Book II.

Chap. I.—On Eating.

Keeping, then, to our aim, and selecting the Scriptures which bear on the usefulness of training for life, we must now compendiously describe what the man who is called a Christian ought to be during the whole of his life. We must accordingly begin with ourselves, and how we ought to regulate ourselves. We have therefore, preserving a due regard to the symmetry of this work, to say how each of us ought to conduct himself in respect to his body, or rather how to regulate the body itself. For whenever any one, who has been brought away by the Word from external things, and from attention to the body itself to the mind, acquires a clear view of what happens according to nature in man, he will know that he is not to be earnestly occupied about external things, but about what is proper and peculiar to man—to purge the eye of the soul, and to sanctify also his flesh. For he that is clean rid of those things which constitute him still dust, what else has he more serviceable than himself for walking in the way which leads to the comprehension of God.

Some men, in truth, live that they may eat, as the irrational creatures, “whose life is their belly, and nothing else.” But the Instructor enjoins us to eat that we may live. For neither is food our business, nor is pleasure our aim; but both are on account of our life here, which the Word is training up to immortality. Wherefore also there is discrimination to be employed in reference to food. And it is to be simple, truly plain, suiting precisely simple and artless children—as ministering to life, not to luxury. And the life to which it conduces consists of two things—health and strength; to which plainness of fare is most suitable, being conducive both to digestion and lightness of body, from which come growth, and health, and right strength, not strength that is wrong or dangerous and wretched, as is that of athletes produced by compulsory feeding.

We must therefore reject different varieties, which engender various mischiefs, such as a depraved habit of body and disorders of the stomach, the taste being vitiated by an unhappy art—that of cookery, and the useless art of making pastry. For people dare to call by the name of food their dabbling in luxuries, which glides into mischievous pleasures. Antiphanes, the Delian physician, said that this variety of viands was the one cause of disease; there being people who dislike the truth, and through various absurd notions abjure moderation of diet, and put themselves to a world of trouble to procure dainties from beyond seas.

For my part, I am sorry for this disease, while they are not ashamed to sing the praises of their delicacies, giving themselves great trouble to get lampreys in the Straits of Sicily, the eels of the Mæander, and the kids found in Melos, and the mullets in Sciathus, and the mussels of Pelorus, the oysters of Abydos, not omitting the sprats found in Lipara, and the Mantinican turnip; and furthermore, the beetroot that grows among the Ascræans: they seek out the cockles of Methymna, the turbots of Attica, and the thrushes of Daphnis, and the reddish-brown dried figs, on account of which the ill-starred Persian marched into Greece with five hundred thousand men. Besides these, they purchase birds from Phasis, the Egyptian snipes, and the Median peafowl. Altering these by means of condiments, the gluttons gape for the sauces. “Whatever earth and the depths of the sea, and the unmeasured space of the air produce,” they cater for their gluttony. In their greed and solicitude, the gluttons seem absolutely to sweep the world with a drag-net to gratify their luxurious tastes. These gluttons, surrounded with the sound of hissing frying-pans, and wearing their whole life away at the pestle and mortar, cling to matter like fire. More than that, they emasculate plain food, namely bread, by straining off the nourishing part of the grain, so that the necessary part of food becomes matter of reproach to luxury. There is no limit to epicurism among men. For it has driven them to sweetmeats, and honey-cakes, and sugar-plums; inventing a multitude of desserts, hunting after all manner of dishes. A man like this seems to me to be all jaw, and nothing else. “Desire not,” says the Scripture, “rich men’s dainties;”269    Num. vi. 9.    Prov. xxiii. 3. for they belong to a false and base life. They partake of luxurious dishes, which a little after go to the dunghill. But we who seek the heavenly bread must rule the belly, which is beneath heaven, and much more the things which are agreeable to it, which “God shall destroy,”270    Num. vi. 12.    1 Cor. vi. 13. says the apostle, justly execrating gluttonous desires. For “meats are for the belly,”271    Ps. lxxxvi. 2, 3.    1 Cor. vi. 13. for on them depends this truly carnal and destructive life; whence272    Mark ii. 11.    ὄθεν, an emendation for ὄν. some, speaking with unbridled tongue, dare to apply the name agape,273    John xi. 43.    Love, or love-feast, a name applied by the ancients to public entertainments. [But surely he is here rebuking, with St. Jude (v. 12), abuses of the Christian agapæ by heretics and others.] to pitiful suppers, redolent of savour and sauces. Dishonouring the good and saving work of the Word, the consecrated agape, with pots and pouring of sauce; and by drink and delicacies and smoke desecrating that name, they are deceived in their idea, having expected that the promise of God might be bought with suppers. Gatherings for the sake of mirth, and such entertainments as are called by ourselves, we name rightly suppers, dinners, and banquets, after the example of the Lord. But such entertainments the Lord has not called agapæ. He says accordingly somewhere, “When thou art called to a wedding, recline not on the highest couch; but when thou art called, fall into the lowest place;”274    Matt. ix. 2.    Luke xiv. 8, 10. and elsewhere, “When thou makest a dinner or a supper;” and again, “But when thou makest an entertainment, call the poor,”275    Luke xiv. 12, 13. for whose sake chiefly a supper ought to be made. And further, “A certain man made a great supper, and called many.”276    Luke xiv. 16. But I perceive whence the specious appellation of suppers flowed: “from the gullets and furious love for suppers”—according to the comic poet. For, in truth, “to many, many things are on account of the supper.” For they have not yet learned that God has provided for His creature (man I mean) food and drink, for sustenance, not for pleasure; since the body derives no advantage from extravagance in viands. For, quite the contrary, those who use the most frugal fare are the strongest and the healthiest, and the noblest; as domestics are healthier and stronger than their masters, and husbandmen than the proprietors; and not only more robust, but wiser, as philosophers are wiser than rich men. For they have not buried the mind beneath food, nor deceived it with pleasures. But love (agape) is in truth celestial food, the banquet of reason. “It beareth all things, endureth all things, hopeth all things. Love never faileth.”277    1 Cor. xiii. 7, 8. “Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.”278    Luke xiv. 15. But the hardest of all cases is for charity, which faileth not, to be cast from heaven above to the ground into the midst of sauces. And do you imagine that I am thinking of a supper that is to be done away with? “For if,” it is said, “I bestow all my goods, and have not love, I am nothing.”279    1 Cor. xiii. 3. On this love alone depend the law and the Word; and if “thou shalt love the Lord thy God and thy neighbour,” this is the celestial festival in the heavens. But the earthly is called a supper, as has been shown from Scripture. For the supper is made for love, but the supper is not love (agape); only a proof of mutual and reciprocal kindly feeling. “Let not, then, your good be evil spoken of; for the kingdom of God is not meat and drink,” says the apostle, in order that the meal spoken of may not be conceived as ephemeral, “but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”280    Rom. xiv. 16, 17. He who eats of this meal, the best of all, shall possess the kingdom of God, fixing his regards here on the holy assembly of love, the heavenly Church. Love, then, is something pure and worthy of God, and its work is communication. “And the care of discipline is love,” as Wisdom says; “and love is the keeping of the law.”281    Wisd. vi. 17, 18. And these joys have an inspiration of love from the public nutriment, which accustoms to everlasting dainties. Love (agape), then, is not a supper. But let the entertainment depend on love. For it is said, “Let the children whom Thou hast loved, O Lord, learn that it is not the products of fruits that nourish man; but it is Thy word which preserves those who believe on Thee.”282    Wisd. xvi. 26. “For the righteous shall not live by bread.”283    Deut. viii. 3; Matt. iv. 4. But let our diet be light and digestible, and suitable for keeping awake, unmixed with diverse varieties. Nor is this a point which is beyond the sphere of discipline. For love is a good nurse for communication; having as its rich provision sufficiency, which, presiding over diet measured in due quantity, and treating the body in a healthful way, distributes something from its resources to those near us. But the diet which exceeds sufficiency injures a man, deteriorates his spirit, and renders his body prone to disease. Besides, those dainty tastes, which trouble themselves about rich dishes, drive to practices of ill-repute, daintiness, gluttony, greed, voracity, insatiability. Appropriate designations of such people as so indulge are flies, weasels, flatterers, gladiators, and the monstrous tribes of parasites—the one class surrendering reason, the other friendship, and the other life, for the gratification of the belly; crawling on their bellies, beasts in human shape after the image of their father, the voracious beast. People first called the abandoned ἀσώτους, and so appear to me to indicate their end, understanding them as those who are (ἀσώστους) unsaved, excluding the σ. For those that are absorbed in pots, and exquisitely prepared niceties of condiments, are they not plainly abject, earth-born, leading an ephemeral kind of life, as if they were not to live [hereafter]? Those the Holy Spirit, by Isaiah, denounces as wretched, depriving them tacitly of the name of love (agape), since their feasting was not in accordance with the word. “But they made mirth, killing calves, and sacrificing sheep, saying, Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die.” And that He reckons such luxury to be sin, is shown by what He adds, “And your sin shall not be forgiven you till you die,”284    Isa. xxii. 13, 14.—not conveying the idea that death, which deprives of sensation, is the forgiveness of sin, but meaning that death of salvation which is the recompense of sin. “Take no pleasure in abominable delicacies, says Wisdom.285    Ecclus. xviii. 32. At this point, too, we have to advert to what are called things sacrificed to idols, in order to show how we are enjoined to abstain from them. Polluted and abominable those things seem to me, to the blood of which, fly

“For I would not that ye should have fellowship with demons,”287    1 Cor. x. 20. says the apostle; since the food of those who are saved and those who perish is separate. We must therefore abstain from these viands not for fear (because there is no power in them); but on account of our conscience, which is holy, and out of detestation of the demons to which they are dedicated, are we to loathe them; and further, on account of the instability of those who regard many things in a way that makes them prone to fall, “whose conscience, being weak, is defiled: for meat commendeth us not to God.”288    1 Cor. viii. 7, 8. “For it is not that which entereth in that defileth a man, but that which goeth out of his mouth.”289    Matt. xv. 11. The natural use of food is then indifferent. “For neither if we eat are we the better,” it is said, “nor if we eat not are we the worse.”290    1 Cor. viii. 8. But it is inconsistent with reason, for those that have been made worthy to share divine and spiritual food, to partake of the tables of demons. “Have we not power to eat and to drink,” says the apostle, “and to lead about wives?” But by keeping pleasures under command we prevent lusts. See, then, that this power of yours never “become a stumbling-block to the weak.”

