516 WORKS OF ST. CHRYSOSTOM. [HOMILY X. is departed into Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Erastus abode at Corinth. Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick." Ver. 21. "Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia." This Linus, some say, was second l Bishop of the Church of Rome after Peter. "And Clau dia." You see how zealous for the faith the women were, how ardent ! Such was Priscilla and this Claudia, already crucified, already pre pared for the battle ! But why, when there were so many faithful, does he mention only these women ? Manifestly because they in pur pose had already withdrawn from worldly affairs, and were illustrious above others. For awoman, as sach, meets not with any impediments. It is the work of divine grace, that this sex should be impeded only in the affairs of this life, or rather not even in them. For a woman under takes no small share of the whole administration, being the keeper of the house. And without her not even political affairs could be properly conducted. For if their domestic concerns were in a state of confusion and disorder, those who are engaged in public affairs would be kept at home, and political business would be ill managed. So that neither in those matters, as neither in spiritual, is she inferior. For she is able, if so inclined, to endure a thousand deaths. Accordingly many women have suffered martyr dom. She is able to practice chastity even more than men, no such strong flame disturbing her ; and to show forth modesty and gravity, and " holiness, without which no one shall see the Lord" (Heb. xii. 14) ; and contempt of wealth, if she will, and in short all other virtues. " Do thy diligence to come before winter." See how he urges him, yet he does not say any thing to grieve him. He does not say, " Before I die," lest he should afflict him ; but, " Before winter," that thou be not detained. " Eubulus," he says, " greeteth thee, and Pu dens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the breth ren." He does not mention the rest by name. Seest thou that those were the most zealous? Ver. 22. "The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit." There can be no better prayer than this. Grieve not for my departure. The Lord will be with thee. And he says, not "with thee," but " with thy spirit." Thus there is a twofold assistance, the grace of the Spirit,2 and God helping it. And otherwise God will not be with us, ifwe have not spiritual grace. For if 1 i.e. the next. See Euseb. iii. 2, and note in Reading s Ed.; also Cave Hist. Lit. Linus is thought not to have survived the per secution of Nero, and probably to have been Bishop in St. Peter s lifetime, and supplied his place when absent. - i.e. the original Gift, without which he had been but a carnal person. we be deserted by grace, how shall He be with us? " Grace be with us. Amen." Thus he prays for himself too, that they may always be well-pleasing to Him, that they may have grace together with the spiritual gift, for where this is, nothing will be grievous. For as he who beholds the king, and is in favor with him, is sensible of no uneasiness ; so though our friends forsake us, though we be overtaken by calamity, we shall feel no distress, if that grace be with us and fortify us. MORAL. But how shall we draw down grace upon us? By doing what is pleasing to God, and obeying Him in all things. In great houses do we not see those domestics in favor, who do not regard their own interest, but with all zeal and alacrity promote their masters , and who not from the compulsion of the master, but from their own affection and good disposition, order all things well. When they are always before their eyes, when they are engaged in the house, when they are not occupied in any pri vate concerns, nor caring for their own, but rather consider their masters concerns as their own. For he who makes what is his own his master s, does not really give up his own to his master, but makes his interest his own ; he com mands even as himself in his affairs,3 and rules equally with him. He is often as much feared by the domestics, and whatever he says his master says too, and he is henceforth dreaded by all his enemies. And if he who in worldly concerns prefers his master s interests to his own, does not really neglect his own interest, but rather advance it the more ; much more is this the case in spiritual matters. Despise thine own concerns, and thou wilt receive those of God. This He Himself wills. Despise earth, and seize upon the king dom of heaven. Dwell there, not here. Be formidable there, not here. If thou art formi dable there, thou wilt be formidable not to men, but to demons, and even to the devil himself. But if thy dependence is on worldly wealth, thou wilt be contemptible to them, and often to men too. Whatever be thy riches, thou wilt be rich in servile things. But if thou de- spisest these, thou wilt be radiant in the house of the King. Such were the Apostles, despising a servile house and worldly wealth ! And see how they commanded in the affairs of their Master. " Let one," they said, "be delivered from disease, an other from the possession of devils : bind this man, and loose that." This was done by them on earth, but it was fulfilled as in Heaven. For, " whatever ye shall bind on earth," said He, 3 See Gen. xl. 4, 22.