HOMILY X.] HOMILIES ON TIMOTHY. 439 highly exalted virtue, but a moderate degree of it ; for to be sober, of good behavior, and tem perate, were qualities common to many. " Hav ing his children in subjection with all gravity." This is necessary, that an example might be exhibited in his own house. For who would believe that he who had not his own son in sub jection, would keep a stranger under command? " One that ruleth well his own house." Even those who are without say this, that he who is a good manager of a house will be a good states man. For the Church is, as it were, a small household, and as in a house there are children and wife and domestics, and the man has rule over them all ; just so in the Church there are women, children, servants. And if he that pre sides in the Church has partners in his power, so hath the man a partner, that is, his wife. Ought the Church to provide for her widows and virgins? so there are in a family servants, and daughters, to be provided for. And, in fact, it is easier to rule the house ; therefore he asks, " if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the Church of God?" Ver. 6. " Not a novice." - He does not say, not a young man, but not a new convert. For he had said, " I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase." (i Cor. iii. 6.) Wishing them to point out such an one, he used this word. For, otherwise, what hindered him from saying, "Not a young man"? For if youth only was an objection, why did he him self appoint Timothy, a young man? (and this he proves by saying to him, " Let no man despise thy youth.") (i Tim. iv. 12.) Be cause 3 he was aware of his great virtue, and his great strictness of life. Knowing which he writes, " From a child thou hast learned the holy Scriptures." (2 Tim. iii. 15.) And that he practiced intense fasting is proved by the words, " Use a little wine for thine often infirmities " ; which he wrote to him amongst other things, as, if he had not known of such good works of his, he would not have written, nor given any such charge to his disciple. But as there were many then who came over from the Heathen, and were baptized, he says, " Do not immedi ately advance to a station of dignity a novice, that is, one of these new converts." For, if be fore he had well been a disciple, he should at once be made a Teacher, he would be lifted up into insolence. If before he had learnt to be under rule, he should be appointed one of the rulers, he would be puffed up : therefore he adds, " Lest being lifted up with pride, he fall 1 Doun. conj. " great." 2 veo^vrov, one newly " planted." 3 These words, down to " disciple," are not in Sav.; they are supplied from a Colb. MS. in the last Paris ed. into the condemnation of the devil," that is, into the same condemnation which Satan incurred by his pride. Ver. 7. " Moreover he must have a good re port of them which are without ; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil." This is rightly said, as he was certain to be reproached by them, and for the same reason perhaps he said, " the husband of one wife," though elsewhere he says, " I would that all men were even as I myself!" (i Cor. vii. 7), that is, practicing continency. That he may not therefore confine them within too narrow a limit, by requiring an over-strict conversation, he is satisfied to prescribe moderate virtue. For it was necessary to appoint one to preside in every city, as he writes to Titus, " That thou shouldest ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee." (Tit. i. 5.) But what if he should have a good report, and fair reputation, and not be worthy of it ? In the first place this would not easily happen. It is much for good men to obtain a good report among their enemies. But, in fact, he has not left this to stand by itself; a good report "also," he says, that is, besides other qualities. What then, if they should speak evil of him without a cause from envy, especially as they were Heathens? This was not to be expected. For even they will reverence a man of blameless life. Why then does he say, speaking of himself, " Through evil report and good report "? (2 Cor. vi. 6.) Be cause it was not his life that they assailed, buit his preaching. Therefore he says, " through evil report." They were slandered as deceivers and impostors, on account of their preaching, and this because they could not attack their moral characters and lives. For why did no one say of the Apostles, that they were fornica- tors, unclean, or covetous persons, but that they were deceivers, which relates to their preaching only ? Must it not be that their lives were irre proachable? It is manifest. Therefore so let us too live, and no enemy, no unbeliever, will be able to speak evil of us. For he whose life is virtuous, is revered even by them. For truth stops the mouths even of enemies. But how does he " fall into a snare " ? By falling often into the same sins, as those who are without. For if he be such a character, the evil one soon lays another snare for him, and they soon effect his destruction. But if he should have a good report from his enemies, much more will he have it from his friends. For that it is not likely that he, whose life is blameless, should be ill-reported of, we may infer from the words of Christ ; " Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven." (Matt.