264 WORKS OF ST. CHRYSOSTOM. [HOMILY II, HOMILY II. COLOSSIANS i. 9, 10. " For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray and make request for you, that ye may be rilled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding; to walk worth ily of the Lord unto all pleasing, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God." " FOR this cause." What cause ? Because we heard of your faith and love, because we have good hopes, we are hopeful to ask for future blessings also. For as in the games we cheer on those most who are near upon gaining the victory, just so doth Paul also most exhort those who have achieved the greater part. "Since the day we heard it," saith he, "we do not cease to pray for you." Not for one day do we pray for you, nor yet for two, nor three. Herein he both shows his love, and gives them a gentle hint that they had not yet arrived at the end. For the words, " that ye may be filled," are of this significancy. And observe, I pray, the prudence of this blessed one. He nowhere says that they are destitute of every thing, but that they are deficient ; everywhere | the words, "that ye may be filled," show this. I And again, "unto all pleasing, in every good work" (ver. n), and again, "strengthened with all power," and again, " unto all patience and long-suffering " ; for the constant addition of " all " bears witness to their doing well in part, though, it might be, not in all. And, " that ye may be filled," he saith ; not, " that ye may re ceive," for they had received ; but " that ye may be filled " with what as yet was lacking. Thus both the rebuke was given without offense, and the praise did not suffer them to sink down, and become supine, as if it had been complete. But what is, " that ye may be filled with the knowledge of His will " ? That through the Son we should be brought unto Him, and no more through Angels. Now that ye must be brought unto Him, ye have learnt, but it remains for you to learn this, and why He sent the Son. For had it been that we were to have been saved by Angels, 1 He would not have sent Him, would not have given Him up. " In all spiritual wis dom," he saith, "and understanding." For since the philosophers deceived them ; I wish you, he 1 It may be asked how St. Chrysostom could use this argument, and yet speak as he does of the intercession of Saints (see the end of i Horn. vi. on the Statues, and note). The reason is, that he viewed the Saints as in the Kingdom of Christ, and subordinate; but the I error here referred to seems to have made the Angels independent of I Him, and the means of an approach to God without reference to His Atonement. St. Augustine refers to such systems, De Civ. Dei, lib. ix. 15, 21 ; x. i, &c. saith, to be in spiritual wisdom, not after the wisdom of men. But if in order to know the will of God, there needs spiritual wisdom ; to know His Essence what it is, there is need of continual prayers. And Paul shows here, that since that time he has been praying, and has not yet prevailed, and yet has not desisted ; for the words, " from the day we heard it," show this. But it implies condemnation to them, if, from that time, even assisted by prayers, they had not amended them selves. " And making request," he says, with much earnestness, for this the expression "ye knew " 2 shows. But it is necessary still to know somewhat besides. " To walk worthily," he says, " of the Lord." Here he speaks of life and its works, for so he doth also everywhere : with faith he always couples conduct. " Unto all pleasing." And how, " all pleasing "? "Bear ing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God." Seeing, saith he, He hath fully revealed Himself unto you, and see ing ye have received knowledge so great ; do ye then show forth a conduct worthy of the faith ; for this needeth elevated conduct, greater far than the old dispensation. For, he that hath known God, and been counted worthy to be God s servant, yea, rather, even His Son, see how great virtue he needeth. " Strength ened with all power." He is here speaking of trials and persecutions. We pray that ye might be filled with strength, that ye faint not for sor row, nor despair. " According to the might of His glory." But that ye may take up again such forwardness as it becometh the power of His glory to give. " Unto all patience and long- suffering." What he saith is of this sort. Sum marily, he saith, we pray that ye may lead a life of virtue, and worthy of your citizenship, and may stand firmly, being strengthened as it is reasonable to be strengthened by God. For this cause he doth not as yet touch upon doctrines, but dwells upon life, wherein he had nothing to charge them with, and having praised them where praise was due, he then comes down to accusation. And this he does everywhere : when he is about writing to any with somewhat to blame them for, and somewhat to praise, he first praises them, and then comes down to his charges. For he first conciliates the hearer, and frees his accusation from all suspicion, and ore. This is implied in his wishing them "more" knowl-