and spiritual understanding. And how this was, I proceed to explain. He was addressing a Gentile, and an unbeliever, who knew nothing of our matters. Hence he was unwilling to introduce him by way of disagreeable things, but as he said, “I became to them that are without law, as without law;”1672 so he acted in the present instance. His meaning is, “If the Gentile hear of bonds and tribulations, he will straightway be taking flight; since he knows not the power of bonds. First, let him become a believer; let him taste of the word preached, and then he will even of himself hasten towards these bonds. I have heard the Lord saying, “No man putteth a piece of new cloth into an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. Neither do men put new wine into 449 old wine-skins; else the wine-skins burst.”1673 The soul of this man is an old garment: an old wine-skin. It is not renewed by the faith, nor renovated by the grace of the Spirit. It is yet weak and earthly. It affects the things of this life. It flutters eagerly after worldly show. It loves a glory that is present. Should he hear at once, even from the first, that if he becomes a Christian he will become immediately a prisoner, and will be encompassed with a chain; feeling ashamed and indignant, he will recoil from the word preached. Therefore, saith he, “Except these bonds.”1674 Not as deprecating the bonds themselves, God forbid! But con- descending to the other’s infirmity; for he himself loved and welcomed his bonds, even as a woman fond of ornament doth her jewels of gold. Whence is this apparent? “I rejoice,” saith he, “in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh.”1675 And again; “Unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but to suffer for His sake.”1676 And again; “And not only so, but we also glory in tribulations.”1677 Wherefore, if he rejoices and glories in this, and calls it a gift of grace, it is manifest that when he was addressing the judge, he spoke to him as he did, for the reason assigned. Moreover, also in a different passage, when he happened to find a necessity for glorying, he shews the very same by saying, “Most gladly, therefore, will I glory in my infirm- ities……in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”1678 And again; “If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.”1679 And elsewhere, comparing himself with others, and exhibiting to us his superiority in the comparison, he thus speaks; “Are they ministers of Christ? (I 1672 1 Cor. ix. 21. 1673 Matt. ix. 16, 17; Mark ii. 21; Luke v. 36. 1674 Acts xxvi. 28. 1675 Coloss. i. 24. 1676 Philip. i. 29. 1677 Rom. v. 3. 1678 2 Cor. xii. 9, 10. 1679 2 Cor. xi. 30. 659 Homily XVI