurrection is less than the generation. And how } Of that there have been many examples, but of this not one; for many dead have arisen before Christ, though after their resurrection they die, but no one was ever born of a virgin. If then we must comprehend by faith that which is inferior to the generation according to the flesh, how can that which is far greater, immeasurably and incomparably greater, be k2 132 Faith perfected by conformity to Christ. PaiL. comprehended by reason. These things make the righteous- -1— I — ' ness, for this must we believe that He was able, but how He ^^■as able we cannot prove. For from faith is the iellowship of His sufferings. But how.? Had we not believed, neither 2 Tim. should we have suffered: had we not believed, that if we 2 12. 7 ./ suffer with Him, we shall also reiyn with Him, we should not liave endured the sufferings. Wherefore both the gene- ration and resurrection is comprehended by faith. Seest thou, that faith must not be absolutely, but through good works, for he especially believes that Christ hath risen, who in like sort gives himself up to dangers, who hath fellowship with Plim in His sufferings. For he hath fellowship with Him Who rose again, with Him Who liveth ; wherefore he saith. And may be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith : that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrect io?i, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death ; if by any ?neans I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. He saith, being made conformable unto His death, i. e. having fellowship ; whereas He suffered from men, thus I too; wherefore he said, being made Col. I, conformable, and again in another place, atid I fill up that which is behind of the ajfflictions of Christ in my flesh, i. e. in persecutions. For these persecutions and sufferings work that image of His deatli, for He sought not His own, but the good of many. Therefore persecutions, and afflictions, and straits, ought not to disturb you, but even to make you glad, because through them we are conformed to His death. As if he had said. We are moulded to His likeness; as he says in another 2 Cor. 2, place, where he writeth, bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus. And this too comes from great faith. For we not only believe that He arose, but that after His resurrection also He hath great power: wherefore we travel the same road which He travelled, i. e. we become brethren to Him in this respect also. As if he had said, We become Christs in this respect. O how great is the dignity of suffer- ings ! We believe that we are made conforviable to His death through sufferings ! For as in Baptism, we were buried in the St. Paul actually conformed to His death. 133 likeness of His death, thus here, we are made conformable to Hom. XI His death. There did he rightly say, In the lileness of His ^^^ ' ^ death, for there we died not entirely, we died not in the flesh, 4. 6. to the body, but to sin. Since then a death is spoken of, and a death ; but He indeed died in the body, whilst we died to sin, and there the Man died which lie assumed, Who was in our flesh, but here the man of sin ; for this cause he saith there, in the likeness of His death, but here, no longer in the likeness of His death, but to His very death. For Paul, in his perse- (3) cutions, no longer died to sin, but in' his very body. Where- » or to- fore, he endured the same death. If hy any means, saith he, Inflight attain unto the resurrection of the dead. What sayest thou .f* All men will have a share in that. For M;eiCor. shall not all sleeps hut we shall all be changed, and shall all share not only in the Resurrection, but in incorruption. Some indeed to honour, but others as a means ^ of punish- "»?>»^'"- ment. If therefore all have a shave in the Resurrection, and not in the Resurrection only, but also in incorruption, how saidest thou, //" ly any means I may attain, as if about to share in some especial thing ? For this cause, saith he, I endure these tilings, if by any means I might attain unto the resurrectio)t of the dead. For if thou hadst not died, thou wouldest not arise. What is it then ? Some great thing seems here to be hinted at. So great was it, that he dared not openly assert it, but simply saith. If by any means. I have believed in Him and His resurrection, nay, moreover, I suflfer for Him, yet I am unable to be confident concerning the Resurrection. What resurrection doth he here mention ? That which leads to Christ Himself. I said, that I believed in Him, and in the power of His resurrection, and that I have fellowship with His sufferings^ and that I am made con- formable to His death. Yet after all these things I am by no means confident; as he saith elsewhere, let him that think- j Cor. eth he standeth, take heed lest he fall. And again, I fear ' lest by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself '^ Cor. 9, should he a castaway. Ver. 12. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect : but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Not that I have already apprehended. What means already 134 Sb'iviny after the ylorious Resurrection. Phil, apprehended? He speaks of the ])rize, but if he who had — — ^endured such sufferings, he who had persecuted, he itho had in him lite dijing of the Lord Jesus, was not yet confident about that resurrection, what can we say? What meaneth, 2 Cor. 4, i/" / mill/ apprehend? What I before said. If I may attain to the resurrection of the dead. If I may a])])rehend, he saith, His resurrection ; i. e. If 1 may be able to endure so great things, if I may be able to imitate Him, if I may be able to become conformed to Him. For example, Christ suf- fered many things, He was spit upon, He was stricken, was scourged, at last He died. This is the entire course. Through all these things it is needful that men should endure the whole contest, and so come to His resurrection. He meaneth either this, or that if I am thought worthy to share the accepted resurrection, which is in confidence, I hasten to His resurrection. For if I am able to endure all the contests, I shall be able also to attain to His resurrection, and to rise with glory. For not as yet, saith he, am I wor- thy, but / follow after, if that I may apprehend. My life is still one of contest, I am still far from the end, 1 am still dis- tant from the prize, still I run, still I pursue. And He said not, 1 run, but I pursue, and rightly so. For we know with what eagerness a man pursues. He sees no one, he thrusts aside with great violence all who would interrupt his pursuit. He collects together his mind, and sight, and strength, and soul, and body, looking to nothing else than the prize. But if Paul, who so pursued, who had suffered so many things, yet saith, if I may attain, what must we say, who have re- laxed our efforts } Then to shew that the thing is of debt, he saith, For which also J am apprehended of Christ Jesus. I was, he saith, of the number of the lost, I gasped for breath, I was nigh dead, God apprehended me. For He pursued us, when we fled from Him, with all speed. By this he points out all those things; for the words, I am apprehended^ shew the earnestness of Him who wishes to apprehend us, our great aversion to Him, our wandering, our flight from Him. (4) Wherefore, too, we must weep, that when all have returned "^°"*^'to their former state, and we are liable for a vast debt, yet no one grieves, no one weeps, no one groans. And suppo.se 77«? gift of grace binds us to abide with God. 135 not that I use irony here, for as before the appearance of Hom. Christ we fled from God, thus we flee from Him now too. For we can flee from God, not in place, for He is every where, but by our deeds; and that we cannot fly from Him, hear the Prophet, when he says, Wliither shall I go from Thy Spirit, Ps. 139, or whither shall I flee from Tliy presence? How then can we fly from God? Even as we can become distant from God, even as we can be removed afar off". They that are far from Ps- 73, Thee, it says, shall perish. And again, Have not your ini-ia',59^^. quities separated betireen Me and you ? How then comes this removal, how comes this separation .'' In purpose and soul: for it cannot be in place. For how could one fly from Him who is every where present .? The sinner then flies. This is what the Scripture saith, The wicked ileelh wJienVxor. 28 1. no man piirsueth him. We eagerly fly from God, although He ' alway pursueth us. The Apostle hasted, that he might be near Him. We haste, that we may be far off. Are not these things then worthy of lamentation.^ Are not these things worthy of tears ? Whither fliest thou ? Wretched and miserable man, whither fliest thou from thy Life and thy Salvation ? If thou fly from God, with whom wilt thou take refuge } If thou fly from the Light, whither wilt thou cast thine eyes ? If thou fly from thy Life, whence wilt thou henceforth live ? Let us fly from the enemy of our Salvation ! Whensoever we sin, we fly fi'om God, we are as runaways, we depart to a foreign land. As he who consumed his pa- ternal goods and departed into a foreign land, who wasted all his father's substance, and lived in want. We too have substance from our Father; and what is this.'' He hath freed us from our sins ; He hath freely given to us readiness, patience ; He hath freely given to us the Holy Ghost in our Baptism ; if we waste these things, we shall henceforth be in want. For as the sick, as long as they are troubled with fevers, and badness of their juices, are unable to arise or work, or do any thing, but if any one sets them free, and brings them to health, if they then work not, this comes from their own sloth. Thus too is it with us; a heavy disease and grievous fever lay upon us. We lay not upon a bed, but upon wickedness itself, cast away in crime, as on a dung- hill, full of sores, and evil odours, squalid, wasting away. uluXx. 136 Diseases of sin. Christ has once given their cure. Phil, more like ghosts^ than men. Evil spirits encompassed us ' * about, the Prince of this world laughing, deriding, and as- saulting us, the Only-Begotten Son of God came, sent forth the rays of His Presence, and straightway dispelled the dark- ness. The King, who is on His Father's throne, came to us, having left His Father's throne. And when I say having left, think not of any removal, for He filleth the heavens and the earth, but this I say by reason of the economy ; He came to His enemy, who hated Flini, who turned himself away, who could not endure to behold Him, who blasphemed Him every day. He saw him lying on a dunghill, eaten with worms, afflicted with fever and hunger, having every sort of disease ; for both fever vexed him, which is evil desire; and inflamma- tion lay heavy on him, this is pride ; and gnawing hunger had hold of him, which is covetousness ; and putrifying sores on every side, for this is foraication ; and blindness of eyes, which is idolatry; and dumbness, and madness, which is to worship stocks and stones, and address them ; and gi*eat deformity, for wickedness is this, foul to behold, and a most heavy disease. He saw us speaking more foolishly than the mad, and calling stocks our God, and stones likewise ; He saw us in such great guilt, and did not reject us; was not wroth, turned not away, hated us not, for He was a Master, and could not hate His own creation. What does he do? As a most excellent physician, He prepaieth medicines of great price, and Himself tastes them first. For He Himself first followed after virtue, and thus gave it to us. And He first gave us the Washing, like some antidote, and thus we vomited up all our guilt, and all things took their flight at once, and our inflammation ceased, and our fever was quenched, and our sores were dried up. For all the evils which are from covetousness, and anger, and all the rest, were dissipated by the Spirit. Our eyes were opened, our ears were opened, our tongue spake holy words : our soul re- ceived strength, our body received such beauty and bloom, as it is like that he who is bom a son of God should have from the grace of the Spirit. Such glory as it is like that the new-born son of a king should have, nurtured in purple. Alas ! How great nobility did He confer on us ! Yet we remain thankless to Him who so loved us. Return of the Prodigal son otcr example. 137 We were born, we were nurtured, we were benefited, why Hom. do we fly from our Benefactor ? He then, Who hath done all — these thhigs, giveth us strength too, for it was not possible, that they who are bowed down by the disease should endure it, did not He Himself give us the strength. He gave us remission of our sins, we set the gift at nought. He gave us wealth, we scattered it, we devoured it all. He gave us strength, we wasted it. He gave us grace, we quenched it; and how? we consumed it upon nought that was fitting, we used it for no useful end. These things have destroyed us, and what is more dreadful than all, when we are in a foreign country, and feeding on husks, we say not. Let us return to our Father, and say, IVe have sinned against luvike Heaven, and against Thee. And that too, when we have so ' ^^' loving a Father, who so eagerly desires our return, that if we will only leave our sins, if we will only return to Him, He will no longer bear to call in question our foi'mer deeds, only let us quit them. It is sufficient apology with Him, that we have retm'ned. What say I, He will not call in question? Not only He Himself calls not in question, but if another does so, He stops his mouth, though the accuser be one of good repute. Wherefore, let us return ! How long do we stand afar off? Let us perceive our dishonour, let us be sensible of our vileness. Sin makes us swine, sin brings famine to the soul ; let us regain ourselves, and be sober again, and return to our former high birth, that we may obtain the good things which are to come, by the grace and love of oiu: Lord Jesus Christ, with Whom, &c. HOMILY XII. Phil. iii. 13, 14. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: hut this one thing I do, forgetting those things ivhich are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Nothing renders our excellencies vain and puffs ihem Uira^t/iraaway *, so much as the memory of the good deeds we have done ; for this produces two evils, it both renders us remiss, and raises us to haughtiness. Wherefore see how Paul, since he knew our nature to be easily inclined to remissness, though he had given great praise to the Philippians, now subdues their mind by many other things above, but chiefly by his present words. And what are they ? Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended. But if Paul had not as yet apprehended, and is not confident about the Resurrec- tion and things to come, hardly should they bi; so, who have not even succeeded in the smallest proportion with him. And what he says is this, I consider that I have not as yet apprehended all virtue, speaking as if one should say of a runner, he hath not yet apprehended. Not as yet, saith he, ^ ^""- have I completed all. And if in another place he saith, / have fought the good, fight, but here, I count myself not as yet to have apprehended ; any one who reads both these places, will well know the reason of those, and of the present words. For it is not necessary to dwell continually on the same point, and to be ourselves teaching you every thing, Low opinion of ourselves leads to earnest striving. 139 and that he spoke these words at an earlier date, but tlie Hom. others near his death. / count not myself to have appre- — — - hended, saith he, but I am solely engaged on tJiis one tiling, in reaching forth unto the things which are before. For that is the meaning of this one thing — -forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those tilings which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus; behold how in speaking thus, he shews what it was which made him reach forward unto the things which are before. He then, who thinks that all is accomplished, and that nothing is wanting to him for the perfecting of virtue, may cease from nmning, as having apprehended all. But he who thinks that he is still distant from the goal, will never cease to run. This then we should always considei*, even though we have wrought ten thousand good deeds; for if Paul, after ten thousand deaths, after so many dangers, considered this, how much more should we } For I fainted not, saith he, although I availed not, after running so much; nor did I despair, but I still run, I still strive. This thing only I consider, that I may in truth advance ; thus too we should act, we should forget our successes, and throw them behind us, for the runner reckons not up how many circuits he hath finished, but how many are left. We too should reckon up, not how far we are advanced in virtue, but how much remains for us. For what doth that which is finished profit us, when that which is deficient is not added ? More- over he did not say, do not reckon, nor remember, hwi for- getting, to make us more zealous, for we then become eager, when we apply all diligence to what is left, when we give to oblivion everything else. Reaching forth, saith he; before we arrive, we strive to obtain. For he reacheth forth, who endeavours to outstrip his feet, though running with the rest of his body, stretching himself forward, and reaching out his hands, that he may accomplish somewhat more of the course. But this comes from great eagerness, from much warmth; thus the runner should run with gi-eat earnestness, with so great eagerness, without relaxation. As far as one who so runs differs from him who lies supine, so far doth Paul differ from us. He died daily, he was reproved daily, there 140 Looking to the prize the way to rmi well. Phil, was no season, there was no time in which his course ad- - — ^^ — ' vanced not. He wished not to take, but to snatch the prize; for in this way we may take it. He who giveth the prize standeth on high, the prize is Jaid up on high. (2) See how great a distance this to run over ! See how great is the ascent ! Thither we must fly up with the wings of the Spirit, otherwise it is impossible to surmount this height. Thither must we go with the body, for it is allowed. For our conversation is in heaven, there is the prize; secst thou the runners, how they live by rule, how they touch nothing that relaxes their strength, how they exercise themselves every day in the palaestra, under a master, and by rule? Do thou too imitate them, or rather exhibit greater eagerness, for the prizes are not equal : many are those who would hinder you; live by rule: many are the things which relax 'iir»ix«. your strength; make it* agile' for thy feet: for it is possible so to do, it comes not naturally, but by our will. Let us bring it to lightness, lest our swiftness'' of foot be hindered by the weight of other things. Teach thy feet to be sure, for there are many slippery places, and if thou fallest, straight- way thou losest much. But yet if thou fall, rise up again. Even thus mayest thou obtain the victory. Never attempt slippery things, and thou wilt not fall ; walk upon firm ground, up with thy head, up with thine eyes; these commands the trainers give to those who run. Thus thy strength is sup- ported ; but if thou stoopest downward, thou fallest, thou art relaxed. Look upward, where the prize is ; the sight of the prize increaseth the determination of our will; this hope suf- fereth not to perceive toil or distress", it maketh the distance appear short; and what is this prize? No palm branch; but what? The kingdom of heaven, everlasting rest, glory toge- ther with Christ, the inheritance, brotherhood, ten thousand good things, which it is impossible to name. It is impossible to describe the beauty of that prize; he who hath it alone knoweth it, and he who is about to receive it. It is not of gold, it is not of jewels, it is far more precious. Gold is mire, » i. e. thy strength, or rather ' uius- ■= This is the sense of Edd. (readin;? cle,' as he uses Ivx"* '" Horn, on Stat, x lor i ) butB. is better, reading Xn^tut Horn. 1. (4.) for ^xl^tus, ' The hope of winning ^ Tien, and R. Some say Paul here entreats his own wife ; but it is not so, but some other woman, or the husband of some one of them. Help those uomen, uhich laboured with us in the Gospel, nilh Clement also, and with other my /ellowlabourers, ■whose names are in the book of life. Seest thou how great a testimony he beareth to their virtue ? For as Christ saith to His lo" 20. Apostles, Rejoice not that the spirits are subject to yon, but rather rejoice, because your names are written in the book oj life : so Paul testifieth to them, saying, whose names are in the book of life. These women seem to me to be the chief of the Church which was there, and he commendeth them to some notable man whom he calls his yokefelloiv, to whom perchance he was wont to commend them, as to an assistant, and fellow-soldier, and brother, and companion, as Rom. he doth in the Epistle to the Romans, when he saith, / com- ' * mend unto you Fhebe our sister, tohich is a servant of the Church which is at Cenchrea. Yokefellow. It is either some brother of theirs, or the husband of some one of them, he calls so : as if he had said, Now thou art a tine brother, now a true husband, because thou hast become a Member. Which laboured with me in the Gospel. This protection ^" was not from hiendship, but for good deeds. Labouring ' <""■»' with me. What say est thou } Did women labour^ with thee ? Yes, he answereth, they too contributed no small portion. Although many were they who wrought together with him, yet these women wrought amongst the many. The Churches then were no little edified, ibr many good ends are there gained where they who are approved, be they men, or be they women, enjoy from the rest such honour. For in the first place the rest are led on to a like zeal ; in the second place, they also gained'' by the respect shewn; and thirdly, they made those very persons more zealous and eai'nest. Wherefore thou seest that Paul hath every where a care for this, and conmiendelh such men for consideration. As he saith in the 1 Cor. Epistle to the Corinthians : Who are I lie first-fruits of 16, 15. , all men, consider whom God saveth. Blessed, saith he, are the peacemakers, for Ihey shall he called the children of God. Such alway imitate the Son of God: do thou imitate Him too. Be at peace. The more thy brother waiTeth against thee, by so much the greater will be thy reward. For Injustice most hurts the doer of it. 163 hear the prophet who saith, / am for peace, hut when I speak Hom. they are for war. This is virtue, this is above man's under- standing, this maketh us near God ; nothing so much dehghteth God, as to remember no evil. This sets thee free from thy sins, this looseth the charges against tliee : but if we are fighting and buffeting, we become far off from God : for enmities are produced by contention, and from enmity spring rancours. Cut out the root, and there will be no fruit. Thus shall we learn to despise the things of this life, for there is no conten- tion in spiritual things, but whatever thou seest, either conten- tion, or envy, or whatever a man can mention, all these spring from the things of this life. Every contention hath its beginning either in covetousness, or envy, or vainglory. If therefore we are at peace, we shall learn to despise the things of the earth. Hath a man stolen our money ? He hath not injured us, only let him not steal oiu' treasure which is above, saith such an one. Hath he hindered thy glory .? Yet not that which is from God, but that which is of no account. For this is no glory, but a mere name of glory, or rather a shame. Hath he stolen thy honour ? Rather not thine but his own. For as he who committeth injustice doth not so much inflict as receive injustice, thus too he who plots against his neighbour, first destroyeth himself. For he who diggeth a pit for his ■neighbour , falleth intovxoy. it. Let us then not plot against others, lest we injure our- ^^' ^^' selves. When we supplant the reputation of others, let us consider that we injure ourselves, it is against ourselves we plot. For perchance with men we do him hami, if we have power, but ourselves in the sight of God, by provoking Him against us. Let us not then injure ourselves. For as we injure ourselves when we injure our neighbours, so by bene- fitting them we benefit ourselves. If then thy enemy injure thee, consider that he hath benefitted thee, if thou art wise, and so requite him not with the same things, but even do him good. But the blow you say remains severe. Consider then that thou dost not benefit, but punishest him, and bene- fittest thyself, and quickly you will come to do him good. What then .'' Shall we act from this motive } We ought not to act on this motive, but if thy heart will not hear other M 2 KM Enemies to be uell treated in renl kinduess. Phil, reason, induce it, saith he", even by this, and tliou wilt ■ ' quickly persuade it to dismiss its enmity, and wUt for the future do good to thine enemy as to a friend, and wilt thus obtain the good things which are to come, to which God grqnt that we may all attain in Christ Jesus. Amen. " i. e. St. Paul, Rom. 12, 20. on fully states this vitw, perhaps the only which passage see St. Chrys. who there one that fully explains the difficulty. HOMILY XV. Phil. iv. 10—14. But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, thereivith to he content. I know both how to be abased, and I know hoic to abound: every ivhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which sirengtheneth me. Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my afflic- tion. I HAVE ofttimes said, that almsgiving hath been introduced not for the sake of the receivers, but of the givers, for the latter are they which make the greatest gain. And this Paul shews here also. In what way ? The Philippians had sent him somewhat, after a long time, and had committed the same to Epaphroditus. See then, how when he is about to send Epaphroditus as the bearer of this Epistle, he praises them, and shews that this action was for the need, not of the re- ceiver, but of the givers. This he doth, both that they who benefited him may not be Hfted up with arrogance, and that they may become more zealous in well-doing, since they rather benefit themselves ; and that they who receive may not fearlessly rush forward to receive, lest they meet with condemnation. For it is more blessed, He saith, to give than Acts to receive. What then means he, when he says, / rejoiced in ^^' ^^' lOG St. PauFs implied complaint of past neglect. Phil, the Lord greatly, not with worldly rejoicing, saith he, nor ' ^' ^'with the joy of this life, but in the Lord. Not because I had refreshment, but because ye advanced; for this is my refreshment. Wherefore he saith greatly; since this joy was not corporeal, nor on account of his own refreshment, but because of their advancement. And see how, when he had greatly rebuked them on ac- count of the times that were passed, he quickly throweth a shadow over this, and teacheth them constantly and always to remain in well doing. Because at the last, saith he. The words, at the last, shew long time to have elapsed. Hath flourished again. As trees which have shot forth, then dried up, and again shot forth. Here he sheweth, that they who had formerly borne flowers, had withered, and after withering again budded forth. So that the word Jlourished again, has both rebuke and praise. For it is no small thing, that he who hath withered should flourish again. He sheweth also, that it was from indolence all this had happened to them. Your care for me ; ivherein ye were also careful. Here he sheweth, that even in former time they were wont to be zealous in these things. Wherefore he addeth, your care of me, wherein ye were also careful. And lest you should think, that in other things too they had been more zealous*, and had then withered, and not in this thing alone, behold how he guards this point"", by saying, Now at the last your care of me hath Jlourished again. As if he had said, I apply the words, now at the last, only to this ; for in other things it is not so. Acts 20, Here some one may enquire, how when he had said, it is more blessed to give than to receive ; and. These hands have ministered to my necessities, and to them that were with me; iCor.9, and again when writing to the Corinthians, For it were bet- ter for me to die, titan that any man should make my glory- ing void; he here sufl'ereth his glorying to be made void? And how ? By receiving. For if his glorying was, that he received not, how doth he now endure so to do. What shall we say then ? Probably, he then did not receive on account of the false Apostles, that wherein they glory ^ saith * Mar. and V>. ' had become less •> So Ben. and B. Sav. ' see how he zealous.' added.' Excuses for tiot giving — or /or not u-orking. 167 he, theu may be found even as we. And he said not are, but Hom. glory; shewing hereby that they did receive, but secretly. — — - Wherefore, he said, wherein they glory ; he too himself re- ceived, though not there. Whei'efore he also saith, No man shall stop me of this boasting. And he said not simply, shall not stop me, but what .f* in the regions of Achaia. And again, / robbed other Churches, taking wages of them to do you ser- 2 Cor. vice. Here he sheweth that he did receive. But Paul indeed ' received rightly, having so great a work; if in truth he did . receive. But they who work not, how can they receive .? ' Yet I pray,' saith one. But there is no work. For this may be done together with work. ' But I fast.' Neither is this work. For see this blessed one, preaching in many places, and working too. But ye lacked opportunity. What meaneth lacked opportunity ? It came not, saith he, of indolence, but of necessity ". Ye had it not in your hands, nor were in abundance. This is the meaning of, Ye lacked opportunity. Thus most men speak, when the things of this life do not flow in to them abundantly, and are in short supply. Not that I speak in respect of want. I said, saith he, noiv at the last, and I rebuked you, not seeking mine own, nor rebuking you on this account, as if I wei'e in want : for I sought it not on this account. Whence is it evident, O Paul, that thoumakest no vain boasting.? To the Corinthians he saith. For we ivrite none other tilings unto you, than^^^o^- what ye read or acknowledge, and he would not have spoken ' to them so as to be convicted, he would not, had he been making boasts, have spoken thus. He was speaking to those who knew the facts, with whom detection would have been a greater disgrace. For I have learrit, saith he, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. Wherefore, this is an object of discipline, and exercise, and cai*e, for it is not easy of attainment, but very difficult, and full of toil. In what- soever state I am, saith he, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Every where and in all tilings I am instructed. That is, I know how to use little, to bear hunger and want, to abound, and to suffer need. ' Yes,' saith one, ' but there is no need of * St. Chrys. understands him to he partially excusing them. 168 Virtue needed in plenty. St. PtiuVs (jimng and rcceiiing. Phil, wisdom or of virtue to abound.' There is tn-eat need of 4 14 . . . . —- — '- virtue, not less than in any other case. For as want inehnes ^ ' us to do many evil things, so too doth plenty. For many ofttimes, coming into plenty, have become indolent, and have not known how to bear their good fortune. Many men have taken it as an occasion of no longer working. But Paul did not so, for what he received he consumed on others, and emptied himself for them. This is to know how to make good use of what we have. He was in no wise relaxed, nor did he exult at his abundance, Paul was the same in want and in plenty, he was neither oppressed on the one hand, nor rendered a boaster on the other. / know how holh to be full, and to be hungry, both to abound, and to suffer need. Deut. Many know not how to be full, as the Israelites, for they ate, 32 15 ' ' and kicked, but I am equally well ordered in all. He sheweth that he neither is now elated, nor was before grieved: or if he grieved, it was on their account, not on his own, for he himself was similarly affected. Every where, saith he, and in all things I am instructed, i. e. I have had experience of all things in this long time, and all these things have succeeded with me. But since boasting might seem to have a place here, he quickly cor- recteth himself, and saith, / can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. The success is not mine own, but His who gave me strength. But since again they who confer benefits, when they see the receiver not well affected toward them, but despising the gifts, are themselves rendered more remiss, (for they considered themselves as conferring a benefit and refreshment,) lest this should happen here, and any one should say that, since Paul despises the refreshment, they must necessarily become remiss, see how he healetli this too. By what he hath said above, he hath brought down their proud thoughts, by what followeth he maketh their readiness revive, by saying. Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction. Seest thou, how he removed himself, and again united himself to them. This is the part of true and spiritual friendship. Think not, saith he, because I was not in want, that I had no need of this act of yours. I have need of it for your sake. How then, did they share his afflictions } By this means. SL PauVs care to reprove wilhout offending. 1(5!) As he said when m bonds, Ye all are partakers of my grace. Hom. For it is grace to suffer for Christ, as he himself saith in another place, For to you it is given, on the behalf of Christ, 7. not only to believe, but also to suffer for His Name. For^*'' ^^* since those former words by themselves had power to grieve them, he consoleth them, and receiveth them, and praiseth them again. And this in measured words. For he said not, ' gave,' but communicated, to shew that they too were profited by becoming partakers of his labours. He said not, ye did lighten, but ye did communicate with my affliction, which was a more worthy thing. Seest thou the humility of Paul ? seest thou his noble nature ? When he has shewn that he had no need of their gifts on his own account, he afterward uses freely such lowly words as they do who make a request. " Since you are wont to give." For he refuseth neither to do, nor say any thing in order to accomplish the one object of his wishes. And what is that? " Think not," saith he, " that my words shew want of shame, wherein I accuse you, and say. Now at the last your care of me hath flourished again, or are those of one in necessity; 1 speak not thus because I am in need, but why ? From my exceeding confidence in you, and of this ye yourselves are the authors." Seest thou how he sootheth them, and saith, Ye are the authors, in that ye hasted to the work before others ; and have given me confidence to remind you of these things. And observe his propriety ; he accuseth them not while they did not send, lest he should seem to regard his own benefit, but when they had sent, then he rebuked them for the time past, and they received it, for he could not seem after that to regard his own benefit. Ver. 15. Now ye Philip) pjians know also, that in the be- ginning of the Gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no Church communicated with me, as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. Lo, how great is his commendation ! For the Corinthians and Romans are stiiTcd up by hearing these things from him, whilst they did it without any other Church making a begin- ning. For ///. the beginning of the Gospel, saith he, they manifested such zeal towards this holy Aj)ostle, as them- 170 Spiritual Trajjic. Alms measured by the will. I'Hii,. selves first to begin, without having any example, to bear ^' ^^' this fruit. And we cannot say that they did these things as he abode with them, or for their own benefit; for he saith, When I departed from 3Iacedoiiia, no Church communi- cated uiih me., as concerning yivincj and receiving, hut ye only. What meaneth receiving, and what communicated? Wherefore said he not, ' no Church gave to me,' but com- municated rvitli me, as concerniny giving and receiving? 1 Cor. Because the matter is a communication. He saith, //' tve ^' ^^' have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great matter 2 Cor. that ire should reap your carnal things. And again. Your ^' ' abundance may be a supply to their want. Behold how they communicated, by giving carnal things, and receiving spiritual. For as they who sell and buy communicate with each other, by mutually giving what they have, (and this is communication,) so too is it here. For there is not any thing more profitable than this trade and traffic. It is performed on the earth, but is completed in heaven. They who buy are on the earth, but they buy and agree about heavenly things, whilst they lay down an earthly price. (3) But despond not; heavenly things are not to be bought with money, riches cannot purchase these things, but the purpose of him who giveth the money, his true wisdom, his superiority to earthly things, his love toward man, his merci- fiilness. For if money could purchase it, she who threw in the two mites would have gained nothing great. But since it was not the money, but tlie jmrpose that availed, she re- ceived every thing, who exhibited a full purpose of mind. Let us not then say, that the Kingdom can be bought with money; it is not by money, but by purpose of mind which is exhibited by the money. Therefore, one will answer, there is need of money. There is no need of it, but of the disposition ; if thou hast this, thou wilt be able even by two mites to purchase Heaven; where this is not, not even ten thousand talents of gold will be able to do that, which the two mites could. Wherefore? Because if thou who hast nuicli throwest in but a small jiortion, thou givest an alms indeed, but nf)t so great as the widow did; for thou didst not throw it in with tlie same readiness as she. For she deprived herself of all she had, or rather she deprived not, l)ut gave it Liberality encouraged, though independence retained. 171 all as a free gift to herself. For God hath promised the King- Hom. dom not to talents of gold, but to a cup of cold water, to '- readiness of heart; not to death, but to purpose of mind. For indeed it is no great thing. For what is it to give one life ? one has given one man ; but one man is not of worth enough. Ver. 16. For even in Thessalonica, ye sent once and again to my necessity. Here again is great praise, that he, when dwelling in the metropolis", should be nourished by a little city. And lest, by always withdrawing himself from the supposition of want, he should, as I said at first, render them remiss, having pre- viously shewn by so many proofs that he is not in want, he here maketh it manifest by one word only, by saying necessity. And he said not my\ but absolutely, — having a care of dig- nity. And not this only, but what followeth too, for since he was conscious that it was a very lowly thing, he again guard- eth it, by adding as a correction, Ver. 17. Not because I desire a gift. As he said above. Not that I speak in respect of ivant; both which mean the same, though the former is stronger than the latter. For it is one thing, that he who is in want, should not seek, and another that he who is in want should not even consider himself to be in want. Not because I de- sire a gift, he says, but I desire fruit, that may abound to your account. Not mine own. Seest thou, that the fruit is produced for them ? This say I for your sake, not for my own, for your salvation. For I gain nothing when 1 receive, but grace belongeth to the givers, for the recompense is There in store for givers, but the gifts are here consumed by them who receive. Again even his request is combined with praise and sympathy. For when he had said, I do not desire, lest he should again render them remiss, he adds, Ver. 18. But I have all and abound, i. e. through this gift ye have filled up what was wanting, which would make them more eager. For benefactors, the wiser they are, the more do * The difterence was probably less ' The Greek is, ' Ye sent to me unto marked in St. Paul's time than in St. the needs.' Chrysostom's. 172 Alms a sweet sarniir lo God. Phil, they scek gratitude from the benefitted. I have ail things and _J — •_ abound, i. c. Ye have not only filled up what was deficient in former time, but ye liave '. all grace, he meaneth not only the alms, which are of earth, '^'*^'**' but every excellency. If the first, all your need, which I think too should rather be read, this is what he means to shew. As he had said before, ye lacked opportunity, he here maketh an addition, as he doth in the Epistle to the Corin- thians, saying. Now He that ininistereth seed to the sower, ^ Cot. 9, both minister bread yor your /ood, and ynidtiply your seed sown, and increase the /nuts of your righteousness. For he blesseth them, that they may abound, and have wherewith to sow. He blesseth them too, not simply that they might abound, but according to His riches, so that this too is done measuredly. For had they been as he was, so truly wise, so crucified, he would not have done this ; but since they were men that were handicraftsmen, poor, having wives, bringing up children, ruling their families, and who had given these very gifts out of small possessions, and had certain desires of the things of this world, he blesseth them with a condescen- sion. For it is not unseemly to pray for sufficiency and plenty for those who thus use them. He said not. May He make you rich, and to abound greatly ; but what said he ? Supply all your need, so that ye may not be in want, but have things for your necessities. Since Christ too, when He gave us a form of prayer, inserted also this in the prayer, when He taught us to say. Give us this day our daily Matt. 6, bread. According to His riches. What meaneth this .'' Accord- ing to His free gift, i. e. It is easy to Him, and He hath power to do it quickly too. And since I have spoken of need, he addeth, according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus, that they may not think that he will drive them into straits. So shall all things abound to you, saith he, that you may have them to His glory; or he meaneth this, Ye are wanting in nothing ; (for it is written, great grace Acts 4, was upon them all, neither teas there any that lacked.) Or, 174 TjOve slrc'tuiiheued by troubles without. Phil, he is persuading them to do all things lor His glory, as if he ■ '" " ■' had said, that ye may use your abundance to His glory. Ver. 20. N'ow unto Cod and our Father be fjJoryfor ever and ever. Ameu. For the glory of which he speaks belongs not only to the Son, but to the Father too, for when the Son is gloiified, then is the Father also. For when he said, This is done to the glory of Christ, lest any one should suppose that it is to His glory alone, he continued, Unto God and our Father be (jlory, that glory evidently which is paid to the Son. Ver. 21. Sahfte every saint in Christ Jesus. This is no small thing. For it is a proof of great good will, to salute them through letters; The brethren who are ivith me salute you. And yet thou saidst, / have no one like-minded, who will naturally care for your state. How then sayest thou now, The brethren which are with me? He either saith, The brethren which are with me, to shew that he hath no one like-minded of those who are with him, (where he doth not speak of those in the city, for how were they constrained to undertake the affairs of the Apostles.^) or that he did not refuse to call even those brethren. Ver. 22, 23. All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Cesar^s household. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. He elevated them and strengthened them, by shewing that his preaching had reached even to the king's household. For if those who were in the palace despised all things for the sake of the King of Heaven, far more ought they to do this. And this too was a proof of the love of Paul, that he had told many things of them, and said great things of them, whence he had led those who were in the palace, and who had never seen them, to desire to salute them. Especially great was his love, because the Saints were then in affliction ; and how.^ They who were absent from each other were closely conjoined together, and they who were afar off saluted each other as if they were near, and they were af- fected each toward other as toward their own limbs. For the poor man also was disposed toward the rich even as the rich toward the poor, and there was no preeminence, in that 'Jxai/'n- they were all equally hated and cast out^ and that ibr the oiici. same cause. For as captives taken from divers cities, and Benefit of troubles. Tfteir nniversalitt/. 175 brought to the same towns, eagerly embrace each other, Hom. their common calamity binding them together; thus too at ^^' that time they had great love one toward another, the com- munion of their afflictions and persecutions uniting them. For affliction is an unbroken bond, the increase of love, Moral. the occasion of compunction and piety. Hear the words of ^^) David, It is good /or me that I have been afflicted, that I^^. 119, might learn Thy statutes. And again another prophet, who '^' saith, // is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his'L'am.s, youth. And again. Blessed is the man ichom Tliou cliastenest, Ps'. 94 O Lord. And another who saith, Despise not the chastening^'^- of the Lord. If thou come to serve the Lord, prepare thyn. ' ' soul for temptation. And Christ also said to His disciples, fj"''^"^" In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer. ^^hn And again, Ye shall u-eep and lament, but the norld shall \q%, rejoice. And again, Strait is the gate, and. narroia is the Matt. 7, way. Dost thou see how trilnilation is every where lauded, ^'*' every where assumed as needful for us .? For if in the con- tests of the world, no one without this receiveth the crown, unless he fortify himself by toil, by abstinence from delica- cies, by living according to rule, by watchings, and inmune- rable other things, much more so here. For whom wilt thou name as an instance ? The king .? Not even he liveth a life free from care, but one burdened with much tribulation and anxiety. For look not to his diadem, but to his sea of cares, by which trouble is produced for him. Nor look to his purple robe, but to his soul, which is darker than that purple. His crown doth not so closely bind his brow, as care doth his soul. Nor look to the multitude of his spear- men, but to the multitude of his disquietudes. For it is not possible to find a private house laden with so many cares as a king's palace. Violent death each day expected in the very place, a vision of blood is seen as they sit down to eat and drink. Nor can we say how oft they are disturbed in the night season, and leap up, haunted with visions. And all this in peace ; but if war overtakes them, their cares are still more increased. What then can be more piteous than such a life as this ! What evils have they from those that are their own, I mean, those who are under their power. Nay, and of a truth the 176 Calamities thttt hefel Emperors. Phi I,, pavement of a king's house is always full of blood, the blood liillHlof his own relations. But if ye will, I will relate some instances, and ye will presently know that so it is. I will chiefly relate those of older date, but which are still kept in memory, as having happened in our own time. OneS it is said, having suspected his wife of adultery, bound her naked upon mules, and exposed her to wild beasts, though she had already been the mother to him of many princes. What sort of life, think ye, could that man have li\ed } For he would not have broken out into such vengeance, had he not been deeply affected wdth that distress. Moreover, the same man slew his own son ^, or rather his brother slew himself, together with his children, but he is also reported to have slain his own brother. And the one indeed slew himself, when seized by a rebel, and another put to death his cousin, his colleague in the kingdom, to which he had appointed him. Another' F After these words the Greek text is disarranged, and irreconcileable with itself and with the real history. Chry- sostom seems however to intend to say what follows; that the brother of Cris- pus, i. e. Constantius Augustus, caused his father's brother, Julius Constantius, and his'sons, Dalmatius and Anniba- lianus, to be put to death. They were in fact slain by the soldiery, and as some thought at the instigation of Constan- tius Augustus, son of Constantine. He adds afterwards, that his brother was taken by an usurper, and killed himself. Now Constans Augustus, the brother of Constantius, was taken by the usurper Magnentius, or rather by his generals, and slain, but no writer ex- cept Chrysostom says that he killed himself. He adds that Constantius slew his cousin. This was Gallus, who was made his colleague in the Em- pire by Constantius, and put to death by his order, A.D. 345. Montf. (Tillemont understands this other- wise, and more according to the Greek, which is not difficult to construe as it stands ; viz. that Constans killed him- self and his chihlren, [if he had any, which does not otherwise appear,] when taken by Magnentius, and that he [Constans'] caused the death of his brother Constantine the younger.) h Here Chrysostom relates the violent deaths that had occurred within memory in the imperial palace ; he goes, however, by common report, which usually varies from the real fact. He mentions the events without the names. There is no doubt, however, that the first example brought forward is Con- stantine the Great, who caused his son Crispus to be put to death, and after- wards his wife Fausta. Chrysostom says he exposed her to wild beasts, others however relate that she was suftocated by his order in a hot bath. Tillemont gives the most accurate of all the accounts of this affair. Montf. ' As for what Chrysostom adds, (as usual without names,) of the wife of one of the Augusti who used drugs to cure barrenness, and perished together with the woman who supplied the drugs, also of another Augustus who was poisoned, and whose son had an eye put out, and another who perished in some horrible manner, I have not yet been able to find out to whom it applies. But what follows, of one burnt among beams and horses and all sorts of things, relates to Valens, who after his defeat at Hadrianople retired to a house, and was burnt to ashes with it. The reigning Emperor was Arcadius, with respect to whom the history of that age attests the truth of his words. Monf/. Tillemont understands the one poi- soned to be Jovian, and says that his son Varroniaiius was treated as here mentioned, and afterwards put to death ; Miseries of Royalty. 177 saw his wife destroyed by medicines ^, for when she bore not, Hom. a wretched and miserable woman (for snch indeed she was \- who Ihonght to give the gift of God by her own wisdom) gave her medicines, and destroyed the qneen, and herself perished with her. Another again, after this ^, was destroyed b}^ noxious drugs, and his cup was to him no longer drink, but death. And his son too had an eye put out, from fear of what was to follow, thougli he had done no wrong. It is not befitting to mention how another ended his life miserably. And after them, one was burnt, like some miserable wretch, amongst horses, and beams, and all sorts of things, and left his wife in widovvhood. For it is not possible to relate the woes which he was compelled to undergo in his lifetime, when he rose up in revolt. And hath not he who now rules, from the time he received the crown, been in toil, in danger, in grief, in dejection, in misfortune, exposed to conspiracies ? Such is not the kingdom of heaven, but after it is received, there is peace, life, joy, delight. But as I said, life cannot be without pain. For if in the affairs of this world, he who is accounted most happy, if the king is burdened with so many misfortunes, what thinkest thou must be true of private life ? I cannot say how many other evils there are ! How many stories have ofttimes been formed on these subjects ! For neai'ly all the tragedies of the stage, as well as stories, have kings for their subjects. For most of these stories are fonned from true incidents, for it is thus they please. As for example, Thyestes' banquet, and the destruc- tion of all tliat family by their misfortunes. These things we know from the writers ' that are without : (6) but if ye will, 1 will adduce instances from the Scripture too. Saul was the first king, and ye know how he perished, after experiencing numberless ills. After him, David, Solomon, Abia, Hezekiah, Josiah, in like sort. For it is not possible, without affliction and toil, and without dejection of mind, to pass through the present life. But let us be cast down in mind, not for such things as these, for which kings grieve, but for those things, whence we (thus) have great gain. For^ Cor. 7, 10. and so Montf. in his Introduction to ^ al. his successor. St. Chrj's. 'ad Viduam Juniorem,' ' The civil historians. t. i. p. 337. N 178 QrieJ fur shi tends to joy. Pnii,. godly sorrow worketh repentance vnto salvation, not to he - — - — -repented of. On account of these things we should be grieved, for these things we should be pained, for these things we should be pricked at heart; thus was Paul grieved 2 Cor. (q^ sinners, thus did he weep. For out of much affliction and anrjuish of heart I wrote unto you in many tears. For when he had no cause of grief on his own account, he did so on account of others, or rather he accounted those things too to be his own, at least as far as grief went. Others were offended, and he burned ; others were weak, and he was weak ; such grief as this is good, is superior to all worldly joy. Him who so grieves I prefer to all men, or rather the Lord Himself pronounces them blessed, who so grieve, who are kindly afFectioned one toward another. I do not so much admire him in dangers, or rather I do not admire him less for the dangers by which he died daily, yet this still more captivates me. For it came of a soul devoted to God, and full of affection : from the love which Christ Himself seeketh : from a brotherly and a fatherly sympathy, or rather, of one greater than both these. Thus we should be affected, thus weep ; such tears as these are full of great delight; such grief as this is the ground of joy. And say not to me: What do they for whom I grieve gain by my so doing? Though we no way profit them for whom we grieve, at all events we shall profit ourselves. For he who grieveth thus on account of others, much more will so do for himself; he who thus wet'pcth for the sins of others, will not pass by his own sins unwept, or rather, he will not quickly sin. But this is dreadful, that when we are ordered so to grieve for them that sin, we do not even exhibit any repentance for our own sins, but when sinning remain with- out feeling, and have care for and take account of any thing, rather than our own sins. For this cause we rejoice with a worthless joy, which is the joy of the world, and straightway quenched, and which bearelh griefs innumerable. Let us then grieve with grief which is the mollier of joy, and let us not rejoice with joy which beareth grief. Let us shed tears which are the seeds of great joy, and not laugh with that laughter, which beareth the gnashing of teeth for us. Let us be afflicted with affliction, from which springs up Present ease not the way to Heaven. 179 ease, and let us not seek luxury, whence great affliction and Hom. pain is born. Let us labour a little time upon the earth, that '- we may have continual enjoyment in heaven. Let us afflict oui'selves in this transitory life, that we may attain rest in that which is endless. Let ns not be remiss in this short life, lest we groan in that which is endless. See ye not how many are here in affliction for the sake of worldly things? Suppose thyself one of them, and bear thy affliction and thy pain, feeding on the hope of things to come. Thou art not better than Paul or Peter, who never obtained rest, who passed all their life in hunger and thirst and nakedness. If thou wouldest attain the same things with them, why journeyest thou along a contrary road ? If thou wouldest arrive at that City, of which they have been deemed worthy, walk along the path which leadeth thither. The way of ease leadeth not thither, but that of affliction. The former is broad, the latter is narrow; along this let us walk, that we may attain eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord, with Whom, to the Father, together with the Holy Ghost, be honour, might, power, now and ever, and world without end. Amen. N a HOMILIES OF S. JOHN CHKYSOSTOM, ARCHBISHOP OF CONSTANTINOPLE, ON THE EPISTLE OF S. PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS. HOMILY I. Col. i. 1, 2. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of Ood, and Timotheus our brother, to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse : Orace be unto you, and peace, from Ood our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Holy indeed are all the Epistles of Paul : but somewhat more those which he sent after he was in bonds : those, for instance, to the Ephesians and Philemon : that to Timothy, that to the Philippians, and the one before us : for this also was sent after he was a prisoner, since he writes in it thus : for which I am also in bonds : that I may make it manifest Col. 4 as I ought to speak. But this Epistle appears to have been ^* ^" written after that to the Romans. For the one to the Romans he wrote before he had seen them, but this Epistle, after ; and near upon the close of his preaching \ And it is » Ed. Par. suspects that a sentence lemon as written in imprisonment, and is lost here, but without reason, as he consequently later than that to the had just mentioned the Epistle to Phi- Romans. 182 Thin Epislle u riiien in bnprisonment. CoLos. evident from hence; lliat in the Epistle to Philemon he says, yjr. 9. ' -^^"^i? ^uch an one as Paul the aged, and makes request for Onesimus ; but in this he sends Oncsimus himself, as he says, Co\.A,9. With Onesimus the faithful and beloved brother: calling him faithful, and beloved, and brother. Wherefore also he 1,23. boldly says in this Epistle, yVow the hope of the Gospel which ye have heard, and ivhich was preached to every creature which is under heaven. For it had now been *«Sex preached for a long time. I think then' that the Epistle Ed"p *^° Timothy was written after this; and when he was now cut Edd. come to the very end of his life, for there he says, for I am now ready to be offered; this is later'' however than that to the Philippians, for in that Epistle he appears to be entering upon his imprisonment at Rome. 3 «-Xia, But why do I say that these Epistles have some advantage' x*'*- over the rest.^ In this respect, because he writes them while in bonds; as if a champion were to write in the midst of carnage and victory ' ; so also in truth did he. For himself too was aware that this was a great thing, for writing to ver. 10. Philemon he saith, Whom I have beyoiien in my bonds. •■'a(r;^^ax- And tliis lic Said, that we should not be dispirited^ when fretfuf^"^ adversity, but even rejoice. At this place was Philemon repin- with these (Colossians). For in the Epistle to him he C(fl. 4 saith. And to Archippus our felloiv-soldier ; and in this, Say to 17. Archippus. This man seems to me to have been charged with some office in the Church. But he had neither seen these people, nor the Romans, nor the Hebrews, when he wrote to them. That this is true of the latter, he shews in many places ; with regard Col. 2, to the Colossians, hear him saying, And as many as have ^' ■'^- not seen my face in the Jlesh : and again, Though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit. So great a thing did he know his presence every where to be. And always, oven though he be absent, he makes himself ^iauriv prcscut^. So, wlicu lie punishes the fornicator, look how |^ly heard that the Demon has cured any one, straightway forsakest tliy Master ; O more unreasoning than the dogs ! But, saith one, the liarlots are a ])leasure to look ui)on. What sort of pleasure are they .? yea rather what infamy are they ' oltrTgof.noil Thy house has become a brothel, madness, and fury^; The rich poor within, the poor rich within. 193 and art thou not ashamed to call this pleasure ? If now it be Hom. allowed to have the full pleasure of them, the greater is the '— shame, and the discomfort which arises from the shame. And how ? Is it not a grievous thing to make one's house a brothel, and to take delight like hogs in wallowing in the mire ? But if so far only be allowed as to see them, lo ! again the pain is greater. For to see is no pleasure, where to use is not allowed, but the lust becomes only the greater, and the flame the fiercer. But wouldest thou learn the end ? Those, indeed, when they rise up fi'om the table, are like the madmen and those that have lost their wits ; foolhardy, quarrelsome, laughing- stocks for the very slaves ; and the servants indeed return home sober, but these, drunk. O the shame ! But with the other is nothing of this sort; but closing the table with thanksgiving, they so return to their homes, with pleasure sleeping, with pleasure waking, free from all shame and accusation. If thou wilt consider also the guests themselves, thou wilt (6.) see that the one are within, what the other are without ; blind, maimed, lame ; and as are the bodies of these, such are the souls of those, labouring under dropsy and inflam- mation. For of such sort is pride ; for after the luxurious gratification a maiming takes place ; of such sort is surfeiting and drunkenness, making men lame and maimed. And thou wilt see too that these have souls like the bodies of the others, bright, ornamented. For they who live in giving of thanks, who seek nothing beyond a sufficiency, they whose philo- sophy is of this sort are in all brightness. But let us see the end both here and there. There, indeed, is unchaste pleasure, loose laughter, drunkenness, buffoonery >, i jj^^. filthy language ; (for since they in their own persons are '^«x/a, ashamed to talk filthily, this is brought about by means of the 5, 4. harlots ;) but here is love of mankind, gentleness. Near to him who invites those stands vainglory commanding''^ him, but near 2 „vx/'- the other, love of man, and gentleness. For the one table, love ?«"''«' of man prepareth, but the other, vainglory, and cruelly, out of injustice and grasping. And that one ends in what I have said, in pride, in delirium, in madness ; (for such are the o 194 Future reward of honpitalitij to the Poor. CoLos. offshoots of vainglory ;) but this one in thanksgiving and — ^— ^ the glory of God, And the praise too, which cometh of men, attcndcth more abundantly ujjon this, for that man is even regarded with an envious eye ; but this all men regard as their common father, even they who have received no benefit at his hands. And as with the injured even they who have not been injured sympathize, and all become in common enemies (to the injurer) : so too, when any have received kindness, they also who have not received any ; not less than they who have, praise and admire him that conferred it. And there indeed is much envy, but here much tender solicitude, many jjrayers from all. And so much indeed here; but There, when Christ is come, this one indeed shall stand with much boldness, and shall Matt, hear before the wdiole world. Thou sawest Me an hungered, ^^*' ^^' and didst feed Me ; naked, and didst clothe Me ; a stranger, and didst take Me in ; and other like words : but the other lb, 26. shall hear the contrary; Wicked and slothful servant; Amos 6, and again. Woe unto them that luxuriate upon their j'xx, couches, and sleep upon beds of ivory, and drink the "iiuXtr- reined raine, and. anoint themselves with the chief oint- strainedi '^nents ; they couuled upon these things as staying, and not as fleeting. I have not said this without purpose, but with the view of changing your minds ; and that you should do nothing that is fruitless. What then, saith one, if I do both the one and the other ? This argument is much resorted to by all. And what need, tell me, when every thing might be done pro- fitably, to make a division, and to expend part not only on what is not wanted, but even without any purpose at all, and part profitably ? Tell me, hadst thou, when sowing, cast some upon a rock, and some upon very good ground ; is it likely that thou wouldest have been contented so, and have said. Where is the harm, if we have cast some to no ]3urpose, and some upon very good ground } For why not all into the very good ground ? Why lessen the gain } And if thou have occasion to be getting money together, thou wilt not talk iu that way, but wilt get it together from every quarter ; but in the other case thou dost not so. And if to No true friendsltip comes of feasting. 195 lend on usuiy ; thou wilt not say, " Wherefore ? we will Hom. give some to the poor, and some to the rich," but all is '- given to the former": but in the case before us; where the gain is so great ; how is it that thou dost not thus calculate ; and at length desist from expending without purpose, and laying out without return ? * But,' saith one, ' this also hath a gain.' Of what kind ? tell me. ' It increaseth friendships.' Nothing is colder than men who are made friends by these things, by the table, and surfeiting. The parasites ! Nothing is more un- satisfactory than a friendship thus originated. Insult not a thing so marvellous as love *, nor say that this ' Com- is its root. As if one were to say, that a tree which bore clem" gold and precious stones had not its root of the same, but ^l- ^^- that it was gendered of rottenness; even so doest thou: forii. c. i. even though friendship should be produced in this way, nothing can possibly be colder. But those other tables produce friendship, not with man, but with God ; and that an intense"^ one, so thou be intent on preparing them. For-s^'^j- he that expendeth part in this way and part in that, even '"'''"'""' should he have bestowed much, hath done no great thing : but he that expendeth all in this way, even though he should have given little, hath done the whole. For what is required is that we give, not much or little, but not less than is in our power. Think we on him with the five talents, Matt. and on him with the two. Think we on her who cast in Mark ' those two mites ^ Think we on the widow in Elijah's days, ^^i 41. She who threw in those two mites, said not. What harm if i Vings I keep the one mite for myself, and give the other.'' but gave ^^* her whole living. But thou, in the midst of so great plenty, art more penurious than she. Let us then not be careless of our own salvation, but apply ourselves to almsgiving. For nothing is better than this, as the time to come shall shew : meanwhile the present shews it also. Live we then to the glory of God, and do those things that please Him, that we "" Because their distress would make requires, " shall we not give?" or else, tliem willing to give a higher interest. " luilt thou not say?" interrogatively, This place may bear the sense here or the expulsion of ha. ri. given, but it seems corrupt. The sense o2 19G Almsgiving rewarded hereafter. CoLos. may be counted worthy of the good things of promise ; ^i^- which may all we obtain, through the grace and love toward man of our Lord Jesus Christ, to Whom be the glory and the power and honour, now and ever, and world without end. Amen. HOMILY 11. Col. i. 9, 10. For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual wider standing ; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God. For this cause. What cause ? Because we heard of your faith and love, because we have good hopes, we are hopeful to ask for future blessings also. For as in the games we cheer on those most who are near upon gaining the victory, so truly doth Paul also most exhort those who have achieved the greater part. Since the day we heard it, saith he, we do not cease to pray for you. Not for one day do we pray for you, nor yet for two, nor three. Herein he both shews his love, and gives them a gentle hint that they had not yet arrived at the end. For the words, that ye might be filled, are of this significancy. And observe, I pray, the prudence of this blessed one. He no where says that they had been cut off from completeness", but, every where that they fell short; for the words, that ye might be filled, shew this. And again, unto all pleasing, in every good work, and again, strength- ver. ii. ened with all might, and again, iinto all patience and long- suffering ; for the word all is that of one bearing witness to their well doing in part, though, it might be, not in all. And, that ye might be filled, he saith; not, ' that ye might receive,' for they had received ; but that ye might be filled * Tti ■^atTos oi.iti9ri(^t6on. It seems to mean this, rather than ' had lost all.' 198 Divine knowledge, Christ the Way to the Father. Coi.ns. ^^ith what as yet was lacking. Thus both the rebuke was ] 9. 10. . . — given without offence, and the praise did not suffer them to sink down, and become supine, as if it had been com])lete. But wliat is, that ye might be filled toith the knowledge y. Horn. Qf fjif. ^i-iii ? That is, ve must be brought unto Him by the 1. §. 1. ' " , Son, and no more by Angels. Now that ye must be brought unto Him, ye have learnt, but it remains for you yet to learn further why He sent the Son. For had it been that we were to have been saved by Angels'', He would not have sent the Son, He would not have given Him up. In all wisdom, he saith, and spiritual understanding. For since the philosophers deceived them ; I wish you, he saith, to be in spiritual wisdom, not after the wisdom of men. But if in order to know the will of God, there needs spiritual ' Tfl» wisdom; to know His Essence' what It is, there needs Ij.^^,, contniual prayers. And Paul shews here, that since that time he has been praying, and has not yet prevailed, and yet has not de- sisted; for the words, /rowi the day we heard it, shew this. But it implies much condemnation to them, if, from that time, even assisted by prayers, they had not amended them- selves. And desiring, he says, that is, with much earnestness, for this the expression ye knew" shews. But it is necessary - i^iyu. stiW to know^ somewhat besides. That ye might toalk worthy plied in of the Lord. Here he speaks of life and its works, for so he i-rlyvu- ^qW^ also every where: with faith he always couples conver- sation. Unto all pleasing. And how, all pleasing ? Being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God. Seeing, saith he. He hath fully revealed Himself unto you, and seeing ye have received knowledge so great ; do ye then shew forth a conversation worthy of the faith ; for '^•=j/« this needeth great things in life'', greater far than the xvis JO- qJj dispensation. For, he that hath known God, and been lit. a counted worthy to be God's servant, yea rather, even His great conver- sation. '' It may be asked how St. Chrj'- to have made the Angels independent sostom could use this argument, and of Him, and the means of an approach yet speak as he does of the intercession to God without reference to His Atone- of Saints, (see the end of Horn. vi. on nient. St. Augustine refers to such the Statues, and note.) The reason systems, De Civ. Dei, lib. ix. 15. 21. is, that he viewed the Saints as in the x. 1. &c. Kingdom of Christ, and subordinate; <= iyvc/ri. This is implied in his wish- but the error here referred to seems ing them more knowledge. St. Paul makes way /or blame with praise. 199 son, see how great virtue he needeth. Strengthened with all Hom. mights He is here speaking of trials and persecutions. We pray that ye might be filled with strength, that ye faint ' ' «««S'2. not for sorrow, nor despair. According to the power oj His glory. That, saith he, ye may take up again such for- wardness as it becomuth the power of His glory to give. Unto all patience and longsuffering. What he saith is of this sort. Summarily, he saith, we pray that ye may lead a life of virtue, and worthy of your citizenship, and may stand firmly, as in reason they should, who have been strengthened by God. For this cause he doth not as yet touch upon doc- trines, but dwells upon life, wherein he had nothing to charge them with, and having praised them where praise was due, he then addresses- himself to accusation. And this he does every -««AV/». where : for when he is about writing to any with somewhat to blame them for, and somewhat to praise, he first praises them, and then addresses himself to his charges. For he first con- ciliates the hearei', and frees his accusation from all suspicion, and shews that for his own part he could have been glad to praise them throughout ; but by the necessity of the case is forced into saying what he does. And so he doth in the first'' ^perhaps Epistle to the Corinthians. For after having exceedingly ^^g « gg. praised them as loving him, and from the case of the forni- cond.' cator, he addresses himself to accuse them. But in that to the Galatians not so, but the reverse. Yea, rather, if one should look close into it, even the accusation there follows upon praise. For seeing he had no good deeds of thens then to speak of, and the charge was an exceeding grave one, and they were every one of them corrupted ; and were able to bear it because they were strong, he begins with ac- cusation, saying, / marvel*. So that this also is praise. But f'^.y '^' afterwards he praises them, not for what they were, but what Chrys. they had been, saying, //" it had been possible, ye would |? ?'