Homily LVI.
Matt. XVI. 28
.
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, There are some of
them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, until they see
the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”
Thus
, inasmuch as He had
discoursed much of dangers and death, and of His own passion, and of
the slaughter of the disciples, and had laid on them those severe
injunctions; and these were in the present life and at hand, but the
good things in hope and expectation:—for example, “They
save their life who lose it;” “He is coming in the glory of
His Father;” “He renders His rewards:”—He
willing to assure their very sight, and to show what kind of glory that
is wherewith He is to come, so far as it was possible for them to learn
it; even in their present life He shows and reveals this; that they
should not grieve any more, either over their own death, or over that
of their Lord, and especially Peter in His sorrow.
And see what He doth. Having discoursed of hell,
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and of the kingdom (for as well by saying, “He that findeth his
life shall lose it, and whosoever will lose it for my sake, shall find
it;”
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as by saying, “He shall reward every man according to his
works,”
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He had manifested both of these): having, I say, spoken of both, the
kingdom indeed He shows in the vision, but hell not yet.
Why so? Because had they been another kind of people, of
a grosser sort, this too would have been necessary; but since they are
approved and considerate, He leads them on the gentler way. But not
therefore only doth He make this disclosure, but because to Himself
also it was far more suitable.
Not however that He passes over this subject either, but
in some places He almost brings even before our eyes the very realities
of hell; as when He introduces the picture of Lazarus, and mentions him
that exacted the hundred pence, and him that was clad in the filthy
garments, and others not a few.
2. “And after six days He taketh with Him Peter
and James and John.”
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Now another says, “after eight,”
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not contradicting this writer, but most fully agreeing with him. For
the one expressed both the very day on which He spake, and that on
which He led them up; but the other, the days between them only.
But mark thou, I pray thee, the severe goodness of
Matthew, not concealing those who were preferred to himself. This John
also often doth, recording the peculiar praises of Peter with great
sincerity. For the choir of these holy men was everywhere pure from
envy and vainglory.
Having taken therefore the leaders, “He bringeth
them up into a high mountain apart, and was transfigured before them:
and His face did shine as the sun, and His raiment was
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white as the light. And there appeared unto them Moses and Elias
talking with Him.”
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Wherefore doth He take with Him these only? Because
these were superior to the rest. And Peter indeed showed his
superiority by exceedingly loving Him; but John by being exceedingly
loved of Him; and James again by his answer which he answered with his
brother, saying, “We are able to drink the cup;”
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nor yet by his answer only, but also by his works; both by the rest of
them, and by fulfilling, what he said. For so earnest was he, and
grievous to the Jews, that Herod himself supposed that he had bestowed
herein a very great favor on the Jews, I mean in slaying him.
But wherefore doth He not lead them up straightway? To
spare the other disciples any feeling of human weakness: for which
cause He omits also the names of them that are to go up. And this,
because the rest would have desired exceedingly to have followed, being
to see a pattern of that glory; and would have been pained, as
overlooked. For though it was somewhat in a corporeal way that He made
the disclosure, yet nevertheless the thing had much in it to be
desired.
Wherefore then doth He at all foretell it? That they
might be readier to seize the high meaning, by His foretelling it; and
being filled with the more vehement desire in that round of days, might
so be present with their mind quite awake and full of care.
3. But wherefore doth He also bring forward Moses and
Elias? One might mention many reasons. And first of all this: because
the multitudes said He was, some Elias, some Jeremias, some one of the
old prophets, He brings the leaders of His choir, that they might see
the difference even hereby between the servants and the Lord; and that
Peter was rightly commended for confessing Him Son of God.
But besides that, one may mention another reason also:
that because men were continually accusing Him of transgressing the
law, and accounting Him to be a blasphemer, as appropriating to Himself
a glory which belonged not to Him, even the Father’s, and were
saying, “This Man is not of God, because He keepeth not the
Sabbath day;”
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and again, “For a good work we stone Thee not, but for blasphemy,
and because that Thou, being a man, makest Thyself God:”
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that both the charges might be shown to spring from envy, and He be
proved not liable to either; and that neither is His conduct a
transgression of the law, nor His calling Himself equal to the Father
an appropriation of glory not His own; He brings forward them who had
shone out in each of these respects: Moses, because he gave the law,
and the Jews might infer that he would not have overlooked its being
trampled on, as they supposed, nor have shown respect to the
transgressor of it, and the enemy of its founder: Elias too for his
part was jealous for the glory of God, and were any man an adversary of
God, and calling himself God, making himself equal to the Father, while
he was not what he said, and had no right to do so; he was not the
person to stand by, and hearken unto him.
