374 WORKS OF ST. CHRYSOSTOM. [HOMILY XI. drawing after thee any pride from .without, hav ing looked upon these, and laid aside thy arro gance, and become contrite in heart, so thou mayest go in, and hear the things that are said ; for it is not possible that he who prays with an arrogant mind should be heard. That when thou seest an aged man, thou mayest not be elated at thy youth, for these old men were once young. That when thou boastest highly of thy warfare, or thy kingly power, thou mayest con sider that from these are sprung thosewho are be come illustrious in kings courts. That, when thou presumest upon thy bodily health, taking heed to these, thou mayest abate thy lofty spirit. For the healthy man who continually enters here, will not be highminded on account of his bodily health ; and the sick man will receive no slight consolation. But they do not sit here only on this account, but that they may also make thee compassionate, and thou mayest be inclined to pity ; that thou mayest admire the lovingkindness of God ; for ifGod is not ashamed of them, but has set them in His vestibules, much less be thou ashamed ; that thou mayest not be highminded on account of palaces upon earth. Be not ashamed, when called upon by a poor man ; and if he should draw near, if he should catch thy knees, shake him not off. For these are certain admirable dogs of the Royal Courts. For I do not call them dogs as dishonoring them far be it but even highly commending them. They guard the King s court. Therefore feed them. For the honor passes on to the King. There all is pride, I speak of the palaces on earth here all is humility. You learn especially from the very vestibules that human beings are nothing. From the very persons who sit before them, you are taught that God delights not in riches. For their sitting and assembling there is all but an admonition, sending forth a clear voice regard ing the nature of all men, and saying that human things are nothing, that they are shadow and smoke. If riches were a good, God would not have seated the poor before His own vestibule. And if He admits rich people also, wonder not, for He admits them not on this account, that they may continue rich, but that they may be delivered from their encumbrance. For hear what Christ says to them, "Ye cannot serve God and Mammon " (Matt. vi. 24.) ; and again, " It is hard for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven" ; and again, "It is easier for a camel to go through a needle s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven." (Matt. xix. 23, 24.) On this account He receives the rich, that they may hear these words, that they may long for the eternal riches, that they may covet things in heaven. And why dost thou wonder that He does not disdain to seat such at His vestibules? for He does not disdain to call them to His spiritual Table, and make them partakers of that Feast. But the maimed and the lame, the old man that is clothed in rags and filth, and has catarrh, comes to partake of that Table with the young and the beautiful, and with him even who is clothed in purple, and whose head is encircled with a diadem and is thought worthy of the spiritual Feast, and both enjoy the same benefits, and there is no differ ence. Does then Christ not disdain to call them to His Table with the king (Emperor) for both are called together and thou perhaps dis- dainest even to be seen giving to the poor, or even conversing with them ? Fie upon thy haughtiness and pride ! See that we suffer not the same with the rich man formerly. He dis dained even to look upon Lazarus, and did not allow him to share his roof or shelter, but he was without, cast away at his gate, nor was he even vouchsafed a word from him. But see how, when fallen into straits, and in want of his help, he failed to obtain it. For if we are ashamed of those ofwhom Christ is not ashamed, we are ashamed of Christ, being ashamed of His friends. Let thy table be filled with the maimed and the lame. Through them Christ comes, not through the rich. Perhaps thou laughest at hearing this ; therefore, that thou mayest not think it is my word, hear Christ Himself speak ing, that thou mayest not laugh, but shudder : " When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends nor thy brethren, nor thy kins men, nor rich neighbors ; lest haply they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, bid the poor, the maimed, the halt, the blind ; and thou shalt be blessed ; because they have not wherewith to recompense thee : for thou shalt be recompensed in the Resurrection of the just." (Luke xiv. 12-14.) And- greater is thy glory even here, if thou lovest that. For from the former class of guests arise envy, and malice, and slanders, and revilings, and much fear lest anything unbe coming should occur. And thou standest like a servant before his master, if those who are invited are thy superiors, fearing their criticism and their lips. But in the case of these there is nothing of this sort, but whatever you bring them, they receive all with pleasure ; and ample is the applause, brighter the glory, higher the admiration. All they that hear do not so much applaud the former, as the latter. But if thou disbelievest, thou who art rich, make the trial, thou who invitest generals and governors. Invite the poor, and fill thy table from them, and see if thou art not applauded by all, if thou art not loved by all, if all do not hold thee as a father. For of those feasts there is no advantage, but