98 WORKS OF ST. CHRYSOSTOM. [HOMILY IX. love consists. Again, he who loves submits to all these things, and thus do they reciprocally produce one another. And this indeed, that love springs from virtue, appears from hence, because our Lord when He saith, "because iniquity shall be multiplied, the love of the many shall wax cold," plainly tells us this. And that virtue springs from love, Paul tells us, saying, " He that loveth his neighbor hath ful filled the law." (Rom. xiii : 10.) So then a man must be one of the two, either very affect ionate and much beloved, or else very virtuous; for he who has the one, of necessity possesses the other; and, on the contrary, he who knows not how to love, will therefore commit many evil actions ; and he who commits evil actions, knows not what it is to love. MORAL. Let us therefore follow after charity ; it is a safeguard whichwill not allow us to suffer any evil. Let us bind ourselves together. Let there be no deceit amongst us, no hollowness. For where friendship is, there nothing of the sort is found. This too another certain wise man tells us. "Though thou drewest a sword at thy friend, yet despair not : for there may be a returning again to favor. If thou hast opened thy mouth against thy friend, fear not ; for there may be a reconciliation : except for up braiding, or disclosing of secrets, or a treacher ous wound : for for these things a friend will depart." (Ecclus. xxii : 21, 22.) For "disclos ing," saith he, "of secrets." Now if we be all friends, there is no need of secrets ; for as no man has any secret with himself and cannot conceal anything from himself, so neither will he from his friends. Where then no secrets exist, separation arising from this is impossible. For no other reason have we secrets, than because we have not confidence in all men. So then it is the waxing cold of love, which has produced secrets. For what secret hast thou ? Dost thou desire to wrong thy neighbor ? Or, art thou hindering him from sharing some benefit, and on this account concealest it ? But, no, perhaps it is none of these things. What then, is it that thou art ashamed ? If so, then this is a token of want of confidence. Now then if there be love, there will be no " reveal ing of secrets," neither any "upbraiding." For who, tell me, would ever upbraid his own soul ? And suppose even such a thing were done, it would be for some good ; for \ve up braid children, we know, when we desire to make them feel. And so Christ too on that occasion began to upbraid the cities, saying, "Woe unto thee, Chorazin ! woe unto thee, Bethsaida ! " (Luke x : 13.) in order that Pie might deliver them from upbraidings. For nothing has such power to lay hold of the mind, or can more strongly arouse it, or brace it up when relaxed. Let us then never use upbraid ing to one another merely for the sake of upbraiding. For what? Wilt thou upbraid thy friend on the score of money ? Surely not, if at least thou possessest what thou hast in common. Wilt thou then for his faults? No nor this, but thou wilt rather in that case correct him. Or, as it goes on, "for a treacherous wound ; who in the world will kill himself, or who wound himself? No one. Let us then "follow after love; " he saith not simply let us love ; but let us "follow after love." (i Cor. xiv: i.) There is need of much eagerness : she is soon out of sight, she is most rapid in her flight ; so many things are there in life which injure her. If we follow her, she will not outstrip us and get away, but we shall speedily recover her. The love ofGod is that which united earth to Heaven. It was the love of God that seated man upon the kingly throne. It was the love of God that manifested God upon earth. It was the love of God that made the Lord a servant. It was the love of God that caused the Beloved to be delivered up for His enemies, the Son for them that hated Him, the Lord for His servants, God for men, the free for slaves. Nor did it stop here, but called us to yet greater things. Yes, not only did it release us from our former evils, but promised, more over, to bestow upon us other much greater blessings. For these things then let us give thanks to God, and follow after every virtue ; and before all things, let us with all strictness practice love, that we may be counted worthy to attain the promised blessings ; through the grace and loving-kindness of our Lord Jesus Christ, with whom, to the Father together with the Holy Ghost, be glory, might, and honor, now and for ever and ever. Amen.