^j,^ have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me. Gal. 4, Being fruitful, he saith : this hath reference to works, ^^"/^j, Strengtliened: i\\\H,\.oXnd\s. Unto all patience and longsuffer- ing: longsuffering towards one another, patience towards those without. For longsuffering is toward those whom we can requite, but patience toward those whom we cannot. For this reason the term patient is never applied to God, 200 God's gifts worthy of Himself. CoLos. but longsiifiering frequently ; as this same blessed one saith ^g^^^p^othovvvherc in his \Yntings, Or despisest thou the riches of His 4. (joodiiess, and /orbeantnce, and lonfjsufferiny? Unto all pleasing. Not, one while, and afterwards not so. In all icisdnm, he saith, anfl spiritual understanding. For other- wise it is not possible to know His will. Although indeed they thought they had His will ; but that wisdom was not spiritual. That ye might ivalk^ saith he, icorthy of the Lord. For this is the way of the best life. For he that hath under- stood God's love to man, (and he doth understand it if he have seen the Son delivered u]),) will have greater forward- ness. And besides, we pray not for this alone that ye may know, but that ye may shew forth by our knowledge in works; for he that knows without doing, is even in the way to punishment. That ye might walk, he saith, that is, always, not once, but continually. As to walk is necessary for us, so also is to live rightly. And when on this subject he con- stantly uses the term icalk, and with reason, shewing that such is the life set before us. But not of this sort is that of the world. And great too is the praise. That ye might walk, he saith, worthy of the Lord, and in every good icork, so as to be always advancing, and no where standing still, and, with a metaphor, being fruitful and increasing in the knowledge of God, that ye might be in such measure strengthened, ac- cording to the power of God, as is possible for man to be. text Through His power^ , great is the consolation. — He said not *""■* mighty but po/rer, which is greater: through the pozcer,he S.Lhi vs. saith, of His glory, because that every where His glory hath tX"^ the power. He thus comforts those under reproach : and 2 5i;»a^. is f^iTiAin, which agrees with this '' ftiTivrnrt. The word in Heb. 11,3. criticism. 204 Work of the Son in Redemption, how great. CoLos. pose the Son excluded, he ascribes the whole both to the Son, — — '- and to the Father. For lie indeed translated us, but the Son furnished the cause. For what saith he? IVho delivered us from the power of darkness. But this is the same with, TPurn -^''' ff'^hom we have the full redemption^, even the forgive' vid. inf. yjg^.,. qJ" sins. For had we not been forgiven our sins, we should not have been translated. So here again the words, In ^xvT^ai- iVJiom. And he said not 'redemption-,' hni full redemp- ^ ufoxi- tion \ so that we shall not fall any more, nor become liable "i"/:'- to death. V. Horn. 14. in Ver. 15. Who is the image of the invisible God, the First- ^°™' born nf every creature. We light here upon a question of heresy. So it were well we should put it off to-day aiid proceej^^jdth Jjtto^^rrow, addressing it to your ears when they are freslji But if one ought to say any thing more : the work of the Son is the gi'eater. How ? Because it wei'e a thing impos- sible to give the kingdom to men whilst continuing in their sins ; but thus it is an easier thing, so that He prepared the way for the gift. What sayest thou 1 He Himself loosed thee from thy sins : surely then He Himself also hath '^f^oan- brought thee nigh*; already he has laid by anticipation the Teep? foundation of his doctrine. ^^'^1 , But we must put a close to this discourse, when first we note f. ' (4) have made one remark. And what is this r Seeing we have come to enjoy so great a benefit, we ought to be ever mindful of it, and continually to turn in our minds tlie free gift of God, and to reflect upon what we have been delivered from, and what we have obtained ; and so we shall be thank- ful ; so we shall heighten our love toward Him. What sayest thou, O man } Thou art called to a kingdom, to the kingdom of the Son of God — and art thou fujl of .yavming, and scratching, and dozing? If need were that thou should- est leap into ten thousand deaths every day, oughtest thou not to endiu'e all 1 For the sake of office thou doest all manner of things ; when then thou art going to share the kingdom of the Only-Begotten, wilt thou not spring down upon ten thou- sand swords ? wouldest thou not leap into fire ? And this is not all that is strange, but that when about to depart even, thou bewailest, and wouldest gladly dwell amongst the things The soul should he ready to quit the nest. 205 which are here, being a lover of the body. What fancy is Hom. this? Dost thou regard even death as a thing of terror? '- — The cause of this is kixury, ease: for he at least that should live an embittered' life would wish even for wings, and to be '*'*''«'^'- loosed from hence. But now it is the same with us as with see on the spoiled nestlings, which would v^illingly remain for ever in ^"^^- . the nest. But the longer we remain, the feebler shall we be. Tr. p. For the present life is a nest cemented together with sticks ^^^' and mire. Yea, shouldest thou shew me even the great mansions, yea the royalpalace itself glittering with all its gold and precious stones ; I shall think them no better than the nests of swallows, for when the winter is come they will all fall of themselves. By winter I mean That Day, not that it will be a winter to all. For God also calleth that time both night and day ; the first in regard of sinners, the latter of the just. So do I also now call it winter. If in the sum- mer we have not been well brought up, so as to be able to fly when winter is come, our mothers will not take us, but will leave us to die of hunger, or to perish when the nest falls ; for easily as it were a nest, or rather more easily, will God in that day remove all things, undoing and new mould- ing all. But they which are unfledged, and not able to meet Him in the air, but have been so grossly " brought up thaf-Z^a»»»'- they have no lightness of wing, will suffer all those things which reason is such characters should suffer. Now the brood of swallows, when they are fallen, perish quickly ; but we shall not perish, but be punished for ever. That season will be winter; rather more severe than winter. For, not winter torrents of water are those that roll down, but rivers of fire; not darkness that riseth from clouds is there, but dark- ness that cannot be dispelled, and without a ray of light, so that they cannot see either the heaven, or the air, but are more straitened than those who have been buried in the earth. Oftentimes do we say these things, but there are whom we cannot bring to believe. And it is nothing wonderful if we, men of small account, are thus treated, when we discourse of such things, since the same happened to the Prophets also; when they spoke not of such mattei's only, but also of war Jer.21, and captivity. And Zedckiah was rebuked by Jeremiah, and jg.'&c.' was not ashamed. Therefore the Prophets said. Woe imto^^-^A^' 206 Judgment disbelieved by me7i called Christians. Co LOS. them that say, Let Ood hasten loith sjieed His work, that we ' ' 7nay see it, and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel omits come, that xoe may know it. Let us not wonder at this. For * ®"' neither did those believe who were in the days of the ark ; they believed, however, when their belief was of no gain to them; neither did they of Sodom expect [their fate], howbeit they too believed, when they gained nothing by believing. And why do I speak of the future ? Who would have ex- pected these things which are now happening in divers places; these earthquakes, these overthrows of cities? And yet were these things easier to believe than those ; those, I mean, which happened in the days ol" the ark. Whence is this evident ? Because that the men of those times had no other example to look at, neither had they heard the Scriptures, but with us, on the other hand, are countless instances that have hapjicned both in our own, and in former years. But whence arose the unbelief of these persons? From a softened soul ; they drank and ate, and therefore they be- lieved not. For, what a man wishes, he thinks, and expects ; • xTi^os. and they that gainsay him are a jest'. (5) But let it not be so witli us ; for hereafter it will not be a flood ; nor the punishment till death only ; but death will be the beginning of their punishment, who believe not that there is a Judgment. And doth any ask, who has come from thence, and said so? If now thou speakest thus in jest, not even so is it well ; for one ought not to jest in such matters ; and we jest, not where jesting is in place, but with peril ; but if what thou really feelest, and thou art of opinion that there is nothing hereafter, how is it that thou callest thyself a Christian ? For I take not into account those who are without. Why receivest thou the Laver? Why dost thou set foot wiihin the Church ? Is it that we promise thee magistracies ? All our hope is in the things to come. Why then comest thou, if thou believest not the Scriptures, if thou believest not Christ ? I cannot call such an one a Christian ; God forbid ! but worse than even a Gentile. In what res])ect? In this; that when thou thinkcst Christ is God, thou believest Him not as God. For in that im])iety there is at least consistency; for he who thinks not that Christ is God, necessarily will also not believe Him, but this This caused by an evil conscience. 207 impiety has not even consistency ; to confess Him to be Hom, God, and yet not to think Him worthy of belief in what He '— has said; these are the words of drunkenness, of luxury, of riot. Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die. Not to-mor- ^ ^°''' •^ 15, 32. row; but now ye are dead, when ye thus speak. Shall we then be in nothing different from swine and asses ? tell me. For if there be neither a judgment, nor a retribution, nor a tri- bunal, wherefore have we been honoured with such a gift as reason, and have all things put under us ? Why do we rule, and are they ruled ? See how the devil is on every side urgent to persuade us to be ignorant of the Gift of God. He mixes together the slaves with their masters, like some man-stealer ^ and ungrateful servant, he strives to degrade the free to the level of the criminal. And he seems indeed to be overthrow- ing the Judgment, but he is overthrowing the being of God\ For such is ever the devil's way ; he puts forwai'd every thing artfully, and not in a straightforward manner, to put us on our guard. If there is no Judgment, God is notjust: (I speak as a man,) if God is not just, then there is no God at all : if there is no God, all things go on at haphazard, virtue is nought, vice nought. But he says nothing of this openly. Seest thou the drift of this satanical argument? how, instead of men, he wishes to make us brutes, or rather, wild beasts, or rather, demons. Let us then not he persuaded by him. For there is a Judgment, O wretched and miserable man ! I know whence thou comest to use such words. Thou hast committed many sins, thou hast offended, thou hast no confidence % thou thinkest that the nature of things will even "/«?/"- follow thy arguments. Meanwhile, saith he, I will not tor- ment my soul with the expectation of hell, and, if there be a hell, I will persuade it that there is none; meanwhile I will live here in luxury ! Why dost thou add sin to sin ? If when thou hast sinned thou believest that there is a hell, thou wilt depart with the penalty of thy sins only to pay ; but if thou add this further impiety, thou wilt also for thine impiety, and for this thy thought, suffer the uttermost punishment ; and what was a cold and shortlived comfort to thee, will be a ground for thy being punished for ever. Thou hast sinned : be it so : why dost thou encourage others also to sin, by say- * «vS^KToJia-r^;, one who steals freemen for slaves. •208 Punishment increased hy unbelief. CoLos. ing that there is no hell ? Why dost thou mislead the sim- — '- — — pier sort ? Why unnerve the hands of the people ? So far as thou art concerned, every thing is turned upside down ; nei- ther will the good become better, but listless ; nor the wicked desist from their wickedness. For, if we corrupt others, do we get allowance for our sins? Seest thou not the devil, how he attempted to bring down Adam? And has there then been allowance for him ? Nay, surely it will be the occasion of a greater punishment. For he is ever contriving that we may be punished not for our own sins only, but also for those of others. Let us not then suppose that to bring down others into the same destruction with ourselves will make the Judgment-seat more lenient to us. Surely this will make it more severe. Why thrust we ourselves on de- struction ? The whole of this cometh of Satan. O man, hast thou sinned ? Thou hast for thy Master One that loveth man. Entreat, implore, weep, groan; and tei'rify others, and pray them that they fall not into the same. If in a house some servant, of those that had offended their master, should say to his son, " My child, I have offended the master, do thou be careful to please him, that thou be not as I :" tell me, will he not have some forgiveness ? will he not bend and soften his master? But if, leaving so to speak, isc. thehe shall say such words as these, that he' will not requite every one according to his deserts; that, all things are jumbled together indiscriminately, both good and bad ; that there is no thanks in this house ; what thinkest thou vvill be the master's mind concerning him ? will he not suffer a severer punishment for his own misdoings ? Justly so ; for in the former case his feeling will plead for him, though it 2Sav. be but weakly; but in this, nothing-. If no other then, yet '°°°"^' imitate at least that rich man in hell, who said, 'Father Abraham, send Lazarus to my kinsmen, lest they come into this place,' since he could not go himself, so that they might not fall into the same condemnation. Let us have done with such satanical words. (0) What then, saith he, when the Greeks put questions to us; wouldest thou not that we should try to cure ' them ? But ^ fii^atrtitiv. As we say, familiarly, ' The Kemedy of Greekish affections.' ' doctor thurn.' The term was commonly Here it is ' humour them' by palatable used. Theodoret has a treatise called, doctrine. Hotv to argue uith Heathens. They may hold a Judyment. 209 by casting the Christian into perplexity, under pretence of Hom. curing the Greek, thou aimest at establishing thy Satanical ^^' doctrine. For since, when communing with thy soul alone of these things, thou persuadest her not; thou desirest to bring forward others as witnesses. But if one must reason with Greeks, the discussion should not begin with this ; but whether Christ be * God, and the Son of God; whether those i Sav. gods of theirs be demons. If these points be established, all q*,'^'^* the others follow ; but, before making good the beginning, it is.' is vain to dispute about the end, before learaing the first elements, it is superfluous and unprofitable to come to the conclusion. The Greek disbelieves the Judgment, and he is in the same case with thyself, seeing that he too hath many who have treated these things in their philosophy; and albeit when they so spoke they held the soul as separated from the body, still they set up ^ a seat of judgment. And"'*«^'- the thing is so very clear, that no one scarcely is ignorant of it, but both poets and all are agreed among themselves that there is both a Tribunal and a Judgment. So that the Greek also doth not disbelieve his own authorities; neither doth the Jew doubt about these things, nor in a word doth any man. Why then deceive we ourselves } See, thou sayest these things to me. What wilt thou say to God, tJiat fashioned ^s. '63 our hearts one hy one ^ ; that knoweth every thing that is ^^* in the mind; that is quick, and powerfuP\ and sharper Heh. 4 than any two-edged sword? For tell me with truth; Dost^^* thou not condemn thyself when sinning .? [and is there any of mankind that blames not himself when he is wilful^?] ^ not in And how should wisdom so great, as that one who sinSpjes*!"" should condemn himself, come by chance, for this is a work of mighty wisdom. Thou condemnest thyself. And will He who giveth thee such thoughts leave every thing to go on at hazard ? This rule then will hold universally and strictly. Not one of those who live in virtue wholly disbelieves the doctrine of the Judgment, even though he be Greek or heretic. None, save a few, of those who live in great wicked- ness, receives the doctrine of the Resurrection. And this is f xecrtifiimf, LXX. E. V. alifce. ^ hi^youvrx, working. Rec. text m^yii{. P 210 Disbelief til. Judgvient comes ojsiuful pleasures, CoLos. what the Psahuist says, Thy judgments are taken away frum ' " he/ore his face. Whcrclore ? Because liis nays are always Fs.10,5. profane; for he saith, Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die. Secst thou that thus to speak is the mark of the grovelling? Of eating and drinking come these sayings which are sub- versive of the Resurrection. For the soul endures not, I say, it endures not the tribunal which the conscience supplieth, and so it is with it, as with a nnirderer, who first suggests to himself that he shall not be detected, and so goes on to slay, for had his conscience been his judge, he would not hastily have come to that daring wickedness. And still he knows, and pretends not to know, lest he should be tortured by con- science and fear, for, certainly, in that case, he would have been less resolute for the murder. So too, assuredly, do they who sin, both know that to sin is an evil thing, and whilst day by day they wallow in that wickedness, they are unwil- 'icr/Aajct- ling to know it, although their consciences pluck at them '. ,a„. But let us give no heed to such persons, for there will be, there will assuredly be, a Judgment and a Resurrection, and God will not leave so great works without direction. Where- fore, I beseech you, let us leave off wickedness, and lay fast hold on virtue, that we may receive the true doctrine in Christ Jesus our Lord. And yet, which is easier to receive ? the doctrine of the Resurrection, or that of Fate? The latter is full of injustice, of absurdity, of cruelty, of inhumanity; the other of righteousness, awarding according to desert; and still men do not receive it. But the fault is, indolence, for no one that hath understanding receives the other. For amongst the Greeks even, they who did receive that doctrine, were those who in their definition of pleasure affirmed it to be the ' end,' but they who loved virtue, would not receive it, but they cast it out as absurd. But if among the Greeks this were so, much more will it hold good with the doctrine of the Resurrection. And observe, I pray you, how the devil hath established two contrary things: for in order that ■! h^a- we may neglect virtue ; and pay honour - to demons, he *"""'""' brought in this Necessity, and by means of each he procured the belief of both. What reason then will he be able to give, who obstinately disbelieves a thing so admirable, and and is not founded on Reason. 211 is persuaded by those who talk so idly? Do not then sup- Hom. port thyself with the consolation, that thou wilt meet with ^^ - forgiveness ; but let us, collecting all our strength, stir our- selves up to virtue, and let us live truly to God, in Christ Jesus our Lord, &c. p 2 HOMILY III. Col. i. 15—18. Who is the Image of the invisible Qod, the Firstborn of every ^"^ ^'' creature ' : For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or princiimlities, or powers: all things were created by Him,, and for Him : And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the Church. To-day it is necessary for me to pay the debt, which 2 See yesterday^ I deferred, in order that I might address it to your 6 a^fl^* minds when in full forced Paul, discoursing as we shewed p. 203. of the dignity of the Son, says these words ; Who is the ^Xa,"' Image of the invisible God. Whose image then, thinkest thou that he says He is.? If God's, it is well, (for He is God, and the Son of God ; and the words, the Image of God, implies His exact likeness ", so then He is by this parti- cular exactly like,) but if man's, say so, and I will have done with thee as a madman. But wherefore hath no Angel any where been called either ' image' or * son,' but man both? Wherefore } Because in the former case indeed the exalted- ness of their nature might presently have thrust the many viz. into this impiety^; but in the other case the mean and low nature is a pledge of security against this, and will not allow any, even should they desire it, to suspect any thing of the kind, nor to bring down the Word so low. For this cause, whei'c the meanness is great, the Scripture boldly asserts the honour, but where the nature is higher, it forbears. But he saith, Image of the Invisible. Surely then if He be in- visible, the image is invisible too, (and invisible in like » TO a^jra^aXXaxTov, unvaryingness. Image as Man,') say so, and I will Sav. mar. has, " Of whom (or of what) have done with you as a madman. But then wilt thou have the Image to be? if as God and the Son of God, the Of God P Then is He that is above all Image of God implies being without greatness without difference. For if difference." And Catena and Bodl. as the Image of a man, (read ' if an Ms. Extracts nearly the same. Arian ism The Son, as the linage of the Father, must be exactly like. 213 manner,) for otherwise it would not be an image. For an Hom. image, so far as it is an image, even amongst us, ought to be no whit different', as of characters or of a resemblance '^. ' '»'^«e- But here indeed amongst us, this is by no means possible ; , Tfl» for human art fails in many respects, or rather fails in all, if you are looking for accxu'acy. But where God is, there is no error, no failure. Bui if a creature : how is He the Image of the Creator? For neither is a horse the image of a man. If the Image mean not that He is no whit different from the Invisible, what hinders the Angels also from being His image? for they too are invisible; but not to one another: and the soul is invisible : but because it is invisible, it is simply on that account an image, and" not in such sort as He is**. V'^' ^^ ^ ' . thougn The Firstborn of every creature. ' What then,' saith one, ^2) * Lo, He is a creature.' Wlience ? tell me. ' Because he ssLid firstborn.'' However, he said n^ ^first cirgaJed,' hut first- born. Then if because He is called frstborn, thou sayest He is created, what wilt thou say when thou hearest Him called a brother 9 For the Scripture calleth Him a brother in all Heb.2, 17. things made like unto us. Shall we then for this take from Him His being Creator; and insist that neither in dignity nor in any other thing is He superior to us ? And who that hath understanding would say this ? For the word firstborn is not expressive of dignity and honour, but of time only. If then He hath no precedence over us; perchance according to this reasoning. He is Firstborn of all things, and so God the Word will be consubstantial with stones, and trees, and the like, for he saith. Firstborn of every creature! ' But,' saith one, ' He is said to he firstborn ; surely then He is created.' Rightly, if this be so, and it have no other expres- sions akin to it, such a.?, firstborn from the dead, firstborn Co\.i, among many brethren. Of what, tell me, are the words ^rs?- ^^^^ g born from the dead declaratory? For thou wilt not say ' of 29. 2 p(^a^»Krri^ut Koi cfteiiftu;. The ar- ^ Cat. and Bodl, read, ' but if, simply gument is, that invisibleness being because invisible, it is therefore an mentioned, the image must have it, as image, though not so as He is, then if one should say, ' the picture of a ve- are the angels images. A Paris Ms. nerable man,' one would undt-rstand a nearly agrees. The Catena varies venerable expression in the features, much in the next paragraph. The Compare St. Athanasius against Ari- words ' and in like manner invisible,' anism. Disc. 1. c. vi. §. 20. Tr. p. 209. above, are from it and Bodl. 2. and note d. 211 Meaning of- Firsthorn of every creature.'' CoLos.this, that He first rose ;' for he said not simply, ' of the dead; — — '-hwi firstborn from the dead, nor yet * that lie died fast,' but that lie rose the firstborn from the dead. So that they de- clare nothing else than this, that He is the Firstfruits of the Resurrection. Surely then neither in the place before us"". Next he proceeds to the doctrine itself. For that they may not think Him to be of more recent existence, because that in former times the aj^proach was through Angels, but now through llim; he shews first, that they had no power, (for V. 13. else it had not been out of darkness that He brought,) next, that He is also before them. And he uses as a proof of His being before them, this; that they were created by Him. 'Gr. m For by^ Him, he saith, were all things created. What do they say here, that hold with Paul of Samosata*^? That all things were made in Him, for lo! it is said, that in Him all things toere created. Moreover he said, the things in heaven, and the things in earth. He has laid down first that'' which was questioned. Then he subjoins the visible, and the invi- sible. Meaning by invisible, the soul, by visible, all mankind. And what is granted, he lets alone, but what is doubted of, he asserts. Then he says. Whether they be thrones, or domi- nions, or principalities, or powers. The word whether com- ^Tow prehends the whole of things -; not so, however, as to include The Spirit amongst the powers ; but by means of the greater things shews it of the less also. All things, he saith, were ' th; to created by Him,, and for ' Him. Lo, in Him, is ^ by Him, for or into. ' i. e. is any thinfi; else meant by the mar. and a Paris Ms. have another vvord •r^aiToroxot , than that He is the reading. " Here what say they that Firstliuits of the Creation. This may be hold with Paul of Samosata? The his meaning, or ' that He, the Only-be- things in the heavi)is, that which was gotten,is the Beginning of the Creation.' in question, he hath placed first, aw^/ See note on St. Athanasius against the things on the earth. Afterward he Arianism, Disc. 1. Oxf. Tr. p. 278. says, cmd things visible and invisil)le. and below, p. 216. at note k. (Downes would read, 'invisible things,' •1 P. of Samosata held the Divine as for instance the soul, ' were made P') Word, nr Reason, to be a mere Attri- Thus the soul was made in heaven, hute, and not a Person. The Person visible things, such as men, Elias and of our Lord would thus be simply Paul. Whether thrones, he says," &c. Human, only with a Divine influence. Another Paris IMs. and one in Brit. See St. Ath. Def. of Nic. Def. c. v. M. read, ' that all things were made in §. 1 1. Tr. p. 41. This text of St. Paul heaven,' which, taken with the above is (juoted against P. of Samosata, Cone, reading a little altered, would make Ant. i. Labbe, t. 1. p. 84(J. by the some sense. orthodox Bishops. See also Ejjiph. Hter. « One Ms. has, ' first the things in 45. Tile heretics might allow what is heaven, ice.' which agrees with the said here of the Word as an Attribute ; sense, the refutation follows presently. Sav. f i. c. In Him, (which.our Version wanTSj The Son ' before all things: 215 having said in Him, he added, by Him. But what is for Hom. Him ? It is this ; the subsistence of all things depends on ^- Him, Not only did He Himself bring them out of nothing into being, but Himself sustains' them now, so that wereW*e«- °' rti. they dissevered from His Providence, they were at once un- done and destroyed. But He said not, ' He continues them,' which had been a grosser way of speaking, but what is more subtle, that on Him they hang. For to have only a bearing on Him is enough to continue any thing and bind it fast. So also the vrord Jirstborn is said as /oundat ion is-. But^orper- this doth not shew the creatures to be consubstantial with thes^ense Him ; but that all things are by Him, and in Him. So also of a when he says elsewhere,/ have laid a foundation, he istion.' speaking not concerning substance, but operation. For, J^"""-^' that thou mayest not think Him to be a minister, he says that He continues them, which is not less than making them. Certainly, with us it is greater even : for to the foniier, art conducts us ; but to the latter, not so ; for it stayeth not a thing in decay. And He is before all things, he saith. This is befitting God. Where is Paul of Samosata ? And in Him all things consist, that is, they are created into Him. He repeats these expressions in close sequence ; with their close succession, as it were with rapid strokes, tearing up the deadly doctrine by the roots. For, if even when such great things had been declared, still after so long a time Paul of Samosata sprung up, how much more [would such have been the case], had not these things been said before ? And in Him, he saith, all things consist. How ' consist' in one who was not } So that the things also done by Angels are of Him. A7id He is the head of the body, the Church. Having spoken of His dignity, he afterwards speaks of His love to man also. He is, saith he, the Head of the body, the Church. He said not of the fidness^, (although this too is asserted in what he says,) out of a wish to shew His great friendliness to us, in that He who is thus above, and above all, connected Himself with those below. For every renders by Him,) in the beginning of S red TXn^iaftxros. Here used of the the verse, is said in such a sense as to universe, aoniewhat as 1 Cor. 10, 26. agree with by Him. only in a more extended sense. 21(> Christ First also in the Church. CoLos. where He is first; above first; in the Church first, for He is ~ — '- the Head ; in the Resurrection first. For such is the mean- ing of, (3) Ver. 18. That He might have the preeminence. So that in generation also He is first. And this is what Paul is chiefly endeavouring to shew. For if this be made good, that He was before all the Angels ; then there is brought in along with it this also as a consequence, that He did their works by connnanding llieni. And what is indeed wonderful, he ^^'^°' makes a point ' to shew that He is first in the later generation. 1 Cor. Although elsewhere he calls Adam first, as in truth he is; ' ■ but here he takes the Church for the whole race of mankind. For He is first of the Church ; and first of men after the flesh, like as of the Creation ''. And therefore he here uses the word Jirsiboru. What is in this place the meaning of the Firstborn ? Who was created first, or rose before all ; as in the former place it means. Who was before all things. And here indeed he uses the word Jirslfruits, saying, Who is the ' Firstfruits, 2 or a- ij,Q Firstborn from the dead, that in all tilings^ He miqht all. have the 'preeminence, shewing that the rest also are such as He ; but in the former place it is not the ' Firstfruits' of crea- tion''. And it is there, The Image of the invisible God, and then. Firstborn. Ver. 19, 20. For it pleased the Father, that in Him should all fulness dwell. And having made jjeace by the Blood of His Cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself, whether things in earth, or things in heaven. Whatsoever things are of the Father, these he saith are of ^ /itTo. the Son also, and that with more of action ^, because that He ■rxilovo, \yQ^\y i^ecame dead ' for, and united Himself to us. He said, Firstfruits, as of fruits. He said not ' Resurrection, but Firstfruits, shewing that He hath sanctified us all, and offered ' ■^^*'' us, as it were, a sacrifice. The tenn fulness"^ he used of the pa)lj.ct. b Cat. ' and first of men even as he befweall^ so here also he has T^\it,First- that was first of Creation after the tiesh,' fruits.' then one Par. and Br. M. read, ' For this ' Rec. text a^x,^, St. C. has ava^x.^ cause both here and there the word ^ The same Mss. add, ' but only the ' Firstborn' is used. But what is Firstborn, and not even this in the first Firslhorii of all crention? It is for place, but after saying. Who is the ' First Created,' as Firstborn from the Image,' &c. (lead is for, ' Who rose again before ' »»*g« yiyon, alluding to the ex- all.' And a.s there he puts. Who is pressioii, ^^otToroitei J» uk^uh. Reconciliation ihrough Christ, and how. 217 Godhead, like as John said, Of His fulness have all we Hom. . HI received. That is, whether it were the Son or the Word, — There dwelt '", not a sort of energy, but a Substance. He hath no causf* to assign but the will of God : for this is the import of, it pleased . . . in Him. And . . . by Him to reconcile all tilings unto Himself. Lest thou shouldest think that He undertook the office of a minister only, he saith, unto^ Himself. And yet he elsewhere says, that He 2 Cor. 5, . . * 18 reconciled us to God, as in the Epistle he wrote to ^'^Q\Gr.into Corinthians. And he well said, Bii Him to make an end of'^- e.Jnto ■r. 1 IT ••, 1 , . ^ the Son reconciling . box they were already reconciled; but it was Himself. necessary that they should be so completely, and in such sort, as no more to be at enmity with Him. And how this is effected, he next " makes very clear, deducing not only the reconciliation, but also the manner of the reconciliation. Having made peace through the Blood of His Cross. The word reconcile, shews the enmity ; the words having made peace, the war. Tlirough the Blood of His Cross, by Himself, whether things in earth, or things in heaven. A great thing indeed it is to reconcile ; but that this should be by Himself too, is a greater thing. A greater still, that it should be through His Blood ; and he said not simply His Blood, but what is yet greater, through the Cross. So that the marvels are five : He reconciled us; to God; by Himself; by Death ; by the Cross. Admirable again ! How he has mixed them up ! For lest thou shoiddest think that it is one thing merely, or that the Cross is any thing of itself, he saith by Himself. How knew he '' that this was a great thing ? Because not by speaking words, but by giving Himself up for the recon- ciliation, He so wrought every thing. But what is things in heaven? For with reason indeed is it said, the things in earth, for those were filled with enmity, and manifoldly divided, and each one of us was utterly at variance with himself, and with the many ; but how made He peace amongst the things in heaven? Was war and •n Bodl. Extr. ' whatever was the P Or ' by itself,' (iaur'h) i. e. separate son, There dwelt the Whole Son, from the Divine Person, as it would be not' &c. if there had been a several Human " iTeKaraXXa^eei as ardXJr^wirif , Personality. (Cat. and Bodl. iecurav.) above ? 1 al. ' How ? He knew, &c.' or " In the Eng. Version, the clauses ' How well aware he is.' are transposed. 218 God reconciled Angels to men, not they Him. CoLos. battle there also? How then do \vc pray, saying, Thy will Matt. 6 ^^ done in earth as it is in, heaven? What then can one 10. say? The earth was divided from heaven, the Angels were become enemies to men, through seeing their Lord insulted. Ephes. To unite under one head ', he saith, all things in Christ, ^E.Y.to'wliif^'h fifs in heaven, and which are in earth. How ? The So^tli^^ things in heaven indeed in this way: He translated Man in one. thither, He brought up to them the enemy, the hated one. Not only made He the things on earth ' to be at peace, but He brought up to them him that was their enemy and foe. Here was peace profound. Angels again appeared on the earth thereafter, because that Man too had appeared in 2 Cor. heaven. And it seems to me that Paul was caught up as ' ' well on this account, as to shew that the Son also had been received up tliither. For in the earth indeed, the peace was twofold ; with the things of heaven, and with themselves ; but in heaven it was simple. For if the Angels rejoice over one sinner that repenteth, much more will they over so many. All this God's power hath wrought. Why then place }e confidence in Angels ? saith he. For so far are they from bringing you near, that they were once your enemies even ; and except God Himself had reconciled you with them, ye MoRAi.. would not have been at peace with them. Why then run ye to them ? Wouldest thou know the hatred which the Angels had against us, how great it was ; and how averse to us they 2 ! Edd. have a!r»jA.Xa^«, but the Trans- compared with the Rec. text, and the later conjectures ««-««aTjJXXal», which Commentary that follows here, requires is confirmed by a Ms. in Brit. ftl. Man's great alienation, and wonderful reconciliation. 225 And throughout he is shewing that the Angels had no power Hom. in the successive times"; forasmuch as men continued ene mies, and they could neither persuade them, nor, if persuaded, could they deliver them from the devil. For neither would persuading them be any gain, except he that held them were bound; nor would binding him have been of any service, except they whom he detained were willing to return. But both of these were needed, and they could do neither of them, but Christ did both. So that even more marvellous than loosing death, is the persuading them. For the former was wholly of Himself, and the power lay wholly in Himself, but of the latter, not in Himself alone, but in us also ; but we accom- plish those things more easily of which the power lies in ourselves. Therefore, as being the greater, he puts it last. And he said not simply were at emnity^, but were alienated, which denotes great enmity, nor yet ' alienated "^' [only], but without any expectation even of returning. And enemies in your mind^, he says, hereby shewing that their alienation ' y? 2'«- had not proceeded so far as purpose only — but what? by '' wicked works also. Ye were both enemies, he saith, and ye did the works of enemies. Yet now hath He reconciled in the body of His flesh through death to present you holy, and imblameable, and un- reproveable in His sight. Here he lays down also the man- ner of the reconciliation, that it was in the Body, and not by being merely beaten, nor scourged, nor sold, but even by dying a death the most shameful. Again he makes mention of the Cross, and again lays down another benefit. For He did not only deliver, but, as he says above. Who liath niade^- 12. us meet, to the same he alludes here also. Through His death, he says, to present you holy, and unhlameahle, and unreproveable in His sight. For truly. He hath not only delivered from sins, but hath also placed amongst the ap- proved. For, not that He might deliver us from evils only, did He suffer so great things, but that also we might obtain the first rewards ; as if one should not only free a condemned "= ra'if KKTu Xi^^"ii usually ' latter '' Ix^^oilvovTa;, which is less than times;' here it seems to be ' down the ip(^6^ou;. stream of time.' One suspects awu, ^ Here «XXaTg/^^nsvaw?, not aVfiXX»- but it may be reckoned from the Fall. T^iai//.ivcvs , a* above. Q 22G Need of sled fastness in the faith already received. CoLos. criminal from his i)nnislnnent, but also advance him to ho- 1 23 — ^ — ^nour. And he hatli ranked you with those who have not sinned, yea rather not with those who have done no sin only, but even with those who have wrought the greatest righte- ousness ; and, what truly is greater, hath given the holiness 'avsyxXii which is iu His sight. Unrcproveable' now is an advance charge-' "pon unblamcable-, for unreproveable is then used, when able. we have done nothing either to be condemned for. or charged -WtTCifflS ., T^ . , .111 1-1 -r-r.'. With. But, since he ascribed the whole to Him, in saying that by His death He achieved these things ; lest any should say, ' We then need nothing,' he therefore added, Ver. 23. If at least ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and not moved away from the hope of the Gospel. - Here he strikes a blow at their listlessness. And he said not simply continue, for it is possible to continue wavering, and vacillating; it is possible to stand, and continue, though turned this way and that. If at least ye continue, he saith, grounded and settled, and not moved away. Wonderful! 3 TfoJTjf. What a forcible metaphor'' he uses; he says not only not tossed to and fro, but not even moved. And observe, he "^«fr/xeir lays down so far nothing burdensome*, nor toilsome, but faith and hope ; that is, if ye continue believing, that the hope of the things to come is true. For this indeed is possible ; but, as regards virtuous living, it is not possible to avoid being shaken about, though it be but a little; so (what he enjoins) is not grievous'. From the hope, he saith, of the Gospel, which ye have 5 He heard, tvhich was preached to every^ creature under heaven. Siich ^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ '^°P® ^^ ^^^^ Gospel, except Christ ? For ree. text He Himself is our peace, that hath wrought all these things : so that he who ascribes them to others is moved away : for he has lost all, unless he believe in Christ. Ye have heard, he saith. Again he brings themselves as witnesses, then the whole world. He saith not, ' which is being preached,' but hath already been believed and preached. As he did also e ver. 6. at the outset^, being desirous by the witness of the many to establish these also. Whereof I Paul am made a minister. f Sav. mar. < For it is possible to be so is he not over-burdensome in his in- shaken away from virtue by little and junction.' little, but there one cannot sutler this, Christ still suffering in His Ministers for the Church. 227 This also contributes to make it credible; /, saith he, Paul Hon. a minister. For great was his authority, as being now every 1- where celebrated, and the teacher of the world. Ver. 24. / now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the sufferings of Christ in my flesh for His Bodfs sake, which is the Church. And what is the connexion of this ? It seems indeed not (o\ to be connected, but it is even closely so. And minister, he says, that is, bringing in nothing from myself, but announc- ing what is from another. And I so believe, that I suffer even for His sake, and not suffer only, but even rejoice in suffering, looking stedfastly unto the hope which is to come, and I suffer not for myself, but for you. And fill up, he saith, that which is behind of the sufferings of Christ in my flesh. It seems indeed to be a great thing he has said ; but it is not of arrogancy, God forbid, but even of much tender love' towards Christ; for he will not have the sufferings to ' ^'^»; be his own, but His. And he spoke thus, through desire of ''*^'""^* conciliating^ these persons to Him. And what things I ^ «'»"»- suffer, I suffer, he saith, on His account : not to me, there- fore, express your gratitude, but to Him, for it is He Himself who suffers. Just as if one, when sent to a person, should make request to another, saying, I beseech thee, go for me to this person, then the other should say, ' it is on his account I am doing it.' So that He is not ashamed to call these sufferings also His own^ For He did not only die for us, ^ as Acts but even after His death He is ready to be afflicted for our ' sakes. He is eagerly and vehemently set upon shewing that He is even now exposed to peril in His own Body for the Church's sake, and he aims at this point, namely, ye are not brought unto God by us, but by Him, even though we do these things, for we have not undertaken a work of our own, but His. And it is the same as if there were a band^ which had its allotted leader to protect it^, and^ rilis. it should stand in battle, and then when he was srone, his "Z.^^'^"' lieutenant should succeed to his wounds until the battle were brought to a close. Next, that for His sake also he doeth these things, hearken: For His Body's sake, he saith, meaning to say this: " I pleasure® not you, but Christ : for what things He should 6A;«e'?«- Q 2 t""' 228 ChrisVs Work how still continued. CoLos. have suffered, I suffer instead of Him." See how many things — — '- he establishes. Great, he sliews, is the claim upon their love. As in his second Epistle to the Corinthians, he wrote, 2Cor.5, saying, Aas vested in its the ministry of reconciliation; and **■ ' again, We are ambassadors for Christ ; as though God did beseech you by us. So also here he saith, ' For his sake I suffer,' that he may the more draw them to Him. That is, though He who was your debtor is gone away, yet I repay. For, on this account he also said, that which is behind, to shew that not even yet does he consider Him to have suffered all. For your sakes, be saith, even after His death He suffers ; seeing that still there remains a deficiency. The same thing he doeth in another way in the Epistle to the Romans, say- Rom. 8, ing, Who also maketh intercession for us, shewing that He was not satisfied with His death alone, but even afterwards He doeth countless things. He does not then say this to exalt himself, but through a desire to shew that Christ is even yet caring for them. And he shews what he says to be credible, by adding, for His Body's sake. For that so it is, and that there is no unlikeli- hood in it, is plain from these things being done for His body's sake. Look how He hath knitted us unto Himself. Why then introduce the Angels between ? Whereof I am made, he saith, a minister. Why introduce Angels be- ' sTigsuf. sides' ? I am a minister. Then he shews that he had him- self done nothing, albeit he is a minister. Of which I am made, saith he, a minister, according to the dispensation of Ood which is given to me for you, to fulfil the icord of God. ^ oiKo,i- T^]ie dispensation'^. Either he means. He so willed that after His own departure we should succeed to the dispensa- tion, in order that ye might not feel as deserted, (for it is Himself that suffers, Himself that is ambassador;) or he means this, namely, me who was more than all a persecutor, for this end He permitted to persecute, that in my preaching •'Taking I might gain belief; or by dispensation^ ho means, that He of required not deeds, nor actions, nor good works, but Faith sense seen sion. conde- and Baptism. For ye would not otherwise have received the word. For you, he saith, to fulfil the word of God. He speaks of the Gentiles, shewing that they were yet wavering, by the expression, yii> The same Ms. here inserts ver. and powers might be known hij the 9. 236 The Gospel how a Mystery. Man how changed in it. CoLos, But now is made manifest, he saith. He saith not, ' is come 1 26-28 ' - — '- — ^to pass,' but, /.9 made manifest to His saints. So that it is even now still hid, since it is made manifest to His saints alone. Let them not therefore deceive you, for they know not why it is so to them alone. To whom He nilled, he saith. See how every where He stops the mouth of their questions. To whoni God willed to make known, he saith. Yet His will is 1 Hxnyo, not without reason '. But he said this to make them ac- countable for grace, rather than allowing them to have high thoughts, as though it were of their own achieving. IVhat is the riches of the ylory of this wystery among the Gentiles. He hath spoken loftily ; and accumulated emphasis, seeking, ^, out of his great earnestness ^ for amplification upon amplifi- x?j ha,- cation. For this also is an amplification, the saying indefi- ettrtas. i^iteiy^ 77,g riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles. For it is most of all appai'cnt among the Gentiles, as he also says elsewhere, And that the Gentiles might glorify 15 9. God for His mercy. The great glory of this mystery is ap- parent among others also, but much more among those. For, on a sudden, to have brought men more senseless than stones to the dignity of Angels, simply through bare words, -, and faith alone, without any laboriousness ', is indeed glory and riches of mystery: just as if one were to take a dog, quite consumed with hunger and the mange, foul, and loath- some to see, and not so much as able to move, but lying cast out, and make him all at once into a man, and to dis- play him upon the royal throne. For observe, they were wont to worship stones and the earth ; but they learned that themselves are better botli than the heaven and the sun, and that the whole world serveth them ; they were captives and prisoners of the devil: on a sudden they are placed above his head, and lay commands on him and scourge him : from being servants and slaves to demons, they are become the body of The Master of the Angels and the Archangels ; from not knowing even what God is, they are become all at once sharers even in God's throne. Wonkiest thou see the count- less steps they overleaped.? First, they had to Icarii that stones are not gods ; secondly, that they not only are not gods, but inferior even to men ; thirdly, to brutes even ; Man raised above all in Christ. 237 fourthly, to plants e^en ; fifthly, they brought together the Hom. extremes'': that not only stones but not earth even, nor animals, nor plants, nor man, nor heaven ; or, to begin again, that not stones, not animals, not plants, not elements, not things above, not things below, not man, not demons, not Angels, not Archangels, not any other of those Powers above, ought to be worshipped' by the nature of man. Being drawn VifaTsJ- up**, as it were, from some deep, they had to learn that the'" *'" Lord of all. He is God, that Him alone is it right to worship; that the virtuous life'' is a good thing; that this present death is not death, nor this life, life ; that the body is raised, that it becomes incorruptible, that it will ascend into heaven, that it obtains even immortality, that it standeth with Angels, that it is removed- thither. But Him who was there below, having Vs^-Vt». cleared at a bound all these steps, He has placed on high ^"'' upon the throne, having made Him that was lower than the stones, higher in dominion than the Angels, and the Arch- angels, and the thrones, and the dominions. Truly he well said. What is the riches of the glory of this mystery? Just as if one should shew a fool to be all at once made a philosopher; yea rather, whatsoever one should say, it would be as nothing: for even the words of Paul are unlimited. What is the riches, he saitli, of the glory of this mysiery among the Gentiles., which is Christ in you. Again, they had to learn that He Who is above all, and Who ruleth Angels, and hath dominion over all the other Powers, came down below, and was made Man, and suffered countless things, and arose again, and was received up. All these things were of the mystery ; and he sets them (2) down together with promise^, saying, Which is Christ in '•^•'^'^* you. But if He be in you, why seek ye Angels for your ed in the teachers? Of this mystery. For there are other mysteries ^^°'^^ besides. But this is really a mystery, which no one knew, which is marvellous, which is beside the common expecta- "^ «t; Ta ax^a avtnyayot Hi Tavrov " itccXov m (nvfitt-fftii voXiTtlex. lit. There is no authority tor thus omitting ■ The aduiirable conveisation.' He e'r/. It may mean, ' That I (i. e. God) seems to mean a life of Virginity, have brought together the extremes which he says is peculiar to the Gos- into one, and not &e.' pel. lib. cont. Judseos, ^. 7. Ben. t. i. v»«/ J- QfiY-ist Jesus ; Ver. 29. Whereunto I also labour, striving. He said not, ' I am desirous' merely, nor in any indifferent way, but, / labour, striving, with great earnestness, that is, with much watching. If I, for your good, thus watch, much more ought ye. Then again, shewing that it is of God, he saith, according to His ivorking ivhich worketh in me mightily. He shews that it is the work of God. He, now, that makes me strong for this, evidently wills it. Where- V. 1. fore also when beginning he saith, By the will of God. So that it is not only out of modesty he so expresses himself, but insisting on the truth of the Word as well. And striving. In saying this, he shews that many are fighting against him. Then great is his tender affection. Chap. ii. ver. 1. For 1 would that ye knew tvhat great conflict I have for yon, and for them at Laodicea. Then lest this should seem owing to their peculiar weak- ness, he joined others also with them ; and as yet condemned them not; and as many as have not seen my face in the flesh. \ Gentle and indirect reproof of weak faith. 289 He shews here after a divine manner', that they saw him Hom. constantly in the Spirit. And he bears witness to their great h'lus. love, wherefore also he has added, Ver. 2, 3. That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God the Father \ and of Christ: In Whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Now henceforward he is hasteninsr and in pangs to^ enter ^ "^" P^r- , , . . , . , , . , .^aps ' to upon the doctrme, neither accusmg them, nor clearing them of fail upon accusation. / have a conflict, he saith. That what may be*^"''^*' brought to pass, that they ' may be knit together. What he ^So Say. means is this; that they may stand firm in the faith. He vre'' doth not however so express himself; but extenuates the matter of accusation. That is, that they may be united with love, not with necessity nor with force. For as I have said, he always avoids offending, by leaving it to themselves « ; and therefore he saith, 1 have a conflict, because I wish it to be with love, and willingly. For I do not wish them to be brought together merely, not with their lips merely, but that their hearts might be comforted. Being knit together in love unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding. That is, that they may doubt about nothing, that they may be fully assured in all things. But he meant the full assurance which is by faith, for there is a full assurance which cometh by arguments, but that is worthy of no consideration. I know, he saith, that ye believe, but I would have you fully assured: not unto riches only, but unto all riches ; that your full assurance may be intense, as well as in all things. And observe the wisdom of this blessed one. He said not, ' Ye do ill that ye are not fully assured,' nor accused them; but, ye know not how desirous I am that ye may be fully assured, and not merely so, but with understanding. For seeing he spoke of faith ; suppose not, he saith, that I meant barely and unprofitably, but with under- standing and love. To the acknowledgment of the mystery of God the Father and of Christ. So that this is the mystery ^ Rec. t. xcti Har^oi, E. V. of God, e Ivir^ivut, i, e to draw such infer- mid of the Father; but the sense in ences as would be harsh if stated by either case is, of Him Who is God and himself. Father. ^AOAllWisdominChrist.St.Patilpresetiiinspiritthoiiglifaroff. CoLos. of God, the being brought unto Ilim by the Son. And of ^' ^' ^' Christ, in Whom are hid all the treasures of nisdom and knoicledye. But if they are in Him, then wisely also no doubt He came at this time. Wherefore then do some foolish persons object to Him, ' See how He discoui'scth with the sim- > Mrl( pier sort.' In Whom are all the treasures. He alone ' knows all things. Hid, for think not in truth that ye already have all ; they are hidden also even from Angels, not from you only ; 2AuA so that you ought to ask all things from Him. He alone - giveth wisdom and knowledge. Now by saying, treasures, he shews their largeness, by All, that He is ignorant of nothing, by hid, that He alone knoweth. Ver. 4. And this I say, lest any man should beguile you 3 or per- with enticing^ ivords. io\ ' Seest thou that he saith, I ha\e therefore said this, that ye may not seek it from men. Beguile you, he saith, with persuasive ivords. For w^hat if any doth speak, and speak persuasively ? Ver. 5. For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit. ^ r'h ccKo- The direct* thing to have said here was, ' even though I be ^°" "'■ absent in the flesh, yet, nevertheless, I know the deceivers ;' but instead he has ended with praise. Joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. Your 5 ffrteiu- order, he means, your good order. And the stedfastness of your '"°J^. faith ^ in Christ. This is still more in the way of encomium. solidity , •' . And he said not ' faith,' but stedfastness, as to soldiers standing «i aTtyfh in good order and firmly. Now that which is stedfast**, neither solid, deceit nor trial can shake asunder". Not onlv, he saith, ' dimra- Xivu have ye not fallen, but no one hath so much as thrown you into disorder. He hath set himself over them, that they may fear him as though present ; for thus is order preserved. From solidity follows compactedness, for you will then pro- duce solidity, when having brought many things together, you shall cement them compactedly and inseparably ; then a solidity is produced, as in the case of a wall. But this is the peculiar work of love ; for those who were by themselves, when it hath closely cemented and knit them together, it renders solid. And faith, again, doeth the same thing; when it allows not reasonings to intrude themselves. For as rea- Faith needed for iJiings above human conception. 241 soilings divide, and shake loose, so faith causes solidity and Hom. compactness. '- — For seeing God hath bestowed upon us benefits surpassing man's reasoning, suitably enough He hath brought in faith. For it is not possible he can be stedfast, who demands reasons. For behold all our lofty doctrines, how destitute they are of reasonings, and dependent upon faith alone. God is not any where, and is every where. What hath less reason in it than this.'' Each by itself is full of difficulty. For, indeed. He is not in place ; nor is there any place in which He is. He was not made, He made not Himself, He never ■ began to be. What reasoning will receive this, if there be not faith ? Does it not seem to be utterly ridiculous, and more iX'^'^ endless than a riddle ? I \ Now that He hath no beginning, and is uncreate, and uncircumscribed, and infinite, is, as we have said, a manifest difficulty; but let us consider His Incorjjorealncss, whether we can search out this by reasoning. God is incorporeal. What is incorporeal ? A bare word, and no more, for the apprehension has received nothing, has impressed nothing upon itself; for if it does so impress, it comes to nature, and what constitutes body. So that the mouth speaks indeed, but the understanding knows not what it speaks, save one thing only, that it is not body, this is all it knows. And why do I speak of God } In the case of the soul, which is created, inclosed, circumscribed, what is incorporealness } say ! shew! Thou canst not. Js it air.? But air is body, even though it be not compact, and it is plain from many proofs that it is a yielding body. Is it then fire .? But fire is body, whilst the energy of the soul is bodiless. Wherefore ? Be- cause it penetiateth every where. But if it is not'' body, then that which is incorporeal exists in place, therefore it is also circumscribed ; and that which is circumscribed has figure ; and figures are linear, and lines belong to bodies. Again, that which is without figure, what conception * does ' I' w^iav. it admit? It has no figure, no form, no outline. Seest thou how the understanding becomes dizzy ? Again, That Nature is not susceptible of evil. But He is ^ Savile conjectures that ' not' should be inserted, and the sense ^eems nhso- lutely to require it. K 242 Heeminy contnulictions in Divine things. CoT.os. also good of His own will '■; it is therefore susceptible. But -r~T-- t^iie may not so say, God forbid ! Again, was Ho brought into being, willing it, or not willing it ? But neither may one say this. Again, cireumscribes He the world, or no.^ For if He circumscribes it not, He is Himself circumscribed, 5ari(,j«f.but if He circumscribes it, He is infinite^ in His nature. Again, circuniscribes He Himself.'^ But if He circumscribes Himself, then He is not without beginning to Himself, but to us ; therefore He is not in His nature without beginning. Every where one nmst grant contradictories. Seest thou how great the darkness is ; and how every where there is need of faith. This it is, that is solid. But, if you Avill, let us come to things which are less than these. That Substance hath an operation. And what in His case is operation ? Is it a certain motion.? Then He is not im- ^clr^tr- mutable'': for that which is moved, is not immutable: for, '^°' from being motionless it becomes in motion. But neverthe- less He is in motion, and never stands still. But what kind of motion, tell me; for amongst us there are seven kinds; down, up, in, out, right, left, circular, or, if not this, increase, decrease, generation, destruction, alt-jration. But His motion is none of these. Is it then such as the mind is moved with ? No, nor this either. God forbid ! for in many things the mind is even absurdly' moved. Is to will, to operate .? But 1 Tim. He wills all men to be good, and to be saved. How comes ^' "*■ it not to pass ? But to vvill is one thing, to operate, another. To will then is not sufficievit for operation. How Ps. 115 then saith the Scripture, He hath clone whaisoerer He ^- willed ? And again, the leper saith unto Christ, //" Thou Matt. 8 o J I T ^ 2. ' ?/;?'//, 77/0« cannl make me clean. Will ye that I mention yet another thing ? How were the things that are, made out of things that are not .'' How will they be resolved into nothing 1 What is above the heaven \ And again, what above that? and what above that ? and beyond that, what? and so on to infinity. What is below the earth ? Sea, and beyond this, what? and beyond that again, what? Nay; to the right, and to the left, is there not the same difficulty? (4) But these indeed are things unseen. Will ye that I lead the discourse to those which are seen ; those which have already happened ? Tell me, how did tlu^ beast contain Jonah Lesser iVouders prepare the way for greater. -24'3 in its belly, without his perishing ? Is it not void of reason, Hom. and its motions without control ? How spared it the righte- ous man ? How was it that the heat did not suffocate him ? How was it that it putrefied him not? For if to be in the deep only, is past contriving, to be both in the creature's bowels, and in that heat, is very far more unaccountable. For how breathed he the air in that place ? How did the resjjiration suffice for two animals ? And how did it also vomit him forth unharmed ? And how too did he speak ? And how too was he self-possessed, and prayed ? Are not these things incredible ? If we test them by reasonings, they are incredible, if by faith, they are exceeding credible. Shall I say something more than this ? The wheat in the earth's bosom decays, and rises again. Behold marvels, opposite, and each surpassing the other; marvellous is the not becoming corrupted, marvellous, after becoming so, is the rising again. Where are they that disbelieve the Resurrection and say. This bone how shall it be cemented to that ? and introduce such like silly tales. Tell me, how did Elias ascend in a chariot of fire ? Fire is wont to burn, not to carry aloft. How lives he so long a time ? In what place is lie ? Why was this done .? Whither was Enoch translated ? Lives he on like food with us ? and what is it hinders him from being here ? Nay, but does he not eat ? And wherefore was he translated ? Behold how God schooleth us by little and little. He translated Enoch ; no very great thing that. This in- structed us for the taking up of Elias. Again, He shut in Noe Gen. 7, into the ark ; nor is this either any very great thing. This in- ^^" structed us for the shutting up of the prophet within the whale. Thus even the things of old stood in need of forerunners and types. For as in a ladder the first step sends on to the second, and from the first it is not possible to step to the fourth, and this sends one on to that, that that may be the way to the next ; and as it is not possible either to get to the second before the first; so also is it here. And observe the signs of signs^ and thou wilt discern this in the ladder which Jacob saw. Above, it is said, the Lord^^^-^s, ' ' JO stood fas t^^ and underneath Angels were ascending awe/ <;/«. Signs of Providenc:'. Tij pea of holy Baptism. 215 That the Universe ' is not without a Providence we may Hom. conjecture from things amongst ourselves, for nothing will p^. -^ continue to exist, if not provided for; but even herds, andra. all other things stand in need of governance. And that the Universe was not made by chance, Hell is a proof, and so was the deluge in Noah's day, the fire*^, the overwhelming ofM, e. of the Egyptians in the sea, the things which happened in the ' ° °"' wilderness. It was necessary too that many things should prepare the way for Baptism; therefore was done all that was done in water, and thousands of things besides ; those, for instance, in the Old Testament, those in the Pool", the cleansing of him that was not sound in health, the deluge itself, the bajjtism of John. It was necessary to be believed that God giveth up His Son ; a man did this by anticipation. Who was he.? Abra- ham the Patriarch. Types then of all these things, if we are so inclined, we shall find by searching in the Scriptures. But let us not be weary, but attune ourselves by these things. Let us hold the faith stedfastly, and shew forth strictness of life : that having in all things returned thanks to God, we may be counted worthy of the good things promised to them that love Him, through the grace and lovingkindness of our Lord Jesus Christ, with Whom, &c. •" Hales suggests that this may be clearness on John 5, 2. Hom. xxxvi. the Laver in the Temple, but it is not init. where this is classed witJi those of called x»A£/^/3}j^ga in LXX. The pool the Old Testament. The following in- ofBethesda is meant, as is evident from stance refers to the cleansing in Lev. the like mention of types increasing in 15, 13. HOMILY VI. Col. ii. 6, 7. As ye hare therefore received Chrht Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him : Rooted and built up in Him, and stahlished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Again, he takes hold on them beforehand with their own testimony, saying, As ye have therefore received. We intro- duce no strange addition, he saith, therefore neither do ye. Walk ye in Him, for He is the Way that leadeth to the Father : not in the Angels ; this way leadeth not thither. Rooted, that is, fixed; not one while going this, another, that, but rooted: but that which is rooted, never can remove. ' «"J'»?- Obsen'e how appropriate ' are the expressions he employs. 2 (pe^.ev- And built up, he saith, that is, in thought attaining^ unto Him, And stablished in Him, that is, holding Him, and built as on a foundation. He shews that they had fallen ^present down, for the word built-^ has this force. For the faith is in pi'J."'^'" truth a building ; and needs both a strong foundation, and secure construction. For both if any one build not upon a secure foundation it will shake, and even though he do, if it be not firm, it will not stand. As ye have been taught. Again the word As declares tiiat he said not any thing novel. Abounding^ he saith, therein nith thanksgiving, for this is the part of well-disposed persons. I say not simply to give thanks, but with great abundance, more than ye learned, if possible, with much ambition. Warning against deceivers. Elements of the icorld, what. 247 Ver. 8. Beware lest amj man spoil you. I^m. Seest thou how he shews him to be a thief, and an alien, — -^ and one that enters in softly ? For he has already repre- sented him to be entering in. And he well said spoil. As one digging away a mound from underneath, may give no perceptible sign, yet it gradually settles, so also doeth he. Beware therefore ; for this is his main point, not even to let himself be perceived \ Through philosoplty. Then because the term ' philosophy' has an appearance of dignity, he added, and rain deceit. For there is also a good ^deceit; such as many have been ' '='"'''' deceived by, which one ought not even to call a deceit at all. Whereof Jeremiah speaks; O Lord, Thou hast deceived^^^-^^^ ?)ie, and I was deceived ; for such as this one ought not to call a deceit at all ; for Jacob also deceived his father, but that was not a deceit, but an economy. Through philosophy, he saith, and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments- of the ivorld, and not after Christ. Now he^'^"- sets about to reprove their observance of particular'' days, de- meaning by elements of the world the sun and moon; as he™^"'^^' also said in the Epistle to the Galatians, How turn ye againGal. 4, to the weak and beggarly elemefitsf And he said not observ- ances of days, but in generaP of the present world, to shew^ S/ i'xit/ , . 1 which ]ts worthlessness : tor if the world be nothing, much moresav. then its elements. Having then first shewn how gi-eat bene- °^^^^- fits and kindnesses they had received, he afterwards brings on his accusation, thereby to shew its greater seriousness, and to convict his hearers. Thus too the Prophets do. They always first point out the benefits, and then they mag- nify their accusations; as Esaias saith, / have begotten cJiil-l^. 1,2. ' ' LXX dren, and exalted theni^ but they have rejected me; and again, O my people, what hare 1 done unto thee, or uJierein Mic. 6, have I grieved thee, or wherein have I wearied thee '^ and David ; as when he says, / heard thee in the secret place o/"^*/?^'^' LXX. " Some copies add, as if one were his Suppl. de I'Ant. Expl. 1. iii. vol. 1. robbed daily, and were told, ' see that p. 112. where he shews that the ob- there is not some one.' And he shews servance of heathen customs about the way ; it is by this way, as if one lucky and unlucky days, and the like, should say through this outhouse, was common in France in the thirteenth through philosophy. century. Such were the Dies ^gyp- ^ tut -hfti^u). Montfaucou refers to tiaci, &c. 2-18 ChrUl alone /o be serced. Fulness of Godhead in Him. CoLos. the tempest; and again, Open thy fuouth, and I will Jill it. ' And every where you will find it the same. 10. That indeed were most one's duty, not to be persuaded by them, even did they say aught to the piu'pose ; as it is, however, obligations apart even, it behoves to shun those things. And not after Christ, he saith. For were it in such sort a matter done by halves, that ye were able to serve both the one and the other, not even so ought ye to do it ; as it is, however, he suffers you not to be after Christ. Those things withdraw you from Him. Having first shaken to pieces the Grecian observances, he next overthrows the Jewish ones also. For both Greeks and Jews practised many observances» but the former from philosophy, the latter from the Law. First then, he makes at those against whom lay the heavier accusation. How, not after Christ ? Ver. 9, 10. For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily : and ye are complete in Hiin^ Which is the head of all principality and. poiver. (2) Observe how in his accusing of the one he thrusts through ' ' 2'«>r- (\^^, other, by first giving the solution, and then the objection. For such a solution is not suspected, and the hearer accepts it the rather, that the speaker is not making it his aim. For in that case indeed he would make a point of not coming off' worsted, but in this, not so. For in Him duelleth, that is, for God dwelleth in Him. But that thou mayest not think Him enclosed, as in a body, he saith, All the fulness of the Godhead bodily: and ye are complete- in Him. Some say that he intends the Church filled by His Godhead, as he Ephes. elsewhere saith, of Hint that /illeth all in all, and that the ^' ^'^' term bodily is here, as the body in the head. How is it then that he did not add, ' which is the Church ?' Others again say it is with reference to The Father, that he says that the fulness of the Godhead dwells in Him, but wrongly. First, because to dtrell, cannot strictly be said of God: next, Ps. 24, because the ' fulness' is not that which receives, for the earth 1. . Rom. «*■ the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; ^^^^ again the Apostle, 10, 26. ^ijiiii ijic fulness of the Gentiles be come in. Bv fulness is Rom. • ' ■ . 11, 25. meant ' the whole.' Then the word bodily, what does it intend to signify .? ' As in a head.' But why does he say the same thing over again .'' And ye arc complete in Him. What Tl/ JiUetl- Nenniess tu Christ. Circumcision of Spirit. 249 then does it mean? That ye have nothing less than He, Hom. As It dwelt in Him, so also in you. For Paul is ever straining . ^^' to bring us near to Christ ; as when he says, Hath raised us Ephes. vp together, and hath made us sit together : and, ff'we suffer, ^'^: we shall also reign with Him: and, How shall He not uith2, 12. Hi7?i also freely give us all things: and he calls \\s fellow -heirs. ^^^' ^' Then as for His dignity. And He is the head of all princi- ^p^es. pal it g and power. He that is above all. The Cause, is He not 1 '^^j,„'. Consubstantial '? Then he has added the benefit in a mar- ''** vellous kind of way ; and far more marvellous than in the Epistle to the Romans. For there indeed he saith, circumcision Rom. 2, 29 of the heart in the spirit, not in the letter, but here, in Christ. Ver. 11. In Whom also ye were circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of thejiesh hg the circumcision of Christ. See how near he is come to the thing. He saith. In the putting quite away % not putting off merely -. The body of sins. '^ i«SwVu He means, " the old life." He is continually adverting to this in different ways, as he said also above. Who hath delivered Coloss. us from the power of darkness, and hath reconciled us who^'^^'^^' were alienated, that we should be holy and unblameable. No longer, he saith, is the circumcision with^ the knife, but in^«», in. Christ Himself, for no hand imparts this circumcision, as is the case there, but the Spirit. It circumciseth not a part, but the whole man. It is the body both in the one and the other case, but in the one it is carnally, in the other it is spiritually circumcised, but not as the Jews, for ye have not put off flesh, but sins. When and where? In Baptism. And what he calls circumcision, he again calls burial. Observe how he again passes on to the subject of righteous doings*; of the sins, he saith, of the Jtesh, that is, the things * ^'««"^- they had done in the flesh. He speaks of a greater thing '""'^'*' than circumcision, for they did not merely cast away that of which they were circumcised, but they destroyed it, they annihilated it. Ver. \'2. Buried with him, he saith, in Baptism, wherein also ye are risen^ with Him, through the faith of tJie opera- '""^lyk- tion of God, Who raised Him from the dead. J^^e But it is not burial only: for behold what he says, Wherein raised "^ '' ' together. t arniiusti. putting off for good, once for all. 250 Death unto sin. The ho/nl (itjaiiist ma/i abolished. Colo», also i/e are risen uifh Him, fhrouf/h i lie fail h of Ihe operation — L_2:_ of God, Who raised Him from the dead. He hath spoken well, ibv it is all of faith. Ye believed that God is able to raise, and so ye were raised. Then His worthiness of belief j Who raised Him, he saith,/;o/// tJic dead. He now shews the Resurrection. And yon who some > Rec. tiine^ were dead in sins and lite uncirotmcision of i/onr text omits Jies/i, hath He quickened together aiili Him. For ye lay '■"•• under judgment of death. But even though ye died, still it was no common death, but a profitable one. Observe how again he shews what they deserved in the words he subjoins: Ver. 13, 14, 15. Having forgiven us all trespasses ; having 2 E. V. Hotted out hi/ the doctrines'^ the handwriting that was thehand- . ' . xn-iting against as, which was co?itrarg to us, and took it out of nances ^^'^ '^^'^' ''^^'"''i/ 'iftH^d it to His Cross ; and Itaving spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of iJiem openly^, having triumphed over them in if. Having forgiven, us, he saith, all trespasses. Which ? Those which produced that deadness. What then? Did He allow them to remain? No, He even wiped them out, He did not scratch them out merely, but wiped them out, so that they could not even be seen. By the doctrines^, he saith. What doctrines ? The Faith. It is enough then to believe. He hath not set works against works, but works agauist faith. And what next? Blotting out is an advance upon remission ; again he saith. And took it out of the way. Nor yet even » \(pi\a- so did He preserve^ it, but rent it even in sunder, by nailing it to His Cross. Having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a .