Homily XXII.

2 Cor. x. 7

Ye look at the things that are before your face. If any man trusteth in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again with himself that even as he is Christ’s, so also are we.

What one may especially admire in Paul amongst other things is this, that when he has fallen upon an urgent necessity for exalting himself, he manages both to accomplish this point, and also not to appear offensive to the many on account of this egotism; a thing we may see particularly in his Epistle to the Galatians. For having there fallen upon such an argument, he provides for both these points; a matter of the very utmost difficulty and demanding much prudence; he is at once modest and says somewhat great of himself. And observe how in this place also he makes it of great account, “Ye look at the things that are before your face.” Behold here also prudence. For having rebuked those that deceived them, he confined not his remarks to them, but he leaps away from them to these too; and he does so constantly. For, in truth, he scourgeth not those only that lead astray548    παρακρουομένων., but the deceived also. For had he let even them go without calling them to an account549    ἀνευθύνους., they would not so easily have been reformed by what was said to the others; but would have been greatly elated even, as not being amenable to accusations. Therefore he scourgeth them also. And this is not all that is to be admired in him, but this farther, that he rebukes either party in a manner suitable to each. Hear at least what he says to these, “Ye look at the things that are before your face.” The accusation is no light one; but a mark of men exceedingly easy to be deceived. Now what he says is this, ‘ye test by what appear, by things carnal, by things bodily.’ What is meant by ‘what appear?’ If one is rich, if one is puffed up, if one is surrounded by many flatterers, if one says great things of himself, if one is vain-glorious, if one makes a pretence of virtue without having virtue, for this is the meaning of, “ye look at the things that are before your face.”

“If any man trust in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again with himself, that even as he is Christ’s, even so also are we.” For he does not wish to be vehement at the beginning, but he increases and draws to a head550    κορυφοῦται. by little and little. But observe here how much harshness and covert meaning there is. He shows this by using the words “with himself.” For he saith, ‘Let him not wait to learn this from us; that is, by our rebuke of himself,’ but “let him consider this with himself, that even as he is Christ’s, so also are we;” not that he was Christ’s in such manner as the other was, but, “that even as he is Christ’s, so also am I Christ’s.” Thus far the community holds good: for it is not surely the case that he indeed is Christ’s, but I some other’s. Then having laid down this equality between them, he goes on to add wherein he exceeded, saying,

Ver. 8. “For though I should glory somewhat abundantly concerning our authority which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for casting you down, I shall not be put to shame.

For since he was going to say somewhat great, observe how he softens it. For nothing doth so offend the majority of hearers as for any one to praise himself. Wherefore to cut at the root of this offensiveness, he says, “For though I should glory somewhat abundantly.” And he did not say, ‘if any man trust that he is Christ’s let him think that he is far short of us. For I possess much authority from Him, so as to punish and to kill whomsoever I choose;’ but what? “For though I should glory even somewhat abundantly.” And yet he possessed more than can be told, but nevertheless he lowers it in his way of speaking. And he said not, ‘I glory,’ but, “if I should glory,” if I should choose to do so: at once both showing modesty, and declaring his superiority. If therefore he says, “I should glory concerning the authority which the Lord gave me.” Again, he ascribes the whole to Him, and makes the gift common. “For building up, and not for casting down.” Seest thou how again he allays the envy his praises might give rise to, and draws the hearer over to himself by mentioning the use for which he received it? Then why doth he say, “Casting down imaginations?” Because this is itself an especial form of building up, the removing of hindrances, and detecting the unsound, and laying the true together in the building. For this end therefore we received it, that we might build up. But if any should spar and battle with us, and be incurable, we will use that other power also, destroying551    Or, casting down. and overthrowing him. Wherefore also he says, “I shall not be put to shame,” that is, I shall not be proved a liar or a boaster.

[2.] Ver. 9, 10, 11. “But that I may not seem as if I would terrify you: for his letters, say they, are weighty and strong: but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account. Let such a one reckon this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such are we also in deed when we are present.”

What he says is this: ‘I could boast indeed, but that they may not say the same things again, to wit, that I boast in my letters, and am contemptible when present, I will say nothing great.’ And yet afterwards he did say something great, but not about this power by which he was formidable, but about revelations and at greater lengths about trials. ‘Therefore, that I may not seem to be terrifying you, “let such an one reckon this, that what we are by letters when we are absent, such are we also in deed when we are present.’” For since they said, ‘he writes great things of himself, but when he is present he is worthy of no consideration,’ therefore he says these things, and those again in a moderated form. For he did not say, ‘as we write great things, so when we are present we also do great things,’ but in more subdued phrase. For when he addressed himself to the others indeed, he stated it with vehemency, saying, “I beseech you that I may not when present show courage with the confidence wherewith I think to be bold against some:” but when to these, he is more subdued. And therefore he says, ‘what we are when present, such too when absent, that is, lowly, modest, no where boasting. And it is plain from what follows,

Ver. 12. “For we are not bold to number, or compare in ourselves552    R.T. compare ourselves, [which is correct, as there is no ms. authority for the preposition inserted by Chrysostom. C.] with some that commend themselves.”

Here he both shows that those false Apostles are boasters and say great things of themselves: and ridicules them as commending themselves. ‘But we do no such thing: but even if we shall do any thing great, we refer all unto God, and compare ourselves with one another.’ Wherefore also he added,

“But they themselves measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves among themselves are without understanding.” Now what he says is this: ‘we do not compare ourselves with them, but with one another.’ For further on he says, “in nothing am I behind the very chiefest Apostles;” (Chap. xii. 11.) and in the former Epistle, “I labored more abundantly than they all;” (1 Cor. xv. 10.) and again, “Truly the signs of an Apostle were wrought among you in all patience.” (Chap. xii. 12.) ‘So that we compare ourselves with ourselves, not with those that have nothing: for such arrogance cometh of folly.’ Either then he says this with reference to himself, or with reference to them, that ‘we dare not compare ourselves with those who contend with one another and boast great things and do not understand:’ that is, do not perceive how ridiculous they are in being thus arrogant, and in exalting themselves amongst one another.

Ver. 13. “But we will not glory beyond our measure:” as they do.

For it is probable that in their boasting they said, ‘we have converted the world, we have reached unto the ends of the earth,’ and vented many other such like big words. ‘But not so we,’ he says,

“But according to the measure of the province which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even unto you.” So that his humility is evident on either hand, both in that he boasted nothing more than he had wrought, and that he refers even this itself to God. For, “according to the measure of the province,” saith he, “which God apportioned to us, a measure to reach even unto you.” Just as if portioning out a vine to husbandmen, even so He meted out unto us. As far then as we have been counted worthy to attain to, so far we boast.

Ver. 14. “For we stretch not ourselves overmuch, as though we reached not unto you: for we came even as far as unto you in preaching the Gospel of Christ.”

