HOMILY I.] HOMILIES ON TITUS. 5 2 , disposition of a father, but we must endure the grief till he becomes sound and well. The slave bought with money has an ap pointed work, which when he has performed, he is afterwards his own master. But the Bishop is distracted on every side, and is expected to do many things that are beyond his power. If he knows not how to speak, there is great murmur ing ; and if he can speak, then he is accused of being vainglorious. If he cannot raise the dead, he is of no worth, they say : such an one is pious, but this man is not. If he eats a mod erate meal, for this he is accused, he ought to be strangled, they say. If he is seen at the bath, 1 he is much censured. In short, he ought not to look upon the sun ! If he does the same things that I do, if he bathes, eats and drinks, and wears the same clothing, and has the care of a house and servants, on what account is he set over me? But he has domestics to minister to him, and an ass to ride upon, why then is he set over me ? But say, ought he then to have no one to wait upon him ? Ought he himself to light his own fire, to draw water, to cleave wood, to go to market? How great a degradation would this be ! Even the holy Apostles would not that any ministers of the word should attend upon the tables of the widows, but they consid ered it a business unworthy of them : and would you degrade them to the offices of your own domestics ? Why dost not thou, who command- est these things, come and perform these ser vices ? Tell me, does not he minister to thee a better service than thine, which is bodily? Why dost thou not send thy domestic to wait upon him ? Christ washed the feet of His disciples ; is it a great thing for thee to give this service to thy Teacher ? But thou art not willing to render it thyself, and thou grudgest it to him. Ought he then to draw his livelihood from heaven? But God wills not so. But you say, " Had the Apostles free men to serve them?" Would you then hear how the Apostles lived? They made long journeys, and free men and honorable women laid down their lives and souls for their relief. But hear this blessed Apostle thus exhorting ; " Hold such in reputation" (Phil. ii. 29, 30) : and again, "Be cause for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me." See what he says ! but 1 See above, p. 499. thou hast not a word to throw away upon thy spiritual father, much less wilt thou submit to any danger in his behalf. But thou sayest, " He ought not to frequent the bath." And where is this forbidden? there is nothing honorable in being unclean. These are not the things we find blamed or applauded at all. For the qualities which a Bishop is required to possess are different, as to be blameless, sober, orderly, hospitable, apt to teach. These the Apostle requires, and these we ought to look for in a ruler of the Church, but nothing further. Thou art not more strict than Paul, or rather more strict than the Spirit. If he be a striker, or violent, or cruel, and un merciful, accuse him. These things are unworthy of a Bishop. If he be luxurious, this also is censurable. But if he takes care of his body that he may minister to thee, if he attends to his health that he may be useful, ought he for this to be accused ? Knowest thou not that bodily infirmity no less than infirmity of soul injures both us and the Church ? Why, otherwise, does Paul attend to this matter, in writing to Timothy, "Use a little wine for thy stomach s sake, and thy often infirmities"? (i Tim, v. 23.) For ifwe could practice virtue with the soul alone, we need not take care of the body. And why then were we born at all? But if this has con tributed a great share, is it not the extreme of folly to neglect it ? For suppose a man honored with the Bishop ric, and intrusted with a public charge of the Church, and let him in other respects be vir tuous, and have every quality, which a priest ought to possess, yet let him be always confined to his bed by reason of great infirmity, what service will he be able to render? Upon what mission can he go ? what visitation can he under take ? whom can he rebuke or admonish ? These things I say, that you may learn not causelessly to accuse him, but rather may receive him favorably ; as also that if any one desire rule in the Church, seeing the shower of abuse that attends it, he may quench that desire. Great indeed is the danger of such a station, and it requires "the grace and peace of God." Which that we may have abundantly, do you pray for us, and we for you, that practicing virtue aright we may so obtain the blessings promised, through Jesus Christ, with whom, &c.