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with expectations of fears. Therefore, just as the three children said: There is a God in heaven able to deliver us; and if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor do we worship the golden image which you have set up; so you too, then, whenever you are about to do anything that is according to God, foresee many dangers, many losses, many deaths; and do not be surprised, nor be troubled when these things happen. For "My child," it says, "if you come to serve the Lord, prepare your soul for temptation." No one, therefore, who chooses to box expects to be crowned with a victor's wreath without wounds. And so you, beloved, having undertaken to wrestle against the devil, do not pursue a life free of danger and full of luxury; for not here are your rewards and promises, but into the age to come God has promised all glorious things. When, therefore, either having done some good thing yourself, you receive the opposite, or you see another suffering this, rejoice and be glad; for the matter becomes for you the basis of a greater reward; do not fall away, nor let your zeal be destroyed, nor become more sluggish, but rather press on with greater zeal. Since the apostles too, when they were preaching, being scourged, being stoned, constantly dwelling in prisons, not only after their deliverance from dangers, but even in the midst of the dangers themselves, with greater zeal they proclaimed 49.32 the message of truth. And it is possible to see Paul in the prison itself, in the very chains catechizing, initiating into the mysteries, and in the court of justice again doing this very thing, and in shipwreck, and in storm, and in countless dangers. And you, emulate these saints, and from good works, as long as you are able, do not fall away; even if you see the devil interrupting you ten thousand times, never stand aloof. For you, while conveying money, perhaps fell into shipwreck; but Paul, bearing the Word, which was more precious than all riches, was going away to Rome, and he fell into shipwreck, and endured countless terrible things. And he himself declared this, saying, "Often we wanted to come to you, and Satan hindered us." And God allowed it, showing His own power out of abundance, and demonstrating that even when the devil did countless things and hindered, in no way were the things of the preaching diminished or cut short. For this reason Paul gave thanks to God in all things, knowing that through these things He was making him more approved, and he showed the vehemence of his zeal in all things, not being hindered by any of these impediments. As often, therefore, as we fail, so often let us take up spiritual