^hew of them openly, having triumpJied. over them in it. No where has he spoken in so lofty a strain. (3) Seest thou how great His earnestness that the handwriting should be done away ? To wit, we all were under sin and punishment. He Himself, through suffering punisliment, did away with both the sin and the punishment, and He was jninishtHl on the Cross. To the Cross then He affixed '' thiiyud,Tiai- ? He means either that which they said L_ to Moses, namely, All that God hath said icitl we do, and beExod. obedient \ or if not that, this, that we owe to God obedience ;^^'J- or if not this, lie means that the devil held possession of the ixouri- hand writing which God made for Adam, sayin>2. In the dai/'^^^^ thou eatest of the tree, thou shall die. This handwriting Gen. 2, then the devil held in his possession ^ And Christ did not give it to us, but Himself tore it in two, the action of one who remits joytully. Having stripped off'^ principalities and powers. He means the diabolical powers, either because human nature had arrayed itself in these, or because they had *", as it were, a hold, when He became Man He put away from Himself that hold. This is the meaning of He made a shew of them. And well said he so, for never yet was the devil in so shameful a plight. For whilst expecting to have Him, he lost even those he had ; and when That Body was nailed to the Cross, the dead arose. There the devil received his wound, having met his death-stroke from a dead body. And as an athlete, when he thinks he has hit - his adversary, 2 or, himself receives from him a fatal blow'; so truly doth Christ 'j^™^" -^ also shew, that to die with confidence'' is the devil's shame. «Ua/. For he would have done every thing to persuade men that He did not die, had he had the power. For seeing that of His Resurrection indeed all succeeding time was proof demonstrative ; whilst of His death, no other time save that whereat it happened could ever furnish proof; therefore it was, that He died publicly in the sight of all men, but He arose not publicly, knowing that the aftertime would bear witness to the truth. For, that whilst the world was looking on, the serpent should be slain on high upon the Cross, herein is the marvel. For what did not the devil do, that ^ al. ' This handwriting then Christ ' death,' for ' the devil,' and xai^iar tovi\i.' xari^^iTiti kufihv, ' is caught in a fatal g aviKSus-aficno; . IL.Y . spoiled, trans- (or decisive) grasp,' for, ' receives a lated above, ' pnttmg off.' fatal blow.' This suits better with •> All copies of St. Chr_ys. read, * had ' an athlete.' them,' which makes no sense. The '■ (/.irU Tn^^nirlai, referring to X'iuy- Catena omits ' them,' which has been laar/a-sv ev Tajj >) t^;» J (to the contest), puts him off as easily, as it were his gar- ''^''^'"'*' merits'". He is anointed", as wrestlers about to enter the lists. For he is born at once; and not as that first man was, by little and little, but at once ". (He is anointed,) not as the priests of old time, on the head alone, but rather in more abundant measure. For he indeed was Lev. 8, 23. 24. anointed on the head, the right ear, the hand ; to excite him to obedience, and to good works ; but this one, all over. For he comeih not to be instructed merely ; but to wrestle, and to be exercised ; he is advanced^ to another ^o^'A'a»-- crealion. For when he confessed (his belief) in the life 5 ^^V" everlasting p, he confessed a second creation. He tooko"''*' dust from the earth, and formed man: but now, dust no Gen. 2, longer, but the Holy Spirit; with This he is formed, with this harmonized*', even as Himself was in the womb ofe/i/^^/- the Virgin. He said not in Paradise, but ' in Heaven.' For^'''"' deem not that, because the subject is earth ^, it is done on'y7,iTc- earth; he is^ removed thither, to Heaven, there these things *"*■*' are transacted, in the midst of Angels: God taketh up thy soul above, above He harraonizeth it anew. He placeth thee near to the Kingly Throne. He is formed in the water, he receivcth spirit instead of a souP. And after he is formed, ™ See St. Cyril, Catech. XX. p In the Apostles' Creed, recited at n See St. Cyril, Catech. XXI. Baptism. « The comparison is with the ' old S Old Lat. ' thou art.' The former man.' A grown man is of course implied clause may be, ' think not, because the in ' wrestling.' The Translator suggests earth is under thee, that thou art in that this sentence may have been trans- earth.' posed, and ought to stand before the •■ uvri^pu^^ev wviufta, i. e. as Adam clause about anointing. Certainly the received a soul. The Spirit hecoming present text, if genuine, is elliptical to as it were the life of the new man. a fault. See on Kom. viii. 11 . Tr. p. 227. 254 Cfnts/ia/i stale heller IIkiii PtirtdUne. CoLos. He bringelli to hiin, not beasts, but devils, and their prince, , ' ' and sailli. Tread nitun serpenla and .scorpio/ts. lie sailh LukelO, ^ ' ' ' 19. not, Let Us make man in onr iniai/Cy and ajler onr likeness, 2Q°' ' but wliat? He give I h litem to heeonte lite sons of God, n}to John 1, icere horn, he sailh, not of hlood, hut of God. Then that 12. 13. . ■ . ' thou give no ear to the serpent, straightway thou art taught to say, " I renounce thee," that is, " whatsoever thou sayest, I will not hear thee." Then, that he destroy thee not by means of others, it is said", " and thy pomp, and thy service, and thy angels." He hath set him no more to keep Paradise, but to have his conversation' in heaven. For straightway when he cometh up he pronounceth these words, Onr Father Which art in Heaven, . . . Tliy nill he done in earth, as it is in Heaven. The })lain falleth not on thy sight', thou seest not tree, nor fountain, but straightway thou takest into thee- the Lord Himself, thou art mingled^ with His Body, thou art intermixed* with that Body that lieth above, whither the devil cannot approach. No woman is ;pu'^^ there, for him to approach, and deceive as the weaker; for Gal. 3, it is said. There is neither female, nor male^. If thou go 5»i« =v) ^^^^ down to him, he will not have power to come up where ajiTiv x«Jthou art; for thou art in Heaven, and Heaven is unapproach- Kec. t. ^^^^ by the devil. It hath no tree with knowledge of good and evil, but the Tree of Life only. No more shall woman be formed from tliy side, but we all are one from the side of Christ. For if tliey who have been anointed of men take no harm by serpents, neither wilt thou take any harm at all, so long as thou art anointed ; that thou mayest be able to LukelO, grasp the Sei-pent and choke him, to tread upon serpents and ^^' scorpions. But as the gifts are great, so is our punishment great also. It is not possible for him that hath fallen from Gen. 3, Paradise, to dwell in front of Paradise", nor to reascend 24 . ' ■ thither from whence we have fallen. But what after this? Hell, and the worm undying. But God forbid that anv of 1 Or citizen ship. ^ UMO. = (p»tr;, the person who directs the This h:is been done in the text, not catechumen. to spoil so beautiful a passap:e. ' No meaning appears in this, oIk " 1>XX. has »-iTuixiom'' nhich, meaning the Son. By joints and bands, he says, Jiaviny nourishment ministered, and knit together, increases ivith the increase of God; he means, that according to God, that arising out of the best life. Ver. 20. If then ye be dead with Christ. He puts that in the middle, and on either side, expres- sions of greater vehemence. Jf ye be dead with Christ -E. V.yrom the elements^ of the zeorld, he saith, why as though ^^l^^l^'. living in the world are ye subject to ordinances^? This Ti^iffh. is not the consequence, for what ought to have been said is, ' how as though living are ye subject to those elements.^' But letting this pass, what saith he ? Ver. 21, 22. Touch not, taste not, handle not Which all are to perish with the using ; after the commandments and doctrines of men. (2) Ye are not in the world, he saith, and how is it ye are subject to its elements? how to its observances? And mark ' icuuu h5vv he makes sport of* them, handle not, touch not, taste " not, as though they were keeping- themselves clear of some great matters, which all are to perish with the using. He has taken down the swollenness of the many, and added, after the commandments and doctrines of men. What sayest thou ? Shouldest thou speak even of the Law, that is now but a doctrine of men, after the time is come'. Or, Srejsro; he spokc tlius becausc they adulterated^ it, or else, he """ alludes to the Gentile institutions. The doctrine, he says, is altogether of man. « Downes would insert a negative, for iirii^oyro, which makes good sense. The sense seems the same by carrying Buf this Ms. often has n for »), and n for li. on that before. Just above, Bodl. Extr. l> i|, which makes Him a source of has truS^ffiffStti for ffjvrihrfai, making it action in Himself. ' the prospect of salvation.' Also a little ^ n^i^iv, i. e. f/ie time of Christ's before i^koovt», ' they were elevated,' Advent, or ' after its time.' Free service Jiunour oj the Flesh. Neiv Life in Christ. 259 Ver. 23. Which thiiKjs have indeed a shew of wisdom in Hom. ivill worship, and humility, and neglecting ' of the body ; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh. E. v. ' Shew-,\\Q saith ; not power, therefore not truth, ^o that"J^')[^^^^_ even though they have a shew of wisdom, let us turn away ^"-g or irom them, tor lie may seem to be a rehgious person, and ;,>;„. modest, and to have a contempt for the body, but he is not^^'J'"- so.. Not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh. For God hath given it honour, but they use it not with honour. Thus, when it is a doctrine, it is his way^ to call it honour. ^ «"Sjh. They dishonour the flesh, he says, depriving it, and stripping it of its liberty, not giving leave to rule it with its will. God hath honoured the flesh. Chap. iii. ver. 1. If ye then he risen with Christ. He now draws them together, having above established that He died. Therefore he saith. If ye then be risen iviih Christ, seek those things which are above. No observances are there. Where Christ is sitting on the right hand of God. Wonderful ! Whither hath he led our minds aloft ! How hath he filled them with mighty aspiration ! It was not enough to say, the things whiclt are above, nor yet, ivhere Christ is, but he adds, sitting on the right hand of God. He would thence prevail with them, to look no more on earth''. Ver. 2, 3, i. Set your affection on tilings above, not on tilings on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ Who is your^ life shall ap-* Rec.t pear^, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory. s'or^e This is not your life, he saith, your life is another one. ma>ii- He is now urgent to remove them, and insists upon shewing that they are seated above, and are dead ; from both consi- derations establishing the position, that they are not to seek the things which are here. For whether ye be dead, ye ought not to seek them ; or whether ye be above, ye ought not to seek them. Doth Christ appear } Neither then doth your life. It is in God, above. What then ? When shall we live .'' When Christ shall appear. Who is your life ; then seek ye glory, then life, then enjoyment. This is to prepare the way for drawing them off from pleasure and ease. Such is his wont : when establishing one position, •* Catena, ' From thence he would have them henceforward look on the earth.' s 2 260 Care for this life be/its no! iJivsc ivho have a belter. CoLos. he darts off to another ; as, lor instance, when discoursing of — '—^— those who at supper were beforehand with one another, he all at once falls upon the observance of the Mysteries ^ For rebuke hath a great thing when it is administered unsuspected. It is hid, he saith, from you. Then shall ye also appear with Hirn. So that, now, ye do not appear. See how he hath removed them into very heaven. For, as T said, he is always bent upon shewing that they have the very same things 1 ovrot which Christ hath ; and through all his Epistles, the tenour ' the''ar-' i^ this, to shcw that in all things they are partakers with gument Him. Therefore he uses the terms. Head, and Body, and is this. 1 • 1 2 wa^a- does every thmg to convey^ this to them. , j^ therefore we shall then be manifested, let us not grieve, when we enjoy not honour: if this life be not life, but it be hidden, we ought to live this life as though dead. Tlien shall ye also, he saith, he manifested with Him in glory. In glory, he said, not merely manifested. For the pearl too is hidden so long as it is within the oyster. If then we be treated with insult, let us not grieve ; or whatever it be we suffer ; for this life is not our life, for we are strangers and sojourners. For ye are dead, he saith. Who is so witless, as for a corpse, dead and buried, either to buy servants, or 3 this is build houses, or prepare costly raiment'? None. Neither burial, then do ye*; but as we seek one thing only, namely, that ^al. 'let^gS jjg j^Q|. jj^ g^ naked state, so here too let us seek one us. . . . , . « or ' it.' thing and no more. Our first man is buried: buried not ni earth, but in water; not death-destroyed, but buried by death's destroyer, not by the law of nature, but by the governing command that is stronger than nature. For what has been done by nature, may perchance be undone ; but what has been done by His command, never. Nothing is more blessed than this burial, whereat all are rejoicing, both Angels, and men, and the Lord of Angels. At this burial, no need is there of vestments, nor of coffin, nor of any thing ^ aufjL^'o- else of that kind. Wouldest thou see the semblance^ of eymbol tliis .'' I will shew thee a jiool wherein the one was buried, type, the other raised ; in the Red Sea the Egyptians were sunk * See his Comment on 1 Cor. 11, ' when the solemn service was cowp/rfe(/, 17 — 21. Hom. xxvii. on 1 Cor. where after the Communion of the Myste- he says that the supper referred to was ries.' Baptism likejire in destroying and new-making. 261 beneath it, but the Israelites went up from out of it ; and the Hom. same act buries the one, generates the other. Marvel not that generation and destruction take place in (3) Baptism; for, tell me, dissolving and cementing, are they not opposite ? It is evident, I suppose, to all. Such is the effect of fire ; for fire dissolves and destroys wax, but it cements together metallic earth, and works it into gold. So in truth here also, the force of the fire, having obliterated the statue of wax, Jias displayed a golden one in its stead ; for in truth before the Bath we were of clay, but after it of gold. Whence is this evident.^ Hear him saying, Thejirst man is^ Cor. of the earthy earthy, the second man is the Lord ' from i £d.' heaven. I spoke of a difference as great as that between F^""- clay and gold; but greater still do I find the difference /y. between heavenly and earthy; not so widely do clay and gold differ, as do things earthy and heavenly. Waxen we were, and clay-formed. For the flame of lust did much more melt us, than fire doth wax, and any chance temptation did far rather shatter us than a stone doth things of clay. And, if ye will, let us give an outline of the former life, and see whether all was not earth and water, and full of fluctu- ation, and dust, and instability, and flowing away. And if ye will, let us scrutinize not the former things, but the present, and see whether we shall not find every thing that is, mere dust and water. For what wilt thou tell me of? authority and power } for nothing in this present life is thought to be more enviable than these. But sooner may one find the dust when on the air stationary, than these things ; especially now. For to whom are they not under subjection } To those who are lovers of them ; to eunuchs ; to those who will do any thing for the sake of money; to the passions of the populace ; to the whims of the more powei'ful. He who was yesterday up high on his tribunal^, who had his heralds shouting with thrilling voice, and many to run before, and haughtily clear the way for him through the forum, is to-day mean and low, and of all those things bereft and bare, like dust blast-driven, like a stream that f Montfaucon thinks this refers to This is questioned in the recent Paris Eutropius, whose disgrace occasioned Edition, two Homilies of St. Chrys. Ben. t. iii. 2G2 ]'aiiUy of ucdUh and oj' honour from it. CoLos. hath passed by. And like as the dust is raised by our feet, — — 1— so truly are these magistracies also produced by those who are engaged about money, and in the whole of life have the rank and condition of feet; and like as the dust when it is raised occupies a large portion of the air, though itself be but a small body, so too doth power ; and like as the dust blindeth the eyes, so too doth the pride of power bedim the eyes of the understanding. But what? Wilt thou that we examine that object of many prayers, wealth ? Come, let us examine it in its several parts. It hath luxury, it hath honours, it hath power. First then, if thou wilt, let us examine luxury. Is not this dust .'' yea, rather, it hurrieth by swifter than dust, for the pleasure of luxurious living reacheth only to the tongue, and when the belly is filled, not to the tongue even. But, saith one, honours are of themselves pleasant things. Yet what can be less pleasant than that same honour, when it is rendered with a view to money.? When it is not from free choice and with a readiness of mind, it is not thou that reapest the honour, but thy wealth. So that this very thing makes the man of wealth, most of all men, dishonoured. For, tell me ; suppose all men honoured thee, who hadst a friend ; the while confessing that thou, to be sure, wert good for nothing, but that they were compelled to honour thee on his account; could they possibly in any other way have so dishonoured thee 1 So that our wealth is the cause of dishonour to us, seeing it is more honoured than are its very possessors, and a J Suva- proof rather of weakness than of power'. How then is it not vTuat absurd that we are not counted of as much value as earth and ashes, (for such is gold,) but that we are honoured for its sake ? With reason. But not so he, that despiseth wealth ; for it were better not to be honoured at all, than so honoured. For tell me, were one to say to thee, I think thee worthy of no honour at all, but for thy servants' sakes I honour thee, could now any thing be worse than this dishonour .? But if to be honoured for the sake of servants, who are partakers of the same soul and nature with ourselves, be a disgrace, much more then is it such, to be honoured for the sake of meaner things, such as the walls and courts of houses, and vessels of gold, and garments. A scorn indeed were this, and shame ; Its effeclH iUiistraled hij a .supposed case. '263 better die than be so honoured. For, tell me, if when thou Hom. vvert in peril in this thy pride, and some low and disgusting 1, person were to be willing to extricate thee from thy peril, what could be worse than this ? What ye say one to another about the city, I wish to say to you. Once on a time our ' ' i. e. city gave offence to the Emperor^, and he gave orders that^iyg^^. the whole of it should utterly be destroyed, men, children, tioch- houses, and all. (For such is the wrath of kings, they indulge their power as much as ever they choose, so great an evil is power.) It was then in the extremest of perils. The neigh- bouring city, however, this one on the sea-coast, went and besought the king in our behalf: upon which the inhabitants of our city said that this was worse than if the city had been razed to the ground. So, to be thus honoured is worse than being dishonoured. For see whence honour hath its root. The hands of cooks procure us to be honoured, so that to them we ought to feel gratitude ; and swineherds supplying us with a rich table, and weavers, and spinners'-^, and workers -"e'^-^o», in metal, and confectioners, and table -furnishers. hi^wool. Were it not then better not to be honoured at all, than to (4) be beholden to these for the honour? And besides this, moreover, 1 will endeavour to prove clearly that opulence is a condition full of dishonour; it embases the soul; and what is more dishonourable than this ? For tell me, suppose one had a comely person, and passing all in beauty, and wealth were to go to him and promise to make it ugly, and instead of healthy, diseased, instead of cool, inflamed ; and having filled every limb with dropsy, w^ere to make the countenance bloated, and distend it all over; and were to swell out the feet, and make them heavier than logs, and to puff up the belly, and make it larger than any tun; and after this, it should promise not even to grant permission to cure him, to those who should be desirous of doing so, (for such is the way with power,) but w^ould give him so much liberty as to punish any one that should approach' him to withdraw him ^ t^os-/»!, from what was harming him; could any thing, tell me, beg"^*^^* Ben', e ru K^arauvTt, the Emperor Theo- bouring city', however, is not named •"'i^'^^'V- dosius. This was preached under his there, though the sj'mpathy of neigh- successor Arcadius. For an account bouring cities is mentioned in Horn. 2. of the events referred to, see Pref. to It is supposed to be Selcucia. Homilies on the Statues. The ' neieih- 204 IVealtli fills the soul tiilh disease, (ind resists cure. Coios. more cruel than this? Wealth then, seeing it works these 3 2.. JO — ^-^— effects in the soul, how can it be honourable ? But this power is a more grievous thing than the disease itself; as for one in disease not to be obedient to the phy- sician's injunctions is a more serious evil than the being diseased ; and this is the case with wealth, seeing it creates inflannnation in every part of the soul, and forbids the physicians to come near it. So let us not felicitate these on the score of their power, but pity them ; for neither were I to see a dropsical patient lying, and nobody forbidding him to take his fill of drinks and meats that are harmful, would I felicitate him because of his power. For not in all cases is power a good thing, nor are honours either, for these too fill one witli much arrogance. But if thou wouldest not choose that the body should along with wealth contract such a disease, how comest thou to overlook the soul when contracting not this scourge alone, but another also ? For it is on fire all over with burning fevers and inflammations, and that burning fever none can quench, for wealth will not allow of this, having persuaded it that those things are gains, which are really losses, such as not enduring any one, and ' '^'"'''V doing every thing at will'. For no other soul will one find so replete with lusts so great and so extravagant, as theirs 2 xrja,- ^^,]jQ ^j.^, desirous of being rich. For what silly trifles* do they not picture to themselves ! One may see these devising more extravagant things than limners of hippocentaurs, and chimaeras, and dragon-footed things, and Scyllas, and monsters. And if you were to give a picture of one lust of theirs, neither Scylla, nor chimcera, nor hippocentaur will a})pear any thing at all by the side of such a prodigy ; but you will find it to contain every wild beast at once. And ])ercliance some one will suppose that I have been myself possessed of much wealth, seeing I am so true to what really comes of it. It is reported of one, (for I will first con- ■' A'Sfl^i- fjrm what I ha\e said from the legends' of the Greeks) — it is reported amongst them of a certain king, that bebecame so inso- lent in luxury, as to make a plane tree of gold*", and a sky above it, and there sate, and this too when invading a people skilled I' Ed. Par. refers to Herod, vii. 27- to Dariu.'s ; also to Diod.Sic.xix.49. and wiiere such a tree is mentioned as given Brisson de Regn. Pers. 1. i. c. 77. TJie golden plane-tree, and other worse follies. 265 in warfare. Now was not this Inst hippocentaurean, was it Hom. not Scyllajan? Another, again, nsed' to cast men into a ^-^ wooden bull. Was not this a very Scylla.'' And even him'', the king I just mentioned, the warrior, wealth made, trom a man, a woman, from a woman, what shall I say } a brute beast, and yet more degraded than this ; for the beasts, if they lodge under trees, take up with nature, and seek for nothing further; but the man in question overshot the nature even of beasts. What then can be more senseless than are the wealthy? And this arises from the greediness* of their desires. But, ' srx«- are there not many that admire him ? Therefore truly ""''"'■ do they share in the laughter he incurs. That displayed not his wealth but his folly. How much better than that golden plane tree is that which the earth produceth ! For the natural is more grateful than the unnatural. But what meant that thy golden heaven, O senseless one } Seest thou how wealth that is abundant maketh men mad ? How it inflames them ? I suppose he knows not the sea even, and perchance will presently have a mind to walk upon it '. Now is not this a chimsera } is it not a hippocentaur } But there are, at this time also, some who fall not short even of him, but are actually much more senseless. For in point of senselessness, wherein do they differ, tell me, from that golden plane tree, who make golden jars, pitchers, and scent bottles? And wherein do lose women differ, (ashamed indeed I am, but it is neces. .ly to speak it,) who make chamber utensils of silver"'? It is ye should be ashamed, that are the makers of these things. When Christ is famishing, dost thou so revel in luxury ? yea rather, so play the fool ! What jjunishment shall these not suffer ? And inquirest thou still, why there are robbers? why murderers? why such evils? when the devil has thus perverted " you. For the mere having of silver ' Sav. Ivi/SaXXi. He must mean the sequel shews that the same king is brasen bull of Phalaris. meant. k riait Vi rut ir^o'rt^iv. And besides ' Alluding to Xerxes, see Herod, vii. among theui of earlier times, wealth 35. made that king, the warrior, from a "> a/iiias. St. Clem. Al. mentions the man, a woman; from a woman, what like absurdity, P.-rdag. ii. 3. shall I say ? Savile tov, which is bet- ^- !rajaru«avT»j, drawn aside or ter, and neglected by Ed. Par. The away. 266 Absurd abuse of precious tnelals censured. CoLos. dishes indeed, this even is not in keeping with a soul devoted ' ' ' to wisdom, but is altogether a ])iece of luxury; but the making unclean vessels also of silver, is this then luxury ? nay, I will not call it luxury, but senselessness ; nay, nor yet this, but madness; nay rather, worse than even madness. (5) I know that many persons make jokes at me for this ; but I heed them not, only let some good result from it. In truth, to be wealthy does make people senseless and mad. Did their power reach to such an excess, they would have the earth too of gold, and walls of gold, perchance the heaven too, and the air of gold. What a madness is this, what an iniquity °, what a burning fever! Another, made after the image of God, is perishing of cold; and dost thou furnish thyself with such things as these ? O the senseless pride ! What more would a madman have done ? Dost thou pay such honour to thine excrements, as to receive them in silver ? 1 ►agaSrf \ kuow that yc are shocked' at hearing this; but those women that make such things ought to be shocked, and the hus- bands that minister to such distempers. For this is wan- tonness, and savageness, and inhumanity, and brutishness, and lasciviousness. What Scylla,what chimaei'a,what dragon, yea rather what demon, what devil would have acted on this wise? What is the benefit of Christ.'' what of the Faith ? when one has to put up with men being heathens, yea rather, not heathens, but demons .'' If to adorn the head with gold and pearls be not riglit; one that useth silver for a service so unclean, how shall he obtain pardon ? Is not the rest enough, although even it is not bearable, chairs and footstools all of silver ? although even these come of .sense- lessness. But every where is excessive pride; every where is vainglory. No where is it use, but every where excess. 1 am afraid lest, under the impulse of this madness, the race of woman should go on to receive some portentous form : for it is likely that they will wish to have even their hair of gold. Eksc declare that ye were not at all affected by what was said, nor were excited greatly, and fell a long- ing, and had not shame withheld you, would not have refused. For if ye dare to do what is even more absurd than this, " fa.^ivo/ji.ta. Old. ]^at. insanity, a? if from tkohvoU. Discipline threatened, if no amendment. 267 much more, I think, will ye long to have this'' hair of gold, Hom. and lips, and eyebrows, and to melt down gold, and so '— overlay every part therewith. But if ye are incredulous, and think 1 am speaking in jest, I will relate what I have heard, or rather what is now exist- ing. The king of the Persians wears his beard golden; those who are adepts at such work winding leaf of gold about his hairs as about the woof, and it is laid up' as a'axtxir- prodigy. Glory to Thee, O Christ; with how many good things hast Thou filled us ! How hast Thou provided for our health ! From how great monstrousness, from how great unreasonable- ness, hast Thou set us free ! Mark ! 1 forewarn you, I advise no longer; but I command and charge; let him that wills, obey, and him that wills not, be disobedient; that if the women do continue thus to act, I will not suffer it, nor receive you, nor permit you to pass across this threshold. For what need have I of a crowd of distempered people ? And what if, in my training of you, I do not forbid what is not excessive ? And yet Paul forbade both gold and pearls, i Tim. We are laughed at by the Greeks, our religion appears a ' fable. And to the men I give this advice: Art thou come to school to be instructed in spiritual philosophy ? Divest thyself of that pride ! This is my advice both to men and women ; and if any act otherwise, henceforward I will not suffer it. The disciples were but twelve, and hear what Christ saith unto them, Will ye also go away ? For if we John 6, go on for ever flattering you, when shall we reclaim you ? when shall we do you service } ' But,' saith one, ' there are other sects-, and people go over".' This is a cold argument, " «'e«'<^£'; ' Better is one that doeth the will of the Lord, than ten ^jCrl?'^'" thousand transgressors.' For, what wouldest thou choose Ecclus. thyself, tell me ; to have ten thousand senants that were runaways and thieves, or a single one that loved thee'*? Lo! ' «'''»<'«"' I admonish and command you to break up both those gay deckings for the face, and such vessels as 1 have described, and give to the poor, and not to be so mad. Let him that likes quit me at once^; let him that likes '«a-aT»- P Or, ' will these women long to have.' 268 Limits o/ alio win (//or weak offenders. CoLos. accuse' me, T will not suflcr it in any one. When I am ^-,' about to be jiulged at the Tribunal of Christ, ye stand afar xiiTu off, and for me to have your favour will tell for nothing, when 1 am giving in my account. " Those words have mine 1 all! he saysi, ' let him go and transfer himself to another sect!' Nay! he is weak! condescend to him!" To what point ? Till when ? Once, and twice, and thrice, but not perpetually. Lo ! I charge you again, and protest after the pattern of 2 Cor. the blessed Paul, tha! if I come again I u'ill not spare. 13 2 ^Kn-o.- -^ut when ye have done as ye ought-, then ye will know furnv. \io\x great the gain is, how great the advantage. Yes ! I entreat and beseech you, and would not refuse to clasp your '/jxaxi/a knees and supplicate you' in this behalf. What softness^ is it! What luxury, what wantonness! This is not luxury, but wantonness. What senselessness is it ! What madness ! So many poor stand around the Church ; and though the Church has so many children, and so wealthy, she is unable 1 Cor. to give I'elief to one poor person; hut one is hungry, and 11,21. Qj^other is drunken; one voideth his excrement even into silver, another has not so much as bread! What madness! what brutishness so great as this ? God grant that I never "iwila-come to the proof, whether I will prosecute* the disobedient, nor to the indignation which allowing' these practices would cause me ; but that willingly and with patience ye may duly perform all this, that we may live to God's glory, and be delivered from the punishment of that place, and may obtain the good things promised to those who love Him, through the grace and love toward man, &c. 9 i. e. the Preacher says. Downes for defence or relief, as by sitting on would put in a negative, as Old Lat. the hearth. Suphocl. (FA. Tyr. l,&c. and give the words to the objector, but ' \xtr^i-^ai. Perhaps s^/Tjr^v^ai, ' ag- with less spirit. gravaiiug,' as Ben. t. i. p. 24. 13. and ' iKiTfi^ia* iuyai. He alludes to the p. 225. A. ancitut custom ol formally supplicating HOMILY VIII. Col. iii. 5 — 7. Mortify your members tchich are vpoti the earth ; fornica- tion, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry; for which things' sake, the wrath of God cometh upon the children of dis- obedience ; in the which ye also italked sometime, when ye lived in them. I KNOW that many are offended by the foregoing discourse, '«'«■za:;^*- but what can I do? ye heard what the Master enjoined/"'""'"''' Am I to blame ? what shall I do ? See ye not how, when debtors- are obstinate, they put collars on them? Heard '-"»■«" ye what Paul proclaimed to-day ? Mortify, he saith, your """ members which are upon the earth ; fornication, unclean- ness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covet- ousness, which is idolatry. What is worse than such" a covetousness ? This is still more grievous tlian what I was speaking of*, this madness, namely, and silly weakness about silver. And covetous)iess, he saith, uhich is idolatry. See in what the evil ends. Do not, 1 pray, take what I said amiss, for not by my own good-will, nor without reason, would I have enemies ; but I was wishful ye should attain to such virtue, as that I might hear of you the things I ought". So that I said it not for authority's^ sake, nor of imperious- ^ «y^iv- ness^ but out of pain and of sorrow. Forgive me, forgive ! ^'*' » So2Mss. one adds, ' This is worse that / might hear from you what is than any desire.' right.' Gr. irag* hiiui. ** Old Lat. ' This is worse that I '' a^iaftara} , wish to maintain dig- was speaking of,' {oxt^ for aJ«r«j.) nity. • Or perhaps, ' 1 could wish Xaf 270 Sin uhif lo he tnorlljied after once alaying. Coi.os. 1 have no wish to violate decency by discoursing upon such ' subjects, but I am compelled to it. Not for the sake of the sorrows of the poor do I say these things, but for your salvation ; for they will perish that have not fed Christ. For what, if thou dost feed some poor man? «■TaTB- still so long as thou livest so voluptuously' and luxuriously, all is to no purpose. For what is required is, not the giving much, but not too little for the property thou hast ; for this is but playing at it. Mortify therefore your members, he saith, which are upon the earth. What sayest thou ? Was it not thou that saidst, c. 2, ii.JT," are buried; ye are buried toge liter ^vilh Him; ye are Rom. 6 circumcised: ye have put off the body of the sins of the flesh ; ^•. how then again sayest thou, Mortify'^? Art thou sporting^? Put to Dost thou thus discourse, as though those things were in us.^ 3 soV There is no contradiction ; but like as if one, who has clean Mss. scoured a statue that was filthy, or rather who has recast it, and displayed it bright afresh, should say that the rust was ^ xun- eaten* off and destroyed, and yet should again recommend ^' ^ diligence in clearing away the rust, he doth not contradict himself, for it is not that rust which he scoured off that he recommends should be cleared away, but that which grows 5 vijtjiuiriv afterwards; so it is not that former putting to death* he speaks of, nor those fornications, but those which do after- wards grow. But lo ! say the heretics', Paul accuseth the creation ; for V. 2. he said before, Set your affection on things above, not on things on earth ; again he saith. Mortify your mem- bers which are upo?i the earth. But the words upon earth, are here expressive of sin, not an accusing of creation. For it is thus he calls sins themselves, things upon earth, either from their being wrought by earthly thoughts and upon earth, or from their shewing sinners to be earthly. Fornication, tmcleanness, he saith. He has passed over the actions which it is not becoming even to mention, and by uncleanness has expressed all together. Inordinate affection, he saith, evil concupiscence. « The Manichees. See on Gal. 1, 4. and note c. Tr. p. 9. and note at the end of St. Augustine's Confessions. Mean i lie/ of the 'old and new Man.'' 271 Lo ! he has expressed the whole in the class. For envy, Hom. anger, sorrow, all are evil concupiscence. - And covetousness, he saith, which is idolatry. For for these things' sake comeih the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. By many things he had been withdrawing them ; by the benefits which are already given, by the evils to come from which we had been delivered, being who, and where- fore; and all those considerations, as, for instance, who we were, and in what circumstances, and that we were delivered therefrom, how, and in what manner, and on what terms. These were enough to turn one away, but this one is of greater force than all ; unpleasant indeed to speak of, not however to disservice, but even serviceable. For tvhich tilings'' sake cometh, he saith, the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. He said not, ' upon you,' but, ■upon the children of disobedience. In the tvhich ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. In order to shame them, he saith, when ye lived in them, and implying praise, as now no more so living : at that time they might. Ver. 8. But now ye also put off all these. He speaks always both universally and particularly ; but this is from earnestness. Ver. 8, 9. Anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy com- munications out of your mouth. Lie not one to another. Filthy communication, he saith, out of your mouth, clearly intimating that it pollutes it. Ver. 9, 10. Seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man, tvhich is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him. It is worth inquiring here, what can be the reason why he calls the corrupt life, members, and m«n, and body, and again the virtuous life, the same. And if the man means ' sins,' how is it that he saith, with his deeds? For he said once, the old man, shewing that this is not man, but the other. For the moral choice doth rather determine one than the substance, and is rather maji than the other. For his sub- stance casteth him not into hell, nor leadeth him into the kingdom, but this same choice : and we neither love nor hate tffTif. '21'2 TJte nen- nuni, like Christ, yroicK vol old CoLos. any one so fiiv as he is man, but so far as he is such or such ' ' a man. If then the substance be the body, and in either sort cannot be accountable, how doth he say that it is evil'? (2) But what is that he saith, t/;«7A his deeds? lie means the choice, with the acts. And he calleth him old, on purpose to shew his deformity, and hidcousness, and imbecility ; and neic, as if to say, Do not expect that it will be with this one even as with the other, but the reverse : for ever as he farther advances, he hasteneth not on to old age, but to a youthfulncss greater than the preceding. For when he hath received a fuller knowledge, he is both counted worthy of greater things, and is in more perfect maturity, and in higher vigour; and this, not from youth- s'Sjw fulness alone, but from that likeness^ also, after which he is. '^ '* Lo ! the best life is styled a creation, after the image of Christ: for this is the meaning oi, after the image of Him that created him, for Christ too came not finally to^ old age, but was so beautiful as it is not even possible lo tell. Ver. 11. Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circum- cision nor iincircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond, nor free: hut Christ is all, and in all. Lo ! here is a third encomium of this ' man.' With him, there is no difference admitted either of nation, or of rank, or of ancestry, seeing he hath nothing of externals, nor needeth them ; for all external things are such as these, circumcision, and iincircumcision, bond, free, Greek, that is, pi'oselyte, and Jew, that is, such from his ancestors. If thou have only this man, thou wilt obtain the same things with the others that have him. But Christ, he saith, is all, and in all, that is, Christ will be all things to you, both rank, and descent, and Himself in you all. Or he says another thing, to wit, that ye all are become one Christ, being His body. Ver. 12. Put on, therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved. He shews the easiness of virtue, so that they might both possess it continually, and use it as the greatest ornament. f As the Manichees interpreted his the other sense seems more suitable. In words. either sense it is opposed to the view 0 th f^o: 'yn^as iri^ivT)i(ri¥, Lat. ' Nee ascribed to Byzantine artists. See Rio's senex mortuus est,' (died not old.) But Poesie Chretienne. Forbearance for Chrisfs sake implies love. 273 The exhortation is accompanied also with praise, for then Hom» its force is greatest. For they had been before '' holy, but '- KTTOU not elect, but now both elect, and holy, and beloved. Bowels of'inercij^. He said not ' mercy,' but with greater' o\km^- emphasis used the two words. And he said not, that one j^gc. t. ought to be so disposed as towards brethren, but, as fathers — /"^»- towards children. For tell me not that he sinned, therefore he said bowels. And he said not ' mercy,' lest he should place them' in light estimation, but bowels of mercy, kind- ness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long suffering ; forbear- ing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a complainf^ against any : even as Christ forgave you, -f^'f^ipn», , - and so SO also do ye. E. v. in Again, he speaks after the class ""; for from kindness comes ""^''^' humbleness of mind, and from this, longsufFering. Forbear- ing, he saith, one another, that is, passing things over'. And see, how he has shewn it to be nothing, by calling it a com- plaint. Then he subjoins, even as Christ forgave you; Great is the example ! and thus he always does ; he exhorts them after Christ'. Complaint, he calls it. In these words ^ «5^ indeed he shewed it to be a petty matter ; but when he has xl set before us the example, he has persuaded us that even if we had serious charges to bring, we ought to forgive. For the expression. Even as Christ, signifies this, and not this only, but also with all the heart; and not this alone, but that they ought even to love. For Christ being brought into the midst, bringeth in all these things, both that even if the matters be great, and even if we have not been the first to in- jure, even if we be of great they of small account, even if they are sure^ to insult us afterwards, that we ought both to lay V^^^-y down our lives for them, (for the words, even as, demand this ;) and that not even at death only ought one to stop, but if possible, to go on even after death. Ver. 14. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. Dost thou see that he saith this ? For since it is possible for one who forgives, not to love ; yea, he saith, thou must •i lyitovT», i.e. he had before called as remarked above, p. 271. them Holy. c. 1. v. 2. ' Ta^a-rtfiv^/tivn, al. trecfayt^afuvti, ' ixiivaus, ' the objects.' ' receiving one another.' ^ xttT iIJ«f, from genus to species, T Q74 Perfection cannot stand icithoui Charily. CoLos. love him too, and lie points out a way whereby it becomes ■'^ possible to forgive. For it is possible for one to be kind, and meek, and humbleminded, and long-suffering, and yet ' ■rchTv. not affectionate '. And therefore, he said at the first, Bowels • or be. o/'wTU, ' that owed,' riuvra ra. which makes no sense : Mss. Par. only P aj./a(r«oy, Sanctification,as 1 Thess. )Ti, ;il. on iZ,nri h ocvrdis. ' He shews them to be still in them.' ^WArn i/p lived /n them,' (insteai). The * -rhf ■rovt.^ia» SufAov He means that ineaninp; is the same, that they had left the word used expresses a natural them, which is implied in the aorist. emotion or act, but the abuse of this is s reading 'hiUvucriv ah Tovt for S. intended; and so it may be necessary avTous, which would give the sense, to speak evil of one. Thankfulness under losses a kind of Martyrdom. 279 in circumstances, under which others blaspheme, and exclaim Hom. discontentedly ", we give thanks, see how great philosophy is here. First, thou hast rejoiced God; next, thou hast sliamed' «uipg«- the devil; thirdly, thou hast even made that which hath""* happened to be nothing ; for all at once, thou both givest thanks, and God cuts short ^ the pain, and the devil departs. 2 icrars/*- For if thou have exclaimed discontentedly, he, as having "'''''• succeeded to his wish, standeth close by thee, and God, as being blasphemed, leaveth thee, and heigh teneth thy calamity ; but if thou have given thanks, he, as gaining nought, departs; and God, as being honoured, requites thee with greater honour. And it is not possible, that a man, who giveth thanks for his evils, should be sensible of them. For his soul rejoiceth, as doing what is right ; it forthwith hath a bright conscience, it exults in its own commendation ; and that soul which is bright, cannot possibly be sad of countenance. But in the other case, along with the misfortune, conscience also assails him with her lash ; whilst in this, she crowns, and proclaims him. Nothing is holier than that tongue, which in evils giveth thanks to God; truly in no respect doth it fall short of that of martyrs ; both are alike crowned, both this, and they. For over this one also stands the executioner^ to force it to3g^^^^.^ deny God, by blasphemy ; there stands over it the devil, torturing* it with executioner^ thoughts, darkening it with^^ara- despondencies. If then one bear his griefs, and give thanks, H'*"^'' he hath gained a crown of martyrdom. For instance, is her v. on little child sick, and doth she give God thanks? this is a^^^* crown to her. What torture so bad that despondency is not^'"- P- 220 worse 1 still it doth not force her to vent forth a bitter word. Tert. It dies : again she hath given thanks. She hath become the;^P' '\ . . 2. p. 6. daughter of Abraham. For if she sacrificed not with her own hand, yet was she pleased with the sacrifice, which is the same; for she felt no indignation when the gift was taken away. Again, is her child sick? She hath made no amulets \ It is counted to her as martyrdom, for she sacrificed her son in her resolve''. For what, even though those things are unavail- "^ >'»^^»!. " a.'Ttohog'TtiTusit, see on Stat. Horn. p. 321, and note v. Perhaps it should XV. (2.) Tr. p. 251, note f. be Wttwi, ' she hath tied on.' " -Ttx^taxra., see on Stat. Horn, xix. 280 Use of charms idolatrous, iiiyn of the Cross. CoLOB.ing, and a mere cheat and mockery, still there were neverthe- — - — '- less those who persuaded her that they do avail : and she chose rather to see her child dead, than to put up with idolatry. As then she is a martyr, whether it be in her own case, or in her son's, that she hath thus acted ; or in her husband's, or in any other's of her dearest ; so is that other one an idolatress. For it is evident that she would have done sacriiice, had it been allowed her to do sacrifice; yea, rather, she hath even now performed the act of sacrifice. For these amulets, though they who make money by them are for ever ' (p*xa■ i. e. their children, ■jri^iaxrovffi must be referring to the temporal ill In what he says presently after, he effects of immoraiity. Charms despised by te-iser heathens. 281 Satan, this is that wiliness' of the devil to cloke over the Hom. deceit, and to give the deleterious drug in honey. After he — —I found that he could not prevail with thee in the other w^ay % he hath gone this way about, to charms, and old wives' fables ; and the Cross indeed is dishonoured, and these spells pre- ferred before it. Christ is cast out, and a drunken and silly old woman is brought in. That mystery of ours is trodden under foot, and the imposture of the devil is it that dances'^ -x's'""- Wherefore then, saith one, doth not God reprove it? The aid from such sources He hath many times reproved ; and yet hath not persuaded thee ; He now leaveth thee to thine error, for It saith, God gave them over to a reprobate T^om- 1> mind. These things, moreover, not even a Greek who hath understanding could endure. A certain demagogue in Athens is reported once to have hung these things about him : when a philosopher who was his instnictor, on beholding them, re- buked him, expostulated, satirized, made sport of him : but we are in so wretched a plight, as even to believe in these things ! And why, saith one, are there not now those who raise the dead, and perform cures.? Why, I do not at present say: but why are there not now those who have a contempt for this present life ? Why serve we God for hire ? When man's nature was weaker, when the Faith had to be planted, there were even many such ; but now He would not have us to hang upon these signs, but to be ready for death. Why then clingest thou to the present life ? why lookest thou not on the future ? and for the sake of this indeed canst bear even to commit idolatry, but for the other not so much as to restrain sadness? For this cause it is that there are none such now ; because that life hath seemed to us honourless, seeing that for its sake we do nothing, whilst for this, there is nothing we refuse to undergo. And why too that other farce, ashes, and soot, and salt ? and the old woman again brought in ? A farce truly, and a shame ! And then, ' an eye,' say they, ' hath caught the child.' Where will these satanical doings end 1 How will not the Greeks laugh ? how will they not gibe when we say unto them, ' Great is the virtue of the Cross;' how will they be won, ' i. e. of direct idolatry. 282 Loss ([fa child no iieiv or .slnuKje suffering. Coi.os. when they see us having recourse to those things, which — ^ — '- themselves laugh to scorn ? Was it for this that God gave physicians and medicines ? What then ? Suppose they do not cure him, but the child depart? Whither will he depart? tell me, miserable and wretched one! Will he depart to the demons ? Will he depart to some tyrant ? Will he not depart to Heaven ? Will he not depart to his own Lord ? Why then giievest thou? why weepest thou? why mournest thou? why lovest thou thine infant more than thy Lord ? Is it not through Him that thou even hast it ? Why art thou ungrateful, loving the gift more than the Giver ? * But I am weak,' she replies, ' and cannot bear the fear of God.' Well, if in bodily evils the greater covers the less, much rather had fear been present in the soul, fear would have destroyed fear, and sorrow, sorrow. Was the child beautiful ? But be it what it may, not more beauteous is he than Isaac : and he too was an only one. Was it born in thine old age? So too was he. But is it fair? Well: be it what it may, it is not Acts 7, lovelier than Moses, who drew even barbarian eyes unto a 20. . . . . tender love of him, and this too at a time of life when beauty is not yet disclosed; and yet this beloved thing did the parents cast into the river. Thou indeed both seest it laid out, and deliverest it to the burying, and goest to its monu- ment; but they did not so much as know whether it would be food for fishes, or for dogs, or for other beasts that prey in the sea ; and this they did, knowing as yet nothing of the Kingdom, nor of the Resurrection. But suppose it is not an only child ; but that after thou hast lost many, this also hath departed. But not so sudden is thy calamity as was Job's, for where have calamities fallen so suddenly as on him? How with sadder aspect"? It is not the roof falling in, it is not as they are feasting the while, it is not following on the tidings of other cala- mities. But was it beloved by thee ? But not more so than Joseph, ' i- e- the devoured of wild beasts ; but still he ^ bore the calamity, and that which followed it, and the next to that. The father wept; but acted not with impiety; he mourned, but he > So one Paris Mg. and that in Br. M. nearly, the rest omit a few words, and cannot be construed. Jacob. Examples of patience in the Patriarchs. 283 uttered not discontent, but stayed at those words, saying, Hom, Joseph is iiol^ Simeon is not^ and will ye take Benjamin auay? ^^^^' all these things are against me^. Seest thou how the con- Gen. 42, straint of famine prevailed with him to be regardless of his children ? and doth not the fear of God prevail with thee as much as famine ? Weep : I do not forbid thee : but aught blasphemous neither say nor do. Be thy child what he may, he is not like Abel ; and yet nought of this kind did Adam say ; although that calamity was a sore one, for what more grievous than that his brother should have killed him } But I am reminded seasonably of others also that have killed theu* brothers; when, for instance, Absalom killed Amnon the 2 Sam. eldest born. King David loved his child*^, and sat indeed in sackcloth and ashes, but he neither brought soothsayers, nor enchanters, (although there were such then, as Saul shews,) but he made supplication to God. So do thou likewise: as that just man did, so do thou also; the same words say thou, when thy child is dead, / sliall go to him, but he will not 2 Sam. come to me. This is true wisdom, this is affection. How- ' ever much thou lovest thy child, thou lovest not so much as he did them. For even though his child were born of adultery, yet that blessed man's love of the mother was at its height"^, and ye know that the offspring shares the love towards the parent. And so great was his love toward it, that he even wished it to live, though it would be his own accuser, but still he gave thanks to God. What, thinkest thou, did Rebecca suffer, when his brother threatened Jacob? she grieved not her husband, but bade him send her son away. When thou hast suffered any calamity, think on what Gen.27 is worse than it; and thou wilt have a sufficient consolation;^®' ^^' and consider with thyself, what if he had died in battle? what if in fire .'' And whatsoever our sufferings may be, let us think upon things yet more fearful, and we shall have comfort sufficient, and let us ever look around us on those who have undergone more ten-ible things, and if we ourselves have ever suffered heavier calamities. So doth Paul also exhort us ; as ^ or (Gr.) ai-e come i/pon me. impression that David laid the crime to '^ He passes on to the child of Bath- his own charge, and regarded lier as sheba. wronged. '' iixfixZiv- 2 Sam. 12, 24. gives the 284 Sufferers should think of harder cases. CoLos. when he saith, Ye hare not yet resisted unto bloody striving ' ' against sin : and again, There hath no temptation taken you 4. ' but such as is common to man. Be then our sufferings what 10 13 ^^^^y ™^y> ^6t us look round on what is worse; (for we shall find such,) and thus shall we be thankful. And above all, let us give thanks for all things continually ; for so, both these things will be eased, and we shall live to the glory of God, and obtain the promised good things, whereunto may all we attain, through the grace and love toward man, &c. HOMILY IX. Col. iii. 16, 17. Let the uord of Clirist chcell in yon richly in all tvisdorn ; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing icith grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in uord or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Fat Iter by Him. Having exhorted them to be thankful, he shews also the waj'. And what is this ? That, of which I have lately dis- coursed to you. And what saith he.? Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly ; or rather not this way alone, but another also. For I indeed said that we ought to reckon up those who have suffered things more terrible, and those who have undergone sufferings more grievous than ours, and to give thanks that such have not fallen to our lot ; but what saith he ? Let the word of Clirist dwell in you richly ; that is, the teaching, the doctrines, the exhortation, wherein He says, that the present life is nothing, nor yet its good things. For if we Mat. 6, consider this, we shall yield to no hardships whatever. Let it '^' °' duell in you, he saith, richly, wot simply dwell, but with great abundance. Hearken ye, as many as are worldly', and have the ' "ot i" charge of wife and children ; how to you too he commits espe- sense. cially the reading of the Scriptures ; and that not to be done lightly, nor in any sort of way, but with much earnestness. For as the rich in money can bear fine and damages, so he that is rich in the doctrines of philosophy will bear not poverty only, but all [other] calamities also eavsily, yea, more easily than the other. For as for him, by discharging the fine, the man who is rich must needs be impoverished, and found wanting", and if he should often suffer in that way, " i^-'-yx*"^"-') n<^t in money to pay, may be, ' must be in process of being bat in power to prevent loss. Or it found wanting.' 286 Wisdom of humlUhj and (tltn^f/iriju/. Coi.os. will no longer be able to bear it, but in this case it is not so ; - — — for we spend not to waste our wholesome thoughts when it is necessary for us to bear aught wc would not choose, but they abide with us continually. And mark the wisdom of this blessed man. He said not, JLet the word of Christ be in you, simply, but what .'' dwell in you, and richly. Ill all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another. Virtue he calls wisdom, reasonably, for lowliness of mind, and almsgiving, and other such like things, are wisdom, just as the contraries are folly, for cruelty too cometh of folly. Whence in many places It calleth the whole of sin folly. Ps.14,1. The fool, saith one, hath said in his heart, There is ito God ; Ps.37,5. and again. My wounds stink and are corrupt from the face of my foolishness. For what is more foolish, tell me, than one who wrappeth himself indeed about in garments, but regardeth not his own brethren that are naked ; who feedeth dogs, and careth not that the image of God is famishing; • krxZt who is persuaded generally^ that human things are nought, and yet is wedded to them as if immortal. As then nothing is more foolish than such an one, so is nothing wiser than one that achieveth virtue. For mark ; doth any say, how is he wise .? He imparteth of his substance, he is pitiful, he - (pi\a.v. is loving to men^, he hath well considered that he beareth a ^"^ "^ common nature with them; he hath well considered the use of wealth, that it is worthy of no estimation; that one ought to be sparing of bodies that are of kin to one, rather than of wealth. Wherefore he is a despiser of glory, and a philo- sopher, for he knoweth human affairs ; and the knowledge of things divine and human, is philosophy. So then he knoweth what things are divine, and what are human, and from the one he keeps himself, on the other he bcstoweth his pains. He knows, and gives thanks'' to God in all things, he con- siders the present life as nothing ; therefore he is neither delighted with prosperity, nor grieved with the opposite condition. And tarry not for another to teach thee, for thou hast the oracles of God. No man tcacheth thee as they; for he indeed oft concealeth much for vainglory's sake and envy. '/SwT.xaJ Hearken, I entreat you, all ye that are careful for this life^, and pi-ocm-e books that will be medicines for the soul. If ye •' al. ' He knows how to give thanks, &c.' Duty of reading Holy Scripture. The Flock rational. 287 will not any other, yet get you at least the New Testament, Hom. the Acts of the Apostles, the Gospels, for your constant teachers. If grief befall thee, dive into them as into a chest 'iyxu- of medicines; take thence comfort of thy trouble, be it'^" loss, or death, or bereavement of relations ; or rather dive not into them merely, but take them wholly to thee ; keep them in thy mind. This is the cause of all evils, the not knowing the Scrip- tures. We go into battle without arms, and how should we come off safe .? Well contented should we be if we can be safe with them, let alone without them. Throw not the whole upon us ! Sheep ye are, still not without reason, but rational ; Paul committeth much to you also. They that are under instruction, are not for ever learning ; for then they are not taught. If thou art for ever learning, thou wilt never learn. Do not so come as meaning to be always learning ; (for so thou wilt never know ;) but so as to finish learning, and to teach others. Tell me, do not all persons continue for set times at sciences, and in a word, at all arts ? Thus we all fix definitely a certain known time ; but if thou art ever learning, it is a certain proof thou hast learned no- thing. This reproach God spake against the Jews. Borne from (2) the belly, and instructed even to old age. If ye had not^ " ' always been expecting this, all things would not have gone LXX. backward in this way. Had it been so, that some had finished learning, and others were about to have finished, our work would have been forward; ye w^ould both have given place to others, and would have helped us as well. Tell me, were some to go to a grammarian and continue always learning their letters, would they not give their master much trouble ? How long shall I have to discourse to you concerning life'? In the Apostles' times it was not \ p,',ou thus, but they continually passed rapidly on^, appointing P'"^*^"''^- those who first learned to be the teachers of any others that tr^'Ss-v. were under instruction. Thus they were enabled to circle the world, through not being bound to one place. How much instruction, think ye, do your brethren in the country stand in need of, [they] and their teachers .f' But ye hold me rivetted fast here^. For, before the head is set right, it is superfluous' ■^s"'- 288 Psalms prrpare the. way for Hymns. CoLos. to proceed to tla' rest of the body. Ye tl)row every thing — ^ — ^upoii us. \ e alone ought to learn from us, and your wives and your children from you ; but ye leave all to us. There- fore our toil is excessive. Teaching, he saith, and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. Mark also the ' Tc «vi- considerateness' of Paul. Seeing that reading is toilsome, '^"''^ '* and its irksomeness great, he led them not to narratives, but to psalms, that thou mightest at once delight thy soul with singing, and gently beguile thy labours. Hymns, he saith, and spiritual songs. But now your children choose them- selves songs and dances of Satan, like cooks, and caterers, and musicians ; but no one knoweth any psalm, but it seems a thing to be ashamed of even, and a mockery, and a joke. There is the treasury house of all these evils. For whatso- ever soil the plant stands in, such is the fruit it bears; if in a sandy and salty soil, of like nature is its fruit ; if in a sweet and rich one, it is again similar. So the matter of instruc- tion is a sort of fountain. Teach him to sing those psalms 2 jp/Xa^a- which are so full of the love of wisdom * ; as at once concem- ^'ffu(peo- ^^^S chastity^, or rather, before all, ofnot companying with the iruvns. wicked, immediately with the very beginning of the book ; (for therefore also it was that the prophet began on this wise, Ps. 1, 1. Blessed is the man that hath not walked in the counsel of Ps.26,4. ^A «.tixZ-,. that there is a retribution, /by, he saith. Thou shall render to f^* ^^' every man according to his works. But why doth he not so LXX. '^ ififraiyficcTeay. Evil spirits being vrl^tionv. supposed to ' make sport of the soul e The Mss. omit the negative, which by means of the body. would easily be lost in the preceding 'I TUrn, Savile, marg. and 1 Ma. and word. One might take it, Beware so LXX. and E. V. fattest, Edd. of them. '290 Hymn of Angels. Singing in the Spirit. Coi.os. requite them day by clay? God is a judge, righteous, and p 'y .' strong, and longsuffering. That lowliness of mind is good, Ps. 131, Lord, he saith, my heart is not lifted up ; that pride is evil, Ps.73 6. Therefore, he saith, jjride took hold on them wholly ; and Lxx. again. The Lord resisteth the proud; and again, Their injus- omits, iif^G shall come out as of fatness. That almsgiving is good, ^Urius jjq hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor, his righte- 34. ' ous7iess remninethfor ever. And that to pity is praiseworthy, I XX ^^ ** ^ good man that intieth, and lendeth. And thou wilt eriarti, find there many more doctrines than these, full of true philo- times" sophy*; such as, that one ought not to speak evil. Him that ' ^^^?^' privily slandereth his neighbour, him did I chase from me. 9. ' What is the hymn of those above, what the Cherubim Ps. 112, g^y^ the Faithful know. What said those Angels below.? ' 6^(p/X9- Glory to God. in the highest. Therefore after the psalmody pf.^ioi come the hymns, as a thing of more perfection. In psalms, S- he saith, in hymns, in spiritual songs, with grace singing in your hearts to God. He means either this, that God because of grace hath given us these things; or, songs in grace; or, admonishing and teaching one another in grace; or, that they had these gifts in grace; or, it is an epexegesis ', and he means, from the grace of the Spirit, singing in your hearts to God. Not simply with the mouth, he means, but 2 ■r^o(r,- with heedfulness^. For this is to sing to God, but that, to ^"^ the air, for the voice is scattered without result. Not for display, he means. And even if thou be in the market- ^ ffvirr^i- -place, thou canst collect thyself^, and sing unto God, no ' one hearing thee. For Moses also in this way prayed, and Ex. H, was heard, for He saith, JVhy criest thou unto 3Ie ? albeit ^^' he said nothing, but cried in thought with a contrite heart; wherefore also God alone heard him. For it is not for- bidden one even when walking to pray in his heart, and to dwell above. Ver. 17. And uhatsoever ye do, he saith, in word or in deed, do all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him. For if we thus do, there will be nothing polluted, nothing Uax^jra/ unclean, wherever Christ is called on*. If thou eat, if thou diink, if thou marry, if thou travel, do all in the Name of ' i. e. an additional explanation, viz. of ' sins;ing in your hearts.' Every thing to be done in the Name of God. 291 God, that is, calling Him to aid tliee : in every thing first Hom. praying to Him, so enter upon thy business. Wouldest -^ thou speak somewhat? Set This' in front. For this cause 'Sav. we also place in front of our epistles the Name of the Lord. Wheresoever the Name of the Lord is, all is auspicious^. ^"JW For if the names of Consuls make writings^ sure, much more^'rea^- doth the Name of Christ. Or he means this; after God say '""""' ye and do every thing, do not introduce the Angels besides. Dost thou eat ? Give thanks to God both before and after- wards. Dost thou sleep? Give thanks to God both before and afterwards. Ijaunchest thou into the forum ? Do the same — nothing worldly, nothing of this life. Do all in the Name of the Lord, and all shall be prospered to thee. Whereonsoever the Name of God is placed, there all things are auspicious. If It casts out devils, if It drives away diseases, much more will It render business easy. And what is to do in trord or in deed ? Either requesting « or performing any thing whatever. Hear how in the Name of God Abraham sent his servant ; David in the Name of God slew Goliath. Marvellous is His Name and great. Again, Jacob sending his sons saith. My God give you favour GeaA3, in the sight of the man. For he that doeth this hath for ' his ally, God, without Whom he durst do nothing. As honoured then by being called upon, He will in turn honour by making their business easy. Invoke the Son, give thanks to the Father. For when the Son is invoked, the Father is invoked, and when He is thanked, the Son is thanked. These things let us learn, not as far as words only, but to fulfil them also by deeds. Nothing is equal to this Name, marvellous is it every where. Thy Name, he saith, is oint- Ca.nt. i, ment poured forth. He that hath uttered it is straightway ^' filled with fragrance. No man, it is said, can call Jesus thei Cor. Lord^, but by the Holy Ghost. So great things doth this ' * Name work. If thou have said. In the Name of Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost, with faith, thou hast accomplished every thing. See, how great things thou hast done ! Thou hast created a man, and wrought all the rest (that cometh) of Baptism ! So, when used in commanding diseases, terrible 8 a^iauvra, old Tr. ' going Out,' as ^ Or, " can say ihe Lord Jcsus.^' if from \%io vT» . u 2 292 The Name of Christ alone all-powerful. Coi.os. is The Name. Therefore the Devil introduced those' of the — '—^ Angels, envying us the honour. Such incantations are for the demons. Even if it be Angel, even if it be Archangel, even if it be Cherubim, allow it not ; for neither will these ' i«-»(ri(- Powers accept such addresses, but will even toss ' them away from them, when they have beheld their Master dishonoured. ' I have honoured thee,' He saith, ' and have said, Call upon Me;' and dost thou dishonour Him? If thou chant this incantation with faith, thou wilt drive away both diseases and demons", and even if thou have failed to drive away the disease, this is not from lack of power, but because it is Ps. 48, expedient it should be so. According to Thy greatness^, he o j^ame saith, SO also is Thy praise. By this Name hath the world E.V. been converted, the tyranny dissolved, the devil trampled on, the heavens opened. And what do I say ? the heavens ? we have been regenerated by this Name. This if we have, we beam forth; This makelh both martyrs and confessors; This let us hold fast as a great gift, that we may live in glory, and be well-pleasing to God, and be counted worthy of the good things promised to them that love Him, through the grace and lovingkindness, &c. ' Or, ' the matters of the Angels,' forms, as ' In the Name of our Lord (ra TiSv ayysXwv.) Jesus Christ.' ' Deus in adjutorium >■ Gret^er de S. Cruce, I. iv. c. 3. meum intende,' &c. Gretser also re- quotes the Emperor Leo as speaking fers to St. Chrys. Catech. ii. fin. where of curing a demoniac by the Sign of the he bids every one on leaving his house Cross, and the invocation of the Holy cross himself, saying, ' I renounce thee, and life-giving Trinity. This agrees Satan, and thy pomp, and thy angels, with what he has said before, Hom.viii. and 1 place myself with Thee, O p. 280. on the use of the Holy Sign. Christ.' St. Cyr. Cat. iv. (10.) also G. also quotes Tertullian de Bapt. G. connects the Invocation of His Name who alludes to this form of using it. with the Sign. St. C^-prian, Test. ii. ' The Faith sealed (obsignata) in the 21. quotes Rev. 14, 1. so as to imply Father and the Son and the Holy this connection. Ghost.' There were however other HOMILY X. Col. iii. 18—25. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is jit in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. Children, obey your parents in all things : for this is well pleasing in ' the Lord. Fathers., ^ ^- *• provoke not your children, lest they be discouraged, e. v. Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the'^^*° flesh ; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers ; but in single- ness of heart, fearing God : And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance : for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done : and there is no respect of persons with Ood-. Chap. iv. 1. Master s, ""'^v^ ^ give unto your servants that which is Just and equal ; addedf knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven. Why does he not give these commands every where, and in all the Epistles, but only here, and in that to the Ephe- sians, and that to Timothy, and that to Titus ? Because probably there were dissensions^ in these cities; or probably ^ 2,;^;,- they were correct in other respects, but in these so deficient, ^ ™J that it was expedient they should hear about them. Rather, however, what he saith to these, he saith to all. Now this Epistle bears great resemblance to that to the Ephesians. But in other places he doth not so, either because it was not fitting to write about these things to men now" at peace, who * He seems to class the Komans, consider the Thessalonians and Philip- Hebrews, Corinthians, and Galatians, plans as needing them less from their together, as needing doctrinal instruc- state of suffering, tion before these particulars, and to ons. '2})4 Obedience, due from Wives, love from Husbands. CoLos. needed to be instructed in hiprb doctrines as vet lackincr to 3 18 19 * . - — '■ — '■ them, or because that for persons who had been comforted under trials, it were superfluous to hear on these subjects. So that I conjecture, that in this place the Church was now well-grounded, and that these things are said as in '«•jit finishing*. '■'>"■ '■ Ygy jg Wii-es, be subject to your husbands, as it is Jit in the Lord. That is, be subject for God's sake, because this adometh you, he saith, not them. For I mean not that subjection which is due to a master, nor yet that alone which is of nature, but that for God's sake. Ver. 19. