her, but to stand below. And the very name “prize” cheered the hearer. For if she have given the prize to the good thought, however impudently the other behave, it is thereafter of no use. And besides, the other being aware that, perform what feats he might, he should not receive the prize; however he might puff, and attempt still more vehement onsets, would desist as laboring without profit. And he well added, “And be ye thankful.” For this is to be thankful, and very effectively,847 to deal with his fellow-servants as God doth with himself, to submit himself to the Master, to obey; to express his gratitude for all things,848 even though one insult him, or beat him. For in truth he that confesses thanks due to God for what he suffers, will not revenge himself on him that has done him wrong, since he at least that takes revenge, acknowledges no gratitude. But let not us follow him (that exacted)849 the hundred pence, lest we hear, “Thou wicked servant,” for nothing is worse than this ingratitude. So that they who revenge are ungrateful. But why did he begin his list with fornication? For having said, “Mortify your members which are upon the earth” (c. iii. 5.), he immediately says, “fornication”; and so he does almost everywhere. Because this passion hath the greatest sway. For even when writing his Epistle to the Thessalonians he did the same. (1 Thess. iv. 3.) And what wonder? since to Timothy even he saith, “Keep thyself pure” (1 Tim. v. 22.); and again elsewhere, “Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification,” without which “no man shall see the Lord.” (Heb. xii. 14.) “Put to death,” he says, “your members.” Ye know of what sort that is which is dead, namely, hated, loathed, dropping to decay. If thou put anything to death, it doth not when dead continue dead, but presently is corrupted, like the body. Extinguish then the heat; and nothing that is dead will continue. He shows one having the same thing in hand, which Christ wrought in the Laver; therefore also he calleth them “members,” as though introducing some champion, thus advancing his discourse to greater emphasis. And he well said, “Which are upon the earth,” for here they continue, and here they are corrupted, far rather than these our members. So that not so truly is the body of the earth, as sin is earthly, for the former indeed appears even beautiful at times, but those members never. And those members 297 lust after all things that are upon the earth. If the eye be such, it seeth not the things in the heavens; if the ear, if the hand, if thou mention any other member whatsoever. The eye seeth bodies, and beauties, and riches; these are the things of earth, with these it is delighted: the 847 This must mean “in a way that has power of prevailing with God,” so to speak, “putting Him to shame, if he do not grant the favor.” Comp. Hebrew vi. 10. 848 [Compare Chrys.’s famous motto, “Glory to God for all things”.—J.A.B.] 849 Sav. [and one ms.] has ὀφείλοντα, “that owed,” which makes no sense; mss. Par. only τὸν τὰ ἑκατὸν; Downes conj. ἀπαιτοῦντα τὰ. 524 Colossians 3:5-7