Not simply ‘we came,’ but, ‘we announced, we preached, we persuaded, we succeeded.’ For it is probable that they having merely come to the disciples of the Apostles, ascribed the whole to themselves, from their bare presence among them. ‘But not so we: nor can any one say that we were not able to come as far as to you, and that we stretched our boasting as far as to you in words only; for we also preached the word to you.’

[3.] Ver. 15, 16. “Not glorying beyond” our “measure,” that is, “in other men’s labors, but having hope that as your faith groweth, we shall be magnified in you according to our province unto further abundance, so as to preach the Gospel even unto the parts beyond you, and not to glory in another’s province in regard of things ready to our hand.”

He sets forth a large accusation of them on these grounds, both that they boasted of things without their measure, and of other men’s labors; and that whilst the whole of the toil was the Apostles’, they plumed themselves upon their labors. ‘But we,’ says he, ‘showed these things in our deeds. We will not imitate those men therefore, but will say such things where our deeds bear us witness. And why,’ saith he, ‘do I say, you?’ “for I have hope that as your faith groweth;” for he doth not assert absolutely, preserving his own character, but, ‘I hope,’ he says, ‘if you make progress, that our province will be extended even farther, “to preach the Gospel in the regions beyond.” For we shall advance farther yet,’ he says, ‘so as to preach and labor, not so as to boast in words of what other men have labored.’ And well did he call it “province and measure,” as though he had come into possession of the world, and a rich inheritance; and showing that the whole was wholly God’s. ‘Having then such works,’ he says, ‘and expecting greater, we do not boast as they do who have nothing, nor do we ascribe any part to ourselves, but the whole to God. Wherefore also he adds,

Ver. 17. “He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” This also, he saith, accrueth to us from God.

Ver. 18. “For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.”

He did not say, we are so, “but whom the Lord commendeth.” Seest thou how modestly he speaks? But if as he proceeds he stirreth up loftier words, wonder not, for this also cometh of Paul’s prudence. For if he had gone on in every part to speak lowly words, he would not have hit these men so effectually, nor have extricated the disciples from their error. For it is possible both by modesty ill-timed to do harm, and by saying something admirable of one’s self at a proper time to do good. As therefore he also did. For there was no little danger in the disciples being persuaded into any mean opinion of Paul. Not that Paul sought the glory that cometh of men. For had he sought this, he would not have kept silence so long on those great and marvellous matters of “fourteen years ago;” (Chap. xii. 20.) nor would he, when necessity was laid upon him, have so shrunk back and hesitated to speak of them; very evidently he would not even then have spoken, had he not been compelled. Certainly then it was not from a desire after the glory which cometh from men that he said these things, but out of tender care for the disciples. For since they cast reproaches553    ἔβαλλον. at him as a braggart, and as boastful in words but able to show nothing in deeds, he is compelled subsequently to come to those revelations. Although he had it in his power to convince them by his deeds, at the time when he said these things: yet he still persists, nevertheless, in using menaces in words. For he was most especially free from vain-glory; and this his whole life proves, both before and after this. For instance, it was because of this that he changed all at once; and having changed, confounded the Jews and cast away all that honor he had from them, although he was himself their head and their champion. But he considered none of those things when he had found the truth; but took instead their insults and contumely; for he looked to the salvation of the many, thinking this everything. For he that thinketh nothing of hell nor of heaven nor of ten thousand worlds in regard of his longing after Christ, how should he hunt after the glory which cometh from the many? By no means; but he is even very lowly when he may be so, and brands554    στηλιτεύει. his former life with infamy when he calls himself, “a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious.” (1 Tim. i. 13.) And his disciple Luke too says many things of him, evidently having learnt them from himself, himself displaying fully555    ἐμπομπευοντος. his former life no less than that after his conversion.

[4.] Now I say these things, not that we may hear merely, but that we may learn also. For if he remembered those transgressions before the Laver, although they were all effaced, what forgiveness can we have who are unmindful of those after the Laver ourselves? What sayest thou, O man? Thou hast offended God, and dost thou forget? This is a second offence, a second enmity. Of what sins then dost thou ask forgiveness? Of those which thou even knowest not thyself? Surely, (for is it not so?) thou art deeply anxious and thoughtful how thou mayest give account of them, thou who dost not so much as care to remember them, but sportest with what is no sporting matter. But there will come a time when our sport can go on no longer. For we must needs die: (for the great insensibility of the many obliges me to speak even of things that are evident:)  and must needs rise again, and be judged, and be punished; nay rather this needs not, if we choose. For those other things are not at our own disposal; neither our end, nor our resurrection, nor our judgment, but at our Lord’s; but our suffering punishment or not is at our own disposal; for this is of those things that may or may not happen556    τῶν ἐνδεχομένων.. But if we choose, we shall make it of the number of impossible things; just as Paul, as Peter, as all the saints did; for it is even impossible for them to be punished. If therefore we have a mind, it is in like manner impossible also that we should suffer ought. For even if we have offended in ten thousand things, it is possible to recover ourselves so long as we are here. Let us then recover ourselves: and let the old man consider that in a little while hence he will depart, since he took his pleasure long enough in his lifetime; (although what sort of pleasure is this, to live in wickedness? but for the present I so speak in respect to his way of thinking;) let him consider, besides, that it is possible for him in a short time to wash away all. The young man again, let him also consider the uncertainty of death, and that oftentimes, when many older persons continued here, the young were carried off before them. For, for this reason, that we may not make traffic557    πραγματευώμεθα. of our death, it is left in uncertainty. Wherefore also a certain wise man adviseth, saying, “Make no tarrying to turn unto the Lord, and put not off from day to day: for thou knowest not what to-morrow shall bring forth.” (Ecclus. v. 7; Prov. xxvii. 1.) For by putting off there is danger and fear; but by not putting off manifest and secure salvation. Hold fast then by virtue. For so, even if thou have departed young, thou hast departed in safety; and if thou shouldst come to old age, thou shalt arrive [at death] with great provision made, and shalt have a double feast all thy life long; both in that thou abstainest from vice, and layest hold on virtue. Say not, ‘there will come a time when it may be well to turn,’ for this language provokes God exceedingly. And why so? Because He hath promised thee countless ages, but thou art not even willing to labor during this present life, this short life that dureth but a season; but art so indolent and unmanly as to seek a shorter even than this. Are there not the same revellings daily? Are there not the same tables, the same harlots, the same theatres, the same wealth? How long wilt thou love those things as though they were aught? How long will thy appetite for evil remain insatiate? Consider that as often as thou hast fornicated, so often hast thou condemned thyself. For such is the nature of sin: once committed, the Judge hath also passed his sentence. Hast thou been drunken, been gluttonous, or robbed? Hold now, turn right back, acknowledge it to God as a mercy that He snatched thee not away in the midst of thy sins; seek not yet another set time558    προθεσμίαν. wherein to work evil. Many have been snatched away in the midst of their covetousness, and have departed to manifest punishment. Fear lest thou also shouldest suffer this, and without excuse. ‘But God gave to many a set time for confession in extreme old age.’ What then? Will He give it to thee also? ‘Perhaps He will,’ says one. Why sayest thou ‘perhaps,’ and ‘sometimes,’ and ‘often?’ Consider that thou art deliberating about thy soul, and put also the contrary case, and calculate, and say, ‘But what if He should not give it?’ ‘But what if He should give it?’ saith he. God hath indeed given it; but still this supposition is safer and more profitable than that. For if thou begin now, thou hast gained all, whether thou hast a set time granted thee or not; but if thou art always putting off, for this very cause perhaps thou shalt not have one given thee. When thou goest out to battle, thou dost not say, ‘there is no need to make my will, perhaps I shall come back safe;’ nor dost thou when deliberating about marriage, say ‘suppose I take a poor wife, many have even in this way got rich contrary to expectation;’ nor when building a house, ‘suppose I lay a rotten foundation, many houses have stood even so;’ yet in deliberating about the soul, thou leanest on things more rotten still; urging thy ‘perhaps,’ and ‘often,’ and ‘sometimes,’ and trustest thyself to these uncertainties. ‘Nay,’ saith one, ‘not to an uncertainty, but to the mercy of God, for God is merciful.’ I know it too; but still this merciful God snatched those away of whom I spoke. And what if after thou hast had time given thee, thou shalt still continue as thou wert? for this sort of man will be listless even in old age. ‘Nay,’ he said, ‘not so.’ For this mode of reasoning even after the eighty years desireth ninety, and after the ninety an hundred, and after the hundred will be yet more indisposed to act. And so the whole of life will have been consumed in vain, and what was spoken of the Jews will happen also to thee; “Their days were consumed in vanity.” (Ps. lxxviii. 33.) And would that in vanity only, and not unto evil also. For when we have departed thither bearing the heavy burden of our sins, this will be unto evil also. For we shall carry away fuel for the fire and a plentiful feast for the worm. Wherefore I pray and conjure you to halt at length in noble wise, and to desist from wickedness, that we may also obtain the promised good things: whereunto may we all attain, through the grace and love towards men of our Lord Jesus Christ, with Whom to the Father, together with the Holy Spirit, be glory, might, honor, now and ever, and world without end. Amen.