And one may mention another reason also, with those
which have been spoken of. Of what kind then is it? To inform them that
He hath power both of death and life, is ruler both above and beneath.
For this cause He brings forward both him that had died, and him that
never yet suffered this.
But the fifth motive, (for it is a fifth, besides those
that have been mentioned), even the evangelist himself hath revealed.
Now what was this? To show the glory of the cross, and to console Peter
and the others in their dread of the passion, and to raise up their
minds. Since having come, they by no means held their peace, but
“spake,” it is said, “of the glory
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which He was to accomplish at Jerusalem;
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” that is, of the passion, and the cross; for so they call it
always.
And not thus only did He cheer them, but also by the
excellency itself of the men, being such as He was especially requiring
from themselves. I mean, that having said, “If any man will come
after me, let him take up his cross, and follow me;” them that
had died ten thousand times for God’s decrees, and the people
entrusted to them, these persons He sets before them. Because each of
these, having lost his life, found it. For each of them both spake
boldly unto tyrants, the one to the Egyptian, the other to Ahab; and in
behalf of heartless and disobedient men; and by the very persons who
were saved by them, they were brought into extreme danger; and each of
them wishing to withdraw men from idolatry; and each being unlearned;
for the one was of a “slow tongue,”
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and dull of speech, and the other for his part also somewhat of the
rudest in his bearing: and of voluntary poverty both were very strict
observers; for neither had Moses made any gain, nor had Elias aught
more than his sheepskin; and this under the old law, and when they had
not received so great a gift of miracles. For what if Moses clave a
sea? yet Peter walked on the water, and was able to remove mountains,
and used to work cures of all manner of bodily diseases, and to drive
away savage demons, and by the shadow of his body to work those
wonderful and great prodigies; and changed the whole world. And if
Elias too raised a dead man, yet these raised ten thousand; and this
before the spirit was as yet vouchsafed to them. He brings them forward
accordingly for this cause also. For He would have them emulate their
winning ways toward the people, and their presence of mind and
inflexibility; and that they should be meek like Moses, and jealous for
God like Elias, and full of tender care, as they were. For the one
endured a famine of three years for the Jewish people; and the other
said, “If thou wilt forgive them their sin, forgive; else blot me
too out of the book, which thou hast written.”
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Now of all this He was reminding them by the vision.
For He brought those in glory too, not that these should
stay where they were, but that they might even surpass their limitary
lines. For example, when they said, “Should we command fire to
come down from heaven,” and made mention of Elias as having done
so, He saith, “Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are
of;”
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training them to forbearance by the superiority in their gift.
And let none suppose us to condemn Elias as imperfect;
we say not this; for indeed he was exceedingly perfect, but in his own
times, when the mind of men was in some degree childish, and they
needed this kind of schooling. Since Moses too was in this respect
perfect; nevertheless these have more required of them than he. For
“except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the
Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of
Heaven.”
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For not into Egypt did they enter, but into the whole world, worse
disposed than the Egyptians; neither were they to speak with Pharaoh,
but to fight hand to hand with the devil, the very prince of
wickedness. Yea, and their appointed struggle was, both to bind him,
and to spoil all his goods; and this they did cleaving not the sea, but
an abyss of ungodliness, through the rod of Jesse,—an abyss
having waves far more grievous. See at any rate how many things there
were to put the men in fear; death, poverty, dishonor, their
innumerable sufferings; and at these things they trembled more than the
Jews of old at that sea. But nevertheless against all these things He
persuaded them boldly to venture, and to pass as along dry ground with
all security.
To train them therefore for all this, He brought forward
those who shone forth under the old law.
4. What then saith the ardent Peter? “It is good
for us to be here.”
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For because he had heard that Christ was to go to Jerusalem and to
suffer, being in fear still and trembling for Him, even after His
reproof, he durst not indeed approach and say the same thing again,
“Be it far from thee;
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but from that fear obscurely intimates the same again in other words.