For it were not seemly that we, after the fashion of the rich man’s son in the Gospel,291    Luke xv. 11. should, as prodigals, abuse the Father’s gifts; but we should use them, without undue attachment to them, as having command over ourselves. For we are enjoined to reign and rule over meats, not to be slaves to them. It is an admirable thing, therefore, to raise our eyes aloft to what is true, to depend on that divine food above, and to satiate ourselves with the exhaustless contemplation of that which truly exists, and so taste of the only sure and pure delight. For such is the agape, which, the food that comes from Christ shows that we ought to partake of. But totally irrational, futile, and not human is it for those that are of the earth, fattening themselves like cattle, to feed themselves up for death; looking downwards on the earth, and bending ever over tables; leading a life of gluttony; burying all the good of existence here in a life that by and by will end; courting voracity alone, in respect to which cooks are held in higher esteem than husbandmen. For we do not abolish social intercourse, but look with suspicion on the snares of custom, and regard them as a calamity. Wherefore daintiness is to be shunned, and we are to partake of few and necessary things. “And if one of the unbelievers call us to a feast, and we determine to go” (for it is a good thing not to mix with the dissolute), the apostle bids us “eat what is set before us, asking no questions for conscience sake.”292    1 Cor. x. 27. Similarly he has enjoined to purchase “what is sold in the shambles,” without curious questioning.293    1 Cor. x. 25.

We are not, then, to abstain wholly from various kinds of food, but only are not to be taken up about them. We are to partake of what is set before us, as becomes a Christian, out of respect to him who has invited us, by a harmless and moderate participation in the social meeting; regarding the sumptuousness of what is put on the table as a matter of indifference, despising the dainties, as after a little destined to perish. “Let him who eateth, not despise him who eateth not; and let him who eateth not, not judge him who eateth.”294    Rom. xiv. 3. And a little way on he explains the reason of the command, when he says, “He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, and giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.”295    Rom. xiv. 6. So that the right food is thanksgiving. And he who gives thanks does not occupy his time in pleasures. And if we would persuade any of our fellow-guests to virtue, we are all the more on this account to abstain from those dainty dishes; and so exhibit ourselves as a bright pattern of virtue, such as we ourselves have in Christ. “For if any of such meats make a brother to stumble, I shall not eat it as long as the world lasts,” says he, “that I may not make my brother stumble.”296    1 Cor. viii. 13. I gain the man by a little self-restraint. “Have we not power to eat and to drink?”297    1 Cor. ix. 14. And “we know”—he says the truth—“that an idol is nothing in the world; but we have only one true God, of whom are all things, and one Lord Jesus. But,” he says, “through thy knowledge thy weak brother perishes, for whom Christ died; and they that wound the conscience of the weak brethren sin against Christ.”298    1 Cor. viii. 6, 11, 12. Thus the apostle, in his solicitude for us, discriminates in the case of entertainments, saying, that “if any one called a brother be found a fornicator, or an adulterer, or an idolater, with such an one not to eat;”299    1 Cor. v. 11. neither in discourse or food are we to join, looking with suspicion on the pollution thence proceeding, as on the tables of the demons. “It is good, then, neither to eat flesh nor to drink wine,”300    Rom. xiv. 21. as both he and the Pythagoreans acknowledge. For this is rather characteristic of a beast; and the fumes arising from them being dense, darken the soul. If one partakes of them, he does not sin. Only let him partake temperately, not dependent on them, nor gaping after fine fare. For a voice will whisper to him, saying, “Destroy not the work of God for the sake of food.”301    Rom. xiv. 20. For it is the mark of a silly mind to be amazed and stupefied at what is presented at vulgar banquets, after the rich fare which is in the Word; and much sillier to make one’s eyes the slaves of the delicacies, so that one’s greed is, so to speak, carried round by the servants. And how foolish for people to raise themselves on the couches, all but pitching their faces into the dishes, stretching out from the couch as from a nest, according to the common saying, “that they may catch the wandering steam by breathing it in!” And how senseless, to besmear their hands with the condiments, and to be constantly reaching to the sauce, cramming themselves immoderately and shamelessly, not like people tasting, but ravenously seizing! For you may see such people, liker swine or dogs for gluttony than men, in such a hurry to feed themselves full, that both jaws are stuffed out at once, the veins about the face raised, and besides, the perspiration running all over, as they are tightened with their insatiable greed, and panting with their excess; the food pushed with unsocial eagerness into their stomach, as if they were stowing away their victuals for provision for a journey, not for digestion. Excess, which in all things is an evil, is very highly reprehensible in the matter of food. Gluttony, called ὀψοφαγία, is nothing but excess in the use of relishes (ὄψον); and λαιμαργία is insanity with respect to the gullet; and γαστριμαργία is excess with respect to food—insanity in reference to the belly, as the name