2l8 WORKS OF ST. CHRYSOSTOM. [HOMILY VII. birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns." (Matt, vi. 26.) "And surely," He means, "God has not created the irrational animals superior to ourselves." Dost thou mark what want of con sideration is here? Dost thou observe the lack of all investigation? Dost thou observe the great advantage which we derive from an inves tigation of the points ? He, whose mind is lifted up above all men, is found to be even lower than the irrational creatures. But we will have pity upon him, and not follow his example ; nor because the limits of our mor tal nature are too narrow for his conceit of him self, will we proceed to lower him to the level of the beasts that are without reason, but will lift him up from thence, not for his own sake, for he deserves no better fate, but that we may set forth the lovingkindness of God, and the honor which He has vouchsafed us. For there are things, yes, 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 acknowledge, and are embued with true philosophy concern ing immortality. Here let the irrational animals give place. They cannot contend with us in these points. We live in self-command. 1 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 reign 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. Self-command, a compliant temper, mildness, contempt of money, are prerogatives of our 1 <ru>(j>povoviJ.ev. The word may be used of sobriety, chastity, or moderation. race ; but since thou who art one o those blinded by presumption hast none of these, thou doest well in entertaining notions either above the level of mankind, or beneath the very irra tional creatures. For this is the nature of folly 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 King dom pledged to us, the choir,2 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 more than he has. So that they all who are not like this are beneath the irra tional . 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 irra tional 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 swiftness, 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 irra tional creatures? from reason? But thou hast it not? For whosoever ceases to make a due use of it, is again inferior to them ; for when though possessing reason he is more irrational than they, it had been better if he had never from the first become capable of exercising rea son. For it is not the same thing after having received dominion to betray the trust, as 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 purple. 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, yea rather angels, and that we may enjoy the promised blessings, through the grace and lovingkindness of our Lord Jesus Christ, with whom, &c. ri /nerd X eia, see Rev. xiv. 4.