ΟΜΙΛΙΑ ΚΒʹ. Τὰ κατὰ πρόσωπον βλέπετε. Εἴ τις πέποιθεν ἑαυτῷ Χριστοῦ εἶναι, τοῦτο λογιζέσθω πάλιν ἀφ' ἑαυτοῦ, ὅτι καθὼς αὐτὸς Χριστοῦ, οὕτω καὶ ἡμεῖς. αʹ. Ὃ μάλιστα ἄν τις θαυμάσειε Παύλου μετὰ τῶν ἄλλων, τοῦτό ἐστιν, ὅτι εἰς ἀνάγκην ἐμπεσὼν μεγάλην τοῦ ἐπᾶραι ἑαυτὸν, ἀμφότερα ἐργάζεται, τοῦτο τε αὐτὸ, καὶ τὸ μὴ δοκεῖν ἐπαχθὴς εἶναι τοῖς πολλοῖς διὰ τὴν περιαυτολογίαν ταύτην: ὃ καὶ ἐν τῇ πρὸς Γαλάτας μάλιστα ἴδοι τις ἄν. Καὶ γὰρ ἐκεῖ ἐμπεσὼν εἰς τοιαύτην ὑπόθεσιν, ἀμφοτέρων ἐπιμελεῖται τούτων: ὅπερ τῶν σφόδρα ἐστὶ δυσκολωτάτων, καὶ πολλῆς δεομένων συνέσεως: καὶ μετριάζει, καὶ περὶ ἑαυτοῦ μέγα τι λέγει. Σκόπει δὲ πῶς καὶ ἐνταῦθα μέγα αὐτὸ ποιεῖται. Τὰ κατὰ πρόσωπον βλέπετε. Ὅρα κἀνταῦθα σύνεσιν. Ἐπιτιμήσας γὰρ τοῖς ἀπατῶσιν αὐτοὺς, οὐ μέχρις ἐκείνων τὸν λόγον ἔστησεν, ἀλλ' ἀπ' ἐκείνων καὶ εἰς τούτους μεταπηδᾷ: καὶ συνεχῶς τοῦτο οὕτω ποιεῖ. Οὐ γὰρ δὴ μόνον τῶν παρακρουομένων, ἀλλὰ καὶ τῶν ἠπατημένων καθάπτεται. Εἰ γὰρ καὶ αὐτοὺς ἀφῆκεν ἀνευθύνους, οὐκ ἂν οὕτως εὐκόλως ἐκ τῶν ἑτέροις εἰρημένων διωρθώθησαν. ἀλλὰ καὶ σφόδρα ἂν ἐπήρθησαν, οὐκ ὄντες ἐγκλήμασιν ὑπεύθυνοι. Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ αὐτῶν καθάπτεται. Καὶ οὐ τοῦτο μόνον αὐτοῦ ἐστι τὸ θαυμαστὸν, ἀλλ' ὅτι καὶ καταλλήλως ἑκατέροις ἐπιτιμᾷ. Ἄκουε γοῦν τί τούτοις φησί: Τὰ κατὰ πρόσωπον βλέπετε. Οὐ μικρὸν τὸ ἔγκλημα, ἀλλὰ καὶ σφόδρα μέγα. Πῶς; Ὅτι εὐεξαπάτητον τὸ τῶν ἀνθρώπων γένος, φησίν. Ὃ δὲ λέγει, τοῦτό ἐστιν: Ἀπὸ τῶν φαινομένων δοκιμάζετε, ἀπὸ τῶν σαρκικῶν, ἀπὸ τῶν σωματικῶν. Τί ἐστιν, Ἀπὸ τῶν φαινομένων; Εἴ τις πλουτεῖ, εἴ τις φυσᾶται, εἴ τις πολλοὺς περιβέβληται κόλακας, εἴ τις μεγάλα περὶ ἑαυτοῦ λέγει, εἴ τις κενοδοξεῖ, εἴ τις ὑποκρίνεται ἀρετὴν, οὐκ ἔχων ἀρετήν: τοῦτο γάρ ἐστι, Τὰ κατὰ πρόσωπον βλέπετε. Εἴ τις πέποιθεν ἑαυτῷ Χριστοῦ εἶναι, τοῦτο λογιζέσθω πάλιν ἀφ' ἑαυτοῦ, ὅτι καθὼς αὐτὸς Χριστοῦ, οὕτω καὶ ἡμεῖς. Οὐ γὰρ βούλεται ἐκ προοιμίων σφοδρὸς γίνεσθαι, ἀλλὰ κατὰ μικρὸν αὔξεται καὶ κορυφοῦται. Σκόπει δὲ ἐνταῦθα τὴν πολλὴν τραχύτητα, καὶ πολὺ τὸ αἴνιγμα ὄν. Τὸ γὰρ, Ἀφ' ἑαυτοῦ, τοῦτό ἐστιν ἐμφαίνοντος: Μὴ γὰρ ἀναμενέτω, φησὶ, παρ' ἡμῶν μαθεῖν, τουτέστι, διὰ ἐπιτιμήσεως τῆς κατ' αὐτοῦ, ἀλλ' ἄφ' ἑαυτοῦ τοῦτο λογιζέσθω, ὅτι καθὼς αὐτὸς Χριστοῦ, οὕτω καὶ ἡμεῖς: οὐκ ἐπειδὴ οὕτως ἦν τοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὡς ἐκεῖνος, ἀλλ' ὅτι Ὥσπερ ἐκεῖνος Χριστοῦ, οὕτω καὶ ἐγὼ Χριστοῦ. Κατὰ τοῦτο ἡ κοινωνία: οὐ γὰρ δὴ αὐτὸς μὲν Χριστοῦ, ἐγὼ δὲ ἑτέρου τινός. Καὶ θεὶς τοῦτο τὸ ἴσον, προστίθησι καὶ τὴν ὑπεροχὴν, λέγων: Ἐὰν γὰρ καὶ περισσὸν καυχήσωμαι περὶ τῆς ἐξουσίας, ἧς ἔδωκέ μοι ὁ Κύριος εἰς οἰκοδομὴν καὶ οὐκ εἰς καθαίρεσιν, οὐκ αἰσχυνθήσομαι. Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ μέγα τι λέγειν ἔμελλεν, ὅρα πῶς αὐτὸ παραμυθεῖται. Οὐδὲν γὰρ οὕτω προσίσταται τοῖς πολλοῖς τῶν ἀκροατῶν, ὡς τὸ ἑαυτόν τινα ἐγκωμιάζειν. Διόπερ ὑποτεμνόμενος τὸ βαρὺ, τοῦτό φησιν: Ἐὰν γὰρ καὶ περισσόν τι καυχήσωμαι. Καὶ οὐκ εἶπεν, ὅτι Εἴ τις πέποιθεν εἶναι Χριστοῦ, λογιζέσθω ὅτι πολὺ ἡμῶν ἀπέχει: ἐγὼ γὰρ ἐξουσίαν ἔχω παρ' αὐτοῦ πολλὴν, ὥστε οὓς ἂν ἐθέλω, κολάζειν καὶ ἀποκτιννύναι: ἀλλὰ τί; Ἐὰν γὰρ καὶ περισσόν τι. Καίτοι ἄφατον εἶχεν, ἀλλ' ὅμως συστέλλει τῷ λόγῳ. Καὶ οὐκ εἶπεν, ὅτι Καυχῶμαι, ἀλλ', Ἐὰν καυχήσωμαι, ἐὰν βουληθῶ: ἅμα καὶ μετριάζων, καὶ τὴν ὑπεροχὴν δεικνύς. Ἐὰν οὖν καυχήσωμαι, φησὶ, περὶ τῆς ἐξουσίας, ἧς ἔδωκέ μοι ὁ Κύριος. Πάλιν τὸ πᾶν αὐτῷ ἀνατίθησι, καὶ κοινὸν ποιεῖ τὸ δῶρον. Εἰς οἰκοδομὴν, καὶ οὐκ εἰς καθαίρεσιν. Εἶδες πῶς πάλιν παραμυθεῖται τὸν φθόνον τὸν ἀπὸ τῶν ἐγκωμίων, καὶ τὸν ἀκροατὴν ἐπισπᾶται, τὴν χρείαν εἰπὼν δι' ἣν ἔλαβε; Καὶ πῶς φησι, Λογισμοὺς καθαιροῦντες; Ὅτι αὐτὸ τοῦτο μάλιστα οἰκοδομῆς εἶδός ἐστι, τὸ τὰ κωλύματα ἀναιρεῖν, καὶ τὰ σαθρὰ διελέγχειν, καὶ τὰ ἀληθῆ συντιθέναι. Ἐν οἰκοδομῇ. Εἰς τοῦτο μὲν οὖν ἐλάβομεν, ἵνα οἰκοδομῶμεν. Ἐὰν δέ τις πυκτεύῃ καὶ πολεμῇ καὶ ἀνίατος ᾖ, καὶ τῇ ἑτέρᾳ χρησόμεθα ἐνεργείᾳ, καθαιροῦντες αὐτὸν καὶ καταβάλλοντες. Διὸ καὶ, Οὐκ αἰσχυνθήσομαι, φησί: τουτέστιν, Οὐ δειχθήσομαι ψευδόμενος, οὐδὲ ἀλαζονευόμενος. Ἵνα δὲ μὴ δόξω, ὡς ἂν ἐκφοβεῖν ὑμᾶς, ὅτι αἱ μὲν ἐπιστολαὶ, φησὶ, βαρεῖαι καὶ ἰσχυραὶ, ἡ δὲ παρουσία τοῦ σώματος ἀσθενὴς, καὶ ὁ λόγος ἐξουθενημένος: τοῦτο λογιζέσθω ὁ τοιοῦτος, ὅτι οἷοί ἐσμεν δι' ἐπιστολῶν ἀπόντες, τοιοῦτοι καὶ παρόντες τῷ ἔργῳ. Ὃ δὲ λέγει, τοῦτό ἐστιν: Ἠδυνάμην μὲν καυχήσασθαι: ἵνα δὲ μὴ τὰ αὐτὰ πάλιν λέγωσιν, ὅτι κομπάζω ἐπιστέλλων, καὶ εὐκαταφρόνητός εἰμι παρὼν, οὐδὲν μέγα ἐρῶ. Καὶ μὴν ὕστερον ἐφθέγξατο, ἀλλ' οὐ περὶ τῆς δυνάμεως ταύτης δι' ἧς ἦν φοβερὸς, ἀλλὰ περὶ ἀποκαλύψεων, καὶ τὸ πλέον περὶ πειρασμῶν. Ἵν' οὖν μὴ δόξω φοβεῖν ὑμᾶς, Τοῦτο λογιζέσθω ὁ τοιοῦτος, ὅτι οἷοί ἐσμεν δι' ἐπιστολῶν ἀπόντες, τοιοῦτοι καὶ παρόντες τῷ ἔργῳ. Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ ἔλεγον, ὅτι ἐπιστέλλει μεγάλα περὶ ἑαυτοῦ, παρὼν δὲ οὐδενὸς λόγου ἐστὶν ἄξιος: διὰ τοῦτο ταῦτά φησι, καὶ αὐτὰ πάλιν συνεσταλμένως. Οὐ γὰρ εἶπεν, ὅτι Ὡς μεγάλα ἐπιστέλλομεν, μεγάλα καὶ πράττομεν παρόντες: ἀλλ' ὑφειμένως μᾶλλον. Ὅτε μὲν γὰρ πρὸς ἐκείνους διελέγετο, μετὰ σφοδρότητος αὐτὸ τέθεικε λέγων, Δέομαι δὲ τὸ μὴ παρὼν θαῤῥῆσαι τῇ πεποιθήσει, ᾗ λογίζομαι τολμῆσαι, ἐπί τινας: ὅτε δὲ πρὸς τούτους, καθυφῆκε. Διὸ καὶ λέγει, Ὁποῖοί ἐσμεν παρόντες, καὶ ἀπόντες: τουτέστι, ταπεινοὶ, συνεσταλμένοι, οὐδαμοῦ κομπάζοντες. Καὶ δῆλον ἐκ τῶν ἑξῆς: Οὐ γὰρ τολμῶμεν ἐγκρῖναι ἢ συγκρῖναι ἑαυτούς τισι τῶν ἑαυτοὺς συνιστανόντων. βʹ. Ἐνταῦθα καὶ ἀλαζόνας δείκνυσιν ὄντας ἐκείνους, καὶ μεγάλα περὶ ἑαυτῶν φθεγγομένους: καὶ κωμῳδεῖ αὐτοὺς ὡς ἑαυτοὺς συνιστῶντας. Ἀλλ' ἡμεῖς οὐδὲν