implies; for μάργος is a madman. The apostle, checking those that transgress in their conduct at entertainments,302    [Clement seems to think this abuse was connected with the agapæ not—one might trust—with the Lord’s supper.] says: “For every one taketh beforehand in eating his own supper; and one is hungry, and another drunken. Have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? Or despise ye the church of God, and shame those who have not?”303    1 Cor. xi. 21, 22. And among those who have, they, who eat shamelessly and are insatiable, shame themselves. And both act badly; the one by paining those who have not, the other by exposing their own greed in the presence of those who have. Necessarily, therefore, against those who have cast off shame and unsparingly abuse meals, the insatiable to whom nothing is sufficient, the apostle, in continuation, again breaks forth in a voice of displeasure: “So that, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, wait for one another. And if any one is hungry, let him eat at home, that ye come not together to condemnation.”304    1 Cor. xi. 33, 34.

From all slavish habits305    Literally, “slave-manners,” the conduct to be expected from slaves. and excess we must abstain, and touch what is set before us in a decorous way; keeping the hand and couch and chin free of stains; preserving the grace of the countenance undisturbed, and committing no indecorum in the act of swallowing; but stretching out the hand at intervals in an orderly manner. We must guard against speaking anything while eating: for the voice becomes disagreeable and inarticulate when it is confined by full jaws; and the tongue, pressed by the food and impeded in its natural energy, gives forth a compressed utterance. Nor is it suitable to eat and to drink simultaneously. For it is the very extreme of intemperance to confound the times whose uses are discordant. And “whether ye eat or drink, do all to the glory of God,”306    1 Cor. x. 31. aiming after true frugality, which the Lord also seems to me to have hinted at when He blessed the loaves and the cooked fishes with which He feasted the disciples, introducing a beautiful example of simple food. That fish then which, at the command of the Lord, Peter caught, points to digestible and God-given and moderate food. And by those who rise from the water to the bait of righteousness, He admonishes us to take away luxury and avarice, as the coin from the fish; in order that He might displace vainglory; and by giving the stater to the tax-gatherers, and “rendering to Cæsar the things which are Cæsar’s,” might preserve “to God the things which are God’s.”307    Matt. xxii. 21. The stater is capable of other explanations not unknown to us, but the present is not a suitable occasion for their treatment. Let the mention we make for our present purpose suffice, as it is not unsuitable to the flowers of the Word; and we have often done this, drawing to the urgent point of the question the most beneficial fountain, in order to water those who have been planted by the Word. “For if it is lawful for me to partake of all things, yet all things are not expedient.”308    1 Cor. x. 23. For those that do all that is lawful, quickly fall into doing what is unlawful. And just as righteousness is not attained by avarice, nor temperance by excess; so neither is the regimen of a Christian formed by indulgence; for the table of truth is far from lascivious dainties. For though it was chiefly for men’s sake that all things were made, yet it is not good to use all things, nor at all times. For the occasion, and the time, and the mode, and the intention, materially turn the balance with reference to what is useful, in the view of one who is rightly instructed; and this is suitable, and has influence in putting a stop to a life of gluttony, which wealth is prone to choose, not that wealth which sees clearly, but that abundance which makes a man blind with reference to gluttony. No one is poor as regards necessaries, and a man is never overlooked. For there is one God who feeds the fowls and the fishes, and, in a word, the irrational creatures; and not one thing whatever is wanting to them, though “they take no thought for their food.”309    1 Cor. x. 23. And we are better than they, being their lords, and more closely allied to God, as being wiser; and we were made, not that we might eat and drink, but that we might devote ourselves to the knowledge of God. “For the just man who eats is satisfied in his soul, but the belly of the wicked shall want,”310    Prov. xiii. 5. filled with the appetites of insatiable gluttony. Now lavish expense is adapted not for enjoyment alone, but also for social communication. Wherefore we must guard against those articles of food which persuade us to eat when we are not hungry, bewitching the appetite. For is there not within a temperate simplicity a wholesome variety of eatables? Bulbs,311    A bulbous root, much prized in Greece, which grew wild. olives, certain herbs, milk, cheese, fruits, all kinds of cooked food without sauces; and if flesh is wanted, let roast rather than boiled be set down. Have you anything to eat here? said the Lord312    Luke xxiv. 41–44. to the disciples after the resurrection; and they, as taught by Him to practice frugality, “gave Him a piece of broiled fish;” and having eaten before them, says Luke, He spoke to them what He spoke. And in addition to these, it is not to be overlooked that those who feed according to the Word are not debarred from dainties in the shape of honey-combs. For of articles of food, those are the most suitable which are fit for immediate use without fire, since they are readiest; and second to these are those