Homily XXVI.

2 Cor. xii. 1

It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory,614    [A better text of this verse is given in the Revised Version—“I must needs glory, though it is not expedient.” C.][for] I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

What is this? Doth he who has spoken such great things say, [It is not expedient] “doubtless to glory?” as if he had said nothing? No; not as if he had said nothing: but because he is going to pass to another species of boasting, which is not intended indeed by so great a reward, but which to the many (though not to careful examiners) seems to set him off in brighter colors615    λαμπρότερον., he says, “It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory.” For truly the great grounds of boasting were those which he had recounted, those of his trials; he has however other things also to tell of, such as concern the revelations, the unspeakable mysteries. And wherefore, says he, “It is not expedient for me?” he means, ‘lest it lift me up to pride.’ What sayest thou? For if thou speak not of them, yet dost thou not know of them? But our knowing of them ourselves doth not lift us up so much as our publishing them to others. For it is not the nature of good deeds that useth to lift a man up, but their being witnessed to, and known of, by the many. For this cause therefore he saith, “It is not expedient for me;” and, ‘that I may not implant too great an idea of me in those who hear.’ For those men indeed, the false apostles, said even what was not true about themselves; but this man hides even what is true, and that too although so great necessity lies upon him, and says, “It is not expedient for me;” teaching one and all even to superfluity616    ἐκ πολλῆς πέριουσὶας. to avoid any thing of the sort. For this thing617    i.e. boasting. is attended with no advantage, but even with harm, except there be some necessary and useful reason which induceth us thereto. Having then spoken of his perils, trials, snares, dejections, shipwrecks, he passeth to another species of boasting, saying,

Ver. 2, 3. “I knew a man, fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I know not; or out of the body, I know not: God knoweth;) such an one caught up even to the third heaven. And I know how that he was caught up into Paradise, (whether in the body, I know not; or out of the body, I know not;) and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful618    Or, ‘possible.’ for a man to utter. On behalf of such an one will I glory: but on mine own behalf I will not glory.”

Great indeed was this revelation. But this was not the only one: there were many others besides, but he mentions one out of many. For that there were many, hear what he says: “Lest I should be exalted overmuch through the exceeding greatness of the revelations.” ‘And yet,’ a man may say, ‘if he wished to conceal them, he ought not to have given any intimation619    αἴνιγμα. whatever or said any thing of the sort; but if he wished to speak of them, to speak plainly.’ Wherefore then is it that he neither spoke plainly nor kept silence? To show by this620    Or, ‘in this instance.’ also that he resorts to the thing unwillingly. And therefore also he has stated the time, “fourteen years.” For he does not mention it without an object, but to show that he who had refrained for so long a time would not now have spoken out, except the necessity for doing so had been great. But he would have still kept silence, had he not seen the brethren perishing. Now if Paul from the very beginning was such an one as to be counted worthy of such a revelation, when as yet he had not wrought such good works; consider what he must have grown to in fourteen years. And observe how even in this very matter he shows modesty, by his saying some things, but confessing that of others he is ignorant. For that he was caught up indeed, he declared, but whether “in the body” or “out of the body” he says he does not know. And yet it would have been quite enough, if he had told of his being caught up and had been silent [about the other]; but as it is, in his modesty he adds this also. What then? Was it the mind that was caught up and the soul, whilst the body remained dead? or was the body caught up? It is impossible to tell. For if Paul who was caught up and whom things unspeakable, so many and so great, had befallen was in ignorance, much more we. For, indeed, that he was in Paradise he knew, and that he was in the third heaven he was not ignorant, but the manner he knew not clearly. And see from yet another consideration how free he is from pride. For in his narrative about “the city of the Damascenes” (2 Cor. xi. 32.) he confirms what he says, but here not; for it was not his aim to establish this fact strongly, but to mention and intimate it only. Wherefore also he goes on to say, “Of such an one will I glory;” not meaning that he who was caught up was some other person, but he so frames his language in the best manner he possibly could, so as at once to mention the fact, and to avoid speaking of himself openly. For what sequence would there be in bringing some one else forward, when discoursing about himself? Wherefore then did he so put it? It was not all one to say, ‘I was caught up,’ and, “I knew one that was caught up;” and ‘I will glory of myself,’ and, “I will glory of such an one.” Now if any should say, ‘And how is it possible to be caught up without a body?’ I will ask him, ‘How is it possible to be caught up with a body?’ for this is even more inexplicable than the other, if you examine by reasonings and do not give place to faith.