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. ^•rtKctr- See how again he has enjoined reciprocity ^ As he there "enjoineth both fear and love, so also doth he here. For it is possible for one who loves even, to be bitter. What he saith then is this. Fight not; for indeed '' nothing is more bitter than this fighting, when it takes place on the part of the husband tovvard the wife. For the fightings which happen between beloved persons, these are bitter ; and he shews that it ariseth from great bitterness, when, saith he, any one is at variance with his own member. To love there- fore is the husband's part, to yield is theirs. If then each one contributes his own part, all stands firm. For from being ^ (fixixri loved, the wife too becomes affectionate^; and from her being submissive, the husband becomes gentle. And see how in nature also it hath been so ordered, that the one should love, the other obey. For when the party governing loves the governed, then every thing stands fast. Love from the governed is not so requisite, as from the governing towards the governed ; for from the other obedience is due. For that the woman hath beauty, and the man desire, shews nothing else than that for the sake of love it hath been made so. Do not thei'efore, because thy wife is subject to thee, act the despot ; nor because thy husband loveth thee, be thou puffed up. Let neither the husband's love elate the wife, nor the wife's subjection puff up the husband. For this cause hath He subjected her to thee, that she may be loved '' ivT&if. Sav. conj. for curut, ' so.' Mutual duties of Parents and Children. 295 tlie more. For this cause He hath made thee to be loved, O Hom. wife, that thou majest easily bear thy subjection. Fear not ^ — in being a subject; for subjection to one that loveth thee bath no hardshi}D. Fear not in loving, for thou hast her submissive. In no other way then could a bond have been. Thou hast then thine authority of necessity, proceeding fi-om nature ; maintain also the bond that proceedeth from love, for this alloweth the weaker to be endurable ". Ver. 20. Children, obey your parents in all tilings : for this is well-pleasing in the Lord. Again he has put that, i)i the Lord, at once laying down the laws of obedience, and shaming them, and repaying"^. For this, saith he, is well-pleasing to the Lord. See how he would have us do all not from nature only, but, prior to this, from what is pleasing to God, that we may also have reward. Ver. 21. Fathers, provoke not your children, lest they he discouraged. Lo ! again here also is subjection and love. And he said not, " Love your children," for it had been superfluous, see- ing nature itself constraineth to this ; but what needed correc- tion he corrected; that the love should in this case also be the more vehement, because that the obedience is greater. For Tt no where lays down as an exemplification the relation of husband and wife''; but what? hear the prophet saying. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitied them Ps. 103, that fear Llim. And again Christ saith, What man is there ^yjl^j.^ j, of yon, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone ? 9- or if he ask a fish, icill he give him a serpent? Fathers, provoke not your children, lest they be dis- couraged. He hath set down what he knew had the greatest power to sting' them; and whilst commanding them he has spoken' 5axsr» more like a friend ; and no where does he mention God, for • he would overcome parents, and bow their tender affections. But the words, provoke not, mean, ' Make them not more ^ anxTWt : he seems to mean, ' to be =2 Mss. But he shews that the affec- in an endurable position.' tion is stronger in that case, since the •' x,a,rtt.p>a.XKu)i. This seems to be the obedience too is greater. And the sense from the sequel. Downes would Scripture every where makes it an put in (/.iMi, but it is not needed. exemplification. 296 Service of the soitl in Servants is free. CoLos. contentious, there are occasions when you even ought to 3, 22. . , . o give way. Next he comes to the third kind of authority, saying, Ver. 2*2. Servcmts, obey your masters according to the flesh. There is here also a certain love, but that no more pro- ceeding from nature, as above, but from habit, and from the authority itself, and the works done. Seeing then that in this case the spliere of love is narrowed, whilst that of obe- dience is amplified, he dwelleth upon this, wishing to give to these from their obedience, what the first have from nature. So that he discourseth not with the servants only' for their masters' sakes, but for their own also, that they may make themselves the objects of tender affection to their masters. But he sets not this forth openly ; for so he would 'uTTim. doubtless have made them supine ^ Servants, he saith, ohei/ in all things your masters according to thejlesh. (2) And see how always he sets down the names, wives, chil- -"Sixaiu- dren, servants, as being a just claim^ upon their obedience. •""• But that none might be pained, he added, to your mas- ters according to thejlesh. Thy better part, the soul, is free, he saith ; thy service is for a season. It therefore do thou subject, that thy service be no more of constraint. Xot with eye-service, as men-j) leasers. Make, he saith, thy service which is by the law, to be from the fear of Christ. For if when thy master seeth thee not, thou doest thy duty and what is for his honour, it is manifest that thou doest it be- cause of the sleepless Eye. Not with eye-service, he saith, as men-pleasers ; thus implying, 'it is you who will have to sustain Ps.63,5. the damage.' For hear the prophet saying, The Lord hath scattered the bones of the men-pleasers. See then how he spares them, and brings them to order. But in singleness of heart, he %-d\\k\, fearing God. For that is not singleness, but hypocrisy, to hold one thing, and act another ; to appear one when the master is present, another when he is absent. Therefore he said not simply, in singleness of heart, but, fearing God. For this is to fear God, when, though none be seeing, we do not aught that is evil ; but if we do, we fear f fAovei}. On;' would expect ftinof, as chiefly address.-d, or that this i» the he .speiiks to the masters al'tei wards, object even of wliat is addressed to Rut he may either mean that they were them separately. God an impartial Judge of Master and Servant. 297 not God, but, men. Seest thou how he bringeth them to Hom. order ? — '■ — Ver. 23. And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not to men. He desh-es to have them freed not only from hypocrisy, but also from slothfrilness. He hath made them instead of slaves free, when they need not the superintendence of their master; for the expression heartily, means this, ' with good will,' not with a slavish necessity, but with freedom, and of choice. And what is the reward t Ver. 24. Knowing, he saith, that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of our^ inheritance: for ye serve the^^^^"^^' ■^ ^ .7 your, Lord. Rec. t. Surely then it is evident that ye shall from Him receive °™' °^^' the reward. And that ye serve the Lord is plain from this. Ver. 25. But he that doeth wrong, he saith, shall receive the wrong which he hath done. Here he confirmeth his former statements. For that his words may not appear to be those of flattery, he shall receive, he saith, the wrong he hath done, that is, he shall suffer punishment also, yb/" there is no respect of persons with God. For, what if thou art a servant ? it is no shame to thee. And truly he might have said this to the masters, as he did in the Epistle to the Ephesians. But here he seems to me to be Ephes. alluding to the Grecian masters. For, what if he is a^'^' Greek and thou a Christian ? Not the persons but the actions are examined, so that even in this case thou oughtest to serve with good will, and heartily. Chap. iv. 1. Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal. What in just? What is equal? To place them in plenty of every thing, and not allow them to stand in need of others, but to recompense them for their labours. For, because I have said that they have their reward from God, do not thou therefore deprive them of it. And in another place he saith, Ephes. j^orbearing threatening, wishing to make them more gentle ; ' " ' for those were perfect men^; iXveii \s,, with what rneasure ye - -rixuoi. mete, it shall be measured to you again. And the words, ^ ^"' there is no respect of persons, are spoken with a view to these ^, 3 the but they are assigned to the others, in order that these may ""^^ters. 298 Laborious prayer. Example of a holy Mail. Cores, receive them. For when we have said to one person what is 4 2. — ^-^ applicable to another, we have not corrected him so much, as the one who is in fault. Ye also, along with them, he saith. He has here made the service common, for he saith, knowing that ye also have a blaster in heaven. Ver. 2. Continue in prayer, watching in the same with thanksgiving. For, since continuing in prayers frequently makes persons listless, therefore he saith, tvatching, that is, sober, not wan- ' hf*^'»- dering'. For the devil knoweth, he knoweth, how great a good prayer is ; therefore he presseth heavily. And Paul also knoweth how careless^ many are when they pray, where- fore he saith, continue ^ in prayer, as of somewhat laborious, watching in the same with thanksgiving. For let this, he saith, be your work, to give thanks in your prayers both for the seen, and the unseen, and for His benefits to the willing and unwilling, and for the kingdom, and for hell, and for tribulation, and for refreshment. For thus is the custom of the Saints to pray, and to give thanks for the common benefits of all. (3) I know a certain holy man who prayeth thus. He used to say nothing before these words, but thus, " We give Thee thanks for all Thy benefits shewn forth upon us the unworthy, from the first day until the present, for what we know, and what we know not, for the seen, for the unseen, for those in deed, those in word, those with our wills, those against our wills, for all that have been bestowed upon the unworthy, even us ; for tribulations, for refreshments, for hell, for punishment, for the kingdom of heaven. We beseech Thee to keep our soul holy, having a pure con- science; an end worthy of Thy lovingkindness. Thou that lovedst us so as to give Thy Only-Begotten for us, grant us to become worthy of Thy love; give us wisdom in Thy word, and in Thy fear, Only-Begotten Christ, inspire the strength that is from Thee. Thou that gavest Thy Only- Begotten for us, and hast sent Thy Holy Spirit for the remis- sion of our sins, if in aught we have wilfully or unwillingly transgressed, pardon, and impute it not ; remember all that E ixnhufi, generally used of giving deadly sins is of this origin, up caring for any thing in despair. But '' ^^-xrxajTjjerrs persevere. the name ' acedia' amongst the seven Unknown mercies. St. PauVs zeal and humility. 299 call upon Thy Name in truth; remember all that wish us Hom. well, or the contrary, for we are all men." Then having added the Prayer' of the Faithful, he there ended; having' The made that prayer, as a certain crowning part, and aprayer. binding together for all. For mariy benefits doth God bestow «"j*"'^»- upon us even against our wills; many also, and these greater, without our knowledge even. For when we pray for one thing, and He doeth to us the reverse, it is plain that He doeth us good even when we know it not. Ver. 3. IV ithal praying also for us. See hislowlyminded- ness ; he sets himself after them. 77/«^ God would open to us a door of utterance to speak the mystery of Christ. He means an entrance, and boldness in speaking. Wonderful ! A wrestler so great said not ' that I may be freed from my bonds,' but being in bonds he exhorted others ; and exhorted them for a great obj ec t, that himself might get boldness in speaking. Both the two are great, both the quality of the person, and of the thing. Wonderful ! how great is the dignity ! The mystery, he saith, of Christ. He shews that nothing was more dearly desired by him than this, to speak. For which I am also in bonds: that I may make it manifest^- ■*• as I ought to speak. He means with much boldness of speech, and withholding nothing. Seest thou? his bonds display, not obscure him. With much boldness, he means. Tell me, art thou in bonds, and dost thou exhort others } Yea, he saith, my bonds give me the greater boldness ; but I pray for God's furtherance, for I have heard Christ saying. When they Ma.t.l0, deliver you up, take no thought how or ivhat ye shall speak. ^^* And see, how he has expressed himself in metaphor, that God would open to us a door of utterance; (see, how unas- suming^ he is, and how even in his bonds, he expresses - a»-"?**- himself lowly ;) that is, that He would soften their hearts ; still he said not so; but, ' that He would give us boldness;' out of lowlymindedness he thus spoke, and that which he had, he asks to receive. He shews in this Epistle, why Christ came not in those times, in that he calleth the former things shadou-, but the body, saith he, is of Christ. So that it was necessary they should be formed to habits under the shadow. At the same time also he exhibits the greatest proof of the love he bears 'iOO .S7. Paul's bonds I'urlhcred his uork. CoLos. to thein; ' in order that ye,' he saitli, ' may hear, / — '—^dojids.' Ajiaiii ho sets before us lliose bonds of his ; am m of his ; which 1 so greatly love, which rouse up iny heart, and always draw rae into longing to see Paul bound, and in his bonds writing, and preaching, and baptizing, and catechizing. In his bonds he was referred to on behalf of the Churches every where; in his bonds he builded up incalculably. Then was he ' luXi/TOf rather at large'. For hear him saying. So that tnany of 14. ' ' the brethren waxiwj confident by my bonds are much more bold to sj)eak the word without /ear. And again he makes 2 Cor. ti^g same avowal of himself, saying, For when I am weak, 2 Tiin. then am I strong. Whereibre he said also. But the word of ^' ^- Qod is not bound. He was bound with malefactors, with prisoners, with murderers; he, the teacher of the world, he that had ascended into the third heaven, that had heard 2 Cor. the unspeakable words, was bound. But then was his course ' ■ the swifter. He that was bound, was now loosed ; he that was unbound, was bound. For he indeed was doing what he would; whilst the other prevented him not, nor accom- plished his own purpose. What art thou about, O senseless one ? Thinkest thou he is a fleshly runner .? Doth he strive in our race-course? His conversation is in heaven ; him that runneth in heaven, things on earth cannot bind nor hold. Seest thou not this sun.? Enclose his beams with fetters! stay him from his course! Thou canst not. Then neither canst thou Paul! Yea, much less this one than that, for this enjoyeth more of Providence than that, seeing he beareth to us light, not such as that is, but the true. Where now are they who are unwilling to suffer aught for Christ .'' But why do I say ' suffer,' seeing they are unwilling even to give up their wealth. In time past Paul both bound, and cast into prison; but since he is become Clnist's servant, he glorieth no more of doing, but of suffering, And this, Kn^uyi^a. ii^oreover, is marvellous in the Proclamation, when it is thus raised up and increased by the sufferers themselves, and not by the persecutors. Where hath any seen such contests as this? FIc that suffereth ill, conquers; he that docth ill, is worsted. lirighter is this man than the other. Through j(j ■ 'bonds the Proclamation entered. I am not ashamed, yea, God turns hiudrances into helps. 301 I glory even, he saitli, in preaching The Crucified. For Hom. consider, I pray : the whole world left those who were at —^— large, and went over to the bound ; turning away from the imprisoners, it honoureth those laden with chains ; hating the crucifiers, it worships the Crucified. Not the only marvel is it that the preachers were fishermen, m > that they were ignorant; but that there wei'e other hindrances, hindrances too by nature ; still the increase was all the more abundant. Not only was their ignorance no hindrance ; but even it itself caused the Proclamation to be manifested. For hear Luke saying. And ferceiving that they were unlearned kcta i, and ignorant men, they marvelled. Not only were bonds ^^' no hindrance, but even of itself this made them more con- fident. Not so bold were the disciples when Paul was at large, as when he was bound. For he saith, they are 7nuchv\\\\. i, more bold to speak the word of God ivithout fear. Where '** are they that gainsay the divinity of the Proclamation } Was not their ignorance enough to procure them to be condemned .'' Would it not then in this case too, affright them } For ye ' 'Downes know that by these two passions the many are possessed, ^""•'j, vain-glory and cowardice. Suppose their ignorance suffered not both them not to feel ashamed, still the dangers must have put them in fear. But, saith one, they wrought miracles. Ye do believe Or, «Be- then that they wrought miracles. But did they not work'l^^^, miracles? This is a greater miracle than to work them, if cause men were drawn to them without miracles. Socrates too ^^ "* amongst the Greeks was put in bonds. What then? Did not his disciples straightway flee to Megara ? Assuredly, for they admitted not his arguments about immortality. But see here. Paul was put in bonds, and his disciples waxed the more confident, with reason, for they saw that the Proclama- tion was not hindered. For, canst thou put the tongue in bonds } for hereby chiefly it runneth. For as, except thou have bound the feet of a runner, thou hast not prevented him from running; so, except thou have bound the tongue of an evangelist, thou hast not hindered him from running. And as the foniier, if thou have bound his loins, runneth on the rather, and is supported, so too the latter (if thou ■ hiTfttvfiivcf , Ed. Par. inserted from one Ms. 302 Bonds fw ChrisCs sake a rich ornament. CoLos. liave bound liiin,) prcacheth the rather, and with greater — ^— ^boldness. A prisoner is in fear, when there is nothing beyond bonds: but one that despiseth death, how should he be bound? They did the same as if they liad put in bonds the shadow of Paul, and had gagged its mouth. For it was a fighting with shadows; for he was both more tenderly regretted by his friends, and more reverenced by his enemies, as bearing the prize for courage in his bonds. A crown binds ** the head; but it disgraces it not, yea rather, it makes it bril- liant. Against their wills they crowned him with his chain. For, tell me, was it possible he could fear iron, who braved the adamantine gates of death } Come we, beloved, to emulate these bonds. As many of you women as deck your- selves with trinkets of gold, long ye for the bonds of Paul. Not so glitters the collar round your necks, as the grace of ' «f'»-'>-/3« these iron bonds played about' his soul! If any longs for those, let him hate these. For what communion hath soft- ness with courage; tricking out of the body with philosophy? Those bonds Angels reverence, these they even make a mock of; those bonds are wont to di'aw up from earth to heaven; these bonds draw down to earth from heaven. For in truth these are bonds, not those; those are ornament, these are bonds; these, along with the body, afflict the soul also; those along with the body adorn as well the soul. Wouldest thou be convinced that those are ornament? Tell me which would more have won the notice of the spectators? thou or Paul? And why do I say, ' thou?' the queen herself who is all bedecked with gold would not have attracted the spectators so much ; but if it had chanced that both Paul in his bonds and the queen had entered the Church at the same time, all would have removed their eyes from her to him; and with good reason. For to see a man of a nature greater than human, and having nought of man, but an angel upon earth, is more admirable than to see a woman decked wdth finery. For such indeed one may see both in theatres, and in pageants, and at baths, and many places; but whoso seeth a man with bonds upon him, and deeming himself to have the greatest of ornaments, and ^ hiTfiu, Edd. Vet. and old Lat. xtrfitT, Ben and Sav. Earthly ornaments are chains of sin. 303 not giving way under his bonds, doth not behold a spectacle Hom. of earth, but one worthy of the heavens. The soul that is in - that way attired looks about, — who hath seen ? who not seen ? — is filled with pride, is possessed with anxious thoughts, is bound with countless other passions: but he that hath these bonds on him, is without pride : his soul exulteth, is freed from every anxious care, is joyous, hath its gaze on heaven, is clad with wings. If any one were to give me the choice of seeing Paul either stooping* out of heaven, and uttering his '^'a*"- voice, or out of the prison, I would choose the prison. For'^'^""^* they- of heaven visit him when he is in the prison, The'^al. 'do bonds of Paul were the cementing of the GospeP, that chain 3* (jr. ^^ of his was its foundation. Long we for those bonds ! Procla- And how, doth any say, may this be? If we break up and ip^\ dash in pieces these. No good results to us from these bonds, but even harm. These will shew us as prisoners There; but the bonds of Paul will loose those bonds: she that is bound with these here, with those deathless bonds shall she also be bound There, both hands and feet; she that is bound with Paul's, shall have them in that day as it were an ornament about her. Free both thyself from thy bonds, and the poor man from his hunger. Wliy rivetest thou fast the chains of thy sins ? Some one saith, How ? When thou wearest gold whilst another is perishing, when thou, to get thee vainglory, takest so much gold, whilst another has not even what to eat, hast thou not wedged fast thy sins ? Put Christ about thee, and not gold; where Mammon is, there Christ is not, where Christ is, there Mammon is not. Wouldest not thou put on the King of all Himself.'' If one had oiTered thee the purple, and the diadem, wouldest thou not have taken them before all the gold in the world ? I give thee not the regal ornaments, but I offer thee to put on the King Himself. And how can one put Christ on, doth any say.'' Hear Paul saying, As many of you as have been baptized into Christ, Gal. 3, have put on Christ. Hear the Apostolical precept, 3Iake not Rom.is provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof. Thus doth ^^* one put on Christ, if one provide not for the flesh unto its lust. If thou have put on Christ, even the devils will fear xj/a-Toir thee, but if gold, even men will laugh thee to scorn: if thou ''^^''"'' have put on Christ, men also will reverence thee. 304 Christ the Clothhifj of those who are His. CoLos. Wouldcst thou appear fair and comely ? Be content with ~ ' the Creator's lasliioning. Why dost thou overhiy these bits of gold, as if about to put to rights God's creation ? Wouldest thou appear comely ? Clothe thee in alms ; clothe thee in benevolence ; clothe thee in modesty, humbleness. These are all more precious than gold ; these make the beautiful even yet more comely; these make even the ill formed to be well formed. For when any one looks upon a countenance with good will, he gives his judgment from love; but an evil woman, even though she be beautiful, none can call beautiful ; for the mind being wounded pronounceth not its sentence aright. That Egyptian woman of old was adorned ; Joseph too was adorned ; which of them was the more beautiful ? I say not when she was in the palace, and he in the prison «. He was naked, but clothed in the garments of chastity; she was clothed, but more unseemly than if she had been naked ; for she had not modesty. When thou hast excessively adorned thee, O woman, then thou art become more unseemly than a naked one ; for thou hast stiipped thee of thy fair adorning. Eve also was naked ; but when she had clothed herself, then was she more unseemly, for when she was naked indeed, she was adorned with the glory of God ; but when she had clothed herself with the garment of sin, then was she un- seemly. And thou, when arrayed in the garment of studied ^.«r«< there are both many allowances and kindnesses ^ There is indeed need of caution even here; but much more without, for it is not the same to be amongst enemies and foes, and amongst friends. Then because he had alarmed them, see how again he encourages them; Redeeming, he saith, the time: that is, the present time is short. Now this he said, not wishing them »«•#«/- to be crafty^, nor hypocrites, (for this is not a part of wisdom, *""■ but of senselessness,) but what } Tn matters wherein they harm you not, he means, give them no handle; as he says Rom. also, when writing to the Romans, Bender to all their dues; ' * tribute to whom tribute is due, custom to whom custom, honour to whom honour. On account of the Gospel alone have thou war, he saith, let this war have none other origin. For Christian forbearance. Sf. PauPs Messengers. 307 though they were to become our foes for other causes besides, Hom. yet neither shall we have a reward, and they will become worse, and will seem to have just complaints against us. For instance, if we pay not the tribute, if we render not the honours that are due, if we be not lowly. Seest thou not Paul, how submissive he is, where he was not likely to harm the Gospel'? For hear him saying to Agrippa, / count iqt. myself happy, because I shall answer for myself this day ^^^^^^' before thee, especially because I know thee to be expert in Acts 26, all customs and questions which are among the Jews. But had he thought it his duty to insult the ruler, he would have spoiled every thing. And hear too those of blessed Peter's company, how gently they answer the Jews, saying, i^^ Acts 6, ought to obey Ood rather than men. And yet men who^^" had as they renounced their own lives, might both have in- sulted, and have done any thing whatever; but for this object they had renounced their lives, not that they might win vain- glory, (for that way had been vain-gloi'ious,) but that they might preach and speak all things with boldness. That other course marks want of moderation. Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt ; that is, let not this graciousness lapse into indifFerentism. For it is possible to be simply agreeable^, it is possible also 2 ^a^n*- to be so with due seemliness*. That ye may know how ye f'^'"^*'; ought to answer every man. So that one ought not to dis- mrn course alike to all, Greeks, I mean, and Brethren. By no means, for this were the very extreme of senselessness. Ver. 7. All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, the beloved brother, and faithful minister, and felloiv servant in the Lord. Admirable ! how great is the wisdom of Paul ! Observe, he doth not put every thing into his Epistles, but only things necessary and urgent. In the first place, being desirous of not drawing them out to a length ; and secondly, to make his messenger more respected, by his having also some- what to relate ; thirdly, shewing his own affection towards him ; for he would not else have entrusted these communi- cations to him. Then, there were things which ought not to be declared in writing. The beloved brother, he saith. If beloved, he knew all, and he concealed nothing from him. And x2 308 St, PaiiTs consideraleness. How he was treated. Co\jO%. fail hf ill minifiter, and fellow-servant in the Lord. \i faith- -^—^ — 'fnl, lie will s])cak no falsehood; if a fellow-servant, he hath shared his trials, so that he has brought together frora all sides the grounds of trustworthiness. Ver. 8. Whom I have sent unto you for this same purpose. Here he shews his great love, seeing that for this purpose he sent him, and this was the cause of his journey; and so 1 Thesd when writing to the Thessalonians, he said. Wherefore when ice could no longer forbear, we thouyJit it good to he left at Athens alone, and sent Timotheus our brother. And to the Ephesians he sends this very same person, and for the Eph. 6; very same cause, That he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts. See what he saith, not ' that ye might know my estate,' but ' that I might know youi's.' So in no place doth he mention what is his own. He shews that they were in trials too, by the expression, cotnfort your hearts. Ver. 9. With Onesimus, the beloved and faithful brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here. Onesimus is he about whom, wiiting to Philemon, he said, Philem. lyjiom I would have retained with me, that in thxi stead he 13. 14. _ ' -^ might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the Gospel; but without thy mind would I do nothing. And he adds too the praise of their city, that they might not only not " be ' 'y««^- ashamed, but even pride themselves on' him. Who is one of Zuyrat you, he saith. They shall make known unto you all things that are done here. (2) Ver. 10. Aristarchus my fellow-prisoner saluteth you. Nothing can surpass this praise. This is he that was ' ovret brought up from Jerusalem with him. This man ^ hath said a greater thing than the prophets ; for they call themselves strangers and foreigners, but this one calleth himself even a captive ''. For just like a captive he was dragged up and down % and lay at every one's will to suffer evil of them, yea rather worse even than captives. For those indeed their enemies, after taking them, treat with much attention, having a care for them as their own property: but Paul, as though * Sav. adds, «w», but without neces- ° ^iytro ko,) lifi^irt, which is most sity. properly said of property plundered in '' a/i^^aXoiref, prisoner of war. war. The present time to he redeemed from the ivorld. 309 an enemy and a foe, all men dragged up and down, beating Hom. him, scourging, insulting, and maligning. This too was a — consolation to those (to whom he wrote), for when their master even is in such circumstances, the disciples are the rather comforted. And Marcus, sister''s son to Barnabas; even this man he hath praised still from his relationship, for Barnabas was a great man; touching whom ye received commandments, if he come unto you, receive him. Why? would they not have received him even without this } Yes, but he means, ' I desire you to do so with much attention ;' and this shews the man to be great. Whence they received these command- ments, he does not say. Ver. 11. And Jesus which is called Justus ; This man was probably a Corinthian. Next, he bestows a common praise on all, having already spoken that of each one in particular ; who are of the circumcision : these only are my fellow-workers unto the kingdom of God which have been a comfort unto me. After having said, fellow-prisoner ; in order that he may not therewith depress the soul of his hearers, see how by this expression he rouseth them up. Fellow-workers, he saith, unto the kingdom of God. So that being partakers of the trials, they become partakers of the king- dom. fVho have been a comfort to me. He shews them to be great persons, seeing that to Paul they have been a comfort. But "^ let us see the wisdom of Paul. Jfalk in wisdom, v. 5. he saith, towards them that are tmthout, redeeming the time. That is, the time is not yours, but theirs. Do not then wish to have your own way", but redeem the time. And he said not simply, ' Buy ',' but redeem ^, shewing that i iy«g al. in perils, thou shouldest be in delights '. Again, is thine heart ings. set upon self-indulgence ? Picture to thy mind Paul's prison- house; thou art his disciple, thou art his fellow-soldier. How is it reasonable, that thy fellow-soldier should be in bonds, and thou in luxury? Art thou in affliction? Deemest thou l^^- thou art forsaken ? Hear Paul's words*; and thou wilt see, bonds. ... . that to be in affliction is no proof of being forsaken. Wouldest thou wear silken robes? Remember Paul's bonds; and these things will ajipear to thee more worthless than filth -bespattered rags. Wouldest thou array thee with golden trinkets ? Picture to thy mind Paul's bonds, and these things will seem to thee no better than a withered bulrush. Wouldest thou tire thine hair, and be beautiful to see ? Think of Paul's squalidness within that prison-house, and thou wilt burn for that beauty, and deem this the extreme of ugliness, and wilt groan bitterly through longing for those bonds. Wouldest thou daub thee with pastes and pigments, Acts 20, and such like things? Think of his tears: a three-years space, night and day, he ceased not to weep. With this adorning deck thy cheek ; these tears do make it bright. I say not, that thou weep for others, (I wish indeed it could be even so, but this is too high for thee,) but for thine own sins. 1 advise thee this to do. Hast thou ordered thy slave to be put in bonds, angry, and exasperated ? Remember Paul's bonds, and thou wilt straightway stay thine anger; remember that we are of the bound, not the binders, of the bruised in *i,txv- heart, not the bruisers. Hast thou lost selfcontroP, and shouted loud in laughter? Think of his lamentations, and thou wilt groan; such tears will shew thee brighter far. Seest thou any rioting and dancing ? Remember his tears. What fountain has gushed forth so great streams as those Acts 20, eyes did tears? Remember my lears, he saith, as here bonds. And with reason he spoke thus to them, when he sent for them from Ephesus to Miletus. For he was then speaking to teachers. He demands of those therefore, that they should Spiritual beauty far (tbore natural. 323 gather [others] together % also, but of these that they should Hom. only encounter dangers. What fountain u ill thou compare to these tears ? That in (3) Paradise, which watereth the whole earth ? But thou wilt have mentioned nothing like it. For this fount of tears watered souls, not earth. If one were to shew us Paul bathed in tears, and groaning, would not this be better far to see, than countless choirs gaily crowned .'' I am not now speaking of you ; but, if one, having pulled away from the theatre and the stage some wanton fellow, burning and drunken with carnal love, were to shew him a young virgin in the very flower of her age, surpassing her fellows, both in other respects, and in her face more than the rest of her person, having an eye, tender and soft, that gently ^ resteth, and gently rolleth, moist, mild, calmly smiling, and arrayed in much modesty and much grace, fringed with dark lashes both under and over, having an eyeball, so to speak, alive, a forehead radiant; underneath, again, a cheek shaded to exact redness, lying smooth as marble, and even ; and then any one should shew me Paul weeping ; leaving that maiden, I would have eagerly sprung away to the sight of him; for from his eyes there beamed spiritual beauty. For that other transporteth the souls of youths, it scorcheth and inflameth them ; but this, on the contrary, subdueth them. Whoso gazeth upon his eyes, tliereby maketh that of his soul more beauteous, he curbeth his belly ; he filleth himself with the love of wisdom, with much sympathy : this' is able to soften ' 2 Mss. even a soul of adamant. With these tears the Church is*^""*" watered, with these souls are planted ; yea, though there be fire sensible and substantial, yet can these tears quench it; these tears quench the fiery darts of the wicked one. Remember we then these tears of his, and we shall laugh to scorn all present things. These tears did Christ pro- nounce blessed, saying, Blesned are they that mourn, and Matt. 5, blessed are they that iveep,for they shall laugh. Such tears t' % « did Isaiah too, and Jeremiah w^eep ; and the former said, 21. Leave me alone, I will weep bitterly: and the latter, J^/'f- 3it satanical performances \ For see what the devil hath invented. Since nature itself hath withheld women fi'ora the •-affiftvuv stage, and the disgraceful- things enacted there, he hath introduced into the women's chamber the furniture of the theatre, I mean, wantons and harlots. This pestilence the custom of marriages hath introduced, or rather, not of mar- riage, God forbid! but of our own silliness. What is it thou doest, O man ? Thou marriest a wife for chastity, and pro- creation of children ; what then mean these harlots ? That (•jp^i- ti^gj.^ j-j^g^y |jg^ ^y^Q answcrcth, greater gladness^. And yet ^a^j.^J», is not this rather madness*? Thou insul test thy bride, thou thev are"^*^"^^^*^*^^ the women that are invited. For if they are^ de- aippos- licjhted with such proceedings, the thing is an insult. If to ed to be. ° , , . . n f ^ f 1 1 see harlots actnig indecorously conierretn any honour, where- fore dost thou not drag thy bride thither, that she too may see it ? It is quite indecent and disgraceful to introduce into one's house lewd fellows and dancers, and all that satanic pomp. Remember, he saith, tny bonds. Marriage is a bond, a bond ordained of God, a harlot is a severing and a dissolving. It is permitted you to embellish marriage with other things, such as full tables, and apparel. I do not cut off these things, lest I should seem to be clownish to an extreme; and yet Gen. 24, Rebecca was content with her veil* only ; still 1 do not cut them ()5. . ^' fit^i- oil'. It is permitted you to embellish and set off marriage r^^I!!'.„„, with apparel, with the presence of reverend men and reverend summer i i ' r robe.' women. Why introduccst thou those mockeries'? why those monsters? Tell us what it is thou hearest from them? ' «(T/;^af^aTfli, subjects of rejoicing for the enemy. Virgins may attend weddings, but quietly. 327 What? dost thou blush to tell? Dost thou blush, and vet Hom. XII force them to do it? If it is honourable, wherefore dost thou - not do it thyself as well? but if disgraceful, wherefore dost thou compel another ? Every thing should be full of chaste- ness, of gravity, of orderliness ; but now I see the reverse, people frisking like camels and mules. For the virgin, her chamber'' is the only befitting place. ' But.' saith one, ' she is poor.' Because she is poor, she ought to be modest also; let her have her character' in the place of a fortune. Has she' r^iirtv no dowry to give with herself? Then why dost thou make her otherwise contemptible ' through her life and manners ? I praise the custom, that virgins attend to do honour to their fellow ; that matrons attend to do honour to her who is made one of their order. Rightly hath this been ordered. For these are two companies, one of virgins, the other of the married ; the one are giving her up, the other receiving her. The bride is between them, neither virgin, nor wife, for she is coming forth from those, and entering into the fellowship of these. But those harlots, what mean they? They ought to hide their faces when marriage is celebrated ; they ought to be dug into the earth, (for harlotry is the corruption of marriage,) but we introduce them at our mamages. And, when ye are engaged in any work, ye count it ill-omened to speak even a syllable of what is adverse to it ; for instance, when thou sowest, when thou drawest off the wine from thy vats, thou wouldest not, even if asked, utter a syllable about vinegar"; but here, where the object is chasteness, introduce ye the vinegar? for such is an harlot. When ye are preparing sweet ointment, ye suffer nought ill-scented to be near. Mar- riage is a sweet ointment. Why then introducest thou the foul stench of the dunghill^ into the preparation of thy oint-- ^»e/3a- ment? What sayest thou? Shall a virgin dance, and yet^*** feel no shame before her fellow ? For she ought to have more gravity than the other ; she hath at least come forth from the [nurse's] arm', and not from the palajstra. For a virgin ought ^ «f ay- not to appear publicly * at all at a marriage. Hl/Za- '' (!/.Xafio(, which is used for any al. aa! «i'v»» ^ttl» Ixu tx o^Imt cnu-ainvra retired chamber. a.'rox^iyus, ' and in that case thou keep- ' Some copies add, (let her gain est the very names of vinegar away respect through). from thy wines.' 3*28 Virgin modesly. Mijatcrij of the Marriage Union. CoLos. Seest thou not how in kings' houses, the honoured arc ' within, about the king, the nnhonoured without ? Do thou ' too be within about the bride. But remain in the house in chasteness, expose not thy virginity. Either company is standing by, the one to shew of what sort she is whom they are giving uf), tlie other in order that they may guard her. Why disgracest thou the virgin estate ? For if thou art such as this, the same will the bridegroom suspect her to be. If thou wishest to liave men in love with thee, this is the part of saleswomen, green-grocers, and handicrafts-people. Is not this a shame ? To act unseemly is a shame even though it be a king's daughter". For doth her poverty stand in the way ? or her course of life ? Even if a virgin be a slave, let Gal. 3, her abide in modesty. For in Christ Jesus there is neither 28 bond nor free. What.'' is marriage a theatre } It is a mystery and a type of a mighty thing; and even if thou reverence not it, reverence that whose type it is. This, saith he, is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the Church. It is a type of the Church, and of Christ, and dost thou introduce harlots at it ? If then, saith one, neither virgins dance, nor the married, who is to dance ? No one, for what need is there of dancing? In the Grecian mysteries there are dancings, but in ours, silence and decency, modesty, and bashfulness. A great mystery is being celebrated : forth with the harlots ! forth with the profane ! How is it a mystery ? They come together, and the two make one. Wherefore is it that at his entrance indeed, there is no dancing, no cymbals, but great silence, great stillness; but when they come together, making not a lifeless image, nor yet the image of any thing upon earth, but of God Himself, thou introducest so great an uproar, and disturbest those that are there", and puttest the soul to shame, and confoundest it ? They come, about to be made one body. See again a mystery of love ! If the two become not one, so long as they continue two, they make not many, but when they are come into oneness, they then make many. What do we learn from this ? That great is the power of union. The wise counsel of God at the begin- " i. e. at whose weJcling it is done. [that image.]' Downes proposes As when He would raise Jairua' abroad.' daughter, Matt. 9, 25. Who is a good husband. Wedding -feast, and guests. 333 be so great as will be the annoyance that comes of her Hom. slavery. I pray thee, seek not these things, but most of all, • one of equal condition ; if however this cannot be, rather one poorer than in better circumstances ; if at least thou be desirous not of selling' thy daughter to a master, but of ' «VoS.?- giving- her to a husband. When thou hast thoroughly in- 2.* j^j,^^ vestigated the virtue of the man, and art about to give her to him, beseech Christ to be present: for He will not be ashamed to be so; it is the mystery of His presence. Yea rather beseech Him even in the first instance, to grant her such a suitor. Be not worse than the servant of Abraham, who, when sent on a pilgrimage so important, knew whither he ought to have recourse; wherefore also he obtained every thing. When thou art taking anxious pains, and seeking a husband for her, pray ; say unto God, ' whomsoever Thou wilt do Thou provide:' into His hands commit the matter; and He, honoured in this way by thee, will requite thee with honour. Two things indeed it is necessary to do ; to commit the thing into His hands, and to seek such a person as He Him- self would approve, one that is orderly and chaste. When** then thou makest a marriage, go not round from house to house borrowing mirrors and dresses ; for the mat- ter is not one of display, nor dost thou lead thy daughter to a pageant; but decking out thine house with what is in it, invite thy neighbours, and friends, and kindred. As many as thou knowest to be of a good character, those invite, and bid them be content with what there is. Let no one from the orchestra be present, for such expense is superfluous, and imbecoming. Before all the rest, invite Christ, Knowest thou whereby to invite Him ? Whosoever, saith He, hath Mat.25, done it to one of these least, hath done it to Me. And think it not an annoying thing^ to invite the poor for Christ's sake ; ^ 'ioca,- to invite harlots is an annoyance. For to invite the poor is^*"^*' a means of wealth, the other of ruin. Adorn the bride not with these ornaments that are made of gold, but with gentle- ness and modesty, and the customary robes ; in place of all golden ornament and braiding, arraying her in blushes, and shamefacedness, and the not desiring such things. Let there be no uproar, no confusion ; let the bridegroom be called, let <• Here he addresses the mother, all the participles being feminine. ' Knit ffTPia. 334 An orderly feasi is Jbujid best iv ihe end. CoLos. him receive the virgin. The dinners and suppers, let ihem — — ^not be full of drunkenness, but of spiritual pleasure. For from such a marriage there will spring good things innume- rable, and the things of this life will be in security; but from the marriages that now are celebrated, (if at least one ought to call them marriages and not pageants,) how many are the evils ! Tlie banquet hall is no sooner broken up, than straight- way comes care and fear, lest aughtthatis bonowed should have been lost, and there succeeds to the pleasure melancholy in- tolerable. But this distress belongs to the mother-in-law ', — nay, rather not even is the bride herself free ; all that follows at least belongs to the bride herself. For to see all broken up, is a ground for sadness; to see the house desolate, is an occasion for dejection. There is Christ, here is Satan ; there is cheerfulness, here anxious care ; there pleasure, here pain ; there expense, here nothing of the kind ; there indecency, here modesty ; there envy, hei'e no envy ; there drunkenness, here soberness, health, temperance. Bearing in mind all these things, let us stay the evil at this point, that we may please God, and be counted worthy to obtain the good things promised to them that love Him, through the grace and love toward man of our Lord Jesus Christ, with Whom, to the Father, together with the Holy Ghost, be glory, power, honour, now and for ever, and world without end. Amen. HOMILIES OF S. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM, ARCHBISHOP OF CONSTANTINOPLE, ON THE FIRST EPISTLE OF S. PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS. HOMILY I. 1 Thess. i. 1,2, 3. Paul, and Silvamis, and Timotheus, unto the Church of the Thessalonians tvliich is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace he unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers ; Remembering nithont ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father. Wherefore then, when writing to the Ephesians% and having Timothy with him, did he not inchide him with him- self (in his salutation), known as he was to them and admired. For he says. Ye know the 'proof of him, that as a son withpw.i the father, he hath served witJime in the Gospel; and again, ^^" / have no man like-minded who uill naturally care for your^. 20. state; but here he does associate him with himself. It seems to me, that he was about to send him immediately, and it " This mistake cannot be charged on the transcribers, as Timothy is men- tioned in Phil. 1,1. 336 Special intent of the uords, ' C/titrch,' and 'in God.' iTHEs.was superfluous for liim to write, who would almost overtake 13. — '—^ the letter. For he says, Him there/ore I hope to send prc- Phil. 2, sently. But here it was not so; but he had just returned to him, so that he naturally joined in the letter'. For he '"' savs. Now when Timotlteus came from yoii imto us. But 1 Thess. why does he place Silvanus before him, though he testifies ' to his numberless good qualities, and prefers him above all ? Perhaps Timothy wished and requested him to do so from his great humility; for when he saw his master so humble- minded, as to associate his disciple with himself, he would much the more have desired this. For he says, Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the Church of the Thessalonians . Here he gives himself no title — not ' an Apo- stle,' not ' a Servant,' I suppose, because the men were newly instructed, and had not yet had any experience of him'', he does not mention his rank; and at any rate, it was as yet the beginning of his preaching to them. To the Church of the Thessalonians, he says. And well. For since it is probable there were few, and they not yet formed into a body, on this account he consoles them with the name of the Church, For where much time had passed, and the congregation of the Church was large, he does not apply this term. But because the name of the Church is a name of multitude, and of a system now compacted, on this account he calls them by that name. In God the Father^ he says, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Unto the Church of the Thessalonians, he says, which is in God. Behold again the expression, m% applied both to the Father and to the Son. But he says, in God, because there were many assemblies'*, both Jewish and Grecian. It is a great dignity, and to which there is nothing equal, that it is in God. God grant therefore that this Church may be so addressed ! But I fear that it is far from that appellation. For if any one is the servant of sin, he cannot be said to be i?i God, (if any one walks not according to God, he cannot be said to be in God^) b auraZ, perhaps ' of the thing.' '' tKx.Xn for ©1«, Sav. mar. with the word in its secular sense. has I» ©«*, and the sense does not allow « Clause added in B. Hales would the other, ' the word God.' put ' grace &c.' after the next clause. .S7. Paurs f/ianks /ind praijers for the Fdifhfu/. 337 Grace be unto you, and peace. Do you perceive his Hom. encomiums at the very conmieiicement of his Ejjistle ? We — '■ — give thanks to God alirays for you all, making mention of you in our prayers. For to give thanks to God for them is the act of one testifying to their great advancement, when they are not only praised themselves, but God also is thanked for them, as Himself having done it all. He teaches them also to be moderate, all but sayhig, that^ it is all of the power of God. That he gives thanks for them, therefore, he declares on account of their good conduct, but that he remembers them in his prayers, proceeds from his love towards them. Then shewing them that he not only remembers them in his prayers, but apart from his prayers, he says, what he often does, Rememher'ing ivithoul ceasing your icork of faith and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father. What is remembering without ceasing ? Either remembering before God and the Father, or remembering your labour of love that is in sight of God and the Father. But he has not said merely, Re- membering uithout ceasing; but, yon. Then again, that you may not think that this you is said simply, he has added, in the sight of God and the Father. For because no one amongst men was praising their actions, no one giving them any reward, he adds also this, all but saying, ' Be of good cheer ; you labour in the sight of God.' What is the work of faith '^ That nothing has turned aside your stedfastness ^ 'sWraa-,!, For this is the work of faith. If thou believest, suffer all things ; if thou dost not suffer, thou dost not believe. For are not the things promised such, that he who believes would choose^ to sutler even ten thousand deaths ? The kingdom of heaven is set before him, and immortality, and eternal life. He therefore who believes will suffer all things. Faith then is shewn through his works. Justly therefore hath he spoken thus, shewing that not lightly, but by your works, have you manifested it, by your stedfastness, by your zeal. And your labour of love. Why ? what labour is it to love - ? - so B. Merely to love is none at all. But to love sincerely is great ^ B. ' that although ye work.' ciuSoli, which suits aviXto^ui, ' such as B av 'iXiaSai Hales conj. and B. for might persuade the heliever to under- a.viXiir(xi. But B. reads ttiIitui for vni- go.' 338 Labour o/ love. Good /ruits of Patience. iThes. labour. For tell me, when many things are stirred up that — ^—^— would draw us fi'ora love, and we hold out against them all, is it not labour ? For what did not these men suffer, that they miglit not revolt from their love ? Did not they that warred on ^'■- the Gospel ' go to Paul's host, and not having found him, mation. drag Jason before the rulers of the city ? Tell me, is this Acts 17, g^ slight labour, when the seed had not yet taken root, to endure so great a storm, so many trials ? And they demanded security of him. And having given security, (he says,) Jason ^®® ^ sent away Paul. Is this a small thing, tell me.? Did not 9. Jason even expose himself to danger for him } and this he calls a labour of love, because they were thus bound to him. And observe : first he mentions their good actions, then his own, that he may not seem to boast, nor to love them by anticipation '. And patience, he says. For that persecution was not confined to one time, but was continual, and they warred not only with Paul, the master, but with his disciples also. For if they were thus affected towards those who wrought miracles, those venerable men ; what think you were their feelings towards those who dwelt among them, their fellow-citizens, who had all of a sudden revolted from iThess. them? Wherefore this also he testifies of them, saving, For 2 14. 7 ., D' ' ' ye became followers of the Churches of God ivhich are in Judaa. (2) And of hope, he says, in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father. He hath well spoken thus. For all these things proceed from faith and hope, so that what happened to them shewed not their fortitude only, but that they believed with full assurance in the rewards laid up for them. For on this account God permitted that persecutions should arise immediately, that no one might say, that the Proclamation was established hghtly or by flattery, and that their fervour might be shewn, and that it was not human persuasion, but the power of God, that persuaded the souls of the believers, so that they were prepared even for ten thousand deaths, which would not have been the case, if the Proclamation had not immediately been deeply fixed and remained unshaken. ' ir^oXr.^f^ti. Assuming good of them before trial. The Elect worth suffering for. 339 Ver. 4, 5. Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of Hom. God^. For mir Gospel came not to you in word only, but — '■ — also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assur- ance, as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. What is this that he says? Ye know what manner of men we were among you? Here also he touches upon his own good actions, but covertly. For he wishes first to enlarge upon their praises, and what he says is something of this sort. We knew that you were men of great and noble sort, and that you were of the Elect. For this reason ' we also endured all things for your sake. For this, what manner of men we were among you, is the expression of one shewing that with much zeal and much vehemence we were ready to give up our lives for your sake ; and for this thanks are due not to us, but to you, because ye were elect. On this ac- count also he says elsewhere, Therefore I endure all things^ Tim. for the ElecCs sakes. For what would not one endure for the sake of God's beloved .' And having spoken of his own part, he all but says, For if you were beloved and elect, we suffer all things with reason. For not only did his praise of them confirm them, but his reminding them that they too themselves had displayed a fortitude corresponding^ to their' *»«•'?- zeal : accordingly he says, ^° Ver. 6. And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction with joy of the Holy Ghost. Strange ! what an encomium is here ! The disciples have suddenly become masters ! They not only heard the word, but they quickly arrived at the same height with Paul. But this is nothing to that which follows. For see whereunto he raises them, saying. Ye became followers of the Lord, How.? Having received the word in much affliction, ivith joy of the Holy Ghost. Not merely in affliction, but in much affliction. And this we may learn from the Acts of the Apostles, how Acts 17, they raised a persecution against them. And they troubled ~ " all the rulers of the city, and they instigated- the city against ' '^*""''" ^ B. stops it, brethren beloved of Greek. God, your election, which is required ' B. adds, ' both ye became imitators by the comment as well as by the of us, and.' z2 340 Affliction /or Christ relieved by the Spirit. 1 Thes. them. And it is not enough to say, ye were afflicted indeed, — '—^ and believed, but grieving. On the contrary, ye did it even exceedingly rejoicing. Which also the Apostles did: Re- joicinff, it is said, that they tcere counted icorthy to suffer Acts 5, shame for the name of Christ. For it is this that is ad- mirable. Although neither is that a slight matter, in any way to bear afflictions. But this now was the part of men surpassing human nature, and having, as it were, a body incapable of suffering. But how were they followers of the Lord ? Because He also endured many sufferings, and grieved not, but rejoiced. For He came to this willingly. For our sakes He emptied Himself. He was about to be spit upon, to be beaten and crucified, and He so rejoiced in suffering these things, that Johni7,He said to the Father, Glorify Me. With joy of the Holy Ghost, he says. That no one may say, how speakest thou of affliction ? how of joy ? how can both meet in one .? he has added, ivith joy of the Holy Ghost. The affliction is in things bodily, and the joy in things spiritual. How ? The things which happened to them were grievous, but not so the things which sprang out of them, for the Spirit does not suffer it "\ So that it is possible both for him who suffers, not to rejoice, when one suffers for his sins; and being beaten to rejoice, when one suffers for (•^) Christ's sake. For such is the joy of the Spirit. In return for the things which appear to be grievous, it causes delight to spring up". They have afflicted you, he says, and perse- ' «f» cuted you, but the Spirit did not desert you ', even in those Lfixt ' circumstances. But as the Three Children in the fire were Song, refreshed with dew, so also were you refreshed in afflictions, ver 27 . * And as there it was not of the nature of the fire to sprinkle dew, but of the ivhistling wind°, so also here it was not of the nature of affliction to produce joy, but of the suffering for Christ's sake, and of the Spirit bedewing them, and in the furnace of temptation setting them at ease. Not merely with joy, he says, but with much joy. For this is of the Holy Spirit. ■" ovK a^itiffi. Perhaps, ' does not for- Downes had guessed afruirayti. sake us,' as just helow. o 'h,a(rv^',^<,tr(,(, as LXX. Uan. 3, 28. " \k.S|(» were as one of you, not taking the higher place". Even as a B. and fm^gQ cherishcth her children. So ought the teacher to be. Cat. rit- $/». Does the nurse flatter that she may obtain glory } Does she ask money of her little children? Is she offensive or burden- 4 g j^j^, some to them? Are they not more indulgent to them^ than Cat. mothers? Here he shews his affection. So being affectionately desirous of you, he says, that is, being attached to you, we were so bound to you, he says, that we not only took nothing of you, but if it had been necessary even to impart to you our souls, we should not have refused. Tell me, then, is this of a human view? and who is so foolish as to saj' this ? We were willing to have imparted to you, he says, rovToif. St. Paid ivilling to give Irif. sold for hisfrlciu/s, ',]~)S not t/ie Gospel of God only, hut also our own souls. So that Hom. this is greater than the other. And what is the gain ? For '— from the Gospel is gain, but to give our soulf=, with respect to the difficulty, is a gi'eater thing than that. For merely to preach is not the same thing as to give the soul. For that indeed is more precious, but the latter is a matter of more difficulty. We were vvilling, he says, if it were possible, even to spend our souls upon you'. Since then he praised, and does praise, on this account he says, that, not seeking money, nor flattering you, nor desiring glory, do we do this. For observe, if they had contended much, and so otight to be praised and admired even extraordinarily, that they might be more firm, the praise might be suspicious. On this account repelling the suspicion, he mentions the dangers. And again, that he may not be thought to speak of the dangers on this account, as if labouring for them, and claiming to be honoured by them, he has therefore added, after mention of the dangers. Because ye were dear unto us; shewing that on this account we would willingly have given even our souls, because we were vehemently attached to you. The Gospel indeed we preached, because God commanded it; but so much do we love you, that, if it were possible, we would have given even our souls. He who loves, ought so to love, that if he were asked even Moral. for his soul', and it were possible, he would not refuse it. I^^^,^^v Why do I say ' if he were asked,' he would even run to present \ ^?"'[°^ him with the gift? For nothing, nothing can be sweeter than such love; nothing will fall out there that is grievous. Truly a faithful friend is the medicine of life. Truly a faithful 'Ecc\us. friend is a strong defence. For what will not a true andjb. u*. sincere friend perform.? What pleasure will he not afford? what benefit ? what security ? Though you should name infinite treasures, none of them is comparable to a real friend. And first let us speak of the great delight of friend- ship itself. A friend rejoices at seeing his friend, and expands with joy. He is knit to him with an union pf soul that 1 B. adds, ' and we should not have dnred our love.' (tmv dydrtty ) Reading been subject to any compulsion.' A rriv dvdyxtj*, from B. the sense would Paris Ms. also adds something like this, be, wv should not have suffered that which is unintelligible. 'For if we had hard treatment, not been willing, we should have en- '2 A 354 Great Blessim/s of true Friendship. iThes. affords unspeakable pleasure. And if he only calls him to - ' remembrance, he is roused in mind, and transported. I speak of real friends, men of one soul, who would even die for each other, who love fervently. Do not, thinking of those who barely love, who are table-companions, mere nominal friends, suppose that my discourse is refuted. If any one has a friend such as I speak of, he will acknowledge the truth of my words. ITe, thougli he sees his friend every day, is not satiated. For him he prays for the same things as for himself. I know one, who calling upon holy men in behalf of his friend, besought them to pray first for him, and then for himself. So dear a thing is a good ftiend, that times and places are loved on his account. For as bodies that are luminous spread their radiance to the neighbouring places, so also friends leave a grace of their own in the places to which they have come. And oftentimes in the absence of friends, as we have stood on those places, we have wept, and remembering the days which we passed together, have sighed. Tt is not possible to represent by speech, how great a pleasure the presence of friends affords. But those only know, who have experience. From friends we may both ask a favour, and receive one without suspicion. When they enjoin any thing to us, then we feel indebted to them ; but when they are slow to do this, then we are sorrowful. We have nothing which is not theirs. Often desp.ising all things here, on their account we are not willing to depart hence, and they are more regretted by us than the light. (4) For, in good truth, a friend is more to be desired than the light ; 1 speak of a true one. And wonder not : for it were better for us that the sun should be extinguished, than that we should be deprived of friends. It is better to live in dark- ness, than to be without friends. And I will tell you why. Jiecause many who see the sun are in darkness, but they can never be even in tribulation, who abound in friends. I speak of spiritual friends, who prefer nothing to friendship. Such was Paul, w ho would willingly have given his own soul, even 'seep, though not asked, nay would have plunged into hell' for note h"^*^*^"^" ^'^^th so ardent a disposition ought we to love. 1 wish to give you an example of friendship. Friends, Primitive Christians. Friends love to seem indebted. 355 that is, friends according to Christ, surpass fathers and sons. Hom. For tell me not of friends of the present day, since this good — Lj thing also has past away with others. But consider, that in the time of the Apostles, I speak not of the chief men, but of the believers themselves generally, all, he says, were of one Acts 4, heart and one soul, neither said any of them that owjht of the things u-hich he possessed was his own and distribution was made unto every man, according as he had need. There were then no such words as ' mine' and ' thine.' This is friendship, that a man should not consider his goods his own, but his neighbour's, that his possessions belong to another ; that he should be careful of his friend's soul "", even as of his own, and that his friends should in like manner shew the same disposition towards him. And where is it possible that such an one should be found? Nay, it is not possible because we have not the will, since if we were willing it is abundantly possible. For if it wei*e not possible, neither would Christ have commanded it, nor have discoursed so much concerning love. A great thing is friend- ship, and how great, no one can know, and no discourse represent, but experience itself It is this ^ that has caused 'i.e. the heresies. This makes the Greeks still to be Greeks. He who J^^e. loves does not wish to command, nor to rule, but is rather obliged when he is ruled and commanded. He wishes rather to bestow a favour than to receive one, for he loves, and is so affected, as not having satisfied his desire. He is not so much gratified when good is done to him, as when he is doing good. For he wishes to oblige, rather than to be indebted to him; or rather he wishes both to be beholden to him, and to have him his debtor. And he wishes both to bestow favours, and not to seem to bestow them, but himself to be the debtor. I think that perhaps many of you do not understand what has been said: it is necessary therefore to say it again. He wishes to be the first in bestowing benefits, and not to seem to be the first, but to be returning a kindness. Which God also has done in the case of men. He purposed to give His own Son for us; but that He might not seem to bestow a favour, but to be in- debted to us. He commanded Abraham to offer his son, that see Gen. 22, 16. "* Or ' life.' The double meaning of the word should be kept in sight through- out. •2 A 2 356 True Friendship a plant of Heaven, unknown here» 1 Thes. whilst doing a great kindness, He might seem to do nothing "' '' '- great. For when indeed there is no love, we both upbraid men with our kindnesses and we exaggerate little ones, but when there is love, we Ixtth conceal them and \vish to make the great appear small, that wo may not seem to have our friend for a debtor, but ourselves to be debtors to him, in having him our debtor. I know that the greater part do not under- stand what is said, and the cause is, that I am speaking of a thing which now dwells in heaven. As therefore if I were speaking of any plant growing in India, of which no one had ever had any experience, no speech would avail to represent it, though I should utter ten thousand words : so also now whatever things I say, I say in vain, for no one will be able to understand me. This is a plant that grows in heaven, having for its branches not heavy-clustered pearls °, but a virtuous life, much more acceptable than they. "What plea- sure would you speak of, the foul, or the honourable } But that of friendship excelleth them all, though you should s])eak of the sweetness of honey. For that satiates, but a friend never does, so long as he is a friend ; nay, the desire of him rather increases, and such pleasure never admits of satiety. And a friend is sweeter than the present life. Many therefore after the death of their fiiends have not wished to live any longer. With a friend one would bear even banish- ment willingly ; but without a friend would not choose to inhabit even his own country. With a friend even poverty is tolerable, but without him both health and riches are I ^a-a. intolerable. Such an one has another self; I am straitened ^ '^■'"V''*"'" because I cannot instance by an example. For I should choking, make it appear that what has been said is much less than it ought to be. And these things indeed are so here. But from God the reward of friendship is so great, that it cannot be expressed. He gives a reward, that we may love one another. For He says, ' Love, and receive a reward,' for that, for which we owe a reward. ' Pray,' He says, ' and receive a reward,* for that for which we owe a reward, because we ask for good things. * For that which you ask,' He says, ' receive a " One Ms. ' branches not laden with fniit, but bearing.' God reioards Friendship, though itself a benefit. 357 reward. Fast, and receive a reward. Be virtuous, and Hom. receive a reward,' though you rather owe a reward. Jiut as fathers, when they have made their children virtuous, then further give them a reward ; for they are debtors, because they have afforded them a pleasure ; so also God acts. ' Re- ceive a reward,' He says, ' if thou be virtuous, for thou delightest thy Father, and for this I owe thee a reward. But if thou be evil, not so : for thou provokest Him that begot thee.' Let not us then provoke God, but let us delight Him, that wc may obtain the kingdom of Pleaven, in Christ Jesus our Lord, &c. II. HOMILY III. 1 Thess. ii. 9—12. For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be charge- able unto any of you, ive jjreached unto you the Gospel of God. Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children. That ye would walk worthy of God, Who hath called you unto His kingdom and glory. ' al. ' to The teacher ought to think ' none of those things burden- ™ ^' some which tend to the salvation of his disciples. For if the blessed Jacob was buffeted night and day in keeping his flocks, much more ought he, to whom the care of souls is entrusted, to endure all toils, though the work be laborious and mean, looking only to one thing, the salvation of his disciples, and the glory thence arising to God. Accordingly see how Paul, being the Preacher and Apostle of the world, and raised to so great honour, worked with his hands that he might not be burdensome to his disciples. For ye remember, he says, my brethren, our labour and Iraioil. He had said previously, we m and the Lord hath taken away. Naked came LXX. I out of 1111/ mother^s ivomh, and naked shall / depart. ' What ?' sayest thou, ' the Lord hath taken away ? The thief hath taken awa}', and how canst thou say, the Lord hath taken away V Wonder not, for even Job, of things which the devil took away, said. These the Lord hath taken away. And if he had the boldness to speak thus, how shalt not thon say of what the thief has taken. The Lord hath taken away 't Tell me, whom dost thou admire ? him who has bestowed all his goods upon the poor, or Job for these words.? Is he, who did not then give, inferior to him, who has given alms } For say not, ' I am not obliged. The matter was not done with my consent, or knowledge, or will. The thief took it. What will be my reward V Neither did he take Job*s possessions with his knowledge or will. For how could he ? Nevertheless, he wrestled". And it is in thy power to receive as great a reward, as if thon hadst cast it away willingly. And perhaps we admire this man more, who thankfully suffers wrongs, than him who gives spontaneously. And why ? Because the latter indeed is fed with praises, and supported by conscience, and has good hopes ; and having before" borne manfully the privation of his goods, he then cast them away ; but the former, whilst yet bound to them, was forcibly deprived of them. And it is not the same thing, having first been induced to part with riches, in that way to bestow them, as it is while yet retaining the possession to be de]nived of them. If thou wilt say these words, thou wilt receive many times as much, and even more than Job. For he received twice as much here, but to thee Christ has promised a hundredfold. From the fear of God, " i. e. with the temptation. See on " i. e. in preparation. Stat. Horn. i. p. IS. Holo to disappoint Satan iclien wronged. o71 thou hast not blasphemed, thou hast not had recourse to Hom. diviners, suffering wrong, thou hast been thankful. Thou L art like one who despises wealth, for thou couldest not do this, hadst thou not first despised it. And it is not the same thing in a long time to practise the contempt of riches, and all at once to bear a loss that has happened. Thus the loss becomes gain, and thou wilt not be injured, but even benefited by the devil. But how does the loss also become grievous ? When thou (6) losest thy soul ! For tell me, the thief has deprived thee of thy possessions: why dost thou deprive thyself of salvation? Wherefore, grieving at the evils which thou hast suffered from others, dost thou plunge thyself into more evils ? He perhaps has involved thee in poverty: but thou perversely'' injurest thyself in things that are especially fatal. He hath deprived thee of things that are without thee, and that hereafter would fail thee even against thy will. But thou deprivcst thyself of the eternal riches. The devil hath grieved thee by taking away thy wealth ; grieve him also by being thankful, and do not delight him. If thou hast recourse to diviners, thou delightest him. If thou renderest thanks to God, thou givest him his death-blow. And see what happens. Thou wilt not still find it, if thou goest to the diviners, for it is not in their power to know ; and even if by any chance they have told thee, thou both losest thy own soul besides, and thou wilt be derided by thy brethren, and again wilt lose it wretchedly. For the devil, knowing that thou canst not bear thy loss, but for the sake of thy money deniest even thy God, again gives thee wealth, that he may have an opportunity of deceiving thee again. And if the diviners should tell thee, wonder not. The devil is without body : he is every where going about. It is he who arms' the robbers themselves. For these things do not i i.e. take place without the devil. If therefore he arms them, he ''°'°", knows also where it is deposited. He is not ignorant of his own ministers. And this is not wonderful. If he sees thee grieving at the loss, he adds yet another to it. If he sees thee laughing at it, and despising it, he will desist from this course. For as we deal to our enemies those things by y KctKotj^yiuf, which B. omits. 