τοιοῦτον: ἀλλ' εἴ τινα καὶ μεγάλα εἰργασάμεθα, ἐπὶ τὸν Θεὸν ἅπαντα ἀναφέρομεν, καὶ ἀλλήλοις ἑαυτοὺς παραβάλλομεν: διὸ καὶ ἐπήγαγεν, Ἀλλ' αὐτοὶ ἐν ἑαυτοῖς ἑαυτοὺς μετροῦντες, καὶ συγκρίνοντες ἑαυτοῖς ἑαυτοὺς οὐ συνιοῦσιν. Ὃ δὲ λέγει, τοῦτό ἐστιν: Οὐ πρὸς ἐκείνους ἑαυτοὺς παραβάλλομεν, ἀλλὰ πρὸς ἀλλήλους. Καὶ γὰρ προϊὼν ἔλεγεν, Οὐδὲν ὑστέρησα τῶν ὑπὲρ λίαν ἀποστόλων: καὶ ἐν τῇ προτέρᾳ Ἐπιστολῇ, Περισσότερον αὐτῶν πάντων ἐκοπίασα: καὶ πάλιν, Τὰ μὲν σημεῖα τοῦ ἀποστόλου κατειργάσθη ἐν ὑμῖν ἐν πάσῃ ὑπομονῇ. Ὥστε ἑαυτοῖς συγκρίνομεν ἑαυτοὺς, οὐκ ἐκείνοις τοῖς οὐδὲν ἔχουσιν: ἡ γὰρ τοιαύτη ἀπόνοια ἀνοίας ἐστίν. Ἢ περὶ ἑαυτοῦ οὖν τουτό φησιν, ἢ περὶ ἐκείνων, ὅτι Οὐ τολμῶμεν συγκρῖναι ἑαυτοὺς ἐκείνοις τοῖς πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἁμιλλωμένοις καὶ μεγάλα κομπάζουσι, καὶ μὴ συνιοῦσι, τουτέστι, μὴ αἰσθανομένοις πῶς εἰσι καταγέλαστοι τοιαῦτα ἀλαζονευόμενοι, καὶ μεταξὺ ἀλλήλων ἑαυτοὺς ἐπαίροντες. Ἡμεῖς δὲ οὐκ εἰς τὰ ἄμετρα καυχησόμεθα, καθάπερ οὗτοι. Καὶ γὰρ εἰκὸς ἦν αὐτοὺς, κομπάζοντας λέγειν, ὅτι τὴν οἰκουμένην ἐπεστρέψαμεν, πρὸς τὰ πέρατα τῆς γῆς ἀφικόμεθα, καὶ πολλὰ ἕτερα τοιαῦτα μεγαληγορεῖν. Ἀλλ' ἡμεῖς οὐχ οὕτω, φησὶν, Ἀλλὰ κατὰ τὸ μέτρον οὗ ἐμέρισεν ἡμῖν ὁ Θεὸς μέτρου, ἐφικέσθαι ἄχρις καὶ ὑμῶν. Ὥστε ἑκατέρωθεν ἡ ταπεινοφροσύνη αὐτοῦ κατάδηλος, καὶ ὅτι οὐδὲν πλεῖον ἢ εἰργάσατο, εἶπε, καὶ ὅτι τοῦτο αὐτὸ τῷ Θεῷ ἀνατίθησι. Κατὰ γὰρ τὸ μέτρον, φησὶν, τοῦ κανόνος οὗ ἐμέρισεν ἡμῖν ὁ Θεὸς μέτρου, ἐφικέσθαι ἄχρις καὶ ὑμῶν. Καθάπερ γεωργοῖς ἄμπελον διανέμων, οὕτως ἡμῖν ἀφώρισε. Μέχρις οὖν οὗ κατηξιώθημεν φθάσαι, μέχρι τούτου καυχώμεθα. Οὐ γὰρ μὴ ὡς ἐφικόμενοι εἰς ὑμᾶς, ὑπερεκτείνομεν ἑαυτούς: μέχρι γὰρ καὶ ὑμῶν ἐφθάσαμεν ἐν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ τοῦ Χριστοῦ. Οὐχ ἁπλῶς παρεγενόμεθα, ἀλλὰ κατηγγείλαμεν, ἐκηρύξαμεν, ἐπείσαμεν, κατωρθώσαμεν. Εἰκὸς γὰρ ἐκείνους καὶ ἁπλῶς παραγινομένους τοῖς τῶν ἀποστόλων μαθηταῖς, ἑαυτοῖς τὸ πᾶν λογίζεσθαι, ἐκ τῆς ψιλῆς ἐπιδημίας. Ἀλλ' οὐχ ἡμεῖς οὕτως: οὐδ' ἂν ἔχοι τις εἰπεῖν, ὅτι οὐ μέχρις ὑμῶν ἰσχύσαμεν ἐλθεῖν, καὶ τῷ λόγῳ μόνον ἐκτείνομεν τὴν μέχρις ἡμῶν καύχησιν: καὶ γὰρ καὶ ὑμῖν τὸν λόγον ἐκηρύξαμεν. Οὐκ εἰς τὰ ἄμετρα καυχώμενοι, ἀλλ' ἐν ἀλλοτρίοις κόποις, ἐλπίδα δὲ ἔχοντες, αὐξανομένης τῆς πίστεως, ἐν ὑμῖν μεγαλυνθῆναι κατὰ τὸν κανόνα ἡμῶν εἰς περισσείαν, εἰς τὰ ὑπερέκεινα ὑμῶν εὐαγγελίσασθαι, οὐκ ἐν ἀλλοτρίῳ κανόνι εἰς τὰ ἕτοιμα καυχήσασθαι. Πολλὴν δείκνυσι τὴν κατηγορίαν ἐκείνων ἐντεῦθεν, ὅτι καὶ εἰς τὰ ἄμετρα ἐκαυχῶντο, καὶ ὅτι εἰς τὰ ἀλλότρια, καὶ ὅτι τῶν μὲν ἀποστόλων ὁ ἱδρὼς ἦν ἅπας, ἐκεῖνοι δὲ ἐκαλλωπίζοντο τοῖς ἐκείνων κόποις. Ἡμεῖς δὲ, φησὶ, διὰ τῶν ἔργων ταῦτα ἐπεδείξαμεν. Οὐ τοίνυν ἐκείνους μιμησόμεθα, ἀλλ' ἔνθα ἡμῖν μαρτυρεῖ τὰ ἔργα, ταῦτα ἐροῦμεν. Καὶ τί