HOMILY III.] HOMILIES ON PHILIPPIANS. 197 pathy ; by this you profit yourself too. For he who laments another in such sort, will be much the more earnest never to fall into the same sins. Sin henceforth will be an object of dread to thee. Weep for the unbelievers ; weep for those who differ in nowise from them, those who depart hence without the illumination, 1 without the seal ! they indeed deserve our wail ing, they deserve our groans ; they are outside the Palace, with the culprits, with the con demned : for, " Verily I say unto you, Except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he shall not enter into the kingdom of Heaven." Mourn for those who have died in wealth, and did not from their wealth think of any solace for their soul, who had power to wash away their sins and would not. Let us all weep for these in private and in public, but with pro priety, with gravity, not so as to make exhibi tions of ourselves : let us weep for these, not one day, or two, but all our life. Such tears spring not from senseless passion, but from true affection. The other sort are of senseless pas sion. For this cause they are quickly quenched, whereas if they spring from the fear of God, they always abide with us. Let us weep for these ; let us assist them according to our power ; let us think of some assistance for them, small though it be, yet still let us assist them. How and in what way? By praying and entreating others to make prayers for them, by continu ally giving to the poor on their behalf. This deed hath some consolation ; for hear the words of God Himself, when He says, " I will defend this city for Mine own sake, and for My servant David s sake." (2 Kings xx. 6.) If the remem brance only of a just man had so great power when deeds are done for one, how great power will it not have? Not in vain did the Apostles order 2 that remembrance should be made of the dead in the dreadful Mysteries. They know that great gain resulteth to them, great benefit ; for when the whole people stands with uplifted hands, a priestly assembly, and that awful Sacri fice lies displayed, how shall we not prevail with God by our entreaties for them ? And this we do for those who have departed in faith, 3 whilst 1 [A common expression among the Fathers for baptism. 2 [The reference doubtless is to the so-called " Apostolical Consti tutions," which direct the observance of the Eucharist in commemo ration of the departed. See Smith s Diet. Chr. Antiq., pp. M36 ~ I. A. B.] s See Horn. vi. on the Statues, Tr. p. 387, note 6; also on i Cor. the catechumens are not thought worthy even of this consolation, but are deprived of all means of help save one. And what is this ? We may give to the poor on their behalf. This deed in a certain way refreshes them. For God wills that we should be mutually assisted ; else why hath He ordered us to pray for peace and the good estate of the world? why on behalf of all men? since in this number are included robbers, violaters of tombs, thieves, men laden with untold crimes ; and yet we pray on behalf of all ; perchance they may turn. As then we pray for those living, who differ not from the dead, so too we may pray for them. Job offered sacrifice for his children, and freed them from their sins. " It may be," said he, " that they have renounced God in their hearts." (Job i. 5.) Thus does one provide for one s children ! He said not, as many do nowadays, I will leave them property ; he said not, I will procure them honor; he said not, I will purchase an office ; he said not, I will buy them land ; but, "it may be that they have renounced God in. their hearts." For what profit is there in those things? None at all, in those that remain here. I will make the King of all things favorable to them, and then they will no more want any thing. "The Lord," saith one, "is my Shepherd, I shall not want." (Ps. xxiii. 4.) This is great wealth, this is treasure. If we have the fear of God, we want nothing ; if we have not this, though we have royalty itself, we are the poorest of all men. Nothing is like the man that feareth the Lord. For " the fear of the Lord," it is said, " surpasseth all things." (Ecclus. xxv. n.) This let us procure ; let us do all things for its sake. If need be that we lay down our lives, if our body must be mangled, let us not spare them ; let us do all, to obtain this fear. For thus shall we abound above all men ; and shall obtain those good things to come in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom, &c. xv. 46. Horn. xli. [8]. On Scat. xxi. 15 Tr. p. 487. St. Chrys. makes Flavian speak to Theodosius of the prayers for him after death, that might be won by an act of mercy. Comp. S. Ambr. de ob. Theod. 37. Tert. de Corona, c. iii. speaks of oblations for the de ceased as a general tradition in his time. St. Cyprian, Ep. 66, for bids Eucharistic prayer for one who makes a clergyman his execu tor. Euseb. Vit. Const, iv. 71, speaks of Constantine sharing in the prayers of the Faithful in connection with his burial near the relics of the Apostles. He does not directly mention this as depending on his " Baptism," but the terms of the Eucharistic prayer seem to have marked this, and it is implied in the rule given by St. Cyprian, and the whole principle of that commemoration stated in the passage cited of St. Chrys. on i Cor. xv.