Homily XVI.

Acts VII. 6, 7

“And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years. And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve Me in this place.”

See, what a number of years the Promise has been given, and the manner of the Promise, and nowhere sacrifice, nowhere circumcision! He here shows, how God Himself suffered them to be afflicted, not360    καίτοι οὐδεν ἔχων αὐτοῖς ἐγκαλεῖν. A. B. C. N. Cat.—E. F. D. Edd. omit this clause, and read: “to be afflicted: and that they did not,” etc. So Edd. that He had anything to lay to their charge. “And they shall bring them into bondage,” etc. But nevertheless, they did not these things with impunity. “And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage I will judge, said God.” For,361    ῞Ινα γὰρ μὴ τούτῳ (Cat. τούτων, A. C. N. τοῦτο B. om.) νομίσωσιν εὐσεβεῖς (Ν. εὐσεβεῖν) εἶναι, διὰ τὸ λέγειν κ. τ. λ. The wording of the passage is not strictly grammatical, but the sense seems to be as expressed above.—E. D. F. omit this sentence, and substitute, “Seest thou?” So Edd. to show that they are not to go by this, in estimating who are pious (by reason of their saying, “He trusted in God, let Him deliver Him,”) (Matt. xxvii. 43).—He, the Same that promised, He that gave the land, first permits the evils. So also now, though He has promised a Kingdom, yet He suffers us to be exercised in temptations. If here the freedom was not to be till after four hundred years, what wonder, with regard to the Kingdom? Yet he performed it, and lapse of time availed not to falsify His word. Moreover, it was no ordinary bondage they underwent.362    The relation of v. 6 and 7 to v. 5 is, as Chrys. intimates, to show that the apparent incongruity between the promise of God to give the land to Abraham and his seed, and the fact that Abraham never personally possessed the land, was not accidental nor did it involve the failure of the divine promise. Accompanying the promise were divine assurances (Gen. xv. 13, 14) that a period of bondage and oppression was to precede the occupation of the land which was to be the inheritance of the nation.—G.B.S. And the matter does not terminate solely in the punishment of those (their oppressors); but they themselves also, He saith, shall enjoy a mighty salvation. Here he reminds them too of the benefit which they enjoyed. “And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so he begat Isaac.” Here he lets himself down to lower matters. “And circumcised him on the eighth day: and Isaac (begat) Jacob, and Jacob the twelve patriarchs.” (v. 8).—Here363    E. Edd. omit this sentence: and below for “Here again,” etc. the same substitute: “This happened also in the case of Christ: for indeed Joseph is a type of Him: wherefore also he narrates the history at large, hinting (at this meaning).” he seems to hint now at the type. “And the patriarchs moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt.” (v. 9.) Here again, the type of Christ.364    If it be too strong language to say, with Chrys., that Joseph is set forth here as a “type of Christ,” it is clear that the narrative of his ill-treatment by his brethren, subsequent exaltation and his return of good for evil to those who had sold him into bondage, is meant to suggest that their treatment of Jesus had been similar.—G.B.S. Though they had no fault to find with him, and though he came on purpose to bring them their food, they thus ill-treated him. Still here again the promise, though it is a long while first, receives its fulfillment. “And God was with him”—this also is for them—“and delivered him out of all his afflictions.” (v. 10). He shows that unknowingly they helped to fulfil the prophecy, and that they were themselves the cause, and that the evils recoiled on their own selves. “And gave him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt, Gave him favor,” in the eyes of a barbarian, to him, the slave, the captive: his brethren sold him, this (barbarian) honored him. “Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance. But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first. And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren.” (v. 11–13). They came down to buy, and had to depend upon him for everything. What then did he? [“He made himself known to his brethren:”] not to this point only did he carry his friendliness; he also made them known to Pharaoh, and brought them down into the land. “And Joseph’s kindred was made known unto Pharaoh. Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls. So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers, and were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem. But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, till another king arose, which knew not Joseph.” (v. 13–18). Then again, fresh disappointment (ἀνελπιστία): first, famine, but they came through that: secondly, the falling into the hands of their enemy: thirdly, the being destroyed by the king. Then (to show) God’s fulness of ways and means (εὐμήχανον), “In which time,” it says, “Moses was born, and was exceeding fair.” (v. 20.) If the former circumstance was wonderful, that Joseph was sold by his brethren, here again is another circumstance more wonderful still, that the king “nourished” the very person who was to overthrow his dominion, being himself the person that was to perish. Do you observe all along a figurative enacting, so to say, of the resurrection of the dead? But it is not the same thing for God himself to do a thing, and for a thing to come to pass in connection with man’s purpose (προαίρεσις). For these things indeed were in connection with man’s purpose [365    ἡ δε ἀναστασις καθ᾽ εαυτήν. This clause is found in the Catena alone. Something seems to be required as the antithesis to the preceding clause, ταῦτα μὲν γὰρ μετὰ προαιρ. ἀνθρ. ἦν—for which E. Edd. have ταῦτα γοῦν οὐκ ἀπὸ προαιρ. ἀνθρ. ἦν. “These things however did not come of man’s purpose.”—At the end of the next sentence, Edd. (with E. alone) omit the clause, ὁ ὀφείλων ἀποθανεῖν: and for Εἶτα πάλιν, have, “This he says, by way of showing both him (Moses) as savior, and these ungrateful to their benefactor.”but the Resurrection by itself, independently.]—“And he was mighty,” it says, “in word and in deed” (v. 22): he that was to have died. Then again he shows how ungrateful they were to their benefactor. For, just as in the former instance, they were saved by the injured Joseph, so here again they were saved by another injured person, I mean, Moses. “And when he was full forty years old,” etc. For366    Τί γὰρ εἰ μὴ ἀνεῖλον αὐτὸν τῷ πράγματι; τῷ λόγῳ ἀνεῖλον ὥσπερ κᾀκεῖνοι. N. and Catena read ἀνεῖλεν, both times, as if the Compiler understood the passage in the sense of a preceding comment extracted from S. Clem. Alex. Strom. “φασὶ δὲ οἱ μυσταὶ λόγῳ μόνῳ ἀνελεῖν τὸν Αἰγύπτιον: the initiated say that Moses struck the Egyptian dead by a word, as in the Acts Peter is related to have done in the case of Ananias,” etc. But Chrys. nowhere thus interprets the fact, and the context, ὥσπερ κᾀκεῖνοι, is against this view.—Below, δἰ ὃν ἔζη μετὰ Θεὸν: i.e. the Hebrew whom Moses saved, v. 24, who is here supposed to be one of the parties in the strife mentioned in v. 26. This however not being clear, A., as usual omits: and the innovator assuming the passage to be corrupt, substitutes, δἰ ὧν ἔσονται μετὰ Θεοῦ, giving them counsel by means of which they shall be with God.” So Edd.: only Sav. notes in the margin the genuine reading of the other mss. and Cat. what though they killed him not actually? In intention they did kill, as did the others in the former case. There, they sold out of their own into a strange land: here, they drive from one strange land into another strange land: in the former case, one in the act of bringing them food; in this, one in the act of giving them good counsel; one to whom, under God, the man was indebted for his life! Mark how it shows (the truth of) that saying of Gamaliel’s, “If it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it.” (ch. v. 39.) See the plotted-against eventually becoming the authors of salvation to those plotting against them:367    E. “But do thou, observing this, stand amazed at the riches of God’s wisdom and resources: for, had those not been plotted against, these had not been saved.” So Edd. the people, plotting against itself, and itself plotted against by others; and for all this, saved! A famine, and it did not consume them: nor was this all: but they were saved by means of the very person, whom they had expected to be destroyed (by their means). A royal edict, and it did not consume them: nay then most did their number increase, when he was dead “who knew” them. Their own Saviour they wished to kill, but for all that, they had not power to do it. Do you observe, that by the means whereby the devil tried to bring to naught the promise of God, by those very means it was advanced?

