Power of women: how they may best please.

541

X. 42.

16.

1 σκαμ

arena,'

any

2 Ben.

destroyed Absalom, a woman destroyed Amnon, a woman JoHN was like to have destroyed Job, a woman rescued Nabal from the slaughter. Women have preserved whole nations; for Deborah and Judith exhibited successes worthy of men; so also do ten thousand other women. Wherefore Paul saith, For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt 1 Cor.7, save thy husband? And in those times we see Persis and Rom. Mary and Priscilla taking part in the labours of the 16. Apostles; whom we also needs must imitate, and not by uάrwv. words only, but also by actions, bring into order him that the dwelleth with us. But how shall we instruct him by our hence actions? When he sees that thou art not evilly disposed, severe not fond of expense or ornament, not demanding extravagant labour. supplies of money, but content with what thou hast, then you.' will he endure thee counselling him. But if thou art wise in word, and in actions doest the contrary, he will condemn thee for very foolish talking. But when together with words thou affordest him also instruction by thy works, then will he admit thee and obey thee the more readily; as when thou desirest not gold, nor pearls, nor costly clothing, but instead of these, modesty, sobriety, kindness; when thou exhibitest these virtues on thy part and requirest them on his. For if thou must needs do somewhat to please thy husband, thou shouldest adorn thy soul, not adorn and so spoil thy person. The gold which thou puttest about thee will not make thee so lovely and desirable to him, as modesty and kindness towards himself, and a readiness to die for thy partner; these things most subdue men. Indeed, that splendor of apparel even displeases him, as straitening his means, and causing him much expense and care; but those things which I have named will rivet a husband to a wife; for kindness and friendship and love cause no cares, give rise to no expense, but quite the contrary. That outward adornment becomes palling by use, but that of the soul blooms day by day, and kindles a stronger flame. So that if thou wouldest please thy husband, adorn thy soul with modesty, piety, and management of the house. These things both subdue him more, and never cease. Age destroys not this adornment, sickness wastes it not. The adornment of the body length of time is wont to undo, sickness and many other

HOMIL. things to waste, but what relates to the soul is above all LXI. this. That adornment causes envy, and kindles jealousy,

forward'

but this is pure from disease, and free from all vainglory. Thus will matters at home be easier, and your income without trouble, when the gold is not laid on about your body or lal.'goes encircling your arms, but passes on1 to necessary uses, such as the feeding of servants, the necessary care of children, and other useful purposes. But if this be not the case, if the (wife's) face be covered with ornaments, while the (husband's) heart is pressed by anxiety, what profit, what kind of advantage is there? The one being grieved allows not the marvellous beauty of the other to be seen. For ye know, ye know that though a man see the most beautiful of all women, he cannot feel pleasure at the sight while his soul is sorrowful, because in order to feel pleasure a man must first rejoice and be glad. And when all his gold is heaped together to adorn a woman's body, while there is distress in his dwelling, her partner can have no pleasure. So that if we desire to be agreeable to our husbands, let us give them pleasure; and we shall give them pleasure, if we remove our ornaments and fineries. For all these things at the actual time of marriage appear to afford some delight, but this afterwards fades by time. Since if when the heaven is so beautiful, and the sun, to which thou canst not name any body that is equal, so bright, we admire them less from habitually seeing them, how shall we admire a body tricked out with gewgaws? These things I say, desiring that you should be adorned with that wholesome adornment 1 Tim. which Paul enjoined; Not with gold, or pearls, or costly array; but (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. But dost thou wish to please strangers, and to be praised by them? Then assuredly this is not the desire of a modest woman. However, if thou wishest it, by doing as I have said, thou wilt have strangers also to love thee much, and to praise thy modesty. For the woman who adorns her person no virtuous and sober person will praise, but the intemperate and lascivious; nay, rather neither will these praise her, but will even speak vilely of her, having their eyes inflamed by the wantonness displayed about her; but the other all will approve, both the one sort

2,9.10.

Praise of the modest woman.

X. 42.

543 and the other, because they receive no harm from her, but JOHN even instruction in heavenly wisdom. And great shall be her praise from men, and great her reward with God. After such adornment then let us strive, that we may live here without fear, and may obtain the blessings which are to come; which may we all obtain through the grace and lovingkindness of our Lord Jesus Christ, to Whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

HOMILY LXII.

[and

wiped His feet with her

whose

JOHN xi. 1, 2.

Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, of the town of Mary and her sister Martha. It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment'.

MANY men, when they see any of those who are pleasing to hair, God suffering any thing terrible, as, for instance, having brother fallen into sickness, or poverty, and any other the like, are Lazarus offended, not knowing that to those especially dear to God

was

sick.]

N. T.

it belongeth to endure these things; since Lazarus also was one of the friends of Christ, and was sick. This at least they who sent said, Behold, he whom Thou lovest is sick. But let us consider the passage from the beginning. A certain man, It saith, was sick, Lazarus of Bethany. Not without a cause nor by chance hath the writer mentioned whence Lazarus was, but for a reason which he will afterwards tell us. At present let us keep to the passage before us. He also for our advantage informeth us who were Lazarus' sisters; and, moreover, what Mary had more (than the other), going on to say, It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment. Here some doubting' "How did the Lord endure that a woman should do say, tion.' this?" In the first place then it is necessary to understand, Mat. 26, that this is not the harlot mentioned in Matthew, or the one Luke 7, in Luke, but a different person; they were harlots full of many vices, but she was both grave and earnest; for she shewed her earnestness about the entertainment of Christ. The Evangelist also means to shew, that the sisters too loved Him,

2 al.

'make

a ques

7.

37.

Why the sisters of Lazarus sent to Christ.

545

XI.

yet He allowed Lazarus to die. But why did they not, JOHN like the centurion and the nobleman, leave their sick brother, 35. and come to Christ, instead of sending? They were very confident in Christ, and had towards Him a strong familiar feeling. Besides, they were weak women, and oppressed with grief; for that they acted not in this way as thinking slightly of Him, they afterwards shewed. It is then clear, that this Mary was not the harlot. But wherefore," saith some one, "did Christ admit that harlot?" That He might put away her iniquity; that He might shew His lovingkindness; that thou mightest learn that there is no malady which prevaileth over His goodness. Look not therefore at this only, that He received her, but consider the other point also, how He changed her. But, (to return,) why doth the Evangelist relate this history to us? Or rather, what doth he desire to shew us by saying,

Ver. 5. Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. 1 Transposed. That we should never be discontented or vexed if any sickness happen to good men, and such as are dear to God.

2

Ver. 3. Behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.

2 There fore his

unto

They desired to draw on Christ to pity, for they still gave sisters heed to Him as to a man. This is plain from what they say, sent If thou hadst been here, he had not died, and from their Him, saying, not," Behold, Lazarus is sick," but, Behold, he whom saying, thou lovest is sick. What then said Christ?

&c.N.T. 3 our brother

Ver. 4. This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory N.T. of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

Observe how He again asserteth that His glory and the Father's is One; for after saying of God, He hath added, that the Son of God might be glorified.

This sickness is not unto death. Since He intended to tarry two days where He was, He for the present sendeth away the messengers with this answer. Wherefore we must admire Lazarus' sisters, that after hearing that the sickness was not unto death, and yet seeing him dead, they were not offended, although the event had been directly contrary. But even so they came to Him, and did not think that Heal. to had spoken falsely.

The expression that in this passage denotes not cause, but consequence; the sickness happened from other causes, but He used it for the glory of God.

the

Lord.