[2.] But wherefore was he also caught up? As I think, that he might not seem to be inferior to the rest of the Apostles. For since they had companied with Christ, but Paul had not: He therefore caught up unto glory him also. “Into Paradise.” For great was the name of this place, and it was everywhere celebrated. Wherefore also Christ said, “To-day thou shalt be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke xxiii. 43.)

“On behalf of such an one will I glory?” wherefore? For if another were caught up, wherefore dost thou glory? Whence it is evident that he said these things of himself. And if he added, “but of myself I will not glory,” he says nothing else than this, that, ‘when there is no necessity, I will say nothing of that kind fruitlessly and at random;’ or else he is again throwing obscurity over621    συσκιάζων. what he had said, as best he might. For that the whole discourse was about himself, what follows also clearly shows; for he went on to say,

Ver. 6. “But if I should even desire to glory, I shall not be foolish; for I shall speak the truth.”

How then saidst thou before, “Would that ye could bear with me a little in my foolishness;” (Chap. xi. 1.) and, “That which I speak, I speak not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly;” (Chap. xi. 17.) but here, “Though I should even desire to glory, I shall not be foolish?” Not in regard of glorying, but of lying; for if glorying be foolishness, how much more lying?

It is then with regard to this that he says, “I shall not be foolish.” Wherefore also he added,

“For I shall speak the truth; but I forbear, lest any man should account of me above that which he seeth622    Rec. text, ‘seeth me.’, or that he heareth from me.” Here you have the acknowledged reason; for they even deemed them to be gods, on account of the greatness of their miracles. As then in the case of the elements, God hath done both things, creating them at once weak and glorious; the one, to proclaim His own power; the other, to prevent the error of mankind623    i.e., in worshiping them.: so truly here also were they both wonderful and weak, so that by the facts themselves were the unbelievers instructed. For if whilst continuing to be wonderful only and giving no proof of weakness, they had by words tried to draw away the many from conceiving of them more than the truth; not only would they have nothing succeeded, but they would even have brought about the contrary. For those dissuasions in words would have seemed rather to spring of lowliness of mind, and would have caused them to be the more admired. Therefore in act and by deeds was their weakness disclosed. And one may see this exemplified in the men who lived under the old dispensation. For Elias was wonderful, but on one occasion he stood convicted of faint-heartedness; and Moses was great, but he also fled624    ἐδραπέτευσε. under the influence of the same passion. Now such things befel them, because God stood aloof and permitted their human nature to stand confessed. For if because he led them out they said, ‘Where is Moses?’ what would they not have said, if he had also led them in? Wherefore also [Paul] himself says, “I forbear, lest any should account of me.” He said not, ‘say of me,’ but, “lest any should even account of me” beyond my desert.’ Whence it is evident from this also that the whole discourse relates to himself. Wherefore even when he began, he said, “It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory,” which he would not have said, had he been going to speak the things which he said of another man. For wherefore is it “not expedient to glory” about another? But it was himself that was counted worthy of these things; and therefore it is that he goes on to say,

Ver. 7. “And that I should not be exalted overmuch, through the exceeding greatness of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to buffet me.”