which are simplest, as we said before. But those who bend around inflammatory tables, nourishing their own diseases, are ruled by a most lickerish demon, whom I shall not blush to call the Belly-demon, and the worst and most abandoned of demons. He is therefore exactly like the one who is called the Ventriloquist-demon. It is far better to be happy313    A play here on the words εὐδαίμων and δαίμων. than to have a demon dwelling with us. And happiness is found in the practice of virtue. Accordingly, the apostle Matthew partook of seeds, and nuts,314    ἀκρόδρυα, hard-shelled fruits. and vegetables, without flesh. And John, who carried temperance to the extreme, “ate locusts and wild honey.” Peter abstained from swine; “but a trance fell on him,” as is written in the Acts of the Apostles, “and he saw heaven opened, and a vessel let down on the earth by the four corners, and all the four-looted beasts and creeping things of the earth and the fowls of heaven in it; and there came a voice to him, Rise, and slay, and eat. And Peter said, Not so, Lord, for I have never eaten what is common or unclean. And the voice came again to him the second time, What God hath cleansed, call not thou common.”315    Acts x. 10–15. The use of them is accordingly indifferent to us. “For not what entereth into the mouth defileth the man,”316    Matt. xv. 11. but the vain opinion respecting uncleanness. For God, when He created man, said, “All things shall be to you for meat.”317    Gen. ix. 2, 3. “And herbs, with love, are better than a calf with fraud.”318    Prov. xv. 17. This well reminds us of what was said above, that herbs are not love, but that our meals are to be taken with love;319    In allusion to the agapæ, or love-feasts. and in these the medium state is good. In all things, indeed, this is the case, and not least in the preparation made for feasting, since the extremes are dangerous, and middle courses good. And to be in no want of necessaries is the medium. For the desires which are in accordance with nature are bounded by sufficiency. The Jews had frugality enjoined on them by the law in the most systematic manner. For the Instructor, by Moses, deprived them of the use of innumerable things, adding reasons—the spiritual ones hidden; the carnal ones apparent, to which indeed they have trusted; in the case of some animals, because they did not part the hoof, and others because they did not ruminate their food, and others because alone of aquatic animals they were devoid of scales; so that altogether but a few were left appropriate for their food. And of those that he permitted them to touch, he prohibited such as had died, or were offered to idols, or had been strangled; for to touch these was unlawful. For since it is impossible for those who use dainties to abstain from partaking of them, he appointed the opposite mode of life, till he should break down the propensity to indulgence arising from habit. Pleasure has often produced in men harm and pain; and full feeding begets in the soul uneasiness, and forgetfulness, and foolishness. And they say that the bodies of children, when shooting up to their height, are made to grow right by deficiency in nourishment. For then the spirit, which pervades the body in order to its growth, is not checked by abundance of food obstructing the freedom of its course. Whence that truth-seeking philosopher Plato, fanning the spark of the Hebrew philosophy when condemning a life of luxury, says: “On my coming hither, the life which is here called happy, full of Italian and Syracusan tables, pleased me not by any means, [consisting as it did] in being filled twice a day, and never sleeping by night alone, and whatever other accessories attend the mode of life. For not one man under heaven, if brought up from his youth in such practices, will ever turn out a wise man, with however admirable a natural genius he may be endowed.” For Plato was not unacquainted with David, who “placed the sacred ark in his city in the midst of the tabernacle;” and bidding all his subjects rejoice “before the Lord, divided to the whole host of Israel, man and woman, to each a loaf of bread, and baked bread, and a cake from the frying-pan.”320    2 Kings vi. 17–19, Septuagint: 2 Sam. vi. 17–19. A.V.

This was the sufficient sustenance of the Israelites. But that of the Gentiles was over-abundant. No one who uses it will ever study to become temperate, burying as he does his mind in his belly, very like the fish called ass,321    ὄνος, perhaps the hake or cod. which, Aristotle says, alone of all creatures has its heart in its stomach. This fish Epicharmus the comic poet calls “monster-paunch.”

Such are the men who believe in their belly, “whose God is their belly, whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.” To them the apostle predicted no good when he said, “whose end is destruction.”322    Phil. iii. 19.

