540 WORKS OF ST. CHRYSOSTOM. [HOMILY VI. one had a son diseased in. his body, he could not refuse to take a long journey to free him from his disease. But when the soul is in a bad state, no one concerns himself about it, but we all are indolent, all careless, all negligent, and overlook our wives, our children, and ourselves, when attacked 1 by this dangerous disease. But when it is too late, we become sensible of it. Consider how disgraceful and absurd it is to say afterwards, "we never looked for it, we never expected that this would be the event." And it is no less dangerous than disgraceful. For if in the present life it is the part of foolish men to make no provision for the future, much more must it be so with respect to the next life, when we hear many counseling us, and informing us what is to be done, and what not to be done. Let us then hold fast that hope. 2 Let us be careful of our salvation, let us in all things call upon God, that He may stretch forth His hand to us. How long will you be slothful? How long negligent ? How long shall we be careless of ourselves and of our fellow-servants? He hath shed richly upon us the grace of His Spirit. Let us therefore consider how great is the grace he has bestowed upon us, and let us show as great earnestness ourselves, or, since this is not possible, some, although it be less. For if after this grace we are insensible, the heavier will be our punishment. " For if I," He says, " had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin, but now they have no cloak for their sin." (John xv. 22.) But God forbid that this should be said of us, and grant that we may all be thought worthy of the blessings promised to those who have loved Him, in Jesus Christ our Lord, &c. HOMILY VI " These things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions,and strivings about the law, for they are unprofitable and vain. A man that is an heretic after the first and second admoni tion reject. Knowing that he that is such is sub verted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself." HAVING spoken of the love of God to man, of His ineffable regard for us, of what we were and what He has done for us, he has added, "These things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be care ful to maintain good works " ; that is, Discourse of these things, and from a consideration of them exhort to almsgiving. For what has been said will not only apply to humility, to the not being puffed up, and not reviling others, but to every other virtue. So also in arguing with the Co rinthians, he says, " Ye know that our Lord being rich became poor, that we through His poverty might be rich." (2 Cor. viii. 9.) Having con- | xlered the care and exceeding love of God for I -"an, he thence exhorts them to almsgiving, and |*at not in a common and slight manner, but *that they may be careful," he says, "to main tain good works," that is, both to succor the in jured, not only by money, but by patronage and 1 al. " wasting." - So Ben. from Colb. Sav. this care." protection, and to defend the widows and or phans, and to afford a refuge to all that are afflicted. For this is to maintain good works. For these things, he says, are good and profita ble unto men. " But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law, for they are unprofitable and vain." What do these " genealogies " mean ? For in his Epistle to Timothy he mentions " fables and endless genealogies." (i Tim. i. 4.) [Perhaps both here and there glancing at the Jews, who, priding themselves on having Abra ham for their forefather, neglected their own part. On this account he calls them both " fool ish and unprofitable " ; for it is the part of folly to confide in things unprofitable.3] " Conten tions," he means, with heretics, in which he would not have us labor to no purpose, where nothing is to be gained, for they end in nothing. For when a man is perverted and predetermined not to change his mind, whatever may happen, why shouldest thou labor in vain, sowing upon a rock, when thou shouldest spend thy honorable toil upon thy own people, in discoursing with them upon almsgiving and every other virtue? How then does he elsewhere say, " IfGod per- adventure will give them repentance" (2 Tim. ii. 25) ; but here, "A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject, knowing 3 B., Colb., and Old Lat. omit the part in brackets.