“And God spake on this wise,” etc. (Recapitulation, v. 6, 7.) This368    Τοῦτο καὶ ἐνταῦθα ἁρμόττει εἰπεῖν. Edd. from E. only, τοῦτο καὶ αὐτους ἥρμοττε τότε εἰπεῖν: “This was also suitable for them to say at that time.” It was not perceived that the recapitulation begins here. See note 5, p. 102. is suitable to be said here also: that God is rich in ways and means to bring us up from hence. For this above all showed the riches of God’s resources, that in its very reverses (ἀποστροφῇ) the nation increased, while enslaved, while evil-entreated, and sought to be exterminated. And this is the greatness of the Promise. For had it increased in its own land, it had not been so wonderful. And besides, it was not for a short time, either, that they were in the strange land: but for four hundred years. Hence we learn369    Edd. from E. D. F. “how they exhibited a great (example of) philosophy.” a (great lesson) of philosophic endurance (φιλοσοφίαν):—they did not treat them as masters use slaves, but as enemies and tyrants—and he foretold that they should be set in great liberty: for this is the meaning of that expression, “They shall serve (Me): and they shall come up hither again” (ἐνταὕθα ἐπανελεύσονται); and with impunity.370    Edd. (from E. alone) καὶ οὐκ ἀτιμωρητὶ, “not unavenged (upon their enemies).” But the meaning is, “Their enemies shall not be able to be avenged of them.”—And observe, how, while he seems to concede something to circumcision, he in fact allows it nothing (v. 8); since the Promise was before it, and it followed after.—“And the patriarchs,” he says, “moved with envy.” (v. 9.) Where it does no harm, he humors (χαρίζεται) them:371    E. D. F. insert for explanation, πατριάρχας δέ φησι τοὺς προγόνους: “he calls their ancestors, patriarchs.” This is the “humoring” spoken of above: in C.’s time, “patriarch” had become a title of honor. for they prided themselves much on these also.—372    Edd. from E. “But they not only did not loose (the afflictions), but even cooperated with those afflicting them, when they ought rather to have cut through them (the afflictions).”And he shows, that the saints were not exempt from tribulation, but that in their very tribulations they obtained help. And that these persons did themselves help to bring about the results, who wished to cut short these same (afflictions): just as these made Joseph the more glorious: just as the king did Moses, by ordering the children to be killed: since had he not ordered, this would not have been: just as also that (Hebrew) drives Moses into exile, that there he may have the Vision, having become worthy. Thus also him who was sold for a slave, makes He to reign as king there, where he was thought to be a slave. Thus also does Christ in His death give proof of His power: thus also does He there reign as king where they sold Him. “And gave him favor and wisdom,” etc. (v. 10.) This373    Morel. Ben. with E. D. F. omit this clause: Savile transposes it. “But as this (Joseph) reigns there as king where they sold him, so does Christ in His death,” etc.—In the next sentence, τοῦτο seems to refer to the description in Gen. xli. 42, 43, of the distinctions conferred upon Joseph, which perhaps Chrys. cited.—After this sentence, Edd. have (from E. only) the formula of recapitulation, ᾽Αλλ᾽ ἴδωμεν κ. τ. λ., which is quite misplaced.—Below, A. and the mod. t. insert ῞Ορα, before διὰ λιμὸν οἷα κατασκευάζει. was not only by way of honor, but that he should have confidence in his own power. “And he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.” “Now there came a dearth,” etc. On account of famine—such preparations is he making—“with threescore and fifteen souls,” he says, “Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he and our fathers, and were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money from the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem.”374    The reading of τοῦ Συχέμ (T. R.), doubtless meaning the “father of Sychem” (Gen. xxxiii. 19), is replaced by Tisch., W. and H. (after א. B. C.) with ἐν Συχέμ, making Συχέμ the name of the place just mentioned—not of the person referred to in the O.T. The Vulgate renders filii Sichem thus coming into collision with the O.T. l. c.—G.B.S. (v. 11–16). It shows, that they were not masters even to the extent of a burying-place. “But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, till another king arose, which knew not Joseph” (v. 17, 18). Observe, that it is not during the four hundred years that He multiplies them, but (only) when the end was about to draw nigh. And yet already four hundred years were passed, nay more, in Egypt. But this is the wonder of it. “The same dealt subtly with our kindred, and evil-entreated our fathers, that they should cast out their young children, to the end they might not live.” (v. 19.) “Dealt subtly:” he hints at their not liking to exterminate them openly: “that they should cast out their young children,” it says. “In which time Moses was born and was exceeding fair.” (v. 20.) This is the wonder, that he who is to be their champion, is born, neither after nor before, these things, but in the very midst of the storm (θυμῷ). “And was nourished up in his father’s house three months.” But when man’s help was despaired of, and they cast him forth, then did God’s benefit shine forth conspicuous. “And when he was cast out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.” (v. 21.) Not a word of Temple, not a word of Sacrifice, while all these Providences are taking place. And he was nourished in a barbarian house. “And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.” (v. 22.) “Was trained,” both375    καὶ παιδεί& 139· καὶ γράμμασιν, as the comment on ἐπαιδεύθη v. 22, which must be supplied. Cat. has, καὶ παιδεία καὶ γράμματα. E. omits the clause, and substitutes, as the beginning of the next sentence, ᾽Εμοὶ θαυμάζειν ἐπέρχεται πῶς. “To me it occurs to wonder how he could be forty years,” etc. So Edd. in discipline and in letters. “And when he was full forty years old.” (v. 23.) Forty years he was there, and was not found out from his being circumcised. Observe, how, being in safety, they overlook their own interests, both he and Joseph, in order that they may save others: “And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian: for he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not.” (v. 23–25.)—See how up to this point he is not yet offensive to them; how they listened to him while he said all this. And “his face,” we read, “was as the face of an angel” (ch. vi. 15).—“For he supposed,” etc. And yet it was by deeds that his championship was shown; what intelligence was there need of here? but still for all this “they understood not. And the next day he showed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?” (v. 26–28.) Do you mark with what mildness he addresses them? He who had shown his wrath in the case of the other, shows his gentleness376    ἐφ᾽ ἑαυτοῦ, B. C. F. D. N. but A. E. Edd. ἐπὶ τούτου “in the case of this man.” So perhaps Œcumen. ἐπιεικῶς νῦν τῷ ἀδικοῦντι προσφέρεται.—Below, E. Edd. “With the same spirit they appear to say the same with reference to Christ, ‘We have no king but Cæsar.’ Thus was it ever habitual to the Jews to act, even when receiving benefits. Do you mark their madness? Him who was to save them, they accuse, by saying, ‘As thou,’” etc. in his own case. “But he that did his neighbor wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us? Wilt thou kill me, as thou didst the Egyptian yesterday?” Mark; the very words which they said to Christ: “Who made Thee ruler and judge over us?” So habitual a thing was it for Jews to wrong (their benefactors) when in the act of receiving benefits! And again, mark the atrocious baseness: (μιαρίαν al. μοχθηρίαν, Sav. marg.) “As thou didst the Egyptian yesterday! Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Midian, where he begat two sons.” (v. 29.) But neither did flight extinguish the plan of Providence, as neither did death (i.e. the death of Christ).

“And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sinai an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush.” (v. 30.) Do you mark that it is not hindered by lapse of time? For when he was an exile, when a stranger, when he had now passed much time in a foreign land, so as to have two sons, when he no longer expected to return, then does the Angel appear to him. The Son of God he calls an Angel, as also he calls Him man. (Appears) in the desert, not in a temple. See how many miracles are taking place, and no word of Temple, no word of Sacrifice. And here also not simply in the desert, but in the bush. “When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him.” (v. 31.) Lo! he was deemed worthy of the Voice also. “I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” (v. 32, 33.) Lo!377    So A. B. N. Cat. (in C. the sentence ῎Ιδου—᾽Ιακὼβ is omitted by an oversight caused by the homœoteleuton ᾽Ιακώβ.) Edd. “Not only does he here show that the Angel which appeared unto him was the Angel of the Great Counsel, but he shows also what loving-kindness God exhibits by this manifestation.” how He shows that He is none other than “the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob”—He, “the Angel of the Great Counsel.” (Is. ix. 6. LXX. “Wonderful, Counsellor,” E.V.) Here he shows what great loving-kindness God herein exhibits. “Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold. Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet; for the place where thou standest is holy ground.” Not a word of Temple, and the place is holy through the appearance and operation of Christ. Far more wonderful this than the place which is in the Holy of Holies: for there God is nowhere said to have appeared in this manner, nor Moses to have thus trembled. And then the greatness of His tender care. “I have seen, I have seen the affliction of My people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt.” (v. 34.) See, how he shows, that both by kindnesses, and by chastisements, and by miracles, God was drawing them to Him: but they were still the same. That God is everywhere present, they learned.

Hearing these things, let us in our afflictions flee to Him. “And their groaning,” saith He, “I have heard:” not378    i.e. “I have heard their groaning:” not simply (“I have come down) because of their calamities.” The expression, “I have heard” denotes His ready sympathy.—But the modern text: “He does not simply say, ‘I have heard;’ but because of their calamities.” simply, “because of their calamities.” But if any should ask, Why then did He suffer them to be evil entreated there? Why, in the first place, to every just man his sufferings are the causes of his rewards. And in the next place, as to why He afflicted them: it was to show His power, that He can (do all), and not only so, but that He may also train them. Observe in fact; when they were in the desert, then they “waxed fat, they grew thick, they spread out in breadth, they kicked” (Deut. xxxii. 15): and ever and always ease was an evil. Therefore also from the beginning He said to Adam: “In the sweat of thy face thou shall eat thy bread.” (Gen. iii. 19.) Also379    Edd. from E. “Therefore in order that having come out of much affliction into rest, they may not be insolent, he permits them to be afflicted.” (it was) in order that having come out of much suffering into rest, they might give thanks to God. For affliction is a great good. For hear the Prophet saying, “It is good for me, that Thou hast humbled me.” (Ps. cxix. 71.) But if to great and wonderful men affliction be a great (good), much more to us. And, if you will, let us examine into the nature of affliction as it is in itself. Let there be some person rejoicing exceedingly, and gay, and giving a loose to jollity: what more unseemly, what more senseless than this? Let there be one sorrowing and dejected: what more truly philosophic than this? For, “It is better,” we read, “to go into the house of mourning, than into the house of laughter.” (Eccles. vii. 2.) But, likely enough, you380    διακρουεσθε τὰ λεγόμενα. Edd διαμωκᾶσθε, “make a mock at.”—Below all the mss. agree in οἷος ἦν ὁ Κάιν πρὸ τούτου. Either the text is corrupt, or something is needed for explanation. do not like the saying, and want to evade it. Let us however see, what sort of man Adam was in Paradise, and what he was afterwards: what sort of man Cain was before, and what he was afterwards. The soul does not stand fast in its proper place, but, like as by a running tide, (ῥεύματος, Edd. πνεύματος, “wind”) is raised and buoyed up by pleasure, having no steadfastness; facile in making professions, prompt at promising; the thoughts all in restless commotion: laughter ill-timed, causeless hilarity, idle clatter of unmeaning talk. And why speak of others? Let us take in hand some one of the saints, and let us see what he was while in pleasure, what again, when in distress. Shall we look at David himself? When he was in pleasure and rejoicing, from his many trophies, from his victory, from his crowns, from his luxurious living, from his confidence, see what sort of things he said and did: “But I said in my prosperity,” says he, “I shall never be moved.” (Ps. xxx. 6.) But when he has come to be in affliction, hear what he says: “And if He say to me, I have no mind for thee; lo! here am I, let Him do that which is pleasing in His sight.” (2 Sam. xv. 26.) What can be more truly philosophic than these words? “Whatsoever may be pleasing to God,” saith he, “so let it be.” And again he said to Saul: “If the Lord stirreth thee up against me, may thy sacrifice be acceptable.” (1 Sam. xxvi. 19.) And then too, being in affliction, he spared even his enemies: but afterwards, not friends even, nor those who had done him no injury. Again, Jacob when he was in affliction, said: “If the Lord will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on.” (Gen. xxviii. 20.) As also the son of Noah did nothing of the kind erewhile; but when he was no longer afraid for his safety, you hear how wanton he became. (ib. ix. 22.) Hezekiah too, when he was in affliction, see what things he did in order to his deliverance; he put on sackcloth, and such like; but when he was in pleasure, he fell through the haughtiness of his heart. (2 Kings ch. xix. 20.) For, saith the Scripture, “When thou hast eaten, and drunk, and art filled, take heed to thyself.” (Deut. vi. 11, 12.) For perilous, as on a precipice’s brink, is the post of affluence. “Take heed,” saith he, “to thyself.” When the Israelites were afflicted, they became all the more increased in number: but when He left them to themselves, then they all went to ruin. And why speak of examples from the ancients? In our own times, let us see, if you please, is it not the case, that when the most are in good case, they become puffed up, hostile to everybody, passionate, while the power is with them: but if it be taken away, they are gentle, lowly (and as) human beings, are brought to a consciousness of their own natural condition. Therefore the Scripture saith, “Pride hath holden them unto the end: their iniquity shall go forth as from fatness.” (Ps. lxxiii. 6. LXX.)