2 B 2 372 Giviruj Alnoi after losses, liyhtens them. 1 Thes. which we grieve them, but il" w c see that they do not grieve, — '— ^ we hencefortli desist, as being unable to ])Uigue them; so does the devil also. What sayest thou? Dost tliou not see those who sail on the sea, how, when a storm arises, they regard not their wealth, but even throw overboard their substance? And no one says, ' O man, what art thou doing ? Art thou coope- rating with the storm and the shipwreck ? Before the wave has taken away thy wealth, dost thou do it with thine own hands? Why, before the shipwreck, dost thou wreck thyself?' But indeed a rustic inexperienced in the trials of the sea might say this. But the naval man, and one who truly knows what are the causes of calm, and what of storm, will even laugh at him who talks thus. For I throw it overboard, he says, that there may be no whelming sea". So he who is experienced in the events and trials of life, when he sees the storm impending, and the spirits of evil wishing to cause shipwreck, throws overboard even the remainder of his wealth. Hast thou been plundered ? Do alms, and thou lightenest the ship. Have robbers ravaged thee? Give what remains to Christ. So thou wilt console thy i)cverty from thy former loss. Lighten the ship, do not hold fast what remains, lest the vessel fill with water. They, to preserve their bodies, throw their goods overboard, and wait not for the assailing wave to overturn the vessel. And wilt thou not stay the shipwnck, that thou mayest save souls ? Make the trial, I beseech you — if you disbelieve, make the trial, and you will see the glory of God. When any thing grievous has happened, immediately give alms. Render thanks that it has happened, and thou wilt see how much joy will come uj)on thee. For spiritual gain, though it be small, is so great as to throw into the shade all bodily loss. As long as thou hast to give to Christ, thou art rich. Tell me, if, when thou wast robbed, the king coming to thee held out his hand, begging to receive something from thee, wouldest thou not then think thyself richer than all, if the king not even alter so great poverty was ashamed of thee ? Be not carried away with thy wealth, only overcome thyself, and ' B. xXj;Sa;v,'<,v for xAuS»y: calm, storm, sense. What is a ^^torm to a deep &c. stem to lie usid here in a relative laden vessel, being less to a light one. How to be above riches. What are the best stores. 373 thou wilt overcome the assault of the devil. It is in thy power Hom. to acquire great gain. - Let us despise wealth, that we may not despise the soul. But how can any one despise it ? Dost thou not see in the case of beautiful bodies, and the lovers of them, how as long as they are in their sight the fire is kindled, the flame rises bright ; but when any one has removed them afar off, all is extinguished, all is lulled to sleep ; so also in the case of wealth, let no one provide gold, nor precious stones, nor necklaces ; when seen, they ensnare the eyes. But if thou wouldest be rich like the ancients, be rich not in gold, but in necessary things, that thou mayest bestow on others from that M'hich thou hast ready. Be not fond of ornament. Such wealth is both easy to be assailed by robbers, and a thing that brings us cares. Do not acquire vessels of gold and silver, but let there be stores of bread and wine and oil, not that being sold again they may procure money, but that they may be supplied to those who need. If we withdraw ourselves from those superfluities, we shall obtain heavenly goods; which God grant that we may all obtain, in Jesus Christ our Lord, with Whom, &c. HOMILY IV. 1 Thess. iii. 5 — 8. For this cause, when I could no longer forbear^ I sent to know your faith ^ lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain. But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as tve also to see you: Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith : For now we live, if ye standfast in the Lord. A QUESTION lies before us to-day, which is much disputed, and which is gathered from many sources. But what is this question ? For this reason, he says, when I coidd no longer forbear, I sent Timotheus to know your faith. What sayest thou ? lie, who knew so many things, who heard unutterable words, who ascended even to the third heaven, doth not he know, even when he is in Athens ? And yet the distance is not great, nor has he been long parted from them. For he says. Being taken from you for a short time. Such an one therefore did not know the affairs of the Thessalonians, but is compelled to send Timothy to know their faith, lest, he says, the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain. What then is one to say } That the Saints knew not all things ? Well, that they knew not, one may learn from many instances, both of the early ones, and of those who came after llhy the Saints did not know all things. 375 them, as Elisha knew not concerning the woman, and Elijah Hom. said to God, / only am left, and they seek my life. Where — fore he heard from God, / have left me seven thousand. As 4, 27."^ Samuel again when he was sent to anoint David, The Lord^^^^^^ said to him, Look not on his countenance, nor on the height anA li. of his stature, because I have refused him., for the Lord seeth 257"' not as man seeth ; for man looketh on the outward appear- ance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. And this comes to pass out of great care on God's part. How, and in what way ? For the sake both of the Saints themselves, and of those who believe in them. For as He permits that there should be persecutions, so He permits that they also should be ignorant of many things, that they may be kept humble. On this account also Paul said, There xcas^ Cor. 12, 7. given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. And again, lest others also should have great imaginations con- cerning them. For if they thought they were gods from their miracles, much more if they had continued always knowing all things. And this again he also says : Lest any man ib. 6. should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. And again hear Peter, when he healed the lame man, saying. Why look ye so earnestly on us, as Acts 3 though by our own power or holiness we had made this man ^^' to walk. And if even when they were saying and doing these things, from these few and small miracles, evil imaginations were thus engendered, much more would they have been from great ones. But for another reason to these things were allowed. For that no one might be able to say it was as being other than men that they ])erformed those excellent actions, and so all should become supine, he shews that they also were subject to infirmity, that he might cut off' all pretext of impudence from 1 one those who were willing to be undutiful. For this reason he ^*- is ignorant (of some things) for this reason also, after having mar. purposed, he does not come, that they might perceive there '**''>^?' were many things he knew not. Great advantage then came of this. For if* there were some yet saying. This man is the » Sav. conj. li yaj for 5 yaj «V, and late. B. omits av, which comes very so both Musculus and Hervetus trans- near it. 37() Temptation may he where there is no loavering. 1 THEs.great power of God, and some, that it is this person, or that, ' '- unless these things had been so, what would they not have Acts 8, JO. thought ? But here, however, there seems to be a censure on them. But to one who considers the matter exactly, it shews their admirable conduct, and proves the excess of their temptations. How ? Attend. For if thou first sayest ' that we are ap- pointed thereunto,' and ' let no man be moved,' why again dost thou send Timothy, as if thou fearedst that something might happen, which thou wouldest not wish. This indeed he does from his great love. For those who love suspect even what is safe from their exceeding warmth. But this is fi'om tlieir great temptations. For 1 said indeed that we are appointed thereunto, but the excess of the temptations alarmed me. Wherefore he has not said, 1 send him as condemning you, but when I could no longer forbear, which is rather an expression of love. What means, Lest by some means the tempter have tempted you ? Dost thou see that to be shaken in afflictions proceeds from the devil, and from his seduction. For when he cannot shake us ourselves, he takes another way **, and shakes the weaker sort through our means, which argues exceeding infirmity, and such as admits of no excuse, as he did in the Job 2,9. case of Job, having stirred up his vA'ife, Speak some uord against the Lord, she says, and die. See how he tempted her. But wherefore has he not said, ' shaken,' but tempted? Because, he says, I only suspected so much, as that you had ' «>-»«, and not only in that, but in our necessity- also, he says. And justly. For nothing besides can touch a good teacher, as long as the affairs of his disciples go on to his mind. Through you, he says, we were comforted, that is, you have confirmed us. And yet the reverse was the case. For that when suffering they did not yield, but stood manfully, was sufficient to confirm the disciples. But he reverses the whole matter, and turns the encomium over to them. You have anointed us, he says, you ha\'e caused us to breathe again: you have not suffered us to feel our trials. And he has not said, we breathe again, we are comforted, but what } Now we live, shewing that he thinks nothing is either trial or death, but their stumbling, whereas their advancement was Gr His joy in the stei/fastiteas ufhis Converts. 379 even life. How else could any one' have set forth either the Hom. . . .5 IV. sorrow for the weakness of one's disciples, or the joy.f He '— has not said we rejoice, but ice live, meaning the life to come. So that without this we do not even think it life to live. (3) So ought teachers to be affected, so disciples; and there will be nothing at any time amiss'. Then further softening' oJtot». the expression, see what he says, Ver. 9, 1 0. For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the Joy wherewith we Joy for your sakes before our God ? Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith. Not only, he says, are ye the causes of life to us, but also of much joy, and so much that we cannot worthily give thanks to God. Your» good behaviour, he says, we consider to be the gift of God. Such kindnesses have you shewn to us, that we think it to be of God ; or rather even the work of God. For such a disposition of mind comes not of a human soul or carefulness. Night and day, he says, praying exceedingly. This too is a sign of joy. For as any husbandman, hearing concerning the land that has been tilled by himself, that it is laden with fruits'-, desires with his own eyes to see so pleasant a sight, 2 3 Mss. so Paul to see Macedonia. Praidnq exceedinqly. Observe ' ^"'\ ■^ "^ •' "^ ears. the excess ; that ue might see your face, and might perfect that whicJi is lacking in your faith. Here there is a great question. For if now thou livest, because they stand fast, and Timothy brought thee good tidings of their faith and love, and thou art full of so much joy, as not to be able worthily to give thanks to God, how sayest thou here that there are deficiencies in their faith? Were not those then the words of flattery? By no means, God forbid. For pi-eviously he testified that they endured many conflicts, and were no worse affected than the Churches ^ So 2 Mss. Edd. ' How could any 8 So Musculus, who may have had other have.' Either may be adapted to Ms. authority. All Greek copies except the sense, but Ed. Par. thinks that Catena read ' our,' which requires ' thus' may have been omitted by xecril^^tufiit to be rendered ' achieve- mistake. ment' in a less proper sense. 380 Men that are firm may yet need perfecting . 1 Thes. in Judit'a. What then is it? They had not enioyed the full 3 11 12 . '- — : benefit of liis teaching, nor learned all that it behoved them to learn. And this he shews toward the end. Perhaps also there had been questionings among them concerning the Resurrection, and there were many who troubled them not by temptations, nor by dangers, but by acting the part of teachers. This is what he says is lacking in their faith, and for this reason, he has so explained himself, and has not said, that you should be confirmed, but ///a/ we might perfect. For where indeed he feared concerning the faith itself, ' I have sent,' he says, * Timothy to confirm you^ but here he says, to perfect thai which is lacking, which is rather a matter of teaching than of confirming. As also he says else- From where, ' that ye may be perfected unto every good work/ For 10. or ' ^^^*- '-"^ niade perfect, in which there is some little deficiency : 2Tim.3, for it is that which is perfected. Ver. 11, 12. Now God Himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you. And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one towards another, and towards all men, even as we do toward you. This is a proof of excessive love, that he not only prays for them by himself, but even in his Epistle inserts his prayer. 1 ixa^- This argues a fervent soul, and one truly not to be restrained '. T (nrtu -pj^^g ^g .^^ notice of the prciyers made there, and at the same time also an excuse for them, because it was not voluntarily, nor from indolence, that they'' did not go to them. As if he had said. May God Himself cut short the temptations that every where distract us, so that we may come directly to you. And the Lord make you to increase and abound. Do you see the madness of his love not to be restrained, that is shewn by his words } Make you to increase and abound ', instead of cause you to grow. As if one should say, that with a kind of superabundance he desires to be loved by them. Even as we do towards you, he says. That is, Our part is already done, we pray that yours also may be done. Do you see how he wishes love to be extended, not only toward one another but every where } For this truly is the nature of godly love, that it embraces all. But if you love '' St. I'aul and Silvanus. ' The words are strong, ' twiA-c yon to exceed and overjfow. Every sort of sin defiles the soul. 381 indeed such aii one, but do not love such an one, it is human Hom. love. But such is not ours. Even as we do towards you. 1- Ver. 13. To the end He may stahlish your hearts un- blameahle in holiness before God even our Father, at the coming of our T.ord Jesus Christ with all His saints. He shews that love produces advantage to themselves, not to those who are loved. I wish, he says, that this love may abound, that there may be no blame. He does not say to stablish you, but your hearts. For out of the heart proceedM^in. evil thoughts. For it is possible, without doing any thing, ' to be a bad man. As to have envy, unbelief, deceit, to rejoice at evils, not to be loving, to hold perverted doctrines. All these things are of the heart. And to be pure of these things is holiness. For indeed chastity is properly by pre- eminence called holiness, since fornication and adultery is also uncleanness ''. But universally all sin is uncleanness. For, Blessed, it is said, are the pure in heart. By the pure^^^^- He means those who are in every way pure. For other things also are apt' no less to defile the soul. (4) For that wickedness' defiles the soul, hear the prophet, say- '«-«vx^/a!. ing, O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness. And .Jerem. again. Wash you, make you cleau, put away wickednesses ^^^-^ \q from your souls. He has not said ' fornications,' so that not LXX. only fornication, but other things also defile the soul. To the end He may stahlish your hearts, he says, unhlaine- ahle in holiness before God even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints. Therefore Christ will then be a Judge, but not before Him (only), but also before the Father we shall stand to be judged. Or does he mean to say this, that we ought to be unblameable before God ? This is what T always say, ' in the sight of God,' for this is sincere virtue — not in the sight of men. It is love then that makes them unblameable. For truly Mopal. it does make men unblameable. And once when I was discoursing of this to a certain one, and saying, that love makes men unblameable, and that love to our neighbour does not suffer the admission of any transgression, and in my discourse going over, and pursuing all the rest — some k This is legally opposed to holiness, know that other things also no less • Sav. «T?.. 'Ben. and B. »TS«. ' I defile.' 382 Love forbids all evil, commands all good. 1 Thes. one of my acquaintance interposing himself said, What then — ^ — 1- of fornication, is it not possible both to love, and to commit fornication? And indeed this springs from love'". Covctousness indeed, and adultery, and envy, and hostile designs, and every thing of this sort can cut one off from the love of his neighbour ; but how does fornication ? he said. I therefore told him, that even this can love prevent. For if a man loves a woman that commits fornication, he will endeavour both to draw her off from other men, and not himself also to add to lier sin. So that to commit fornication with a woman is the part of one exceedingly hating her with whom ho commits the fornication, but one who truly loved her would withdraw her from that abominable practice. And there is not, there is not any sin, which the power of love, like fire, cannot consume. For it is easier for a vile faggot to resist a great pile of tire, than for the nature of sin to resist the power of love. This then let us plant in our own souls, that we may stand with all the Saints. For they all pleased God by their love to their neighbour. Whence was Abel slain, and did not slay? Surely from his excessive love to his brother, he could not even admit such a thought. Whence did that Cain receive the destructive pest of envy? For I will no longer call him the brother of Abel ! Because the foundations of love had not been firmly fixed in him. Whence did the sons of Noah obtain a good report ? was it not because they loved their father exceedingly, and did not endure to see his exposure ? And whence was the other cursed ? was it not from not loving him ? And whence did Abraham obtain a good report ? was it not from love that he did what he did to his nephew ? what he did in his supplication for the Sodomites. For strongly, strongly, were the Saints affected with love and with sympathy. For consider, I pray, how Paul was affected with love, who was bold in the face of fire, hard as adamant, firm and un- shaken, on every side compact, rivetted in the fear of God, Rom. 8, and inflexible. For, Who (said he) shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or perse- cution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or suord? He who ■" al. God forbid ! The not doing it wonld especially come of love. Firmness consistent with tender affections. 383 was bold in the face of all these things, and of earth and sea, Hom. who langhed to scorn the adamantine gates of hell", whom nothing ever withstood — when he saw the tears of some whom he loved, so was that adamant broken and crushed, that he did not even conceal his feelings, but said straightway, IVhnt mean ye to weep and to break mine Jteart? What Acts 21, sayest thou, tell me ? Had a tear the power to break that soul of adamant ? Yea, he says, for I hold out against all things except love. This prevails over me, and subdues me. This is the mind of God ^ An abyss of water " did not crush ■ touto him, and a iew tears crushed him. What mean ye to weep £^J-*" and to break mine heart ? For great is the force of love. Wouldest thou see him again weeping? Hear him elsewhere, saying, By the space of three years I ceased not to warn Acts 20, every one night and day with tears. From his gi-eat love he feared, lest some plague should be introduced among them. And again, For out of much affiiction and anguish^^^^- of heart I wrote unto you with many tears. And what did Joseph ? tell me, that firm one, who stood up against so strong a compulsion, who appears so noble against so great a flame of love, who so out-battled and overcame that great madness of his mistress. For what was there not then to charm him } A beautiful person, the pride of rank, the costliness of garments, the fragrance of perfumes, (for all these things are wont to soften the soul,) words more soft than all the rest! For ye know that she who loves, and (5) so vehemently, nothing so humble but she will bring herself to say it, taking upon her the attitude of a supplicant. For so broken was this woman, though wearing gold, and being of royal dignity, that she threw herself at the knees of the captive boy, and perhaps even intreated him weeping and clasping his knees, and had recom-se to this not once, and a second time, but oftentimes. Then he might sec her eye shining most brilliantly. For it is probable that she not simply but with excessive nicety would set off her beauty ; as wishing by many nets to catch the lamb of Christ. Add here 1 pray also many magic charms. Yet nevertheless this inflexible, this firm man, of rocky hardness, when he saw his brothers who had bartered him away, who had thrown n al. ' of death.' " Perhaps alluding to 2 Cor. 11, 26. 384 Joseph's tenderness. While the heart is warm, forgive. 1 Thes him iutf) a iiit, wlio liad sold him, who had even wished to — ^ ' murder him, who were the eau.ses both of the prison and the honour, when he heard from them how they had worked Gen.37, upon their father, (for, 'let us say,' he said, that one was de- 20- and youred by a wild beast,) he was broken, softened, crushed — and he wept. And not being able to bear his feelings, he went in, and composed himself% that is, wiped away his tears. What is this ? dost thou weep, O Joseph ? and yet the present circumstances are deserving not of tears, but of anger, and indignation, and great revenge and retribution. Thou hast thine enemies in thy hands, those fratricides ; thou canst satiate thy \vrath. And yet neither would this be injustice. For thou dost not thyself begin the unjust acts, but avengest thyself upon those who have done the wTong. For look not to thy dignity. This was not of their con- trivance, but of God, Who shed His favour upon thee. Why dost thou weep ? But he would have said, God forbid that 1, who in all things have obtained a good report, should by this remembrance of wrongs overturn all. It is truly a season for tears. I am not more savage than beasts. They make a league with nature, whatever harm they suffer. I weep, he says, that they ever treated me thus. This man let us also imitate. Let us mourn for those who have injm-ed us. Let us not be angry with them. For tnily they are worthy of tears, for the punishment and condemn- ation to which they make themselves liable. 1 know, how you now weep, how you rejoice, both admiring Paul, and amazed at Joseph, and pronouncing them blessed. But if any one has an enemy, let him now bear him in recollection, let him bring him to his mind, that whilst his heart is yet warm '' with the remembrance of the Saints, he may be enabled to dissolve the stubbornness of wrath, and to soften what is harsh and callous. I know, that after your departure hence, after that I have ceased speaking, if any thing of warmth and fervour should remain, it will not be so great, as it now is, whilst you are hearing me. If therefore any one has become cold, let him dissolve the frost. For the re- I' Gen. 43, 30. 31. Hales thinks i iu rec. Par. for ^«, ' living.' some words are lost here. B. ^iu. No quarrel can stand where Chrhl s1ii)ies. 385 membrance of injuries is truly frost and ice. But let us Hom. invoke the Sun of Righteousness, let us entreat Him to send — xeiu- His beams upon us, and there will no longer be thick ice, but water to drink. If the fire of the Sun of Righteousness has touched our souls, it will leave nothing frozen, nothing hard, nothing burning "", nothing unfruitful. It will bring out all things ripe, all things sweet, all things abounding with much pleasure. If we love one another, that beam will also come. Allow me, I beseech you, to say these things with alacrity. Cause me to hear, that by these words we have produced some effect, that some one has gone and thrown both his arms about his enemy, has embraced him, has twined himself around him, has kissed him, has wept. And though the other be a wild beast, a stone, or whatever he be, he will be made gentle by such ^ affectionate kindness. For on what account is he thine enemy? Hath he insulted thee ? yet he has not injured thee at all. But dost thou for the sake of money suffer thy brother to be at enmity with thee ? Do not so, I beseech you. Let us do away all. It is our season. Let us use it to good purpose. Let us cut asunder the cords of our sins. Before we go away to judgment, let us ourselves judge one another'. Let not the sun (it is said) go down upon your 'E^hes wrath. Let no one put it off. These puttings off produce ^' ^^' delays. If you have deferred it to-day, you blush the more ", and if you add to-morrow, the shame is greater, and if a third day, yet worse. Let us not then put ourselves to shame, but let us forgive, that we may be forgiven. And if we be forgiven, we shall obtain all the blessings of heaven, through Jesus Christ our Lord, with Whom, &c. » The Translator suggests Milton's !(Toy uses this expression. Furthermore^, that is, Always indeed and for ever wo beseech and exhort you in the Lord. Strange ! He does not even think himself of sufficient credit to exhort as of himself. And yet who was so worthy of credit ? But he introduces Christ. We exhort you, he says, by God. For that is meant by in the Lord. Which also he 2 Cor .0, said to the Corinthians, As though Ood did beseech you by ^^' us. That as ye have received of us. This received is not of words only, but of actions also, viz. how ye ought to walk, and he means thereby the whole conversation in life. And to please Ood, so ye u^ould abound more and more. That is, that by more abounding ye do not stop at the limit of the com- mandments, but that you even go beyond them. For this it is, that ye abound more and more. In what preceded he accepts the miracle of their firm faith, but here he regulates their life. For this is proficiency, even to go beyond the Christian Virtue goes beyond the Commandments. 3S7 commandments and the statutes. For no longer from the Hom. . V constraint of a teacher, but from their own vohmtary choice, — '— is all this performed. For as the earth ought not to bear only what is thrown upon it, so too ought the soul not to stop at those things which have been inculcated, but even to go beyond them. Do you see that he has properly said ' to go beyond ''P' For virtue is divided into these two things, to decline from evil, and to do good. For the retreating from evil is not sufficient for the arrival at virtue, but it is a kind of path, and a beginning leading thereto ; still we have need of great alacrity. The things therefore to be avoided he tells them in the order of commandment And justly. For these things indeed being done bring punishment, but not being done, yet bring no praise. The acts of virtue however, such as to give away our goods, and such like, are not of the order of commandment, he says. But what.? /Zi?Mat. 19, 12 that is able to receive, let him receive. It is profitable, there- fore, that as he with much fear and trembling had given these commandments to them, he also by these letters reminds them of that his care. Wherefore he does not repeat them, but reminds them of them. For ye know, he says, what cornmandments we gave you by our Lord Jesus Christ. For this is the will of God, even your sanctijication. And observe how he no where so vehemently glances at any other thing, as at this. As elsewhere also he writes to this effect; Follow peace withVLeh.i^, all men, and sanctijication^, without which no man shall see \ ^^^^_ the Lord. And why dost thou wonder, if he every where /^*» Grr. writes to his disciples upon this subject, when even in his Epistle to Timothy he has said, Keep thyself pure ? Also in \ xim. his second Epistle to the Corinthians he has said, In much ^j 22. ^ ' 2 Cor. 6, patience, in fastings, by pureness. And one may find this 5. 6. in many places, both in his Epistle to the Romans, and in all his Epistles. For in truth this is an evil pernicious to all. And as a swine full charged with mire, wherever he enters, fills all places with his ill savour, and chokes the senses with dung, so too does fornication. For it is an evil not easy to be washed away. But when some even who have wives b wa-ig/Sa/vtiv, St. Paul's word is «t^iffffiunv. See on Stat. Hom. ii. (6) Tr. p. 41. and note y- 2 c 2 388 All fornication and lust contrary to holiness. 1 Thes. commit it, how excessive is the outrage! For this, he says, ^±^^::^ is the will of God, even ijour sanctijication, that ye should abstain from all\fornication. For tliere are many forms of irregularity. The pleasures of wantonness are of many kinds and various, it were not tolerable to mention them. But having said y'/ow all fornication, \\c leaves it to those who know them. Ver. 4, 5. That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctificalion and honour, Xot in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles nhich know not God. He says, 7%«^ every one of you should know how to possess his vessel. It is, then, a matter to be learnt, aud that diligently, not to be wanton. But we possess our vessel, when it remains pure and in sanctification : but when it is impure, it is sin. For it no longer does the things which we wish, but what sin commands. Not in the lustofcon- cu^nscence, he says. There he shews also the manner, ac- cording to which one ought to be temperate; that we should cut off" the lusts of concupiscence. For luxury, and wealth too, and idleness, and sloth, and ease, and all such things, lead us on to irregular lust. Even as the Gentiles, he says, which knou: not God. For such are they who do not expect that they shall suffer punishment. Ver. 6. That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in ' Gr. in cmy^ matter. '^'^ He has well said, that no man go beyond. For to each man God has assigned a wife, and has set bounds to nature, that intercourse with one only : therefore intercourse wdth another is transgression, and robbery, and the taking of more than belongs to one*^; or rather it is more cruel than any robbery ; for we grieve not so much, when our riches are caiTied off', as when marriage is invaded. Dost thou call him brother, and defraudest him, and that in things which are unlawful ? Here he speaks concerning adultery, but above also concerning all fornication. For since he was about to say. That no man go beyond and defraud his brother, antici- pating, lest you should think, he says, that I say this only in the case of brethren ; you must not have the wives of others '■ There is some little authority for d -Trkion^iu, E. V. covelousness. this readini::. God avenges, as insulted by such sins. 389 at all, nor even women that have no husbands, and that arc Hom common. You must abstam from «//yor«im/ al. and And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in ^ all Macedonia. Why then having discoursed with them earnestly concern- ing chastity, and being about to discourse about the duty of working, and about the not sorrowing for the departed, does he introduce that which was the principal of all good things, love, as if he were passing it over, saying, tee have no need to icrite to you? This also is from his great wisdom, and belongs to spiritual instruction. For here he shews two things. First, that the thing is so necessary, as not to require instruction. For things that are very important are manifest to all. And secondly, by saying this he makes them more ashamed than if he had admonished them. For he who thinks that they have behaved aright, and therefore does not admonish them, even if they had not behaved aright, would the sooner lead them to it. And observe, he does not speak of love towards all% but of that towards the brethren. IVe have no need to icrite unio you. He ought then to have been silent, and to say nothing, if there was no need. But now " ^(XaSiX^/a, i.s Strictly ' lovingncss tomard brethren/ not merely ' as of brethren.' Indirect adnionitionn. Duty (oid benejit of industry. 397 by saying there is no need, he has done a greater thing, than Hom. if he had spoken expressly. For ye yourselves are taught of God. And see with how high a praise he has made God their Teacher in this matter. Ye need not, he says, to learn from man, which also the prophet says. ' For all shall be taught of God."" For ye isa. 54, yourselves, he says, are taught of God to love one another. And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren wliich^ are in all 3Iacedonia. Do it toward all others also, he means. These words are very encouraging to make them do so. And I do not merely say, that ye are taught of God, but I know it from the things which you do. And in this respect he bore many testimonies to them. But we beseech you, brethren, that ye abound^ more and^ E. v. .1 . • • .> increase more, that is, mcrease -. 2 gome Ver. 11, 12. And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your^'^'^^ own business, and to work with your own hands as tfe\s'Scc. commanded you: That ye may walk honestly towards them, tluit are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing. Here he shews of how many evils idleness is the cause, and of how many benefits industry. And this he makes manifest from things which happen among us, as he often does, and that too wisely. For by these things the majority are led on more than by spiritual things. For it is a mark of love to our neighbours not to receive from them, but to impart to them. And mark his discretion. Being about to exhort and admonish, he places in the middle their good conduct, both that they may recover even from the preceding admonition, and from the threat, when he said. He therefore that despiseth despiseth not man, but God,aind that they may not be restive at this^ And this is the effect of working, that one docs not receive of others, nor live idly, but by working imparts to others. For it is said, // is more blessed Acts 20, to give than to receive. And to work, he says, wHJt your own '^' hands. Where then are those, wdio look out for work that is spiritual? Seest thou how he takes from them every '■ P. and L. and all that are, which ' B. ■rgoj ravTuv, for Tfr,; rairti. On alters the sense afterwards. 'And ye do what authority or&x Taurri \s printed, it towards,' &,c. and so both Translators, is not stated. L. ■ru; rauTnt. 398 No pretext for idlfiwas fidviitted. 1 Thes. excuse, saying, with your otiui hands? But does one practise — '- — ^fasting with his hands? or watchings all night? or lyings on the ground? This no one can say. But he is s])eaking of spiritual work. For it is trul}' spiritual, that one should by working im])art to others, and there is nothing equal to this. T/i . ' feel, even if it should happen, thou shalt not have the feeling of it. Why ? Because thou hast an immortal Protector who loves thee better. If thou lovest God more, mourn not: for He Who is more beloved is immortal, and does not suffer thee to feel the loss of him who is less beloved. This I will make manifest to thee by an example. If thou hast a husband, complying with thee in all things, one that is respected, and that makes thee honourable every where, and not to be despised, one respected amongst all, intelligent and wise, and loving thee, thou being esteemed happy on his account, and in conjunction with him shouldest thou also bring forth a child, and then before it has anived at the age of maturity, that child should depart ; wilt thou then feel the affliction ? By no means. For he that is more beloved makes it disappear^. ^a*»»««- And now if thou love God more than thy husband, probably He will not soon take him away. But even if He should take him, thou wilt not be sensible of the affliction. For this reason the blessed Job felt no severe suffering, when he heard of the death of his children all at once, because he loved God more than them. And whilst He Whom he loved was living, they were not able to afflict him''. What sayest thou, O woman } Thy husband or thy son was thy protector? But does not thy God spare thee'?''^«/3«- Tai, ' is h B. adds, 'if then thou lovest as thou more, thou wilt never be grieved at ^^°"^'" oughtest to do God Who loves thee parting with thy husband or thy child.' °' 2 D 402 God recalls His gifts when preferred to Himself. iThes. Who gave thee thy very husband? Was it not lie? And ' ' ' ' who made thee ? Was it not He ? He surely Who brought thee out of nothing into being, and breathed into thee a soul, and bestowed on thee a mind, and vouchsafed to favour thee with the knowledge of Himself, and for thy sake spared not His only-begotten Son, does not He spare thee? And will a fellow-servant spare thee ? What wrath is due to these words ! What of this kind hast thou had from thy husband ? Thou canst not say any thing. For if even he has done thee any kindness, it was after he had received kindness, you having previously begun. But in the case of God no one can say any such thing. For it is not as having received any favours from us that God benefits us, but being incapa- ble of want, from His goodness alone He does good to man- kind. He has promised thee a kingdom, He has given immortal life, glory, brotherhood, adoption. He has made thee fellow-heir with His Only-Begotten. And dost thou after so great benefits remember thy husband ? What has he bestowed of this kind ? He has made His sun to shine. He has given rain, He sustains thee with yearly nourishment. Wo to us for our great ingratitude ! For this reason He takes thy husband, that thou mayest not seek him. But dost thou still cling to him though de- parted, and forsakest God, when it was thy duty to give thanks, to cast thyself wholly upon Him ? For what is it that thou hast received from thy husband ? The pains of childbirth, and labours, and insults and reproaches, perchance, and eludings, and bursts of anger. Are not these the things that come from husbands ? But there are, you say, other good things too. Of what sort then are these ? Did he set off thy beauty with costly garments ? Did he put gold orna- ments about thy face ? Did he make thee respected by all ? But if thou wilt, God will adorn thee with a much better '' So B. L.and 1 Paris, Edd. ' more desirable.' • B. fiurTiKuTi^a» for ftvffTixart^a. HOMILY VII. 1 Thess. iv. 13. But I would not have you to he ignorant^ brethren, concern- ing them tvhich are asleep, that ye sorrow not even as others which have no hope. There are many things which from ignorance alone cause us sorrow, so that if we come to understand them well, we banish our grief. This therefore Paul also shewing, says, / would not have you to be ignorant, that ye sorrow not even as others which have no hope. Of what wouldest thou not have them ignorant ? The doctrine, he says, of the Resur- rection. But wherefore dost thou not speak of the punish- ment laid up for being ignorant of the doctrine of the Resur- rection ? Because this is manifest from the other, and is admitted. But meanwhile, together with that, there will also be this not inconsiderable gain. For since they did not disbelieve the Resurrection, but nevertheless bewailed, on this account he thus speaks. And he discourses indeed with those who disbelieve the Resurrection in one way, but with these in another. For it is manifest that they knew, who 1 Thess. were inquiring about the times and seasons. ^' ^* Ver. 14. For if we believe, he. ?.a.ys, thai Jesus died and rose again, [and lived %] even so them also which sleep in Jesus 7cill God bring with him. " This word setms to come from Rom. 14, !). B. and L. omit it. Christians really sleep in death like Christ. 407 Where are they who deny' the Flesh" ? For if He did not Hom. assume Flesh, neither did He die. And if He did not die, ' aViriut neither did He rise again. How then does he exhort us, from these things to faith ? Was he not then according to them a trifler and a deceiver } For if to die proceeds from sin, and Christ did not sin, how does he now encourage us ? And wherefore does he also say, Even as others which have no hope ? As if he had said, O men, for whom do ye moum ? For whom do ye sorrow } for sinners, or simply for the dead } Therefore for whom do they mourn } But to them all these things ai-e vapid". The firstborn from the dead, Co], i, he says, that is, the first-fruits. Therefore there must also be others left. And see how here he introduces nothing from reasonings, because they were docile. But in writing to the Corinthians, he first broached many things also from reasonings, and then he added. Thou /ool, that which thou },^"g sowest is not quickened. For this is more authoritative, but it is when he converses with the faithful. But with him who is without, what authority would this have ''? Even so, he says, thein also which sleejo in Jesus will God bring with Him. Again, which sleep : he no where says, the dead. But with respect to Christ, his words are, He died, because he also spake of the Resurrection, but here of them which sleep in Jesus, saying this, either that they slept in the faith of Jesus, or that through Jesus will He bring them that had fallen asleep, thai is, the faithful. Here the heretics say, that he is speaking of the baptized. What place then is there for even so? For Jesus did not sleep by Baptism. But on what account does he say, them luhich sleep? So that he is discoursing not of the general Resurrection, but of a particular one. Them which sleep in Jesus He will bring, he says, and thus he speaks in many places. Ver. 15. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that ice which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord, shall jiot prevent them which are asleep. Speaking concerning the faithful, and them which sleep •> i. e. theTnearnation, as the Docette, = 'iuXt He means to those who deny and in a manner the Marcionites, see the Incarnation. p. 62. note d. and the Maniehees. S. ^ Sav. ' Would the words, Thus Aug. Conf. V. Tr. p. 76. and Note at saith God, have,' omitting part of the the end, p. 325, quotation. 408 St. Paul's object is to help weak faith. iThes. in Christ. And again, the dead shall rise. Then his — — '- discourse is not concerning the Resurrection only, but concerning both the Resurrection and the honour in glory. Therefore all shall partake of a Resurrection, he says, but all shall not be in glory, only those in Christ. Since therefore he wishes to comfort them, he comforts them not with this only, but also with the abundant honour, and with its speedy arrival;,x^or in proof that he wishes to comfort them with the honour, as he goes on, he says, And we shall be ever with the Lord; and we shall be caught tip in the clouds. But how do the faithful sleep in Jesus ? Manifestly as having Christ within themselves. But the expression. He shall bring xoith Him^ shews that they are brought from many places. For this, he says, we say to you by the word of the Lord. He was about to tell them something strange. On this account he also adds what makes it worthy of credit; By the icord of the Lord, he says, that is, we speak not of ourselves, but having learnt from the Lord, That we ivhich are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. Which also he says in his 1 Cor. Epistle to the Corinthians; In a moment, in the twinkling of ' ■ an eye. Here he gives a credibility to the Resurrection by the manner also. 'B.'For' And' because the matter seems to be difficult, he shews of (2) himself that as it is easy for the living to be taken up, so also for the departed. But in saying we, he does not speak of himself, for he indeed was not about to remain until the Resurrection, but he speaks of the faithful. On this account he has added. We who remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. As if he had said, Think not that there is any difficulty, hearing that they who are alive shall not anticipate those who are dissolved, who are rotted, who have been dead ten thousand years. It is God Who does it. But as it is easy for Him to bring those who arc entire, so is it also those who are dissolved. Mohal. But there are some who disbelieve the matter, because they know not God. For, tell me, which is the more easy, to brint^ one into being out of nothing, or to raise u}) again him that was dissolved } But what say they ? A certain one Mechanical objections to the Resurrection, 409 suffered shipwreck and was drowned in the sea, and having Hom. fallen many fishes caught him, and each of the fishes '- devoured some member. Then of these very fishes, one was caught in this gulph, and one in that, and this was eaten by one man, and that by another ^ And again, those who ate the fishes, that had eaten the man, died in different places, and were themselves perhaps devoured by wild beasts. And — when there has been so great a confusion and dispersion — how shall the man rise again ? Who shall collect the dust .? But wherefore dost thou say this, O man, and weavest strings of trifles, and makest it a matter of perplexity } For tell me, if the man had not fallen into the sea, if the fish had not eaten him, nor the fish again been devoured by numberless men — but he had been preserved with care in a coffin, and neither worms nor any thing else had disturbed him, how shall that which is dissolved rise again } How shall the dust and ashes be again conglutinated ^f* Whence shall there be any more its bloom for the body } But is not this a diffi- culty ? If indeed they be Greeks who raise these doubts, we shall have numberless things to say to them. What then ? For there are among them those who convey souls into plants, and shrubs, and dogs. Tell me, which is more easy, to resume one's own body, or that of another ? Others again say that they are consumed by fire, and that there is a resur- rection of garments and of shoes, and they are not ridiculed. Others introduce atoips. But our argument is not with those, but to the faithful, (if we ought to call them faithful who raise questions,) we will still say what the Apostle See has said, that all life springs from corruption, all plants, all ^g gg seeds. Seest thou not the fig tree, what a trunk it has, what stems, how many leaves, and branches, stalks, and roots, oc- cupying so much ground and embosomed therein. This then, such and so great as it is, springs from that grain which was thrown into the ground and itself first corrupted. And if it be not rotted and dissolved, there will be none of these things. Tell me, whence does this ha])pen ? And the vine « B. and Bodl. Extr. add, ' having in this very argument, which he inav (in hini) the devoured flesh.' have borrowed from S. Chr. see his f This word is used by Bp. Pearson work on the Creed, art. Resurrection. 410 Formation of plants and animals as difficult. iTHEs.too, which is so fair both to see and to partake of, springs "*' ^^' from that which is vile in appearance. And wliat, tell me, is not tlie water that descends from above one thing, and how is it changed into so many things ? For this is more wonderful than the Resurrection. For there indeed the same seed and the same plant is the subject, and there is a great affinity. But here tell me how, having one quality and one nature, it turns into so many things } For in the vine it becomes wine, and not only wine, but leaves and sap. For not only is the cluster of grapes, but the rest of the vine nourished by it. Again, in the olive, (it becomes) oil, and many other things, too numerous to mention. And what is wonderful, here it is moist, there dry, here sweet, there sour, here astringent, else- where bitter. Tell me how it turns into so many things ? Shew me the reason ! But you cannot. And in the case of thyself, tell me, for this comes nearer, ' KKTOL- this seed, that is lodged in the womb \ how is it formed and ^xkxo- jQoulded into so many things.? how into eyes? how into ears } how into hands } how into a heart .'' Are there not in the body ten thousand differences of figures, of sizes, of qualities, of positions, of powers, of proportions ? How do nerves and veins and flesh and bones and membranes, and arteries and joints and cartilages, and as many more things beside these, as the sons of the physicians precisely specify, which compose our nature — how do these all come from that one seed } Does not this then seem to you much more difficult than those things ? How is the moist and the soft congealed into the hard and cold, that is, bone ? How into the warm and moist, which are united in the blood.? How into the cold and soft, the nerve ? How into the cold and moist, the artery ? Tell me, whence are these things ? Dost thou not question^ of these things? Dost thou not see every day a resurrection and a death taking place in the periods of our life ? Whither is our youth gone ? whence is our age come ? how is it that he who is grown old cannot indeed make him- self young, but begets another, a very young child, and what he cannot give to himself, that he bestows upon another ? (3) This also we may see in trees and in animals, and yet 8 The arteries were then thought to convey air through the body. God baffles presumptuous enquiry. 411 that which gives to another ought first to bestow upon itself. Hom. But these things indeed are what human reasoning demands. - But when God creates, let all things give way. If these things are so difficult, nay, so excessively difficult, I am re- minded of those mad persons, who are curious about the incorporeal Generation of the Son. Things that take place every day, that are within the grasp of our hands, and that have been enquired into ten thousand times, no one has yet been able to discover ; tell me, then, how is it they are curious about that secret and ineffable Generation ? Is not the mind of such men wearied in treading that void^? Has it not'««»«^- been whirled into ten thousand giddinesses ? Is it not dumb-founded^? And yet not even scare they instructed. - «j^a»^? When they are able to say nothing about grapes and figs, '"^"*' they are curious about God ! For tell me, how is that grape-stone resolved into leaves and stems .'' How before this were they not in it, nor seen in it ? But it is not the grape-stone, you say, but all is from the earth. Then how is it that without this the earth bears nothing of itself? But let us not be void of understanding. What takes place is nei- ther from the earth, nor from the grape-stone, but from Him Who is Lord both of the earth and of its seeds. For this rea- son He has caused the same thing to be made both without them, and with them. In the first place, shewing His own From power, when he said, Let the earth bring forth the herb q/9^°' ^» grass. And secondly, besides' shewing His power, instruct- ^ B. and ing us also to be laborious and industrious. t °f^^^, Why then have these things been said by us ? Not idly, but that we may believe also in the Resurrection, and that, when again wishing to apprehend something by our reason- ings, we are not able, we may not be angry and take offence, but discreetly withdrawing and checking our reasoning, we may take refuge in the power and skilfulness of God. Know- ing these things therefore, let us put a curb upon our reason- ings. Let us not transgress our bounds, nor the measures that have been assigned to our knowledge. For, I/ any iCor.S man, he says, think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth ^' nothing yet as he ought to know. I speak not concerning God only, but concerning every thing. For what wouldest thou learn about the earth ? 412 Man's knowledge of nature, how shallow. 1 Thes. What dost thou know ? Tell me. How great is the measure — '- of it ? What is its size ? What is its manner of" position ? What is its essence ? What is its place ? Where does it stand, and upon what? But none of these things can you tell? Hut that it is cold, and dry, and hlack, this you can tell — and nothing farther. Again, concerning the sea.'' But there you will be reduced to the same uncertainty, not know- ing where it begins, and where it ends, and upon what it is borne, what supports the bottom of it, and what is the place for it, and whether after it there is a continent, or it ends in water and air? And what dost thou know of the things that are in it ? Shall I speak of the air, or of the elements ? You will have nothing to say. Let me pass over these things. Would you have us select the smallest of plants ? The un- fruitful grass, which we all know, tell me, how it is brought forth ? Is not the material of it water, and earth, and dung ? What is it that makes it appear so beautiful, and have such an admirable colour? Whence does that beauty so fade away ? This is not the work of water, or of earth. Seest thou that there is every where need of faith ? How does the earth bring forth, how hoes it travail ? Tell me. But you can tell me none of these things. Be instructed, O man, in things that are here below, and be not curious nor overmeddling about heaven. And would it were heaven, and not the Lord of heaven ! Dost thou not know the earth from which thou wast brought forth, in which thou wast nourished, which thou inhabitest, on which thou walkest, without which thou canst not even breathe ; and P8.39,5.art thou curious about things so far removed ? Trulv man is and 144, . , . . 6. vanity. And if any one should bid thee descend into the deep, and trace out things at the bottom of the sea, thou wouldest not tolerate the command. But, when no one com- pels thee, thou art willing of thyself to fathom the unsearch- able abyss? Do not so, I beseech you. But let us sail up- wards, not floating upon reasonings, for we shall soon be weary, and sink ; but using the divine Scriptures, as some vessel, let us unfurl the sails of faith. If we sail in them, then the Word of God will be present with us as our Pilot. But if we lloat upon human reasonings, it will not be so. For to whom of those, who so float, will the Pilot be present ? So How to traverse the Deep safely. 413 Ihat the danger is twofold, in that there is no vessel, and that Hom. . . . VII the Pilot is absent. For if even the boat without a pilot is '- unsafe, when both are wanting, what hope is there of safety ? Let us not then throw ourselves into manifest danger, but let us go upon a safe vessel, having fastened ourselves by the sacred anchor. For thus we shall sail into the tranquil haven, with much merchandize'', and at the same time with great safety, and we shall obtain the blessings laid up for them that love Him, in Christ Jesus our Lord, with Whom, &c. h iffra^'tKS, a1. tlvfo^iat, facility. HOMILY VIII. 1 Thess. iv. 15—17. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord Hiinself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them ifi the clouds, to tneet the Lord in the air : and so shall we ever be with the Lord. The Prophets indeed, wishing to shew the credibility of Is. 1, 1. the things said by them, before all other things say this. The Jer. i,\.visio)i which Isaiah saiv ; and again, The word of the Lord • which came to Jeremiah ; and again, Thus saith the Lord; with many such expressions. And many of them even saw God sitting, as far as it was possible for them to see Him. But Paul not having seen Him sitting, but having Christ speaking in himself, instead of Thus saith the Lord, said, 2 Cor. Do" ye seek a p)roof of Christ speaking in me ? And again, ' ■ Paid, an Apostle of Jesus Christ, sliewing, that nothing is of himself. For the Apostle speaks the things of Him who sent 1 Cor. 7, him. And again, / think also that I have the Spirit of God. All those things therefore he spake by the Spirit, but this, which he now says, he heard even expressly from God. As » H. :uid L. 7/, as the Text. ■ K%T» Tt Circumstances of the Resurrection. 415 also that, which he said discoursing to the Elders of Ephesus, Hum. VIII. It is more blessed to give than to receive, he heard among -^' things not recorded^. 35. Let us then see what he now also says, For this we say ^ unto you by the loord of the Lord, that we which are alive (*"'*■ and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the last trump. Which Christ also then said, T^e^^*-^'*» powers of the heavens shall be shaken. But wherefore with the trumpet ? For we see this on Mount Sinai too, and Angels there also. But what means the voice of the Archangel ? As he said in the parable of the Virgins, Arise ! The Bridegroom From cometh. Either he says this, or that as in the case of a king, g_ " ' so also shall it then be. Angels ministering at the Resun'ection. For He says, let the dead rise, and the work is done^, the V''»»'-«'' Angels not having power to do this, but His word. As if a king should command and say. Let those who were shut up go forth, and let the servants lead them out. They do not this however from their own power, but from that Voice. This also Christ says in another place: He shall 5^«^ ^w^at.24. Angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his Elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. And every where you see the Angels running to and fro. The Archangel therefore I think is he, who is set over those who are sent forth, and who shouts thus : * Make all ready, for the Judge is at hand.' And what is at the last trumpet? Here he implies that there are many trumpets, and that at the last the Judge descends. And the dead in Christ, he says, shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall he caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever he with the Lord. Ver. 18. Wherefore comfort ye one another with these words. If He is about to descend, on what account shall we be caught up ? For the sake of honour. For when a king enters into a city, those who are in honour go out to meet him. But the condemned await the judge within. And upon the coming of an affectionate father, his children indeed, and 416 Meeting Christ in the air. Office of the Angels. iThes. those who arc worthy to be his children, are taken out in J^^ a chariot, that they may see and kiss him. But those who have offended remain within the house '', ^Ve are carried upon tlie chariot of our Father. For He received Actsi, Him up in the clouds, and ne shall he caught up in the f' clouds^ Seest thou how great is the honour.'' and as He 163. descends, we go forth to meet Him, and, what is more blessed than all, there we shall be with Him. Ps. 106, Who shall speak of the mightinesses of the Lord, and 2.LXX judi^f, fill f{if. praises to be JieardJ How many blessings has He vouchsafed to the human race ! Those who are dead are raised first, and thus the meeting takes place together. Abel who died before all shall then meet Him together with those who are alive. So that they in this respect will have no advantage, but he who is corrupted, and has been so many years in the earth, shall meet Him with them, and so all others. For if they awaited us, that we might be crowned, Heb.ii,as elsewhere he says in an Epistle, God having provided ^^' some letter thing for us, that they nithont us should not be made perfect , much more shall we also await them ; or rather, they indeed awaited, but we not at all. For the Resurrection takes place 171 a moment, in the tuinkling of an eye. But the vsaying, that they are gathered together, shews that they arise indeed every where, but are gathered together by the Angels. The rising again therefore is the work of the power of God commanding the earth to give up its deposit, and there is no one who ministers in it, as He then called John 11, Lazarus, Lazarus, come forth. But the gathering is the ^^' work of ministers. But if the Angels gather them together, and run to and fro, how are they" caught up here? They are caught up after the descent '', after that they are gathered together. For this is also done without any one being aware ^ For when they see the earth agitated, the dust mingling, the ^ So Catena; bihiuv. Edd. eixtru» al/ro), which gives that sense more ' Those of his domestics who have of- decidedly. Or here may only mean ' in fended remain within.' this passage.' "= i. e. How are those, whom the <* Musculus takes it of our Lord's Angels have already taken and ga- descent, Hervetus otherwise, thered, still /lere, that they should be • He seems to allude to Matt. 24, caught up'' L. places Urauta, before 36. Dismay of the wicked awaiting Judgment. 417 bodies rising perchance' on every side, no one ministering to Hom. this, but the shout' being sufficient to empty the whole earth, — —7^ that was filled, (for consider how great a thing it is that all from ^«t^ Adam unto His coming should then stand with their wives and children,) — when they see so great a tumult upon the earth, — then they shall know. As therefore in the Dispensation that was in the Flesh, they had foreseen nothing of it, so also will it then be. When these things then are done, then also will be the Moral. voice of the Archangel shouting and commanding the Angels, ^-1 and the trumpets, or rather the sound of the trumpet. What trembling then, what fear will possess those that remain upon the earth. For one woman is caught up and another is leftMat.24, . 40. 41. behind, and one man is taken, and another is passed over. Lukei7, What will be the state of their souls, when they see some ^*- 2^- indeed taken up, but themselves left behind .? Will not these things be able to shake their souls more terribly than any hell } Let us suppose then in word that this is now present, For if sudden death, and earthquakes in cities, and threatenings thus affect^ our souls ; when we see the earth breaking up, and crowded with all these, when we hear the trumpets, and the voice of the Archangel thrilling ''louder than any trumpet, when we perceive the heaven shrivelled up, and God the King of all coming nigh — what then will be our souls } Let us shudder, I beseech you, and be terrified, as if these things were now taking place. Let us not comfort ourselves by the delay. For when it must certainly happen, the delay will profit us nothing. How great will then be the fear and trembling ! Have you ever seen men led away to death ? What do you think is the state of their souls, as they are going on the way to the gate ? is it not worse than many deaths ? What would they not choose both to do and to suffei*, so that they might be delivered from that cloud of darkness ? I have heard many say, who have been recalled by the mercy of the king, after having been led away, that they did not even see men as men, their souls being so ' Iffui, which has heen translated which implies the same in his Ms. L. * equally.' has irToourt. 8 fTajetiy/, Bodl. Extr. iTTiuat/»-/ terrify, '' Bndl. Extr. Xaf/,r^ii'Ti^«v laurtti for (for irrotZiri,) Musculus, ' concutiunt,' kctfiv^oTieaf tue-m, ' being louder.' 2 E 418 False notion that God uses mere threats. 1 Thes. troubled, so horror-struck, and beside themselves. If then ^' ^^' ■ the death of the body thus terrifies us, when eternal death approaches, wliat will be our feelings ? And why do I speak of those who are led away ? A crowd then stands around, the greater part not even knowing them. Ifany one looked into their souls, no one is so cruel, no one so hard-hearted, no one so firm, as not to have his soul dejected, and relaxed with fear and despair. And if when others are taken off by this death, which diflers nothing from sleep, those who are not concerned in it are thus affected; when we ourselves fall into greater evils, what then will be our state ? It is not, believe me, it is not possible to represent the suffering by words. Nay, you say, but God is merciful, and none of these things will happen ! Then it is written in vain ! No, you say, but only as a threat, that we may become wise ! If then we are not wise, but continue evil, will He not, tell me, inflict the punishment .? Will He not then either recompense the good with rewards ? Yes, you say, for that is becoming to Him, to do good even beyond desert. So that those things indeed are true and will certainly be> but the punishments will not really be, but only for the purpose of a threat, and of terror ! By what means I shall persuade you, I know not. If I say, Mart9, tiij^t ///e/> ifovni uill not die, and their /ire nill not be 44. Mat.25, queiiched ; if I say, that ' they shall depart into everlasting ^^' ^^' fi''(^ ' j' if I s^^ before you the rich man already punished, you will say that it is all a matter of threatening. Whence then shall I persuade you ? For this is a Satanic reasoning, indulging you with a favour that will not profit, and causing you to be slothfiil. How then can we banish it ? Whatever things we say from Scriptui'c, you will say, are for the purpose of threaten- ing. But with respect to futvne things this indeed may be said, but not so concerning things that have happened, and have had an end. You have all heard of the deluge. And were those things also said by way of threat? Did they not actually happen.? Those men too said many such things, and for a hundred years while the ark was building, and the wood was being wrought, and the righteous man was calling aloud, ' R. reads puninhinent, which makes the quotation exact from v. 46. The Flood. The land of Sodom a monument of real xcrath. 419 there was no one who beheved. But because they did not Hom. VIII. beheve the threat in words, they suffered the punishment in very deed. And this will be our fate too, if we shall not have believed. On this account it is that He compares His coming with the days of Noah, because as some disbelieved in that deluge, so will they in the deluge of hell. Was that a threat? was it not a fact.'' Then will not He, who then brought punishment upon them so suddenly, much more inflict it now .? For the things that are committed now are not less than the offences of that time. How? — because then, it says, the sons of Ood went in unto the daughters of^^^- 6, 7nen. And those mixtures were the great offence. But now there is no form of wickedness, which is unaltempted. Do you then believe that the deluge took place? Or does it seem to you a fable ? And yet the mountains where the ark rested, bear witness. I speak of those in Armenia. But, even superabundantly, I will tura my discourse to (3) another thing more evident than that. Has any one of you ever travelled in Palestine ? For I will no longer mention report, but facts, and yet the other were clearer than facts. For those things which the Scripture says, are more to be trusted than things we see. Has any one of you then ever travelled in Palestine? I suppose so. Bear witness then for me, ye who have seen the places, to those who have not been there. For above Ascalon and Gaza up to the very end of the river .Jordan there is a countrywide and fruitful — or rather there was — for it is not now. This then was as a Paradise. For it is said, Lot beheld all the plain of Jordan — From that it was well watered every where, even as the garden of^^Q ' ' the Lord. This, therefore, that was so flourishing, and that rivalled all countries, which for thrivingness exceeded the Paradise of God, is now more desolate than any wilderness. And there stand trees, indeed, and they bear fruit. But the fruit is a monument of the wrath of God. For there stand pomegranates, I speak both of the trees and the fruit, having a ver}^ fine appearance, and to the ignorant holding out great hopes. But if they are taken into the hand, being broken open they display no fruit indeed, but much dust and ashes stored up within. Such also is the whole land. If you find a stone, you will find it full of ashes'. And why do ''■«'^«Pe'*'- •2 E 2 ^*""'" 420 Trees andjruits of Sodom remain, hut in ashes. IThes. 1 speak of stone and wood and earth, where the air and -lii^ water partake of the calamity ? For as when a body is burnt and consumed, the shape remains, and the outline in the appearance of the fire, and the bulk and the proportion, but the power is no more, so truly there you may see earth, which yet has nothing of earth about it, but all ashes; trees and fruit, which have nothing of trees and fruit about them; air and water, which have nothing of air or of water about them, for even these are turned to ashes. And yet how could air ever have been burnt, or water, whilst it remained water ? For wood and stones indeed it is possible to burn, but air and water it is altogether impossible. Impossible to us, but possible to Him Who did these things. Therefore the air is nothing else than a furnace, the water is a furnace. All things are unfruitful, all unproductive; they are all images of wrath that has gone before, and proofs of that which is to come. Are these too but threatening words .'' Are these but the sound of words ? For to me indeed the former things were not incredible, but things not seen were equally credible with things that were seen. But even to the unbeliever these are sufficient to produce faith. If any one disbelieves hell, let him consider Sodom, let him reflect upon Gomorrah, the vengeance that has been inflicted, and which yet remains. Tills is a proof of the eternity of punishment. Are these things grievous ? And is it not grievous, when you say that there is no hell, but that God has merely threatened it ? seeHeb. uhen you slack the hands of the people? It is thou who Jer.38, disbelievest that compellest me to say these things. If thou "*• believedst the words of Christ, I should not be compelled to bring forward facts to induce belief. But since you have evaded them, you shall be persuaded henceforth, whether willing or unwilling. For what have you to say concerning Sodom ? Would you wish also to know the cause, for which these things were then done? It was one sin, a grievous and accursed one certainly, yet but one. The men of that time had a passion for boys, and on that account they suffered this punishment. But now ten thousand sins equal and even more grievous than these are committed. Then He Who for one sin poured forth so much anger, and neither regarded Sin most punished hereafter, when not here. 421 the supplication of Abraham, nor yet Lot who dwelt among Hom. them, him who from honour to His servants offered his own - daughters to insult, will He spare, when there are so many sins? These things truly are ridiculous, trifling, delusion, and diabolical deceit ! Do you wish that I should bring forward another ? You have certainly heard of Pharaoh, king of the Egyptians ; you know therefore the punishment which he suffered, and how even with his whole host, chariots and horses and all, he was engulphed in the Erythraean sea. Would you hear also other examples ? for he perhaps was an impious man, or rather not perhaps, but certainly he was an impious man. Would you see those also punished, who were of the number of believers, and who held fast to God, but were not of upright life ? Hear Paul saying. Neither let t(s commit i Cor. fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day ' three and twenty thousand. Neither let us murmur, as some of them also murmured, and icere destroyed of the destroyer. Neither let us tempt Christ, as sortie of them also tempted, and ivere destroyed of serpents. And if forni- cation, and if murmuring had such power, what will not be the effect of our sins ? And if he does not now exact punishment, do not wonder. For they knew not of a hell, therefore they were visited with punishments following close at their heels *. But thou, ' ^a^» whatever sins thou commit, though thou shouldest escape *° "' present punishment, wilt suffer for it There. Did He punish so severely those who were nearly in the state of children. See p. and who had not sinned so greatly — and will He spare us ? ^^^' It would not be reasonable. For if we commit the same sins with them, we shall deserve a greater punishment. Where- fore ? Because we have enjoyed more grace. But when our sins are more numerous, and more heinous than theirs, what punishment shall we not undergo ? They — and let no one think I say it as admiring them, or excusing them; God forbid : for when God punishes, he who passes a con- trary sentence, does it at the suggestion of the devil ; I say this therefore, not praising them nor excusing them, but shewing our wickedness — they therefore, although they 4 •22 Miseries oftlie Jews a terror to unpunished sinners. 