440 WORKS OF ST. CHRYSOSTOM. [HOMILY X. v. 1 6.) But what if one be falsely accused, and from peculiar circumstances be slandered ? Well, this is a possible case ; but even such an one ought not to be promoted. For the result is much to be feared. Therefore it is said he should have "a good report," for your good works are to shine. As therefore no one will say that the sun is dark, not even the blind, (for he will be ashamed to oppose the opinion of all,) so him that is of remarkable goodness no one will blame. And though, on account of his doctrines, the Heathen will often slander him, yet they will not attack his virtuous life, but will join with others in admiring and revering it. MORAL. Let us then so live, that the name ofGod be not blasphemed. Let us not, on the one hand, look to human reputation ; nor on the other, subject ourselves to an evil report, but on both sides let us observe moderation ; as he saith, "Among whom ye shine as lights in the world." (Phil. ii. 15.) For on this account He left us here, that we may be as luminaries, that we may be appointed Teachers of others, that we may be as leaven ; that we may converse as angels among men, as men with children, as spiritual with natural men, that they may profit by us, that we may be as seed, and may bring forth much fruit. There were no need of words, ifwe so shone forth in our lives, there were no need of Teachers, did we but exhibit works. There would be no Heathen, if we were such Christians as we ought to be. If we kept the commandments of Christ, ifwe suffered injury, if we allowed advantage to be taken of us, if being reviled we blessed, if being ill-treated we did good (i Cor. iv. 12) ; if this were the gen eral practice among us, no one would be so brutal as not to become a convert to godliness. And to show this ; Paul was but one man, yet how many did he draw after him ? Ifwe were all such as he, how many worlds might we not have drawn to us? Behold, Christians are more numerous than Heathens. And in other arts, one man can teach a hundred boys together ; but here, where there are many more teachers, and many more than the learners, no one is brought over. For those who are taught, look to the virtue of their teachers : and when they see us manifesting the same desires, pursuing the same objects, power and honor, how can they admire Christianity? They see our lives open to reproach, our souls worldly. We admire wealth equally with them, and even more. We have the same horror of death, the same dread of poverty, the same impatience of disease, we are equally fond of glory and of rule. We harass ourselves to death from our love of money, and serve the time. How then can they believe ? From miracles? But these are no longer wrought. From our conversation? It has be come corrupt. From charity? Not a trace of it is anywhere to be seen. Therefore we shall have to give an account not only of our own sins, but of the injury done by them to others. Let us then return to a sound mind ; let us watch, and show forth a heavenly conversation upon earth. Let us say, " Our conversation is in heaven" (Phil. iii. 20), and let us upon earth maintain the contest. There have been great men, it may be said, amongst us, but "how," says the Greek, " shall I believe it ? for I do not see anything like it in your conduct. If this is to be said, we too have had our philosophers, men admirable for their lives." " But show me another Paul, or a John : you cannot." Would he not then laugh at us for reasoning in this manner? Would he not continue to sit still in ignorance, seeing that the wisdom we profess is in words, not in works ? For now for a single halfpenny ye are ready to slay or be slain ! For a handful of earth thou raisest lawsuit after law suit ! For the death of a child thou turnest all upside down ! I omit other things that might make us weep ; your auguries, your omens, your superstitious observances, your casting of nativi ties, your signs, your amulets, your divinations, your incantations, your magic arts. These are crying sins, enough to provoke the anger of God ; that after He has sent His own Son, you should venture on such things as these. What then can we do but weep ? For hardly is a small portion of the world in the way of salvation, and they who are perishing hear it, and rejoice that they are not destined to suffer alone, but in company with numbers. But what cause is this for joy? That very joy will subject them to punishment. For do not think that it is there as here, that to have companions in suffering affords consolation. And whence is this manifest ? I willmake it clear. Suppose that a man were commanded to be burnt, and that he saw his own son burning with him, and that the smell of his scorched flesh rose to his nostrils ; would it not be of itself death to him ? No doubt. And I will tell you how it is. If thosewho are not suffering, yet seeing those things are benumbed and faint with terror, much more will they be so affected, who are themselves sufferers. Wonder not at this. Hear a certain wise one saying, " Art thou become weak aswe ? art thou become like unto us?" (Isa. xiv. 10.) Forhumannature isdisposed tosympathy,andthe affections of others move us to pity. Will then a father seeing his son in the same condemna tion, or a husband his wife, or a man his fellow- man, receive consolation, and not rather an aggravation of his sufferings? Are not we in such case the more overcome? But there, you say, there are no such feelings. I know there are not ; but there are others much more wretched.