What sayest thou? He that counted not the kingdom to be any thing; no, nor yet hell in respect of his longing after Christ; did he deem honor from the many to be any thing, so as both to be lifted up and to need that curb continually? for he did not say, ‘that he “might” buffet625    κολαφίσῃ. me,’ but “that he” may “buffet626    κολαφίζῃ. me.” Yet who is there would say this? What then is the meaning of what is said? When we have explained what is meant at all by the “thorn,” and who is this “messenger of Satan,” then will we declare this also. There are some then who have said that he means a kind of pain in the head which was inflicted of the devil; but God forbid!  For the body of Paul never could have been given over to the hands of the devil, seeing that the devil himself submitted to the same Paul at his mere bidding; and he set him laws and bounds, when he delivered over the fornicator for the destruction of the flesh, and he dared not to transgress them. What then is the meaning of what is said? An adversary is called, in the Hebrew, Satan; and in the third Book of Kings the Scripture has so termed such as were adversaries; and speaking of Solomon, says, ‘In his days there was no Satan,’ that is, no adversary, enemy, or opponent. (1 Kings v. 4.) What he says then is this: God would not permit the Preaching to progress, in order to check our high thoughts; but permitted the adversaries to set upon us. For this indeed was enough to pluck down his high thoughts; not so that, pains in the head. And so by the “messenger of Satan,” he means Alexander the coppersmith, the party of Hymenæus and Philetus, all the adversaries of the word; those who contended with and fought against him, those that cast him into a prison, those that beat him, that led him away to death627    ἁπάγντας.; for they did Satan’s business. As then he calls those Jews children of the devil, who were imitating his deeds, so also he calls a “messenger of Satan” every one that opposeth. He says therefore, “There was given to me a thorn to buffet me;” not as if God putteth arms into such men’s hands, God forbid! not that He doth chastise or punish, but for the time alloweth and permitteth them.628    [Chrysostom’s view of this peculiar trial of the Apostle, although held by most of the Greek fathers and by some eminent scholars of later ages (Erasmus, Calvin, Fritzsche, Reiche, etc.) does not seem satisfactory. There was nothing peculiar to Paul in the trials and temptations incident to the Apostolic office, for they were shared by all his companions, nor do they seem to be properly expressed by “a stake in the flesh,” or as some prefer to render “for the flesh,” which naturally suggests that the affliction was a bodily ailment, something that caused pain and made the discharge of his duties burdensome. Bp. Lightfoot (Com. on Galatians, pp. 186, 187) suggests that the circumstances imply that the malady was acute and severe; that it was in some way humiliating as intended to check spiritual pride; that as a grievous hindrance to the Gospel it was a trial to his constancy and resolution; that it was of such a nature that it could not be concealed from others; and that it was continuous or recurrent. All attempts to define it more closely—Chrysostom on this page mentions one, “pains in the head”—fail as being purely conjectural. But the fullest knowledge on the subject however it might gratify curiosity could add nothing to the instructiveness of the case as it stands. That the most honored of all philanthropists, the chiefest of the twelve, the most distinguished of Christ’s followers should require to be buffeted with such a chronic bodily ailment; that the most earnest prayers could not succeed in securing its removal; and yet that grace was bestowed on him to bear it, and bestowed in such measure that he could even rejoice in what was painful and glory in infirmities, is a lesson of Christian experience that has been full of comfort and edification in all ages of the church. To this we owe the noble Christian paradox which to myriads of burdened souls has been a well-spring of comfort and peace, When I am weak, then am I strong. C.]

[3.] Ver. 8. “Concerning this thing I besought the Lord thrice.”

That is, oftentimes. This also is a mark of great lowliness of mind, his not concealing that he could not bear those insidious plottings, that he fainted under them and was reduced to pray for deliverance.

Ver. 9. “And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

That is to say, ‘It is sufficient for thee that thou raisest the dead, that thou curest the blind, that thou cleansest lepers, that thou workest those other miracles; seek not also exemption from danger and fear and to preach without annoyances. But art thou pained and dejected lest it should seem to be owing to My weakness, that there are many who plot against and beat thee and harass and scourge thee? Why this very thing doth show My power. “For My power,” He saith, “is made perfect in weakness,” when being persecuted ye overcome your persecutors; when being harassed ye get the better of them that harass you; when being put in bonds ye convert them that put you in bonds. Seek not then more than is needed.’ Seest thou how he himself assigns one reason, and God another? For he himself says, “Lest I should be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn;” but he says that God said He permitted it in order to show His power. ‘Thou seekest therefore a thing which is not only not needed, but which also obscureth the glory of My power.’ For by the words, “is sufficient for thee,” He would signify this, that nothing else need be added, but the whole was complete. So that from this also it is plain that he does not intend pains in the head; for in truth they did not preach when they were sick, for they could not preach when ill; but that harassed and persecuted, they overcame all. ‘After having heard this then,’ he says,

