246 WORKS OF ST. CHRYSOSTOM. [HOMILY XIV. for a little time, that we may have rest for ever, blessings, in Christ Jesus, with whom, to the We must at all events be afflicted. If we are Father together with the Holy Spirit, be glory, not afflicted here, it awaits us there. Why choose we not to be afflicted here, that there we may have rest, and obtain the unspeakable power, and honor, now and ever, world without end. Amen. HOMILY XIV. PHILIPPIANS iv. 4-7. "Rejoice in the Lord alway: again I will say, Rejoice. Let your forbearance be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanks giving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understand ing, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts through Christ Jesus." "BLESSED 1 are they that mourn," and "woe unto them that laugh " (Matt. v. 4 ; Luke vi. 25), saith Christ. How then saith Paul, "Re joice in the Lord alway"? "Woe to them that laugh," said Christ, the laughter of this world, which ariseth from the things which are present. He blessed also those that mourn, not simply for the loss of relatives, but those who are pricked at heart, who mourn their own faults, and take count of their own sins, or even those of others. This joy is not contrary to that grief, but from that grief it too is born. For he who grieveth for his own faults, and confesseth them, rejoiceth. Moreover, it is possible to grieve for our own sins, and yet to rejoice in Christ. Since then they were afflicted by their sufferings, " for to you it is given not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him" (Phil. i. 29), therefore he saith, "Rejoice in the Lord." For this can but mean, If you exhibit such a life that you may rejoice. Or when your communion with God is not hindered, rejoice. Or else the word " in " may stand for " with " : - as if he had said, with the Lord. " Alway ; again I will say, Rejoice." These are the words of one who brings comfort ; as, for example, he who is in God rejoiceth alway. Yea though he be afflicted, yea whatever he may suffer, such a man alway rejoiceth. Hear what Luke saith, that " they returned from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be scourged for His name." (Acts v. 41.) If scourging and bonds, which 1 [" Happy " would be more exact, but "blessed" has a fixed association with the passage quoted from the Sermon on the Mount. -J.A.B.] ! [Chrys. had little notion of scientific precision in the use or in terpretation of language. The word ev, " in," sometimes introduces the instrument, where we in English say "with"; but it would be hard to find any passage in which it is clearly equivalent to <rvv, " with," i.e. in company with, in connection with. J. A. B.J seem to be the most grievous of all things, bring forth joy, what else will be able to produce grief in us ? " Again I will say, Rejoice." Well hath he repeated. For since the. nature of the things brought forth grief, he shows by repeating, that they should by all means rejoice. " Let your forbearance be known unto all men." He said above, " Whose god is the belly, and whose glory is in their shame," and that they " mind earthly things." (Phil. iii. 19.) It was probable that they would be at enmity with the wicked ; he therefore exhorted them to have nothing in common with them, but to use them with all forbearance, and that not only their brethren, but also their enemies and op- posers. "The Lord is at hand,3 in nothing be anxious." For why, tell me? do they ever rise in opposition? And if ye see them living in luxury, why are ye in affliction? Already the judgment is nigh ; shortly will they give account of their actions. Are ye in affliction, and they in luxury ? But these things shall shortly receive their end. Do they plot against you, and threaten you? " In nothing be anxious." The judgment is already at hand, when these things shall be reversed. " In nothing be anxious." If ye are kindly affected toward those who pre pare evil against you, yet it shall not at last turn out to their profit. Already the recompense is at hand, if poverty, if death, if aught else that is terrible be upon you. " But in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God." There is this for one consolation, " the Lord is at hand." And again, " I will be with you alway, even unto the end of the world." (Matt, xxviii. 20.) Behold another consolation, a medicine which healeth grief, and distress, and all that is painful. And what is this? Prayer, thanksgiving in all things. And so He wills that our prayers should not simply s [It is evident from the connection that Chrys. connects "the Lord is at hand" with what follows, and not (as Meyer wrongly states) with what precedes. Yet recent commentators generally con nect it with what precedes,and arc pretty certainly right. J. A. B.J