HOMILY XVII.] HOMILIES ON EPHESIANS. to be guarded against, let us discuss this point a little, to show you how vast an evil it is. For indeed this is a work of the devil, to make us disregard things indifferent. First of all then, even if it were indifferent, not even in that case were it right to disregard it, when one knows that the greatest evils are both produced and increased by it, and that it oftentimes terminates in fornication. However, that it is not even in different is evident from hence. Let us see then whence it is produced. Or rather, let us see what sort of a person a saint ought to be : gentle, meek, sorrowful, mournful, contrite. The man then who deals in jests is no saint. Nay, were he even a Greek, such an one would be scorned. These are things allowed to those only who are on the stage. Where filthiness is, there also is jesting ; where unseasonable laugh ter is, there also is jesting. Hearken to what the Prophet saith, " Serve the Lord in fear, and rejoice with trembling." (Ps. ii. n.) Jesting renders the soul soft and indolent. It excites the soul unduly, and often it teems with acts of violence, and creates wars. But what more? In fine, hast thou not come to be among men? then " put away childish things." (i Cor. xiii. ii.) Why, thou wilt not allow thine own ser vant in the market place to speak an imperti nent word : and dost thou then, who sayest thou art a servant of God, go uttering thy witticisms in the public square ? It is well if the soul that is "sober" be not stolen away; but one that is relaxed and dissolute, who cannot carry off? It will be its own murderer, and will stand in no need of the crafts or assaults of the devil. But, moreover, in order to understand this, look too at the very name. 1 It means .the ver satile man, the man of all complexions, the un stable, the pliable, the man that can be anything and everything. But far is this from those who are servants to the Rock. Such a character quickly turns and changes ; for he must needs mimic both gesture and speech, and laugh and gait, and everything, aye, and such an one is obliged to invent jokes : for he needs this also. But far be this from a Christian, to play the buf foon. Farther, the man who plays the jester must of necessity incur the signal hatred of the objects of his random ridicule, whether they be present, or being absent hear of it. If the thing is creditable, why is it left to mountebanks? What, dost thou make thyself a mountebank, and yet art not ashamed ? Why is it ye permit not your gentlewomen to do so? Is it not that ye set it down as a mark of an im modest, and not of a discreet character ? Great are the evils that dwell in a soul given to jesting ; 1 [" iiTpa.7reAia, from evrpajreAos, which is derived from tv and rptsireerOai, that which easily turns," and in this way adapts itself to the moods and conditions of those with whom at the moment it may deal." Trench, Synonyms ofN. T. i series, p. 167. G. A.] great is the ruin and desolation. Its consistency is broken, the building is decayed, fear is ban ished, reverence is gone. A tongue thou hast, not that thou mayest ridicule another man, but that thou mayest give thanks unto God. Look at your merriment-makers,2 as they are called, those buffoons. These are your jesters. Ban ish from your souls, I entreat you, this graceless accomplishment. It is the business of parasites, of mountebanks, of dancers, of harlots ; far be it from a generous, far be it from a highborn soul, aye, far too even from slaves. If there be any one who has lost respect, if there be any vile person, that man is also a jester. To many indeed the thing appears to be even a virtue, and this truly calls for our sorrow. Just as lust by little and little drives headlong into fornica tion, so also does a turn for jesting. It seems to have a grace about it, yet there is nothing more graceless than this. For hear the Scrip ture which says, " Before the thiyider goeth lightning, and before a shamefaced man shall go favor." 3 Now there is nothing more shameless than the jester ; so that his mouth is not full of favor, but of pain. Let us banish this custom from our tables. Yet are there some who teach it even to the poor ! O monstrous ! they make men in affliction play the jester. Why, where shall not this pest be found next ? Already has it been brought into the Church itself. Already has it laid hold of the very Scriptures. Need I say anything to prove the enormity of the evil? I am ashamed indeed, but still nevertheless I will speak ; for I am desirous to show to what a length the mischief has advanced, that I may not appear to be trifling, or to be discoursing to you on some trifling subject ; that even thus I may be enabled to withdraw you from this de lusion. And let no one think that I am fabri cating, but I will tell you what I have really heard. A certain person happened to be in company with one of those who pride themselves highly on their knowledge (now I know I shall excite a smile, but still I will say it notwithstand ing) ; and when the platter was set before him, he said, " Take and eat, children, lest your belly be angry ! " 4 And again, others say, " Woe unto thee, Mammon, and to him that hath thee not"; 13 and many like enormities has jesting introduced ; as when they say, " Now is there no nativity."" And this I say to show the enor mity of this base temper ; for these are the ex pressions of a soul destitute of all reverence. And are not these things enough to call down thunderbolts? And one might find many other 2 [yeAwTOJroious, literally, " laugh-makers." G. A.] 3 [n-pb /3po-T7Js KUTaffirev&ei derTpamj, icai jrpb \ev<rerai vapi. Ecclus. xxxii. 10. G. A.] 4 pda.<rOe, iratSia, firj TTOTC opyi<T0fi icoiAia." ouat (roi, fiafiiavoi Apn oil* tort fi n. 3. . . vid. Suicer, Thesaurus, voc.