HOMILY VIII.] HOMILIES ON EPHESIANS. aged, and now a prisoner also of Jesus Christ." (Philemon 9.) For nothing is so glorious as a bond for Christ s sake, as the chains that were bound around those holy hands ; more glorious is it to be a prisoner for Christ s sake than to be an Apostle, than to be a Teacher, than to be an Evangelist. Is there any that loveth Christ, he will understand what I am saying. Is any transported and fired with devotion for the Lord, he knows the power of these bonds. Such an one would rather choose to be a pris oner for Christ s sake, than to have the Heavens for his dwelling. More glorious than any gold were the hands he was showing to them, yea, than any royal diadem. Yes, no jewelled tiara bound around the head invests it with such glory, as an iron chain for Christ s sake. Then was the prison more glorious than palaces, yea, than heaven itself. Why say I than palaces ? Because it contained a prisoner of Christ. Is there any that loveth Christ, he knows the dig nityof this title, he knowswhat a virtue is this, he knows how great a boon he bestowed upon man kind, even this, to be bound for His sake. More glorious this, perhaps to be bound for His sake, than " to sit at His right hand," (Matt. xx : 21.) more august this, than to "sit upon the twelve thrones." (Matt, xix : 28.) And why speak I of human glories? I am ashamed to compare earthly riches and golden attire to these bonds. But forbearing to speak of those great and heavenly glories, even were the thing attended with no reward at all, this alone were a great reward, this an ample recom pense, to suffer these hardships for the sake of the Beloved. They that love, even though it be not God, but man, they know what I am saying, since they are more delighted to suffer for, than to be honored by those they love. But to fully understand these things belongs to the holy company, the Apostles, I mean, and them alone. For hearken to what the blessed Luke saith, (Acts v : n.) " that they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name." To all others indeed it seems to be foolishness, that to suffer dishonor is to be counted worthy, that to suffer dishonor is to rejoice. But to them that understand the love of Christ, this is esteemed of all things the most blessed. Were any to offer me my choice, the whole Heaven or that chain, that chain I would prefer. Were any to ask whether he should place me on high with the Angels, or with Paul in his bonds, the prison I would choose. Were any about to change me into one of those powers, that are in Heaven, that are round about the throne, or into such a pris oner as this, such a prisoner I would choose to be. Nothing is more blessed than that chain. Would that I could be at this moment in that very spot, (for the bonds are said to be still in existence,) to behold and admire those men, for their love of Christ. Would that I could behold the chains, at which the devils fear and trem ble, but which Angels reverence. Nothing is more noble than to suffer any evil for Christ s sake. I count not Paul so happy, because he was " caught up into Paradise," (2 Cor. xii : 4.) as because he was cast into the dungeon ; I count him not so happy, because he heard " unspeakable words," as because he endured those bonds. I count him not so happy, because he was " caught up into the third Hea ven," (2 Cor. xii: 2.) as I count him happy for those bonds sake. For that these are greater than those, hear how even he himself knew this; for he saith not, I who " heard unspeak able words," beseech you: but what ? "I, the prisoner in the Lord, beseech you." Nor yet are we to wonder, though he inscribes not this in all his Epistles, for he was not always in prison, but only at certain times. I deem it more desirable to suffer evil for Christ s sake, than to receive honor at Christ s hands. This is transcendent honor, this is glory that surpasseth all things. If He Himself who became a servant for my sake, and " emptied " (Phil, ii : 7.) His glory, yet thought not Him self so truly in glory, as when He was crucified for my sake, what ought not I to endure ? For hear His own words: "Father, glorify Thou Me." (John xvii : i.) What is this thou art say ing? Thou art being led to the cross with thieves and plunderers of graves, thou endurest the death of the accursed ; Thou art about to be spit upon and buffeted ; and callest Thou this glory ? l Yes, He saith, for I suffer these things for My beloved ones, and I count them alto gether glory. If He who loved the miserable and wretched calleth this glory, not to be on His Father s throne, nor in His Father s glory, but in dishonor, if this was His glory, and if this He set before the other : much more ought I to regard these things as glory. Oh ! those blessed bonds ! Oh ! those blessed hands which that chain adorned ! Not so worthy were Paul s hands when they lifted up and raised the lame man at Lystra, as when they were bound around with those chains. Had I been living in those times, how eagerly would I have embraced them, and put them to the very apple of mine eyes. Never would I have ceased kissing those hands which were counted worthy to be bound formy Lord. Marvellest thou at Paul, when the viper fastened on his hand, and did him no hurt? Marvel not. It reverenced his chain. Yea, and the whole sea reverenced it ; for then too [Christ referred to the glorification with His Father which was to follow his humiliation. Cf. Jo. xvii : 5. Phil, ii : 9. G. A.]