HOMILY XVI.] HOMILIES ON TIMOTHY 465 was clearly able to do this too, but because he had a design of importance in withholding such aid. What then was his purpose ? l That even now, if we see great and virtuous men afflicted with infirmities, we may not be offended, for this was a profitable visitation. If indeed to Paul himself a " messenger of Satan " was sent that he should not be " exalted above measure " (2 Cor. xii. n), much more might it be so with Timothy. For the miracles he wrought were enough to have rendered him arrogant. For this reason he is left to be subject to the rules of medicine, that he may be humbled, and others may not be offended, but may learn that they who performed such excellent actions were men of the same nature as themselves. In other re spects also Timothy seems to have been subject to disease, which is implied by that expression, "Thy often infirmities," as well of other parts as of the stomach. He does not however allow him to indulge freery in wine, but as much as was for health and not for luxury.2 Ver. 24. " Some men s sins are open before hand, going before to judgment ; and some they follow after," In speaking of ordination, he had said, " Be not partaker of other men s sins." But what, he might say, if I be ignorant of them? Why, "some men s sins are open beforehand, going before them to judgment, and some they follow after." Some men s, he means, are manifest, because they go before, whilst others are un known, because they follow after. Ver. 25. "Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand, and they that are Otherwise cannot be hid." Chap. vi. ver. i. " Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their masters worthy of all honor, that the Name of God and His doctrine be not blasphemed." Let them count them " worthy of all honor," he says ; fordonot suppose, because thou art abe liever, that thou art therefore a free man : since thy freedom is to serve the more faithfully. For if the unbeliever sees slaves conducting them selves insolently on account of their faith, he will blaspheme, as if the Doctrine produced insubor dination. But when he sees them obedient, he will be more inclined to believe, and will the rather attend to our words. But God, and the Gospel we preach, will be blasphemed, if they are disobedient. But what if their own master be an unbeliever ? Even in that case they ought to submit, for God s Name s sake. Ver. 2. "And they that have believing mas ters, let them not despise them because they are 1 A Paris MS. adds, " in not curing him," and is stated to vary much in this passage, but its readings are not given. 3 This whole passage is treated more at length in the first Hom ily on the Statues, where most of these remarks are expanded and illustrated. brethren, but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved partakers of the benefit." As though he had said, If ye are thought worthy of so great a benefit, as to have your masters for your brethren, on this account ye ought more especially to submit. " Going before to judgment." This he had said, implying that of evil actions here some are concealed, and some are not ; but there neither the good nor the bad can be concealed. And what is that going before to judgment? When one commits offenses that already condemn him, or when he is incorrigible, and when one thinks to set him right and cannot succeed. What then? W T hat is the use of mentioning this? Because if here any escape detection, they will not hereafter. There all things are laid open ; and this is the greatest consolation to those who do well. Then because he had said, " Do nothing by partiality," as if under the necessity of interpret ing it, he adds, " As many servants as are under the yoke." But you will say, What has a Bishop to do with this ? Much surely, for it is his office to exhort and to teach these too. And here he makes excellent regulations with respect to them. For we see him everywhere commanding the servants rather than their masters, showing them the ways of submission, and treating them with* great regard. 3 He exhorts them .therefore to submit with great meekness. But the masters he recommends to forbear the use of terror. "Forbearing threatening" (Eph. vi. 9), he says. And why does he thus command? In the case of unbelievers, naturally, because it would have been unreasonable to address those who would pay no heed to him ; but where be lievers were concerned, what was his reason? Because masters contribute greater benefits to their servants, than servants to their masters. For the former furnish the money to purchase for them sufficient food and clothing ; and be stow much care upon them in other respects, so that the masters pay them the larger service, which is here intimated, when he says, " they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the bene fit." 4 They suffer much toil and trouble for your repose, ought they not in return to receive much honor from their servants? MORAL. But if he exhorts servants to render such implicit obedience, consider what ought to be our disposition towards our Master, who brought us into existence out of nothing, and who feeds and clothes us. If in no other way then, let us render Him service at least as our 3 Or making a great point of them, i.e. of the ways of submis sion. 4 The words oi TTJS tvepyeo-ia? avn\aij.ftav6p.(voi may mean, " such as set themselves to confer benefits."