Πῶς περὶ τὰς τροφὰς ἀναστρεπτέον. Ἐχομένοις τοίνυν τοῦ σκοποῦ καὶ τὰς γραφὰς πρὸς τὸ βιωφελὲς τῆς παιδαγωγίας ἐκλεγομένοις, ὁποῖόν τινα εἶναι χρὴ παρ' ὅλον τὸν βίον τὸν Χριστιανὸν καλούμενον, κεφαλαιωδῶς ὑπογραπτέον. Ἀρκτέον οὖν ἡμῖν ἀφ' ἡμῶν αὐτῶν καὶ ὅπως ἁρμόττειν γε χρή. Στοχαζομένοις τοίνυν τῆς συμμετρίας τοῦ συντάγματος, ὁποῖόν τινα τῷ ἑαυτοῦ σώματι ἕκαστον ἡμῶν προσφέρεσθαι, μᾶλλον δὲ ὅπως αὐτὸ κατευθύνειν χρή, λεκτέον· ὁπόταν γάρ τις ἀπὸ τῶν ἐκτὸς καὶ αὐτῆς ἔτι τῆς τοῦ σώματος ἀγωγῆς ἐπὶ τὴν διάνοιαν ἀχθεὶς ὑπὸ τοῦ λόγου τὴν θεωρίαν τῶν κατὰ τὸν ἄνθρωπον συμβαινόντων κατὰ φύσιν ἀκριβῶς ἐκμάθῃ, εἴσεται μὴ σπουδάζειν μὲν περὶ τὰ ἐκτός, τό τε ἴδιον τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, τὸ ὄμμα τῆς ψυχῆς, ἐκκα θαίρειν, ἁγνίζειν δὲ καὶ τὴν σάρκα αὐτήν. Ὁ γὰρ ἐκείνων καθαρῶς ἀπολυθείς, δι' ὧν ἔτι χοῦς ἐστιν, τί ἂν ἄλλο προὐργιαίτερον ἑαυτοῦ ἔχοι πρὸς τὸ ὁδῷ ἐλθεῖν ἐπὶ τὴν κατάληψιν τοῦ θεοῦ; Οἱ μὲν δὴ ἄλλοι ἄνθρωποι ζῶσιν, ἵνα ἐσθίωσιν, ὥσπερ ἀμέλει καὶ τὰ ἄλογα ζῷα, οἷς οὐδὲν ἀλλ' ἢ γαστήρ ἐστιν ὁ βίος, ἡμῖν δὲ ὁ παιδαγωγὸς ἐσθίειν παραγγέλλει, ἵνα ζῶμεν. Οὔτε γὰρ ἔργον ἡμῖν ἡ τροφὴ οὔτε σκοπὸς ἡδονή, ὑπὲρ δὲ τῆς ἐνταῦθα διαμονῆς, ἣν ὁ λόγος εἰς ἀφθαρσίαν παιδαγωγεῖ, ἐγκρίνεται ἡ τροφή. Ἁπλῆ δὲ αὕτη καὶ ἀπερίεργος, ἀληθείᾳ κατάλληλος, ἁπλοῖς καὶ ἀπεριέργοις ἁρμόζουσα παιδίοις, ὡσὰν εἰς τὸ ζῆν, οὐκ εἰς τρυφὴν ἐπιτήδειος· τὸ δὲ ἐκ δυεῖν, τὸ ζῆν τοῦτο, ὑγείας τε καὶ ἰσχύος σύγκειται, οἷς μάλιστα κατάλληλον τῆς τροφῆς τὸ εὔκολον, εἴς τε τὰς ἀναδόσεις καὶ τοῦ σώματος τὴν κουφότητα χρησιμεῦον, ἐξ ὧν αὔξησίς τε καὶ ὑγεία καὶ ἰσχὺς δικαία, οὐχὶ δὲ ἄδικος ἢ σφαλερὰ καὶ ἀθλία ὡς ἡ τῶν ἀθλητῶν ἐξ ἀναγκοφαγίας, περιγίνεται. Αἱ μὲν οὖν πολυειδεῖς ποιότητες ἀποπτυστέαι, ποικίλας ἐντίκτουσαι βλάβας, καχεξίας σωμάτων, ἀνατροπὰς στομάχων, ἐκπορνευούσης τῆς γεύσεως διά τινος κακοδαίμονος τέχνης τῆς ὀψαρτυτικῆς καὶ τῆς ἀμφὶ τὰ πέμματα ματαιοτεχνίας. Τροφὴν γὰρ τολμῶσιν καλεῖν τὴν ἐν τρυφαῖς ἐπιτήδευσιν εἰς ἡδονὰς ἐπιβλα βεῖς ὀλισθαίνουσαν. Ἀντιφάνης δὲ ὁ ∆ήλιος ἰατρὸς καὶ μίαν τῶν νόσου αἰτιῶν ταύτην εἴρηκεν τῶν ἐδεσμάτων τὴν πολυειδίαν, τῶν περὶ τὴν ἀλήθειαν δυσαρεστούντων κενοδοξίᾳ ποικίλῃ τὸ σῶφρον τῆς διαίτης ἐξομνυμένων καὶ τὰς διαποντίους πολυπραγμονούντων ἐδωδάς. Κἀμοὶ μὲν ἔλεος ὕπεισι τῆς νόσου, οἳ δὲ ἐξυμνεῖν οὐκ αἰσχύνονται τὰς σφετέρας ἡδυπαθείας, τὰς ἐν τῷ πορθμῷ τῷ Σικελικῷ σμυραίνας πολυπραγμονοῦντες καὶ τὰς ἐγχέλεις τὰς Μαιανδρίους καὶ τὰς ἐν Μήλῳ ἐρίφους καὶ τοὺς ἐν Σκιάθῳ κεστρεῖς καὶ τὰς Πελωρίδας κόγχας καὶ τὰ ὄστρεια τὰ Ἀβυδηνά, οὐ παραλείποντες δὲ τὰς ἐν Λιπάρᾳ μαινίδας οὐδὲ τὴν γογγύλην τὴν Μαντινικήν, ἀλλὰ οὐδὲ τὰ παρὰ τοῖς Ἀσκραίοις τεῦτλα, κτένας τε ἐκζητοῦσιν Μηθυμναίους καὶ ψήττας Ἀττικὰς καὶ τὰς ∆αφνίους κίχλας χελιδονίους τε ἰσχάδας, δι' ἃς εἰς Ἑλλάδα πεντακοσίαις ἅμα μυριάσιν ὁ κακοδαίμων ἐστείλατο Πέρσης. Ὄρνεις ἐπὶ τούτοις συνωνοῦνται τοὺς ἀπὸ Φάσιδος, ἀτταγᾶς Αἰγυπτίας, Μῆδον ταῶνα. Ταῦτα τοῖς ἡδύσμασιν ἐξαλλάσσοντες οἱ γαστρίμαργοι τοῖς ὄψοις ἐπικεχήνασιν, ὅσα τε χθὼν πόντου τε βένθη καὶ ἀέρος ἀμέτρητον εὖρος ἐκτρέφει, τῇ αὑτῶν ἐκποριζόμενοι λαιμαργίᾳ. Σαγηνεύειν ἀτεχνῶς οἱ πλεονέκται καὶ πολυπράγμονες οὗτοι ἐοίκασιν εἰς ἡδυπάθειαν τὸν κόσμον, ταγήνοις σίζουσιν περιηχούμενοι, ἀμφὶ τὴν ἴγδιν καὶ τὸν ἀλετρίβανον τὸν πάντα αὐτῶν κατατρίβοντες βίον οἱ παμφάγοι καθάπερ τὸ πῦρ τῆς ὕλης ἐξεχόμενοι. Ἀλλὰ καὶ τὴν εὔκολον βρῶσιν τὸν ἄρτον ἐκθηλύνουσιν ἀποσήθοντες τοῦ πυροῦ τὸ τρόφιμον, ὡς τὸ ἀναγκαῖον τῆς τροφῆς ὄνειδος γίνεσθαι ἡδονῆς. Οὐκ ἔχει δὲ ὅρον παρὰ τοῖς ἀνθρώποις ἡ λιχνεία. Καὶ γὰρ εἰς τὰ πέμματα καὶ τὰ μελίπηκτα, πρὸς δὲ καὶ εἰς τὰ τραγήματα ἐξώκειλεν, ἐπιδορπισμάτων πλῆθος εὑρίσκουσα, παντοδαπὰς θηρωμένη ποιότητας. Καί μοι δοκεῖ ὁ τοιοῦτος ἄνθρωπος οὐδὲν ἀλλ' ἢ γνάθος εἶναι. Μηδὲ ἐπιθύμει, φησὶν ἡ γραφή, τῶν ἐδεσμάτων τῶν πλουσίων· ταῦτα γὰρ ἔχεται βίου ψευδοῦς τε καὶ αἰσχροῦ. Οἳ μὲν γὰρ ἐξέχονται τῶν ὄψων, ἃ μετ' ὀλίγον ἐκδέχεται κοπρών, ἡμῖν δὲ τοῖς θηρωμένοις τὴν βρῶσιν τὴν ἐπουράνιον ἄρχειν ἀνάγκη τῆς ὑπὸ τὸν οὐρανὸν γαστρὸς ἔτι τε μᾶλλον καὶ τῶν ταύτῃ προσφιλῶν, ἃ ὁ θεὸς καταργήσει, φησὶν ὁ ἀπόστολος, εἰκότως ἐπικαταρώμενος λαιμάργοις ἐπιθυμίαις. Τὰ γὰρ βρώματα τῇ κοιλίᾳ, ἐξ ὧν ὁ σαρκικὸς ὄντως οὑτοσὶ καὶ φθοροποιὸς ἀπήρτηται βίος· εἰ δ' ἀγάπην τινὲς τολμῶσι καλεῖν ἀθύρῳ γλώττῃ κεχρημένοι δειπνάριά τινα κνίσης καὶ ζωμῶν ἀποπνέοντα, τὸ καλὸν καὶ σωτήριον ἔργον τοῦ λόγου, τὴν ἀγάπην τὴν ἡγιασμένην, κυθριδίοις καὶ ζωμοῦ ῥύσει καθυβρίζοντες ποτῷ τε καὶ τρυφῇ καὶ καπνῷ βλασφημοῦντες τοὔνομα, σφάλλονται τῆς ὑπολήψεως, τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν τοῦ θεοῦ δειπναρίοις ἐξωνεῖσθαι προσ δοκήσαντες. Τὰς μὲν γὰρ ἐπὶ τῇ εὐφροσύνῃ συναγωγὰς ἐγκαταλεγόμενοι καὶ αὐτοὶ δειπνάριά τε καὶ ἄριστα καὶ δοχὰς εἰκότως ἂν καλοῖμεν τὴν συνήλυσιν ταύτην ἑπόμενοι λόγῳ, τὰς τοιαύτας δὲ ἑστιάσεις ὁ κύριος ἀγάπας οὐ κέκληκεν. Λέγει γοῦν πῇ μέν· Ὅταν κληθῇς εἰς γάμους, μὴ κατάκεισο εἰς τὴν πρωτοκλισίαν, ἀλλ' ὅταν κληθῇς, εἰς τὸν ἔσχατον τόπον ἀνάπιπτε, πῇ δέ· Ὅταν ποιῇς ἄριστον ἢ δεῖπνον καὶ πάλιν· Ἀλλ' ὅταν ποιῇς δοχήν, κάλει τοὺς πτωχούς, ἐφ' ᾧ μάλιστα δεῖπνον ποιητέον, ἔτι τε· Ἄνθρωπός τις ἐποίησεν δεῖπνον μέγα καὶ ἐκάλεσεν πολλούς. Ἀλλ' αἰσθάνομαι ὅθεν ἡ εὐπρόσωπος ἐρρύη τῶν δείπνων προσηγορία, ἀπὸ τῶν φαρύγων καὶ φοιτητῆς μανίας ἐπὶ δεῖπνον κατὰ τὸν κωμικόν. Ἔστι γὰρ ὡς ἀληθῶς τὰ πολλὰ τοῖς πολλοῖς τοῦ δείπνου χάριν. Οὐ γάρ που μεμαθήκασι τὸν θεὸν παρασκευάσαι τῷ δημιουργήματι, τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ λέγω, σῖτα καὶ ποτὰ τοῦ σῴζεσθαι χάριν, οὐχὶ δὲ τοῦ ἥδεσθαι· ἐπεὶ μηδὲ ὠφελεῖσθαι πέφυκεν τὰ σώματα ἐκ τῆς πολυτελείας τῶν βρωμάτων· πᾶν γὰρ τοὐναντίον οἱ ταῖς εὐτελεστάταις χρώμενοι τροφαῖς ἰσχυρότεροί εἰσι καὶ ὑγεινότεροι καὶ γενναιότεροι, ὡς οἰκέται δεσποτῶν καὶ γεωργοὶ κτητόρων· καὶ οὐ μόνον ῥωμαλεώτεροι, ἀλλὰ καὶ φρονιμώτεροι, ὡς φιλόσοφοι πλουσίων· οὐ γὰρ ἐπέχωσαν τὸν νοῦν ταῖς τροφαῖς οὐδὲ ἠπάτησαν αὐτὸν ἡδοναῖς. Ἀγάπη δὲ τῷ ὄντι ἐπουράνιός ἐστι τροφή, ἑστίασις λογική· Πάντα στέγει, πάντα ὑπομένει, πάντα ἐλπίζει· ἡ ἀγάπη οὐδέποτε πίπτει. Μακάριος ὃς φάγεται ἄρτον ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τοῦ θεοῦ. Χαλεπώτατον δὲ πάντων πτωμάτων τὴν ἄπτωτον ἀγάπην ἄνωθεν ἐξ οὐρανῶν ἐπὶ τοὺς ζωμοὺς ῥίπτεσθαι χαμαί. Κᾷτ' οἴει με δεῖπνον ἡγεῖσθαι τὸ καταργούμενον; Ἐὰν γάρ, φησί, διαδῶ τὰ ὑπάρχοντά μου, ἀγάπην δὲ μὴ ἔχω, οὐδέν εἰμι. Ταύτης ὅλος ἀπήρτηται τῆς ἀγάπης ὁ νόμος καὶ ὁ λόγος· κἂν ἀγαπήσῃς κύριον τὸν θεόν σου καὶ τὸν πλησίον σου, ἐν οὐρανοῖς ἐστιν αὕτη ἡ ἐπουράνιος εὐωχία, ἡ δὲ ἐπίγειος δεῖπνον κέκληται, ὡς ἐκ τῆς γραφῆς ἀποδέδεικται, δι' ἀγάπην μὲν γινόμενον τὸ δεῖπνον, ἀλλ' οὐκ ἀγάπη τὸ δεῖπνον, δεῖγμα δὲ εὐνοίας κοινωνικῆς καὶ εὐμε ταδότου. Μὴ βλασφημείσθω οὖν