works, and let us not say, "For what reason did God allow the hindrances?" For He allowed it for this reason, that He might show your zeal and your great love to the many. For this especially belongs to one who loves, never to desist from the things that seem good to the one who is loved. For the loose and lazy man will at once fall back from the first assault; but the vehement and roused man, even if he is hindered ten thousand times, will so much the more set himself to the things according to God, fulfilling all things on his part, and giving thanks in all things. Let us then also do this. A great treasure is thanksgiving, a great wealth, an inexhaustible good, a strong weapon; just as, therefore, blasphemy increases the existing loss, and causes us to lose more than what we have lost. Have you lost money? If you give thanks, you have gained your soul and acquired greater wealth, having drawn to yourself more of God's goodwill; if you blaspheme, you have lost in addition your own salvation, and you will not recover those things, and the soul which you had, this too you have sacrificed. 12. But since our discourse has now been about blasphemy, I wish to ask one favor of you all in return for this public address and discourse, that you correct for me those in the city who blaspheme. And if you hear someone on a street corner, or in the middle of the marketplace blaspheming God, approach, rebuke him; and if it should be necessary to inflict blows, do not refuse; strike his face, crush his mouth, sanctify your hand through

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φόβων προσδοκίαις. Καθάπερ οὖν οἱ τρεῖς παῖδες ἔλεγον· Ἔστι Θεὸς ἐν οὐρανῷ δυνατὸς ἐξελέσθαι ἡμᾶς· καὶ ἐὰν μὴ, γνωστὸν ἔστω σοι, βασιλεῦ, ὅτι τοῖς θεοῖς σου οὐ λατρεύομεν, καὶ τῇ εἰκόνι τῇ χρυσῇ ᾗ ἔστησας οὐ προσκυνοῦμεν· καὶ σὺ τοίνυν, ὅταν μέλλῃς τί ποτε ἐργάζεσθαι τῶν κατὰ Θεὸν, πολλοὺς προόρα κινδύνους, πολλὰς ζημίας, πολλοὺς θανάτους· καὶ μὴ ξενίζου, μηδὲ θορυβοῦ συμβαινόντων τούτων. Τέκνον γὰρ, φησὶν, εἰ προσέρχῃ δουλεύειν τῷ Κυρίῳ, ἑτοίμασον τὴν ψυχήν σου εἰς πειρασμόν. Οὐδεὶς τοίνυν πυκτεύειν αἱρούμενος χωρὶς τραυμάτων προσδοκᾷ στέφανον ἀναδήσασθαι. Καὶ σὺ τοίνυν, ἀγαπητὲ, πρὸς τὸν διάβολον παγκρατιάζειν καταδεξάμενος, μὴ τὸν ἀκίνδυνον καὶ τρυφῆς γέμοντα δίωκε βίον· οὐ γὰρ ἐνταῦθά σοι τὰς ἀμοιβὰς καὶ τὰς ὑποσχέσεις, ἀλλ' εἰς τὸν μέλλοντα αἰῶνα ἅπαντα ὑπέσχετο ὁ Θεὸς τὰ λαμπρά. Ὅταν οὖν ἢ αὐτός τι ποιήσας ἀγαθὸν, τὰ ἐναντία ἀπολάβῃς, ἢ ἕτερον τοῦτο πάσχοντα ἴδῃς, εὐφραίνου καὶ χαῖρε· μείζονος γὰρ ἀμοιβῆς ὑπόθεσις τὸ πρᾶγμά σοι γίνεται· οὐ μὴ καταπέσῃς, μηδὲ καταλύσῃς τὴν προθυμίαν, μηδὲ ὀκνηρότερος γένῃ, ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον ἐπιτίθεσο μετὰ πλείονος τῆς προθυμίας. Ἐπεὶ καὶ οἱ ἀπόστολοι ἡνίκα ἐκήρυττον, μαστιζόμενοι, λιθαζόμενοι, δεσμωτήρια συνεχῶς οἰκοῦντες, οὐ μόνον μετὰ τὴν τῶν κινδύνων ἀπαλλαγὴν, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐν αὐτοῖς τοῖς κινδύνοις μετὰ μείζονος τῆς προθυμίας τὸ τῆς ἀληθείας κατήγ 49.32 γελλον κήρυγμα. Καὶ ἔστιν ἰδεῖν Παῦλον ἐν αὐτῷ τῷ δεσμωτηρίῳ, ἐν αὐταῖς ταῖς ἁλύσεσι κατηχοῦντα, μυσταγωγοῦντα, καὶ ἐν δικαστηρίῳ πάλιν τὸ αὐτὸ τοῦτο ποιοῦντα, καὶ ἐν ναυαγίῳ, καὶ ἐν χειμῶνι, καὶ ἐν μυρίοις κινδύνοις. Καὶ σὺ τούτους ζήλωσιν τοὺς ἁγίους, καὶ τῶν ἀγαθῶν ἔργων, ἕως ἂν δύναιο, μὴ ἐκπέσῃς· κἂν μυριάκις ἴδῃς διακόπτοντά σε τὸν διάβολον, μηδέποτε ἀποστῇς. Σὺ μὲν γὰρ χρήματα διακομίζων, ἴσως ναυαγίῳ περιέπεσες· ὁ δὲ Παῦλος, ὃ πάντων χρημάτων τιμιώτερον ἦν, τὸν λόγον βαστάζων εἰς τὴν Ῥώμην ἀπῄει, καὶ ναυαγίῳ περιέπεσε, καὶ μυρία ὑπέστη δεινά. Καὶ τοῦτο αὐτὸς ἐδήλωσεν εἰπὼν, ὅτι Πολλάκις ἠθελήσαμεν ἐλθεῖν πρὸς ὑμᾶς. καὶ ἐνέκοψεν ἡμᾶς ὁ Σατανᾶς. Καὶ ὁ Θεὸς συνεχώρησεν, ἐκ περιουσίας τὴν ἑαυτοῦ δύναμιν δηλῶν, καὶ δεικνὺς ὅτι καὶ μυρία ποιοῦντος τοῦ διαβόλου καὶ κωλύοντος, οὐδὲν ταύτῃ τὰ τοῦ κηρύγματος ἠλαττοῦτο καὶ διεκόπτετο. ∆ιὰ τοῦτο ἐν ἅπασιν ὁ Παῦλος ηὐχαρίστει τῷ Θεῷ, εἰδὼς ὅτι εὐδοκιμώτερον αὐτὸν διὰ τούτων εἰργάζετο, καὶ τῆς προθυμίας αὐτοῦ τὸ σφοδρὸν ἐν ἅπασιν ἐδείκνυεν, οὐδενὶ τούτων τῶν κωλυμάτων ἐγκοπτόμενος. Ὁσάκις οὖν ἂν ἀποτύχωμεν, τοσαυτάκις ἁπτώμεθα τῶν πνευματικῶν ἔργων, καὶ μὴ λέγωμεν, τίνος ἕνεκεν συνεχώρησεν ὁ Θεὸς τὰ κωλύματα; διὰ τοῦτο γὰρ συνεχώρησεν, ἵνα σου τὴν προθυμίαν τοῖς πολλοῖς δείξῃ μᾶλλον καὶ τὸ πολὺ φίλτρον· φιλοῦντος γὰρ μάλιστα τοῦτό ἐστι, τὸ μηδέποτε ἀφίστασθαι τῶν τῷ φιλουμένῳ δοκούντων. Ὁ μὲν γὰρ χαῦνος καὶ ῥᾴθυμος ἐκ πρώτης εὐθέως ἀναπεσεῖται τῆς προσβολῆς· ὁ δὲ σφοδρὸς καὶ διεγηγερμένος, κἂν μυριάκις ἐγκόπτηται. τοσούτῳ μειζόνως ἐπιθήσεται τοῖς κατὰ Θεὸν πράγμασι, τὰ παρ' ἑαυτοῦ πάντα πληρῶν, καὶ ἐν ἅπασιν εὐχαριστῶν. Τοῦτο δὴ καὶ ἡμεῖς ποιῶμεν. Μέγας θησαυρὸς ἡ εὐχαριστία, μέγας πλοῦτος, ἀνάλωτον ἀγαθὸν, ὅπλον ἰσχυρόν· ὥσπερ οὖν ἡ βλασφημία τὴν οὖσαν ἐπιτείνει ζημίαν, καὶ ὧν ἀπωλέσαμεν πλείονα προσαπολέσαι ποιεῖ. Ἀπώλεσας χρήματα; ἂν μὲν εὐχαριστήσῃς, ἐκέρδανας τὴν ψυχὴν καὶ μείζονα ἐκτήσω τὸν πλοῦτον, τοῦ Θεοῦ πλείω τὴν εὔνοιαν ἐπισπασάμενος· ἂν βλασφημήσῃς, προσαπώλεσας καὶ τὴν σωτηρίαν τὴν σαυτοῦ, καὶ οὐδὲ ἐκεῖνα ἀνεκτήσω, καὶ ἣν εἶχες ψυχὴν, καὶ ταύτην κατέθυσας. ιβʹ. Ἀλλ' ἐπειδὴ περὶ βλασφημίας ἡμῖν ὁ λόγος ἐγένετο νῦν, μίαν ὑμᾶς ἅπαντας αἰτῆσαι βούλομαι χάριν ἀντὶ τῆς δημηγορίας ταύτης, καὶ τῆς διαλέξεως, ἵνα μοι τοὺς ἐν τῇ πόλει βλασφημοῦντας σωφρονίσητε. Κἂν ἀκούσῃς τινὸς ἐν ἀμφόδῳ, ἢ ἐν ἀγορᾷ μέσῃ βλασφημοῦντος τὸν Θεὸν, πρόσελθε, ἐπιτίμησον, κἂν πληγὰς ἐπιθεῖναι δέῃ, μὴ παραιτήσῃ· ῥάπισον αὐτοῦ τὴν ὄψιν, σύντριψον τὸ στόμα, ἁγίασόν σου τὴν χεῖρα διὰ