WORKS OF ST. CHRYSOSTOM. [HOMILY X.
rapidly they move? how they force their way
through everything? And there is need of
expedition here. The devil is in pursuit of thee.
He orders those before to detain thee. But if
thou art strong, if thou art watchful, thou wilt
spurn one, and thrust aside another, and escape
from all, as a bird. Yea, if thou depart hence,
if thou escape from the jnarket and the tumult,
I mean this life, and arrive at those higher
regions beyond these, in the world to come.
For there, as in a solitude, there is no tumult,
no one to disturb, or to stay thy course.
Hast thou seized? Yet a little exertion is
needed after the seizure, that what thou hast
seized may not be taken from thee. If we run
on, if we look to none of those things that
are set before our eyes, if we consider nothing
but how we may escape from those who would
hinder us, we shall be able to retain with all
security what we have seized. Hast thou seized
on chastity ? Tarry not ; flee beyond the reach
of the devil. If he sees that he cannot overtake
thee, he will cease to pursue ; as we, when we
can no longer see those who have robbed us,
despair of the pursuit, and do not pursue, nor
call on others to stop thief, but suffer them to
escape. So do thou run vigorously at the
beginning, and when thou art beyond the reach
of the devil, he will not afterwards attack thee,
but thou wilt be in safety, securely enjoying those
unspeakable blessings, which God grant that we
may all obtain through Jesus Christ our Lord.
To whom with the Father, and the Holy Ghost,
be glory, power, honor, and worship, now and
for ever, and world without end. Amen.