248 WORKS OF ST. CHRYSOSTOM. [HOMILY XIV. hastening toward Him, Himself yet much more exhibit His love toward us ? Nothing is such an enemy of our nature as vice. And from many things it is evident, how vice is at enmity with us, and virtue friendly toward us. What will ye ? That I should speak of fornication? It makes men subject to re proach, poor, objects of ridicule, despicable to all, just as enemies treat them. Ofttimes it hath involved men in disease and danger ; manymen have perished or been wounded in behalf of their mistresses. And if fornication produces these things, much rather doth adultery. But doth almsgiving so ? By no means. But as a loving mother setteth her son in great propriety, in good order, in good report, and gives him leisure to engage in necessary work, thus alms giving doth not release us nor lead us away from our necessary work, but even renders the soul more wise. For nothing is more foolish than a mistress. But what wiliest thou ? To look upon cov- etousness? It too treats us like an enemy. And how? It makes us hated by all. It pre- pareth all men to vaunt themselves against us ; both those who have been treated unjustly by us, and those who have not, who share the grief of the former, and are in fear for themselves. All men look upon us as their common foes, as wild beasts, as demons. Everywhere are there innumerable accusations, plots against us, envy- ings, all which are the acts of enemies. But justice, on the contrary, makes all men friends, all men sociable, all men well disposed towards us, by all men prayers are made in our behalf; our affairs are in perfect safety, there is no dan ger, there is no suspicion. But sleep also fear lessly comes over us with perfect safety, no care is there, no lamenting. How much better this sort of life is ! And what? Is it best to envy, or to rejoice with one another? Let us search out all these things, and we shall find that virtue, like a truly kind mother, places us in safety, while vice is a treach erous thing, and full of danger. For hear the prophet, who saith, " The Lord is a stronghold of them that fear Him, and His covenant is to show them." (Ps. xxv. 14, Sept.) Hefearethno one, who is not conscious to himself of any wickedness ; on the contrary, he who liveth in crime is never confident, but trembles at his domestics, and looks at them with suspicion. Why say, his domestics? He cannot bear the tribunal of his own conscience. Not only those who are without, but his inward thoughts affect him likewise, and suffer him not to be in quiet. What then, saith Paul ? Ought we to live de pendent on praise ? He said not, look to praise, but do praiseworthy actions, yet not for the sake of praise. " Whatsoever things are true," for the things we have been speaking of are false. " W T hatso- ever things are honorable." That which is " honorable " belongs to external virtue, that which is " pure " to the soul. Give no cause of stumbling, saith he, nor handle of accusation. Because he had said, " Whatsoever things are of good report," lest you should think that he means only those things which are so in the sight of men, he proceeds, " if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things " do these things. He wills us ever to be in these things, to care for these things, to think on these things. For ifwe will be at peace with each other, God too will be with us, but if we raise up war, the God of peace will not be with us. For nothing is so hostile to the soul as vice. That is, peace and virtue place it in safety. Wherefore we must make a beginning on our part, and then we shall draw God toward us. God is not a God ofwar and fighting. Make war and fighting to cease, both that which is against Him, and that which is against thy neighbor. Be at peace with all men, consider with what character God saveth thee. " Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." (Matt. v. 9.) Such always imitate the Son ofGod : do thou imitate Him too. . Be at peace. The more thy brother warreth against thee, by somuch the greater will be thy reward. For hear the prophetwho saith, " With the haters of peace I was peaceful." (Ps. cxx. 7, Sept.) This is virtue, this is above man s understand ing, this maketh us near God ; nothing so much delighteth God as to remember no evil. This sets thee free from thy sins, this looseth the charges against thee : but if we are fighting and buffeting, we become far off from God : for en mities are produced by conflict, and from enmity springs remembrance of evil. Cut out the root, and there will be no fruit. Thus shall we learn to despise the things of this life, for there is no conflict, none, in spiritual things, but whatever thou seest, either conflicts or envy, or whatever a man can mention, all these spring from the things of this life. Every conflict hath its beginning either in covetous- ness, or envy, or vainglory. If therefore we are at peace, we shall learn to despise the things of the earth. Hath a man stolen our money? He hath not injured us, only let him not steal our treasure which is above. Hath he hindered thy glory? Yet not that which is from God, but that which is of no account. For this is no glory, but a mere name of glory, or rather a shame. Hath he stolen thy honor? Rather not thine but his own. For as he who committeth injustice doth not so much inflict as receive injustice, thus too he who plots against his neighbor, first destroyeth himself.