“Most gladly therefore will I glory in my weaknesses.” For that they may not sink down, when those false Apostles are glorying over their contrary lot629    ἐπὶ τοῖς ἐναντίοις. and these are suffering persecution, he shows that he shineth all the brighter for this, and that thus the power of God shines forth the rather, and what happens is just matter for glorying. Wherefore he says, “Most gladly therefore will I glory.” ‘Not as therefore sorrowing did I speak of the things which I enumerated, or of that which I have just now said, “there was given to me a thorn;” but as priding myself upon them and drawing to myself greater power.’ Wherefore also he adds,

“That the strength of Christ may rest upon me.” Here he hints at another thing also, namely, that in proportion as the trials waxed in intensity, in the same proportion the grace was increased and continued.

Ver. 10. “Wherefore I take pleasure in many weaknesses.”630    Rec. text ‘in weaknesses.’  Of what sort? tell me. “In injuries, in persecutions, in necessities, in distresses.”

Seest thou how he has now revealed it in the clearest manner? For in mentioning the species of the infirmity he spake not of fevers, nor any return631    περίοδον. of that sort, nor any other bodily ailment, but of “injuries, persecutions, distresses.” Seest thou a single-minded soul? He longs to be delivered from those dangers; but when he heard God’s answer that this befitteth not, he was not only not sorry that he was disappointed of his prayer, but was even glad. Wherefore he said, “I take pleasure,” ‘I rejoice, I long, to be injured, persecuted, distressed for Christ’s sake.’ And he said these things both to check those, and to raise the spirits of these that they might not be ashamed at Paul’s sufferings. For that ground632    ἡ ὑπόθεσις. was enough to make them shine brighter than all men. Then he mentions another reason also.

“For when I am weak, then am I strong.” ‘Why marvellest thou that the power of God is then conspicuous? I too am strong “then;”’ for then most of all did grace come upon him. “For as His sufferings abound, so doth our consolation abound also.” (Chap. i. 5.)

[4.] Where affliction is, there is also consolation; where consolation, there is grace also. For instance when he was thrown into the prison, then it was he wrought those marvellous things; when he was shipwrecked and cast away upon that barbarous country, then more than ever was he glorified. When he went bound into the judgment-hall, then he overcame even the judge. And so it was too in the Old Testament; by633    Or, amidst. their trials the righteous flourished. So it was with the three children, so with Daniel, with Moses, and Joseph; thence did they all shine and were counted worthy of great crowns. For then the soul also is purified, when it is afflicted for God’s sake: it then enjoys greater assistance as needing more help and worthy of more grace. And truly, before the reward which is proposed to it by God, it reaps a rich harvest of good things by becoming philosophic. For affliction rends pride away and prunes out all listlessness and exerciseth634    ἁλείφει. unto patience: it revealeth the meanness of human things and leads unto much philosophy. For all the passions give way before it, envy, emulation, lust, rule,635    δυναστεία. desire of riches, of beauty636    σωμάτων., boastfulness, pride, anger; and the whole remaining swarm of these distempers. And if thou desirest to see this in actual working, I shall be able to show thee both a single individual and a whole people, as well under affliction as at ease; and so to teach thee how great advantage cometh of the one, and how great listlessness from the other.