ἡμῶν τὸ ἀγαθόν. Οὐ γάρ ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ βρῶσις καὶ πόσις, φησὶν ὁ ἀπόστολος, ἵνα τὸ ἐφήμερον ἄριστον νοηθῇ, ἀλλὰ δικαιοσύνη καὶ εἰρήνη καὶ χαρὰ ἐν πνεύματι ἁγίῳ. Τούτου ὁ φαγὼν τοῦ ἀρίστου τὸ ἄριστον τῶν ὄντων, τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ, κτήσεται, μελετήσας ἐνθένδε ἁγίαν συνήλυσιν ἀγάπης, οὐράνιον ἐκκλησίαν. Ἀγάπη μὲν οὖν χρῆμα καθαρὸν καὶ τοῦ θεοῦ ἄξιον, ἔργον δὲ αὐτῆς ἡ μετάδοσις. Φροντὶς δὲ παιδείας ἀγάπη, ἡ σοφία λέγει, ἀγάπη δὲ τήρησις νόμων αὐτῆς. Αἱ δὲ εὐφροσύναι αὗται ἔναυσμά τι ἀγάπης ἔχουσιν ἐκ τῆς πανδήμου τροφῆς συνεθιζόμενον εἰς ἀίδιον τροφήν. Ἀγάπη μὲν οὖν δεῖπνον οὐκ ἔστιν, ἡ δ' ἑστίασις ἀγάπης ἠρτήσθω. Μαθέτωσαν γάρ, φησίν, οἱ υἱοί σου, οὓς ἠγάπησας, κύριε, ὅτι οὐχ αἱ γενέσεις τῶν καρπῶν τρέφουσιν ἄνθρωπον, ἀλλὰ τὸ ῥῆμά σου τοὺς σοὶ πιστεύοντας διατηρεῖ· οὐ γὰρ ἐπ' ἄρτῳ ζήσεται ὁ δίκαιος. Ἀλλὰ γὰρ τὸ δεῖπνον ἔστω λιτὸν ἡμῖν καὶ εὔζωνον, ἐπιτήδειον εἰς ἐγρήγορσιν, ποικίλαις ἀνεπίμικτον ποιότησιν, οὐκ ἀπαιδαγώγητον οὐδὲ τοῦτο· ἀγαθὴ γὰρ κουροτρόφος αὐτάρκεια εἰς κοινωνίαν ἀγάπη ἐφόδιον ἔχουσα πλούσιον, τὴν αὐτάρκειαν, ἣ δὴ ἐφεστῶσα τῇ τροφῇ δικαίᾳ ποσότητι μεμετρημένῃ σωτηρίως τὸ σῶμα διοικοῦσα καὶ τοῖς πλησίον ἀπένειμέν τι ἐξ αὑτῆς, ἡ δὲ ὑπερβλύζουσα τὴν αὐτάρκειαν δίαιτα τὸν ἄνθρωπον κακοῖ, νωθῆ μὲν τὴν ψυχήν, ἐπισφαλὲς δὲ εἰς νόσον ἐργαζομένη τὸ σῶμα. Ναὶ μὴν προστρίβονται βλασφημίας δυσανασχέτους αἱ περὶ τὰς καρυκείας ἡδοναί, λιχνείαν, λαιμαργίαν, ὀψοφαγίαν, ἀπληστίαν, ἀδηφαγίαν. Μυῖαι τούτοις οἰκεῖαι τοῖς ὀνόμασιν καὶ γαλαῖ κόλακές τε καὶ μονομάχαι καὶ τὰ ἄγρια τῶν παρασίτων φῦλα, γαστρὸς ἡδονῆς οἳ μὲν τὸν λόγον, οἳ δὲ τὴν φιλίαν, οἳ δὲ τὸ ζῆν ἀποδόμενοι, ἐπὶ γαστέρας ἕρποντες, θηρία ἀνδρείκελα, κατ' εἰκόνα τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτῶν τοῦ λίχνου θηρίου. Ἀσώτους τ' αὐτοὺς οἱ καλέσαντες πρῶτοι εὖ μοι δοκοῦσιν αἰνίττεσθαι τὸ τέλος αὐτῶν, ἀσώστους αὐτοὺς κατὰ ἔκθλιψιν τοῦ σίγμα στοιχείου νενοηκότες. Ἦ γὰρ οὐχ οὗτοι οἱ περὶ τὰς λοπάδας ἀσχολούμενοι καὶ τὰς μεμωρημένας τῶν ἡδυσμάτων περιεργίας, οἱ ταπεινόφρονες, χαμαιγενεῖς, τὸν ἐφήμερον διώκοντες βίον ὡς οὐ ζησόμενοι; Τούτους ταλανίζει διὰ Ἡσαΐου τὸ ἅγιον πνεῦμα, ἠρέμα πως τῆς ἀγάπης τὸ ὄνομα ὑπεξελόμενον, ἐπεὶ μὴ κατὰ λόγον ἡ ἑστίασις ἦν· Αὐτοὶ δὲ ἐποίησαν εὐφροσύνην, σφάζοντες μόσχους καὶ θύοντες πρόβατα, λέγοντες· φάγωμεν καὶ πίωμεν, αὔριον γὰρ ἀποθνῄσκομεν· καὶ ὅτι γε τὴν τοιαύτην τρυφὴν ἁμαρτίαν λογίζεται, ἐπιφέρει· καὶ οὐ μὴ ἀφεθήσεται ἡ ἁμαρτία ὑμῶν αὕτη, ἕως ἂν ἀποθάνητε, οὐχὶ ἄφεσιν τῆς ἁμαρτίας θάνατον ἀναίσθητον, ἀλλὰ ἀνταπόδοσιν ἁμαρτίας θάνατον σωτηρίας ἐπικρίνας. Μὴ εὐφρανθῇς δὲ ἐπὶ μικρᾷ τρυφῇ ἡ σοφία λέγει. Ἐνταῦθα ὑπομνηστέον καὶ περὶ τῶν εἰδωλοθύτων καλουμένων, ὅπως ποτὲ ἄρα παραγγέλλεται ἀποσχέσθαι δεῖν τούτων. Μιαρὰ δοκεῖ μοι καὶ βδελυρὰ ἐκεῖνα, ὧν ἐφίπτανται τοῖς αἵμασιν ψυχαὶ ὑπὲξ ἐρέβευς νεκύων κατατεθνειώτων. Οὐ γὰρ θέλω ὑμᾶς κοινωνοὺς δαιμονίων γίνεσθαι, ὁ ἀπόστολος λέγει, ἐπεὶ δίχα σῳζομένων καὶ φθιμένων τροφαί. Ἀφεκτέον τοίνυν τούτων, οὐ δεδιότας–οὐ γάρ ἐστί τις ἐν αὐτοῖς δύναμις–διὰ δὲ τὴν συνείδησιν τὴν ἡμετέραν ἁγίαν οὖσαν καὶ τῶν δαιμονίων διὰ τὴν βδελυρίαν, οἷς ἐπικατωνόμασται, μυσαττομένους, καὶ προσέτι διὰ τὴν τῶν ὀλισθηρῶς τὰ πολλὰ ὑπολαμβανόντων ὑδαρότητα, οἷς ἡ συνείδησις ἀσθενοῦσα μολύνεται. Βρῶμα γὰρ ἡμᾶς οὐ παραστήσει τῷ θεῷ· οὐδὲ τὰ εἰσιόντα κοινοῖ τὸν ἄνθρωπον, ἀλλὰ τὰ ἐξιόντα, φησί, τοῦ στόματος. Ἀδιάφορος ἄρα ἡ φυσικὴ χρῆσις τῆς τροφῆς· οὔτε γὰρ ἐὰν φάγωμεν, περισσεύομεν, φησίν, οὔτε ἐὰν μὴ φάγωμεν, ὑστερούμεθα. Ἀλλὰ οὐκ εὔλογον τραπέζης δαιμονίων μεταλαμβάνειν τοὺς θείας μετέχειν καὶ πνευματικῆς κατηξιωμένους τροφῆς. Μὴ γὰρ οὐκ ἔχομεν ἐξουσίαν φαγεῖν καὶ πιεῖν, φησὶν ὁ ἀπόστολος, καὶ γυναῖκας περιάγεσθαι; Ἀλλὰ κρατοῦντες δηλονότι τῶν ἡδονῶν κωλύομεν τὰς ἐπιθυμίας. Βλέπετε οὖν μή ποτε ἡ ἐξουσία ὑμῶν αὕτη πρόσκομμα γένηται τοῖς ἀσθενέσιν. Οὐ χρὴ οὖν καθάπερ ἀσωτευομένους ἡμᾶς κατὰ τὴν ἐν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ τοῦ πλουσίου παιδὸς εἰκόνα παραχρῆσθαι τοῖς τοῦ πατρὸς δωρήμασιν, χρῆσθαι δὲ αὐτοῖς, ὡς ἄρχοντας, ἀπροσκλινῶς· καὶ γὰρ βασιλεύειν ἐτάχθημεν καὶ κατακυριεύειν, οὐχὶ δουλεύειν τοῖς βρώμασιν. Ἀγαστὸν μὲν οὖν πρὸς τὸ ἀληθὲς ἀναθρήσαντας τῆς ἄνω τροφῆς ἐξέχεσθαι τῆς θείας καὶ τῆς τοῦ ὄντως ὄντος ἀπληρώτου ἐμπίμπλασθαι θέας, τῆς βεβαίου καὶ μονίμου καὶ καθαρᾶς γευομένους ἡδονῆς· ταύτην γὰρ τὴν ἀγάπην ἐκδέχεσθαι δεῖν ἐμφαίνει ἡ βρῶσις ἡ Χριστοῦ· κομιδῇ δὲ ἄλογον καὶ ἀχρεῖον καὶ οὐκ ἀνθρώπειον βοσκημάτων δίκην πιαινομένων θανάτῳ τρέφεσθαι, κάτω βλέποντας εἰς γῆν τοὺς ἐκ γῆς ἀεὶ καὶ κεκυφότας εἰς τραπέζας, τὴν λίχνον διωκάθοντας ζωήν, τὸ ἀγαθὸν ἐνταῦθά που κατορύξαντας περὶ τὴν οὐκ ἐσομένην ζωήν, μόνην κολακεύοντας τὴν κατάποσιν, δι' ἣν πολυτιμότεροι γεγόνασιν μάγειροι γεωργῶν. Μὴ γὰρ ἀφαιροῦμεν τὴν συμπεριφοράν, ἀλλὰ τὸν ὄλισθον τῆς συνηθείας ὡς συμφορὰν ὑποπτεύομεν. ∆ιὸ παραιτητέον τὴν λιχνείαν ὀλίγων τινῶν καὶ ἀναγκαίων μεταλαμβάνοντας· καὶ εἴ τις ἡμᾶς καλεῖ τῶν ἀπίστων καὶ πορεύεσθαι κρίνομεν–καλὸν γὰρ μὴ συναναμίγνυσθαι τοῖς ἀτάκτοις–, πᾶν τὸ παρατιθέμενον κελεύει ἡμῖν ἐσθίειν μηδὲν ἀνακρίνουσιν διὰ τὴν συνείδησιν, ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ τὰ ἐκ μακέλλου ἀπεριέργως ὠνεῖσθαι προσέταξεν. Οὐκ ἀφεκτέον οὖν παντελῶς τῶν ποικίλων βρωμάτων, ἀλλ' οὐ περὶ αὐτὰ σπουδαστέον· μεταληπτέον δὲ τῶν παρατιθεμένων, ὡς πρέπον χριστιανῷ, τιμῶντας μὲν τὸν κεκληκότα κατὰ τὴν ἀβλαβῆ καὶ ἀπροσκορῆ τῆς συνουσίας κοινωνίαν, ἀδιάφορον δὲ ἡγουμένους τῶν εἰσκομιζομένων τὴν πολυτέλειαν, καταφρονοῦντας τῶν ὄψων ὡς μετ' ὀλίγον οὐκ ὄντων. Ὁ ἐσθίων τὸν μὴ ἐσθίοντα μὴ ἐξουθενείτω, ὁ δὲ μὴ ἐσθίων τὸν ἐσθίοντα μὴ κρινέτω. Μικρὸν δὲ ὑποβὰς καὶ τὴν αἰτίαν τῆς παραγγελίας ἐξηγήσεται, ὁ ἐσθίων λέγων κυρίῳ ἐσθίει καὶ εὐχαριστεῖ τῷ θεῷ· καὶ ὁ μὴ ἐσθίων κυρίῳ οὐκ ἐσθίει καὶ εὐχαριστεῖ τῷ θεῷ· ὡς εἶναι τὴν δικαίαν