λέγω, φησὶν, ὑμᾶς; Ἐλπίδα γὰρ ἔχω, αὐξανομένης τῆς πίστεως ὑμῶν: οὐ γὰρ ἀποφαίνεται ἁπλῶς, τὸ οἰκεῖον ἦθος μιμούμενος, ἀλλ', Ἐλπίζω, φησὶν, ὑμῶν ἐπιδιδόντων, ὅτι καὶ περαιτέρω ὁ κανὼν, ἡμῶν ἐπεκταθήσεται, εἰς τὰ ὑπερέκεινα εὐαγγελίσασθαι. Προβησόμεθα γὰρ καὶ περαιτέρω, φησὶν, ὥστε κηρῦξαι καὶ καμεῖν, οὐχ ὥστε λόγοις κομπάζειν ὑπὲρ ὧν ἔκαμνον ἕτεροι. Καλῶς δὲ κανόνα ἐκάλεσε καὶ μέτρον, ὡς ἐπὶ κτῆσιν τῆς οἰκουμένης ἐλθὼν καὶ κληρονομίαν ἀρίστην, καὶ δεικνὺς τὸ ἔργον τοῦ Θεοῦ ὅλον. Ἔχοντες οὖν τοιαῦτα ἔργα, φησὶ, καὶ μείζονα προσδοκῶντες, οὐ κομπάζομεν, ὡς ἐκεῖνοι μηδὲν ἔχοντες, οὐδὲ ἑαυτοῖς τι λογιζόμεθα, ἀλλὰ τῷ Θεῷ τὸ πᾶν. Διὸ καὶ ἐπάγει, Ὁ καυχώμενος, ἐν Κυρίῳ καυχάσθω. Καὶ τοῦτο, φησὶν, ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῖν προσγίνεται. Οὐ γὰρ ὁ ἑαυτὸν συνιστῶν, ἐκεῖνός ἐστι δόκιμος, ἀλλ' ὃν ὁ Κύριος συνίστησιν. Οὐκ εἶπεν, Ἡμεῖς ἐσμεν, ἀλλ', Ὃν ὁ Κύριος συνίστησιν. Εἶδες πῶς συνεσταλμένως φθέγγεται; Εἰ δὲ προϊὼν ὑψηλότερα ἀνίστησι, μὴ θαυμάσῃς: καὶ γὰρ καὶ τοῦτο τῆς τοῦ Παύλου συνέσεως. Εἰ γὰρ ἔμελλε πανταχοῦ ταπεινὰ φθέγγεσθαι, οὐκ ἂν αὐτοὺς ἔπληξεν οὕτως, οὐδ' ἂν τοὺς μαθητὰς τῆς πλάνης ἀπήλλαξεν. Ἔστι γὰρ καὶ μετριάζοντα ἀκαίρως, βλάψαι, καὶ λέγοντά τι περὶ ἑαυτοῦ θαυμαστὸν εὐκαίρως, ὠφελῆσαι. Ὥσπερ οὖν καὶ αὐτὸς ἐποίησε. Καὶ γὰρ κίνδυνος ἦν οὐ μικρὸς, περὶ Παύλου τι πεισθῆναι φαῦλον τοὺς μαθητὰς, οὐκ ἐπειδὴ Παῦλος ἐζήτει τὴν παρ' ἀνθρώπων δόξαν. Εἰ γὰρ τοῦτο ἐζήτει, οὐκ ἂν τὰ μεγάλα ἐκεῖνα καὶ θαυμαστὰ τὰ πρὸ δεκατεσσάρων ἐτῶν ἂν ἐσίγησε χρόνον τοσοῦτον: οὐδ' ἂν, ἀνάγκης ἐπικειμένης, οὕτως ἀνεδύετο καὶ ὤκνει εἰπεῖν. Δῆλον δὲ, ὅτι οὐδ' ἂν τότε εἶπεν, εἰ μὴ σφόδρα κατηναγκάσθη. Οὐκοῦν οὐ τὴν παρὰ ἀνθρώπων δόξαν ἐπιζητῶν, ταῦτα ἔλεγεν, ἀλλὰ τῶν μαθητῶν κηδόμενος. Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ διέβαλλον αὐτὸν ὡς ἀλαζόνα καὶ λόγοις κομπάζοντα, ἔργοις δὲ οὐδὲν δυνάμενον ἐπιδεῖξαι, ἀναγκάζεται λοιπὸν εἰς ἐκείνας τὰς ἀποκαλύψεις ἐλθεῖν. Καίτοι γε δυνάμενος διὰ τῶν ἔργων αὐτοὺς πεῖσαι, ἡνίκα ταῦτα ἔλεγεν, ἀλλ' ὅμως ἔτι τῇ διὰ τῶν λόγων κέχρηται ἀπειλῇ: κενοδοξίας γὰρ μάλιστα καθαρὸς ἦν: καὶ τοῦτο αὐτοῦ δείκνυσιν ἅπας ὁ βίος, καὶ ὁ πρότερος καὶ ὁ μετὰ ταῦτα. Διὰ τοῦτο γοῦν καὶ ἀθρόον μετέστη, καὶ μεταστὰς συνέχεεν Ἰουδαίους, καὶ πᾶσαν ἐκείνην ἔῤῥιψε τὴν παρ' αὐτῶν τιμὴν, καίτοι γε τὸ κεφάλαιον αὐτῶν, καὶ ὁ προστάτης αὐτὸς ἦν. Ἀλλ' οὐδὲν ἐκείνων ἐνενόησεν, ἐπειδὴ τὴν ἀλήθειαν εὗρεν, ἀλλ' ὕβρεις καὶ ἀτιμίας αὐτῶν ἀντηλλάξατο: καὶ γὰρ πρὸς τὴν σωτηρίαν ἑώρα τῶν πολλῶν, τοῦτο πάντα ἡγούμενος. Ὁ γὰρ μήτε γέενναν, μήτε βασιλείαν ἡγούμενός τι εἶναι, μήτε κόσμους μυρίους πρὸς τὸν τοῦ Χριστοῦ πόθον, πῶς ἂν τὴν παρὰ τῶν πολλῶν δόξαν ἐθήρευεν; Οὐδαμῶς: ἀλλὰ καὶ σφόδρα ταπεινός ἐστιν, ὅταν ἐξῇ, καὶ τὸν πρότερον αὐτοῦ στηλιτεύει βίον, ἅτε