Homily I. Against those who say that demons govern human affairs, and who are displeased at the chastisement of God, and are offended at the prosperity of the wicked and the hardships of the just. I indeed was hoping, that from the continuance of my discourse, you would have had a surfeit of my words: but I see that the contrary is happening: that no surfeit is taking place from this continuance, but that your desire is increased, that an addition is made not to your satiety but to your pleasure, that the same thing is happening which the winebibbers at heathen drinking-bouts experience; for they, the more they pour down unmixed wine, so much the rather they kindle their thirst, and in your case the more teaching we inculcate, so much the rather do we kindle your desire, we make your longing greater, your love for it the stronger. On this account, although I am conscious of extreme poverty, I do not cease to imitate the ostentatious among entertainers, both setting before you my table continuously, and placing on it the cup of my teaching, filled full: for I see that after having drunk it all, you retire again thirsting. And this indeed has become evident during the whole time, but especially since the last Lord’s Day: For that ye partake of the divine oracles insatiably, that day particularly shewed: whereon I discoursed about the unlawfulness of speaking ill one of another, when I furnished you with a sure subject for self accusation, suggesting that you should speak ill of your own sins, but should not busy yourselves about those of other people: when I brought forward the Saints as accusing themselves indeed, but sparing others: Paul saying I am the chief of sinners, and that God had compassion on him who was a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious,547 and calling himself one born out of due time, and not even thinking himself worthy of the title of Apostle:548 Peter saying “Depart from me because I am a sinful man:”549 Matthew styling himself a publican even in the days of his Apostle- ship:550 David crying out and saying “My iniquities have gone over my head, and as a heavy burden have been burdensome to me:”551 and Isaiah lamenting and bewailing “I am unclean, and have unclean lips:”552 The three children in the furnace of fire, confessing and saying that they have sinned and transgressed, and have not kept the commandments of God. Daniel again makes the same lamentation. When after the enumeration of these Saints, I called their accusers flies, and introduced the right reason for the comparison, saying, that just as they fasten themselves upon the wounds of others, so also the accusers bite at other 547 1 Tim. i. 13, 15. 548 1 Cor. xv. 8, 9. 549 Luke v. 8. 550 Matt. x. 3. 551 Ps. xxxvii. 5. 552 Isa. vi. 5. Homily I. Against Those Who Say that Demons Govern Human Affairs. 242 Homily I. Against Those Who Say that Demons Govern Human Affairs.