532 WORKS OF ST. CHRYSOSTOM. [HOMILY IV. " Sound in faith, in charity [love], in patience." He has well added "in patience," for this quality more especially befits old men. Ver. 3. " The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness." That is, that in their very dress and carriage they exhibit modesty. " Not false accusers, not given to much wine." For this was particularly the vice of women and of old age. For from their natural coldness at that period of life arises the desire of wine, therefore he directs his exhortation to that point, to cut off all occasion of drunkenness, wishing them to be far removed from that vice, and to escape the ridicule that attends it. For the fumes mount more easily from beneath, and the membranes (of the brain) receive the mischief from their being impaired by age, and this especially causes intoxication. Yet wine is nec essary at this age, because of its weakness, but much is not required. Nor do young women require much, though for a different reason, because it kindles the flame of lust. " Teachers ofgood things." And yet thou forbiddest a woman to teach ; how dost thou command it here, when elsewhere thou sayest, " I suffer not a woman to teach " ? (i Tim. ii. 12.) But mark what he has added, " Nor to usurp authority over the man." For at the beginning it was permitted to men to teach both men and women. But to women it is allowed to instruct by discourse at home. But they are nowhere permitted to preside, nor to extend their speech to great length, where fore he adds, " Nor to usurp authority over the man." Ver. 4. "That they may teach the young women to be sober." Observe how he binds the people together, how he subjects the younger women to the elder. For he is not speaking there of daugh ters, but merely in respect of age. Let each of the elder women, he means, teach any one that is younger to be sober. "To love their husbands." This is the chief point of all that is good in a household, " A man and his wife that agree together." (Ecclus. xxv. i.) For where this exists, there will be nothing that is unpleasant. For where the head is in harmony with the body, and there is no disagreement between them, how shall not all the other members be at peace? For when the rulers are at peace, who is there to divide and break up concord ? as on the other hand, where these are ill disposed to each other, there will be no good order in the house. This then is a point of the highest im portance, and of more consequence than wealth, or rank, or power, or aught else. Nor has he said merely to be at peace, but " to love their husbands." For where love is, no discord will find admittance, far from it, other advantages too spring up. " To love their children." This is well added, since she who loves the root, will much more love the fruit. " To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good." All these spring from love. They become " good, and keepers at home," from affection to their husbands. " Obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed." She who despises her husband, neglects also her house ; but from love springs great sober ness, and all contention is done away. And if he be a Heathen, he will soon be persuaded ; and if he be a Christian, he will become a better man. Seest thou the condescension of Paul? He who in everything would withdraw us from worldly concerns, here bestows his consideration upon domestic affairs. For when these are well conducted, there will be room for spiritual things, but otherwise, they too will be marred. For she who keeps at home will be also sober, she that keeps at home will be also a prudent man ager, she will have no inclination for luxury, un seasonable expenses, and other such things. " That the word of God," he says, " be not blasphemed." See how his first concern is for the preaching of the word, not for worldly things ; for when he writes to Timothy, he says, " that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty" (i Tim. ii. 2) ; and here, "that the word of God," and the doctrine, " be not blasphemed." For if it should happen that a believing woman, married to an unbeliever, should not be virtuous, the blasphemy is usually carried on to God ; but if she be of good char acter, the Gospel obtains glory from her, and from her virtuous actions. Let those women hearken who are united to wicked men or un believers ; let them hear, and learn to lead them to godliness by their own example. For if thou gain nothing else, and do not attract thy husband to embrace right doctrines, yet thou hast stopped his mouth, and dost not allow him to blaspheme Christianity ; and this is no mean thing, but great indeed, that the doctrine should be ad mired through our conversation. Ver. 6. " Young men likewise exhort to be soberminded." See how he everywhere recommends the ob servance of decorum. For he has committed to women the greater part in the instruction of women, having appointed the elder to teach the younger. But the whole instruction of men he assigns to Titus himself. For nothing is so dif ficult for that age as to overcome unlawful pleas ures. For neither the love of wealth, nor the