βλάσφημον καὶ διώκτην καὶ ὑβριστὴν ἀποκαλῶν ἑαυτόν. Καὶ ὁ μαθητὴς δὲ αὐτοῦ Λουκᾶς πολλὰ περὶ αὐτοῦ φησι, δηλονότι παρ' αὐτοῦ μαθὼν, ἐκπομπεύοντος αὐτοῦ τῷ προτέρῳ βίῳ οὐχ ἧττον ἢ τῷ μετὰ ταῦτα. γʹ. Ταῦτα δὲ λέγω, οὐχ ἵνα ἀκούωμεν μόνον, ἀλλ' ἵνα καὶ μανθάνωμεν. Εἰ γὰρ ἐκεῖνος τῶν πρὸ τοῦ λουτροῦ πλημμελημάτων ἐμέμνητο, καίτοι πάντων ἀφανισθέντων, τίνα ἂν σχοίημεν συγγνώμην οἱ τῶν μετὰ τὸ λουτρὸν ἀμνημονοῦντες ἡμεῖς; Τί λέγεις, ἄνθρωπε; προσέκρουσας τῷ Θεῷ, καὶ ἐπιλανθάνῃ; Δευτέρα αὕτη πρόσκρουσις, δευτέρα ἀπέχθεια. Ποίων οὖν ἁμαρτημάτων αἰτεῖς λύσιν; ὧν οὐδὲ οἶδας αὐτός; Πάνυ γε. Οὐ γὰρ μεριμνᾷς καὶ φροντίζεις πῶς λόγον δώσεις, ὁ μηδὲ μεμνῆσθαι αὐτῶν σπουδάζων, ἀλλὰ παίζων ἐν οὐ παικτοῖς. Ἀλλ' ἔσται καιρὸς, ὅτε οὐκέτι προχωρήσει τὰ τῆς παιδιᾶς ἡμῖν. Καὶ γὰρ δεῖ ἡμᾶς πάντως ἀποθανεῖν (διὰ γὰρ τὴν πολλὴν ἀναισθησίαν τῶν πολλῶν καὶ ὑπὲρ τῶν φανερῶν διαλέγεσθαι δεῖ), καὶ ἀναστῆναι πάντως, καὶ κριθῆναι πάντως, καὶ κολασθῆναι: μᾶλλον δὲ τοῦτο οὐ πάντως, ἐὰν θέλωμεν. Ἐκείνων μὲν γὰρ οὐχ ἡμεῖς κύριοι, οὔτε τῆς τελευτῆς ἡμῶν, οὔτε τῆς ἀναστάσεως, οὔτε τῆς κρίσεως, ἀλλ' ὁ Δεσπότης ὁ ἡμέτερος: τοῦ μέντοι διδόναι δίκην, ἢ μὴ, ἡμεῖς κύριοι: τοῦτο γὰρ τῶν ἐνδεχομένων ἐστίν. Ἀλλ' ἐὰν θέλωμεν, τῶν ἀδυνάτων αὐτὸ ποιήσομεν, ὡσπεροῦν Παῦλος, ὡς Πέτρος, ὡς οἱ ἅγιοι πάντες: καὶ γὰρ ἐκείνους κολασθῆναι ἀδύνατον. Ἂν τοίνυν ἐθέλωμεν, καὶ ἡμᾶς ὁμοίως ἀδύνατόν τι παθεῖν. Κἂν γὰρ μυρία πεπλημμεληκότες ὦμεν, δυνατὸν ἀνακτήσασθαι, ἕως ἂν ἐνταῦθα ὦμεν. Ἀνακτησώμεθα τοίνυν ἑαυτούς: καὶ ὁ μὲν γέρων ἐννοείτω, ὅτι μικρὸν ὕστερον ἀπελεύσεται, ὅτε ἱκανῶς ἐνετρύφησε τῇ ἡλικίᾳ (καίτοι γε ποία τοῦτο τρυφὴ τὸ ἐν κακίᾳ διάγειν; ἀλλὰ τέως πρὸς τὴν ἐκείνου δόξαν τοῦτό φημι): ἐννοείτω μετὰ τοῦτο, ὅτι ἔξεστιν αὐτῷ ἐν βραχεῖ χρόνῳ τὸ πᾶν ἀπονίψασθαι. Ὁ νέος πάλιν καὶ αὐτὸς τὸ ἄδηλον λογιζέσθω τῆς τελευτῆς, καὶ ὅτι πολλῶν πολλάκις πρεσβυτέρων μενόντων ἐνταῦθα, οἱ νέοι πρὸ αὐτῶν ἀπηνέχθησαν. Ἵνα γὰρ μὴ πραγματευώμεθα τὴν τελευτὴν ἡμῶν, διὰ τοῦτο ἐν ἀδήλῳ κεῖται. Διὸ καὶ σοφός τις παραινεῖ λέγων, Μὴ ἀνάμενε ἐπιστρέψαι πρὸς Κύριον, καὶ μὴ ἀναβάλλου ἡμέραν ἐξ ἡμέρας: οὐ γὰρ οἶδας τί τέξεται ἡ ἐπιοῦσα. Ἐκ μὲν γὰρ τοῦ ἀναβάλλεσθαι κίνδυνος καὶ φόβος, ἐκ δὲ τοῦ μὴ ἀναβάλλεσθαι σωτηρία δήλη καὶ ἀσφαλής. Ἔχου τοίνυν τῆς ἀρετῆς. Οὕτω γὰρ, κἂν νέος ἀπέλθῃς, ἀσφαλῶς ἀπῆλθες: κἂν εἰς γῆρας ἔλθῃς, μετὰ πολλῆς ἀπῆλθες τῆς εὐπορίας: καὶ διπλῇ ἑορτὴν διὰ παντὸς ἕξεις τοῦ βίου, κακίας τε ἀπεχόμενος, καὶ ἀρετῆς ἐπειλημμένος. Μὴ λέγε, Ἔσται καιρὸς ὅταν ἐπιστρέψαι δέῃ: ταῦτα γὰρ τὰ ῥήματα σφόδρα παροργίζει τὸν Θεόν. Τί δήποτε; Ὅτι αὐτός σοι ἀπείρους αἰῶνας ἐπηγγείλατο, σὺ δὲ οὐδὲ τὴν παροῦσαν ζωὴν ἐθέλεις πονεῖν, τὴν βραχεῖαν ταύτην καὶ πρόσκαιρον, ἀλλ' οὕτως εἶ χαῦνος καὶ ἄνανδρος, ὡς καὶ αὐτῆς ταύτης βραχυτέραν