5^4 WORKS OF ST. CHRYSOSTOM. [HOMILY X. mean a garment, or, as some say, a bag, in which the books were contained. But what had he to do with books, who was about to depart and go to God? He needed them much, that he might deposit them in the hands of the faith ful, who would retain them in place of his own teaching. All the faithful, then, would suffer a great blow, but particularly those who were present at his death, and then enjoyed his so ciety. But the cloak he requires, that he might not be obliged to receive one from another. For we see him making a great point of avoid ing this ; and elsewhere, when he was addressing those from Ephesus, he says, "Ye know that these hands have ministered to my necessities, and to those that were with me " (Acts xx. 34, 35); and again, -It is more blessed to give than to receive." Ver. 14. " Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil ; the Lord reward him according to his works." Here he again makes mention of his trial, not wishing merely to censure and accuse the man, but to prepare his disciple for the conflicts, that he might bear them firmly. Though they be mean and contemptible persons, and without honor, who cause these trials, they ought all, he says, to be borne with fortitude. For he who suffers wrong from any great personage, receives no little distinction from the superiority of him who does the wrong. But he who is injured by a vile and abject person, suffers the greater an noyance. " He did me much evil," he says, that is, he persecuted me in various ways. But these things will not go unpunished ! For the Lord will reward him according to his works. As he said above : " What persecutions I en dured, but out of them all the Lord delivered me." (2 Tim. iii. n.) So also here he consoles his disciples by a double consideration, that he himself had suffered wrong, and that the other would be rewarded for his evil deeds. Not that the Saints rejoice in the punishment of their persecutors, but that the cause of the Gospel required it, and the weaker would derive con solation from it. Ver. 15. "Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words." That is, he is hostile to us, and opposes us. He has not said, Revenge, punish, expel him, although by the grace given him he might have so done, but he does no such thing ; nor does he arm Timothy against him, but only commands him to avoid him, leaving vengeance to God, and for the consolation of the weaker he has said that He will reward him, which is a proph ecy rather than an imprecation. And that he says these things to prepare the mind of his dis ciple, is manifest also from what follows. But see how he mentions other of his trials. Ver. 1 6. "At my first answer," he says, "no man stood with me, but all men forsook me : I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge." Do you see how he spares his friends, not withstanding it was a grievous thing they had done? For it is not the same thing to be despised by aliens, as by our own friends. Do you see his intense dejection? It cannot be said, that I was assailed by those without, but had comfort in the attention and support of my friends ; for these also betrayed me. " All men," he says, " forsook me." And this was no light offense. For if he that in war abandons one who is exposed to danger, and shrinks from meeting the hands of his enemies, is justly smitten by his friends, as having utterly be trayed their cause, much more in the case of the Gospel. But what " first answer," does he speak of? He had stood before Nero, and had escaped. But afterwards, because he had con verted his cup-bearer, he was beheaded. And here again is encouragement for his disciple in what follows. Ver. 17. "Notwithstanding, the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me." Though deserted by man, God doth not per mit him to suffer any harm. He strengthened me, he says, that is, He gave me boldness in speaking. He suffered me not to sink. "That by me the preaching might be fully known." That is, might be fulfilled. Observe his great humility. He does not say He strengthened me as deserving of His gift, but that " the preaching," with which I was intrusted, " might be fully known." As if any one should wear a purple robe and a diadem, and to that circum stance should owe his safety. " And that all the Gentiles might hear." What is this? That the luster of the Gospel, and the care of His Providence for me, might be known to all. " And I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion." Ver. 1 8. "And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work." See how near he had been to death. He had fallen into the very jaws of the lion. For he calls Nero a lion from his ferocity, and the violent and daring character of his government. " The Lord delivered me," he says, " and will deliver." But if he says, " He will deliver me," why does he say, " I am ready to be offered " ? Attend to the expression, " He delivered me," he says, " from the lion s mouth " ; and again, " He will deliver me," not from the lion s mouth, but " from every evil work." For then He de livered me from the danger ; but now that enough has been done for the Gospel, He will yet again