τροφὴν εὐχαριστίαν· καὶ ὅ γε ἀεὶ εὐχαριστῶν οὐκ ἀσχολεῖται περὶ ἡδονάς. Εἰ δὲ καὶ προτρεποίμεθα ἐπ' ἀρετὴν τῶν συνεστιωμένων τινάς, ταύτῃ πλέον ἀφεκτέον τῶν λίχνων τούτων βρωμάτων, ἐναργὲς ὑπόδειγμα ἀρετῆς σφᾶς αὐτοὺς παριστάντας, ὡς Χριστὸν ἐσχήκαμεν αὐτοί. Εἰ γάρ τι τῶν τοιούτων βρωμάτων σκανδαλίζει τὸν ἀδελφόν, οὐ μὴ φάγω, φησίν, τοῦτο εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, ἵνα μὴ τὸν ἀδελφόν μου σκανδαλίσω, ὀλίγης ἐγκρατείας κερδαίνων τὸν ἄνθρωπον. Μὴ γὰρ οὐκ ἔχομεν ἐξουσίαν φαγεῖν καὶ πιεῖν; Καὶ τὴν ἀλήθειαν ἐπεγνώκαμεν, φησίν, ὅτι οὐδὲν εἴδωλον ἐν κόσμῳ, ἀλλὰ μόνος ὄντως ἐστὶν εἷς ἡμῶν θεός, ἐξ οὗ τὰ πάντα, καὶ εἷς κύριος Ἰησοῦς. Ἀλλὰ ἀπόλλυται, φησί, τῇ σῇ γνώσει ὁ ἀδελφὸς ἀσθενῶν, δι' ὃν Χριστὸς ἀπέθανεν. Οἱ δὲ τὴν συνείδησιν τύπτοντες τῶν ἀσθενούντων ἀδελφῶν εἰς Χριστὸν ἁμαρτάνουσιν. Ταύτῃ τοι ὁ ἀπόστολος εὐλαβούμενος περὶ ἡμῶν τὰ δεῖπνα διακρίνει μὴ συναναμίγνυσθαι φάσκων, εἴ τις ἀδελφὸς λεγόμενος εὑρίσκοιτο πόρνος ἢ μοιχὸς ἢ εἰδωλολάτρης, τούτῳ μηδὲ συνεσθίειν, ἢ τὸν λόγον ἢ τὸ ὄψον, ὑποπτεύων τὸν μολυσμὸν τὸν ἐντεῦθεν, καθάπερ καὶ τῶν δαιμονίων τὰς τραπέζας. Καλὸν μὲν οὖν τὸ μὴ φαγεῖν κρέα μηδὲ οἶνον πιεῖν αὐτός τε ὁμολογεῖ καὶ οἱ ἀπὸ Πυθαγόρου· θηρίων γὰρ μᾶλλον τοῦτό γε, καὶ ἡ ἀπ' αὐτῶν ἀναθυμίασις θολωδεστέρα οὖσα ἐπισκοτεῖ τῇ ψυχῇ. Εἰ δέ τις καὶ τούτων μεταλαμβάνει, οὐχ ἁμαρτάνει, μόνον ἐγχρατῶς μετεχέτω, μὴ ἐξεχόμενος μηδὲ ἀπηρτημένος αὐτῶν μηδὲ ἐπιλαιμαργῶν τῷ ὄψῳ· ὑπηχήσει γὰρ αὐτῷ φωνή, μὴ ἕνεκεν βρώματος κατάλυε τὸ ἔργον τοῦ θεοῦ λέγουσα. Ἀνοήτου γὰρ σφόδρα θαυμάζειν καὶ τεθηπέναι τὰ παρατιθέμενα ταῖς δημώδεσιν ἑστιάσεσιν μετὰ τὴν ἐν λόγῳ τρυφήν, πολλῷ δέ ἐστιν ἀνοητότερον τὰς ὄψεις τοῖς προσοψήμασι δεδουλωκέναι συμμεταφερομένης αὐτοῖς, ὡς εἰπεῖν, τῆς ἀκρασίας πρὸς τῶν διακόνων. Πῶς δὲ οὐκ ἀχρεῖον τὸ ἐπανίστασθαι ταῖς κλισίαις, μονονουχὶ τὸ πρόσωπον ταῖς λοπάσιν ἐπιρριπτοῦντας, καθάπερ ἐκ νεοττιᾶς τῆς κλισίας προκύπτοντας, τὸ δὴ θρυλούμενον τοῦτο, ἵνα πλανωμένην λάβωσι τὴν ἀτμίδα διὰ τῆς ἀναπνοῆς; Πῶς δὲ οὐκ ἄλογον τὰς χεῖρας ἐπεμφύρειν τοῖς ἡδύσμασιν ἢ συνεχὲς ἐπὶ τοὔψον ἐκτείνειν οὐκ ἀπογευομένων, ἀλλ' ἀφαρπαζόντων δίκην ἀμέτρως καὶ ἀσχημόνως ἐμφορουμένους; Ἔστι γὰρ ὁρᾶν τοὺς τοιούτους ὑσὶν ἢ κυσὶν διὰ τὴν λαβρότητα μᾶλλον ἢ ἀνθρώποις ὡμοιωμένους, τοὺς χορτάζεσθαι σπεύδοντας, ὡς καὶ τὰς γνάθους ἅμα ἄμφω ἐξογκοῦσθαι τῶν περὶ τὸ πρόσωπον ἀγγείων προσεπαιρομένων, πρὸς δὲ καὶ ἱδρῶτα περιχεῖσθαι τῇ ἀπληστίᾳ συνεχομένων καὶ ἀσθμαινόντων ὑπὸ ἀκρασίας, ὠθουμένης κατ' ἔπειξιν ἀκοινώνητον εἰς κοιλίαν τῆς τροφῆς, ὥσπερ εἰς ἐφόδιον, οὐκ εἰς ἀνάδοσιν, ἀποτιθεμένων τὰ ἐδέσματα. Πανταχῇ δὲ κακὸν οὖσα ἡ ἀμετρία περὶ τὰς τροφὰς μάλιστα διελέγχεται. Ἡ γοῦν ὀψοφαγία οὐδὲν ἕτερόν ἐστιν ἢ ἀμετρία περὶ χρῆσιν ὄψου, καὶ ἡ λαιμαργία μανία περὶ τὸν λαιμόν, καὶ ἡ γαστριμαργία ἀκρασία περὶ τὴν τροφήν, ὡς δὲ καὶ τοὔνομα περιέχει, μανία περὶ γαστέρα, ἐπεὶ μάργος ὁ μεμηνώς. Τοὺς οὖν ἐπὶ ἑστιάσεως μελετῶντας ἀδικεῖν ὁ ἀπόστολος ἀνακρούων λέγει· Ἕκαστος γὰρ τὸ ἴδιον δεῖπνον προλαμβάνει ἐν τῷ φαγεῖν, καὶ ὃς μὲν πεινᾷ, ὃς δὲ μεθύει. Μὴ γὰρ οἰκίας οὐκ ἔχετε εἰς τὸ ἐσθίειν καὶ πίνειν; Ἢ τῆς ἐκκλησίας τοῦ θεοῦ καταφρονεῖτε καὶ καταισχύνετε τοὺς μὴ ἔχοντας; Παρὰ δὲ τοῖς ἔχουσιν οἱ ἀνέδην ἐσθίοντες, οἱ ἄπληστοι, ἑαυτοὺς καταισχύνουσιν· ἄμφω δὲ πράττουσι κακῶς, οἳ μὲν τοὺς μὴ ἔχοντας βεβαρηκότες, οἳ δὲ τὴν ἀκρασίαν τὴν σφῶν παρὰ τοῖς ἔχουσιν γεγυμνωκότες. Ἀναγκαίως ἄρα πρὸς τοὺς ἀπηρυθριακότας καὶ τοῖς δείπνοις ἀφειδέστερον παραχρωμένους, τοὺς ἀκορέστους, οἷς μηδὲν ἱκανόν, ἀποταθεὶς ὁ ἀπόστολος, πάλιν ἐκ δευτέρου ἔρρηξεν φωνὴν ἀγανακτη τικήν· Ὥστε, ἀδελφοί μου, συνερχόμενοι εἰς τὸ φαγεῖν ἀλλήλους ἐκδέχεσθε. Εἰ δέ τις πεινᾷ, ἐν οἴκῳ ἐσθιέτω, ἵνα μὴ εἰς κρίμα συνέρχησθε. Ἀφεκτέον οὖν δουλοπρεπείας ἁπάσης καὶ ἀκρασίας, τῶν παρατιθεμένων κοσμίως ἐφαπτομένοις, ἀμόλυντον καὶ τὴν χεῖρα καὶ τὴν στρωμνὴν καὶ τὸ γένειον φυλάττουσιν, τὸ εὔσχημον τοῦ προσώπου διατηροῦσιν ἀδιάστροφον, οὐκ ἀσχημονοῦσιν οὐδὲ περὶ τὴν κατάποσιν, ἀλλὰ τὴν μὲν χεῖρα μετὰ τάξεως ἐκ διαστημάτων ἐκτατέον. *** Παραφυλακτέον γὰρ καὶ τὸ φθέγγεσθαι ὁτιοῦν ἐσθίοντα ἅμα· ἀπρεπὴς γὰρ καὶ ἄσημος ἡ φωνὴ γίνεται, πλήρεσι ταῖς γνάθοις στενοχωρουμένη, καὶ ἡ γλῶσσα τῇ τροφῇ πιεζομένη, τῆς κατὰ φύσιν ἐνεργείας παραποδισθεῖσα τὴν προφορὰν ἐκδίδωσι τεθλιμ μένην. Ἀλλ' οὐδὲ ἐσθίειν ἅμα καὶ πίνειν καθήκει· ἀκρασίας γὰρ τῆς μεγίστης συγχεῖν τοὺς καιρούς, ὧν αἱ χρήσεις ἀσύμφωνοι. Καὶ εἴτε ἐσθίετε, φησίν, εἴτε πίνετε, πάντα εἰς δόξαν θεοῦ ποιεῖτε, στοχαζόμενοι τῆς ἀληθοῦς εὐτελείας, ἥν μοι δοκεῖ καὶ ὁ κύριος αἰνίξασθαι τοὺς ἄρτους εὐλογήσας καὶ τοὺς ἰχθύας τοὺς ὀπτούς, οἷς κατευώχησε τοὺς μαθητάς, τῆς ἀπεριέργου τροφῆς καλὸν εἰσηγούμενος ὑπόδειγμα. Ὁ γοῦν ἰχθὺς ἐκεῖνος, ὃν κελεύσαντος τοῦ κυρίου ὁ Πέτρος εἷλεν, εὔκολον καὶ αὐτὸς καὶ θεοδώρητον καὶ σώφρονα αἰνίττεται τροφήν· ἀφαιρεῖν γέ τοι ὑποτίθεται τῶν ἐξ ὕδατος ἀνιόντων ἐπὶ τὸ τῆς δικαιοσύνης δέλεαρ τὴν ἀσωτίαν καὶ τὴν φιλαργυρίαν, ὡς τὸ νόμισμα τοῦ ἰχθύος, ἵνα χωρίσῃ τὴν κενοδοξίαν, καὶ τὸν στατῆρα τοῖς τελώ ναις δούς, τὰ Καίσαρος ἀποδοὺς τῷ Καίσαρι, φυλάξῃ τὰ τοῦ θεοῦ τῷ θεῷ. Ἔχοι δ' ἂν καὶ ἄλλας ἐπιλύσεις οὐκ ἀγνοουμένας ὁ στατήρ, ἀλλ' οὐχ ὁ παρὼν ἐπιτήδειος τῆς ἐξεργασίας καιρός. Ἀπόχρη δὲ ὑπόμνησις συγχρωμένων ἡμῶν εἰς τὸ προκείμενον οὐκ ἀπᾴδουσιν τοῦ λόγου τοῖς ἄνθεσιν, ὅπερ ἤδη πολλάκις πεποιήκαμεν, πρὸς τὸ κατεπεῖγον τοῦ ζητήματος τὴν πολυωφελῆ περιέλκοντες εἰς ἀρδείαν τῶν φυτευομένων ὑπὸ τοῦ λόγου πηγήν. Καὶ γὰρ εἰ πάντων μεταλαμβάνειν ἔξεστί μοι, ἀλλ' οὐ πάντα συμφέρει· ταχὺ γὰρ καταπίπτουσιν ἐπὶ τὸ δρᾶν τὸ μὴ ἐξὸν οἱ πάντα δρῶντες ἃ ἐξόν. Ὡς δὲ ἡ δικαιοσύνη διὰ πλεονεξίας οὐ περιγίνεται οὐδὲ ἡ σωφροσύνη δι' ἀκολασίας, οὕτως οὐδὲ ἡ τοῦ χριστιανοῦ δίαιτα ἡδυπαθείᾳ περικτᾶται· πόρρω γάρ ἐστι τῶν πασχητιώντων ἐδεσμάτων ἡ τράπεζα τῆς ἀληθείας. Εἰ γὰρ καὶ τὰ μάλιστα ἕνεκεν τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἐγένετο τὰ πάντα, ἀλλ' οὐ πᾶσι χρῆσθαι καλόν, ἀλλ' οὐδὲ ἀεί. Καὶ γὰρ καὶ ὁ καιρὸς καὶ ὁ χρόνος καὶ ὁ τρόπος καὶ τὸ πρὸς τί οὐκ ὀλίγην τῷ παιδαγωγουμένῳ πρὸς τὸ λυσιτελὲς ἐνδίδωσι ῥοπήν, καὶ τό γε ἔστιν ἐπιτήδειον ἰσχὺν ἔχει καταργῆσαι τὸν ἐπιγάστριον βίον, οὗ πλοῦτός ἐστιν ἐκκλητικός, οὐ βλέπων ὀξύ, ἀλλ' ἡ τυφλώττουσα περὶ τὴν γαστριμαργίαν περιουσία. Οὐδεὶς δέ ἐστι πένης εἰς τὰ ἀναγκαῖα, οὐδὲ περιορᾶταί ποτε ἄνθρωπος· ὁ γὰρ καὶ τὰ πτηνὰ καὶ τὰ νηκτὰ καὶ συνελόντι εἰπεῖν τὰ ἄλογα ζῷα διατρέφων εἷς ἐστιν, ὁ θεός· λείπει δὲ αὐτοῖς οὐδὲ ἓν ὁτιοῦν μὴ μεριμνῶσι τροφῆς. Ἡμεῖς δὲ καὶ τούτων ἀμείνους, ὅσῳ καὶ κύριοι, καὶ θεῷ οἰκειότεροι, ὅσῳ σωφρονέστεροι. Γεγόναμεν δὲ οὐχ ἵνα ἐσθίωμεν καὶ πίνωμεν, ἀλλ' ἵνα ὦμεν εἰς ἐπίγνωσιν γεγονότες τοῦ θεοῦ. ∆ίκαιος γάρ, φησίν, ἐσθίων ἐμπίμπλαται τῇ ψυχῇ, κοιλίαι δὲ ἀσεβῶν ἐνδεεῖς, ἀκαταπαύστου λιχνείας ὀρεγόμεναι. Πολυτέλεια δὲ οὐκ εἰς ἀπόλαυσιν ἔρημον, ἀλλ' εἰς μετάδοσιν κοινωνικὴν ἐπιτήδειος. ∆ιὸ παραφυλακτέον τῶν βρωμάτων ἃ μὴ πεινῶντας ἡμᾶς ἐσθίειν ἀναπείθει γοητεύοντα τὰς ὀρέξεις. Μὴ γὰρ οὐκ ἔνεστι καὶ ἐν εὐτελείᾳ σώφρονι πολυειδία ἐδεσμάτων ὑγιεινή; βολβοί, ἐλαῖαι, λαχάνων ἔνια, γάλα, τυρὸς τά τε ὡραῖα ἑψήματά τε παντοδαπὰ ζωμῶν ἄνευ. Κἂν ὀπτοῦ δέῃ κρέως ἢ ἑφθοῦ, μεταδοτέον. Ἔχετέ τι βρώσιμον ἐνθάδε; εἶπεν ὁ κύριος πρὸς τοὺς μαθητὰς μετὰ τὴν ἀνάστασιν. Οἳ δέ–ἅτε ὑπ' αὐτοῦ εὐτέλειαν ἀσκεῖν δεδιδαγμένοι–ἐπέδωκαν αὐτῷ ἰχθύος ὀπτοῦ μέρος· καὶ φαγὼν ἐνώπιον αὐτῶν εἶπεν αὐτοῖς, φησὶν ὁ Λουκᾶς, ὅσα εἶπεν. Πρὸς τούτοις οὐδὲ τραγημάτων καὶ κηρίων ἀμοίρους περιορατέον τοὺς δειπνοῦντας κατὰ λόγον. Τῶν γάρ τοι βρωμάτων ἐπιτηδειότατα οἷς αὐτόθεν χρῆσθαι ὑπάρχει δίχα πυρός, ἐπεὶ καὶ ἑτοιμότερα, δεύτερα δὲ τὰ εὐτελέστερα, ὡς προειρήκαμεν. Τῶν δὲ ἀμφὶ τὰς φλεγμαινούσας κυπταζόντων τραπέζας, τὰ σφέτερα τιθηνουμένων πάθη, δαίμων καθηγεῖται λιχνότατος, ὃν ἔγωγε οὐκ ἂν αἰσχυνθείην κοιλιοδαίμονα προσειπεῖν, καὶ δαιμόνων κάκιστον καὶ ἐξωλέστατον. Παραπλήσιος οὖν οὗτος ἀτεχνῶς τῷ ἐγγαστριμύθῳ καλουμένῳ. Ἄμεινον δὲ πολλῷ τοῦ δαίμονα ἔχειν σύνοικον εὐδαίμονα γενέσθαι· εὐδαιμονία δὲ ἐν χρήσει ἀρετῆς ἐξετάζεται. Ματθαῖος μὲν οὖν ὁ ἀπόστολος σπερμάτων καὶ ἀκροδρύων καὶ λαχάνων ἄνευ κρεῶν μετελάμβανεν, Ἰωάννης δὲ ὑπερτείνας τὴν ἐγκράτειαν ἀκρίδας καὶ μέλι ἤσθιεν ἄγριον. Ὑῶν δὲ ἀπείχετο καὶ Πέτρος· ἀλλ' ἔπεσεν ἐπ' αὐτὸν ἔκστασις, ἐν ταῖς Πράξεσι τῶν Ἀποστόλων γέγραπται, καὶ θεωρεῖ τὸν οὐρανὸν ἀνεῳγμένον καί τι σκεῦος τέτταρσιν ἀρχαῖς ἐκδεδεμένον ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς· πάντα τὰ τετράποδα καὶ τὰ ἑρπετὰ τῆς γῆς καὶ τὰ πτηνὰ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἐν αὐτῷ· καὶ ἐγένετο φωνὴ πρὸς αὐτόν· ἀνάστα καὶ θῦσον καὶ φάγε. Πέτρος δὲ εἶπεν· μηδαμῶς, κύριε, ὅτι οὐδέποτε ἔφαγον πᾶν κοινὸν καὶ ἀκάθαρτον. Καὶ ἡ φωνὴ πάλιν πρὸς αὐτὸν ἐκ δευτέρου· ἃ ὁ θεὸς ἐκαθάρισεν, σὺ μὴ κοίνου. Καὶ ἡμῖν δὲ ἄρα ἀδιάφορος ἡ χρῆσις. Οὐ γὰρ τὰ εἰσερχόμενα εἰς τὸ στόμα κοινοῖ τὸν ἄνθρωπον, ἀλλὰ ἡ περὶ τῆς ἀκρασίας διάληψις κενή. Ὁ γάρ τοι θεὸς τὸν ἄνθρωπον πλάσας πάντα ὑμῖν εἶπεν ἔσται εἰς βρῶσιν. Λάχανα δὲ μετὰ ἀγάπης ἢ μόσχον μετὰ δολιότητος· εὖ τοῦτο ὑπομιμνῄσκει τοῦ προειρημένου λόγου, ὡς οὐ τὰ λάχανα ἡ ἀγάπη, μετὰ δὲ ἀγάπης τὰ δεῖπνα παραληπτέα. Ἀγαθὴ μὲν ἡ μέση κατάστασις ἐν πᾶσι μέν, οὐχ ἥκιστα δὲ καὶ ἐν τῇ ἀμφὶ τὴν ἑστίασιν παρασκευῇ· ἐπεὶ αἱ μὲν ἀκρότητες σφαλεραί, αἱ μεσότητες δὲ ἀγαθαί. Μέσον δέ ἐστι πᾶν τὸ ἀνενδεὲς τῶν ἀναγκαίων· αἱ γὰρ κατὰ φύσιν ὀρέξεις αὐταρκείᾳ περιορίζονται. Ἰουδαίοις δὲ διὰ τοῦ νόμου οἰκονομικώτατα καταγγέλλεται ἡ εὐτέλεια· μυρίων γὰρ ὅσων ἀφείλατο τὴν χρῆσιν ὁ παιδαγωγὸς αὐτοὺς διὰ Μωσέως, αἰτίας προσάπτων, κεκρυμμένας μὲν τὰς πνευματικάς, ἐμφανεῖς δὲ τὰς σαρκικάς, αἷς καὶ πεπιστεύκασι, τοῖς μὲν ὅτι οὐκ ἔστι δίχηλα, τοῖς δὲ ὅτι τὴν τροφὴν οὐ μηρυκᾶται, τὰ δ' ὅτι ἄρα οὐκ ἔχει μόνα τῶν ἐνύδρων λεπίδας, ὡς ὀλίγα παντελῶς ἀπολείπεσθαι πρὸς τὴν τροφὴν αὐτοῖς ἐπιτήδεια. Ὧν δὲ ἐφῆκεν ἅπτεσθαι, πάλιν κεκώλυκεν τούτων τὰ θνηξιμαῖα τά τε εἰδωλόθυτα τά τε ἀποπεπνιγμένα· οὐδὲ γὰρ τούτων ψαύειν θέμις. Ἐπεὶ γὰρ ἀμήχανον χρώμενον τοῖς ἡδέσιν ἀποστῆναι τῆς ἀποδοχῆς αὐτῶν, τὴν ἐναντίαν ἀντέθηκεν ἀγωγήν, μέχρις ἂν ἐκλύσῃ τὴν ἐκ τοῦ ἔθους ἐπὶ τὴν ἡδυπάθειαν καταδρομήν. Ἀνθρώποις δὲ τὰ μὲν πολλὰ βλάβην καὶ λύπην ἐνεγέννησεν ἡδονή, δυσπάθειαν δὲ καὶ λήθην καὶ ἀφροσύνην ἡ πολυτροφία ἐντίκτει τῇ ψυχῇ. Εὐαυξῆ δὲ καὶ τῶν παίδων τὰ σώματα γίνεσθαί φασιν εἰς μῆκος ἐπιδιδόντων ἀπὸ τῆς ἐλλειπούσης τροφῆς· οὐ γὰρ κωλύεται τὸ ἀνατρέχον εἰς αὔξην πνεῦμα τῆς πολλῆς τροφῆς ἀντιφραττούσης τὸ εὔπνουν τοῦ δρόμου. Ὅθεν κατηγορῶν τοῦ τρυφῶντος βίου ὁ τὴν ἀλήθειαν ἐζηλωκὼς τῶν φιλοσόφων Πλάτων τὸ ἔναυσμα τῆς Ἑβραϊκῆς φιλοσοφίας ζωπυρῶν· Ἐλθόντα δέ με, φησίν, ὁ ταύτῃ λεγόμενος αὖ βίος εὐδαίμων, Ἰταλικῶν τε καὶ Συρακουσσίων τραπεζῶν πλήρης, οὐδαμῶς ἤρεσεν, δὶς τῆς ἡμέρας ἐμπιμπλάμενον ζῆν καὶ μηδέποτε μόνον κοιμώμενον νύκτωρ, καὶ ὅσα τούτῳ ἐπιτηδεύματα συνέπεται τῷ βίῳ· ἐκ γὰρ τούτων οὔτ' ἂν φρόνιμος οὐδείς ποτ' ἂν γενέσθαι τῶν ὑπὸ τὸν οὐρανὸν ἀνθρώπων δύναιτο ἐκ νέου ἐπιτηδεύων τοιαῦτα, οὔθ' οὕτω θαυμαστῇ φύσει κραθήσεται. Οὐ γὰρ ἄπυστος ἦν ὁ Πλάτων τοῦ ∆αβίδ, ὃς ἐν τῇ πόλει τῇ ἑαυτοῦ τὴν ἁγίαν ἱδρύων κιβωτὸν ἐν μέσῃ τῇ σκηνῇ, παντὶ τῷ ὑπηκόῳ εὐφροσύνην ποιήσας λαῷ, ἐναντίον τοῦ κυρίου διεμέρισεν εἰς πᾶσαν τὴν δύναμιν τοῦ Ἰσραὴλ ἀπὸ ἀνδρὸς ἕως γυναικός, ἑκάστῳ κολλυρίδα ἄρτου καὶ ἐσχαρίτην καὶ λάγανον ἀπὸ τηγάνου. Αὐτάρ κης αὕτη ἡ τροφὴ καὶ Ἰσραηλιτική, ἡ δὲ ἐθνικὴ περιττή. Σώφρων οὐδ' ἂν μελλήσαι ποτὲ γενέσθαι ὁ χρώμενος αὐτῇ, τὸν νοῦν ἐγκατορύξας τῇ κοιλίᾳ, τῷ ἰχθύι τῷ καλουμένῳ ὄνῳ τὰ μάλιστα ἐοικώς, ὃν δή φησιν Ἀριστοτέλης μόνον τῶν ἄλλων ζῴων ἐν τῇ γαστρὶ τὴν καρδίαν ἔχειν. Τοῦτον ἐκτραπελόγαστρον Ἐπίχαρμος καλεῖ ὁ κωμικός. Τοιοῦτοι τῶν ἀνθρώπων οἱ εἰς γαστέρα πεπιστευκότες, ὧν θεὸς ἡ κοιλία καὶ ἡ δόξα ἐν τῇ αἰσχύνῃ αὐτῶν, οἱ τὰ ἐπίγεια φρονοῦντες. Τούτοις οὐκ ἀγαθὰ προεθέσπισεν ὁ ἀπόστολος, ὧν τὸ τέλος εἰπὼν ἡ ἀπώλεια.