That is, when he saw a mountain, and so great retirement and solitude,
his thought was, “He hath great security here, even from the
place; and not only from the place, but also from His going away no
more unto Jerusalem.” For he would have Him be there continually:
wherefore also he speaks of “tabernacles.” For “if
this may be,” saith he, “we shall not go up to Jerusalem;
and if we go not up, He will not die, for there He said the scribes
would set upon Him.”
But thus indeed he durst not speak; but desiring however
to order things so, he said undoubtingly, “It is good for us to
be here,” where Moses also is present, and Elias; Elias who
brought down fire on the mountain, and Moses who entered into the thick
darkness, and talked with God; and no one will even know where we
are.
Seest thou the ardent lover of Christ? For look not now
at this, that the manner of his exhortation was not well weighed, but
see how ardent he was, how burning his affection to Christ. For in
proof that not so much out of fear for himself he said these things,
hear what he saith, when Christ was declaring beforehand His future
death, and the assault upon Him: “I will lay down my life for Thy
sake.
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Though I should die with Thee, yet will I not deny Thee.
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And see how even in the very midst of the actual dangers
he counselled amiss
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for himself. We know that when so great a multitude encompassed them,
so far from flying, he even drew the sword, and cut off the ear of the
high priest’s servant. To such a degree did he disregard his own
interest, and fear for his Master. Then because he had spoken as
affirming a fact, he checks himself, and thinking, what if he should be
again reproved, he saith, “If Thou wilt, let us make
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here three tabernacles, one for Thee and one for Moses, and one for
Elias.”
What sayest thou, O Peter? didst thou not a little while
since distinguish Him from the servants? Art thou again numbering Him
with the servants? Seest thou how exceedingly imperfect they were
before the crucifixion? For although the Father had revealed it to him,
yet he did not always retain the revelation, but was troubled by his
alarm; not this only, which I have mentioned, but another also, arising
from that sight. In fact, the other evangelists, to declare this, and
to indicate that the confusion of his mind, with which he spake these
things, arose from that alarm, said as follows; mark, “He wist
not what to say, for they were sore afraid;”
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but Luke after his saying, “Let us make three tabernacles,”
added, “not knowing what he said.”
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Then to show that he was holden with great fear, both he and the rest,
he saith, “They were heavy with sleep, and when they were awake
they saw His glory;”
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meaning by deep sleep here, the deep stupor engendered in them by that
vision. For as eyes are darkened by an excessive splendor, so at that
time also did they feel. For it was not, I suppose, night, but day; and
the exceeding greatness of the light weighed down the infirmity of
their eyes.
5. What then? He Himself speaks
nothing, nor Moses, nor Elias, but He that is
greater than all, and more worthy of belief, the Father, uttereth a
voice out of the cloud.
Wherefore out of the cloud? Thus doth God ever appear.
“For a cloud and darkness are round about Him;”
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and, “He sitteth on a light cloud;”
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and again, “Who maketh clouds His chariot;”
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and, “A cloud received Him out of their sight;”
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and, “As the Son of Man coming in the clouds.”
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In order then that they might believe that the voice
proceeds from God, it comes from thence.
And the cloud was bright. For “while he yet spake,
behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and, behold, a voice out of
the cloud, which said, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased; hear ye Him.”
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For as, when He threatens, He shows a dark
cloud;—as on Mount Sinai; for “Moses,” it is said,
“entered into the cloud, and into the thick darkness; and as a
vapor, so went up the smoke;”
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and the prophet said, when speaking of His threatening, “Dark
water in clouds of the air;”
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—so here, because it was His desire not to alarm, but to teach,
it is a bright cloud.
And whereas Peter had said “Let us make three
tabernacles,” He showed a tabernacle not made with hands.
Wherefore in that case it was smoke, and vapor of a furnace; but in
this, light unspeakable and a voice.
Then, to signify that not merely concerning some one of
the three was it spoken, but concerning Christ only; when the voice was
uttered, they were taken away. For by no means, had it been spoken
merely concerning any one of them, would this man have remained alone,
the two being severed from Him.