Now these things I have spoken, that we should not make enjoyment every way our object. How then does Paul say, “Rejoice alway?” He does not say simply, “Rejoice,” but he adds, “in the Lord.” (Phil. iv. 4.) This is the greatest joy, such as the Apostles rejoiced withal; the joy of which prisons, and scourges, and persecutions, and evil report, and all painful things, are the source, and the root, and the occasion; whence also it comes to a happy issue. But that of the world, on the contrary, begins with sweets and ends in bitters. Neither do I forbid to rejoice in the Lord, nay, I earnestly exhort to this. The Apostles were scourged, and they rejoiced: were bound, and they gave thanks: were stoned, and they preached. This is the joy I also would have: from nothing bodily has it its origin, but from spiritual things. It is not possible for him who joys after the fashion of the world, to rejoice also after a godly sort: for every one who joys after the world’s fashion, has his joy in riches, in luxury, in honor, in power, in arrogance: but he who rejoices after the mind of God, has his joy in dishonor for God’s sake, in poverty, in want, in fasting, in humbleness of mind. Seest thou, how opposite are the grounds (of joy)? To go without joy here, is to be without grief also: and to be without grief here, is to go without pleasure too. And in truth these are the things which produce real joy, since the others have the name only of joy, but they altogether consist of pain. What misery the arrogant man endures! How is he cut short (διακόπτεται) in the midst of his arrogance, bespeaking for himself numberless insults, much hatred, great enmity, exceeding spite, and many an evil eye! Whether it be that he is insulted by greater men, he grieves: or that he cannot make his stand against everybody, he is mortified. Whereas the humble man lives in much enjoyment: expecting honor from none, if he receive honor, he is pleased, but if not, he is not grieved. He takes it contentedly that he is honored; but381    μάλιστα δὲ οὐδεὶς αὐτὸν ἀτιμάζει. Savile justly retains this sentence from the old text. Montf. rejects it, as superfluous, and disturbing the sense. Downe ap. Sav. proposes ὅτι οὐκ ἠτιμάσθη: “non ambit honorem, sed bene secum actum putat si nulla affectus sit ignominia.” But in the old text there is no ἀλλὰ before ἀγαπᾷ: and the meaning is not, “he thinks himself well off,” etc., nor as Ben., “he rejoices that,” etc., but, “he is content not to be honored; knowing this at any rate, that nobody can dishonor him.” above all, none dishonors him. Now not to seek honor, and yet to be honored—great must be the enjoyment of this. But in the other, it is just the reverse: he seeks honor, and is not honored. And the pleasure that the honor gives is not the same to him who seeks it, as it is to him who seeks it not. The one, however much he receives, thinks he has received nothing: the other, though you give him ever so little, takes it as though he had received all. Then again, he who lives in affluence and luxury has numberless affairs of business, and let his revenues flow in to him ever so easily, and, as it were, from full fountains, yet he fears the evils arising from luxurious living, and the uncertainty of the future: but the other is always in a state of security and enjoyment, having accustomed himself to scantiness of diet. For he does not so bemoan himself at not partaking of a sumptuous board, as he luxuriates in not fearing the uncertainty of the future. But the evils arising from luxurious living, how many and great they are, none can be ignorant: it is necessary, however, to mention them now. Twofold the war, in the body, and in the soul: twofold the storm: twofold the diseases; not only in this respect, but because they are both incurable, and bring with them great calamities. Not so, frugality: but here is twofold health, twofold the benefits. “Sleep of health,” we read, “is in moderate eating.” (Ecclus. xxxi. 20.) For everywhere, that which keeps measure is pleasant, that which is beyond measure, ceases to please. For say now: on a little spark put a great pile of fagots, and you will no longer see the fire shining, but much disagreeable smoke. On a very strong and large man lay a burden which exceeds his strength, and you will see him with his burden lying prostrate on the ground. Embark too large a freight in your vessel, and you have ensured a grievous shipwreck. Just so it is here. For just as in overladen ships, great is the tumult of the sailors, the pilot, the man at the prow, and the passengers, while they cast into the sea the things above deck, and things below; so here too, with their vomitings upwards, and their purgings downwards, they mar their constitutions, and destroy themselves. And what is the most shameful of all, the mouth is made to do the office of the nether parts, and that becomes the more shameful member. But if to the mouth the disgrace be such, think what must it be in the soul! For indeed there it is all mist, all storm, all darkness, great the uproar of the thoughts, at being so thronged and crushed, the soul itself crying out at the abuse done to it: all382    E. Edd. “Thence also the gormandizers (γαστριζόμενοι) themselves complain of one another, are in ill humor, haste to be rid of the filth within. Still, even after it is cast out,” etc. And below:—“fever and diseases. ‘Yes,’ say you, ‘they are sick and are disgusting; it is waste of words to tell us all this, and make a catalogue of diseases: for it is I that am diseased. etc,…while these luxurious livers one may see in good plight, sleek, merry, riding on horseback.’” (the parts and faculties) complaining of one another, beseeching, entreating, that the filth may be discharged somewhere. And after it is flung out, still the turmoil is not at an end; but then comes fever and diseases. “And how comes it,” say you, “that one may see these luxurious livers, in goodly plight, riding on horseback? What idle talk is this,” say you, “to tell us of diseases? It is I that am diseased, I that am racked, I that am disgusting, while I have nothing to eat.” Ah me! for one may well lament at such words. But the sufferers with the gout, the men that are carried on litters, the men that are swathed with bandages, from what class of people, I ask you, shall we see these? And indeed, were it not that they would deem it an insult, and think my words opprobrious, I would before now have addressed them even by name. “But there are some of them, who are in good health as well.” Because they give themselves not merely to luxurious living, but also to labors. Else show me a man, who does nothing whatever but fatten himself, free from pain as he lies there, without an anxious thought. For though a host of physicians without number came together, they would not be able to rescue him from his diseases. It is not in the nature of things. For I will hold you a medical discourse. Of the matters sent down into the belly, not all becomes nourishment; since even in the food itself, not all is nutritive, but part of it in the process of digestion passes into stool, part is turned into nourishment. If then in the process of digestion the operation is perfect, this is the result, and each finds its proper place; the wholesome and useful part betakes itself to its appropriate place, while that which is superfluous and useless, withdraws itself, and passes off. But if it be in too great quantity, then even the nutritive part of it becomes hurtful. And, to speak by way of example, in order that my meaning may be clearer to you: in wheat part is fine flour, part meal, part bran: now if the mill be able to grind (what is put in), it separates all these: but if you put in too much, all becomes mixed up together. Wine again, if it go through its proper process of formation, and under due influence of the seasons, then, whereas at first all is mixed together, anon part settles into lees, part rises into scum, part remains for enjoyment to those that use it, and this is the good part, and will not readily undergo any change. But what they call “nourishment,” is neither wine, nor lees, while all are mixed up together.—The same may be seen in the river,383    Edd. from E. “in the sea, under a violent storm in winter,” and below, “the fishes floating at top, dead, which by reason of the cold had not power to sink to the bottom.” when its waters make a whirling flood. As at such time we see the fishes floating at top, dead, their eyes first blinded by the muddy slime: so is it with us. For when gormandizing, like a flood of rain, has drenched the inward parts, it puts all in a whirl, and makes that the faculties (λογισμοὶ), healthy till then and living in a pure element, drift lifeless on the surface. Since then by all these examples we have shown how great the mischief is, let us cease to count these men happy for that, for which we ought to think them wretched, and to bemoan ourselves for that, for which we ought to count ourselves happy, and let us welcome sufficiency with a contented mind. Or do you not hear even what physicians tell you, that “want is the mother of health?” But what I say is, that want is mother, not of bodily health, but also of that of the soul. These things Paul also, that physician indeed, cries aloud; when he says, “Having food and raiment, let us therewith be content.” (1 Tim. vi. 8.) Let us therefore do as he bids us, that so, being in sound health, we may perform the work that we ought to do, in Christ Jesus our Lord, with Whom to the Father and the Holy Ghost together be glory, dominion, honor, now and ever, world without end. Amen.