For the people of the Hebrews, when they were vexed and persecuted, groaned and besought God, and drew down upon themselves great influences637    ῥοπήν. from above: but when they waxed fat, they kicked. The Ninevities again, when they were in the enjoyment of security, so exasperated God that He threatened to pluck up the entire city from its foundations: but after they had been humbled by that preaching, they displayed all virtue638    φιλοσοφίαν.. But if thou wouldest see also a single individual, consider Solomon. For he, when deliberating with anxiety and trouble concerning the government of that nation, was vouchsafed that vision: but when he was in the enjoyment of luxury, he slid into the very pit of iniquity. And what did his father? When was he admirable and passing belief? Was it not when he was in trials? And Absalom, was he not sober-minded, whilst still an exile; but after his return, became both tyrannical and a parricide? And what did Job? He indeed shone even in prosperity, but showed yet brighter after his affliction. And why must one speak of the old and ancient things? for if one do but examine our own state at present, he will see how great is the advantage of affliction. For now indeed that we are in the enjoyment of peace, we are become supine, and lax639    διερρύημεν. and have filled the Church with countless evils; but when we were persecuted, we were more sober-minded, and kinder, and more earnest, and more ready as to these assemblies and as to hearing. For what fire is to gold, that is affliction unto souls; wiping away filth, rendering men clean, making them bright and shining. It leadeth unto the kingdom, that unto hell. And therefore the one way is broad, the other narrow. Wherefore also, He Himself said, “In the world ye shall have tribulation,” (John xvi. 33.) as though he were leaving some great good behind unto us. If then thou art a disciple, travel thou the straight and narrow way, and be not disgusted nor discouraged.640    ἀποδυσπέτει.  For even if thou be not afflicted in that way; thou must inevitably be afflicted on other grounds, of no advantage to thee. For the envious man also, and the lover of money, and he that burneth for an harlot, and the vainglorious, and each one of the rest that follow whatsoever is evil, endureth many disheartenings and afflictions, and is not less afflicted than they who mourn. And if he doth not weep nor mourn, it is for shame and insensibility: since if thou shouldest look into his soul, thou wilt see it filled with countless waves. Since then whether we follow this way of life or that, we must needs be afflicted:  wherefore choose we not this way which along with affliction bringeth crowns innumerable? For thus hath God led all the saints through affliction and distress, at once doing them service, and securing the rest of men against entertaining a higher opinion of them than they deserve. For thus it was that idolatries gained ground at first; men being held in admiration beyond their desert. Thus the Roman senate decreed Alexander641    That Alexander the Great had at any rate a temple dedicated to him, is mentioned by Lampridius. to be the thirteenth God, for it possessed the privilege of electing and enrolling Gods. For instance, when all about Christ had been reported, the ruler of the nation642    See Tertull. Apol. Oxf. Trans. p. 13. and note. Justin Martyr mentions Pilate’s Report. Eusebius, Hist. Eccles. ii. 2. gives the same account as from Tertullian, which Chrysostom here gives. sent to inquire, whether they would be pleased to elect Him also a God. They however refused their consent, being angry and indignant that previous to their vote and decree, the Power of the Crucified flashing abroad had won over the whole world to its own worship. But thus it was ordered even against their will that the Divinity of Christ was not proclaimed by man’s decree, nor was He counted one of the many that were by them elected. For they counted even boxers to be Gods, and the favorite of Hadrian; after whom the city Antinous is named. For since death testifies against their moral nature, the devil invented another way, that of the soul’s immortality; and mingling therewith that excessive flattery, he seduced many into impiety. And observe what wicked artifice. When we advance that doctrine for a good purpose, he overthrows our words; but when he himself is desirous of framing an argument for mischief, he is very zealous in setting it up. And if any one ask, ‘How is Alexander a God? Is he not dead? and miserably too?’ ‘Yes, but the soul is immortal?’ he replies. Now thou arguest and philosophizest for immortality, to detach men from the God Who is over all: but when we declare that this is God’s greatest gift, thou persuadest thy dupes that men are low and grovelling, and in no better case than the brutes. And if we say, ‘the Crucified lives,’ laughter follows immediately: although the whole world proclaims it, both in old time and now; in old time by miracles, now by converts; for truly these successes are not those of a dead man: but if one say, ‘Alexander lives,’ thou believest, although thou hast no miracle to allege.

[5.] ‘Yes,’ one replies; ‘I have; for when he lived he wrought many and great achievements; for he subdued both nations and cities, and in many wars and battles he conquered, and erected trophies.’