Why then did not the cloud likewise receive Christ
alone, but all of them together? If it had received Christ alone, He
would have been thought to have Himself uttered the voice. Wherefore
also the evangelist, making sure this same point, saith, that the voice
was from the cloud, that is, from God.
And what saith the voice? “This is my beloved
Son.” Now if He is beloved, fear not thou, O Peter. For thou
oughtest indeed to know His power already, and to be fully assured
touching His resurrection; but since thou knowest not, at least from
the voice of the Father take courage. For if God be mighty, as surely
He is mighty, very evidently the Son is so likewise. Be not afraid then
of those fearful things.
But if as yet thou receive it not, consider at least
that other fact, that He is both a Son, and is beloved. For
“This,” it is said, “is My beloved Son.” Now if
He is beloved, fear not. For no one gives up one whom he loves. Be not
thou therefore confounded; though thou lovest Him beyond measure, thou
lovest Him not as much as He that begat Him.
“In whom I am well pleased.” For not because
He begat Him only, doth He love Him, but because He is also equal to
Him in all respects, and of one mind with Him. So that the charm of
love is twofold, or rather even threefold, because He is the Son,
because He is beloved, because in Him He is well pleased.
But what means, “In whom I am well pleased?”
As though He had said, “In whom I am refreshed, in whom I take
delight;” because He is in all respects perfectly equal with
Himself, and there is but one will in Him and in the Father, and though
He continue a Son, He is in all respects one with the Father.
“Hear ye Him.” So that although He choose to
be crucified, you are not to oppose Him.
6. “And when they heard it, they fell on their
face, and were sore afraid. And Jesus came and touched them, and said,
Arise, and be not afraid. And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw
no man, save Jesus only.”
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How was it that, when they heard these words, they were
dismayed? And yet before this also a like voice was uttered at Jordan,
and a multitude was present, and no one felt anything of the kind; and
afterwards again, when also they said, “It thundered,”
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yet neither at that time did they experience anything like this. How
then did they fall down in the mount? Because there was solitude, and
height, and great quietness, and a transfiguration full of awe, and a
pure light, and a cloud stretched out; all which things put them in
great alarm. And the amazement came thick on every side, and they fell
down both in fear at once and in adoration.
But that the fear abiding so long might not drive out
their recollection, presently He puts an end to their alarm, and is
seen Himself alone, and commands them to tell no man this, until He is
risen from the dead.
For “as they came down from the mount, He charged
them to tell the vision to no man, until He were risen from the
dead.”
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what they were about.
7. Nothing then is more blessed than the apostles, and
especially the three, who even in the cloud were counted worthy to be
under the same roof with the Lord.
But if we will, we also shall behold Christ, not as they
then on the mount, but in far greater brightness. For not thus shall He
come hereafter. For whereas then, to spare His disciples, He discovered
so much only of His brightness as they were able to bear; hereafter He
shall come in the very glory of the Father, not with Moses and Elias
only, but with the infinite host of the angels, with the archangels,
with the cherubim, with those infinite tribes, not having a cloud over
His head, but even heaven itself being folded up.
For as it is with the judges; when they judge publicly,
the attendants drawing back the curtains show them to all; even so then
likewise all men shall see Him sitting, and all the human race shall
stand by, and He will make answers to them by Himself; and to some He
will say, “Come, ye blessed of my Father; for I was an hungered,
and ye gave me meat;”
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to others, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant, thou hast
been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many
things.”
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And again passing an opposite sentence, to some He will
answer, “Depart into the everlasting fire, that is prepared for
the devil and his angels,”
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and to others, “O thou wicked and slothful servants.”
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And some He will “cut asunder,” and “deliver to the
tormentors;” but others He will command to “be bound hand
and foot, and cast into outer darkness.”
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And after the axe the furnace will follow; and all out of the net, that
is cast away, will fall therein.
“Then shall the righteous shine forth as the
sun;”
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or rather more than the sun. But so much is said, not because their
light is to be so much and no more, but since we know no other star
brighter than this, He chose by the known example to set forth the
future brightness of the saints.
Since on the mount too, when He says, “He did
shine as the sun,” for the same cause did He so speak. For that
the comparison did not come up to His light, the apostles showed by
falling down. For had the brightness not been unalloyed, but comparable
to the sun; they would not have fallen, but would easily have borne
it.
The righteous therefore will shine as the sun, and more
than the sun in that time; but the sinners shall suffer all
extremities. Then will there be no need of records, proofs, witnesses.
For He who judges is Himself all, both witness, and proof, and judge.
For He knows all things exactly; “For all things are naked and
opened unto His eyes.”
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No man will there appear rich or poor, mighty or weak,
wise or unwise, bond or free; but these masks will be dashed in pieces,
and the inquiry will be into their works only. For if in our courts,
when any one is tried for usurpation, or murder, whatever he may be,
whether governor, or consul, or what you will, all these dignities
fleet away, and he that is convicted suffers the utmost penalty; much
more will it be so there.
8. Therefore that this may not be so, let us lay aside
our filthy garments, let us put on the armor of light, and the glory of
God will wrap us around. For what is even grievous in the injunctions?
or what is there not easy? Hear, for instance, the prophet speaking,
and then thou shalt know the easiness thereof. “Neither though
thou bow as a collar thy neck, and strew beneath thee sackcloth and
ashes, not even so shalt thou call a fast acceptable; but loose every
bond of iniquity, unloose the twisted knots of oppressive
bargains.”
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See a prophet’s wisdom, how stating first whatever
was irksome, and removing it, he exhorts them to obtain salvation by
the duties that are easy; signifying, that God needs not toils, but
obedience.
Then implying that virtue is easy, but vice grievous and
galling, he makes it out by the
bare names; “For,” saith he,
“vice is a bond,” and “a twisted knot,” but
virtue is a disengagement and release from all these.
“Tear in sunder every unjust compact;” thus
calling men’s bills about the interest due to them, and the sums
they have lent.
“Set at liberty them that are bruised;” them
that are afflicted. For such a being is the debtor; when he sees his
creditor, his mind is broken, and he fears him more than a wild
beast.
“Bring in the poor that are cast out to thy house;
if thou seest one naked, clothe him, and them that belong to thy seed
thou shalt not overlook.”
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Now in our late discourse which we made unto you when
declaring the rewards, we showed the wealth arising from these acts;
but now let us see if any of the injunctions be grievous, and
transcending our nature. Nay, nothing of the kind shall we discover,
but quite the contrary; that while these courses are very easy, those
of vice are full of labor. For what is more vexatious than to be
lending, and taking thought about usuries and bargains, and demanding
sureties, and fearing and trembling about securities, about the
principal, about the writings, about the interest, about the
bondsmen?
For such is the nature of worldly things; yea, nothing
is so unsound and suspicious as that which is accounted security, and
contrived for that purpose; but to show mercy is easy, and delivers
from all anxiety.
Let us not then traffic in other men’s calamities,
nor make a trade of our benevolence. And I know indeed that many hear
these words with displeasure; but what is the profit of silence? For
though I should hold my peace, and give no trouble by my words, I could
not by this silence deliver you from your punishment; rather it has
altogether the opposite result; the penalty is enhanced, and not to you
only, but to me also, doth such a silence procure punishment. What then
signify our gracious words, when in our works they help us not, but
rather do harm? What is the good of delighting men in word, while we
vex them in deed, bringing pleasure to the ears, and punishment to the
soul? Wherefore I must needs make you sorry here, that we may not
suffer punishment there.
9. For indeed a dreadful disease, beloved, dreadful and
needing much attendance, hath fallen on the church. Those, namely, who
are enjoined not even by honest labors to lay up treasures, but to open
their houses to the needy, make a profit of other men’s poverty,
devising a specious robbery, a plausible covetousness.
For tell me not of the laws that are without; since even
the publican fulfills the law that is without, but nevertheless is
punished: which will be the case with us also, unless we refrain from
oppressing the poor, and from using their need and necessity as an
occasion for shameless trafficking.
For to this intent thou hast wealth, to relieve poverty,
not to make a gain of poverty; but thou with show of relief makest the
calamity greater, and sellest benevolence for money. Sell it, I forbid
thee not, but for a heavenly kingdom. Receive not a small price for so
good a deed, thy monthly one in the hundred,
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but that immortal life. Why art thou beggarly, and poor, and mean,
selling thy great things for a little, even for goods that perish, when
it should be for an everlasting kingdom? Why dost thou leave God, and
get human gains? Why dost thou pass by the wealthy one, and trouble him
that hath not? and leaving the sure paymaster make thy bargain with the
unthankful? The other longs to repay, but this even grudges in the act
of repaying. This hardly repays a hundredth part, but the other
“an hundredfold and eternal life.” This with insults and
revilings, but the other with praises and auspicious words. This stirs
up envy against thee, but the other even weaves for thee crowns. This
hardly here, but the other both there and here.
