Homily XVI. This Homily was delivered on the occasion of the Prefect1650 entering the Church, for the purpose of pacifying the minds of the people, in consequence of a rumour of an intended sack1651 having been announced to him, when all were meditating flight. It treats also on the subject of avoiding oaths, and on the words of the Apostle, “Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ.”1652 1. I commend the Prefect’s consideration, that seeing the city agitated, and every one purposing a flight, he hath come here and afforded you consolation, and hath led you to entertain favourable hopes. But for you I blushed, and was ashamed, that after these long and frequent discourses ye should have needed consolation from without.1653 I longed that the earth would open and swallow me up, when I heard him discoursing with you, alternately administering comfort, or blaming such ill-timed1654 and senseless cowardice. For it was not becoming, that you should be instructed by him; but you ought yourselves to be teachers to all the unbelievers.1655 Paul did not permit even going to law before the unbelievers;1656 but thou, after so much admonition of our Fathers,1657 hast needed teachers from without; and certain vagabonds and miscreants have again unsettled this great city, and set it upon flight. With what eyes shall we hereafter look upon the unbelievers, we who were so timid and cowardly? With what tongue shall we speak to them, and persuade them to exercise courage as to approaching evils, when we became through this alarm more timid than any hare? “But what could we do,” says some one, “we are but men!” This is indeed the very reason why we ought not to be terrified, because we are men, and not brutes. For these are scared by all manner of sounds and noises; because they have not reasoning power, which is adequate to dispel fear. But thou who hast been honoured with the gift of speech and reason, how is it that thou sinkest to their ignoble condition? Hath some one entered the city, and announced the march of soldiers against it? Be not terrified, but leaving him, bend the knee: call upon thy Lord: groan bitterly, and He will keep off the dreaded event. 1650 ˆρχοντος, some read κόμητος, which seems to imply that this officer was the Prætorian Præfect of the East. See note of Ducæus. Tillemont, art. xxxiv. calls him “le Gouverneur.” 1651 πραίδας, from the Latin Præda. Ducæus takes it with πρὸς τὸν ˆρχοντα, making it only a confiscation. Montfaucon does not agree with Tillemont in dating the Homily, but it must have been delivered after the return of Cæsarius to the Emperor, and before any news from him. The Prefect may be Hellebichus, who was left at Antioch: but see Pref. 1652 Philem. i. 1. 1653 i.e., from one outside the pale of the church. 1654 ˆκαιπον. This word favours the supposition, that all real ground of fear was at an end. 1655 It appears from this, and from what follows, that the Prefect was a Pagan. 1656 1 Cor. vi. 1. 1657 See sec. 3. Homily XVI 653 Homily XVI