warning crying aloud from on high more distinctly than any trumpet.281 However, as I was
saying, “Yet three days,” said the prophet, “and Nineveh shall be overthrown.” A terrible
warning indeed, but now we have nothing even like that; no, there are no longer “three
days,”282 nor is there a Nineveh to be overthrown, but many days are already past since the
Church throughout all the world has been overthrown, and leveled with the ground, and
all alike are overwhelmed in the evil; nay more, of those that are in high places the stress is
so much the greater. Wonder not therefore if I should exhort you to do greater things than
the Ninevites; and why? nay more, I do not now proclaim a fast only, but I suggest to you
the remedy which raised up that city also when falling. And what was that? “God saw their
works,” saith the prophet, “that they turned from their evil way, and God repented of the
evil which He said He would do unto them.” (Jonah iii. 10.) This let us do, both we and you.
Let us renounce the passion for riches, the lust for glory, beseeching God to stretch forth
His hand, and to raise up our fallen members. And well may we, for our fear is not for the
same objects as theirs; for then indeed it was only stones and timbers that were to fall, and
bodies that were to perish; but now it is none of these; no, but souls are about to be delivered
over to hell fire. Let us implore, let us confess unto Him, let us give thanks unto Him for
what is past, let us entreat Him for what is to come, that we may be counted worthy to be
delivered from this fierce and most terrible monster, and to lift up our thanksgivings to the
loving God and Father with whom, to the Son, together with the Holy Ghost, be glory, might,
and honor, now, henceforth, and for ever and ever. Amen.
281 Antioch was exposed to earthquakes. One happened A.D. 395, which might be about the date of these
Homilies. In A.D. 458 it was almost overthrown from this cause.
282 [See note on preceding page.—G.A.]
191
Ephesians 4:4