Surely then is it not the utmost senselessness, not so
much as to know how to gain? How many have lost their very principal
for the interest’s sake? How many have fallen into perils for
usurious gains. How many have involved both themselves and others in
extreme poverty through their unspeakable covetousness!
For tell me not this, that he is pleased to receive, and
is thankful for the loan. Why, this is a result of thy cruelty. Since
Abraham too,
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contriving how his plan might take with the barbarians, did himself
give up his wife to them; not however willingly, but through fear of
Pharaoh. So also the poor man, because thou countest him not even worth
so much money, is actually compelled to be thankful for cruelty.
And it seems to me as though, shouldest thou deliver him
from dangers, thou wouldest exact of him a payment for this
deliverance. “Away,” saith he; “let it not be.”
What sayest thou? Delivering him from the greater evil, thou art
unwilling to exact money, and
for
the lesser dost thou display so much inhumanity?
Seest thou not how great a punishment is appointed for
the deed? hearest thou not that even in the old law this is
forbidden?
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But what is the plea of the many? “When I have received the
interest, I give to the poor;” one tells me. Speak reverently, O
man; God desires not such sacrifices. Deal not subtilly with the law.
Better not give to a poor man, than give from that source; for the
money that hath been collected by honest labors, thou often makest to
become unlawful because of that wicked increase; as if one should
compel a fair womb to give birth to scorpions.
And why do I speak of God’s law? Do not even ye
call it “filth”? But if ye, the gainers, give your voice
so, consider what suffrage God will pass upon you.
And if thou wilt ask the Gentile lawgivers too, thou
wilt be told that even by them this thing is deemed a proof of the most
utter shamelessness. Those, for example, who are in offices of honor,
and belong to the great council, which they call the senate, may not
legally disgrace themselves with such gains; there being a law among
them which prohibits the same.
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How then is it not a horrible thing, if thou ascribe not
even so much honor to the polity of Heaven, as the legislators to the
council of the Romans; but Heaven is to obtain less than earth, and
thou art not ashamed even of the very folly of the thing? For what
could be more foolish than this, unless one without land, rain, or
plough, were to insist upon sowing?
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Tares therefore, to be committed to the fire, do they reap, who have
devised this evil husbandry.
Why, are there not many honest trades? in the fields,
the flocks, the herds, the breeding of cattle, in handicrafts, in care
of property? Why rave and be frantic, cultivating thorns for no good?
What if the fruits of the earth are subject to mischance; hail, and
blight, and excessive rain? yet not to such an extent as are money
dealings. For in whatsoever cases of that sort occur, the damage of
course concerns the produce, but the principal remains, I mean, the
land. But herein many often have suffered shipwreck in their principal;
and before the loss too they are in continual dejection. For never doth
the money-lender enjoy his possessions, nor find pleasure in them; but
when the interest is brought, he rejoices not that he hath received
gain, but is grieved that the interest hath not yet come up to the
principal. And before this evil offspring is brought forth complete, he
compels it also to bring forth,
2211
making the interest principal, and forcing it to bring forth its
untimely and abortive brood of vipers. For of this nature are the gains
of usury; more than those wild creatures do they devour and tear the
souls of the wretched.
2212
This “is the bond of iniquity:” this “the twisted
knot of oppressive bargains.”
Yea, “I give,” he seems to say, “not
for thee to receive, but that thou mayest repay more.” And
whereas God commands not even to receive what is given (for
“give,” saith He, “to them from whom ye look not to
receive”),
2213
thou requirest even more than is given, and what thou gavest not, this
as a debt, thou constrainest the receiver to pay.
And thou indeed supposest thy substance to be increased
hereby, but instead of substance thou art kindling the unquenchable
fire.
That this therefore may not be, let us cut out the evil
womb of usurious gains, let us deaden these lawless travailings, let us
dry up this place of pernicious teeming, and let us pursue the true and
great gains only. “But what are these?” Hear Paul saying
“Godliness with contentment is great gain.”