1 Thes. murmured, were, however, going through '' a wilderness : but — — '— we murmur though we have a country, and are in our own houses. And, although they committed fornication, yet it was just after they came out of the evils of Egypt, and had hardly heard of such a law. But we do it, having previously received from our forefathers the doctrine of salvation, so that we are deserving of greater punishment. Would you hear also of other things ? what were their sufferings in Palestine, famines, pestilences, captivities, under the Babylonians, and under the Assyrians, and their miseries from the Macedonians, and those under Hadrian and Vespa- sian ? I have something that I wish, beloved, to relate to thee ; nay, do not run away ' ! I will rather tell thee another thing before it. There was once a famine, it says, and the king was walking upon the wall; then a woman came to him From and uttered these words : ' O king, this woman said to me, 2 Kings Lg^ yg roast thv son to-dav, and eat him — to-morrow mine, b, 28. J . ' And we roasted and ate, and now she does not give me her's.' What can be more dreadful than this calamity.'' Again, in Lament, another place the Prophet says, The hands of the pitiful ' women have sodden their own children. The Jews then suffered such punishment, and shall we not much rather suff'er } (4) Would you also hear other calamities of theirs .? Read over Josephus, and you will learn that whole tragedy, if perchance we may persuade you from these things, that there is a hell. For consider, if they were punished, why are we not punished .? or how is it reasonable that we are not now punished, who sin more grievously than they.? Is it not manifest that it is, because the punishment is kept in store for us ? And, if you please, I will tell you in the person of every individual how they were punished. Cain murdered his brother. A horrible sin indeed, who can deny it ? But he suffered punishment ; and a heavy one, equivalent to ten thousand deaths, for he would rather have died ten thousand Gen. 4, times. For hear him saying, If Thou easiest me out from 14. LXX •< TJen. 'coming into.' Sav. and L. omit iii^x''''^''- tit, making the sense strictly, 'were ' f^h aTo^n^vtrri} . perhaps only ' turn travelling a desert road.' B. reads away.' Sins like Cain's, Achaii's, ElVs, have wrath in store. 423 the land, and 1 shall he hidden from Thxi face, then it will Hom. .' ^ ^ 7 VIII happen that every one who jindeth me ivill slay me. Tell - me then, do not many even now do the same things that he did ? For when thou slayest not thy brother according to the flesh, but thy spiritual brother, dost thou not do the same ? For what, though not by the sword ? yet by some other means. Wlien being able to relieve his hunger, thou neglectest him. What then ? Has no one now envied his brother ? has no one plunged him into dangers \ But here they have not suffered punishment, yet they wall suffer it. Then did he, who never heard the written laws, nor the prophets, nor saw great miracles, suffer such great vengeance, and shall he, who has done the same things in another way '", and was not rendered wise by so many examples, shall he go unpunished? Where then is the justice of God, and where His goodness. Again, a certain one for having gathered sticks on the Sabbath was stoned, and yet this was a small commandment, and less weighty than circumcision. He then who gathered sticks on the Sabbath was stoned ; but those who have perchance committed ten thousand things contrary to the Law go off" unpunished ! If then there be not a hell, where is His justice, where His impartiality, that respects not persons? And yet He lays to their charge many such things, that they did not observe the Sabbath. Again, another, the son of Charmi, having stolen a devoted thing*, was stoned with all his family. What then ? Has no '«►a<'ii^« one from that time committed sacrilege ? Saul, again, having spared contrary to the command of God, suffered so great punishment. Has no one from that time spared ? Would indeed that it were so ! Have we not rather devoured one another contrary to the command of God? And yet no one has fallen in war". Again, the sons of Eli. because they ate before the incense was offered, suffered the most severe punishment together with their father. Has no father then been neglectful with respect to his children ? and are there f erijwf, Hales prefers the reading " i. e. like Saul. One Ms. re^uls found in extracts, v/tti^us, ' later.' x/n) »y^), L. ol;^) Tt, which with x.xr- L. iTi^os, ' the other who lias done the »ir^ii!f/,tf for Ka.riff6iofji.ii would give the same things.' B. LVti^o;, ' this later sense, ' "Would that it were so indeed, one.' and that no one had fallen in war !' 4'24 Some are still punished here. Natural fears. 1 Thes. no wicked sons ? But no one has suffered punishment. Where 4, 18 then will they suffer it, if there be no hell ? Again, numberless other instances one might enumerate. Were not Ananias and Sap])hira immediately punished, when they kept back part of what they had offered ? Has no one then since that time been guilty of these things? J low was it then that they did not suffer the same punishment .'' Do we then persuade you that there is a hell, or do you need more examples ? Therefore we will proceed also to things that are unwritten, such as now take place in life. For it is necessary that this notion should be gathered by us from every quarter, that we may not, by vainly gratifying ourselves, do ourselves harm. Do you not see many visited by calamities, maimed in their bodies, suffering infinite troubles, but others in good repute ? For what reason do some suffer punishment for murders, and others not ? Hear 5 'o'i"" ^^^^ saying, Some me?i's sins are open beforehand . . . and some men they follow after. How many murderers have escaped ! how many violators of the tombs ! But let these things pass. How many do you not see visited with the severest punishment ? Some have been delivered to a long disease, others to continued tortures, and others to numberless other ills. When therefore you see one who has been guilty of the same things as they, or even much worse — and yet not suffering punishment, will you not confess", even against your will, that there is a hell ? Reckon those here who before you have been severely punished, consider that God is no respecter of persons, and that though you have done num- berless wickednesses, you have suffered no such thing, and you will have the notion of hell. For God has so implanted that notion within us, that no one can ever be ignorant of it. For poets and philosophers and fabulists, and in short all men, have philosophized concerning the retribution that is there, and have said that the greater number are punished in Hades. And if those things are fables, yet what we have received are not so. I say not these things as wishing to terrify you, nor to lay a burden on your souls, but to make them wise, and render " B. and L. read ' suspect.' A Pastor's responsibility. Use of the fear of Hell. 425 them easier. 1 could wish also myself that there were no punish- Hom. VIII ment — yes, myself most of all men. And why so .? Because whilst each of you fears for his own soul, I shall have to answer for this office in which I preside over you. So that most of all it is impossible for me to escape. But it cannot be that there is not punishment and a hell. What can I do? Again, they repeat their doubts, and say. Where then is the mercy of God? Every where! But on this subject I will rather discourse at some other season, that we may not confuse this discourse concerning hell. In the mean time let not that slip, which we have gained from what has been said. For it is no small advantage to be persuaded concerning hell. For the recollection of such discourses, like some bitter medicine, will be able to clear off' ever}' vice, if it be constantly settled '«'»'^i«?- in our mind. Let us therefore use it, that having thence a pure heart, we may so be thought worthy to see those things, which eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man. Which God grant that we may obtain by the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, with Whom, &c. HOMILY IX. 1 Thess. v. 1, 2. But of the times and seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so conieth as a thief in the night. Nothing, as it seems, is so curious, and so fondly prone to pry into things obscure and concealed, as the nature of men. And this is wont to happen to it, when the mind is unsettled and in an imperfect state. For the simpler sort of children never cease teasing their nurses, and tutors, and jjarents, with their frequent questions, in which there is nothing else but ' when will this be ?' and ' when that ?' And this comes to pass also from living in indulgence, and having nothing to do. Many things therefore our mind is in haste to learn and to comprehend, but especially concerning the period of the consummation ; and what wonder if we are thus affected, for those holy men, the Apostles themselves, were most of all affected in the same way } And before the Passion, coming Mat.24,to Christ they said. Tell us tvhen shall these things he, and ^^' what sfiall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world. And after the Passion and the Resurrection from the From dead, they said to Him, Tell us, wilt Thou at this time Acts 1, restore again the kingdom to Israel? And they asked Him nothing sooner than this. But it was not so afterwards. For when they had been vouchsafed the Holy Ghost, not only do they not them- selves inquire, nor complain of this ignorance, but they Men too curious about the end of the world. 427 repress those who labour under this unseasonable curiosity. Hom. Hear for instance what the blessed Paul now says, Bict of — -i- the times and seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. Why has he not said that no one linows ? why has he not said, that it is not revealed, instead of saying, Ye have no need that I write unto you? Because in that case he would have grieved them more, but by speaking thus he comforted them. For by the expression, Ye have no need, as if it were both superfluous, and inexpedient, he suffers them not to inquire. For tell me, what would be the advantage ? Let us suppose that the end would be after twenty or thirty or a hundred years, what is this to us ? Is not the end of his own life the consummation to " every individual ? Why art thou curious, and travailest about the general end? But the case is the same with us in this, as in other things. For as in other things, leaving our own private concerns, we are anxious about things in general, saying, Such an one is a forni- cator, such an one an adulterer, that man has robbed, another has been injurious; but no one'' takes account of what is his own, but each thinks of any thing rather than his own private concerns; so here also, each omitting to take thought about his own end, we are anxious to hear about the general dissolution. Now what concern is that of yours? for if you make your own a good end, you will suffer no harm from the other; be it far off", or be it near. This is nothing to us. For this reason Christ did not tell it, because it was not expedient. But how, you say, was it not expedient ? He Who concealed it knows wherefore it was not expedient. For hear Him saying to His Apostles, It is not for you ^oActsi, know the times and the seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power. Why are you farther curious ? Peter, the chief of the Apostles, and liis fellows ^, heard this said, as ' «; ngJ if they were seeking things too great for them to know. True, you say. But it were possible to stop the mouths of the Greeks in this way. How ? tell me. Because they ^ al. is not each one's consummation, end of consummation.' Which agrees &c. But L. (and B. very nearly) sub- with the next page, stitute for this clause, ' But then is the '' so Par. and 3 Mss. 428 Uncertainty of life a help to godly fear. iThes. say, that this world is a god. But if we knew the period of ^' ^'^' its dissohition, we should have stopped their mouths. Cer- tainly ! For is this what will stop their mouihs, to know that some time or other it will be destroyed, or to know when it will be destroyed ? If you wish to stoj) their mouths, tell them this, that it will have an end. If they do not believe this, neither will they believe the other. Hear Paul saying. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comcth as a thief in the niyht. Not the general day only, but that of every individual. For the one resembles the other, as being similar and akin to it. For what the one docs collectively, that the other does partially. For the period of consummation took its beginning from Adam, and the end of the life of each of us is the image of the consummation. Nor would any one err in calling it a consummation. For when ten thousand die every day, and all await That Day, and no one is raised before it, is it not the work " of That Day ? And if you would know on what ac- count it is concealed, and why it so cometh as a thief in the night, I will tell you how I think I can well account for it. No one would cultivate virtue during his whole life, if it were manifest, and had not been concealed; but knowing his last day, and, after having committed numberless sins, then having come to the Laver, he would so have departed. For if now, when the fear arising from its uncertainty shakes the souls of all, still all "^, having spent their former life in wickedness, at their last breath give themselves up to Baptism, — if they had fully persuaded themselves concerning this matter, who would ever have cultivated virtue ? For if, even with this fear impending, many have departed without Illumination, and not even this feai* has taught them, whilst living, to attend to the things that are pleasing to God; if this fear also had been removed, who would ever have been sober, or who righteous ? There is not one ! And another thing again. The fear of death and the love of life restrain many^ But if each one knew that to-morrow he would certainly die, there is ^ ri »jy«». i. e. is not what is now tice, Or. XL. preached at Constanti- (loiiig part of That Day's work? Or it nople A.D. 381. might be rendered ' reality.' ' So B. L. and Cat. Edd. ' And ^ i. e. as we say loosely ' every one.' another man again the great fear of St. Greg. Naz. complains of this prac- death and love of life restrains.' Courage has its scope in uncertainty. 429 nothing he would refuse to attempt before that day, but he Hom. would murder whomsoever he wished, and perpetrate ten '— thousand crimes in avenging himself on his enemies. For a wicked man, who despairs of his life here, pays no (2) regai'd even to him who is invested with the purple. He therefore who was persuaded that he must at all events die would both be revenged upon his enemy, and after having first satisfied his own soul, so would meet his end. Let me mention also a third thing. Those who are fond of life, and vehemently attached to the things of this world, would be^'"^^"" rumed by despan* and grief. For if any of the young knew that before he reached old age, he should meet his end, as the most sluggish of wild beasts, when they are taken, become still more sluggish from expecting their end, so would he also be affected. Nor would even the men that are courageous have their reward. For if they knew that after three years they would certainly die, what reward would they have, for daring in the face of dangers ? For any one might say to them. Because you are confident of three years of life, for this reason you throw yourselves into dangers, knowing that it is not possible for you to perish in any other way. For he, that expects from each danger that he may come by his death, and knows that he shall live indeed, if he does not expose himself to peril, but shall die if he attempts such and such actions, he gives the greatest proof of his zeal, and of his contempt for the present life. And this I will make plain to you by an example. Tell me, if the patriarch Abraham, foreknowing that he should not have to sacrifice his son, had brought him to the place, would he then have had any reward ? And what if Paul, foreknowing that he should not die, had despised dangers, would he have been at all admirable ? E'er so the most spiritless would rush into the fire, if he could find any one he could trust to ensure his safety. But not such were the Three Children. For hear them saying, O king, there is a God in heaven, who F'"*'!" will deliver u.s out oj' thine hands, and out of this furnace ; 17, ' ' and if not, he it known to irhee that ne will not serve thg^^^- gods, nor worshij) the golden image which thou hast set up. Ye see how many advantages there are, and yet there are more than these that arise from not knowing the time of our end. Meanwhile it is sufficient to know these. On this 430 Thought of Chrhfs Coming an encouragement. 1 Thes. account He so coraeth as a lliief in the night ; that we may — !— IJnot abandon ourselves to wickedness, nor to sloth; that He may not take from us our reward. For yourselves know perfectly, he says. Why then are you curious, if you are persuaded ? But that the future is uncertain, learn from vvhat Christ has said. And that on this account He said it, hear Matt, what He said. Watch therefore, for ye know not what hour ^' ■^e' the thief ^o/A come. On this account also Paul said. The Sou of Man. Ver. 3. For when they shall say peace and safely; then sudden destruction comeih upon them, as travail upon a woman nilh child, and they shall not escape. Here he has glanced at that which he has also said in his second Epistle. For since they indeed were in affliction, but they that warred on them at ease and in luxury, and then while he comforted them in their present sufferings by the mention of the Resurrection, the others insulted them with arguments taken from their forefathers, and said. When I3.5,19. will it happen? Which the Prophets also said, Woe unto them that say, Let him make speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it : and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that tee may know it. And Amos 5 again. Woe unto them that desire the day of the Lord. (For ^^- he does not speak of those who simply desire it, but of those who desire it because they disbelieve it. And the day of the Lord, he says, is darkness, and not light.) It is on this account that he so speaks. And see how he consoles them, as if he had said, Let them not account their being in a prosperous state, a proof that the Judgment is not coming. For so it is that it will come. But it may be worth while to ask. If Antichrist comes, and Elias comes, how is it when they say Peace, that a sudden destruction comes upon them .' For these things do not permit them to be ignorant of the day, being signs of its coming. But he does not allude to this period, I mean that of Antichrist, nor does he speak of that day, because it will 'or'that'be a sign of the coming of Christ; but because* Christ will not have a sign, but will come suddenly and unexpectedly ^ For travail, indeed, you say, does not come upon the pregnant ' Conimel. B. L. and Muse, read, because that (L. he) will be a sign of ' But he does not mean this to be the the coming of Christ, but Himself will time of Antichrist, and the whole day, have no sign, but, &c.' Uncertainty no evil to those ivho live in Light. 431 woman unexpectedly : for she knows that after nine months Hom. the birth will take place. And yet it is very uncertain. For '- some bring forth at the seventh month, and others at the ninth. And at any rate the day and the hour of birth is uncertain. With respect to this therefore, Paul speaks thus. And the image is just. For there are not many sure signs of travail. For many have brought forth in the high roads, or when out of their houses and abroad, not foreseeing it. And he has not only glanced here at the uncertainty, but also at the bitterness of the pain. For as she while sporting, laugh- ing, not looking for any thing at all, being suddenly seized with unspeakable pains, is piei'ced through with the pangs of labour — so will it be with those souls, when that Day comes upon them. And they shall not escape. And to shew them that he does not speak this of them, he has added, Ver. 4. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Here he speaks of a life that is dark and impure, for (3) corrupt and wicked men do all things as in the night, escap- ing the notice of all, and inclosing themselves in darkness. For tell me, does not the adulterer watch for the evening, and the thief for the night ? Does not the violator of the tombs carry on all his trade in the night .'' What then ? Does it not overtake them as a thief? Does it not come upon them too uncertainly ? But do they know it beforehand } How then does he say, Ye have no need that I write unto you? He speaks here not with respect to the uncertainty, but with respect to the calamity, that is, it will not come as an evil to them. For it will come uncertainly indeed even to them, but it will involve them in no trouble. That that Day, he says, should overtake you as a thief. For in the case of those who are watching and who are in the light, if there should be any entry of a robber, it can do them no harm : so also it is with those who live well. But those who are sleeping he will strip of every thing, and go off; that is, those who are trusting in the things of this life. Then he adds another thing in favour of them. For he adds, Ver. 5. Ye are all, he says, the children of the light and the children of the day. 43*2 Children of light and of darkness, and their works. 1 Thes. And how, you say, is it possible to be children of the day? ^'^~^Must as it is said, ' children of destruction' and ' children of hell.' Mat.23, Wherefore Christ also said to the Pharisees, Woe unto you — ^^* for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him the child of hell. And Paul said, Col. 3, Pq^ which things'" sake the wrath of God cometh upon the children of disobedience. That is, those who do the works of hell and the works of disobedience. As therefore the children of God are those who do things pleasing to God, so those are children of day and children of light, who do the works of light. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Ver. 6, 7, 8. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the iiiglit; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober. Here he shews, that to be in the day is our own doing; and here indeed, in the case of the present day and night, I mean, it does not depend on ourselves. But night comes even against our will, and sleep overtakes us when we do not wish it. But with respect to that night and that sleep, it is not so, but it is in our power always to watch, it is in our power always to have it day. For to shut the eyes of the soul, and to bring on the sleep of wickedness, is not of nature, but of our own choice. But let us watch, he says, and be sober. For it is possible to sleep while awake, by doing nothing good. Wherefore he has added, aiid be sober. For even by day, if any one watches, but is not sober, he will fall into numberless dangers, so that sobriety is the intensity of watchfulness. Tliey that sleep, he says, sleep in the night, and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. The drunkenness he here speaks of is not that from wine only, but that also which comes of all vices. For riches and the desire of wealth is a drunkenness of the soul, and so carnal lust; and every sin you can name is a drunken- ness of the soul. On what account then has he called vice sleep .? Because in the first place the vicious man is inactive with respect to virtue: again, because he sees every thing as a vision: he views nothing in its true light, but is full of dreams, and oftentimes of unreasonable actions : and if he Watching and soberness. Spiritual armour. 433 sees any thing good, he' has no firmness, no fixedness. Hom. Such is the present life. It is full of dreams, and of phantasy. — ^ Riches are a dream, and glory, and every thing of that sort. He who sleeps sees not things that are and have a real subsistence, but things that are not he fancies as things that are. Such is vice, and the life that is passed in vice. It sees not things that are, that is, heavenly, spiritual, abiding things, but things that are fleeting and fly away, and that soon recede fi'om us. But it is not sufficient to watch and be sober, we must also be armed. For if a man watch and is sober, but has not arms, the robbers soon dispatch him. When therefore we ought to watch, and to be sober, and to be armed too, and we are unarmed and naked and asleep, who will hinder him from thrusting home his sword.? Wherefore shewing this also, that we have need of arms, he has added : Ver. 8. But let us, who are of the day, he sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love ; and for an helmet the hope of salvation. Of faith and love, he says. Here he glances at life, together with right doctrines. See how he has shewn what it is to watch and be sober, to have, he says, the breastplate of faith and love. Not a common faith, he says, but one fervent and sincere, and that makes those who are guarded by it invulne- rable ; as nothing can soon pierce through a breastplate, but it is an unseen- wall to the breast; — so do thou also, he says, 2 B. a surround thy soul with faith and love, and none of the fiery ^^''"'"® darts of the devil can ever be fixed in it. For where the power of the soul is preoccupied with the armour of love, all the devices of those who plot against it are vain and ineflfec- tual. For neither wickedness, nor hatred, nor envy, nor flattery, nor hypocrisy, nor any other thing will be able to penetrate such a soul. And he has not simply said love, but he has bid them put it on as a strong breastplate. Then having said thus, he adds, and for a helmet the hope of salva- tion. For as the helmet guards the most important part of all in us, surrounding the head and covering it on every side, so also this hope does not suffer the reason to falter, but sets it ri* a». upright as the head, not permitting any thing from without'"'^'"'" to fall upon it. And whilst nothing falls on it, neither does 2 F 434 Thoiifjlit of Go(Ts g'vijifi His Son helps Faith and Love. 1 Thes. it fall of itself. For it is not possible that one, who is forlifiect ' with such anns as these, should ever fall. For he says, now 1 Cor. 13, 13. al)i(l(-(h/(iifh, hope, and charity, these three. Then having said, Put on, and array yom-selves, he himself goes on to provide the armour, and shews whence faith, ho])e, and charity may be produced, and these arms may become stronger, adding and saying, Ver. 9. For God hath ?wt appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us. (4) Thus God has not called us for this end^ that Ho might destroy us, but that He might save us. And whence is it manifest that this is His will ? He has given His own Son for us, he says. So does He desire that we should be saved, that He has given His Son, and not merely given, but given Him to death. From these considerations hope is begotten. For do not despair, O man, in going to God, Who ha& not spared even His own Son for thee. Faint not at present evils. He who gave His Only-Begotten, that He might save thee and deliver thee from hell, what will He spare henceforth for thy salvation ? So that thou oughtest to hope for all things favourable. For neither should we fear, if we were going to a judge who was about to judge us, and who had shewn so much love for us, as to have sacrificed his sou. Let us hope therefore for good and great things. For we have received the principal thing, if we believe. For we have seen an example. Let us love; for it is the extreme of madness for one not to love who has been so treated. Ver. 10, 11. Tliat ichetUer we ivake or sleep, he says, we should live together with Him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. And again ^, whether ue uake or sleep ; but by sleep there he means one thing, and here another. For here it signifies the death of the body, but there negligence in our course of life. What therefore he means is this. Fear not dangers; though we should die, we shall live. Do not despair because thou art in danger. Thou hast a strong security. He would not have given His own Son if He had not been inflamed by «r B. L. and Catena, ' has no( h So B. and L. Edd. ' And else- clined to this.' where again,' which seems less correct. Vice a darkness, a death, a madness. 435 vehement love for us. So that, though thou shouldest die, Hom. thou wilt live. For He Himself also died. Therefore — ^— whether we die, or whether we live, we shall live with Him. I hold this to be a matter of indifference : it is no concern of mine, whether I live or die ; for we shall live with Him. liBt us therefore do every thing for that life : looking to that, let us do all our works. Vice, O beloved, is darkness, it is death, it is night. We see nothing that we ought, we do nothing that becomes us. As the dead arc unsightly and offensive, so also the souls of those who are vicious are full of much impurity. Their eyes are closed, their mouth is stopped, they remain without motion in the bed of vice ; or rather more wretched than those who are naturally dead. For they truly are dead to both, but these are insensible indeed to virtue, but alive to vice. If one should strike a dead man, he per- ceives it not, he revenges it not. But as wood is dry ', so is his soul truly dry, having lost its life. It receives daily numberless wounds, but has no feeling of any, but lies insensible to every thing. One u'ould not err in comparing such men to those who are mad, or drunk, or delirious. All these things belong to vice, and it is worse than all these. He that is mad is much allowed for by those who see him, for his disease is not from choice, but from nature alone. But how shall he be pardoned, who lives in vice? Whence then is vice? whence are the majority bad? Whence? dost thou ask? do thou tell me, Whence have diseases their evil nature? Whence is phrensy ? Whence is lethargy? Is it not from carelessness ? If physical disorders have their origin in choice, much more those which are voluntary. Whence is drunkenness? Is it not from intemperance of soul? Is not phrensy from excess of fever? And is not fever from the elements too abundant in us? And is not this superabundance of elements from our cai'elessness? For when either from deficiency or excess we carry any of the things within us beyond the bounds of moderation, we kindle that fire. Again, if when the fire is kindled, we continue to neglect it, we make a conflagration for ourselves, which we are not able to extinguish. So is it also with vice. When we do not restrain it at its beginning, ' B. and L. ' like a dry, sapless, dead stick.' 3 ?2 430 Careful loalking needed among enemies and dangers. iTHEs.nor cut it off", we cannot afterwards reach to the end of it, -- - ■ but it becomes too p;reat for our power. Wherefore, I beseech you, let us do every thing that we may never become drowsy. Do you not see that when sentinels have only given way a little to sleep, they derive no advantage from their long watch, for by that little they have ruined the whole, having given perfect security to him who is prepared to steal. For as we do not see thieves in the same way that they see us, so also the devil most of all is ever instant, and lying in wait, and grinding his teeth. Let us not then slumber. Let us not say, on this side there is nothing, on that side nothing. We are often spoiled from a quarter whence we do not expect it. So it is with vice. We perish from a quarter whence we do not expect it. Let us look carefully round upon all things, let us not be drunken, and we shall not sleep. Let us not be luxurious, and we shall not slumber. Let us not be mad for external things, and we shall continue in sobriety. Let us compose ourselves on every side. And as those who walk upon a tight rope cannot be off their guard ever so little, for that little causes the greatest mischief: for the man losing his balance is at once precipitated down and perishes; so neither is it possible for us to be remiss. We walk upon the naiTow road intercepted by precipices on either side, not admitting of two feet at the same time. Seest thou not how much carefulness is necessary.? Seest thou not how those who travel on roads flanked by precipices guard not only their feet, but their eyes also ? For if he should choose to gaze on one side, though his foot stand firm, his eye becoming dizzy from the depth, plunges the whole body down. But he must take heed to himself and to his steps; wherefore he says, ' neither to the right hand, nor to the left.' Great is the depth of vice, steep the precipices, much darkness below, the way narrow. Let us take heed with fear. Let us walk with trembling. No one, who is travelling such a road, is dissolved in laughter nor heavy with drunkenness, but travels such a road with sobriety and carefulness. No one travelling such a road cai-ries with him any superfluities ; for he would be contented even lightly equipped to be able to escape. No one entangles his own feet, but leaves them disengaged, and free to move. The narrow Way hard to the bulky and encumbered. 437 But we, chaining ourselves down with numberless cares, Hom. . . . . IX and carrying with us the numberless burdens of this life, — - — — staring about, and loosely rambling, how do we expect to travel ^ ' in that narrow road ? He has not merely said that narrow e*Matt. 7, the way, but with admiration, how^ narrow is the way, that * is, exceedingly narrow. And this we also do in things that are quite objects of wonder. And again, straitened, he says, rtCx/jit- is the way which leadeth unto life. And he has well called*"""* it narrow. For when we are bound to give an account of our thoughts, words, and actions, and all things, truly it is narrow. But we make it more narrow, spreading out and widening our- selves, and shuffling out our feet. For the narrow way is««;e"''- difficult to every one, but especially to him who is incumbered with fat, as he who makes himself lean will not perceive its nan'owness. So that he who has practised himself in being pinched, will not be discouraged at its pressure. Let not any one therefore expect that he shall see heaven with ease. For it cannot be. Let no one hope to travel the narrow road with luxury, for it is impossible. Let no one travelling in the broad way hope for life. When therefore thou seest any one luxuriating in baths, in a sumptuous table, with attendance of guards ; think not thyself unhappy, as not partaking of these things, but lament for him, that he is travelling the way to destruction. For what is the advan- tage of this way, when it ends in tribulation "i And what is the injury of that straitness, when it leads to rest 1 Tell me, if any one invited to a palace should walk through naiTow ways painful and precipitous, and another led to death should be dragged through the midst of the market-place, which shall we call happy } which shall we commiserate .? Him, shall we not, who walks through the wide road .? So also now, let us think happy, not those who are luxurious, but those who are not luxurious. These are hastening to hea- ven, those to hell. And perhaps indeed many of them will even laugh at the things that are said by us. But I most of all lament and bewail on this account, that they do not even know what k E. V. iecaw«e, but B. and L. read notes on Hom. xxiii. on St. Matthew, - sliall we love riches? For I shall not cease -1 — '- exclaiming against them : for they arc the cause of all evils. How long shall we fail to satiate this inordinate desire ? What is the good of gold ? I am astonished at the thing ! Truly there is some enchantment in the business, that gold and silver should be so highly valued among us. For our own souls indeed we have no regard, but those lifeless images engross much attention. Whence is it that this disease has invaded the world ? Who shall be able to effect its destruc- tion ? AVhat reason can cut off this evil beast, and destroy it with utter destruction ? The desire is deep sown in the minds of men, even of those who seem to be religious. Let us be put to shame by the commands of the Gospel. Words only lie there in Scripture, they are no where shewn by works. And what is the specious plea of the many .'' I have children, one says, and I am afraid lest I myself be reduced to the extremity of hunger and want, lest I should stand in need of others. I am ashamed to beg. For that reason there- fore do you cause others to beg ? I cannot, you say, endure hunger. For that reason then do you expose others to hunger.'' Do you know what a dreadful thing it is to beg, how dreadful to be perishing by hunger ? Spare also your brethren ! Are you ashamed, tell me, to be hungry, and are you not ashamed to rob ? Are you afraid to perish by hunger, and not afraid to destroy others ? And yet to be hungry is neither a disgrace nor a crime ; but to cast others into such a state brings not only disgrace, but extreme punishment. All these are pretences, words, trifles. For that it is not on account of your children that you act thus, they testify who indeed have no children, nor will have, but who yet labour and harass themselves, and are busy in acquiring » fiv^iais wealth, as much as if they had never so many ^ children to leave it to. It is not the care for his children that makes a man covetous, but a disease of the soul. On this account many even who have not children are mad for riches, and others living with a gi'eat number of children even despise what they have. They will accuse thee in that Day. For if the necessities of children compelled men to accumulate riches, they also must have had the same desire, the same covetousness. And if they have not, it is not from the Children why given. They made not the Patriarchs covetous. Ail number of children that wc are thus mad, but from the love Hom. of money. And who are they, you say, who having children, '— yet despise riches? Many, and in many places. And if you will allow me, I will speak also of instances among the ancients. Had not Jacob twelve children ? Did he not lead the life of a hireling } Was he not wronged by his kinsman ? and did he not often disappoint him ? And did his number of children ever compel him to have recourse to any dishonest counsel ? What was the case with Abraham. After Isaac, had he not also many other children .'' Did he not possess all he had for the benefit of strangers ? Do you see, how he not only did not do wrong, but even gave up his possessions, not only doing good, but choosing to be wronged by his nephew ? For to endure being robbed for the sake of God is a much greater thing than to do good. For the one is the fruit of the soul and of free choice, whence also it is easily perfonned: but the other is injurious treatment and violence. For a man will more easily throw away ten thousand talents voluntarily, and will not think that he has suffered any harm, than he will bear meekly being robbed of three pence against his wilh So that this rather is philosophy of soul. And this, we see, happened in the case of Abraham. For Lot, it is said, From beheld all the plain ; and it teas icell itaiered as the paradise yq^{i^ ' of God, and he chose it. And Abraham said nothing against it. Seest thou, that he not only did not wrong him, but he was wronged by him } Why, O man, dost thou accuse thine own children } God did not give us children for this end, that we should seize the possessions of others. Take care, lest in saying this thou provoke God. For if thou sayest that thy children are the causes of thy grasping and thine avarice, I fear lest thou be deprived of them, as injuring and ensnaring thee. God hath given thee children that they may support thine old age, that they may learn virtue from thee. For God on this account hath willed that mankind should (4) thus be held together, providing for two most important objects : one, the appointing fathers to be teachers, and the other, the implanting great love. For if men were merely to come into being, no one woidd have any relation' toward i ' '^x'^"- 448 Men build memorials of their ovm icickedness. 1 Thes. any other. For if now, when there are the relations of fathers, — — '- and children, and grandchildren, many do not regard many, much more would it then be the case. On this account God hath given thee children. Do not therefore accuse the children. But if they who have children have no excuse, what can they say for themselves, who having no children vex themselves about the acquisition of riches. But they have a saying for themselves, which is destitute of all excuse. And what is this ? That, instead of children, they say, we may have our riches as a memorial. This is truly ridiculous. Instead of children, one says, my house is the immortal memorial of my glory. Not of thy glory, O man, is il the memorial, but of thy covetousness. Dost thou not see how many now as they pass the magnificent houses say one to another, What fi-auds, what robberies such an one committed, that he might build this house, and now he is become dust and ashes, and his house has become the inheritance of others ! It is not of thy glory then that thou leavest a memorial, but of thy covetousness. Dost thou not see how many now as they pass the magnificent houses say one to another, What frauds, what robberies such an one committed, that he might build this house ! and now he is become dust and ashes, and his house has become the inheritance of others ! It is not of thy glory then that thou leavest a memo- rial, but of thy covetousness. And thy body indeed is concealed in the earth, but thou dost not permit the memorial ^ivva- of thy covetousness to be concealed, as it might have been' ^ivij». ]jy length of time, but causest it to be turned up and dis- inten-ed through thy house. For as long as it stands, bearing thy name, and called such an one's, certainly the mouths of all too must needs be opened against thee. Dost thou see that it is better to have nothing than to sustain such an accusation } And these things indeed here. But what shall we do There? tell me, having had so much at our disposal here, if we have imparted to no one of our possessions, or at least very little ; how shall we put off our dishonest gains ? For he that wishes to put off his dishonest gains, does not give a little out of a great deal, but many times more than he has Restitution. Hard dealing more cruel than robbery. 449 robbed, and he ceases also from robbing. Hear what Hom. Zacchaeus says, And for as many things as I have taken wrong/idly, I restore fourfold. But thou, taking violently Luke ten thousand talents, if thou give a few drachmas, and that ^^' ^* too grudgingly, thinkest thou hast restored the whole, and art affected as if thou hadst given more. And yet thou oughtest both to have restored these, and to have added other out of thine own private possessions. For as the thief is not excused when he gives back only what he has stolen, but often he has added even his life ; and often he compounds ' ' S/aw- upon restoring many times as much : so also should the '"''^°' covetous man. For the covetous man also is a thief and a robber, far worse than the other, by how much he is also more tyrannical. For he indeed by being concealed, and by making his attack in the night, cuts off much of the audacity of the attempt, as if he were ashamed, and feared to sin. But the other having no sense of shame, with open face in the middle of the market place steals the property of all, being at once a thief and a tyrant. He does not break through walls, nor extinguish the lamp, nor open a chest, nor tear off seals. But what ? He does things more insolent than these, in the sight of those who are injured he carries things out by the door, he with confidence opens every thing, he compels them to expose all their possessions themselves. Such is the excess of his violence. This man is more wicked than those, inasmuch as he is more shameless and tyrannical. For he that has suffered by fraud is indeed grieved, but he has no small consolation, that he who injured him was afraid of him. But he who together with the injury he suffers is also despised, will not be able to endure the violence. For the ridicule is greater. Tell me, if one committed adultery with a woman in secret, and another committed it in the sight of her husband, who would grieve him the most, and be most apt to wound him. Would not the latter ? For he indeed, together with the wrong he has done, treated him also with contempt. But the former, if he did nothing else, shewed at least that he feared him whom he injured. So also in the case of money. He that takes it secretly, does him honour in this respect, that he does it secretly ; but he who robs pubhcly and openly, together with the loss adds also shame. 2 G 450 Seeki/tf/ (/din hy o/Jicrs' loss unchrisiutn. 1 Thes. Let us tlierefore, both poor and rich, cease from taking the J^ — 1_ property of others. For my present discourse is not only to the rich, but to the poor also. For they too rob those who are poorer than themselves. And artisans who are l>etter ofi', and more ])owerful, outsell the poorer and more distressed, ' "'^l^" tradesmen outsell' tradesman, and so all who arc en^affed in •raXeuffi, . perhaps the market-placc. So that I wish from every side to take '^^""I'''away injustice. For the injury consists not in the measure of the things plundered and stolen, but in the purpose of him that steals. And that these are more thieves and defrauders, who do not despise little gains, I know and remember that I have before told you, if you also remember it. But let us not be over exact. Let them be equally bad with the rich. Let us instruct our mind not to covet greater things, not to aim at more than we have. But in the heavens'' let our desire of more never have any limit, but let each be ever coveting more. But upon earth let every one be for what is needful and sufficient, and seek nothing more, that so we may be able to obtain those real goods, by the grace and loving- kindness, &c. &c. ^ Ii. ' in heavenly things,' and so both Lat, HOMILY XI. 1 Thess. v. 19—2-2. Quench not ihe Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; holdfast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. A THICK mist and darkness and cloud is spread over all the earth. And, shewing this, the Apostle says, For ye were'E^hes. sometime darkness. And again, Ye, brethren, are not in ^' ^" darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Since therefore there is, so to speak, a moonless night, and we walk in that night, God hath given us a bright lamp, having kindled in our souls the grace of the Holy Spirit. But some who have received this light have rendered it more bright and shining", as, for instance, Paul and Peter, and all those Saints. But others also have extinguished it, as the five virgins, as those who have made shipwreck of the faitli, as the fornicator of Corinth, iis the Galatians who were per- verted. On this account Paul now says, Quench not the Spirit, that is, the gift of grace ^ for it is his custom so to call the i rl x^- gift of the Spirit. But this an impure life extinguishes. For^"''"" as any one, who has sprinkled water or dust upon the light of our'' lamp, extinguishes it, and if he does not this, but only takes out the oil — so it is also with the gift of grace. For if you have cast over it earlhly things, and the cares of fluctuating matters", you have quenched the Spirit. And if you have done none of these things, but a temptation coming 2 B. and L. (faiS^oTi^ev, but the tively shining." common reading, witliout comparison '' rourev, ' this,' often used for tlm in the latter adjective, would have a natural as opposed to the spiritual, meaning, ' not only brighter but posi- <^ Alluding to ' water.' 2 G '2 452 How to keep t?ie Lamp of the Spirit alight. 1 Thes. from some otlier quarter lias vehemently assailed it, as some — — - — -'wind, and if the light be not strong, or it has not much oil, or you have not closed the opening, or have not shut the door, all is undone. But what is the opening ? As in the . lamp, so is it also in us : the opening is the eye and the ear. Suffer not a violent blast of wickedness to fall upon these, since it would extinguish the lamp, but close them up with the fear of God. The mouth is the door. Shut it, and fasten it, that it may both give light, aiid repel the attack from without. For instance, has any one insulted and reviled you ? Do you shut the mouth. For if you ojien it, you add force to the wind. Do you not see in houses, when two doors stand directly opposite, and there is a strong wind, how, if you shut one, and there is no opposite draught, the wind has no power, but the gi'eater part of its force is abated .f* So also now, there are two doors, thy mouth, and his who insults and affronts thee ; if thou shuttcst thy mouth, and dost not allow a draught on the other side, thou hast quenched the whole blast ; but if thou openest it, it will not be re- strained. Let us not therefore quench it ^. And the flame is often liable to be extinguished even when nothing assails it. When the oil fails, when we do not alms% , "'■" the Spirit is quenched. For it came to thee as an alms ' from ffitm God. Then He sees this fruit not existing in thee, and flies away. For he abides not with an unmerciful soul. But the Spirit being quenched, ye know what follows, as many of you as have walked in a moonless night. And if it is difficult to walk by night in a road fi-om land to land, how is it safe in the road that leads fi-om earth to heaven } Know ye not how many demons there are in the intervening space, how many wild beasts, how many spirits of wickedness.'' If indeed we have that light, they will not be able to hurt us ; but if we extinguish it, they soon take us captive, they soon rob us of every thing. Since even robbers first extinguish the lamp, and then plunder us. For they indeed see in this darkness, since they do the works of darkness : but we are unac- customed to that light'. Let us not then extinguish it. All ^ 1 Paris, ' the gift.' f One Ms. ' that space,' i. e. between * Of this play upon the word, see earth and heaven, pp. 49, 60. Use of the Gift oj discern'uKj spirils. 453 evil doing extinguishes that light, whether reviling, or in- Hom, solence, or whatever you can mention. For as in the case '— of fire, every thing that is foreign to its nature is destructive of it, but that kindles it which is congenial to it. So it is also in the case of the ^ light. Whatever is dry, whatever is warm, whatever is fiery, kindles the flame of the Spirit. Let us not therefore overlay it with any thing cold or damp. For these things are destructive of it. But there is also another explanation. There were among them many indeed who prophesied truly, but some prophe- sied falsely. This also he says in the Epistle to the Co- rinthians, that on this account He gave the discerning of\ Cor. spirits^'. For the devil, of his vile craft*, wished by this , ' v^ gift to subvert the whole Church. For since both the devil*», and the Spirit prophesied concerning the future, the one indeed uttering falsehood, and the other truth, and it was not possible from any quarter to receive a proof of one or the other, but each spoke irresponsibly, as Jeremiah and Ezekiel had done, but it was in the progress of time they were convicted, 'He gave also the discerning of spirits''. Since therefore even then among the Thessalonians many prophesied, glancing at whom he says, Be not troubled, 2 Thess. neither hy tvord, nor hi/ letter as from us, as that the ' * day of the Lord is at hand. Having said. Quench not the Spirit; he has opportunely added also what follows, De- spise not prophesi/ings. What therefore he wishes here to signify is this, Do not, because there are false prophets among you, on their account prohibit also these, and turn away from them. Quench them not, that is, Despise not prophesyings. Seest thou that this is what he means by, Prove all tilings'^ Because he had said. Despise not prophesyings, lest they should think that he opened the^ pulpit to all, he says,^To Prove all things, that is, such as are really prophecies '. '^"'"^ g One Ms. this. has ' and spoke irresponsibly, when h One Paris Ms. reads, ' I think the spirit of discernment came, (for perhaps that on this account the power God gave also a spirit of discernment,) of discernment was given by God to they were detected.' The received those of that time, that they might dis- reading makes sense only with Savile's tinguish those who were true prophets, punctuation, and those who were not.' k i. e. to obviate the delay. ' L. ' for He gave.' The Paris Ms. ' The same Ms. perhaps rightly 454 Prayer of lite Teacher for his disciples. 1 Thes. Holdfast thai which is good. Abstain from all appearance^ il^ ofeiil. Not froiii this or that, but from all. That you may /0^7«^'^ by proof (ILstinguish both true things and false, and abstain from the latter, and hold fast the former. For thus both the hatred of the one and the love of the other becomes strong, when we do all things not carelessly, nor without examination, but witli careful investigation. Ver. 23. And the very God of peace sanctify you icholly, and I pray God your whole spirit and sold and body be preserved blameless unto the cominf/ of our Lord Jesus Christ. Observe the affection of the Teacher. After the admoni- tion he adds a prayer, and not only that, but even introduces it in his letter"'. For we need both counsel and prayer. For this reason we also first giving you counsel, then offer prayers for you. And this the Initiated know. But Paul indeed did this with good reason, having great confidence towards God, whereas we are confounded with shame, and have no freedom of speech, but because we are appointed to it we do it, being unworthy even to stand in His presence, and to liold the place of the lowest disciples. But because 2 See p. grace works even by the unworthy -, not for our own sakes ^^^' but for theirs who are about to be benefited, we contribute our parts. Sanctify you wholly, he says, and may your whole spirit and sold and body be preserved blameless unto the coming cf our Lord Jesus Christ. What does he there call the s})irit ? The gift of grace. For if we depart hence having our lamps bright, Ave shall enter into the bridcchamber. But if they arc (|uenched, it will not be so. For this reason he says your ithole spirit. For if that remains pure, the other remains also. And' soul and body, he says. For neither the one nor the other then admits any thing evil. Ver. 24. Faithful is He that calleth you, Who also uill do it. Observe his humility. For, because he had prayed. Think not, he says, that this happens from my prayers, but from tlie places this after Hold fast thai ivhich is '" The same omits ' but even,' Sec. good. To prove, however, (Sox//ta?i/»,) and proceeds, For the Teacher needs, is generally used in a favourable sense. &c. Prayers of ihe people for their Pastors. 455 purpose, with which He called you. For if He called you Hom to salvation, and He is true, He will certainly save you, in — — l that He wills it ". Ver. 25. Brethreii, pray also for ns. Strange ! what humility is here ! But he indeed said this for the sake of humility, but we, not from humility, but for the sake of great advantage, and hoping to gain some great benefit from you, say. Pray also for us. For although you do not receive any great or wonderful benefit from us, do it nevertheless for the sake of the honour and the title itself. Some one has had children, and even if they have not been benefited by him, nevertheless, because he has been their father, he perhaps sets this before them, saying, ' For one day I have not been called father by you °.' On this account we too say. Pray also for us. I am not merely saying'' this, but really desiring your prayers. For if I have become responsible for this presidency over you all, and shall have to render an account, much more ought I to have the benefit of your prayers. On your account my responsibilities are greater, therefore also the benefit from you should be greater. Ver. 26. Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss. Oh ! what fervour ! Oh ! what a mind is here ! Because being absent he could not greet them with a kissi, he greets them through others'', as when we say. Kiss him for me. So also do ye yourselves retain the fire of love. For it does not admit of distances, but even where long ways intervene it extends itself, and is every where present. Ver. 27. / charge you by the Lord that this Epistle be read unto all the holy brethren. And this command is rather from love, and not so much in the way of teaching, that with them also, he means, I may be conversing. *> B. /SauXd^ivouj, ' if you will.' <\ L. 'such a kiss/ B. 'the kiss.' " Downes would read, ' for one day, The Catena has, ' he calls that holy however, I was called your father.' which is given from genuine love,' but There is most likely some unknown this may be from another author. allusion in the words. ■• Edd. add, ' so also do we.' But it P Xiym. Sav. \'tyu. He seems to is out of place, and B. L. Catena, and adopt the singular from earnestness of both translators, omit it. feeling. 456 Adjuration in the Name of Cftrist should awe us. 1 Thes. Ver. 28. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 5, 28. , — ■ Amen. And he docs not merely command, but adjures them, doing this also from a fervent mind, that even though they should despise him, for the sake of the adjuration they may JNloRAL.do what is commanded. For then men had a great dread of that appeal, but now that too is trampled under foot. And often when a slave is scourged, and adjures by God and His Christ, and says, ' So may you die a Christian,' yet no one gives heed, no one regards it. But if he adjures him by his own son, immediately, though unwilling, and grinding his teeth, he gives up his anger. Again, another being dragged and led away through the middle of the market-place % in the presence both of Jews and Greeks, adjures him that leads him away with the most fearful adjurations, and no one regards it. What will not the Greeks say, when one of the faithful adjures a faithful man and a Christian, and no regard is paid to it, but we even despise him. (3) Will you allow me to tell you a certain story which I my- self have heard ? For 1 do not say it of my own invention, but having heard it from a person worthy of credit. There was a rertain maid-servant united to a wicked man, a vile run-a-way slave ; she, when her husband having committed many faults was about to be sold by her mistress ; (for the offences were too great for pardon, and the woman was a widow, and was not able to punish him who was the plague of her house, and therefore resolved to sell him ; then con- sidering that it was an unholy thing to separate the husband from the wife, the mistress, although the girl was useful, to avoid separating her from him, made up her mind to sell the woman also with him ;) then the woman, seeing herself in these straits, came to a venerable person who was intimate with her mistress, and who also told it to me, and clasping her knees, and with many lamentations, besought her to intreat her mistress in her behalf; and having wasted many words, at last she added this also, as thereby especially to l>ersuade her, laying on her a most awful adjuration, and the adjuration was this, ' So mayest thou see Christ at the Day * i. e. for debt, to which he probablv refers also in speaking against covetous- ness, p. 449. Regard to it rewarded with a vision. 457 of Judgment, as thou neglectest not my petition.' And having Hom. so said, she departed. And she who had been intreated, upon the intrusion of some worldly care, such as happens in families, forgot the matter. Then suddenly late in the after- noon, the most awful adjuration came into her mind, and she felt great compunction, and she went and with great earnestness asked, and obtained her request. And that very night she suddenly saw the heavens opened, and beheld Christ Himself. But she beheld Him, as far as it is possible for a woman to behold Him. For because she at all regarded the adjuration, because she was afraid, she was thought worthy of this vision. And these things I have said, that we may not despise adjurations, especially when any intreat us for things that are good, as for alms, and for works of mercy. But now poor men, who have lost their feet, sit and see thee' hastening' va^a- by, and when they cannot follow thee with their feet, they J^^*"" expect to detain thee, as with a kind of hook, by the fear of (fem.) an adjuration, and stretching out their hands, they adjure thee to give them only one or two halfpence. But thou hastenest by, though adjured by thy Lord. But if he adjure thee by the eyes either of thy husband, who is gone abroad, or of thy son, or thy daughter, immediately thou yieldest, thy mind is transported, thou art warmed. But if he adjure thee by thy Lord, thou passest by. And I have known many women who, hearing indeed the name of Christ, have passed by, but being commended for their beauty by those who came to them, have been melted and softened, and have stretched out their hand. Yea thus they have reduced wretched beggars to this, even to deal in making sport! For when they do not touch their souls by uttering vehement and bitter words, they have re- course to this way by which they delight them exceedingly. And our great wickedness compels him that is in calamity or is straitened by hunger, when begging, to utter encomiums upon our beauty. And I wish this were all. But there is even another form worse than this. It compels the poor to be jugglers, and buffoons, and filthy jesters. For when he fastens on his fingers cups and bowls and cans, and having put them on, plays on them as cymbals, and having a pipe, PIKX 458 T/ie poor drireii to ill a.vpcdicnls. Beggars Ihankful. Thes. whistles on it tliosc base and amorous melodies, and sings 6,^«^ them at the toj) of his voice ; and then many stand round, « «-fu'^a/. and some give him a piece ^ of bread, some a halfpenny, and others something else, and they detain him long, and both men and women are delighted ; what is more grievous than this ? Are not these things deserving of much groaning ? They are indeed trilling, and are considered trifling, but they engender great sins in our characters. For when any obscene and sweet melody is uttered, it softens the mind, and corrupts that soul itself too. And the poor man indeed who calls upon God, and invokes infinite blessings upon us, is not vouchsafed a word from us ; but he who instead of these things introduces »"i"3-t- sportive sallies '\ is admired. And what has now come into my mind to say to you, that I will utter. And what is this ? When you are involved in poverty and sickness, if from no other quarter, at least from those who beg, who wander through the narrow streets, learn to give thanks to the Lord. For they, spending their whole life in begging, do not blaspheme, are not angry, nor im- patient, but make the whole narrative of their beggary in thanksgiving, magnifying God, and calling Him merciful. He indeed that is perishing with hunger, calls Him merciful, but you who are living in plenty, if you cannot get the possessions of all, call Him cruel. How much better is he ! how will he then condemn us ! God has sent through the world, in the poor, common teachers in our calamities, and consolation under them. Hast thou suffered any thing- contrary to thy wishes ? yet nothing like what that poor man suffers. Thou hast lost an eye, but he both his. Thou hast long laboured under disease, but he has one that is incurable. Thou hast lost thy children, but he even the health of his own body. Thou hast suffered a great loss, but thou art not yet reduced to depend on others. Therefore give thanks to God. Thou seest them in the furnace of poverty, and begging indeed from all, but receiving from few. When thou art weary of ])raying, and dost not receive, consider how often thou hast heard the poor man calling upon thee, and hast not listened to him, and he has not been angry nor insulted thee. And thou indeed actest tluis from cruelty; but God from mercy even declines to hear. If therefore The poor at Church doors a lesson lo us. 459 thou, thyself from cruelty not hearing thy fellow-servant, Hom. expectest not to be found fault with, dost thou find fault with ^^' . the Lord, who out of inercy does not hear His servant? Seest thou how great the inequality, how great the in- justice ? Let us consider these things constantly, those who are below us, those who are under greater calamities, and so we shall be able to be thankful to God. Life abounds with many such instances. And he who is sober, and willing to attend, gains no small instruction from the houses of prayer. For on this account the poor sit before the vestibule both in the churches and in the chapels of the Martyrs', that we may receive great benefit from the spectacle of these things. For consider, that when we enter into earthly palaces, we can see nothing of this kind ; but men that are dignified and famous, and wealthy and intelligent, are every where hastening to and fro. But into the real palaces, I mean the Church, and the oratories' of the Martyrs, enter the demoniacs, the maimed,' !ukt>i- the poor, the aged, the blind, and those whose limbs are ^i^"'],,^ distorted. And wherefore ? That thou mayest be instructed by the spectacle of these things ; in the first place that if thou hast entered drawing after thee any pride from without, having looked upon these, and laid aside thy arrogance, and become contrite in heart, so thou mayest go in, and hear the things that are said ; for it is not possible that he who prays with an arrogant mind should be heard. That when thou seest an aged man, thou mayest not be elated at thy youth, for these old men were once young. That when thou boastcst highly of thy warfare, or thy kingly power, thou mayest consider that from these are sprung even those who are become illustrious in kings' courts. That, when thou presumest upon thy bodily health, taking heed to these, thou mayest abate thy lofty spirit. For the healthy man who con- tinually enters here, will not be highminded on account of his bodily health. And the sick man will receive no little consolation. But they do not sit here only on this account, but that ' /ict^ruo'ieii. Of these see Bingham, several in Constautinople. See also viii. 8. who quotes Eusebius Vit. Const, on Stat. Hom. i. Tr. pp. 17, and 22. iii. 48. saying that Constantine built 460 Earthly dinliucliuns iwthiny in God's House. iThes. they may also make thee compassionate, that thou may est be ^'^^- inclined to pity, that thou mayest admire the lovingkindness of God ; for if God is not ashamed of them, but has set them in His vestibules, much less be thou ashamed ; that thou mayest not be highminded on account of palaces upon earth, lie not then ashamed, when called upon by a poor man, and if he should catch thy knees, shake him not off. For these are certain admirable dogs of the Royal Courts. For I do not call them dogs as dishonouring them — God forbid — but even highly commending them. They guard the King's court. Therefore feed them. For the honour » al. ascends' to the King. There also is pride, — T speak of the ^passes pg^iy^pgg Qjj earth — here all is humility. You learn especially from the very vestibules that human things are nothing. From the very persons who sit before them, you are taught that God delights not in riches. For their silting and assembling there is all but an admonition, sending forth a clear voice regarding the nature of all men, and saying that human things are nothing, that they are shadow and smoke. If riches were a good, God would not have seated the poor before His own vestibule. And if He admits the rich also, wonder not, for He admits them not on this account, that they may continue rich, but that they may be delivered from Mat. 6, their encumbrance. For hear what Christ sa3's to them, Ye 24 cannot serve God and Blammon ; and again, A rich man Ma,t.i9, shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven; and again, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle^ than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. On this account He receives the rich, that they may hear these words, that they may desire eternal riches, that they may covet things in heaven. And why dost thou wonder that He does not disdain to seat such at His vestibules } for He does not disdain to call them to His spiritual Table, and make them partakers of that Feast. But the maimed, and the lame, and the old, and he that is clothed in rags, and is in filth, and rheum, comes to partake of that Table with the young and the beautiful, and with him even who is clothed in purple, and whose head is encircled with a diadem — and is thought \vorthy of the spiritual Feast, and both enjoy the same benefits, and there is no difference. The poor the best guests to entertain. 461 Does then Christ not disdain to call them to His Table Hom. with the king, for both are called together, and thou perhaps - - disdainest even to be seen giving to the poor, or even con- ^"^^ versing with them ? Fie upon thy haughtiness and pride ! See that we suffer not the same with the rich man formerly. He disdained even to look upon Lazarus, and did not allow him to share his roof, or a covering, but he was without, cast away at his gate, nor was he even vouchsafed a word from him. But see how, when fallen into straits, and in want of his help, he failed to obtain it. For if we ai'e ashamed of those of whom Christ is not ashamed, we are ashamed of Christ, being ashamed of His friends. Let thy table be filled with the maimed and the lame. Through them Christ comes, not through the rich. Perhaps thou laughest at hearing this; therefore, that thou mayest not think it is my word, hear Christ Himself speaking, that thou mayest not laugh, but shudder : When thou makest a dinner or a supper, Mat.i4, He says, call not thy friends nor thy brethren, neither thy^^'~^'^' kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours, lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the blind, and thou shall be blessed. For they cannot recompense thee: for thou shall be recompensed at the Resurrection of the Just. And greater is thy glory even here, if thou lovest that. For from those guests arise envy, and malice, and slanders, and revilings, and much fear lest any thing unbecoming should occur. And thou standest like a servant before his master, if those who are invited are thy superiors, fearing their criti- cism and their lips. But in the case of these there is nothing of this sort, but whatever you bring them, they receive all with pleasure ; and thence comes great applause, brighter glory, and higher admiration. All they that hear do not so much applaud the former, as the latter. But if thou dis- believest, thou who art rich, make the trial, thou who in- vitest generals and governors. Invite also the poor, and fill thy table from them, and see if thou art not applauded by all, if ihou art not loved by all, if all do not hold thee as a father. For of those feasts there is no advantage, but for these heaven is in store, and the good things of heaven — of which God grant we may all be partakers, by the grace K)2 Doxology. iTHrs.and lovingling for nothing great or splendid, might faint under their sufferings. ■' Edd. u!r£jiT(V», l)iit 1 Paris, B. L. Bodl. and Cat. ujei^irif/ij as Sav. mar. 464 False persuasiona the occasion of the present Epistle. 