ΟΜΙΛΙΑ ΙϚʹ. Ἐλάλησε δὲ οὕτως ὁ Θεὸς λέγων, ὅτι Ἔσται τὸ σπέρμα αὐτοῦ πάροικον ἐν γῇ ἀλλοτρίᾳ, καὶ δουλώσουσιν αὐτὸ καὶ κακώσουσιν ἔτη τετρα κόσια: καὶ τὸ ἔθνος, ᾧ ἐὰν δουλεύσωσι, κρινῶ ἐγὼ, εἶπεν ὁ Θεός: καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα ἐξελεύσον ται, καὶ λατρεύσουσί μοι ἐν τῷ τόπῳ τούτῳ. αʹ. Ὅρα πρὸ πόσων ἐτῶν ἡ ἐπαγγελία καὶ ὁ τῆς ἐπαγγελίας τρόπος, καὶ οὐδαμοῦ θυσία, οὐδαμοῦ περιτομή. Ἐνταῦθα δείκνυσιν, ὅτι αὐτὸς αὐτοὺς ἠφίει κακῶς πάσχειν, καὶ ὅτι οὐκ ἀτιμωρητὶ ταῦτα ἔσται. Τὸ δὲ ἔθνος, ᾧ ἐὰν δουλεύσωσι, κρινῶ ἐγὼ, εἶπεν ὁ Θεός. Ὁρᾷς; ὁ ἐπαγγειλάμενος, ὁ δοὺς τὴν γῆν, πρότερον τὰ κακὰ συγχωρεῖ: οὕτω καὶ νῦν, εἰ καὶ βασιλείαν ἐπηγγείλατο, ἀλλ' ἀφίησιν ἐγγυμνάζεσθαι τοῖς πειρασμοῖς. Εἰ ἐνταῦθα μετὰ τετρακόσια ἔτη ἡ ἐλευθερία, τί θαυμαστὸν, ἐπὶ τῆς βασιλείας εἰ τὸ αὐτὸ γίνεται; Ὅμως γοῦν ἐποίησε, καὶ οὐκ ἴσχυσεν ὁ χρόνος ὡς ψευδῆ ἐλέγξαι τὸν λόγον, καίτοι οὐ τὴν τυχοῦσαν δουλείαν ὑπέμειναν. Οὐ μὴν οὐδὲ μέχρι τῆς τιμωρίας τῆς ἐκείνων ἔστη, ἀλλὰ καὶ αὐτοῖς χρηστὰ ἐπαγγέλλεται. Ἐμοὶ δὲ δοκεῖ διὰ τούτων αὐτοὺς καὶ ἀναμιμνήσκειν τῆς εὐεργεσίας, ἧς ἔτυχον. Καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ διαθήκην περιτομῆς, καὶ οὕτως ἐγέννησε τὸν Ἰσαάκ. Ἐνταῦθα λοιπὸν καθυφίησι. Καὶ περιέτεμεν αὐτὸν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ὀγδόῃ: καὶ ὁ Ἰσαὰκ τὸν Ἰακὼβ, καὶ ὁ Ἰακὼβ τοὺς δώδεκα πατριάρχας. Καὶ οἱ πατριάρχαι ζηλώσαντες τὸν Ἰωσὴφ, ἀπέδοντο εἰς Αἴγυπτον. Τοῦτο καὶ ἐπὶ τοῦ Χριστοῦ γέγονε: καὶ γὰρ αὐτοῦ τύπος ὁ Ἰωσήφ: διὸ καὶ αἰνιττόμενος, τὴν ἱστορίαν δι' ὅλου ἐπέξεισιν. Οὐδὲν γὰρ ἔχοντες ἐγκαλεῖν, ἀλλ' ἐλθόντα ἐπὶ τροφὴν τὴν αὐτῶν, κακῶς διέθηκαν. Καὶ ὅρα, ὅτι καὶ ἐνταῦθα πάλιν ἐπαγγελία μακρὰ, καὶ ὅμως τέλος λαμβάνει. Καὶ ἦν ὁ Θεὸς μετ' αὐτοῦ: τοῦτο καὶ ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν. Καὶ ἐξείλετο αὐτὸν ἐκ πασῶν τῶν θλίψεων αὐτοῦ. Ἐνταῦθα δείκνυσιν, ὅτι οὐκ εἰδότες συνέπραττον τῇ προφητείᾳ, καὶ ὅτι αὐτοὶ αἴτιοι ἐγίνοντο, καὶ τὰ κακὰ εἰς αὐτοὺς περιετρέπετο. Καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ χάριν καὶ σοφίαν ἔναντι Φαραὼ βασιλέως Αἰγύπτου. Χάριν ἔδωκε, καὶ ταῦτα ἐπὶ βαρβάρου ἀνδρὸς, τῷ δούλῳ καὶ αἰχμαλώτῳ: ὃν οἱ μὲν ἀδελφοὶ ἀπέδοντο, ἐκεῖνος δὲ ἐτίμησεν. Ἐγένετο δὲ λιμὸς ἐφ' ὅλην τὴν γῆν Αἰγύπτου καὶ Χαναὰν, καὶ θλῖψις μεγάλη, καὶ οὐχ εὕρισκον χορτάσματα οἱ πατέρες ἡμῶν. Ἀκούσας δὲ Ἰακὼβ ὄντα σῖτα ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ, ἐξαπέστειλε τοὺς πατέρας ἡμῶν πρῶτον. Καὶ ἐν τῷ δευτέρῳ ἀνεγνωρίσθη Ἰωσὴφ τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς αὐτοῦ. Κατῆλθον ὠνησόμενοι, καὶ ἐκείνου ἐν χρείᾳ κατέστησαν. Τί οὖν αὐτός; Οὐ μέχρι τούτου τὴν φιλανθρωπίαν ἐπεδείξατο, ἀλλὰ καὶ τῷ Φαραὼ ἐγνώρισε, καὶ αὐτοὺς κατήγαγε. Καὶ φανερὸν ἐγένετο τῷ Φαραὼ τὸ γένος τοῦ Ἰωσήφ. Ἀποστείλας δὲ Ἰωσὴφ, μετεκαλέσατο τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ Ἰακὼβ, καὶ πᾶσαν τὴν συγγένειαν ἐν ἑβδομήκοντα καὶ πέντε ψυχαῖς. Κατέβη δὲ Ἰακὼβ εἰς Αἴγυπτον, καὶ ἐτελεύτησεν αὐτὸς καὶ οἱ πατέρες ἡμῶν. Καὶ μετετέθησαν εἰς Συχὲμ, καὶ ἐτέθησαν ἐν τῷ μνήματι, ὃ ὠνήσατο Ἀβραὰμ τιμῆς ἀργυρίου παρὰ τῶν υἱῶν Ἐμμὼρ τοῦ Συχέμ. Καθὼς δὲ ἤγγιζεν χρόνος τῆς ἐπαγγελίας, ἧς ὤμοσεν ὁ Θεὸς τῷ Ἀβραὰμ, ηὔξησεν ὁ λαὸς, καὶ ἐπληθύνθη ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ, ἄχρις οὗ ἀνέστη βασιλεὺς ἕτερος, ὃς οὐκ ᾔδει τὸν Ἰωσήφ. Πάλιν ἄλλη ἀνελπιστία: πρώτη μὲν ὁ λιμὸς, δευτέρα τὸ ἐμπεσεῖν εἰς χεῖρας τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ, καὶ τρίτη τὸ ἀναιρεῖσθαι ψῆφον δοθῆναι ὑπὸ τοῦ βασιλέως: καὶ ὅμως διεσώθησαν τούτων ἁπάντων. Εἶτα τὸ εὐμήχανον δεικνὺς τοῦ Θεοῦ, φησίν: Ἐν ᾧ καιρῷ ἐγεννήθη Μωϋσῆς, καὶ ἦν ἀστεῖος τῷ Θεῷ. Εἰ ἐκεῖνο θαυμαστὸν, ὅτι ὑπὸ ἀδελφῶν ἐπράθη, ἀλλὰ τοῦτο θαυμαστότερον, ὅτι βασιλεὺς ἔτρεφεν αὐτὸν τὸν μέλλοντα καθαιρεῖν αὐτοῦ τὴν ἀρχὴν, αὐτὸς ὁ μέλλων ἀπόλλυσθαι. Ὁρᾷς πανταχοῦ τῶν νεκρῶν σχεδὸν διατυπουμένην τὴν ἀνάστασιν; Καίτοι οὐκ ἔστιν ἴσον αὐτόν τι τὸν Θεὸν ποιεῖν, καὶ ἀπὸ προαιρέσεως ἀνθρωπίνης τι γενέσθαι. Ταῦτα γοῦν οὐκ ἀπὸ προαιρέσεως ἀνθρωπίνης ἦν. Καὶ ἦν δυνατὸς ἐν λόγῳ καὶ ἔργῳ. Τοῦτο εἶπε, κἀκεῖνον σωτῆρα καὶ τούτους περὶ τὸν εὐεργέτην ἀγνώμονας δεικνύς. Καθάπερ οὖν τότε ὑπὸ τοῦ κακῶς παθόντος τοῦ Ἰωσὴφ ἐσώθησαν: οὕτω καὶ νῦν ὑπὸ τοῦ κακῶς παθόντος ἐσώθησαν, τοῦ Μωϋσέως λέγω. Τί γὰρ, εἰ μὴ ἀνεῖλον αὐτὸν τῷ πράγματι; Τῷ λόγῳ ἀνεῖλον ὥσπερ κἀκεῖνοι. Καὶ ἐκεῖνοι μὲν ἐκ τῆς αὐτῶν εἰς ἀλλοδαπὴν καὶ ξένην ἀπέδοντο: οὗτοι δὲ ἐκ τῆς ἀλλοτρίας εἰς ἀλλοτρίαν φυγαδεύουσι: καὶ ἐκεῖ μὲν τροφὴν ἀποφέροντα, ἐνταῦθα δὲ συμβουλεύοντα δι' ὧν ἔσονται μετὰ Θεοῦ. Οὕτως ἀληθὲς καὶ ἐκ τῶν νῦν οἰκονομουμένων ἐκεῖνο τὸ ὑπὸ τοῦ Γαμαλιὴλ εἰρημένον, ὅτι Ἐὰν ᾖ ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ, οὐ δύνασθε καταλῦσαι αὐτό. Σὺ δὲ τοὺς ἐπιβουλευομένους τῶν ἐπιβουλευόντων αἰτίους σωτηρίας γινομένους