HOMILY X.] HOMILIES ON COLOSSIANS. 307 from the imprisoners, it honoreth those laden with chains ; hating the crucifiers, it worships the Crucified. Not the only marvel is it that the preachers were fishermen, that they were ignorant ; but that there were also other hindrances, hin drances too by nature ; still the increase was all the more abundant. Not only was their ignorance no hindrance ; but even it itself caused the Preaching to be manifested. For hear Luke saying, "And perceiving that theywere unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled." (Acts iv. 13.) Not only were bonds no hindrance, but even of itself this made them more confident. Not so bold were the disciples when Paul was at large, as when he was bound. For he saith, they " are more abundantly bold to speak the word " of God "without fear." (Phil. i. 14.) Where are they that will gainsay the divinity of the Preach ing? Was not their ignorance enough to pro cure them to be condemned ? Would it not then in this case too, affright them? For ye know that by these two passions the many are possessed, vainglory and cowardice. Suppose their ignorance suffered them not to feel ashamed, still the dangers must have put them in fear. But, saith one, they wrought miracles. Ye do believe then that they wrought miracles. But did they not work miracles? This is a greater miracle than to work them, if men were drawn to them without miracles. Socrates too amongst the Greeks was put in bonds. What then? Did not his disciples straightway flee to Megara? Assuredly, why not? They admitted 1 his argu ments about immortality. But see here. Paul was put in bonds, and his disciples waxed the more confident, with reason, for they saw that the Preaching was not hindered. For, canst thou put the tongue in bonds? hereby chiefly it runneth. For as, except thou have bound the feet of a runner, thou hast not prevented him from running ; so, except thou have bound the tongue of an evangelist, thou hast not hin dered him from running. And as the former, if thou have bound his loins, runneth on the rather, and is supported, so too the latter preacheth the rather, and with greater bold ness. A prisoner is in fear, when there is nothing beyond bonds : but one that despiseth death, how should he be bound ? They did the same as if they had put in bonds the shadow of Paul, and had gagged its mouth. For it was a fighting with shadows ; for he was both more tenderly regretted by his friends, and more reverenced by his enemies, as bearing the prize for courage in his bonds. And a crown binds the head ; but it disgraces it not, yea rather, it makes it brilliant. Against their wills they crowned him [Ironical. J, A. B.] with his chain. For, tell me, was it possible he could fear iron,who braved the adamantine gates of death? Come we, beloved, to emulate these bonds. As many of you women as deck your selves with trinkets of gold, long ye for the bonds of Paul. Not so glitters the collar round your necks, as the grace of these iron bonds gleamed about his soul h If any longs for those, let him hate these. For what communion hath softness with courage ; tricking out of the body with phi losophy? Those bonds Angels reverence, these they even make a mock of; those bonds are wont to draw up from earth to heaven ; these bonds draw down to earth from heaven. For in truth these are bonds, not those ; those are ornament, these are bonds ; these, along with the body, afflict the soul also ; those, along with the body, adorn as well the soul. Wouldest thou be convinced that those are ornament? Tell me which would more have won the notice of the spectators ? thou or Paul ? And why do I say, "thou "? the queen 2 herself who is all bedecked with gold would not have attracted the spectators so much ; but if it had chanced that both Paul in his bonds and the queen had entered the Church at the same time, all would have removed their eyes from her to him ; and with good reason. For to see a man of a nature greater than human, and having nought of man, but an angel upon earth, is more admirable than to see a woman decked with finery. For such indeed one may see both in theaters, and in pageants, and at baths, and many places ; but whoso seeth a man with bonds upon him, and deeming himself to have the greatest of ornaments, and not giving way under his bonds, doth not behold a spectacle of earth, but one worthy of the heavens. The soul that is in that way attired looks about, who hath seen ? who not seen ? is filled with pride, is possessed with anxious thoughts, is bound with countless other passions : but he that hath these bonds on him, is without pride : his soul exulteth, is freed from every anxious care, is joyous, hath its gaze on heaven, is clad with wings. If any one were to give me the choice of seeing Paul either stooping out of heaven, and uttering his voice, or out of the prison, I would choose the prison. For they of heaven visit him when he is in the prison. The bonds of Paul were the bond of the Preach ing, that chain of his was its foundation. Long we for those bonds ! And how, some one says, may this be? If we break up and dash in pieces these. No good results to uyTrom these bonds, but evenharm. These wilfshow us as prisoners There ; but the bonds on Paul will loose those bonds ; she that is bownd with these here, with those J [Meaning the Express, as king meant the Emperor. J. A. B.]