2Thes. For since that hope supported them, and did not allow ,^-Tp them to yield to the present circumstances', the devil vvish- ' evils.' ing to cut it ofT, as bi'in^ a kind of anchor, when he was not able to persuade ihcm that the things to come were false, went to work another way, and having suborned'' certain pestilential men, endeavoured to deceive those who believed into a persuasion that those great and splendid things had received their fulfilment. Accordingly these men then said that the Resurrection was already past. But now they said that the Judgment and the coming of Christ were at hand, that they might involve even Christ in a falsehood, and having persuaded them that there is hereafter no retribution, nor judgment-seat, nor punishment and vengeance for evil doers % they might both render these more bold, and those more dispirited. And, what was worse than all, some attempted merely to report words as if they were said by Paul, but others even to forge Epistles as written by him. 2 Thes. On this account, cutting off all access for them, he says, Be ^' ^' not soon shaken in mind or troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us. Neither by spirit, he says, glancing at the false prophets. Whence then shall we know them, he says ? By the addition. For he has added, 2 Thes "^^ salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the 3,17.18. token in every Epistle: so I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be ivith you all. He does not here mean, that this is the token, — for it is probable that others also imitated this, — but that I write the salutation with mine own hand, as is the custom also now among us. For by the subscrip- ^y^iift. tion the writings- of those who send letters are made '*"''* known. But he comforts them, as being excessively pinched'' by their troubles; both praising them fi^-om their present state, and encouraging them from a prospect of the futurity, from the punishment, and from the recompense of good things prepared for them, he more clearly enlarges upon the topic, not indeed revealing the time itself, but shewing the sign of the time, namely. Antichrist. For a weak soul ^ xatilf, as Savile and Downes had uuravf, (which is most correct,) ' those conjectured for xurccftif, and so B. who had done them evil.' Cat. and Bodl. d f His goodness, and the work of faith with p)Ower. This is the calling, he says, that we seek. See how gently he takes them down. For that they may not be rendered vain by the excess of commendation, as if they had done great deeds, and may not become slothful, he shews that something still is wanting to them, so long as they are in this life. Which also he said in his Epistle to tlie Hebrews. Ye have not ye/Heb.12, resisted unto blood, striving against sin. Unto all well- pleasing, he says, that is. His gratification, persuasion ', full ' «'«'>/«« assurance. As if he had said, that the persuasion'' of God may be fulfilled, that nothing may be wanting to you, that you may be so, as He wills. And the work of faith, he says, with power. What is this? The patient endurance of per- secutions, that we may not faint, he says. Ver. 12. That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in yoii, and ye in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. See he spoke there of glory, he speaks of it also here. He (2) said, that they are glorified, so that they might even boast. He said, what was much more, that they also glorify God. He said, that they will receive that glory. But here too he means ; For the Master being glorified, the servants also are glorified. For those who glorify their Master, are much more glorified themselves, both by that very thing, and apart from it. For tribulation for the sake of Christ is glory, and that thing he every where calls glory. And by how much the more we suffer any thing dishonourable, so much the more illustrious we become. Then again shewing that this also itself is of God, he says, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ; that is, this grace God Himself has given us, that He may be glorified in us, and ^ Downes explains this, ' that which word is usually put for ' determina- will persuade, i. e. satisfy God.' The tion.' 2 I o 484 God (/lorijivd tliroiuih f/rdcc. Dircic'incj sjdrif.H. 2T11ES. that He may glority us in lliiii. How is ihr glorified in us? "' Because we prefer notliing before Hiin. How are we glo- rified in Him? Because we have received power from Him, so that we do not at all yield to the evils that are brought upon us. For when temptation happens, at the same time God is glonficd, and we too. For they glorify Him on the one hand, because He lias so nerved us, and on the other "■"«/ tliev admire us, because we have rendered' ourselves wor- rxtvatet- ' fit,. thy. And all these things are done by the grace of God. Chap. ii. 1, 2. N'o/v we beseech j/oii, brelhreit, hi/ the coming 0/ our Lord Jems C/irisf, and by our gatliering together unto Him, That ye he not soon shaken in mind. Wlicii the Resurrection will be, he has not said, but that it will not be now, he has said. And by our gathering together unto Him. This also is no little matter. Sec how the exhortation also is again accompanied with commendation and encouragement, in that The Lord and all the Saints will certainly appear with ourselves. Here he is discoursing concerning the Coming of Christ and of our gathering to- gether. For these things will happen at the same time. He raises uj) their minds. That ye he not soon shaken, he says, neither be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter, as from us, as thai the day of Christ is at hand. Here he seems to me to insinuate that certain persons went about having forged an Epistle, as if from Paul, and shewing this, said that the Day of the Lord is at hand, that thence they might lead many into error. Therefore that they might not be deceived, Paul puts them on their guard by the things he writes, and says. Neither be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by luord. And this is the meaning of what he says: Though any one having the spirit of prophecy should say this, believe it not. For when 1 was with you I told you these things, so that you ought not to change your per- suasion from the tjiings which you were taught. Or thus, Neither by spirit. So he calls the false prophets, speaking what they spoke by an unclean spirit. For these men, willing the more to be believed, not only endeavoured to deceive by persuasive words, (for this he shews, saying, nor by icord,) but they also shewed a forged letter, as from Paul, declaring the same thing. Wherefore pointing out this also, he has Antichriai will precede Christ's Comiiu/. 485 added, nor by letter as from us. Having therefore put Hom. them on their guard on every side, he thus sets forth his own '— doctrine, and says, Ver. 3, 4. Let no man deceive you by any means; for that Day shall not come, except there come a' falling aicay Jirsf,^ Gr. t/ie and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition ; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God or that is tvorshipped, so that he as God sitteth. in the temple of God, shetriny himself that he is God. Here he discourses concerning the Antichrist, and reveals great mysteries. What is the /alliny atcay-? He calls Anti-s^ ^^.j. christ himself the x4postacy, as being about to destroy many, '^■r"'^'* and make them fall away. So that if it were possible. He says, the very Elect shonld be offended. And he calls him From the man of sin. For he shall do numberless mischiefs, and 24^^24. shall cause others to do them. But he calls him the son of perdition, because he is also to be destroyed. But who is he ? Is it then Satan } By no means ; but some man, that admits his fully working in him. And the man be revealed, he says, uho exalteth himself above all that is called God, or is uorsJtipped. For he will not introduce idolatry, but will be a kind of opponent to God, and he will abolish all the gods, and will order men to worship him instead of God, and he will be seated in the temple of God, not that in Jerusalem only, but also in the Churches every where. Sheiainy, he says, that he is God ; he does not say, saying, but endeavour- ing to shew^. For he will perform great works, and willa-oSsaTov, sbeep in general, but he seems to have the Passover in mind. HOMILY V. 2 Thess. iii. 3 — 5. But the Lord is faithful, Who shall stahlish you, and keep you from evil. And toe have confidence in the Lord^ touchiny you, thai ye both do and will do the thinys which we comniand you. And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waitiny for Christ. Neither ought we, having committed every thing to the prayers of the Saints, to be idle ourselves, and run into wickedness", and to lay hold of none of those things that lead to virtue ; nor again when working good to despise that succour. For great indeed, great are the things which prayer for us can effect, but it is when we ourselves also work. For this reason Paul also, praying for them, again gives them assurance from the promise, and says, But the Lord is faithful, Who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. For if He has chosen you to salvation, He will not deceive you, nor suffer you utterly to perish. But that he may not by these means lead them to sloth, and lest they thinking the whole to be of God should themselves sleep, see how he also demands cooperation from them, saying, Andtve have confidence in the Lord touchiny you, that ye both do and will do the thinys which ice command you. The L.ord indeed, he says, is faithful, and promising'' to save will » 1 Ms. omits this clause, hut it is said, not more than St. Chrvs. may have ^ B. and L. havinp promised. God saves the willinrj. His help needful for loving Him. 503 certainly save ; but as He promised. But how did He Hom. promise ? If we be willing, and hear Him. Not absolutely, - nor like stocks and stones, being inactive. And he has well introduced the words, We have confi- dence in Ike Lord^ that is, we trust to His lovingkindness. Again he brings them down, making every thing depend thereupon. For if he had said, We have confidence in you, the commendation indeed was great, but it would not have shewn that in all things they were dependent upon God. But if he had said, But we have confidence in the Lord, that He will preserve you, and had not added as touching you, and, tJiat ye do and will do the things which we com- mand you, he would have made them more slothful, by cast- ing every thing upon the power of God. For it becomes us indeed to cast every thing upon Him, yet working also ourselves, embarked in the labours and the conflicts. And here he shews that even if our virtue alone is' sufficient to i B. and save, yet nevertheless it ought to be persevering ^ and toJ'c'^®-®' abide with us until we come to our latest breath. But the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and the patient waiting for Christ. Again he commends them, and prays, shewing his concern for them. For when he is about to enter upon reproof, he previously smooths down their hearts, by saying, ' I am con- fident that ye will hear,' and by requesting prayers from them, and by again invoking upon them infinite blessings. But the Lord, he says, direct your hearts into the love of God. For there are many things that turn us aside from that love, and there are many paths that draw us away from thence. And in the first place indeed the wickedness of Mammon, laying, as it were, certain shameless hands upon our soul, and tenaciously holding it in its grasp, draws and drags us thence even against our will. Then vain-glory, and often afflictions and temptations, turn us aside. For this reason we need, as a certain wind, the assistance of God, that our sail may be impelled, as by some strong wind, to the love of God. For tell me not, ' I love Him, even more than myself.' These are words. Shew it by thy works, if thou lovest Him more than thyself Love Him more than money, and then I shall believe that thou lovest Him even 504 Patient toaitii>tj. Obedience enjoined in Christ''s Name. 2THEs.morc than thyself. But thou who despisest not riches for ii-tll- the sake of God, how wilt thou despise thyself? But why do I say riches? Thou who despisest not covetousness, which thou oughtest to do even without the commandments of God, how wilt thou despise thyself? And the patient wait iiuj for Chrifil% he says. What is the patient waiting? That we should endure even as He endured, or that we should do those things, or that mth patience also we should wait for Him, that is, that we should be prepared. For since He has promised many things, and Himself is coming to judge the quick and the dead, let us wait for Him, and let us be patient. But wherever he speaks of patience, he of course implies affliction. For this is to love God; to endure, and not to be troubled. Ver. 6. Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye uithdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition uhich they received of us. That is, it is not we that say these things, but Christ, for that is the meaning o^ in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. By thus speaking he shews the fearfulness of the message. Through Christ, he says, we command you. Christ therefore commanded us in no case to be idle. TJiat ye xcithdraw yourselves, he says, from every brother. Tell me not of the rich, tell me not of the poor, tell me not of the holy. This is disorder. That ualketh, he says, that is, liveth. And not after the tradition which they received from me. Tradition, he says, which is through works. And this he always calls properly'' tradition. Ver. 7, 8. For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; Neither did we eat any mail's bread for nought. And yet even if they had eaten, it would not have been Lukeio, for nought. For the labourer, he says, is worthy of his hire. But ivrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you. Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us. For when we were with you, this we = lit. Patience of Christ. <> or especially (kv^'ius). Not ivorking called disorderly walking. 505 commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should Hom. he eat. See how in the former Epistle indeed he discourses (2) somewhat more mildly concerning these things ; as when he says, We beseech you — that ye would abound more a^irfiThes. more — and that ye study — and no where does he say, we ' ' command, nor in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was fearful and implied danger, but that ye abound, he says, and study, which are the words of one exhorting to virtue. That ye may walk honestly, he says. But here is i Thes. nothing of this kind, but that, if any one would not ivork, ' neither should he eat. For if Paul, not being under a necessity, and having a right to be idle, and having under- taken so great a work, did nevertheless work, and not merely work, but night and day, so that he was able even to assist others, — much more ought others to do this. Ver. 11. For we hear that there are some which walk ainong you disorderly, working not at all, but are busy bodies. This indeed he says here; but there, in the first Epistle^ he says, that ye may icalk honestly totvards them that are without. On what account? Perhaps nothing of this kind had yet taken place. For upon another occasion admonish- ing, he says, It is more blessed to give than to receive. But Acts 20, the expression, walk honestly, has no reference to disorder, wherefore he added, that ye may have lack of nothing. But 1 Thes. here he sets down another necessity, for thus doing what ' was honourable and good towards all. (For as he proceeds, he says, that ye be not weary in well-doing.) For certainly he that is idle and yet able to work must needs be a busy body. But alms are given to those only who are not able to support themselves by the work of their own hands, or who teach, and are wholly occupied in the business of teaching. For thou shalt not muzzle the ox, he says, when Deut. he treadeth out the corn. And the labourer is worthy of his ?^,' 5* reward. So that neither is he idle, but receives the reward ^, I8. of work, and great work too. But to pray and fost, being Llikelo idle", is not the work of the hands. For the work that he is'^- " See on 1 Thess. 4, 12. pp. 397, near Antioch, but it appears (Tr. p. 398. where he says nearly the same. 124.) that they were industrious. On 1 Tim. 5, 10. he praises the Monks 506 The idle f.o be corrected, hut not starved. 2THr.?.lit^i'c spealiing of is the u'ovk of" the lumds. And that you ^iL'lli: may not susj)ect any such thing, lie has added, Workinff not at all, but are busy bodies. Now them that are such ive command and exhort by our Lord Jesus. 13ccause he had touched tljcm severely, wishing to render his discourse more mild, he adds, by the Lord, again shewing in this way that it was authoritative and fearful. That icith quietness they irork and eat their oivn bread. Why has he not said, But if they are not disorderly, let them ])e maintained by you ; but requires both, that they be quiet, and that they work ? Because lie wishes them by working to support themselves, for this is meant by eating their own bread, tliat is, bread earned by their own labours, and not that belonging to another, which is obtained by begging. Ver. 13. But ye, brethren, he not weary in well doing. See how immediately the fatherly bowels were overcome. He was not able to carry on his reproof farther, but again pitied them. And see with what discretion ! He has not said, But pardon them, imtil they are amended ; but what .'' But ye, he not weary in well doing. Withdraw yourselves, he says, from them, and reprove them ; do not, however, suffer them to perish with hunger. What then, he says, if having abundance from us, he should remain idle ? In that case, he says, I have spoken of a mild remedy, that you with- draw yourselves from him, that is, do not allow him free conversation. Shew that you are angry. And this is no little matter. For such is the reproof that is given to a brother, if we wish really to amend him. We are not ignorant of the methods of reproof. For tell me, if you had a brother in the flesh, would youthen overlook him pining with hunger? Truly I think not; but perhaps you would even correct him. Ver. 14. And: if any man obey not our word by this Epistle. See the humility of Paul, lie has not said. He that disobeys, disobeys nic, but he mildly and gently glances at him, note that man. This he bids them do, that he may not escape notice. Hare no company with him. This also is no little castigation. The poor not to he harsMy reproved for begging. 507 Then again he says, that he may he ashamed. Thus he Hom. does not permit them to proceed farther. For as he had said, if any would not work neither should he eat, fearing lest they should perish by hunger, he has added, in doing good, be not ye tveary. Thus having said, Withdraw your- selves, and have no company with him, then fearing lest this very thing might cut him off from the brotherhood — for he who gives himself up to despair, will quickly be lost if he is not admitted to freedom of conversation — he has added, Ver. 15. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. By this he shews that he has assigned a heavy punishment against him, in depriving him of freedom of conversation. For if to be a receiver even with many others is worthy (3) of disgrace, when they even reprove whilst they offer it, and withdraw themselves, how great is the reproach. For if only giving rather tardily, and with murmuring, they inflame the receivers — for tell me not of impudent beggars, but of the faithful — if they were to reprove whilst they give, what would they not do ? to what punishment would it not be equal ? But we do not so, but as if wc had been greatly injured, we so insult and turn away from tliose who beg of us. Thou dost not give, but why dost thou also grieve him? Admonish them, he says, as brethren, do not insult them as enemies. He who admonishes his brother, does it not publicly. He does not make an open shew of the insult, but he does it privately ' e^cr^ja- and with much address, and grieving, as hurt, and weeping '^"'^' and lamenting. Let us bestow therefore with the disposition of a brother, let us admonish with the good will of a brother, not as if we grieved at giving, but as if we grieved for his transgressing the commandment. Since what is the advan- tage ? For if, even after giving, you insult, you destroy the pleasure of giving. But when you do not give and yet insult, what wrong do you not do to that wretched and unfortunate man ? He came to you, to receive pity from you, but he goes away having received a deadly blow, and weeps the more. For when by reason of his poverty he is compelled to beg, and is insulted on account of his begging, think how great will be the punishment of those who insult him. He Prov. that dishonoureth the poor, it says, provoketh his Maker. ^^l^^^^^ 508 Peace with all how needful. Salutation. 2THES. For tell mc, did He sufFer him to be poor for thy sake, that 'thou niightest bo able to heal thyself^ — and dost thou insult ' iytu iiiiii ^r]^o f()j. ^\^y j,jj].g jj. poor ? What obstinacy ' is this ! what an act of ingratitude is it. Admonish him as a brother, he says, and after having given, he orders you to admonish him. But if even without giving we insult him, what excuse shall we have ? Ver. 16. Noiv the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always by all meansK See how, when he mentions things that are to be done, he sets his mark upon them by prayer, adding prayer and supplication, like certain marks set upon things that are laid ^ or, in up. Give you peace, he savs, by all means^. For since it evert/ , , *" ivai/. was likely that contentions would arise from these things, those men becoming exasperated, and the others not supply- ing such persons so readily as formerly, he with good reason now offered this prayer for them, saying. Give you p)eace always. For this is what is sought, that they may have it ■' ■^j'""** always, that is, by all means. He wishes them on all sides'' to be at peace, that they may have no occasion of contention » '■f «T-a- fi'om any quarter. For every where* peace is a good thing? even towards those who are without. For hear him elsewhere ^^^{a, saying. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. For nothing is so conducive to the right performance of the things which we wish, as to be peaceable and undisturbed, as to be free from all hatred, and to have no enemy. The Lord be with you all. Ver. 17, 18. The salutation of Paul with inine own hand, which is the token in every Epistle, so I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. This he says that he writes in every Epistle, that no one *aee p. ^^^y \^q able to counterfeit them, his subscription^ being sub- joined as a great token. And he calls the prayer a salutation, shewing that every thing they then did was spiritual ; even when it was })ro])er to offer salutation, the thing was attended ^ Montf. in every place, which he may be accounted for by the Vulgate thinks the comment requires. It is so having it so. Savile has rgara», Ben. in no Ms. nf St. Chrys. yet collat'jd, rSr»). and Hervetus' translation, in omniloco, Separation from Brethren less feared than of old. 509 with advantage ; and prayer, not merely a symbol of friendship. Hom. With this he began, and with it he ends, guarding with strong '■ — walls what he had said elsewhere, and laying safe foundations, he brings it also to a safe end. Grace be unto you and peace, he says; and again, The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. This also the Lord promised to His disciples, saying, Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the Mat.28, world. But this takes place when we are willing. For He ' will not bo altogether with us, if we place ourselves at a distance. ' I will be with you,' He says, ' always.' Let us not therefore drive away grace. He wishes us to withdraw from every brother that walketh disorderly. This was then a great evil, to be separated from the whole body ^ of the i Gr/<.7 KO.) VJTa%iai. Teaching ourselves, ice teach others ht/ example. 511 whatsoever I have commanded you, and, lo, I am with you Hom. ahcay, even unto the end of the u-orld. These things were '— said not only to them, but also to you. For that the promise is not made to them only, but to those also who walk in their steps, is manifest from His saying to the end of the ivorld. What then does He say to those who are not teachers ? Moral. Each of you, if he will, is a teacher, although not of another, yet of himself. Teach thyself first. If thou teachest' lo'i.e.thy- observe all things whatsoever He commanded, by this means ^ thou wilt have many emulating thee. For as a lamp, when it is shining, is able to light'' ten thousand, but being extin- guished will not give light even to itself, nor can it lighten other lamps ; so also in the case of a pure life, if the light that is in us be shining, we shall make both disciples and teachers numberless, being set before them as a pattern to copy. For neither will the words proceeding from me be able so to benefit the hearers, as our- life. For let a man, if 2 b. you will, be dear to God, and shining in virtue, and having a ^"""^ wife ; (for it is possible for a man having a wife and chil- dren and friends to please God ;) tell me, will he not be able much more than I to benefit all.? For me they will hear' once or twice in a month, or not even once, and even though they have kept what they have heard as far as the threshold of the Church, they presently let it drop away from them: but seeing the life of that man constantly, they receive great advantage. For when being insulted he insults not again, does he not almost infix and engrave upon the soul of the insulter the reverence of his meekness ? And though he does not immediately confess the benefit, being ashamed from anger, or put to confusion, yet nevertheless he immediately is made sensible of it. And it is impossible for a man that is insolent, though he be a very beast, to associate with one who is patient of evil, without going away much benefited. For although we do not what is good, we however all praise it and admire it. Again, the wife, if she see her husband meek, being always with him, receives great advantage, and the child also. It is therefore in the power of every one to h kva^at, to set alight. the Greek, but must at all events be i 1 Paris Ms. B. and L. add ukov- understood. iroirai, which is not quite necessary to (5) 512 Head of a Family should be its teacher. 2 Thes. be a teacher. Vox he says, Edify one another, even as also ,-Jr-^'y^ do. For mark, lias any loss befallen the family? The 6, 11. wife is disturbed, as being weaker, and more extravagant, and fond of ornament; the man if he be a philosopher, and a derider of loss, both consoles her, and persuades her to bear it with fortitude. Tell me, then, will he not benefit her much more than our words ? For it is easy for any one to talk, but to act, when we are reduced to the necessity, is very difficult. On this account human nature is wont rather to be regulated by deeds. And such is the superiority of virtue, that even a slave often benefits a whole family together with the master. For not in vain, nor without reason, does Paul constantly command them to practise virtue, and to be obedient to their masters, not so much regarding the service of their masters, as that the word of God and the doctrine be not blasphemed. But when it is not blasphemed, it will soon also be admired. And I know of many families, that they have benefited by the virtue of their slaves. But if a servant placed under authoi'ity can improve his master, much more can the master his servants. Divide then with me, I beseech you, this ministry. I address all generally, do you each individual privately, and let each charge himself with the salvation of his neighbour. For that it becomes one to preside over those of his household in these matters, hear where Paul 1 Cor. sends women for instruction; And if the// icill learn any ^^'^"^- thitK/, let tliern ask their husbands at home; and he does not lead them to the Teacher. For as in the schools of learning, there are teachers even among the disciples, so also in the Church. For he wishes the Teacher not to be troubled by all. "Wherefore? Because then there will be great advan- tages, not only that the labour will be light to the Teacher, but that each of the disciples also, having taken pains, is soon able to become a tjacher, m.iking this his concern. For see how great a service the wife contributes. She keeps the house, and takes care of all things in the house, she presides over her handmaids, she clothes them with her own hands, she causes thee to be called the father of children, she delivers thee from brotliels, she aids thee to live chastely, she puts a stop to the strong desire of nature. And do thou also benefit her. How? In spiritual things stretch forth Husband head of the u'ife, his obligations to her. 513 thy hand. Whatever useful things thou hast heard, these, Hom like the swallows, bearing off in thy mouth, carry away and place them in the mouth of the mother and the young ones. For how is it not absurd, in other things to think thyself worthy of the preeminence, and to occupy the place of the head, but in teaching to quit thy station. The ruler ought not to excel the ruled in honours, so much as in virtues. For this is the «luty of a ruler, for the other is the part of the ruled, but this is the achievement ' of the ruler himself. If *a!T«f- thou enjoyest much honour, it is nothing to thee, for thou '"'"" receivedst it from others. If thou shinest in much virtue, this is all thine own. Thou art the head of the woman, let then the head regu- late the rest of the body. Dost thou not see that it is not so much above the rest of the body in situation, as in fore- thought, directing like a steersman the whole of it? For in the head are the eyes both of the body, and of the soul. Hence flows to them both the faculty of seeing, and the power of directing. And the rest of the body is appointed for service, but this is set to command. All the senses have thence their origin and their source. Thence are sent forth the organs of speech, the power of seeing, and of smelling, and all touch. For thence is derived the root of the nerves and the bones. Seest thou not that it is superior in foresight more than in honour? So let us rule the women, let us surpass them, not by seeking greater honour from them, but by their being more benefited by us. I have shewn that they afford us no little benefits, but if we are willing to make them a return in spiritual things, we surpass them. For it is not possible in bodily things to offer an equivalent. For what ? dost thou contribute much wealth ? but it is she who preserves it, and this care of hers is an equivalent, and thus there is need of her. Wherefore ? Be- cause many, who had great possessions, have lost all because they had not one to take care of them. But as for the children, you both communicate, and the benefit from each is equal. She indeed in these things rather has the more laborious service, always bearing the offspring, and being afflicted with the pains of childbirth ; so that in spiritual things only wilt thou be able to surpass her. 2 L 514 Ruling household well recompensed above. 2THE8, Let us not therefore regard how we shall have wealth, but 3 17 18. — — '■ — ^how we shall present with confidence to God the souls with which we are entrusted. For by regulating them we shall also most highly benefit ourselves. For he who teaches another, altliough ho does nothing else, yet in speaking is affected with compunction, and especially when he sees himself responsible for those things, on account of which he reproves others. Since therefore we benefit both ourselves and them, and through them the household, and this is preeminently pleasing to God ; let us not be weary of taking care both of our own souls, and of those who minister to us, that for all we may receive a recompence, and with much riches may arrive at the holy City our mother, the Jerusalem that is above, from which God grant that we may never fall, but that having shone in the most excellent conversation, we may be thought worthy with much confidence to see our Lord Jesus Christ ; with Whom to the Father, together with the Iloly Ghost, be glory, power, and honour, now and ever, and world witliout end. Amen. INDEX. A. Aaron, why be was not smitten with leprosy as Miriam, 221. Abel, suffered through love, 382. shall meet Christ, 416. Abraham, exampleofgood use of riches, 143. his ofFering Isaac a type of our Lord's death, 245. Abraham, bid sacrifice Isaac, that he might be rewarded, 355. an example to bereaved parents, 368. prayed for Sodom, 382. preferred God to all things, 401. heard even his wife for God's sake, 401. blessed In his family for this, 401. not heard for Sodom, 421. his reward greater for his not knowing the future, 429. had chil- dren, but was not covetous, 447. his hospitality, ib. wronged by Lot, ib. Accusation, false, met by explanation, true by acknowledgment and amend- ment, 500. Achaia, Churches of, 472. Achan, sacrilege of, punished, 423. Actions, tradition by, 386, 504. Acts, of mercy to be done against the last day, 50. v. Mercy, noble acts not performed without daring, 107. evil actions spring from thoughts, 160. Adam, first of mankind, 216. in Para- dise like Christ in heaven, 244. dif- ference between him and a Christian, 253. Adjuration, by Christ, once feared, now despised, 456. by children, eyes of husband, &c. feared, 457. a woman rewarded for regarding, 459. Admiration, note of, 437. Admonition, indirect most efFective, 396. relieved by praise, 397. dis- liked, 440, 41, should be gentle, 443. followed up with prayer, 454, 496. of an ofiFending brother, private, 507. sealed by prayer, 508. 2 Admonitions, should be coupled with commendations, 90. Adrian, suflerings of Jews from, 423. Adultery, has worse effects than forni- cation, 161. Adultery, is uncleanness,38l. forbidden to men as well as to women, 388, 390. punished in women by Roman law, 390. a work of darkness, 431. most insulting if open, 449. Affliction, oi se\i novi a virtue, at Day of Judgment an unprofitable reflection, 155. a benefit, 175. no one free from it even in this world's contests, ibid, from it ease springs, 178. Affliction, admits spiritual joy, 340. see Trial. The lot of Christians, 365. less felt when we have great blessings, 401. grace and comfort in, 470. unity a help in, 471. shakes the weak, confirms the strong, 471. comfort in, 475. a temptation against love of God, 503. Ahithophel, example of flattery, 37. Alexajuler the coppersmith, 497. Alexander, called the Macedonian, 347. his conquests prophesied of, ib. Abns, adorn the soul ; root out covet- ousness; raise soul towards heaven, 5. bring blessings, 6. assist the dead, 38. a help to Catechumens, 38. mea- sured by the purpose of the giver, 170. and 172. are a sweet savour to God, ibid, should be given in propor- tion to the property a person has, 270. are a more beautiful clothing than golden ornaments, 304. Alms, see Hunger, Brethren, SfC. sur- passed by thanksgiving in losses, 371. giving, relieves one's losses, 372. stores for, 373. enjoined after losses, 398. oil of our lamp, 452. are for those who cannot support themselves, 505. Almsgiving, to Ministers a gain to the giver, 14. the right disposition of L 2 516 INDEX. giving, 16. removes gins of the giver, ibid, should be to the poorer before the richer, ibid, not to a paint in abundance, Hi. .«hould be without nice curiosity, ibid, its good efiects on man's nature, IGl. does more good to the giver than the receiver, 1G5. shewn to be the best thing by time present, and future, 195. Aiiifilek, conquered by Moses' prayer, 497. Ambassadors^ honour due to, 341. Amulets, used in sickness, applied by old women, 279, 280. a device of Satan's, 281. the use of them con- demned by the better sort of heathens, ibid. Amulets, 369. Anemias, sin and punishment of, 424. Anarchi/, Antichrist's opportunity, 492. Anchor, hope of Resurrection, an, 464. Angels, Colcssians' notion about them refuted, 214. created by the Son, ibid, all things done by them, are of Christ, 215. afore-time enemies to man, were reconciled to him by Christ, 217- therefore they could not bring man to God, 218. before recon- ciliation according to the number of the nations, after according to num- ber of believers, 219. could not per- suade men to reconciliation, for they could not bind Satan, 225. notion about them again refuted by his saying that men can continue in the state of grace only by faith in Christ, not by them, 22(J. nor are they needed since men are ' knit' to Christ, 228. notion about them answered again by Christ's being in Christians, 237- and because perfection is in Christ only, 238. Colossians'notionabout them fully met, 256. it arose from some false teacher, out of his vainglory, 257- it caused them to let go their hold of Christ, and so be lost, 258. the doc- trine was altogether of man, cither from some Jew, or from the Gentiles, ibid. Angels, attend on children, 404, 474. work of in the ResuTreotion,415 — 17. host of, described as surrounding Christ, 474. Anointing, metaphorically, for encou- raging, 465, 6. Antichrist, might seem a sign of Christ's coming, 430. is not an exact one, ibid, will come first, and so far a sign, 464, 5. C'hrist left no room for his deceit, 465. he that shall come in his own name, 465. fables about, as of his bending the knee, 465. wrought in by Satan, ib. 466, 485. proud as Satan, 465, 6. called the Apostacy, 484, 493. will not set up idolatry, ib. will be worshipped in God's Temple, i. e. in Churches, ib. miracles of, ib. is not Satan, 485. what with- held, the Roman Empire, 491, 493. Nero a type of, 492. Christ's mere appearing shall destroy, 492. wonders of false, 49J. permitted for silencing of unbelievers, 493. Atitioch, monks near, 505. note e. Apollinarius, of Laodicea, 61. his fol- lowers denied that our Lord took a soul, 80. Apostacy, see Antichrist. Apostles, The, examples how we should meet pride arising from our wisdom, 67. V. Daniel and Joseph, a type, and their life living laws, 142. taught and then left those they had taught to teach in their place, 287- their ignorance no hindrance to the spread of the Proclamation, 301. Apostles, rejoiced in suffering, 340. chosen as unworldly, 350. at first curious about the time of Consumma- tion, 425. not so afterward, 425, 6 not informed, 426. St. Peter chief of, 426. Appearing, not said of The Father, but of The Son, 63. Archippiis, probably held some office in the Church at Colossse, 182, 320. a person to whom S. Paul would have the Colossians entirely subject, 321. Archangel, 415. voice of, ib. 417. Avians, like heathens in making a greater and a lesser God, 63. said the Son was no where called ' Great,' ibid. Aristarchvs, was brought up from Je- rusalem fellow-prisoner with S. Paul, 308. Arius of Alexandria, 61. in what way heretical, 62. how his heresy falls before S. Paul's text, ibid. Ark, 100 years building, 418. resting- place of, 419. Armenia, mountains of, ark rested on, 419. Armour, spiritual, 433. how to provide, 434. Army, the Church like an, 443. Arrogance, arising from thinking of our own excellencies, 115. Arrogance, see Pride, pride produces, 466. Article the, often not placed, and yet the word God means The Father, 67. Artisans, oppress their poorer fellows, 450. Arts, knowledge of, should not make INDEX. 517 men proud, 87. not learnt without fear, 91. to be used in God's service in serving one another, not to with- draw men from spiritual things, 125. base arts to be avoided, 126. knowledge of Art, is not taken from a man by external circumstances, 144. Ascalon, country beyond, 419. men of conquered by Samuel's prayer, 497. Assyrians, the, sufferings of Jews from, 422. King of conquered by Heze- kiah's prayer, 497. Atoms, notion of, 409. Avarice, souls sacrificed to, 391. see Covetous n.ess. wickedness of, 446. vain excuses for answered, 446, 7. Avarice, its bad effects, 71. consists in loving money at all, ibid, hinders from seeing Christ's Face, 72. is the root of evils, ib. hinders from being Christ's servant, ibid. Audacity, examples of, 58. is shewn in causeless rage, 69. Authority, used to the Faithful, 407. B. Babylonians, sufferings of Jews from, 422. destroyed Median empire, 492. their fall, ib. Baptism, called a seal, 37. makes con- formable to Christ's death in being the death of sin, 132. men freed from sin by, and have the Holy Ghost given them, 135. men are delivered as it were from a fever and wholly diseased state by it, ibid, further account of benefits it confers on men, 136. It gives remission of sin, grace, and wealth, 137- Prodigal Son an exam- ple for those that have sinned after Baptism, ibid, is through the Cross, 148. the way prepared for it by the things done of old in water, 245. is a circumcision of Spirit, 249. not burial only but resurrection, ibid, a death mito sin, 250. prefigured in Red Sea, 260. its destroying and new-making effects no cause for mar- vel from what goes on in nature, 361. Baptism, called sleep by heretics, 407. of Christ not so, 407. too often de- ferred, 428. St. Greg. Naz. on this practice, ib. note d. would be more deferred if men knew their time, 428. form of not derogatory to the Son, 495. priest has one with people, 501. Baths, luxury of, 437- Beasts, wild, do not hurt unless strait- ened, 445. man inferior to in bodily qualities, 468. Beauty, no cause for being proud, 86. Bee, lesson from, in that it dies in stinging, 445. commended in Scrip- ture, ib. Beggars, adjure by Christ in vain, 457. succeed by praising ladies' beauty, 457. driven to low jesting, and jug- gling, ib. and to loose music, 458, thankful under great privations, 458. at Churches, 459. cruel treatment of, 507. Begging, a shameful thing, 398, 507. misery of, 445. gets alms from few, 458. a lesson to those who tire of prayer, 449. Beginning, used for first impulse, or for grounding, 466. Belief, of things in Heaven increased from what takes place on earth, 243, 244, 245. Believers, sins of punished, 421. Belly, how to use it in God's service, 1 25. the many ways m.en make it their god, 149. moderation must be put as a boundary to it, as the sand to the sea, 150. Benfa?nin, tribe of, that in which the Priest's portion was, 120. Bercea, persecution at, 348. Better men, thought of cures pride, 467. Bishops, sometimes called Presbyters and Deacons, 8. have authority from Christ by succession, 222. come from God, ibid, are ambassadors from God, 223. Bishop, see Chrysostom, Priest, Ruler. responsibility of, 455. Blasphemers, hated by God, taken up by the devil and his angels, 68. Blood, resisting unto, 483. Body, the, may be made spiritual, and at length shine in Heaven like Christ's Body, 150. shall be made immortal by the power of Christ, 151. is sometimes beautiful, sin never, 276. Body, see Resurrection. Formation of a mystery. 410. structure and parts of, ib. mortal and liable to suffering, 444. and soul preserved by spirit, 454. beggars maimed in, 457, 8. unity of, requires care of all parts, 471,2. place of head in, 513. Bonds, a furtherance to the Gospel , 3 , 2 1 . a confirmation of the Gospel, 13. give confidence to others, 21. cause preaching both from envy and for good- will, ibid, the great service they are to S. Paul, and to his work, :iOO. a contrast between his and those the women bound their hair with, 302, 303. S. Paul's, a support under 518 INDEX. all kinds of tribulations, 321. and in temptations to luxury, 322. Books, Christian and heathen, 468. Bowels, of Christ, force of the expres- sion, 18. Breasl-plale, of faith and love, 433. Brethren, used as a mark of honour, 116. Brethren, murdered by refusing suste- nance, 423. should be relieved from hunger, 445. disorderly to be punish- ed, not starved, 504 — 6. nor utterly cut oflF, 607. Bride, with what ornaments she should be adorned, 333. Brutes, superior to man when he prides himself on qualities they have in common with him, 86, 87, 88. Bulimy, ravenous disease called, 467. Bust/bodies, never satisfied, 407. danger to, 476. C. Cain, envied for want of love, 382. his sin punished, 422. his sin equal- led, 423. had no written law, 423. Calamities, precede Christ's coming, 4G5. Calling, Christian, requires good life, 389. many fall from, 482, 3. God's will in our, 3SH, 434, 455, 482. Canticles, mystical interpretation of, 405. Care, imdue, takes away the native force of the soul, 116. Catechumens, do not benefit by remem- brance in the Mysteries, only by alms, 38. Catasta, 368. Ceiling gilded, common in the houses of the rich, 123. Cesar's household obedient to St. Paul's preaching, 174. Chapels of Martyrs, 459. some built by Constantino, ib. note t. poor at doors of, ib. alms at, ref. in note t. Chariot, 61. Charmer, unjiitied if bitten, 438. Charmi, son of, punished, 423. Charms, see Amulets, ofl'ered in sickness, 369. to be rejected for fear of God, ib. Chastity, specially called holiness, 381. bles^'ing of keeping till marriage, 391. sometimes found in Heathens, 394. first practice of, keeping the eyes, 466. fouiulatiou of, fasting, ib. Cheerfulness, right in all events, 100. Children, of nobles wear golden orna- ment round the neck as those of high birth, 4. put it off when men, 5. require to be indulged, 230. loss of, not a new suffering, and a gain to them, 282. may be wept for, but without blasphemous words, 283. at Constantinoplehad learnt songs and dances of Satan ; should be instructed in Psalms and Hymns, 288. should never be left to intermix freely with servants or friends even, 289. the many virtuous lessons they may be instructed in from the Psalms, ibid. Children,texm used by St. Paul when he would correct, or shew fondness, 116. Children, not using charms for, a martyrdom, 369. loss of, too great grief for, 399, 400. less mourned for by her who is happy in her husband, 401. and by one who loves God. ib. what children happy, 403 — 4. waited on by Angels, 403. good, meet their fathers, 416. eaten by women, 422. curiosity of, 426. made an excuse for avarice, 445. many that have none covetous, ib. God may take away if made an ex- cuse, 446. Patriarchs had, but were not covetous, 447- why given, 447. acknowledge parents merely as such, 455. early learn fabulous notions, 465, 478. should be taught to fear Judgment, 478. to be regulated, 479. to be prayed for, 499. cares for, sweet to a mother, 501. Children, the Three, refreshed in the furnace, 340. ventured without know- ing they should escape, 429. Christ, how glorified in S. Paul's life or death, 32. exhorts disciples by examples of Himself, the Father, and Prophets, 60. called ' The Great God' by S. Paul, 64. His not seizing to Himself equality proves Him not lesser than the Father, ibid, exhort- ed by higher examples, G6. His Divinity not matter of robbery, but His right; natural to Him, 7Q. His equality with God, He had by right, not by robbery, 77. His emptying Himself His own act, ibid. He did this to be an example of humility, not to shew the superiority of the Father, ibid, if a mere creature did not humble Himself in washing dis- ciples' feet, 79. His humility not in doing man's work only, ibid, in what ways like and unlike other men, ibid, underwent no change or de« generacy in becoming a servant, 80. proved to have taken a soul against the ApoUinarians, 80. was not servile in becoming willingly obedient to His Father, but greatly honoured Him, 81. His humiliation corre- spondent to His height, ibid. His INDEX. 519 death greater humiliation than His being a servant, ibid, the most igno- minious death of all, ibid, humbled as man, 82. exalted as man, ibid. His gloiy, honour, or dishonour is the Father's too, 83. His obedience. His exaltation, 84. can be known only by faith, 131. fellowship in His sufferings and death through faith, 132. died while in the body, 133. the cause of His sufferings, 134. men apprehended by Him while fly- ing away from Him, ibid, comes Himself to take His friends to hea- ven, 153. the grief it will be to be rejected from His kingdom at the Judgment, 154. men are saints be- cause of their faith in Him, 183. His names symbols of His bene- fits to man, 184. He cometh to us through the poor, 188. present at the table of the poor, 189. the greatness of His work in redemption, 204. First of the Church, as Adam of men, 216. as first-fruits of the dead offers all men as a sacrifice, ibid, still suffers in His members, 227. does many things for them now, 228. reasons why He came at this time, not in old time, 229 — 234. in Him is hid all wisdom, 240. ' Fulness of Godhead' in Him means that God dwelleth in Him, 248. man's near- ness to Him, 249. as being the cause, He is Consubstantia], ibid, blotted out the bond that was against man by His death, 250. and then tore it in two, 251. conquered Satan on the Cross, ibid. His death public ; His Resurrection private, ibid, so beauti- ful it is not possible to tell, 272. is put on by clothing the soul with virtues, 303, 304. present at mar- riages, 331. with His Angels, 332. Christ, glorified in suffering, 340. wait- ing for, 348. His Resurrection a ground of hope, 349, 435. will judge quick and dead, 349, 381, 438, 504. known by the Jews, though slain by them, 3G1. foretold affliction to lighten it, 365. suffered for us vsfhile enemies, 366. he that can give to, rich, 372. Death of, proves Incarnation real, 407. is in the Faithful, 408. our Pilot, 412. words of recorded only by St. Paul, 415. voice of, raises the dead, 415. honour of meeting, 416. checked curiosity about the end, 427, 430. comes as a thief, and why, 430. comes suddenly though preceded by Antichrist and Elias, 430, 31. no immediate sign, 430. command of, to obey rulers, though bad men, 441. adjuration by, to be feared, 456. now diregarded, ib. woman rewarded by a vision of, for regarding adjuration, 457. comes to table in the poor, 461. proclaimed at hand to induce dis- appointment, 464. spoke particularly of Consummation to provide against deceivers, 465. coming of to be like lightning, 465. preceded by calami- ties, 465. by Antichrist, ib. by Elias, ib. 494. taught humility by washing Disciples' feet, 468. coming of lively set forth, 474. suffering for, glorious, 483. coming of will be with gathering of Saints, 484. followers of Antichrist would in no case have believed, 493. Did not openly call Himself God, 493. not really disbelieved because called so, ib. excuses for not believing taken away through Antichrist, 493. came in the Father's name, ib. called the Love of the Truth, 494. Friend of man, 495. glory of to save men, ib. is present where men pray together, 499. to be waited for, 504. forbade idleness, ib. CItristians, of old, sharers of St. Paul's sufferings, 46. if they glorify Christ and live not rightly, insult Him, and worse than heathen, 84. enemies to the Cross, who seek ease and luxury, 1 47. each should have thought for his conduct in every particular, 160. called Faithful because of mys- teries entrusted to them never en- trusted to others, 184. are called to have a portion of the Saints in light, 202. translated into it by Christ, 203. yet prefer ease and luxury in this world, 204, 205. one who does not act as if he believed Christ to be God is worse than a Gentile, 206. contrast between state of at Bap- tism, and Adam's state in Paradise, 253, 254. punishment of, in case of fall after Baptism, 254. can only be kept in his state of purity by a vir- tuous life, 255. are risen with Christ, therefore their life is not this life, nor will it appear, till He appears, 259. compared to a corpse, 260. have all one royal form, viz. that of Christ, 278. should make the sign of the Cross, and not use amulets, 280. should not always be learning, but should be able after a time to teach others also, 287. wisdom with which they should treat those that are not Christians, 306. in having put on Christ, are clothed with ornament enough, 304. Christian, so may you die, a form of adjuration, 456. first, all friends, 520 INDEX. 355. appointed to trials, 3(J5. present, have borne nothing, 3GG. are not ready for war, 3(i6. in peace should provide for war, 367. are (Christ's in death or life, 434. early, poor and courageous, 4/3. first, as one family, hence withdrawal much feared, 509. Christ-mongers, some called, 398. C/irisfs, false, provided at in heavenly things, 450. Despair, none to, though late, 341. makes any one bold, 429. men should not be driven to, 507. Despising, is chiefly against God, 389. Despondency, relieved by example, 39S. Difficulties, met by difficulties, 409 — 412. of others turned to our good, 465. Disfavourers, 313. Disciples, Christ washed feet of, 468. in schools are also teachers, 512. Discipline, Church, thought odious, 441. Discourses, of hell profitable, 425. thought unpleasant, 476. qualify the soul, 478. are to it as wind Co ships, 478. to be applied to all, 47;*. pre- ferred by many to lessons, 489. yet not heeded by them, 490. less afiec- tions than life, 611. Dishonour, for Christ's sake glorious, 483. Disease, produced by carelessness, 435. sin a, ib. to be expected, 444. Disorderly, who are, 443, 504. punish- ment of, 504 — 6. not to starve to death, 506. Dispensation, may have two meanings, 228. Disputing, what it means, 94. Dives, see Rich man. Divinity, not spoken of as unequal in Scripture, d'i. Diviners, not consulting makes loss a gain, 309. may learn something of Satan, 371. going to them pleases him, ib. Doctrines, not to be forsaken for human respects, 473. Doceta-, 407, note b. Dogs, the poor are, of God's palace, 460. Draught, of wind puts out lamp, 452. opposite doors make a, ib. Dress, sliould not make men proud, 87. Drunkenness, any vice a, 432. causes sleep, 436. Duties, should be done not from nature only, but from higher motive of plea-sing God, 296. E. Ear, formation of, 410. sin may enter by, 452. Ears, how to use them in God's service, 125. Earth, imperfectly known to men, 412. shall give up the dead, 417. things of, quench grace, 451. way from, to heaven beset by demons, 452. Earthfjitakes, terror of, 417- Ease, in this world is not the way to Heaven, 179. in this world is not the life of Christians, 259. Edification, mutual, 441. Education, soul the chief object in, 391. Egypt, bad character of, 422. Egyptians, drowned, 421. irascible and unforgiving, 469, 70. Elation, more disease to the soul than dropsy to the body, 86. Elect, the, worth suffering for, 339. to be gathered by Angels, 415. honoured by meeting Christ, 416. Antichrist might well nigh deceive, 485. Eli, and his sons punished, 423. sin of, not unimitated. 423. Elias, example of courage, 58. type of the Resurrection, 243, 244. to come before Christ, 430, 465, 494. spirit and power of, 494. Elijah, example of poverty, 143. Elisha, knew not about the woman, 375. Empire, Roman, 491. succession of empires, 492. Endurance, Christian, convinces adver- saries, 4.5. Enemies, spiritual enumerated, 367. to be talked to concerning hell, 479. Enemy, an, should be treated as a real friend, 164. softened by kindness, 385. good of not having, 508. Enmities, ruler must incur, 440. of great, not feared by first Christians, 473. Enmity, had its origin from the earth, 224. Enoch, type of the Resurrection, 243, 244. Envy, the causes of it, 25. incompatible with a sense of greater excellence, 54. to indulge it makes us friends of Satan's, to resist it makes us sharers inourbrothcr's pleasure, and members of his, 314. he that resists it, makes bis own soul brighter than his whose grace he envies, and gains three crowns, 315. makes to fight against God and His Church, and puts a INDEX. 523 man in punishment, 316. likened to a savage beast, 317- may be quelled by thinking of the evils that come of it, ibid. Envy, of Cain from want of love, 382. bred at marriage feasts, 479- Epaphras, 318. v. Epapliroditus. Epaphroditus, sent by Clergy of Philippi to S. Paul, 8. sent to the Philippians by S. Paul before Timothy, that they might knovs' his state, 101. S. Paul's fellovir-soldier, 104. ' Messenger' or ' Teacher' to the Pliilippians, ibid, his sickness and recovery, ibid, two reasons for his going to S. Paul, 106. risked his life in going to visit S. Paul, 107- the service of all the Philippians fulfilled through him, 108. the bearer of the Epistle to the Philippians, 165. bearer ofalms to S.Paul, 172. brought S. Paul the account of the Colossians, 184. had preached to them probably, 185. called Epaphras in Epistle to Colossians ; commended by S. Paul, 318. aColossian, ibid. S. Paul's great praise of him, 320. Ephestans, Epistle to, written while S. Paul was in bonds, 181. Ephesus, Elders of, 415. Epistle to Hebrews, called one of S. Paul's writings, 9. second to Thes- salonians, occasion of, 463. one forged as from St. Paul, 464, 484. token of a true, 464. prefaced with prayer for God's favour, 469. Not all things given in, 495. Error, to be expected in men, 50. Erythrcean sea, 421. Esteem, takes place between equals, 66. Eternity, of future punishment, 481. Eve, clothed herself with the garment of sin, and became unseemly, 304. Evil, not to be rendered for evil, 443. much less for good, 443. all to be ab- stained from, 454. Evil-speak ing , true or false against supe- riors brings harm to the speaker. 111. Evil-speaking, love allows not, 4/2. Eiisebins, of Constantine's building chapels, 459, n. Eunuchs, attendant on persons in au- thority, 261. Example, must be from a stronger case, 65. Examples, of different kinds, in Holy Scripture that each Christian may follow as he is able, 143. Excuses, vain and inconsistent, 489, 90. Execution, horror of going to, 417. crowd at, horror-struck, 418. Executioner, abhorred, 393. Eyes, the right way of employing them in God's service, 125. Ejye, formation of, 410. an inlet of danger, 452, 466. must care for whole body, 471. Ezekiel, his prayer rejected, 343. not on his own account, 343. his suffer- ings, 344. his way of speaking, 453. Faith, alone comprehends mysteries, 131. is perfected by doing works like Christ's works, 132. coupled with conversation every where by S. Paul, 198. causes solidity when it shuts out reasonings, 240. instances of the need of i t in things above human conception, 241, 242, 243. Faith, implies willingness to suffer, 337. proved by it, 338. strong, of Thessalonians. 347- what could be lacking in, 379, 380. in Mysteries, 411. needed every where , 4 1 2 . sails of, 412. a breastplate, 433. Faith, Hope, and Charity abide, 434. how strength- ened, 434, 471. weakness in, 443. design of some to subvert, 463. weak, shaken by affliction, strong confirmed, 471. proved in the end, 482. work of is patience, 483. not given to all, 497. Faithful, are God's riches, 482. Fans, used in Holy Eucharist, 57. note h. Fatting, foxmdation of chastity, 466, and prayer, not work of hands, 505, Fate, a cruel doctrine, 210. believed only by those that defined Pleasure the ' end' and did not love Virtue, ibid. Father, name of The, enough to shew His Priority, 77. The, same word used of as of The Son, 363. we stand before, when judged by Christ, 381. Christ came in the Name of, 493. Father, St. Chrys. feels as a, 499, is to many in the Spirit, 501. even to those baptized by others, ib. all Christians at first as under one, 509. Fathers, duty of to their children, 296. reward cliildren for virtue as pleasing them, 357- should keep sons in chas- tity, 391. good children meet, 416. neglect education of sons, 423. have to annoy their sons, 440. but can do so unresisted, ib. relation of to sons, why appointed, 447. even as such have claims on children, 455. would not lose their children though burdened, .500. Fathers, old, wait for us, 416. 524 INDEX. Fault, to be spoken of to the persons concerned, 500. Favourers, 313. Favour, of Goil, see Grace, 469. Fear of God is better than all thinj^s, 39. not so powerful as shame to bring us to right tone, 47. a means of soft- ening the mind, 73. needful for set- ting a high example, 9 1, in achieving temporal much more spiritual matters, ibid, produced by remembrance of God's presence every where, ibid, needful because of the many sorts of spiritual wickedness, 92. should not cast down because God works with man, ibid, of man often more per- suasive than fear of hell, 108. Fear, 476. profitable, 478. if early learned, not soon effaced, 478, 9. we should hear with, in Churt'h, 489. Feast, differences between a Christian and a heathen, 192, 193. Feast, best to invite poor to, 461. Feet, how to use them in God's service, 125. ' Fellows/iip in the Gospel,' what St. Paul means by it, 10. Figtrec, what it grows from, 409. Fire, appointed for avaricious, 73, 74. V. Avarice. Fire, see River of, 438. things alien to, quench it, 453. thought of, good 476, 479. makes riddance of thorns, 487. kills small insects far off, 492. Fieri/ furnace, type of the Resurrec- tion, 244. Firstborn, of every creature, its mean- ing, 213. another meaning, 216. Firstborn, from the dead, 407. Flatter]/, not humility. 57- v. Humility. is shewn by courting for the things of this life, 59. Fleetness, should not make men proud, 87. Flesh, the, hath been honoured by God, was dishonoured by the false teach- ers of the Colossians, 259. Flesh, of Christ, deniers of, 407- Flood, covers all that is low, 471. Folly, not so bad as haughtiness, 86. all sin so called; contrast between it and wisdom, 286. Forbearance, of God, 480. Forgive, not to, cause of greater harm to one's self, 51. Forgive, we sliould, like Joseph, 384. while the heart is warm, 384, 6. to, a means of pardon, 385. Forgiveness, our own, increased by warning others of like sins, 208. of what character it should be, 273. and is nothing without love, ibid, and 274. Form, in a simple Being, implies one substance, 67. does not mean ' work' of a servant, but real humanity, 78. Fornication, its bad effects man's na- ture, 161. not the only defilement, 381. opposed to love, 382. to be shunned for sanctification, 387. those who commit, are like filthy swine, 387. worst in the married, 388. all, forbidden, 388. the young to be kept from, 390. early, makes bad husbands, 391. twenty-three thou- sand slain for, 421. law against then new to them, 422. quenches the Spirit, 451. never satifies, 467- how corrected, 509. Freewill, 93. v. Will. Freewill, 432, 439. Friend, a faithful, how good, 353, 4. times and places loved for, 354. loves to be indebted, 355. and to have his friend so, ib. to be talked to concern- ing Hell, 479. Christ is the, of man, 495. Friendship, of many brings hurt, 19. many kinds of friendship, 186. it is a cold kind that comes of giving great feasts, 195. Friendship, become rare, 355. examples of, in first Christians, 355. rewarded by God, 356. Fulness, means Godhead, 216. 'of Godhead,' its true meaning and false ones, 243. Funeral, sight of, hiunbling, 467. Furthermore , used in what treinsition, 386. G. Gain, loss made a, 369. not to be sought from loss of others, 450. heavenly, to be desired without limit, 450. Gains, dishonest, how to be rid of, 448, 9. example of Zacchceus, 449. little, great covetousness shewn in seeking, 450. Galatians, returned to observance of the Law, 41. quenched the Spirit, 451. Garment, God gives a glorious, 402. Joseph's, rathershewed him innocent, 469, 70. wedding, he that had not cast out, 483. Garments, stores of, no real gain to the possessors, 121. Gaza, coimtry beyond, 419. General, specially attacked in war, 498. all succour him, ib. Generation, of Christ, greater mystery tlian His Resurrection, 131. can be romprehendedonlybyfaith, not reason. INDEX. 525 ibid. V. Resurrection, spiritual, type of the Son's eternal Generation, 244. Gentiles, once were ' dogs,' but the Jews had now taken their place, 117. Gifts, God's, to be used in His praise, 125. Gifts, called spirit, 451, 454. not what withheld Antichrist, 491. for they had long ceased, ib. Glass, cupping, 487. Glory, not to be obtained except by flee- ing from it, 85. Glory, of God to impart good, 482. of suffering for Christ, 483. great, of glorifying God, 483. Glorying, of St. Paul, in his converts, 472. Gnats, 57. (meaning and allusion given in n. h.) God, every where called great in the Scriptures, 63. all mankind acknow- ledge Him to be just, 74. His Glory does not consist in man's worship, 83. when the Son is honoured or dishonoured He is, ibid, every where present, 91. His longsuffering motive to repentance, ibid, works with man only when he has a good will to work, not to make Him careless, 92. gives the desire and fulfilment of a good work, ibid. His working with man does not take away his freewill, 93. merf flee from Him by sin, 135. to know His will spiritual wisdom is needful, 198. to know His essence continual prayers, ibid, knowledge of, requires a great practice of Virtue, ibid, longsuffering is said of Him, patience never, 199. His love known by seeing His Son delivered up, 200. His gifts cannot be used unless He gives strength, 201. does not do things on a sudden, but with con- sideration of man's weakness, 229. the Church in Him, 336. sinners not so, ib. raised up Christ, 348. His trusting implies approval, 351. needs not to try as men try, 351. acts like a friend in dissembling claims, 355. promises His Son as reward to Abra- ham, ib. rewards us for what is good for us, 356. not seen as a witness, 359. Satan cannot stay His work, 363. well-doing His gift, 379. true virtue that in His sight, 381. is insulted by uncleanness, and avenges, 389. teaches love of brethren, 397. blas- phemed through idlers, 398. jealous of our trusting in man, 400. takes away what we pi'efer to Him, 401, 447. protects the widow, 401. and the fatherless, 402 — 4. His undeserved goodness, 402. speaks more kindly than a husband, 405. nature of in- scrutable, 411. His power ends diffi- culties, 411, 481. seen in a manner by Prophets, 414. spoke to St. Paul, 414. Eesurrection His work, 416. will do what He threatens, 418. did so to old world, 418. and to Sodom, 419. sons of, 419. must punish if im- partial, 423. infinite goodness of, 434. His will in calling us, ib. love due to, ib. mercy of, to the merciful, 439. is in our power to obtain, ib. image of not to be insulted, 445. salvation of His piirpose, 455. admits the poor to His courts, 460. not knowing, the beginning of pride, 466, 7. knowing, cures pride, 467. St. Paul invokes favour of, 469. favour of to Joseph, 469, 70. praise due to, for our good actions, 470. justice of to be seen at last, 473. must pmiish on His own accoimt, 475. the King most to be feared, 476. forbears that we may prepare, 480. does all His part to save us, 480. punishment of those who know not, 481. coming of, in itself implies vengeance, 481. it is light to some, darkness to others, ib. glorified in His saints, 482. the faith- ful. His riches, 482. imparting good His glory, 482. gratification or per- suasion of, 483. to glorify, great glory, 483. speaks in Church lessons, 488. letters from, 488. all good ascribed to, 495. care of, a pledge, 496. we concur with, in our establishing, 496. desires united prayers, 498. all de- pends on, 503. love of, how to shew, 603. Gomorrah, 420. Good, things of Christians future, 349. to be returned for evil, 444. of heaven, may be desired without limit, 450. Goodnesi, 50. v. Mercy. Goodness, of God, 480, 482. Goods, only good when men do good with them, 122. spoiling of, 398. cruelly seized, 449. Good-will in man necessary to God's inworking, 11. Good ii'orks, done with bad motive, not good, and get a punishment, 22. performance of them makes like to God, 60. the desire of and fulfil- ment comes from God, 92. Gospel, to share in its troubles is a blessedness, 13. its progress through- out the world, 185. mystery of, hidden in Christ, 235. only made manifest now to His saints, 236. in what its great mystery consists, ibid, proved divine by persecutions, 526 INDEX. 338, 349, 350. preached for no ill purpose, 360. a great gift, but easy to give, 3.'j3. to be preached to all nations before Christ comes, 46.5. Grace, tliose are made partakers of it, who partake of the sufferings of their Ministers, 13, 14. cause of wisdom, 55. not given in Job's time, 97. given in l^aptism, quenched by sin, 137. works with God's ministers though unwortliy, 221, 222. some quench, some improve, 451. works by unworthy ministers, 454. prayer for in Epistles, 469, 70. value of shewn in Joseph, 469, 70. consolation from, 470. to endure trials, 483, 4. a pledge for the future, 496. has made many laymen better than rulers, 498. Graciauiuess, towards those that oppose the truth must not lapse into indif- ferentism, 307. Grapestoiie,\rondeTh\i growth of, 410, 1 1 . Grass, growth of barren, a mystery, 412. Grecian, observances, 183. Greek, Holy Scripture read in, 484. Greeks, see Heathens. Greeks, how to argue with them about Christianity, 209. still in an imper- fect state from their own listlessness, 229. how to answer their question, ' why Christ came at this time P' ibid. Gregory S. Nciziatizen, sermon of against deferring baptism, 428 , note d. Gridiron, an instrument of martyrdom, 368. Grief, to be shewn for sinners dead as well as living, 30. but with secret not open sorrow, 37- for sinners tends to joy, and is evidence of a mind devoted to God, 178. profitable to those that grieve, as leading them to repent for their own sins, ibid. Guests, poor are the best, 461. great and rich are like masters, ib. H. Hades, most said to be punished in, 424. Hadrian, see Adrian. Ham, cursed through want of love, 382. Hand, of God is strong, and able to support men, 68. Hands, the right way of using them in God's service, 125. Handwriting, against man blotted out by Christ on the cross, 250. what it may mean, 251. a new one given to man, more properly called a cove- nant, 252. St. Paul's, caviseof emo- tion to the Colossians, 320. //(irrfj/a/)s, present lot of Christians, 349. Harlot, ways of pleasant to loose minds, 392. dishonourof being united to, 393. Harlots, hired for wedding-feasts, 326. to do so like mixing vinegar with wine, .327. Haughtiness, 55. v. Pride. Head of a family should be its teacher, 512. husband is of wife, 513. office of in the body, 513. Health, good, should not make men proud, 88. Hearing quick, should not make men proud, 87. Heart, the source of good and evil, 381. Heathens, sometimes chaste, 394. grief at deaths suitable to, 399. answers to about Resurrection, 409. fables of, shadow out truth, 424, no better answered by knowing time of con- summation, 428. asked when should be resurrection, 4J0. shame they should see Christians despise adjura- tion, 456. use of their histories, 468. Heaven, compared to palaces, 404. orphans shine in, ib. shrivelled up at the last day, 417. not to be attained with self-indulgence, 437. gain in to be desired without limit, 450. waj' to, beset by demons, 452. opened in description, 474. Hebrew, Scriptures not read in at Constantinople, 489. Hell, appointed for avaricious, 73, v. Avarice, a warning to bad men, 74. though intolerable, yet not equal to the pain of being dishonoured at the Judgment, 153. v. Judgment. Hell, deluge a proof of, 419. Sodom a proof of, 420. not known to ancients, 421. thought of implanted in us for good, 424, 476. not against God's mercy, 425. promise to prove this, ib. St. Chrys. in fear of, 425. children of, 432, 441. thought of, cures pride, 467- thought of, makes trouble seem nothing, 475. should be talked of, 476, 477. more to be remembered than the Kingdom, 417. thought of, keep from falling into it, 477. he that will not hear of, not ready for perse- cution, 477. St. Paul would have borne for God's will, 477. fear of, guides the soul, 479. rich man would have escaped had hefeared, 479. some think mild and temporary, 481. those refuted, ib. Helmet, spiritual, preserves reason, 433. Heretics, do great and good works, but without a reward, 24. their way of interpreting, ' He thought it not rob- INDEX. 527 bery,' 75. say Christ was humbled not as He is Man, 82. that ' Name' means glory^ ibid, and that God's glory consisted in that all wor- ship Him, ibid, their notions of God false, 83. the wisdom of the Spirit leads them to undertake the fight that they may fail, 128. blot out words of Scripture when against them, 129. entrapped by S. Paul's words on the Law, ibid. Hezekiah, heard, and why, 343. tri- umphed over king of Assyria by prayer, 497- Hierapolis, 320. Hiiionj, proves vanity of earthly things, 468. Holiness, chastity specially called, 381. implies all virtues, 381. Homily, unnecessary, 489. Hope, source of all good, 31. Hope, see Reward, Despair, &c. hel- met of, 433. an anchor, 464. false, in the notion that Hell is tempo- rary, 481. good, supports the soul, 496. Holy Spirit, presence of The, motive to seriousness, 60. His words are as a two-edged sword in a phalanx, 61. given in Baptism, 135. Holq Scriptures, apply human words to God, 172. Honour, takes place between a greater and a lesser, 66. Horse race, 61. Horse, soul compared to, 478, 9. Hospitality, to the poor has a reward at the Judgment, 194. Hospitality, of Abraham, 447. to the poor, 461. House, a, a memorial of covetousness, 448. Houses, how to use them in serving God, 126. fallen, of the great, an admoni- tion, 467. Human nature, imperfect, 26. Humble-miiidedness, v. Humility. Humi/f'/v, the greatest safety for disciples against their enemies, 3. Joseph's, 56. Christ's causeof men's workinggreater deeds than Himself, 57. not adulation or meanness, 57- shewn in David, ibid, examples of, 58. is shewn when one shews respect to another for things pleasing to God, 69. taught by ex- amples of Christ, 60. must be an empty ing oue' s set firom free choice, 77. what true humble-mindedness is, 64, 65. always a way to be exalted, 84. the good things that spring from it, 86. arises from considering our own failings, 115. Hunger, should be relieved, 446. to perish by no disgrace, 445. to make others do so, a crime, ib. Husbatid, duty of to his wife, 294. bound to keep to his wife alone, as she to him, 389, .390. why mourned for, 399, 400. not to be idolized, 401. what comes of a, 402. should teach by example, 511. and see Wife, head of the wife, 513. his obligations to he,-, 512, 13. should take spiritual food, like a swallow, to the nest, 513. Huiband and wife, make but one man, 329. what kind of one parents should seek for their daughters, 332, 333. Husbandman, desires to see his land when fruitful, 379. must attend to the seed sown, 486. natural, has to do with lifeless earth, ib. not so spiritual, ib. he must root out thorns, ib. Hymns, diviner things than Psalms, 288, 290. good instruction for children after they have learnt Psalms, ibid, that of the Angels which the faithful know, 290. when a person is about his business, he may sing an hymn in his heart, ibid. Idleness, mischief of, 397. of Christians is an offence to Heathens, 398. If, used for because, as assuming cer- tainty, 474. Ignorance, often cause of sorrow, 406. Illumir?ation, see Raptum. Images, set up in houses of rich, 123. Image, ttie, why it is not said of an Angel, yet is of a man, 212. Image, of God in man, 445. of a king not safe to insult, 445. impressed on wax while warm, 478. In, said of the Son as of the Father, 336. in Jesus, 408. used for through, 482, 495. Incarnation, proved real by Christ's Death, 407. unforeseen, 417. see Flesh. Indolence, cause of men's believing in fate, 210. Industry, benefit of, 397. Initiated, know the order of service, 454. Injustice, injures the doer of it most, 163. Insult, not bearing, a weakness, 443, to a man is to Christ, 445. not return- ing, a lesson, 511. Intercessions, good for all, 39. Intercession , see Prayer. Interpretation, mystical, 405. 528 INDEX. Inworking, of God, requires good-will in man, 1 1. Iron^ 7'i. V. Soul. liiiac, Abraham h;i(l children after, 447. Israel, eon(iuered 32 kings by prayer, 497. Jacob, prayer of, 343. an example to pastors, 358. had children, yet not covetous, 447. wronged by Laban, but never defrauded him, ib. Jacob's ladder, type of the Cross, 243. he deceived his father by an economy, 247. Jailor, his business full of wickedness, 3. his sudden conversion, and that of all his family, ibid. Japhet and Shem, blessed for loving their father, 382. Jeremiah., his prayer rejected^ 342. his way of speaking, 453. JevHsalem, temple at, not the only seat of Antichrist, 485. above, our Mo- ther, 514. Jason, made to give security, 338. Jesus, called Justus, probably a Corin- thian, 309. Jesus, to sleep in, what, 408. Jewish, observances, 183. Jews, corrupt Christianity under a shew, 3. an example with what mind men should give to Priests, 109. still in an imperfect state from excess of listlessness, 229. were as children under Moses, 230. the wilderness was a school to them, 231. Egypt as the tablet on which their letters were written, ibid, like children in wishing to return to Egypt, 232. their doctrines those of children, ibid, were humoured in their passions like children, 233. in all respects imperfect like children, ibid, prayer not heard for, 342, 343. persecutors of Christ and His Church, 360, 3G1. and that not for truth's sake, 361. slew prophets whose books they use, 361. enemies of all men 361. wrath on them, 362. their sufferings, 422. Jezebel, example of audacity, 53. Job, heard for his friends, 343. their sin not great, 343. he could not have saved the Jews, 343. his patience better than almsgiving, 370. wrestled with Satan, 370. tried through his wife,376.mourned little for his children from love to God, 401. thankful in all circumstances, 444. prayers of for his children, 499. Joft, prayer offorhissons not fortemporal blessings but pardon of sin, 39. Satan attacked his soul to make him more approved, 70. an example of sufiering without murmuring, 95, 96. the griev- ousness of his sickness, 9G. and his state worse than ours because it was before the gift of grace, and tlie tidings of the Kesurrection, 9/. gave thanks in his pain, 201. John S/. the Baptist, example of cou- rage, 58. came in spirit and power of Elias, 494. Jonas, type of the Resurrection, 242, 244. Jordan, plain of, like Paradise, 419. now burnt and desolate, ib. 420. Joseph, his example shews us how we may overcome the pride that comes from our Wisdom, 56. v. Apostles ?ind Daniel, contrast between him and the Egyptian woman, 304. how tempted by his mistress, 383. firm, yetmovedby tears, 383. how wronged by his brethren, 384. forbore revenge, 384. an instance of the power of grace, 469, 70. how hardly treated, ib. Joscphns, records punishment of the Jews, 422. Jo}i to be shewn for just dead as well as living, 36. of the world soon over, and bringeth grief, 178. Joy, spiritual in aftliction, 340. on suf- fering enables to render good for evil, 444. Jnd(ea, Churches of, persecuted, 338, 361, 380. Christians of, lost their goods, 398. Judaiziuj:; Teachers why called dogs, no longer children, 1 17. Judas, the traitor, fell from his love of money, 70. his hardness of heart, 71. his fall told by all the Evangelists that we may dread it, ibid. Judgment, to be dishonoured in the, worse than pain of hell, 153. the order of it, ibid, and 154. the near- ness of it, a consolation to the good, 153. Day of, is night and winter to sinners, day to the just, 20.5. Chris- tian who disbelieves it, cannot be called a Christian, 206.