Thought of the Resurrection a check and corrective. 391 1 VI. 40. κεχυμέ νον. 37. good things of this world, let us make the same remark to JOHN him, and shew him that all those things abide here and if we observe another grieving and impatient, let us say the same to him, and point out to him that his sorrows shall have an end; if we see one careless and dissipated', let us say the diasame charm over him, and shew that for his carelessness he must render account. This saying is able more than any other remedy to heal our souls. For there is a Resurrection, and that Resurrection is at our doors, not afar off, nor at a distance. For yet a little while, and He that shall come Heb. 10, will come, and will not tarry. And again, We must all 2 Cor. 5, appear before the judgment-seat of Christ; that is, both bad 10. and good, the one to be shamed in sight of all, the other in sight of all to be made more glorious. For as they who judge here punish the wicked and honour the good publicly, so too will it be there, that the one sort may have the greater shame, and the other more conspicuous glory. Let us picture these things to ourselves every day. If we are ever revolving them, no care for present things will be able to sting us. For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things 2 Cor. 4, which are not seen are eternal. Continually let us say to ourselves and to others, "There is a Resurrection, and a 'al. 'one Judgment, and a scrutiny of our actions ;" and let as many other. as deem that there is such a thing as fate repeat this, and they shall straightway be delivered from the rottenness of their malady; for if there is a Resurrection, and a Judgment, there is no fate, though they bring ten thousand arguments, and choke themselves to prove it. But I am ashamed to be teaching Christians concerning the Resurrection: for he that needeth to learn that there is a Resurrection, and who hath not firmly persuaded himself that the affairs of this world go not on by fate, and without design, and as chance will have them, can be no Christian. Wherefore, I exhort and beseech you, that we cleanse ourselves from all wickedness, and do all in our power to obtain pardon and excuse in that Day. Perhaps some one will say, "When will be the consummation? When will be the Resurrection ? See how long a time hath gone by, and nothing of the kind hath come to • al.' none of the things present and perishable will be able to occupy us.' 18. to an I al. 2 al. 'him only.' 3 οίμιον. 392 2 The Resurrection needful for God's justice. HOMIL. pass ?" Yet it shall be, be sure. For those before the flood XLV. spake after this manner, and mocked at Noah, but the flood came and swept away' all those unbelievers, but preserved seized.' him who believed. And the men of Lot's time expected not that stroke from God, until those lightnings and thunderbolts came down and destroyed them all utterly. Neither in the case of these men, nor of those who lived in the time of Noah, was there any preamble' to what was about to happen, but when they were all living daintily, and drinking, and mad with wine, then came these intolerable calamities upon them. So also shall the Resurrection be; not with any preamble, but while we are in the midst of good times ‘. Wherefore Paul saith, For when they shall say, Peace and safety; 1 Thess. then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. God hath so ordered this, that we may be always struggling, and be not confident even in time of safety. What sayest thou? Dost thou not expect that there will be a Resurrection and a Judgment? The devils confess these, and art thou shame5 al.'dost less 5? Art Thou come, they say, to torment us before the thou not time? now they who say that there will be "torment," are Matt. 8, aware of the Judgment, and the reckoning, and the vengeance. 4 lit. 'fair weather' 5,3. confess?' 29. 18. Let us not then besides daring evil deeds, anger God by disbelieving the word of the Resurrection. For as in other things Christ hath been our beginning, so also hath He in Col. 1, this; wherefore He is called the first-born from the dead. Now if there were no Resurrection, how could He be the firstborn, when no one of the dead was to follow Him? If there were no Resurrection, how would the justice of God be preserved, when so many evil men prosper, and so many good men are afflicted and die in their affliction? Where shall each of these obtain his deserts, if so be that there is no Resurrection? No one of those who have lived aright disbelieves the Resurrection, but every day they pray and repeat that holy sentence, "Thy Kingdom come." Who then are they that disbelieve the Resurrection? They who have unholy Ps.10,5. ways and an unclean life: as the Prophet saith, His ways are always polluted. Thy judgments are far above out of his sight. For a man cannot possibly live a pure life without believing in the Resurrection; since they who are conscious Who disbelieve and who believe it. 393 VI 40. 28. of no iniquity both speak of, and wish for, and believe in JOHN it, that they may receive their recompense. Let us not then anger Him, but hear Him when He saith, Fear Him which Mat. 10, is able to destroy both body and soul in hell; that by that fear we may become better, and being delivered from that perdition, may be deemed worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven. Which may we all attain to, through the grace and lovingkindness of our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom and with Whom to the Father and the Holy Ghost be glory, now and ever and to the endless ages of eternity. Amen. HOMILY XLVI. Phil. 3, 19. 1 al. the Jews.' JOHN vi. 41, 42. The Jews then murmured at Him, because He said, I am the bread which came down from heaven; and they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He saith, I came down from heaven? WHOSE god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, said Paul of certain persons, writing to the Philippians. Now that the Jews were of this character is clear, speak- both from what has gone before, and from what they came ing concerning and said to Christ. For when He gave them bread, and filled their bellies, they said that He was a Prophet, and sought to make Him a King: but when He taught them concerning spiritual food, concerning eternal life, when He led them away from objects of sense, and spake to them of a resurrection, and raised their thoughts to higher matters, when most they ought to have admired, they murmur and start away. And yet, if He was that Prophet as they before asserted, declaring that he it was of whom Moses had said, A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren like unto me, unto Him shall ye hearken; they ought to have hearkened to Him when He said, I came down from hearen; yet they hearkened not, but murmured. They still reverenced Him, because the miracle of the loaves was recent, and therefore they did not openly gainsay Him, but by murmuring expressed their displeasure, that He did Deut. 18, 15. VI. 44 16. not give them the meal which they desired. And murmur- JOHN ing they said, Is not this the son of Joseph? Whence it is plain, that as yet they knew not of His strange and marvellous Generation. And so they still say that He is the son of Joseph, and are not rebuked; and He saith not to them, "I am not the son of Joseph;" not because He was his son, but because they were not as yet able to hear of that marvellous Birth. And if they could not bear to hear in plain terms of His birth according to the flesh, much less could they hear of that ineffable Birth which is from above. If He revealed not that which was lower to them, much less would He commit to them the other. Although this greatly offended them, that He was born from a mean and common father, still He revealed not to them the truth, lest in removing one cause of offence He should create another. What then said He when they murmured? Ver. 44. No man can come unto Me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw Him. The Manichæans spring upon these words, saying, "that nothing lies in our own power;" yet the expression sheweth that we are masters of our will. "For if a man cometh to Him," saith some one, "what need is there of drawing?" But the words do not take away our free will, but shew that we greatly need assistance. And He implieth not an unwilling' comer, but one enjoying much succour. Then He Sav. ἄκοντα, sheweth also the manner in which He draweth; for that Ben. men may not, again, form any material idea of God, He TuxÓVTA. addeth, Ver. 46. Not that any man hath seen God2, save He which The is of God, He hath seen the Father. "How then," saith some one, "doth the Father draw?" This the Prophet explained of old, when he proclaimed beforehand, and said, Ver. 45. They shall all be taught of God. Father,' Is. 54, 13. 'he fore told they Seest thou the dignity of faith, and that not of men nor by man, but by God Himself they shall learn this? And to Ben. make this assertion credible, He referred them to their prophets. "If then all shall be taught of God, how is it that shall.' some shall not believe?" Because the words are spoken of the greater number. Besides, the prophecy meaneth not |