μανθάνων, ἐκπλάγηθι τοῦ Θεοῦ τὸ εὐμήχανον καὶ τὴν σύνεσιν: εἰ μὴ γὰρ ἐκεῖνοι ἐπεβουλεύθησαν, οὐκ ἂν οὗτοι ἐσώζοντο. Λιμὸς ἦν, καὶ οὐκ ἀνάλωσεν αὐτούς. Καὶ οὐ τοῦτο μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ δι' ἐκείνου ἐσώθησαν τοῦ προσδοκηθέντος ἀπολωλέναι. Πρόσταγμα βασιλικὸν, καὶ οὐκ ἠφάνισεν αὐτούς: ἀλλὰ τότε μᾶλλον ηὔξετο τὸ πλῆθος, ὅτε ἐκεῖνος ἀπέθανεν ὁ εἰδὼς αὐτούς. Τὸν σωτῆρα αὐτῶν ἠβουλήθησαν ἀνελεῖν, καὶ οὐδὲ οὕτως ἴσχυσαν. βʹ. Ὁρᾷς, ὅτι δι' ὧν ὁ διάβολος ἐπεχείρει καταλύειν τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν τοῦ Θεοῦ, διὰ τούτων ηὔξετο; Τοῦτο καὶ αὐτοὺς ἥρμοττε τότε εἰπεῖν, ὅτι εὐμήχανός ἐστιν ὁ Θεὸς καὶ ἀναγαγεῖν ἡμᾶς δυνατὸς ἐντεῦθεν. Τὸ γὰρ εὐμήχανον τοῦ Θεοῦ μάλιστα τοῦτο [ἦν], ὅτι καὶ ἐν τῇ ἀποστροφῇ ηὔξετο τὸ ἔθνος, δουλούμενον, καὶ κακούμενον, καὶ ἀναιρούμενον. Τὸ μέγα τῆς ἐπαγγελίας τοῦτό ἐστιν. Εἰ γὰρ ἐπὶ τῆς αὐτῶν ηὔξετο, οὐχ οὕτω θαυμαστὸν ἦν. Καὶ οὐδὲ μικρὸν χρόνον ἐπὶ τῆς ἀλλοτρίας ἦσαν, ἀλλὰ τετρακόσια ἔτη. Ἐντεῦθεν μανθάνομεν, ὡς φιλοσοφίαν ἐπεδείξαντο μεγάλην Καὶ γὰρ οὐχ ὡς δεσπόται δούλοις αὐτοῖς ἐχρῶντο, ἀλλ' ὡς ἐχθροὶ καὶ τύραννοι. Διὸ καὶ προεῖπεν, ὅτι ἐν ἐλευθερίᾳ ἔσονται μεγάλῃ: τοῦτο γάρ ἐστι τὸ, Λατρεύσουσί μοι: καὶ ὅτι ἐνταῦθα ἐπανελεύσονται, καὶ οὐκ ἀτιμωρητί. Καὶ ὅρα, πῶς δοκεῖ μέν τι χαρίζεσθαι τῇ περιτομῇ, οὐδὲν δὲ δίδωσιν: εἴ γε ἡ μὲν ἐπαγγελία πρὸ ταύτης, αὕτη δὲ μετὰ ταῦτα. Καὶ οἱ πατριάρχαι, φησὶ, ζηλώσαντες. Ἔνθα οὐ βλάπτει, χαρίζεται αὐτοῖς. Πατριάρχας δέ φησι τοὺς προγόνους, ἐπειδὴ καὶ ἐν τούτοις μέγα ἐφρόνουν. Ἄλλως δὲ καὶ δείκνυσιν, ὅτι οἱ ἅγιοι οὐχὶ ἐκτὸς ἦσαν θλίψεως, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐν αὐταῖς ὄντες μέσαις ταῖς θλίψεσι βοηθείας ἐτύγχανον. Οἱ δὲ οὐ μόνον οὐκ ἔλυον, ἀλλὰ καὶ συνέπραττον τοῖς θλίβουσιν, ὀφείλοντες μᾶλλον αὐτὰς διακόπτειν. Ὥσπερ οὖν οὗτοι τὸν Ἰωσὴφ ἐνδοξότερον ἐποίησαν ἀποδόμενοι, οὕτως ὁ βασιλεὺς τὸν Μωϋσῆν, κελεύσας ἀναιρεῖσθαι τὰ παιδία: εἰ μὴ γὰρ ἐκέλευσεν, οὐκ ἂν τοῦτο ἐγίνετο. Καὶ σκόπει Θεοῦ κηδεμονίαν. Ἐκεῖνος φυγαδεύει τὸν Μωϋσῆν: ὁ δὲ οὐ κωλύει, τὸ μέλλον οἰκονομῶν, ἵνα ἐκεῖ τῆς ὄψεως τύχῃ ἄξιος γενόμενος. Οὕτω καὶ τὸν δοῦλον τὸν πραθέντα ποιεῖ ἐκεῖ βασιλέα, ἔνθα ἐνομίζετο δοῦλος εἶναι. Ὥσπερ δὲ οὗτος ἐκεῖ βασιλεύει, ἔνθα αὐτὸν ἐπώλησαν: οὕτω καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς ἐν τῷ θανάτῳ τὴν δύναμιν ἐπιδείκνυται. Τοῦτο οὐχὶ τιμῆς μόνον ἦν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοῦ θαῤῥεῖν τῇ οἰκείᾳ δυνάμει. Ἀλλ' ἴδωμεν ἄνωθεν τὰ εἰρημένα. Καὶ κατέστησεν αὐτὸν ἡγούμενον ἐπ' Αἴγυπτον καὶ ὅλον τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ. Ὅρα διὰ λιμὸν οἷα κατασκευάζει. Ἐν ἑβδομήκοντα καὶ πέντε ψυχαῖς κατέβη, φησὶν, Ἰακὼβ εἰς Αἴγυπτον. Καὶ ἐτελεύτησεν αὐτὸς καὶ οἱ πατέρες ἡμῶν. Καὶ μετετέθησαν εἰς Συχὲμ, καὶ ἐτέθησαν ἐν τῷ μνήματι, ὃ ὠνήσατο Ἀβραὰμ τιμῆς ἀργυρίου παρὰ τῶν υἱῶν Ἐμμὼρ τοῦ Συχέμ. Δείκνυσιν, ὅτι οὐδὲ μέχρι ταφῆς κύριοι ἦσαν. Καθὼς δὲ ἤγγιζεν ὁ χρόνος τῆς ἐπαγγελίας, ἧς ὤμοσεν ὁ Θεὸς τῷ Ἀβραὰμ, ηὔξησεν ὁ λαὸς, καὶ ἐπληθύνθη ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ, ἄχρις οὗ ἀνέστη βασιλεὺς ἕτερος, ὃς οὐκ ᾔδει τὸν Ἰωσήφ. Ὅρα, ὅτι οὐδὲ ἐν τοῖς τοσούτοις ἔτεσιν αὐτοὺς αὔξει, ἀλλ' ὅτε ἔμελλεν ἐγγίζειν τὸ τέλος: καίτοι ἤδη τετταρακόσια ἔτη ἦν παρελθόντα καὶ πλείονα ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ. Τὸ γοῦν θαυμαστὸν τοῦτό ἐστιν. Οὗτος, φησὶ, κατασοφισάμενος τὸ γένος ἡμῶν, ἐκάκωσε τοὺς πατέρας ἡμῶν τοῦ ποιεῖν ἔκθετα τὰ βρέφη αὐτῶν εἰς τὸ μὴ ζωογονεῖσθαι. Κατασοφισάμενος εἶπεν, αἰνιττόμενος τὴν λάθρα ἀναίρεσιν: οὐ γὰρ ἐβούλετο φανερῶς αὐτοὺς ἀναιρεῖν: διὸ καὶ ἐπήγαγε τοῦτο δηλῶν: Ποιεῖν ἔκθετα τὰ βρέφη. Ἐν ᾧ καιρῷ ἐγεννήθη Μωϋσῆς, καὶ ἦν ἀστεῖος τῷ Θεῷ. Τοῦτο τὸ θαυμαστὸν, ὅτι ὁ προστάτης μέλλων ἔσεσθαι οὐδὲ μετὰ ταῦτα οὐδὲ πρὸ τούτου, ἀλλ' ἐν αὐτῷ μέσῳ τῷ θυμῷ τίκτεται. Καὶ ἀνατρέφεται μῆνας τρεῖς ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ τοῦ πατρός. Ὅτε τοίνυν τὰ ἀνθρώπινα ἀπηλπίσθη καὶ ἔῤῥιψαν αὐτὸν, τότε τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡ οἰκονομία ἐδείχθη διαλάμπουσα. Ἐκτεθέντα δὲ αὐτὸν ἀνείλετο ἡ θυγάτηρ Φαραὼ, καὶ ἀνεθρέψατο αὐτὸν ἑαυτῇ εἰς υἱόν. Οὐδαμοῦ ναὸς, οὐδαμοῦ θυσία, τοσούτων οἰκονομιῶν γενομένων. Καὶ ἀνετράφη ἐν οἴκῳ βαρβαρικῷ. Καὶ ἐπαιδεύθη Μωϋσῆς πάσῃ σοφίᾳ Αἰγυπτίων: ἦν δὲ δυνατὸς ἐν λόγοις καὶ ἔργοις. Ἐμοὶ θαυμάζειν ἐπέρχεται, πῶς τεσσαράκοντα ἔτη ἦν ἐκεῖ, καὶ οὐχ ἑάλω ἐκ τῆς περιτομῆς: μᾶλλον δὲ, πῶς ἐν ἀσφαλείᾳ ὄντες τὰ αὑτῶν παρορῶσι καὶ οὗτος καὶ ὁ Ἰωσὴφ, ἵνα καὶ ἑτέρους σώσωσιν. Ὡς δὲ ἐπληροῦτο αὐτῷ τεσσαρακονταετὴς χρόνος, ἀνέβη ἐπὶ τὴν καρδίαν αὐτοῦ ἐπισκέψασθαι τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς αὐτοῦ τοὺς υἱοὺς Ἰσραήλ. Καὶ ἰδών τινα ἀδικούμενον, ἠμύνατο, καὶ ἐποίησεν ἐκδίκησιν τῷ καταπονουμένῳ, πατάξας τὸν Αἰγύπτιον. Ἐνόμιζε δὲ συνιέναι τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ὁ Θεὸς διὰ χειρὸς αὐτοῦ δίδωσιν αὐτοῖς σωτηρίαν: οἱ δὲ οὐ συνῆκαν. Ὅρα, πῶς τέως οὐ δοκεῖ φορτικὸς, ἀλλὰ τοσαῦτα δημηγορεῖ, καὶ ἀκούειν ἀνέχονται: οὕτως αὐτοὺς τῇ τοῦ προσώπου χάριτι εἷλεν. Ἐνόμιζε, φησὶ, συνιέναι τοὺς ἀδελφούς. Καίτοι διὰ τῶν ἔργων ἡ προστασία ἐγένετο, καὶ οὐκ ἦν συνέσεως ἐνταῦθα χρεία: ἀλλ' ὅμως οὐδὲ οὕτως συνίεσαν. Ὁρᾷς, πῶς μετὰ ἐπιεικείας διαλέγεται, καὶ πῶς δείξας τὸν θυμὸν ἐπ' ἐκείνου, δείκνυσι τὸ ἥμερον ἐπὶ τούτου; Τῇ τε ἐπιούσῃ ἡμέρᾳ ὤφθη αὐτοῖς μαχομένοις, καὶ συνήλασεν αὐτοὺς εἰς εἰρήνην, εἰπών: Ἄνδρες, ἀδελφοί ἐστε, ἱνατί ἀδικεῖτε ἀλλήλους; Ὁ δὲ ἀδικῶν τὸν πλησίον ἀπώσατο αὐτὸν, εἰπών: Τίς σε κατέστησεν ἄρχοντα καὶ δικαστὴν ἐφ' ἡμᾶς; Μὴ ἀνελεῖν με σὺ θέλεις, ὃν τρόπον ἀνεῖλες χθὲς τὸν Αἰγύπτιον; Ἀπὸ τῆς αὐτῆς γνώμης τὰ αὐτὰ καὶ πρὸς τὸν Χριστὸν φαίνονται λέγοντες: Οὐκ ἔχομεν βασιλέα, εἰ μὴ Καίσαρα. Οὕτως ἔθος ἀεὶ ποιεῖν Ἰουδαίοις καὶ εὐεργετουμένοις. Εἶδες ἄνοιαν; τὸν μέλλοντα σώζειν αὐτοὺς διαβάλλουσι, δι' ὧν φασιν, Ὃν τρόπον ἀνεῖλες χθὲς τὸν Αἰγύπτιον. Καὶ ἔφυγε Μωϋσῆς ἐν τῷ λόγῳ τούτῳ: καὶ ἐγένετο πάροικος ἐν γῇ Μαδιὰμ, οὗ ἐγέννησεν υἱοὺς δύο. Φεύγει, καὶ οὐδὲ ἡ φυγὴ ἔσβεσε τὴν οἰκονομίαν, ὥσπερ οὖν οὐδὲ ὁ θάνατος. Καὶ πληρωθέντων ἐτῶν τεσσαράκοντα, ὤφθη αὐτῷ ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ τοῦ ὄρους Σινᾶ ἄγγελος Κυρίου ἐν φλογὶ πυρὸς βάτου. γʹ. Ὁρᾷς, πῶς οὐδὲ χρόνῳ διακόπτεται ἡ οἰκονομία; Ὅτε γὰρ φυγὰς ἦν, ὅτε ξένος, ὅτε πολὺν χρόνον ἐπὶ τῆς ἀλλοτρίας πεποίηκεν, ὡς καὶ παῖδας ποιῆσαι δύο, ὅτε οὐκέτι προσεδόκησεν ἀναστρέφειν, τότε ἄγγελος αὐτῷ ἐπιφαίνεται. Τὸν Υἱὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἄγγελον καλεῖ, καθάπερ καὶ ἄνθρωπον. Καὶ ποῦ φαίνεται; Ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ, οὐκ ἐν ναῷ. Ὁρᾷς, πόσα γίνεται θαύματα, καὶ οὐδαμοῦ ναὸς, οὐδαμοῦ θυσία; Καὶ οὐδὲ ἐνταῦθα ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ ἁπλῶς, ἀλλ' ἐν τῇ βάτῳ. Ὁ δὲ Μωϋσῆς ἰδὼν, ἐθαύμασε τὸ ὅραμα: προσερχομένου δὲ αὐτοῦ κατανοῆσαι, ἐγένετο φωνὴ Κυρίου. Ἰδοὺ καὶ φωνῆς ἠξιώθη. Ἐγὼ ὁ Θεὸς τῶν πατέρων σου, ὁ Θεὸς Ἀβραὰμ, καὶ ὁ Θεὸς Ἰσαὰκ, καὶ ὁ Θεὸς Ἰακώβ. Οὐ μόνον ἐνταῦθα δείκνυσιν, ὅτι ὁ ὀφθεὶς αὐτῷ ἄγγελος ἦν ὁ μεγάλης βουλῆς Ἄγγελος: ἀλλὰ δείκνυσι καὶ τὴν φιλανθρωπίαν ὅσην ποιεῖται ὁ Θεὸς διὰ τῆς ἐπιφανείας. Ἔντρομος δὲ γενόμενος Μωϋσῆς, οὐκ ἐτόλμα κατανοῆσαι. Εἶπε δὲ αὐτῷ ὁ Κύριος: Λῦσον τὸ ὑπόδημα τῶν ποδῶν σου. Ὁ γὰρ τόπος, ἐν ᾧ ἕστηκας, γῆ ἁγία ἐστίν. Οὐδαμοῦ ναὸς, καὶ ὁ τόπος ἅγιος τῇ ἐπιφανείᾳ καὶ ἐνεργείᾳ τοῦ Χριστοῦ. Πολλῷ θαυμασιώτερον τοῦτο τοῦ τόπου ἐν τοῖς Ἁγίοις τῶν ἁγίων: ἐκεῖ γὰρ οὐδαμοῦ ἐφάνη οὕτως ὁ Θεὸς, οὐδαμοῦ οὕτως ἔντρομος γέγονε Μωϋσῆς. Εἶδες τὴν φιλανθρωπίαν; Ὅρα λοιπὸν καὶ τὴν κηδεμονίαν. Ἰδὼν εἶδον τὴν κάκωσιν τοῦ λαοῦ μου, φησὶ, τοῦ ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ, καὶ τοῦ στεναγμοῦ αὐτῶν ἤκουσα, καὶ κατέβην ἐξελέσθαι αὐτούς. Καὶ νῦν δεῦρο, ἀποστείλω σε εἰς Αἴγυπτον. Ὅρα, πῶς δείκνυσιν, ὅτι καὶ δι' εὐεργεσιῶν, καὶ διὰ κολάσεων καὶ διὰ θαυμάτων ἐπήγετο αὐτούς: οἱ δὲ οἱ αὐτοὶ ἦσαν. Οὕτως ἐντεῦθεν μανθάνομεν, ὅτι πανταχοῦ πάρεστιν ὁ Θεός. Ταῦτα ἀκούοντες, καὶ ἡμεῖς ἐν ταῖς θλίψεσι πρὸς αὐτὸν καταφεύγωμεν. Καὶ τοῦ στεναγμοῦ γὰρ αὐτῶν, φησὶν, ἤκουσα. Οὐχ ἁπλῶς εἶπεν, Ἤκουσα, ἀλλὰ, διὰ τὰς συμφοράς. Εἰ δέ τις λέγοι, Καὶ τίνος ἕνεκεν αὐτοὺς εἴασε κακωθῆναι οὕτως; ἀκουέτω, ὅτι μάλιστα μὲν οὖν παντὶ δικαίῳ αἱ κακώσεις αἴτιαι μισθῶν γίνονται: ἢ καὶ διὰ τοῦτο αὐτοὺς ἀφῆκε κακοῦσθαι, ἵνα τὴν αὐτοῦ δύναμιν καὶ ἐντεῦθεν δείξῃ διαλάμπουσαν, κἀκείνους δι' ὧν ἐκακοῦντο εἰς πάντα παιδεύσῃ φιλοσοφεῖν. Ὅρα γοῦν, ὅτε ἦσαν ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ, οὐ μόνον ἐλιπάνθησαν, ἐπαχύνθησαν, ἐπλατύνθησαν, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐγκατέλιπον τὸν Θεόν. Πανταχοῦ γὰρ ἡ ἄνεσις, ἀγαπητὲ, κακόν. Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ ἐξ ἀρχῆς τῷ Ἀδὰμ ἔλεγεν: Ἐν ἱδρῶτι τοῦ προσώπου σου φάγῃ τὸν ἄρτον σου. Ἵνα τοίνυν ἐκ τῆς πολλῆς κακώσεως εἰς ἄνεσιν ἐλθόντες μὴ ὑβρίσωσι, θλίβεσθαι αὐτοὺς συγχωρεῖ: μέγα γὰρ ἡ θλῖψις ἀγαθόν. Καὶ ὅτι ἀγαθὸν, ἄκουε τοῦ Δαυῒδ λέγοντος: Ἀγαθόν μοι ὅτι ἐταπείνωσάς με. Εἰ δὲ τοῖς μεγάλοις καὶ θαυμαστοῖς ἀνδράσι μέγα ἡ θλῖψις, πολλῷ μᾶλλον ἡμῖν. Εἰ βούλεσθε δὲ, καὶ αὐτὴν ἐφ' ἑαυτῆς τὴν θλῖψιν ἐξετάσωμεν. Ἔστω τις χαίρων σφόδρα καὶ γεγηθὼς καὶ διαχεόμενος: τί ἀσχημονέστερον, τί ἀνοητότερον τούτου; Ἔστω τις ἀλγῶν καὶ ἀθυμῶν: τί τούτου φιλοσοφώτερον; Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ ὁ σοφὸς παραινεῖ λέγων: Κρεῖττον εἰς οἰκίαν πένθους εἰσελθεῖν, ἢ εἰς οἰκίαν γέλωτος. Τάχα καὶ διαμωκᾶσθε τὰ λεγόμενα. Πλὴν ἴδωμεν, οἷος ἦν ὁ Ἀδὰμ ἐν παραδείσῳ, καὶ οἷος μετὰ ταῦτα ἦν: οἷος ἦν ὁ Κάϊν πρὸ τούτου, καὶ οἷος ἦν μετὰ ταῦτα. Οὐχ ἕστηκεν ἐπὶ τῆς οἰκείας ἕδρας ἡ ψυχὴ, ἀλλ' ὥσπερ ὑπό τινος