HOMILY I.] HOMILIES ON COLOSSIANS. 259 tinually reminding them ofGod s benefits. 1 And having first praised them, he next reminds them of these. Ver. 6. " Which \s come unto you, even as it is also in all the world." He now gives them credit. " Is come," he said metaphorically. He means, it did not come and go away, but that it remained, and was there. Then because to the many the strongest confirmation of doctrines is that they hold them in common with many, he therefore added, " As also it is in all the world." It is present everywhere, everywhere victo rious, everywhere established. " And is bearing fruit, and increasing, 2 as it doth in you also." " Bearing fruit." In works. " Increasing." By the accession of many, by becoming firmer ; for plants then begin to thicken when they have become firm. " As also among you," says he. He first gains the hearer by his praises, so that even though disinclined, he may not refuse to hear him. " Since the day ye heard it." Marvelous ! that ye quickly came unto it and believed ; and straightway, from the very first, showed forth its fruits. " Since the day ye heard, and knew the grace ofGod in truth." Not in word, saith he, nor in deceit, but in very deeds. Either then this is what he means by " bearing fruit," or else, the signs and won ders. Because as soon as ye received it, so soon ye knew the grace of God. What then forthwith gave proofs of its inherent virtue, is it not a hard thing that that should now be dis believed ? Ver. 7. " Even as ye learned of Epaphras our beloved fellow-servant." He, it is probable, had preached there. " Ye learned " the Gospel. Then to show the trust worthiness of the man, he says, " our fellow servant." " Who is a faithful minister of Christ on your 3 behalf ; who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit." Doubt not, he saith, of the hope which is to come : ye see that the world is being converted. And what need to allege the cases of others? what happened in your own is even indepen dently a sufficient ground for belief, for, " ye knew the grace of God in truth : " that is, in works. So that these two things, viz. the belief of all, and your own too, confirm the things that 1 The passage just above in brackets may have been for the sake of this. 2 Rec. text omits " and increasing" (ai avav6ij.(voi>) , but it is in some of the oldest MSS. 3 [" On our behalf" is the correct N. T. text. Chrys. here, as commonly, has what VVestcott and Hort call the " Syrian" type of N. T. text. J. A. B.] are to come. Nor was the fact one thing, and what Epaphras said, another. " Who is," saith he, " faithful," that is, true. How, " a minister on your behalf"? In that he had gone to him. " Who also declared to us," saith he, " your love in the Spirit," that is, the spiritual love ye bear us. If this man be the minister of Christ ; how say ye, that you approach God by angels ? " Who also declared unto us," saith he, " your love in the Spirit." For this love is wonderful and steadfast ; all other has but the name. And there are some persons who are not of this kind, but such is not friendship, wherefore also it is easily dissolved. There are many causes which produce friend ship ; and we will pass over those which are in famous, (for none will take an objection against us in their favor, seeing they are evil.) But let us, if you will, review those which are natural, and those which arise out of the relations of life. Now of the social sort are these, for instance ; one receives a kindness, or inherits a friend from forefathers, or has been a companion at table or in travel : or is neighbor to another (and these are virtuous) ; or is of the same trade, which last however is not sincere ; for it is attended by a certain emulation and envy. But the natural are such as that of father to son, son to father, brother to brother, grandfather to descendant, mother to children, and if you like let us add also that of wife to husband ; for all matrimonial attachments are also of this life, and earthly. Now these latter appear stronger than the for mer : appear, I said, because often they are sur passed by them. For friends have at times shown a more genuinely kind disposition than brothers, or than sons toward fathers ; and when he whom a man hath begotten would not succor him, one who knew him not has stood by him, and succored him. But the spiritual love is higher than all, as it were some queen ruling her subjects ; and in her form is bright : for not as the other, hath she aught of earth for her parent ; neither habitual intercourse, nor benefits, nor nature, nor time ; but she descendeth from above, out of heaven. And why wonderest thou that she needeth no benefits in order that she should subsist, seeing that neither by injuries is she overthrown ? Now that this love is greater than the other, hear Paul saying ; " For I could wish that I my selfwere anathema from Christ formy brethren." (Rom. ix. 3.) What father would have thus wished himself in misery? And again, " To de part, and to be with Christ " is " very far better ; yet to abide in the flesh " is " more needful for your sake." (Phil. i. 23, 24.) What mother would have chosen so to speak, regardless of herself? And again hear him saying, " For be ing bereaved of you for a short season, in pres-