2214
Therefore in this wealth alone let us be rich, that we
may both here enjoy security, and attain unto the good things to come,
by the grace and love towards man of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be
glory and might with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and always,
and world without end. Amen.
2161
[
γεννη
.]
2162
Matt. xvi.
25
.
2163
Matt. xvi.
27
. [
τν πρξιν
ατο
.]
2164
Matt. xvii.
1
.
2165
Luke ix.
28
.
2166
[R.V. “his garments became,” etc.]
2167
Matt. xvii.
2, 3
.
2168
Matt. xx.
20, 22
.
2169
John ix.
16
.
2170
John x.
33
.
2171
δξαν
: in
our copies of St. Luke
ἔξοδον
,
but St. Chrysostom’s reading is that of
a good many
mss
. [None of the recent critical
editions of the New Testament refer to any Greek
mss
., uncial or cursive, with this reading. Chrysostom
alludes to it again in Homily LVIII. 1.—R.]
2172
Luke ix.
31
.
2173
Exod. iv.
10
.
2174
Exod.
xxxii. 32
.
2175
Luke ix.
54, 55
. [The latter clause is
omitted in the R.V. text.—R.]
2176
Matt. v.
20
.
2177
Matt. xvi.
4
.
2178
Matt. xvi.
22
.
2179
John xiii.
37
.
2180
Matt. xxvi.
35
.
2181
παρεβολευετο
.
Comp.
Philip. ii. 30
.
2182
[R.V., “I will make” (
ποισω
) with the earliest
mss
. Mark and Luke: “Let us
make.”—R.]
2183
Mark ix.
6
.
2184
Luke ix.
33
.
2185
Luke ix.
32
. [R.V., margin,
“having remained awake.”]
2186
Ps. xcvii.
2
.
2187
Is. xix.
1
.
2188
Ps. civ.
3
.
2189
Acts i.
9
.
2190
Dan. vii.
13
.
2191
Matt. xvii.
5
.
2192
Exod. xx.
21, xix. 18
.
2193
Ps. xviii.
11
.
2194
Matt. xvii.
6–8
.
2195
John xii.
28, 29
.
2196
Matt. xvii.
9
. [In the last clause
“the Son of Man” is omitted, and
ἀ
ναστ
is substituted for
ἐ
γερθ
μεσολαβοντο
.
2197
Matt. xxv.
34, 35
.
2198
Matt. xxv.
23
.
2199
Matt. xxv.
41
.
2200
Matt. xxv.
26
.
2201
Matt. xxii.
13
.
2202
Matt. xiii.
43
.
2203
Heb. iv.
13
.
2204
Is. lviii.
6
.
2205
Is. lviii.
7
.
2206
Τκο
κατοστιαο
,
centesima usura
, 1 per cent, per month.
2207
Gen. xii.
11
, etc.
2208
Exod. xxii.
25; Lev. xxv. 35, 36; Deut. xxiii. 19
.
2209
See Bingham,
Antiq
. vi. ii. 6, who refers to
a Law of Honorius, A.D. 397.
Cod. Theod.
lib. 2, tit. 33,
de
usuris
, leg. 3; and Gibbon, c. 44; who quotes several of the
Fathers to prove that all lending with interest was forbidden; but most
or all of them seem to be speaking of exorbitant interest, or of
lending to the poor.
2210
So St. Basil, as quoted below. “The husbandman
having reaped the ear, seeks not again the seed under the root. But
thou having the fruits, still givest not up that of which they grew.
Thou plantest without land, thou reapest without seed.”
2211
St. Basil,
Hom. in Ps
. 14 (15), c. 3.
“Interest upon interest, a bad offspring of bad parents. These
may be well called
a generation of vipers
, I mean what our
usuries bring forth. Vipers, they say, are yeaned, eating through their
mother’s womb: and these usurious gains devour the debtors’
houses, and so have their birth.”
2212
There is here and afterwards a play upon the word
τκο,
gain,
as a derivative of
τκτειν
,
to bring
forth
, which can hardly be expressed in English.
2213
Luke vi.
35
. [Cited very freely.]
2214
1 Tim. vi.
6
.