πνεύματος αἴρεται τῆς ἡδονῆς καὶ κουφίζεται, οὐδὲν ἔχουσα βέβαιον. Καὶ γὰρ καὶ πρὸς ἐπαγγελίας ἐστὶν εὔκολος, καὶ πρὸς ὑποσχέσεις πρόχειρος, καὶ πολὺς ὁ σάλος τῶν λογισμῶν. Ἐντεῦθεν ἄκαιρος γέλως, φαιδρότης οὐκ ἔχουσα λόγον, ῥημάτων ὕθλος πολὺς καὶ περιττός. Καὶ τί λέγω τοὺς ἄλλους; Τῶν ἁγίων ἕνα προχειρισώμεθα, καὶ ἴδωμεν τίς μὲν ἦν ἐν ἡδονῇ ζῶν, τίς δὲ πάλιν ἐν ἀθυμίᾳ. Βούλεσθε οὖν τὸν Δαυῒδ ἴδωμεν; Ὅτε τοίνυν οὗτος ἐν ἡδονῇ ἦν καὶ ἐν χαρᾷ ἀπὸ τῶν πολλῶν τροπαίων, ἀπὸ τῆς νίκης, ἀπὸ τῶν στεφάνων, ἀπὸ τῆς τρυφῆς, ἀπὸ τοῦ θαῤῥεῖν, ὅρα, οἷα καὶ εἶπε καὶ ἔπραξεν: Ἐγὼ δὲ εἶπα ἐν τῇ εὐθηνίᾳ μου, Οὐ μὴ σαλευθῶ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα. Ἐπειδὴ δὲ ἐν θλίψει γέγονεν, ἄκουσον τί λέγει: Καὶ ἐὰν εἴπῃ μοι: οὐ τεθέληκά σε, ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ, ποιείτω μοι τὸ ἀρεστὸν ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ. Τί τούτων φιλοσοφώτερον τῶν ῥημάτων; Ὅ τι ἂν ᾖ τῷ Θεῷ, φησὶ, φίλον, ταύτῃ ἔστω. Καὶ πάλιν τῷ Σαοὺλ, ἔλεγεν: Εἰ δὲ Κύριος ἐπισείει σε ἐπ' ἐμὲ, ὀσφρανθείη ἡ θυσία σου. Καὶ τότε μὲν ἐν θλίψει ὢν, καὶ ἐχθρῶν ἐφείδετο: μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα οὐδὲ φίλων, οὐδὲ τῶν ἠδικηκότων οὐδέν. Πάλιν ὁ Ἰακῶβ, ὅτε ἐν θλίψει γέγονεν, ἔλεγεν: Ἐὰν δῷ μοι Κύριος ἄρτον φαγεῖν, καὶ ἱμάτιον περιβαλέσθαι. Καὶ ὁ τοῦ Νῶε υἱὸς πρὸ μὲν τούτου οὐδὲν τοιοῦτον ἐποίησεν: ἐπειδὴ δὲ ἐθάῤῥησεν ὑπὲρ τῆς σωτηρίας, ἀκούεις οἷος γέγονεν ὑβριστής. Καὶ ὁ Ἐζεκίας ὅτε μὲν ἦν ἐν θλίψει, ὅρα οἷα ἐποίει ὑπὲρ τῆς σωτηρίας: σάκκον γὰρ περιεβάλετο, καὶ εἰς γῆν ἐκάθισεν: ἐπειδὴ δὲ γέγονεν ἐν ἡδονῇ, ἔπεσεν ἀπὸ τοῦ ὕψους τῆς καρδίας αὐτοῦ. Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ Μωϋσῆς παραινεῖ λέγων: Φαγὼν καὶ πιὼν καὶ ἐμπλησθεὶς, μνήσθητι Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ σου. Ἀπόκρημνος γάρ ἐστιν ὁ τόπος ὁ τῆς τρυφῆς, καὶ λήθην τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐμποιεῖ. Ὅτε ἐθλίβοντο οἱ Ἰσραηλῖται, πολλῷ πλείους ἐγίνοντο: ἐπειδὴ δὲ αὐτοὺς εἴασε, τότε πάντες ἀπώλοντο. Καὶ τί λέγω ἀπὸ τῶν παλαιῶν τὰ παραδείγματα; Ἴδωμεν ἀφ' ἡμῶν, εἰ δοκεῖ. Ἡμῶν ὅταν ἐν εὐπραγίᾳ ὦσιν οἱ πλείους, τετυφωμένοι γίνονται, πᾶσιν ἐχθροὶ, ὀργίλοι τῆς ἐξουσίας παρούσης: ἀφαιρεθείσης δὲ, ἥμεροι, ταπεινοὶ, πρᾶοι, τῆς οἰκείας φύσεως εἰς ἔννοιαν ἔρχονται. Καὶ ὅτι οὕτως ἔχει, δείκνυσι καὶ ὁ Δαυῒδ λέγων: Ἐκράτησεν αὐτοὺς ἡ ὑπερηφανία εἰς τέλος: ἐξελεύσεται ὡς ἐκ στέατος ἡ ἀδικία αὐτῶν. Ταῦτα δή μοι εἴρηται, ἵνα μὴ ἐκ παντὸς τρόπου τὴν χαρὰν ζητῶμεν. Καὶ πῶς, φησὶν, ὁ Παῦλος λέγει, Χαίρετε πάντοτε; Οὐχ ἁπλῶς εἶπε, Χαίρετε, ἀλλὰ προσέθηκεν, Ἐν Κυρίῳ. δʹ. Αὕτη μεγίστη χαρά: τοιαύτην καὶ οἱ ἀπόστολοι ἔχαιρον: χαρὰ κέρδος φέρουσα, ἡ ἀπὸ δεσμωτηρίων, ἡ ἀπὸ μαστίγων, ἡ ἀπὸ διωγμῶν, ἡ ἀπὸ τοῦ κακῶς ἀκούειν, ἡ ἀπὸ τῶν λυπηρῶν πάντως ἔχουσα τὴν ἀρχὴν καὶ τὴν ῥίζαν καὶ τὴν ὑπόθεσιν: ὅθεν καὶ εἰς χρηστὸν ἀπαντᾷ τέλος. Ἡ δὲ τοῦ κόσμου τοὐναντίον, ἄρχεται μὲν ἀπὸ τῶν ἡδέων, τελευτᾷ δὲ εἰς τὰ λυπηρά. Οὐδὲ ἐγὼ κωλύω χαίρειν κατὰ Κύριον, ἀλλὰ καὶ σφόδρα παραινῶ. Ἐμαστίζοντο οἱ ἀπόστολοι, καὶ ἔχαιρον: ἐδέδεντο, καὶ εὐχαρίστουν: ἐλιθάζοντο, καὶ ἐκήρυττον. Ταύτην καὶ ἐγὼ βούλομαι τὴν χαράν: ἀπ' οὐδενὸς σωματικοῦ τὴν ἀρχὴν ἔχει, ἀλλ' ἀπὸ πραγμάτων πνευματικῶν. Οὐκ ἔστι τὸν κατὰ κόσμον χαίροντα ὁμοῦ καὶ κατὰ Θεὸν χαίρειν: πᾶς γὰρ ὁ κατὰ κόσμον χαίρων, ἐπὶ πλούτῳ χαίρει, ἐπὶ τρυφῇ, ἐπὶ δόξῃ καὶ δυναστείᾳ, ἐπὶ ἀλαζονείᾳ: ὁ δὲ κατὰ Θεὸν, ἐπὶ ἀτιμίᾳ τῇ δι' αὐτὸν, ἐπὶ πενίᾳ, ἐπὶ ἀκτημοσύνῃ, ἐπὶ νηστείᾳ, ἐπὶ ταπεινοφροσύνῃ. Ὁρᾷς, ὅτι ἐναντίαι αἱ ὑποθέσεις; Ὅσοι ἔξω χαρᾶς εἰσιν ἐνταῦθα, καὶ λύπης: καὶ ὅσοι ἔξω λύπης ἐνταῦθα, καὶ ἡδονῆς. Καὶ ὄντως ταῦτά ἐστι τὰ ποιοῦντα ἀληθῆ χαρὰν, ἐπεὶ ἐκεῖνα ὄνομα μόνον ἔχει χαρᾶς, τὸ δὲ πᾶν ἐν λύπῃ κεῖται. Πόσην ἀνίαν ὁ ἀλαζὼν ἔχει! πῶς διακόπτεται ἐν αὐτῷ τῷ ἀλαζονεύεσθαι, μυρίας ἑαυτῷ μηχανώμενος ὕβρεις, πολὺ τὸ μῖσος, μεγάλην τὴν ἀπέχθειαν, πολὺν τὸν φθόνον, πολλὴν τὴν βασκανίαν! κἂν γὰρ παρὰ τῶν μειζόνων ὑβρισθῇ, ἀλγεῖ: κἂν μὴ πάντων κατεξαναστῇ, δάκνεται. Ὁ δὲ ταπεινὸς ἐν πολλῇ ἐστι τῇ ἡδονῇ, παρ' οὐδενὸς προσδοκῶν τιμήν: ἂν μὲν οὖν τιμηθῇ, ἥσθη, ἂν δὲ μὴ τιμηθῇ, οὐκ ἤλγησεν, ἀλλ' ἀγαπᾷ, ὅτι οὐκ ἐτιμήθη. Ἄρ' οὖν ἐκ τοῦ μὴ ζητεῖν τιμὴν καὶ τιμᾶσθαι, πολλὴ ἡ ἡδονή. Ἐκεῖ δὲ τοὐναντίον, καὶ ζητεῖ τιμὴν, καὶ οὐ τιμᾶται. Οὐχ ὁμοίως δὲ ἥδεται τιμὴν ὁ ζητῶν, καὶ ὁ μὴ ζητῶν. Οὗτος ὅσον ἂν λάβη, οὐδὲν ἡγεῖται εἰληφέναι: ἐκεῖνος κἂν τὸ μικρὸν δῷς, ὡς τὸ πᾶν εἰληφὼς δέχεται. Πάλιν ὁ τρυφῶν μυρία πράγματα ἔχει, κἂν ἐξ εὐκολίας καὶ ὥσπερ ἀπὸ πηγῶν αὐτῷ τὰ τῶν προσόδων ἐπιῤῥέῃ, τὰ ἀπὸ τῆς τρυφῆς δεινὰ δέδοικε, καὶ τὸ ἄδηλον τοῦ μέλλοντος: οὗτος δὲ ἀεὶ ἐν ἀσφαλείᾳ ἐστὶ καὶ ἐν ἡδονῇ, ἐθίσας ἑαυτὸν ἐν λιτότητι διαίτης. Οὐ γὰρ οὕτως ἑαυτὸν ταλανίζει, ὅτι μὴ μετέχει τραπέζης πολυτελοῦς, ὡς τρυφᾷ, τὸ τοῦ μέλλοντος ἄδηλον μὴ δεδοικώς. Τὰ δὲ ἐκ τῆς τρυφῆς ὅσα δεινὰ, οὐδεὶς ἀγνοεῖ: ἀναγκαῖον