- none dis- believe it, 209. to disbelieve it not reasonable, 210. Judgment, last, see Consummation, Resurrection, commencement of, 415. not disproved by prosperity of wicked, 430. suddenness of, ib. terrors of to scorners, 438. deceivers proclaimed at hand to induce disappointment, 464. just, of God, 475, 6. human, INDEX. 529 men who fear, do not sufiFer from, 477. children to be taught about, 478. future less talked of than earthly, 479. and less prepared for, 480. de- layed that we may repent, 480. Juitice, its good effects, 161. K. Kindness, the nature it should be of toward brethren is shewn in the ex- pression ' bowels of mercy,' 273. Kindness, softens an enemy, 385. King Ete7nul, fear of, 476. King, honour from, requires good con- duct, 389. honour of meeting, 415. reprieve from, 417, image of, not safe to attack, 445. poor admitted with to Christ's Table, 461. none Christian at first, 473. fear of, keeps from much evil, 476. Lettersof, read in Churches, 488. Kings, not free from affliction, 175. instances to shew this, 176, 177. their kingdom not like the kingdom of heaven, ibid. Kings, use the bee's work, 445. Israel conquered thirty-two by prayer, 497. Kingdom of God, worth bearing all for, 360, 475. of Heaven, obtained through Priests, 442. thought of, makes us think nothing of things here, 475. Hell to be more thought of than, 477- Kiss, one would, one who admitted him into a palace, 442. of charity given through others, 455. Anoit/erf^e, brings condemnation without practice, 59. without action leads to punishment, 200. L. fjobour, in vain, 377- of hands recom- mended, 397, 398. spiritual, made an excuse for idleness, 398. wins reward, 473. Laity, duty of towards priests, 440-42. have liberties that priests have not; 442. equal in chief benefits, 501. Lamb, priest and people partake of one, 501. Lamp, of the Spirit not to be quenched, 451 . door and window of, to be closed, 452. some quench, 451. robbers first put out, 452. bright, admits to bride- chamber, 454. lighted, can light others, 511. Land, how to use it in serving God, 125. Laodicea, Epistle from, probablv wiitten from thence to S. Paul, 320". Latin, Scriptures not read in at Con- stantinople, 489. Laughter, arising from present things is condemned by Christ, 157. Laughter, at admonition miserable, 437. Laurence, St. roasted to death, 366. Imw, the, not is loss, but is counted loss for Christ, 129. like a bridge to the Gospel, ibid, or as a man counts silver when he found gold, ibid, it is loss by comparison, 130. good as the chaff is to the corn, ibid, not absolutely loss, but for Christ, 131. but a doctrine of men, now the time [of Christl is come, 258. Laws, Roman, against adultery in women, 390. father's authority up- held by, 440. fear of, hinders many bad actions, 475. hurt not those who fear them, 477- Lawsuits, men talk much of, 479, and take pains about, 480. Laying on of hands is through the Cross, 148. Lazarus, raising of, 416. Lazar us, r'lchvadun despised, 461. needed his help aftei-wards, 461. Laziness, makes any thing hard, 394. Leopard, Daniel's vision of, 347. Letter, forged as from St. Paul, 464. Letters, from heaven, 488. of kings read in Church, 488. see SuliScriptio7i. Life is of several kinds, 34. what it is not to live this present life, ibid, this present worth living if we live in faith, 35. not life if it has no fruit, 36. good or bad as we make it, ibid, in itself indifferent, ibid, the present a good state, 105. future is better than a good state, 106. to risk it for saints, is martyrdom, 107. cannot be without pain, 177. the present, com- pared to a nest of mire and sticks, 205. the virtuous a good thing, 237. the present should be no cause of care to a Christian, 260. Light, children of, 431, 2. coming of God is to some, 481. Lightning, coming of Christ, evident as, 466. Likemiridedness, not so great as to be of one mind, 63. Likeness of man said of Christ, because He was not equal in every thing to man, 80. Lif-tlessness arises from looking at the faults of others, 1 16. puts Christians out of the state of grace, 226. Littlemindedness, put for its results, 440. note a. as bad as sloth, 443. •i M 530 1 NDEX. Longsiiff'eriiig is toward one that we can requite, 199. /,oss of money maile a gain by patience, 369, 3/0, 444. relieved by giving alms, 3/2. voluntary not minded, 447. least by force resented, ib. Lot, his choice proves fertility of plain of Jordan, 419. did not save Sodom, 421. his love to (iod, 421. Abraham bore wrong from, 447. Love spiritual, a support in great trials, 12. it was as a dew to the Holy Chil- dren, ibid, impossible to convey St. Paul's in words, I S. is unbounded, 19. indiscriminate leads to weak friend- ships, and to receiving spurious doc- trines, and makes to stumble, ibid, it should have respect to what is pro- fitable with understanding, 20. main- tained by believers standing in one mind, 44. to love one another the best return for spiritual benefits, 53. it is more to St. Paul than to deliver him from dangers, ibid, greater than likemindedness, ibid, how much is meant by oneness of mind, ibid, shewn for others by wrestling in spirit for them, 102. increased by troubles from without, 174. spiritual love alone stedfast, 18(5. and like a queen oveiotherfriend- ships, 187. instanced in St. Paul and Moses, ibid, the cause of solidity amongst many, 240. it is like a cement, ibid, is as the bond or root, without which there can be no perfection, 274. is the duty of the husband to the wife, 294. is more requisite from the governing to the governed, than fiom the governed to the governing, ibid, puts down envy, 315. Love, see Friend, labour of, 337. true, would give the soul, 353. possible, since Christ bids, 355. want of, causes heresies, 355. perpetuates hea- thenism, ib. love dissembles favours, 355. is indescribable, as a foreign plant, 356. needs help of presence, 362. should extend to all, 380, 397, 471. makes unblameable, 381. forni- cation opposed to, 382. saints pleased God by, 382. fire of, consumes all sin, 382. Cain wanted, 382, overcame St. Paul, 383. why mentioned in passing, 396. toward brethren, 396. God teaches, 397- of God to man, 405, 434. a breastplate, 433. how to strengthen, 434. overcomes distance, 455. weak, shaken by affliction, strong, confirmed, 471. .should be equally balanced, 471. danger of division in, 471. must be for God's sake, 472. allowing slander disproves, 472. of the Truth, Christ called, 404. of God, hindered by many things, 503. toward God before ourselves implies before money too, 503. great, made withdrawal feared, 509. hove of money, v. ]Veahh. Loulitieis, corrects vainglory, 54. its power when found in two persons, 55. shewn in a broken heart, 55. of mind, 86. V. HumUiiy. Liiwlhniudtdiif^ss, 64. v. HumiUly. Lust, to be cut off, 388. and its occa- sions, ib. a drunkenness, 432. insa- tiable, 467. cured bv thought of hell- fire, 479. Lt/a:i'r«,givesbirth to affliction and pain, 179." 'Luxury, not to be envied, 437. no pro- tection from hell- fire, 479. talk of, hurtful, ib. M. Macedonia^ country of the Philippians, 1. Macedonia, St. Paul's cultured field, 379. Churches of, 472. Macedonians, once as renowned as the Romans, 347. joined with others in St. Paul's crown, 364. empire of, overthrown by Romans, 347, 492. Madness, vice worse than, 435. Magiitrates, scourge St. Paul more from impulse than wickedness, 3. Mammon, contradicts Christ's com- mands, 72. hell and river of fire because of it, 73. Mammon, turns from love of God, 503. Man, is superior to brutes only through religion and virtue, 88. and in things that concern the soul, 89. ceases to be superiorwhen he lives to himself, ibid, has his title to rule them only from reason, ibid, may become an Angel by practice of virtue, ibid, not worthy of the grace of God, 202. greatness of his deliverance set forth, ibid, and 203. of his own will under the power of darkness, 224. could le persuaded to return to God only b_\ Christ, 225. through His death is placed free from sins amongst the approved, ibid, can continue in this state only by continu- ing to have faith and hope in Christ, 226. how he is changed by the Gospel, 236, 237. ' the old man' does not mean the substance of fiesh, but the bad moral choice, 271- the new man is ever advancing to greater youthful- ness, 272. the new man has nothing to dowithextenials, ibid. Man imperfect INDEX. 531 as regards tlie constitution of this present life when alone, 329. Mimes, 60. Manichces, 407. note b. Mamioiis, splendid are a loss, 123. Marcellns, of Galatia, 61. in what way heretical, 62. how his heresy falls before St. Paul's text, ibid. Marcion, of Pontius, 61. in what way heretical, 62. Marcioniles, their heresy of our Lord being a phantom overturned, 77- Marcioniics. 407, note b. Afni-riage, early recommended, 391. of chaste persons blessed, ib. object of, 392. second, of widows, 400. feast at, occasions envy and discontent, 479. Marriages, satanical performances at, 326. how marriage is a mystery, 328, 329. marriage-union really a pure thing dishonoured from man's wicked- ness, 330. how it is a mystery of the Church, 331. full of lawlessness in S. Chrysostom's time, though a mys- tery of the Presence of Christ, ibid, a Satanic pomp in, without significancy, 332. pleasure will follow from cele- bration of a marriage in an orderly way, ibid, and 334. melancholy from such as then were common, ibid, the right way to keep the wedding- feast, 333. Martyrdom is attained by lesser things more than by great, 10/. Martyrdom, not now usual, 368, may still be imitated, 369. Marti/rs, how tempted, 308. chapels of, 459. Masters, duty of to servants, 297. Medes, empire of, 492. Medicine, bitter, useful, 425. to be sweetened 443. Memorial, a great house a, of covetous- ness, 448. Memory of good deeds makes men re- miss and haughty, 138. Mercy, works of, must never be given up, 4. should be v/orn as tokens about the necks of Christians, ibid, a means to convince unbelievers, 5. must be done with caution and true faith, ibid, can only be done in this world, ibid, can open the gates of heaven, 6. ofttimes called ' righte- ousness,' 20. men soon led to it ; no good in our nature so great as it, 47. in the nature even of the fiercest, 48. peculiar to power, ibid, the world established by it, ibid, most pleasing to God, 48. Priests, Kings, and Pro- phets anointed by it, ibid, signified by oil, ibid, it is over all men alike, ibid. by it men have become Saints, 49. without it all created things would perish, ibid, cause of light to men, 50. to be merciful God's true character, and so man's, ibid, it is of it that all things are, ibid, it delivers from fire of hell, ibid, comes of love, ibid, without man's shewing it, he shall have no forgiveness, ibid. Mercy, must be shewn to obtain mercy, 439. where none, the Spirit dwells not, 452. Messenger, may be same as Teacher, 104.' Melals, abuse of precious, through lux- ury, 266. Ministers of Christ not clothed by mira- cle, 1 14. allowed to be in want that others maybe profited, 115. though unworthy have God with them, 221. Miracle, standing, of fruits of Sodom, 419. Miracles, danger of men being honoured for, 375. of Antichrist, 485, 493. those are false, 493. of Christ, ib. Moderation, binding on all, not Priests only, 110, 111. reasons why it should be shewn to enemies and the bad, 158. much of it planted every where in these l?.ter times by God's grace, 234. Money sent by Philippians to St. Paul at Rome, 107. to be employed in God's service, 125. Money, must be despised if we love God, 503. Monks near Antioch, 505. note e. Mortification, as necessary, as it is con- tinually to rub the rust oft' a bright statue, 270. of sin in members of the body necessary for those who would have a sight of heaven, 276, 277. Moses, a schoolmaster to the Jews, 230. Moses, his intercession, 344. would not have saved Jews at last, 344. seat of, 441. conquered Amalek by prayer, 497. Mother, delights in her cares, 501. her pangs before birth, spiritual parents' lasting, ib. heavenly Jerusalem our, 514. Mothers shruld take care of their own characters, because their daughters take pattern from them, 305. Motives, temporal weigh with most men, 397, 8. Mournini,r, house of, 479. Mouth, how to use it in God's service, 125. Mouth, door of our lamp, 452. keep shut when insulted, ib. Murmnring, an art of Satan's to take away reward of virtue, 93. occa- •2 M 2 0-3-2 INDEX. sions stains, 94. borders on blasphemy, and i.s proof of ingratitude, 95. poverty and afflictions no cause for it, as examples of Job and Abraham shew, ibid, and 96. to be avoided at all times, 100. Myslerie>i, Apostles ordered a remem- brance to be made of the dead in them, 38. great gain to them from such remembrance, ibid, but to the faitl.ful only, ibid, the mystery of God is to be brought to Him by His Son, 239. Mysteries, priest makes partaker of, 442. key of Heaven, ib. Mystery, must be confessed somewhere, 411, 12 see Marriage, Mystical interpretation, 405. N. Name, does not mean glory, 82. ' Name of our Lord Jesus,' every thing done in It prospers, 290, 291. Name of God, the great power of The, 291, 292. Nature, an inferior, cannot seize ad- mission into a greater, 64. Nature, human, may be looked on as one continued life from the first to the present time, 230. Neces^itu, notion of, from Satan, 210. Ner(y, Emperor when Epist. Phil, was written, 13. Nero, a type of Antichrist, 492. Ninht, compared to a caravanserai of many fountains, 26. A^fA'/;/," children of, 432. Niucvitex, escaped because they feared, 477. Noah, type of the Resurrection, 243, 244. Noah, a just man, 343. could not have saved the Jews, 343. his sons' con- duct, 3S2. days of, like the last, 419. times of now surpassed in wickedness, 419. men in time of perished from not fearing, 477. Noih'iugncsa, of things here, 467. Number, change of in speaking, 455, note p. O. Obedience to others does not make us inferior to them, 8 1 . cause of exalta- tion, 84. the duty of the wife to her husband, 294. Oil, a type of God's love to man, 48. hence kings and priests anointed with it, ibid, type of mercy as being the cause of light, 49. v. Mercy. Oil, want of, quenches lamp, 452. means alms, 452. Ointment, the Saints are like, 346. Oiiencis of mind, the force of it, 53, 54 . v. Lone mutual. Onenimita, sent by S. Paul to the Colos- sians, 308. a Colossian, ibid. Oppressor.':, more cruel than robbers, 449. poor as bad as rich, 450. Ornaments, gold, are a loss to the users, 122. earthly chains to bind sin on, and strip Christ oft", 303. love of incites vain-glory, and is the cause of many evils, 305. Orators, record vanity of human things, 468. Oratories, 459. Ornatiient, danger of, 373. none like gravity, 402. spiritual, 403. P. Palaces splendid, no cause for pride, 87. Palaces, none like heaven, 404, 442. way to borne with, though narrow, 437- one who admits to loved for it, 442. great men of the world found at, 4.59. Churches the real, 459. all cannot serve in, 497, and note. Paltratra, place in which runners in a race were trained, 140. Palestine, travellers in called to witness on overthrow of Sodom, 419, 20. suft'erings of Jews in, 422. Paradise, plain of Jordan like, 419, 447. Passions, tempt us as Pagans did mar- tyrs, 368. insatiable in their nature, 467. Patience, a high praise, 340. of Job, 370. toward all men, 443. puts the impudent to shame, 443. proved in time, 473. definition of, ib. of Christ, 504. Patriarchs, examples how people should suffer the loss of children, 282, 283. Patronage, change of Religion for, 473. Paul, St. scourged at Philippi, 1. vid. Philippi. ^'wes high testimony to Phi- lippians, ibid, in bonds when wrote Epistle to Pbilippians, ibid, let go afterwards, ibid, wrote it in his first imprisonment, 2. consoles Pbi- lippians about his bonds, and exhorts to unanimity and humility, 3. writes to encourage, not to rebuke Pbilip- pians throughout, 3. praises them for their well doing, 4. his great love for them, ibid, why he calls himself 'servant' in writing to the Pbilippians, INDEX. 533 7. reason for his writing to the Clergy of Philippi, 8. his joy at their virtue.-!, and constant readiness to assist him, 9. to be loved by him, sign of being great, 12. imprisoned under Emperor Nero, 13. in what sense he calls God to witnes, 18. his bonds useful, 20. cause of confidence to himself, 21. did not mind grievous things of this life, 3 ). rejoices though he has many enemies, ibid, his humblemindedness and trust in God, 31. would glorify Christ bylife or death, 32. not to die at this imprisonment, ibid, how dead as to this present life, 33. because he did not care for it, 34. his departure in his own power, 36. it would be by God's dis- pensation, not of man's sin, ibid, though in the midst of suffering chooses to live, 40, 41 ; for Christ's sake, 42. in what way like the sun, ih'id. why willing to stay on earth, 43. asked a return of love for spiri- tual, men ask it for carnal benefits, 51. not a flatterer, 5/. how he was humble, and courageous, 58. exhorts to humility by example of Christ, 60. by awe at presence of the Holy Spirit, ibid, and n. a. one text of his lays low many heresies at once, 61. takes away fear of being debased because of humility by example of the Incarnation, 76. his discretion in admouishing, 90. his death like a drink-oftering, and cause of rejoicing to the Philippians, 99. frees the Phi- lippians from suspicion of his giving comfort merely by sending Timothy, 101. does all for Christ, ibid, tidings of the Philippians would give him courage, 102. did not know all things absent by revelation, ibid, in sending Timothy did not mean not to go himself, 103. his dependence on God in every thing, ibid, had not neglected them because he sent so late, 105. his soul never free from sorrow, 106. careful to teach Philip- pians humility, 108. had more than one cloak, and lived the life of faith, 112. provided his proper cloth- ing, 113. does not give exhortation without first commending, 117. his high state as a Jew in birth and way of life, 119, 120, 121. died to his body while alive, 133. not con- fident of attaining to the Resurrec- tion that leads to Christ, ibid, his life one of contest to the end, 134. his course always advanced in virtue, 144. taught by deeds as well as words, 142. an example of the con- stancy of virtue under all circum- stances, 145. his care to recom- mend laborious persons and the be- nefit of this, 152. is refreslied at the advancement of his disciples, 166. probable reason of his receiving at one time, and not at another, ibid, partly excuses the negligence of the Philippians, 167- how he put down proud thoughts from well-doing and yet did not check it, 168. his way of encouraging liberality, and keep- ing independence, 171. prays for temporal things out of condescension, 173. and only that they may be used to God's glory, 174. his grief for sinners remarkable, 178. those of his Epistles most holy which were writ- ten while he was in bonds, 181. had not seen Colossians when he wrote to them, 182. his presence every where a great thing, ibid, every where couples conversation with faith, 198. first praises, then blames, 199. his striving for his disciples, 238. his desire to come to the Colossians' doctrine, and gentle way of reproving, 239. his way of going oft' to another while he is establishing one position, 259. in all his Epistles he tries to shew that Christians are partakers with Christ, 260. his lowliniss of mind in asking for the prayers of others, and in his humble opinion of himself when he was in bonds, 299. his object in Epistle to Colossians to shew why ChristcamewhenHedid, ibid, his work prospered much more when he in bonds, than out of them, 300. a man greater than human nature, an Angel on earth, 302. reasons for his not putting every thing into his Epis- tles, 3()7. his behaviour to Agrippa, an instance of Christian wisdom, 307- treated worse than the Prophets were, 308. the considerate way in which he spoke of persons, ibid. persons must be great, who would be a comfort to him, 309. his warn- ings how to deal with persons he calls ' without,* 310. V. Without, his wisdom instanced in his discourse to the Athenians, 311. and in treat- ment of Elymas. v. Wisdcm. his re- minding the Colossians of his bonds a great support to them in trials, 320. bids his disciples remember his tears, as he did his bonds, 322. meaning of his wish to be ac- cursed from Christ, 324. Paul, St. his humility in placing others with himself, 336. his thanksgivings 534 INDEX. and prayers for others, 337. asked priiyers of otliers, 341. persecutid at J5era>a, 348. at Philippi, 349. no flatterer, 351 , 360. sought not honour, 351, 2. like a nurse, 352. ready to give his soul, 353. to endure hell, 354. worked with his own hands, 358, 505. night and day, 505. whom he calls to witness, 359. avoids suspicion, 359. like a fatlier, 359. spoke to each singly, 3(50. asked only that men would gain the kingdom, 360 felt separation like an orphan, 302. satis- fied his love through others, 363. his vehement love, 3(i3, 364, 376, 380, 455. hindered by Satan, 363. hindered by the Spirit, 363. not all things re- vealed to, 374. his thorn in the tlesh, 376. staid in spite of danger, 376. his labour, 377. his joy at good report, 377, 378. his sufferings, 378. firm, yet moved by love, 382, 3. feared not abyss of waters, 383. exhorts by Christ, 386. had no false delicacy, 391. reasons not with the docile, 407. Christ spoke in, 414. heard expressly from God about Judgment, 414. heard SDUie things not recorded, 415. checks curiosity, 427. more admirable as not having foreknown his escapes, 429. improved his gifts, 451. shews love by prayer, 454. had great con- fidence before God, 454. sends kiss of cliarity, 455. his stay at Athens, 463. subscribed with his own hand, 464. begins with prayer for grace, 469, 470. humility of, 470. gloried in the Thessalonians, 472. would have borne Hell for God's will, 477. wisely hinted the fall of the Roman Empire, 491. prayer of for Thessalonians, 496. he asks theirs, 49(), 7- 499. indicates his dangers, 496, 7- bad right to be maintained. 605. compassionates the disorderly as a father, 507. humility of, in speaking of his own doings, 510. Fiiul of Kamosata, 61. in what way heretical, and how his heresies fall before S. Paul's text, 62. said our Lord was a mere creature, 79. his doctrine refuted, 214. and 215. Peace, the, of God may have two mean- ings, 159. we are at peace with God, through virtue,! 61. mustbe maintained with God and our neighbour, 162. rc'^tored between men and Angels, 219. the frequent mention of it in the Church, ibid, and 220. it is a sort of symbol of the good things, ibid, given to all by Him that is over the Church, 220. not the Bishop's, but Christ's by means of him, 221. is an umpire in the heart between anger and cha- rity, 274. human peace cometh of avenging, 275. does not wrestle with, but is victorious over evil thoughts, ibid. Peace, prayer for, 508. needful in all things ib. Peace-makers, always imitate the Son of God, 162. why called the sons of God, 220. Pearson, Bp. an argument of, 409, note f. People, should obey Priest with good will, 440. many of excel ruler, 498. equal with Priest in chief blessings, 501. partake of one Baptism, one Lamb with him, ib. Perfecting, implies deficiency, 380. Perfection, attained by humility, 141. not in the Law, nor in Angels, but in Christ only, 238. may be without ' standing,' 319. Perfection , goes beyond commandments, 386, 7. Perfume, of good report, 346. Persecuted, God's glory to reward, 482, are admired if firm, 484. Penecution at an end. 4, Perseciitiun, why permitted, 338. at Bercea. 348. at Philippi, 349. en- durance of, proves the Gospel, 350. implied in the highest sense of pa- tience, 473. men that will not hear of Hell are not readj' for, 477- patience under, 483. Persecuforx, will be punished, 349, 362, 475. even more than those who obey not the Gospel, 475. shall be con- founded at glory of saints, 482. Persians, king of the, wears his beard of gold, 267. Persians, empire of, 492. Persuasion ol God, 483, and note b. Peter, St. had common convenience of clothing, 112. Peter, St. freed by prayers of others, 341, 499. refuses honour for miracles, 375. chitf of Apostles, 427- not told time of consummation, 427. improved grace given, 451. Plialanx, pushing through, 366. Phantom, our Lord so cal'ed by the Mareionites, 78. F/wriioh, puni.shmcnt of, 421. Pharisee, spoiled good works by pride, 466. Pharisees, made men children of hell, 432, 441. in Moses' seat, and to be obeyed, 441. Philemon, lipistle to, written while S. Paul was in bonds, 181. written upon close of S. Paul's preaching, 131,132. probably with the Colossians at one time, 182. INDEX. 535 Philippic persecution at, 349. Pliilippiuiis, of a city in Macedonia, i. sent Epaphroditas to S Paul in prison, 2. patterns of Charity, 4. partook of y. Paul's sufferings, 46. their virtue made S. Paul illustrious, 99. had attained to a life of love, concord, and peace, 142. had at some time been negligent in W: l!-doing, 166. sharers in !?. Paul's afflictions from giving to him, 168. the first to to think of giving to S. Paul, 169. their gifts would turn to their salva- tion, 171. they were poor men, handi- craitsaien, 1/3. Epistle to, written while S. Paul was in bonds, 181. PhUipphiif, Timothy sent tu, 363. Philippic named from its founder, a colony, l.theseller of purple converted there, ibid, keeper of the prison believed there, ibid. S. Paul and ■Silas scourged there, ibid. S. Paul's preaching had a remarkable com- mencement here, ibid, had shewn great readiness for the Faith, 3. Philnsopher, true, not grieved by things of this life, 30. P/ii/ow/)/icis, speak of future punish- ment, 424. of changes of fortune, 468. Philmophy, heathen, not true wisdom, 30. Philosophy^ cold, rejected, 363. true, not to wish for revenge, 473. Physicians, trusted when they have foretold symptoms, 365. defile their hands to cure, 392. enumerate parts of the body, 410. must displease tlie sick, 441. useless going to, unless for remedy, 488. Phdiiinis, 61. in what way heretical, 62. how his heresy falls before S. Paul's text, ibid P/eii/, belongs to man alone of creatures, 88. Pilot, Christ a, 412. Pily, 48. V. Mircy. Places, loved on account of fric-nds, 354. Plaints, wonderful growth of, 409, 12. Plaiie-trre, golden, made by an ancient king, 264. Pleasure, less in splendid feasts, than in poor ones, 190. is not the life of Christians, 259. Plenty, inclines to evil, and requires great virtue in tlie use of it, 168. Poets, speak of future punishment, 424. of great men's falls, 468. Pomcgrcinates, of Sodom full of ashes, 419. Poor, to feast them is to make God our debtor, 188. called Christ, 265, 270. it is no good to feed them, and live voluptuously one's self, ibid. Poor, see Alms, Brelhreii, Beggars, lye. sometimes opJ)re^s the poorer, 450. exemplary in thankfulness, 458. sit at Church do irs, 459. and those of martyrs'chapels, ib. are dogs of God's palace, 460. communicate with the great, 460. descendants of may be great, 459. pride cured by sight of, 459. best guests to entertain. 461. Christ comes in, 461. contempt of, comts of pride, 466. dislionour to, provokes God, 507. Potiphiir, unreasonable, 469, 70. Poverty, a happiness, 25. a quiet home, 26. false reasons for fearing it, 28. good or bad according to the dis- position, 29. is good or bad according to a man's will, 124. v. Will, the procurer of heaven, 125. Poverty, distresses most men, 398. comfort in, 444. furnace of, 458. comforted in house of mourning, 479. Power of Christ, causeof men's working greater deeds than Himself, 57- per- sons in power ever changing like dust, 261. Practice, of the commands of Christ brings us His gifts, 59. Prcetoriiiin, palace of iNero so called, 1. palace so called, 21. Praise, when rightly given and withheld, 65. men should not live dependent on it, or do praiseworthy actions for its sake, 162. /-"/a !/('?•, assists the dead, 38. a consolation at all times, 158. should be joined with thanksgiving, ibid not acknow- ledged without thanksgiving, 159. frequent makes persons listless, there- fore they must join watching with it and thanksgiving, 298. a Saint's Prayer, ibid. Prayer, remembering others in, 337. of others useful, if we do our part, 341. not otherwise 342, 343. made for all men, 342. effectual, 343. of Job for his friends, ;i43. expressed from love, 380. in divine service follows counsel, 454, 495. due to pastors, 455. houses of, 459. of arrogant, not heard, 459. of St. Paul for Thes- salonians, 496. he asks theiis, ib. 498. St. Chiys. asks earnestly, and more on his own account, 497. a weaponofoldsuccessful,ib. for Teacher implies high claims, 497- yet not to be declined from humility, ib. united powerful, 498,499. for people bold in St. Chrys. 499. yet be makes it in private as well as in public, 499. seals precepts, 508. for peace, ib. in salutation, 508, 9. 536 INDEX. Prayer o/ th» Faithful, Lord's Prayer so called, 299. Preachers, of strife taught as S. Paul did, against their will, as instruments of the Devil, 23. Presbyters, sometimes called Bishops, 8. could not lay hands on a Bishop, ibid. Pride, haughtiness is puerile, shews an unformed mind, 55. comes from our being wise, and thinking the wisdom our own, not of Grace, (v. Grace.) ib. to be corrected by thanking God for our wisdom, 55, 66. makes men even unlike the Devil, 57. haughtiness not courage, ibid, cause of Satan's fall, 84. is worse than folly, 86. the evils that come from it in a man's temper, 86. natural good qualities and bless- ings should not make men proud, 87, 88. makes amaulower than irrational creatures, 88. one of the devil's arts to take away reward of virtue, 93. shewn in thinking fine houses super- fluities &e. a gain, 122. attendant on the feasts of the heathen, 193. makes men refuse the help of low persons, though themselves in peril, 263. the root of luxury, 266. Pride, cure of, in seeing the poor, 460. exclaimed against, 461. condemna- tion of the Devil, 465, 6. of Anti- christ, ib. comes of not knowing God, 466. beginning of sin, 466. of Pharisee, spoiled good works, 466. a constant misery, 467. insatiable, being a passion, 467- cure of, 467. a sign of wanting reason, 468. of rich at Church, 488. Priests, grudging to support them up- braided, 109, 110. ought not to be allowed to want, 110. Priest, should be obeyed with good will, 440. hated for reproving, 441. authority of, sanctioned by Christ, 441. gives u)) the world for his office, 442. imparts the Holy ^Mysteries, 442. communicates first, but equally with people, 50 1 . partakes of the same Lamb, and of same Baptism, 501. Prise, the, the Christian runs for in hea- ven, 140. it is far more precious than gold and jewels, ibid, those who could gain it must follow example of run- ners in a race, ibid. Christ gives it in heaven, 141. r roc tarnation, the, is made further known when S. Paul is bound, 300, 301. Prodigal Son, an example to those that sin after Baptism, 137. Prophecies, about Christ and Anti- christ, 493. Prophesyings, true and false, 453, 4. proof of by event, ib. by gift of dis- cernment, ib. Prophets, slain by Jevrs, 361. speak as from God, 41 4. saw God in a manner, ib. speak irresponsibly at the time^ 453. less listened to than kings' mes- sengers, 488. Proselytes, not circvuncised on the 8th day, nor of the stock of Israel, 120. Providence, signs of, 245. Proving all things, what, 453. Prvdentius, on St. Laurence, 368. note s. Psalms, singing a less irksome way of gaining instruction than reading, 288. the many good lessons there are in them for the young, ibid, lead the way to Hymns, ibid, the warnings they contain for the practice of virtue, 289. Pulpit, not opened to all, 453. Puuishrnent, example of, necessary to lead bad-principled to virtue, 94. Puniihniejit, of persecutors aconsolation, 362, 464, 473. all sin incurs, 387. comes of evil will, 395. temporal for those who knew not eternal, 421. instances of, 422 — 24. from God not to be ques- tioned, 421 . present unequal, 424. for letting men perish of hungei, 445. of slaves,456. for not obeying the Gospel, 475, 481. of others not to be rejoiced in, 475. blessing of escaping, 475. the heavier for delay, 480. future, proved eternal, 481. of disorderly by with- drawing from them, 504 — 6, 509. Purity, blessedness of, 281. enjoined on Timothy, 387. R. Reader, at Church speaks God's words, 488. Beaion, cannot comprehend mysteries, 131. causes division, and is insuffi- cient for corajirehending things above human conception, 241. Peason, guarded by hope of salvation, 433, 4. pride shews want of, 468. overwhelmed by ill discourses, 478. thought of hell strengthens, 478, 9. Reasoning, not used to the docile, 407. on some things unwise, 411. like swimming without boat or pilot, 412, Satanic, against God's threatened wrath, 418. good not to indulge in, 471. conclusive, from God's justice, 474. Rebecca, an example for a bride, 326. Heconcitiaticm, the wav of, through Christ, 217. INDEX. 537 Red-Sea, burial to Egyptians, genera- tion to Israelites, 260, 261. Rejniciiii; in Christ arises ftom mourn- ing for sins, 157. possible under whatever sutfering, 1 57. Relations, domestic, intent of, 447. Remembrance, good, what, 3/8. Remhsinti of sins given in Baptism, 137. Repetition, needful, 485. in Holy Scrip- rure complained of, 489. is borne with in every thing, ib. Report, of actions greatest near the spot, 347- credible from those who might envy, 348. Reprieve, 417. Reproof, see Admonition, preparation for, 470,' 503. Rcstifidion, should exceed wrongful gains, 449. Reitraint, frees the mind from evil, 86. Resiirrecticii, the, a motive to good- living, 74. no tidings of in Job's time, 9/. that of Christ, known only by faith not reason, 131. less than His generation, ibid. v. Generation. one which leads to honour, one to punishment, 133. the glorious one to be attained by going through the like sufferings with Christ, 134. doc- trine of, believed by only a few of those that live in sin, 209. men re- warded in it according to desert, 210. prefigured in Enoch, Elias, Jonah, Noah, fiery furnace, generation of plants, and of man, 244. Resurrection of Christ an encourage- ment, 349, 435. future, a comfort in troubles, 398. belief in, stays sorrow for deaths, 399. sorrow in spite of be- lieving, 400, 406. first Ivesurrection, 407. proved reasonable by its manner, 408. objections to, 409. objections answered, 409 — 411. ofgarments sup- posed by some, 409. in a moment, 416. comes unawares, 416. some said already past, and why, 463. lively picture of, 474. time of, not known, 484. Retribution, to come, 348, 419—25. present unequal, 424. futuie just, 473. exceeds actions, both gooJ and evil, 4 74. Revenge, best found in taking none, 444. this may benefit him who has wronged us, ib. Reward, acrording to proportion of righteousness, 473. more desired than revenge, 474. Rich, not refused by Christ, 460. but warned of their danger, ib. man, de- spised Lazarus, 461. asked his help in vain afterwards, ib. men, advised to entertain the poor, 461. fall any how in war, 467. goods of, often confis- cated, 468. man, would have escaped hell had he feared it, 479 make a show in Church, 487. set slaves to clear the way, 488. think they do a favour in coming to Church, 488. Riches, cause of unnumbered evils, 5. bring trouble, 25. take away natural rest, 26. make unable to receive pleasure, ibid, their value shewn in instance of Dives and Lazarus, 27. how to be rich indeed, 28. should be joined with great mercy, 48. no cause for being proud, 87. may de- prive men of future consolation, 112. the conditions of, are loss accom- panied with inexpnssible trouble, and without gain, 121. men must soon leave them, 123. their ill-effects, 124. are a good if used as means to gain heaven, ibid. Riches, love of, shews unreadiness for trial, 366. love of, increased by gaz- ing, 373. of ancients, in things necessary, 373. desire of, a drunken- ness, 432. and a dream, 433. come and go, 444. desire of, unreasonable, 445. but common and hard to extir- pate, ib. is found even in men who seem religious, ib. a disgraceful me- morial, 448. ill-gotten, to be restored with addition, 449. desire of, comes of pride, 466. vanity of, proved by death, 479. of God are the faithful, 482. must be despised if we are to despise self, ."04. Righteousness, not according to Christ is a simply moral life, 20. the kind which comes from man's own diligence not to be compared with that which is God's gift through faith, 131. Righteousness, reward according to, 473. River of tire, 73, 74. Robbers, crucified with our Lord, both of them impious at one time, 81. Robber, watchfulness defeats, 432. ar- mour needed against, 433. co- etous man a, 449. what he does, ib. first puts out lamp, 452. sees in the dark, 452. may excel in bodily powers, 468. Robbery, a work of darkness, 4.")1. me- mory of kept up by grand houses, 448. hard dealing mo-e cruel than, 449. Roman laws, see Laws. Empire, what withheld Antichrist, 491. fall of pre- dicted, ib. but covertly, ib. Rudiments, same as elements, the Sun and Moon, 247. Rule, a, is destrf)ye'l by addition or sub- traction, 142. o38 ixi)i;x. lUiliT, iiicui's I'liinitit's, 440. in the Church, should have willing suhjects, 440. ohc'tlitiief due t» 441. should be peiitle, 443. interest of is the peo- ple's, 4!)M, should excel in virtue ratlitrr than in lionour, ;'>:.■{. Rufrrg, fall of, frequent, 4()S. intn seek favour of, 4()1). none Christian at first, 47.S. Cliristians did not fear, 47;?. are listened to, 4S8. olold prayed for the people, 498. why now to be prayed for, ib. most assailed by ?atan, ib. Runners, in a race an example f(jr Cbristiajis in tlieir courne to heaven, 140. Sabbath, was broken for the sake of Circumcision, 117. v. Circifnicision. Sabbath, breaking of, punished, 423. a less commandment than circumcision, Sabcllivs, the Libyan, Gl. what his heresy was, ibid, how bis heresy falls before S. laul's text, C2. Sacraiiientx, keys of Heaven, 442. Sacrifice, the, 220. Saitiis, they that wait on them sharers of their crown, 10. to wait on thtm makes up for inability to fast, ibid, how they live not this presentlife, ."-{4. to be received with honour, 10(>. service to them no favour but a debt, 108. it is a free service, and brinies a reward on the giver, 109. united by afflictions, 174, 175. pray with thanksgiving for every person and thing, 298. those that attend on them share their troubles, 312. and sharers of their sufferings share their crowns, ibid, the way to share wiih them, 31.-!. Saints, prayers of useful, 341, 502. not to the careless, 342, 502. to be souglit, 345. not to supersede our own work, 345. S. spread a perfume of vii tue , 34t). all things not revealed to, 374. why not, 375. Ut membrance of, warms us, 384. light of Spirit grows brighter in, 451. God glorified in, 482. sliall come with Christ, 484. Salvation, hope of, ahelmet, 433. ground for sucli hope, 434, 455. by sanctifi- cation and belief, 495. of man Christ's glory, 495. Saliilitiioit, a proof of good-will, 174. Saliilaliun, in St. Paul's own writing, 4()4, 508, 9. custom of so doing, 4()4. prayer called a, 508. Samson, lost in marriage, nnt from mar- riage, but his own free-will, 144. Samuel, prayed in vain f'^r Saul, 342. with eftect for Israel, 343, 497. pro- plieey restored in, 344. knew not whom to anoint of himself, 37o. con- quered men of Ascalon by prayer, 497. Sanitifiratiun, «( e Holiness. Fornication opposed to, 387. through the Spiiit, 495. faith needed after, ib. Sapjjliin:, sin and punishment of, 424. Sahni, allowed to ravage upon unfruit- ful souls, 69. likened to different wild creatures according to his dis- position, ibid, trampled upon by the watchful, ibid, great or small in power as men choose, ibid, cannot enter man's soul except God permit him ; and then for chastisement, or for making man better, 70. fell by pride, 84. his arts to take away the reward of the virtuous, 93. received his death-.?;troke from a dead body, 251. did wliat he could to mnke Christ's death private, ibid, and 252. the deviser of charms, 281. presses heavily on persons thatpray frequently to make them listless, 298. Satan, hinders human purposes, 3(i3. an enemy ever urgent, 3G7. his robbing Job, 370. how to defeat him, 371. his means of divination, 371. robbers his servants, ib. his crafty assaults, ib. attacks men through others'trials,376.temptsnot knowing result, 377. suggestor of questioning God's justice, 421. ever lying in wait, 43(). makes men their own enemies, 438. would do harm thtough gifts, 453. foretold thin;;s future, 453. but falsely, ib. would < ut off hope of IJesurrection, 4(i4. suborned false teachers, 464. tills chi'dren with false notions, 465. Antichrist like him in pride, 466. by which he fell, ib. is not Antichrist, 485. but will work fully in him, ib. specially attacks ruleVs, 498. Saul, not snved by Samuel's prayer, 342. sinned in sparing against < om- mandment, 423. punished for it, 423, and note n. sin of exceeded, ib. Schools, of learnintr, scholars teach in, 512. Scorners, miserable and unreasonable, 438. Scribes and Pharisees in Moses' seat, 441. not to be imitated, ib. Scrij)lnre, without reason not enough to persuade the contentious, 74. shews admiration for jewels out of regard to man's weakness, 126. and so sets forth God's loving kindness, 127. should be read not lightly, but INDEX. 539 with earnestness by persons that have the charge of families, 285. to be richly furnished from it makes suSering less burdensome, ibid, bet- ter than men-teachers, 286. should be used as a medicine-chest by those that are careful for life, ibid, not to know it the cause of all defects in practice, 287. Scripture, words of, shou'.d be realized in our works, 445. hearkening to, keeps up good thoughts, 476. chief things plain in, 489. read in known language to the people, ib. people challenged to give account of, ib. Sea, how to use it in serving God, 126. Seed, analogy of, 407, 409 — 11. sown on a rock, 443. spiritual, needs culture, 486. devil carries away, if neglected, ib. Self, not despised till riches are, 504. Self-command, makes man superior to irrational creatures, 88. Self-denial, now a means of escaping future punishment, 155. Self-indulgent, deny the Cross, and are worthy of tears, 148. theirbelly their God, ibid. Seller of purple , converted at Fhilippi, 1. Settses, all originate in the head, 513. Sentences, what indisputable, 474. Servant, of Jesus Christ, a high rank, 7. Servant, title of not used to new con- verts, 336. Servants, duty of to their masters, 296. should serve heathen masters with the same care they would Christian, 297. Servants, to be spoken to concerning Hell, 479. Service, Divine, order of, 454. Lessons in, 488. silence called for in, 488. Severity, not needed where there is no guilt, 94. Shame, is not in being bound for, but in betraying Christ, 33. implanted in our nature by God ; more powerful than fear to bring us to virtue, 47. sense of, motive to improvement, 102. '■Shame, their,' does not mean circumci- sion, bnt shameful actions, 149. Shem, loved his father, 382. Shimei, example of audacity, 58. Ship, lightened in dangers, 372. Scrip- tures a, 412. wind to, as discourse to soul, 478. Sickness, recovery from, a mercy, and h"w, 105. Sight clear, should not make men proud, 87. S(7as scourged at Philippi, 1. vid. Phi- lippi. Silvanus, St. named before Timothy, 336. implied in jdural, 380. Sin, more object of dread, if we lament for it in others, 37. many things lead to our avoiding it, 47. why called ' upon earth,' 270. is more earthly than the body, 276. 5/«, those who walk in, are not in God, 336. frustrates prayer for us, 343. all, defiles, 381. all incurs punisliment, 387. to shun, no praise, 387. punished temporally to teach men, 421. in- stances of punished, 421-24. punished with Hell after teaching, 421. dif- ferent characters of, 424. leads to certain death, 444. quenches grace, 451. Pride the beginning of, 466. to be cut off by talking of Hell, 479. Sinners, dying in sin without hope, 37. must be pained here, that they may escape the river of fire, 74. know they sin by their conscience, 210. think one that rebukes them austere only, 331. Sinai, Angels at Mount, 415. Slave, female, about to be sold with her husband, 456. adjures a neighbour to intercede for her, 456. may teach a master virtue, 512. Slaves, scourged, 466. adjure their masters, ib. Sleep comes over the virtuous without fear, 161. Sleep, spiritual, danger of, 341, 434, 436, 602. belongs to night, 432. a little may be fatal, 436. Sleep, easy by nature but hard through luxury, 394. in .Jesus not death, 407. death but a, 417, 434. double sense of, 434. our helplessness in, humbling, 468. Sldih, to avoid it we must do the labours within our measure, 24. Sohrieti/, belongs to man alone of crea- tures , and mak es him superior to them , 88. Sodom, sin rf, surpassed, 420. fruits of, full of ashes, ib. Soil, spiritual, not inanimate, 486. Soldier, rewarded for wounds, 366. always keeps to exercise and arms, 366. an example to Christians, 367. in heaven, a child mav be made, 404. Son, why it is said of man, but never of Angel, 212. Son, The, if inferior to the Father, not an example to lead to humility, 66. the Image of God, ibid, and as such exactly alike, 213. not a creature be- cause called First-born, ibid. ' before all things,' 214. first in the Church, 540 INDEX. 21fi. types of His eternal generation, 244. Son, same words applied to as to tlie Father, 3M>. given for us, 402, 434. generation of, above reas ming, 111. of God, he who knows, is not proud, 4(>(). named before The Father, 49.0. Sop/iis/s, record vanity of human things, 4 «8. Snphrimiiis, 61. in what way heretical, 62. how his heresy fails before S. Paul's text, ibid. Svrroir, not to be without hope, 399. ex- cessive, heathenish, 399. excuses for, 400. an irrational passion, 400. com- fort in, 401, 2. often caused by ig- norance, 40G. for sinners, 407. Houl, Christian, noble in life or death, 32. the great and pliilosophic, roused to good works from hearing they liken it to God, 60. typified in the vineyard, 68. compared to iron, 73. brought into tune by hard s:iying3, ibid, the truly wise is disturbed by nothing, 145. the disc^ised is ever changing, 146. is delighted with sweet savours, 172. is nourished by a virtuous hope, 192. that which desires wealth is as a diseased body, 263. and replete with lusts and silly trifles, 264. that of servants, free in its service, 296. Suttf, tn give, hard, 25'3. defiled by all sin, 381. chief object in education, 391. diseases and cure of, 394. notion of its transmigration, 409. thought to be consumed by fire, 409. a vicious, dead and dry, 435. spirit preserves the, 454. needs discourse as a ship wind, 478. fear of hell should be seated on, 478, 9. shaken can make 710 effort, 496. Speech, heavy, good to corre t the soul, 73 therefore not to be avoided, ibid, its stroke inflicted by the grace of God so as not to tear, but polisli the vessel, 74. rules for in dealing with people of different estates, 310. rules for it in a teacher, 311. Spirit, The Holy, comes through mercy, 48. V. Merry, man nothing but by Him, 183. Spirit, The, gives joy in suffering, 340. Lamp of, not to be quenched, 451. how to preser.e it, 452. gift (ailed Spirit, 451. some quench, 451. fiame of, what strengthens, 453. gifts of, Satan would abuse, 453. of prophecy, one who had, not to be believed if he said theday wa.snear, 484. fire of, cures thorny land, 487. not the withholder of Antichrist, 491. for gifts had long ceased, 491. clergy fathers in, 501. Spirits, wicked, 452. discernment of, 4.53. Spirit, unclean, false prophets spoke by, 484. Ste:l/ii^liii!.is, cannot be shaken by deceit or trial, 240. Stoiim, precious, valuable merely from imagination, 1 6. Store.i, of bread, wine, and oil, 373. Strani^rr.t, all Abraham had at their service, 447. Slretigth, should not make men proud, 86. to be employed in God's service, 125. Subscription, to letters in sender's own writing, 464. of St. Paul, a token, 508. Sujffeyiiios, for Christ, are of grace, 45. make Him a debtor, 46. their dignity, 132, 133. make men conformable to Christ's death, ibid, are lightened by thinking of harder ones, 283. and by thanksgiving, 284. knowledge of, Scrijiture lightens them, 2^5. Suffering, for Christ joyou<, 340. re- joicing in, enables one to render good for evil, 444. makes men long for de- liverance, 473. and for vengeance, 473. for Christ is glory, 483. Sun of Righteousness, melts away all hardness, 385. Superi-ir, a, draws his disciple towards him by shewing concern for him, 105. Surfeit, w.irse than hunger, 191. Tdbit/in, raised by prayer, 343. Tabic, holy, poor admitted to with the rich, 460. equally with the emperor, ib. ail example forour entertainments, 461. T(tfili's, description of two sorts of, 138. difference of the tables in ''espect of pleasure, 190, 191. Teacher, spiritual, surpasses a natural father in kindness, 52. leads on his disciple by deeds, not words only, 142 if teacher is careless, disciple may go to Christ, 143. must u.se discretion in teaching hard thini^s, 311. Teacher, should be ready for hardship, 358. Jacob an example to, 358. claims of, to support, 358, 505. troubles of, try disciples, 364, 376. good, cares for his disciples, 378. their well doing, his life, 379. obliged to in- cur enmities, 410. obedience to en- joined, 441. not every one made, 441. INDEX. 541 patipnce good in, 443. is a labourer worthy of his hire, 505. of himself teaches others, 511. head of a family should be at home, 512. so relieving the Teacher of the Church, ib. Teaching, affects us with compunction, 514. Tears excesssive, spring from passion, not true affection, 88. S. Paul's bet- ter than the fountain in ParaHse, 323. sight of them much better than sight of natural beauty, ibid, such tears Christ pronounces blessed, ibid, those for others' sins are better than the sight of Christ, 324. sliou]d be used when we entreat a sinning bro- ther, 325. nothing more efficacious to wipe out sin, 326. overcame S. Paul, 3S3. Temple, of God in which Antichrist shall sit, 465, 485. Temptation, may be where no waver- ing, 376. endangers grace, 451, 2. God glorified in, 484. may turn from love of God, 503. Thankfulness right under all events, 100. for good of others, 471. present things cause for, 494. Thanksgiving, a duty in grievous as well as pleasant things, 159. may be given even in anguish, 201. to be given for injuries we receive from another, 276. the good effects of it in evil, 279. is then equal to a martyrdom, ibid, lightens suffering, 284. for every person and thing «hould be joined with prayer, 298. in all things, true philosophy, 444. of many, when prayer of many is answered, 498. Theatres, tempt to uncleanness, 394. talking of, useless and dangerous. 476. Thessalonians, new converts, 336. com- forted by name of a Church, ibid, praise of, implied in thanksgiving, 337. their sufferings, 338. and joy in them, 339,348. called Elect, 339. an example, 341, 346. praised every where, 347, 348. were poor, 359, 510. proved sincere by trials, 360. joined with others in S. Paul's crown, 364. honoured by his sending Timo- thy, ibid, what they wanted, 380. praised for love of brethren, 397. had lost their goods, 398. more docile than Corinthians, 407. many of the, prophesied, 453. occasion of second Epistle to, 463. perplexed about the last times, 465. heard of in distant places, 472. S. Paul gloried in, ibid, check to proud thoughts in, 483. so commended as to learn trust in God, 503. admonished about idle- ness, 505. Theiidas, his insurrection, 350. Thorns, riches are, 486. feed sulky camels, ibid, must be burnt out, 487. Thought, see Reason. Threats of God will be performed, 418. as sure as promises, ibid. Time, Christians may make time spent in dealings with unbelievers useful to their salvation by wisdom, 309. ex- amples given to shew how they mav do so, 310. Times accused by S. Chrysostom, 47. loved because of friends, 354. question about deferred, 463. Timothy, S/. with S. Paul when he wrote Epistle to Philippians, 2. shewn to be a Bishop, 8. sent by S. Paul to the Philippians that he might know their state, 101. the only one like- minded with S. Paul, 103. Epistle to, written later than that to the Philippians, 138. Epistle to, written while S. Paul was in bonds, 181. probably later than that to Colossians, 182. why mentioned in address, 334. mistake on the subject, ib. note a. why named after Silvanus, 335. why sent by S. Paul, 363, 365, 374, 462. hard to be spared, 364, 377. brought good news, 377. bid keep himself pure, 387. Toil, to seek remission from, is to leave ofl'seekiiig the things of Christ, 103. Tradesmen, hard on poorer tradesmen, 450. Tradition by actions, 386, 504. of the Church to be received, 495. Trnffic spiritual, carried on by giving to the gocd, 170. Tragedies ancient, please because they are formed from true incidents, 177. Travail, time of, not exactly known, 431. Travelling, should not make men proud, 87. Trials, less grievous if foretold, 365. he who cannot bear is feebleminded, 443. is ' sown on a rock,' ib. thought of hell prepares for, 477. God glori- fied in, 483. Tribulation, for Christ is glory, 483. Tribulations according to Christ, bring joy, 116. Trumpet, at the Resurrection, 415. Truth, he that resists it wounds himself, 24. Tychicus, bearer of the Epistle to the Colossians, 184. sent by S. Paul to the Colossians, 307. Tyrants, reduced to sit on ground, 467. 54-2 INDEX. u. V. Vain-glory, the evils that come of it ; to be corrected by lowliness, 54. cause of men's thinking dress, orna- ments, and fine houses, a gain, 123. leads iiien to use God's gifts for en- joyment merely, J 27. the root of luxury, 2(i(>. is shewn in men who have renounced their own lives, treat- ing their persecutors with insult and not moderation, 307, 310. turns from love of God, 503. Valottinus, 61. Vi;iige,rnce, to take it one's self, causes God not to take it for us, 51. not to take it, causes God to take it for us, or remit our sins, ibid. Vice, practice of, increases it, 93. at enmity with man's nature, 161. purg- ed out by thought of hell, 425. a drunkenness, 4.'>2. life of, a dieam, 433. a death, 435. a darkness, 435. state of, illustrated, 435. a lire, 435. seizes us when we think not, 436. Vienne, ma'-tyrdi-ms at, 368. note s. Vineyard, God's, type uot of Jerusalem only, but of the soul, 68. Virgins, may appear at a wedding to attend on the bride, 327- should be modest at all times, and states, 328. parable of the ten, 415, 452, 454, 483. Virtue, advancement in it the only thing to be sought, 44. entirely a gift from God, 46. many natural affections lead to it, 47. belongs to man alone of crentures and makes him (-uperior to them, 88. practice of, will make a man an angel, 89. practice of, increases it, 93. gene- rous mind is roused to practice it from examples of it, 94. in the midst of affliction siiines like stars in the night, 98. path of, easier to poor than rich, 124. perfection of, attained bj' constaiit striving, and forgetful- ness of past good deeds, 139. shines forth under all circumstances, 144. can he practised at all times, 145. makes men at peace with God, 161. is friendly to man's nature, ibid, required in knowing how to abound, as well as to be in want, 167, 168. planted every where in the later times by God's grace, 234. called wisdom, 286 nothing more pleasura- ble than it, 332. rewarded by God, as if His gain, :',i)7 . true, that in God's s'ght, 3S1 . twofold, in sliunning evil and doing good, 387. perfect, exceeds comiuandraeuts, 387. pro- moted by uncertainty of life, 428. vice, a death to, 432. consistent with a married life, 511. Vision of Christ seen by awomKr.,457. Unaninii/y, the greatest safety for dis- ciples against their enemies, 3. comes of humility, ibid. Unbelief, prevalent at all times, 205, 206. it arises from a bad conseience, 207. punishment increased by it, 208. Unbelievers, same as unbaptized, 37. are with the condemned at death, ib. Uncleannfss, expresses a class of sins, 270. legal opposite of holiness, 381, note k. Understanding, how to use it in God's service, 125. the, gets dizzy at things I'aith does not stagger at, 241. Unity, the work of the Holy Spirit, 44. breakers of, rend Christ's members, 220. Universe, not made by chance, 245. Voire, a line, should not make men proud, 87. Voice, of Christ raises dead, 415. of Archangel, 415, 417. Usurpers, fear to lay aside what they have usurped, 76. W. Waiting, patient, 504. Want, inclines to evil things, 168. War, spiritual, always our duty, 366, 7. Warning, should be gentle, 443. Watc/ifiil, nothing will hurt him, 144. Watchfulness, a security, 341, 431. in our power, 432. in vain without arms, 433. perpetual, needed, 436. Watching, must be joined to prayer to prevent listlessness, 298. Water, wonderfully transformed, 410. extinguishes a lamp, 451. Waters, abvss of, St. Paul feared not, 383. Way, narrow, requires care, 436. and light equipment, 436 broad, leads to death, 437. IVca/i, to be supported, 443. in faith, ib. particular information comforts, 464,5. wish to see enemies punished, 473. Wealth, nr.t a cause of honour, but of disi'.ouour, 262. gets its honour merely from the crowd of mean attendants about it, 263. eiubases the soul, as disease does a beautiful body, ibid, and then from the power it has to persuade it that what it loves is a gain to it, prevents its being cured, 264. its bad effects seen in a luxuri- ous king, ibid, it makes men over- shoot the nature of brutes, 265. its INDEX. 543 evils arise from the greediness of the- desires, ibid, the cause of the most out of the way luxuries, ibid, cannot consist with a love of wisdom, 266. makes men mad and tm'ns thein into demons, ibid. Wealth, a mischievous thorn, 486. feeds sulky camels, 487. often lost for want of a wife, 513. Well-doing, brings good, 165. well- doings of man are gifts of grace, 92. Widorvs, unable to manage slaves, 400. excessive grief of, 400, 1. comfort for, 402 — 5. children of, may do well, 403. powerful with God, ib. widows indeed, 404. Viifc, what her duty is to her husband, 29-1, 295. should not seek to please her husband with ornaments, but by ruling the house well, and bringing up her daughters above the love of finery, 305. wife and husband make but one man, 329. Wife, how she should please her husband, 392. often ill-treated, 402. one who gives, loved for it, 442. to be taught to fear hell, 479. one who has maj- please God, 511. will learn meekness of her husband, 511. «nd contempt of money, 512. directed to learn of her husband, ib. he is her h'.ad, ib. owes her much, ib. but may excel her in spiritual benefits, 513. wealth lost for want of, 513. Will, good, increased by doing good, 93. free, not taken away by God's working with man, ibid, it makes riches or poverty a gain to man, 124. when exerted makes all easy, ibid, of God, must be done simply, but it must east out every other will, 319. Will, the chief thing for amendment, 395. can turn a wrong into a benefit, 444. ours must concur to our sal- vation, 502, 3, 509. Wind, puts out lamp, 452. how to pre- vent, ib. as, to ship, so discourse to soul, 478. help of God like a, 503. Wisdom, is opposed lo all luxury, 266. consists in a virtuous life, 286. calls all sin folly, ibid, contrast between it and folly, ibid, that which Chris- tians should exercise towards un- believers is not craftiness nor hypo- crisy, though it looks like it, 306. shewn in a proper way of behaving to persons of all estates, 310. Wiilidraual, a severe punishment, 504, 506, .509. suc( ess of, 509. ' Wil/ioiiC means Greeks; persons living in the same world with Christians, but without their kingdom, 310. Witness, God an unseen, 359. Women, who laboured with S. Paul, recommended to care, 152. some warn- ed to amend, or not to come into the Church, 267. adorned their hair with trinkets of gold, 302. imperfect when alone, as regards the constitution of this present life, 329. Women, excessive mourning of, 399. excuses for it, 400. one taken, another left, 417. eating their own children, 422. know not exact time of travail, 431. ' TVord of life,' what it means, 93. Words of good men burn, 74. idle, will be punished, 1 12. Words, of Scripture, not duly realised, 445. terrible enough w'itbout farther explanation, 481. love must be more than, 503. Word, The, appeared as Man, not to change from being God, or to be a Phantom, but to be an example of humility, 80. Work, of faith, what, 337, 483. of hands, how made spiritual, 398. Works, of darkness, what, 431. good do not make prayers for us needless, 502. love of God to be shewn in, 503. tradition through, 504. World, the, thought a God by some, 428. end of, see Consnimnation, Sec. Wrath, the, of God against Jews, 362. of God, testimonies of, 420. Wrath, to be forborne, 384. Wrong, the doers of pitiable, 384, 445. how to revenge, 444. more cruel when with contcm.pt, 449. Yoke-fellow, does not mean S. Paul's wife, hut brother or husband of some one at Philippi, 152. some say it is a proper name, 153. Yoi/Jig men, te be kept from fornication, 391. are able to resist the tempta- tion, 393. blamed for going to thea- tres, 394. Z. Zeal, makes u\) for late beginning, 341. Ziba, example of flattery, 57. INDEX OF TEXTS. GENESIS. i. 11. 26. 27. ii. 7. 17. 18. 24. 25. iii. 24. 14. Vll. ■viii. xii xiii. xix. xxi, xxiv. xxvii. xxviii. xxxi, xxxvii. xli. xlii. xliii. xliv. 4. 9. 16. 21. 16, 18. 10. 10, 11. 13. 12. 65. 46. 1. 13. 42. 20. 36. 14. 15, 16. 28. EXODUS. iii. 14. xiv. 15. xn. 3. xvii. 4. xix. 6. xxiii. 21. 32. xxiv. 3. 7. 411 244, 254 329 253 251 329 329 330 254 422 221 419 344 243 172 355 419 447 218 401 326 283 283 243 343 384 221 283 291 219 384 67 290 231, 233 187 8 218 233 251 232 xxvi. 7, 8. 253 xxxii. 19. 231 32. Sept. 344 LEVITICUS. viii. 23, 24. 253 xxiv. 20. 232 NUMBERS. xi. 4, 5. 233 xii. 221 xvi. 233 xxii. 221 DEUTERONOMY. vii. 6. &c. 8 xxi. 23. 81 xxiii. 13. 233 XXV. 4. 505 xxix. 5. 114 xxxii. 8. 219 15. 168 ,232 1 SAMUEL. ii. 30. 56 iii. 1. 344 xii. 23. 342 xvi. 7. 375 xxiii. 20. 58 XXV. 10, 11. 58 xxvi. 5—12. 58 2 SAMUEL. xii. 23. 283 xiii. 283 xvi. 1 — 3. 67 7. 68 xvii. 1 — 4. 67 xxi. 17. 498 xxiv. 16. 218 2 N 546 INDEX OF TEXTS. 1 KINGS. xxxix. 5. xlviii. 1. xvii. 195 10. xlix. 17. 12. 14. 16 xviii. 18. 58 1. 3. 21. 68 13. xix. 10, 18 375 li. 16, 17. 17. liii. 5. Ixii. 3. 2 KINGS. 10. 12. iv. 27. 375 Ixix. 20. vi. 28. 422 20, ix. 34. 343 Ixxiii. 6, 7. xvi. 11. 85 27. XX. 6. 38 Ixxiv. 13, 14 Ixxviii. 30. Ixxx. 7- 10. JOB. 12, 13. Ixxxvi. 10. i. 1. 221 344 xc. 2. xciv. 12. 5. 10, 11 . Sept. 39 377 ci. 5. 6. 21. 201, 370, 444 6,7. ciii. 13. ii. 9. 95, 96, 376 Ti. 7. 97 96 civ. 26. vii. 6. cvi. 2. 14,4. 97 97 98 97 42 cxii. 5, 9. xi. 6. cxiv. 4. xvi. 2. cxv. 3. XXX. 1. xxxviii. 7. cxix. 71. 165. xli. 8. 343 cxxx. 3. cxxxi. 1. cxxxix. 7. PSALMS cxliij. 2. cxliv. 5. i. 1. 288 16. ii. 11. 92, 332 cxlv. 3. vi. 5. 37 8. 325 vii. 11. 290 viii. 4. 49 T3T X. 5. 210 Jrr xiv. 1 . 286 XV. 4. 288 xvii. 22. 477 iii. 3. xix. 10. 127 11. xxiii. 2. 73 34. 4. 39 V. 3. xxiv. 1. 248 3,4. XXV. 14. 162 xiv. 21. xxvi. 4. 288 XV. 17. xxxiii. 16. 209 xviii. 3. 22. 31 XX. 6. xxxvi. 16. 49 xxiv. 11. xxxvii, 1. 289 xxvi. 12. 5. 286 27. 35. 289 xxviii. 1. xxxviii. 7- 289 XXX. 8. PROVERBS. 412 63 292 289 438 172 55 466 296 68 289 289 98 313 290 135, 289 69 289 247 248 69 63 236 175 290 289 288 295 69 416 290 42 242 175 289 50 290 135 60 412 289 63 4 175 290, 466 392 392 507 190 93 60 17 86 163 135 368 INDEX OF TEXTS. 547 CANTICLES. xxviii. 3 xxix. 3. 56 69 i. 3. 291 xxxii. 2. 69 ii. 10. ISAIAH. 405 xxxiv. 2. DANIEL. 498 i. 1. 414 ii. 221 2 247 4. 57 16. 381 30. 66 19, 20. 395 46. 56 V. 1- -7. 68 iii. 17. 429 18, 19. 205 iv. 221 19. 430 v. 221 ix. 6. 64 xxii. 4. 323 xxvii. 1. 69 AMOS. xl. 15. 49,70 V. 18. 430 xliv. 22. xlv. 22. 405 405 vi. 4, 5,6. 194 xlvi. 3, 4. 287 xlix. 15. 405 MIC AH. li. 9. 69 11. 73 vi. 3. 247 lii. 5. 68 liii. 12. 8] liv. 13. 143, 397 MALACHL iviii. 7. 8. 72 49 ii. 15. 329 lix. 2. 135 TOBIT. JEREMIAH. xii. 9. 60 i. 1. 414 iv. 4. 118 WISDOM. 14. 381 ^-ii. 16. 342 xi. 24. 48 17. 344 ix. 1. 323 XV. 1. 343 ECCLESIASTICUS. XX. 7. 247 xxi. 11. 206 ii. 10. 11. 31 28 xxvii. 12, &c. 205 xxxi. 34. 143 iii. 11. 110 xxxviii. 4. 420 vi. 14. 16. 34. ix. 13. 253 253 125 368 LAMENTATIONS 15. 125 X. 12, 13. 466 iii. 27. 176 xi. 1. 176 iv. 10. 422 3. xii. 13. XV. 9. 445 438 288 EZEKIEL. xvi. 3. xviii. 13. 267 48 ix. 8. 343 xix. 14, 15. 600 xlv. 344 XX. 20. 478 14, 16. 343 xxiii. 17. 467 xviii. 4. 444 xxviii. 6. 476 xxiv. 18. 344 xxxi. 1. 26 2n 2 548 INDEX OF TEXTS. SONG OF THE THREE 40, 41. 417 CHILDREN. 42. XXV. 6. 430 415 27. 340 15. 26. 196 194 S. MATTHEW. 34. 34, 35. 6 65 i. 2]. 184 35. 15, 194 ii. 221 41, 46. 418 Tt. 3. 468 45. 333 4. 157, 323 XX vi. 21. 71 9,45- 220 63, 64. 252 8. 381 xxvii. 40. 252 9. 162 xxviii. 20. 158, 509 12. 60 19, 20. 510 29. 19, 277 3 32. 390 S. MARK. 45. 4, 66 vi. 10. 218 ii. 22. 234 11. 173 iii. 24. 44 24. 72, 460 vi. 18. 58 25. 285 403 Tii. 11. 72 26. 28, 88 ix. 44. 390, 418 Tii, 1. 110 X. 24. ']12 2. 297 xii. 41. 195 9. 295 14. 175 437 S. LUKE. n'u. 2^ 242 4. 441 i. 17. 494 X. 10, 11. 110 vi. 21. 323 11,13. 221 23. 60 13—16. 222 24. 112 16. 306 25. 157 19. 299 30. 17 37. 112 36. 60 41. 14 X. 7. 504, 505 xi. 12. 25 8. 222 29. 60, 66 143 468 19. 69, 254 28. 405 20. 152 xii. 36. 112 xi. 41. 16 xiv. 12—14, 461 xiv. 12. 15, 188 XV. 19. 381 33. 72, 112 27. 117 XV. 7. 42 xvi. 24. 148 18. 137 25. 280 xvi. 9. 11 xvii. 11. 494 23. 94 xviii. 10. 219 , 220 25, 26. 155 14. 220 xvii. 10. 202 32. 276 34, 35. 417 xix. 12. 387 xviii. 14. 94 21. 124 xix. 8. 449 21, 29. 16 xxii. 31,32. 49 23. 112 35. 113 23, 24. 460 xxiii. 28. 324 24. 124 40. 82 XX. 18. 499 xxiii. 16. 432 , 441 S. JOHN. xxiv. 14. 465 23, 426 i. 12, 13. 254 24. 486 13. 244 27. 465 14. 77,88 29. 415 ii. 332 31. 416 V. 43. 465, 493 INDEX OF TEXTS. 549 vi. 67. X. 28. xL 43. 49. xiii. 12. 35. xiv. 12. 27. 29. XV. 16. 20. xvi. 3. 20. 33. xvii. 1 — 5. 11. xix. 6. 15. XX. 29. 267 68 416 221 78 44 57 159, 219 365 49 60 175 175 367 340 44 252 58 324 ACTS. i.6. 426 7. 427 9. 416 Hi. 12. 57, 375 iv. 13. 173, 301 32. 45 32, 35. 355 V. 28. 252 29. 307 41. 158, 321, 340 vii. 20. 282 viii. 10. 376 ix. 5. 227 16. 113 36. 343 X. 3. 343 xii. 5. 342, 499 8. 112 xiii. 10. 311 xiv. 15. 57 22. 474 xvi. 7. 363 xvii. 6, 6. 338 5- -8. 339 9. 338 28. 34 XX. 3. 376 25, 34. 166 31. 322 324, 383 35. 165, 397 415, 505 xxi. 13. 383 xxii. 17. 311 xxiii. 5. 222 xxvi. 23. 307 xxviii. 17. 57 25. 58 26. 58 30. 112, 145 ROMANS. i. 1. 7 11, 12. 43 16. 33, 300 28. 281 ii. 4. 200 13. 59 24. 398 28, 29. 118 29. 249 iv. 2. 56 21. 234 V. 5. 31 7. 202 10. 470 vi. 4. 270 4, 5, 133 21. 149 vii. 25. 34 viii. 3. 77 29. 213 32. 249 34. 228 35. 382 ix. 3. 42, 187, 324 X. 26. 248 xi. 25. 248 xii. 2. 146 6. 313 16. 86 18. 19 18. 508 20. 4.7 xiii. 3. 28 7. 306 8. 19 14. 111,303 xiv. 1. 443 9. 406 XV. 9. 236 22. 363 23. 363 26. 46 xvi. 1. 152 1 CORINTHIANS. 10. ii. 3. iii. 9. 10. 13. iv. 3,4 6. 19. V 3. 11. 12. vi 1. 380 350 42 215 74 58 33 183 182 509 308 68 550 INDEX OF TEXTS. vi. 7,8. 445 X. 10. 352 13. 111 xi. 2. 319. 331 Tii. 5. 391 8. 167, 359 40. 414 20. 352 viii. 2. 411 23, 29. 41 9. 321 24, 26. 41 ix. 1. 324 29. 106 11. 170 xii. 2. 218 13, 14. 358 4. 300 15. 166 6. 375 17. 321 7. 375 27. 41, 91, 133 9. 13 X. 8, 10. 421 10. 300 12. 133 13. 352 13. 284 21. 94 31. 331 xiii. 2. 268 33. 42 3. 414 xi. 21. 268 30. 105 xii. 3. 231 GALATIANS. 10. 453 xiii. 12. 37 i. 6. 199 13. 434 13. 119 xiv. 35. 512 ii. 10. 50 XV. 10. 48 17. 267 16. 399 20. 33. 34. 112 32. 149, 207 iii. 3. 399 36. 407, 409 4. 46 45. 216 13. 81 51. 133 27. 303, 304 52. 408 28. 254, 328 53. 277 iv. 9. 247 xvi. 4. 60 15. 199 10. 103 19. 116 15. 162 V. 3. 4. vi. 2. 257 41 278 2 CORINTHIANS. 10. 72 14. 33, 148 15. 119 i. 8, 9, 10. 48 9. 32 11. 342, 498 EPHESIANS. 13. 167 14. 44 i. 10. 218 23. 102, 363 23. 248 ii. 4. 9, 178, 383 ii. 4. 257 6,8. 609 6. 249 10. 132 14. 219 iv. 5. 68, 79, 312 iii. 6. 249 10. 134 9. 235 V, 18. 217 5, 9, 10. 235 15, 20. 228 iv. 25. 278 20. 386 26. 385 vi. 5, 6. 41, 387 28. 65 8. 145 29. 125, 331 vii. 10. 177 V. 4. 193, 331 viii. 9. 60 8. 451 11,9. 369 30. 331 14. 24, 170 vi. 9. 297 ix. 2. 46 12. 92 108, 367 7. 15 12, 14. 367 10. 3 21, 22. 308 INDEX OF TEXTS. 551 PHILIPPIANS. j.7. 12. 12, 13. 14. 19. 23, 24. 27, 28. 29. ii. 3. 6— r 12. 17. 19. 20. 21. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. iii. 2. 4. 7. 17. 19. 20. iv. 5. 10. 12. 15. 15, 16. 18. 22. 169 2 101 300, 301 342 187, 324 61 1, 157, 169 66 61 183 101 2 4, 335 103, 113 336 2 101 3 48, 114 3, 321 119 121 160 158 34, 140 3 2,4 145 14 4 107 335 COLOSSIANS. i. 1. 238 5. 201 6. 226 7. 320 8. 318 11. 197 12. 201, 225 13. 214, 224 13, 21. 249 18. 213, 407 23. 182, 320 24. 132 ii. 1, 5. 182 4. 256 8. 256, 321 iii. 2. 270 3. 310 6. 278 6. 432 iv. 3, 4. 181 4. 299 6. 308 9. 182 16. 17. 1 THESSALONIANS. 183 182 i. 8. 472 9. 6 ii. 1. 46 14. 338 17. 102, 187 19. 44 iii. 1, 2. 308, 463 4. 485 6. 336 10. 463 iv. 1. 505 3. 276 11. 605 12. 505 17. 153 V. 1. 406, 463 11. 512 2 THESSALONIANS. ii. 1. 463 2. 463, 464 4. 465 18. 463 iii. 7. 510 17, 18. 464 1 TIMOTHY. i. 13. 48 ii. 4. 242 5, 80 9. 267 12. 111 15. 403 iii. 6. 466 7. 310 iv. 2. 24 14. 8 V. 5. 404 6. 111 V 8. 72 10, 403 17. 441 18. 505 22. 8 276, 387 23. 113, 144 24. 424 vi. 6. 111 7. 111 8. 111 8,9. 111 552 INDEX OF TEXTS. 2 TIMOTHY. 9. 182 i. 4, 16. ii. 9. 325 9 300 10. 13, 14. 18. 182 308 252 10. 12. 132, 339 203, 249 HEBREWS. iii. 12. 367 ii. 17. 213 17. 380 iv. 12. 61, 91, 209 iv. 6. 99 X. 1. 230 7. 138 32, 33. 46 8. 368 34. 46, 366, 398 10, 16. 9 38. 94 13. 112 xi. 40. 416 15. 497 xii. 4. 284, 366, 483 16. 1,31 12. 420 17, 18. 49 14. 276, 387, 393 21. 112 16. 94 V. 6. 146 xiii. 3. 312 4. 330 TITUS. 17. 9,66 i. 5, 6. 8 19. 441 7. ii. 13. 8 63 1 PETER. iii. 8. 60 ii. 21. 267 14. 60 V. 8. 69, 367 PHILEMON. REVELATION. 2. 182 i. 16. 61 INDEX OF GREEK WORDS. ayasra/, 306. ayuv xa) ipioaiv^ 312. Ky.irffai ttai (p'i^ttr^ai, 308. a'yiarfior, 276, n. 387. ayxdXti;, 327. aytiv, 276. ayvaifioirvvnf. 508. ayo^aZsrs, l^ay- 309. ayn)» {'lyckivtus ,) 349. ayavi^o/iivas J 318. adlxeDj 202. aSojMsv&tv, 264. ahrouvTis, 407. a^foiay 229. aiytiriftos, 222. ai^iiriis, 267. ala-^W^, 4(11. aixi^aKaiTCf, 308. aitutio», 481. axcc^ri^riTes , 363, 380. a*aTaXX?;Xa, 311. a*>jSv)T«), 399. a»ra|*as, 312. avri-^u^ov vnufio,, 253. a.%ioTi(TTov. !83. 275. n. d^lOVVTig, 222. aJ/w^Sna/, 202. n. oiS,iuf/,a, 76. aojyoj, 48. ci'yfa&MS, 244. )XXa|s, 224. ar>jXXoTj/»^8vauf , 225, n, «!r»;^;£f (MsA.«, 192. d^irn, 325. «tA^s, 286, 289. a»o, 202. os^-i sXsx^oiTwujy, 4.52. atro T«u X^iffTou, 273. dttoHaScci, 333. d-xohucxiTiavn, 279. acraxaraXXalai, 217. n. a(r«xaT»XAa^£, 224, n. aiTaxsxjWjM^ £11011, 2-35. aa'ox»ji/|a!/, 231 . as5raxg/vjtnaigut, 205. fiairiXictSf 1 5, fiaffiXua, 21. fiaffKuvicc, 191. fisliXflxivai, 251. Pitifca,, 453. /3iV 287. (iiaiTixe), 286. (iXaxtias, 188, 268. fituXi/ila,, 467. ■)/ivn?(ttaT«, 232. yiVO/KSVOf, 67. yiiwgy.'aii, 42. yS uiroxjrTa/, 253. ^/uTot/, 415. ^►»)«(aif, 103. ypafz-fiartT», 291. y^afiiJi.a.'nff'Triv , 230. yufivaaSriaoiJUVot , 253. iccifiotti, «1, 68. o«/(r(5a/^oni^«, 222. S/sAjirara, 449. S(£fo;^X£r, 315. It'i^aa-t, 366. S/£^^aj»)ff'av, 429. S/i;t;y<'»!j, 322. iixaiM/icc, 296, oi»a.i&i(ia,Ta,j 249. ^la^UTTii, 248, Soy^aia'/v, 250. Say^aW^fa-i't, 250, 258. doxE? ( rouTo ru Qiif,) 383. Zexifitii^tiv, 454, n. Sax/^i];, ioxifieus, 351. 'ioXi^os^ 4. ^^e/ri^ovros , 340. tfffac^iv»)», 448. 3u»a!|ti;v, 200. S£/»«) ^^ TaSi, 253. lyxvyPev, 287. iyyuTSf 198. INDEX OF GREEK WORDS. 555 Ihiy/LcxTie-tf, 250, 251. iXfiftiuf/icrav, 230. {Vsra, 222. yri^lvcri, 42. •pas, 273. n. t'llov; -r^l; S 'iffTit, 272. i'l^aXa, 136, iTiTjj, 474. tignnvtiv, TO, 53. t/,', 214. th (reifixa u,ici», 330. i», 202. Ixd^ttravj 209. ixoouvcei, 333. Ixtuffti, 249. ixiivcov, 45. iKiTvoi, 190, Ixxixo'ip^u, 100. IxxX'/iffiai, 336. Ix^rojttfrsuf/, 507. lx;^;£oi/Tij, 437. Ix&.», 242. sXauvsa-^o:/, 174, jX£5/;^;£ff-^a/, 285. iXivSi^a., 392, 488. £X£»^»<7lJv>J, 48. iXsou, 48. \fi-rrmy(taro3i, 289. 'ift^^otr^tv, 316. ifi}j£;yi(*05, 32, 185. xX^gof, 20 1 . xXji^iy, 202. xXvouv, xXuiay'iov, 372. xoXvfifin^^a, 245. xofjt,n, 87. xoirsTef , 100. xo^uvila, 299. xoff/Jiov^ os a», 453, fiix^oi, 63. /uix^fipu^tai/, 440, n. 4'43. iC*vs('a». 378. fiotids ay^ioi, 69. /iVITTIXCdTSpOV (-Tlpa), 405. va^xaTS, 266. vtx^oi, 216, n. vsxg«uj|aaTiw»,) 479. pv6i/,il^irai, 253. 2. o-aXa», 376. 0'E|C«y^, 162. — T^, 221. tnfjLvorm , 402. ffifivuviTiti, 32, 472. irtxvei, 487. fftiavaifii.itoi, (xetTaro,) 415. o-xstJ», 274. ffxa^VKTra., 232. o-aj6i;KaTa iiccxixXafffiiya, 392. ffu^»i/,i\/ut, 98. vailpQoiauftif , 88. raXaivuQiat, 40. Ta'|,f, 227,352. TafllDOTt^Ol, 109. «■aTiivs^^as'wvM, 65. Ta;t;i/T^T/, 140. ri^XififiiVfl , 437. TiTa£;;^;lt'iaEy«U5, 464. TiTt(p^tufitvev, 419. vivx,n, 361. t/, 437. rixnrafitv, 501. rovrovi, 366, 451. T^oxri, 226. T^siTflv, 327, 351. Tpoiriu, ( Ben. Tocry,) 508. T^i>(pivst 233. T^vipos, 458. Ti/Xa/, 277. Tvvoi, 119. rvTrreuti*, 231. Tuga»»)t, 191. li/ivoi, 288. vvayut, 257. v^cl^X"'^ 67, iirair'na'Ta», 76. ucrtj «tiTwv, 38. uTri^cKr-Tei^evra, 111. vTt^fiaivuv, 387. vcks Kcti (iicDTiKas, 186. ;^a2fl!XT»j4)V, 213. ;(^ajav, 173. ^a^nvTit^Kr^ai, 307. Xaz'ii^Tai, 185, 319. Aiaf'?«i"«'. 227. ;^;ag(v, 173. ^a^iI|MI 199 ■ fH ^r) . 1 ; ' ' >^ CAYLORO PRINTCDINU.S.A. -i4**>*^'