350 WORKS OF ST. CHRYSOSTOM. [HOMILY VI. want of faith does it argue, to suppose that thy husband or thy son constitutes thy safety, and not God ! How dost thou not think to provoke Him? For often on this account He takes them away, that thou mayest not be so bound to them, so that it may withdraw thy hopes from them. For God is jealous, and wills to be loved by us most of all things : and that, because He loves us exceedingly. For ye know that this is the custom of those who love to distraction. They are excessively jealous, and would choose rather to throw away their life, than to be sur passed in esteem by any of their rival lovers. On this account also God hath taken him, because of these words. 1 For, tell me, on what account were there not in old times widowhoods, and untimely orphan hoods ? Wherefore did He permit Abraham and Isaac to live a long time ? Because even when he was living he preferred God before him. He said indeed, slay ; and he slew him. Why did he bring Sarah to so great an age? Be cause, even whilst she was living, he listened to God rather than to her. For this reason God said to him, " Hear Sarah thy wife." (From Gen. xxi. 12.) No one then either from love to husband or wife, or on account of the protec tion of a child, provoked God to anger. But now because we are declining downwards, and have exceedingly fallen off, we men love our wives more than God, and we women honor our husbands more than God. It is on this account that He draws us even against our will to the love of Himself. Love not thy husband more than God, and thou shalt not ever expe rience widowhood. Or rather, even if it should happen, thou shalt not have the feeling of it. Why? Because thou hast an immortal Protec tor who loves thee better. If thou lovest God more, mourn not : for He who is more beloved is immortal, and does not suffer thee to feel the loss of him who is less beloved. This I will make manifest to thee by an example. Tell me, if thou hast a husband, complying with thee in all things, one that is respected, and that makes thee honorable everywhere, and not to be despised, one respected amongst all, intelli gent and wise, and loving thee, thou being esteemed happy on his account, and in conjunc tion with him shouldest thou also bring forth a child, and then before it has arrived at the age of maturity, that child should depart ; wilt thou then feel the affliction? By no means. For he that is more beloved makes it disappear. And now if thou love God more than thy hus band, assuredly He will not soon take him away. But even if He should take him, thou wilt not be sensible of the affliction. For this reason the blessed Job felt no severe suffering, when 1 i.e. " because you say such things about him." he heard of the death of his children all at once, because he loved God more than them. And whilst He whom he loved was living, those things would not be able to afflict him. What sayest thou, O woman? Thy husband or thy son was thy protector? But does not thy God spare thee? \Vho gave thee t thy very husband? Was it not He? And who made thee? Was it not He? He surely who brought thee out of nothing into being, and breathed into thee a soul, and put in thee a mind, and vouchsafed to favor thee with the knowledge of Himself, and for thy sake spared not His only-begotten Son, does not He spare thee? And does thy fellow-servant spare thee? What wrath is due to these words ! What of this kind hast thou had from thy husband? Thou canst not say anything. For if he has even done thee any kindness, it was after he had received kindness, you having previously begun. But in the case of God no one can say any such thing. For it is not as having received any favors from us that God benefits us, but being incapable of want, from His good ness alone He does good to mankind. He has promised thee a kingdom, He has given immor tal life, glory, brotherhood, adoption. He has made thee fellow-heir with His Only-Begotten. And dost thou after so great benefits remember thy husband? What has he bestowed of this kind? He has made His sun to shine, He has given rain, He sustains thee with yearly nourish ment. Woe to us for our great ingratitude ! For this reason He takes thy husband, that thou mayest not seek him. But dost thou still cling to him though departed, and forsakest God, when it was thy duty to give thanks, to cast it all upon Him? For what is it that thou hast received from thy husband ? The pains of child birth, and labors, and insults and reproaches often, and chidings, and bursts of anger. Are not these the things that come from husbands ? But there are, you say, other things too that are good. Of what sort then are these? Did he set off thy beauty with costly garments? Did he put gold ornaments about thy face? Did he make thee respected by all? But if thou wilt, thou shalt adorn thyself with a much better ornament than the departed. For grav ity makes its possessor much more admirable than golden ornaments. This King also has garments, not of this sort, but much better. With those, if thou wilt, invest thyself. Of what sort then are they? There is a clothing which has fringes of gold ; if thou wilt, array the soul. But did he make thee not to be despised by men? And what is there great in that ? Thy widowhood suffers thee not to be despised by the demons. Then thou ruledst over thy servants, if at least thou didst at all