δὲ καὶ νῦν εἰπεῖν. Διπλοῦς ὁ πόλεμος, τοῦ σώματος, λέγω, καὶ τῆς ψυχῆς: διπλοῦς ὁ χειμὼν, διπλᾶ τὰ νοσήματα: καὶ οὐ τοῦτο μόνον, ἀλλ' ὅτι καὶ ἀνίατα: καὶ μεγάλας φέρουσι ταῦτα τὰς συμφοράς. Ἀλλ' οὐχ ἡ εὐτέλεια τοιοῦτον, ἀλλὰ διπλῆ ἡ ὑγεία, διπλᾶ τὰ ἀγαθά. Ὕπνος ὑγείας, φησὶν, ἐν ἐντέρῳ μετρίῳ. Πανταχοῦ γὰρ τὸ μὲν σύμμετρον ποθεινὸν, τὸ δὲ ἄμετρον οὐκέτι. Ὅρα γάρ: Σπινθῆρι μικρῷ πολὺν ξύλων ἐπίθες φορυτὸν, καὶ οὐκέτι πῦρ τὸ λάμπον, ἀλλὰ καπνὸν ὄψει σφόδρα ἀηδῆ. Ἀνδρὶ λίαν ἰσχυρῷ καὶ μεγάλῳ φορτίον ἐπίθες τὸ τὴν ἰσχὺν ὑπερβαῖνον, καὶ ὄψει μετὰ τοῦ φορτίου χαμαὶ κείμενον καὶ ἐῤῥιμμένον. Πολὺν τὸν φόρτον ἔμβαλε τῷ πλοίῳ, καὶ χαλεπὸν εἰργάσω τὸ ναυάγιον. Τοιοῦτο δή τι καὶ ἡ τρυφή ἐστι. Καθάπερ γὰρ ἐπὶ τῶν ὑπεράντλων πλοίων, πολὺς ὁ θόρυβος τῶν ναυτῶν, τοῦ κυβερνήτου, τοῦ πρωρέως, τῶν ἐπιβατῶν, τὰ μὲν ἄνωθεν ῥιπτούντων εἰς τὸ πέλαγος, τὰ δὲ κάτωθεν: οὕτω δὴ καὶ ἐνταῦθα, τὰ μὲν ἄνωθεν ἐμοῦντες, τὰ δὲ κάτωθεν, καὶ ἑαυτοὺς διαφθείροντες, ἀπόλλυνται. Καὶ τὸ δὴ πάντων αἰσχρότερον, ὅτι αὐτὸ τὸ στόμα τὴν χρῆσιν ἀναλαμβάνει τῶν ὄπισθεν μορίων, καὶ γίνεται ἐκείνων ἀτιμότερον. Εἰ δὲ ἐν τῷ στόματι τοσαύτη ἀσχημοσύνη, ἐννόησον ἐν τῇ ψυχῇ. Καὶ γὰρ ἐκεῖ πάντα γνόφος, πάντα θύελλα, πάντα σκότος, πολλὴ τῶν λογισμῶν σύγχυσις, πιεζομένων, θλιβομένων, τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτῆς τὴν ἐπήρειαν βοώσης. Ἐντεῦθεν καὶ αὐτοὶ οἱ γαστριζόμενοι ἀλλήλους αἰτιῶνται, δυσχεραίνουσι, σπεύδουσι τὴν ἔνδον ἀποῤῥίψασθαι κόπρον. Ὅμως καὶ μετὰ τὸ ῥιφῆναι, οὐδὲ οὕτως ὁ σάλος παύεται: ἀλλὰ καὶ πυρετοὶ ἐντεῦθεν καὶ νόσοι. Ναὶ, φησὶ, νοσοῦσι καὶ ἀσχημονοῦσι: λόγος εἰκῆ ταῦτα διεξιὼν, καὶ νόσους ἡμῖν καταλέγων: νοσῶ γὰρ ἐγὼ, καὶ σπῶμαι ἐγὼ, καὶ ἀσχημονῶ ἐγὼ, ὁ μὴ ἔχων φαγεῖν: τούτους δὲ τοὺς τρυφῶντας ἔστιν εὐπαθοῦντας ἰδεῖν, σφριγῶντας, χαίροντας, φερομένους ἐφ' ἵππων. Οἴμοι! θρήνων γὰρ ἄξια ταῦτα τὰ ῥήματα. Τοὺς δὲ ποδαλγοῦντας, τοὺς ἐπὶ δίφρων φερομένους, τοὺς καταδεσμουμένους, πόθεν ὁρῶμεν, εἰπέ μοι; Καὶ εἰ μὴ τὸ πρᾶγμα ὕβριν ἐνόμιζον, καὶ ὀνειδιστικῶς με ταῦτα λέγειν ἡγοῦντο, ἤδη ἂν καὶ ὀνομαστὶ παρήγαγον αὐτούς. Ἀλλ' εἰσί τινες, οἳ καὶ ὑγιαίνουσι, φησίν. Ἐπειδὴ μὴ μόνον τρυφῇ προσανέχουσιν, ἀλλὰ καὶ πόνοις. Ἐπεὶ δός μοι ἄνθρωπον διαπαντὸς πιαινόμενον, ἀνενέργητον κείμενον, μηδὲν πονοῦντα, ἰδεῖν ὑγιαίνοντα. Ἀλλ' οὐκ ἂν εὕροις. Κἂν γὰρ μυρίων ἰατρῶν πλῆθος συνέλθῃ, ἐξελεῖν αὐτὸν οὐ μὴ δυνηθῇ τῶν νοσημάτων, διηνεκῶς γαστριζόμενον: οὐδὲ γὰρ ἔχει τὸ πρᾶγμα φύσιν. Ἐγὼ δὲ καὶ ἰατρικὸν ὑμῖν ἐρῶ λόγον: Τῶν εἰς τὴν γαστέρα καταβαλλομένων, οὐ τὸ πᾶν γίνεται τροφή: ἐπεὶ μηδὲ ἐν αὐτῇ τῇ τῆς τροφῆς φύσει τὸ πᾶν ἐστι τρόφιμον, ἀλλ' ἔστι τὸ μὲν αὐτῆς εἰς διαχώρησιν μεριζόμενον, τὸ δὲ εἰς τροφήν. Ἂν μὲν οὖν σύμμετρα δοὺς τέλεον κατεργασθῇ, τοῦτο γίνεται, καὶ τὴν οἰκείαν ἔλαβε χώραν, καὶ τὸ μὲν ὑγιὲς καὶ χρηστὸν εἰς τὸν οἰκεῖον ἀνέδραμε τόπον, τὸ δὲ περιττὸν καὶ ἄχρηστον ὑπεξῆλθε καὶ ἐξεχώρησεν: ἂν δὲ πλῆθος, καὶ ὅσον αὐτοῦ τρόφιμον, καὶ τοῦτο γίνεται βλαβερόν. Ὡς ἐπὶ ὑποδείγματος δὲ τοιοῦτον ἐρῶ, ἵνα σαφέστερον, ὃ λέγω, ὑμῖν γένηται: Τοῦ σίτου τὸ μέν ἐστι σεμίδαλις, τὸ δὲ ἄλευρον, τὸ δὲ πίτυρον. Ἂν μὲν οὖν ἡ μύλη λάβῃ, ἃ δύναται ἀλεῖν, ἀπέκρινε ταῦτα πάντα: ἂν δὲ πλέον ἐπιβάλῃς, πάντα συγκέχυται. Πάλιν ὁ οἶνος ἂν τῆς προσηκούσης κατεργασίας τύχῃ, καὶ τῆς τῶν ὡρῶν κράσεως, πρότερον μὲν πάντα ὁμοῦ γίνεται, μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα τὸ μὲν αὐτοῦ εἰς τρύγα ὑφιζάνει, τὸ δὲ εἰς ἀφρὸν ἀνατρέχει, τὸ δὲ μένει ἀπόλαυσις τῶν μετεχόντων, καὶ τοῦτό ἐστι τὸ χρηστὸν, καὶ οὐκ ἄν ποτε ταχέως τοῦτο τραπείη: πρότερον δὲ οὔτε οἶνός ἐστιν, οὔτε τρὺξ, πάντων μιχθέντων. Τοῦτο καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς θαλάττης ἴδοι τις ἂν, ὅταν ὑπερβολὴ χειμῶνος γένηται. Καθάπερ οὖν τότε τοὺς ἰχθύας ὁρῶμεν νεκροὺς ἐπιπλέοντας τοὺς ὑπὸ τοῦ ψύχους εἰς τὸν βυθὸν δῦναι μὴ δυνηθέντας: οὕτω δὴ καὶ ἐφ' ἡμῶν γίνεται. Ὅταν γὰρ πολὺς ἄνωθεν ἐπιῤῥεύσῃ τῆς λαιμαργίας ὁ ὑετὸς, πάντα ἀνακινήσας, νεκροὺς ἐπιπλέειν ποιεῖ τοὺς λογισμοὺς τοὺς τέως ὑγιαίνοντας, καὶ ἐν ἡμῖν ἠρεμοῦντας. Ἐπεὶ οὖν ἐκ τοσούτων ὑποδειγμάτων ἡμῖν ἀποδέδεικται πολλὴ ἡ βλάβη, παυσώμεθα μακαρίζοντες τούτους, ἐφ' οἷς ταλανίζειν ἐχρῆν, δακρύοντες δὲ αὐτοὺς, ἐφ' οἷς μακαρίζειν ἔδει, καὶ τὴν αὐτάρκειαν ἀγαπῶμεν. Ἢ οὐκ ἀκούετε καὶ ἰατρῶν λεγόντων, ὅτι ἔνδεια μήτηρ ὑγείας; Ἐγὼ δὲ οὐχὶ τῆς σωματικῆς ὑγείας μητέρα τὴν ἔνδειαν εἶναι, ἀλλὰ καὶ τῆς ψυχικῆς λέγω. Ταῦτα καὶ Παῦλος βοᾷ ὁ ὄντως ἰατρὸς, Ἔχοντες, λέγων, διατροφὰς καὶ σκεπάσματα, τούτοις ἀρκεσθησόμεθα. Πειθώμεθα τοίνυν αὐτῷ, ἵνα ὑγιαίνοντες πράττωμεν, ἃ δεῖ ποιεῖν, ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ τῷ Κυρίῳ ἡμῶν, μεθ' οὗ τῷ Πατρὶ ἅμα τῷ ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι, δόξα, κράτος, τιμὴ, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ, καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.