ἐπιζητεῖν. Οὐχ οἱ αὐτοὶ κῶμοι καθ' ἡμέραν; οὐχ αἱ αὐταὶ τράπεζαι; οὐχ αἱ αὐταὶ πόρναι, οὐχὶ τὰ αὐτὰ θέατρα; οὐχὶ τὰ αὐτὰ χρήματα; Μέχρι τίνος ὡς ἐκείνων ὄντων ἐρᾷς; μέχρι τίνος τὴν ἀκόρεστον ἔχεις τῆς κακίας ἐπιθυμίαν; Ἐννόησον ὅτι ὁσάκις ἐπόρνευσας, τοσαυτάκις κατέγνως σαυτοῦ. Καὶ γὰρ τοιοῦτον ἡ ἁμαρτία: ἅμα γέγονε, καὶ τὴν ψῆφον ἤνεγκεν ὁ δικαστής. Ἐμεθύσθης, ἐγαστρίσθης, ἥρπασας; Στῆθι λοιπὸν, ὑπόστρεψον τὴν ἐναντίαν, ὁμολόγησον τῷ Θεῷ χάριν, ὅτι σε οὐκ ἐν μέσοις ἀνήρπασε τοῖς ἁμαρτήμασι: μὴ καὶ ἑτέραν ζήτει προθεσμίαν εἰς τὸ κακῶς ἐργάζεσθαι. Πολλοὶ μεταξὺ πλεονεκτοῦντες ἀνηρπάγησαν, καὶ ἀπῆλθον ἐπὶ φανερὰν δίκην. Φοβήθητι μὴ καὶ σὺ τοῦτο πάθῃς ἀναπολόγητος. Ἀλλὰ πολλοῖς ἔδωκε προθεσμίαν ὁ Θεὸς, καὶ ἐν ἐσχάτῳ γήρᾳ ἐξομολογήσασθαι. Τί οὖν; καὶ σοὶ δώσει; Ἴσως δώσει, φησί. Τί λέγεις ἴσως, καὶ ἐνίοτε, καὶ πολλάκις; ἐννόησον ὅτι περὶ ψυχῆς βουλεύῃ, καὶ τίθει καὶ τὸ ἐναντίον, καὶ λογίζου καὶ λέγε, Τί δὲ, ἐὰν μὴ δῷ; Τί δὲ, ἐὰν δῷ, φησίν; Ἔδωκε μὲν αὐτὸς, πλὴν τοῦτο ἐκείνου ἀσφαλέστερον καὶ κερδαλεώτερον. Ἐὰν μὲν γὰρ ἤδη ἄρξῃ, τὸ πᾶν ἐκέρδανας, ἄν τε λάβῃς, ἄν τε μὴ λάβῃς προθεσμίαν: ἐὰν δὲ ἀεὶ μέλλῃς, δι' αὐτὸ τοῦτο πολλάκις οὐ λήψῃ. Σὺ δὲ εἰς μὲν πόλεμον ἐξιὼν, οὐ λέγεις, Οὐκ ἀνάγκη διαθέσθαι, ἴσως ἐπανήξω: οὐδὲ περὶ γάμου βουλευόμενος λέγεις, Λάβω γυναῖκα πενιχρὰν, πολλοὶ παρὰ δόξαν καὶ οὕτως ἐπλούτησαν: οὐδὲ οἰκίαν οἰκοδομούμενος, Καταβάλω θεμελίους σαθροὺς, πολλαὶ καὶ οὕτως ἔστησαν οἰκίαι: ὑπὲρ δὲ ψυχῆς βουλευόμενος, τοῖς σαθροτέροις ἐγχειρεῖς, τὸ ἴσως καὶ πολλάκις καὶ ἐνίοτε τιθεὶς, καὶ τοῖς ἀδήλοις ἐπιτρέπεις σαυτόν; Οὐ τῷ ἀδήλῳ, φησὶν, ἀλλὰ τῇ τοῦ Θεοῦ φιλανθρωπίᾳ: φιλάνθρωπος γὰρ ὁ Θεός. Οἶδα κἀγώ: ἀλλ' ὁ φιλάνθρωπος οὗτος κἀκείνους οὓς εἶπον ἀνήρπασε. Τί δὲ, ἂν καὶ χρόνον λαβὼν ὅμοιος μένῃς; ὁ γὰρ τοιοῦτος καὶ ἐν γήρᾳ ῥᾴθυμος ἔσται. Οὒ, φησίν: Ὁ γὰρ λογισμὸς οὗτος καὶ μετὰ τὰ ὀγδοήκοντα ἔτη, ἐννενήκοντα ἐπιζητεῖ, καὶ μετὰ τὰ ἐννενήκοντα, ἑκατὸν, καὶ μετὰ τὰ ἑκατὸν, ἀργότερος ἔσται. Καὶ οὕτως ὁ βίος ἅπας ἀναλωθήσεται μάτην, καὶ συμβήσεται τὰ περὶ τῶν Ἰουδαίων εἰρημένα καὶ ἐπὶ σοί: ὅτι Ἐξέλιπον ἐν ματαιότητι αἱ ἡμέραι αὐτῶν. Καὶ εἴθε ἐν ματαιότητι μόνον, ἀλλὰ μὴ καὶ ἐπὶ κακῷ. Ὅταν γὰρ ἀπέλθωμεν ἐκεῖ τὸ βαρὺ τῶν ἁμαρτημάτων φορτίον φέροντες (τοῦτο γάρ ἐστιν, ἐπὶ κακῷ), τροφὴν ἀποίσομεν τῷ πυρὶ, καὶ πολλὴν τῷ σκώληκι τράπεζαν. Διὸ δέομαι καὶ ἀντιβολῶ στῆναί ποτε γενναίως, καὶ ἀποστῆναι κακίας, ἵνα καὶ τῶν ἐπηγγελμένων τύχωμεν ἀγαθῶν: ὧν γένοιτο πάντας ἡμᾶς ἐπιτυχεῖν, χάριτι καὶ φιλανθρωπίᾳ τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, μεθ' οὗ τῷ Πατρὶ ἅμα τῷ ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι δόξα, κράτος, τιμὴ, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ, καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.