HOMILY XV.] HOMILIES ON TIMOTHY. 459 HOMILY XV. i TIMOTHY " But the younger widows refuse : for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry ; having condemnation, because they have cast off their first faith. And withal they learn to be idle, wander ing about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not. I will therefore that the younger widows marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. For some are already turned aside after Satan." PAUL having discoursed much concerning widows, and having settled the age at which they were to be admitted, saying, "Let not a widow be taken into the number under three score years old," and having described the qualifications of a widow, " If she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the Saints feet," proceeds now to say, "But the younger widows refuse." But concerning virgins, though the case of their falling is a much more gross one, he has said nothing of this kind, and rightly. For they had enrolled themselves on higher views, and the work with them proceeded from a greater eleva tion of mind. Therefore the receiving of stran gers, and the washing of the Saints feet, he has represented by " attending upon the Lord without distraction" 1 (i Cor. vii. 34, 35), and by saying, "The unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord." (i Cor. vii. 34, 35.) And if he has not limited a particular age for them, it is most likely because that point is settled by what he has said in this case. But indeed, as I said, the choice of virginity pro ceeded from a higher purpose. Besides, in this case there had been falls, and thus they had given occasion for his rule, but nothing of that kind had occurred among the virgins. For that some had already fallen away is plain, in that he says, "When they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will 2 marry " ; and again, " For some have already turned aside after Satan." " The younger widows refuse, for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry " ; that is, when they have become scornful 3 and luxurious. For as in the case of a just man, we might say, " Let her depart, for she has become another s." * He shows there- 1 fVTrpoae&pov. 4 He seems to mean that a professed widow, giving up her pro fession, is like a woman betrothed to a man, and then disliking him, and giving her affections to another. v. 11-15. fore that though they chose widowhood, it was not the choice of their judgment. So then a widow, by the state of widowhood, is espoused to Christ. For He has said, " I am the defender of the widows and the father of the orphans." (Ps. Ixviii. 5.) He shows that they do not choose widowhood as they ought, but wax wan ton : however he bears with them. Elsewhere indeed he says, " I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ." (2 Cor. xi. 2.) After having given their names to Him,5 " they will marry," he says, " having condemnation, because they have cast off their first faith." By faith he means, fidelity to their covenant. As if he had said, They have been false to Christ, they have dis honored Him, and transgressed His covenant. "And withal they learn to be idle." Thus he commands not only men, but women also, to work. For idleness is the teacher of every sin. And not only are they exposed to this condemnation, but to other sins. If there fore it is unbecoming for a married woman " to go from house to house," much more is it for a virgin. "And not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not. I will therefore that the younger widows marry, bear children, guide the house." What then happens, when the care for the husband is withdrawn, and the care to please God does not constrain them ? They naturally become idlers, tattlers, and busybodies. For he who does not attend to his own concerns will be meddling with those of others, even as he who minds his own business will take no account of and have no care about the affairs of another. And nothing is so unbecoming to a woman, as to busy herself in the concerns of others, and it is no less unbecoming to a man. This is a great sign of impudence and forwardness. " I will therefore," he says, (since they them selves wish it,) " that the younger widows marry, bear children, guide the house." This course is at least preferable to the other. They ought indeed to be concerned for the things of God, they ought to preserve their faith. But since they do not this, it is better to avoid a worse course. God is not dishonored by their marrying again, and they do not fall into those practices, which have been censured. From such a widowhood, no good could arise, but good may come out of this marriage. Hence 5 i.e. by the profession of a devout widowhood.