If then I shall show [somewhat] which he when alive never dreamed of, neither he, nor any other man that ever lived, what other proof of the resurrection wilt thou require?  For that whilst alive one should win battles and victories, being a king and having armies at his disposal, is nothing marvelous, no, nor startling or novel; but that after a Cross and Tomb one should perform such great things throughout every land and sea, this it is which is most especially replete with such amazement, and proclaims His divine and unutterable Power. And Alexander indeed after his decease never restored again his kingdom which had been rent in pieces and quite abolished: indeed how was it likely he, dead, should do so? but Christ then most of all set up His after He was dead. And why speak I of Christ? seeing that He granted to His disciples also, after their deaths, to shine? For, tell me, where is the tomb of Alexander? show it me and tell me the day on which he died. But of the servants of Christ the very tombs are glorious, seeing they have taken possession of the most loyal city; and their days are well known, making festivals for the world. And his tomb even his own people know not, but this man’s643    St. Paul’s as Mr. Field supposes. the very barbarians know. And the tombs of the servants of the Crucified are more splendid than the palaces of kings; not for the size and beauty of the buildings, (yet even in this they surpass them,) but, what is far more, in the zeal of those who frequent them. For he that wears the purple himself goes to embrace those tombs, and, laying aside his pride, stands begging the saints644    This passage should have been mentioned in the note at the end of Hom. vi. on the Statues. Tr. p. 134. See also on Statues, Hom. i. Tr. p. 4. and on Rom. xvi. 5. Hom. xxxi. Tr. p. 486. Compare also St. Augustine, ‘On Care for the Dead,’ where he discusses the question, whether burial at a Martyr’s Memorial is preferable. to be his advocates with God, and he that hath the diadem implores the tent-maker and the fisherman, though dead, to be his patrons. Wilt thou dare then, tell me, to call the Lord of these dead; whose servants even after their decease are the patrons of the kings of the world? And this one may see take place not in Rome only, but in Constantinople also. For there also Constantine the Great, his son considered he should be honoring with great honor, if he buried him in the porch of the fisherman; and what porters are to kings in their palaces, that kings are at the tomb to fisherman. And these indeed as lords of the place occupy the inside, whilst the others as though but sojourners and neighbors were glad to have the gate of the porch assigned them; showing by what is done in this world, even to the unbelievers, that in the Resurrection the fisherman will be yet more their superiors. For if here it is so in the burial [of each], much more will it in the resurrection. And their rank is interchanged; kings assume that of servants and ministers, and subjects the dignity of kings, yea rather a brighter still. And that this is no piece of flattery, the truth itself demonstrates; for by those these have become more illustrious. For far greater reverence is paid to these tombs than to the other royal sepulchres; for there indeed is profound solitude, whilst here there is an immense concourse. But if thou wilt compare these tombs with the royal palaces, here again the palm remains with them. For there indeed there are many who keep off, but here many who invite and draw to them rich, poor, men, women, bond, free; there, is much fear; here, pleasure unutterable. ‘But,’ saith one, ‘it is a sweet sight to look on a king covered with gold and crowned, and standing by his side, generals, commanders, captains of horse and foot, lieutenants.’ Well, but this of ours is so much grander and more awful that that must be judged, compared with it, to be stage scenery645    σκηνὴν. and child’s play. For the instant thou hast stepped across the threshhold, at once the place sends up thy thoughts to heaven, to the King above, to the army of the Angels, to the lofty throne, to the unapproachable glory. And here indeed He hath put in the ruler’s power, of his subjects to loose one, and bind another; but the bones of the saints possess no such pitiful and mean authority, but that which is far greater. For they summon demons and put them to the torture, and loose from those bitterest of all bonds, them that are bound. What is more fearful than this tribunal? Though no one is seen, though no one piles the sides of the demon, yet are there cries, and tearings646    σπαρυγμοὶ., lashes, tortures, burning tongues, because the demon cannot endure that marvellous power. And they that once wore bodies, are victorious over bodiless powers; [their] dust and bones and ashes rack those invisible natures. And therefore in truth it is that none would ever travel abroad to see the palaces of kings, but many kings and have often traveled to see this spectacle. For the Martyries647    μαρτυρία. See Bingham’s Antiquit. book viii. ch. 1. p. 8. [The name given to a church erected over the grave of a Martyr.] of the saints exhibit outlines and symbols of the judgment to come; in that demons are scourged, men chastened and delivered. Seest thou the power of saints, even dead? seest thou the weakness of sinners, even living? Flee then wickedness, that thou mayest have power over such; and pursue virtue with all thy might. For if the case be thus here, consider what it will be in the world to come. And as being evermore possessed with this love, lay hold on the life eternal; 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 Ghost, be glory, might, honor, now and ever, and world without end. Amen.

ΟΜΙΛΙΑ ΚϚʹ. Καυχᾶσθαι δὴ οὐ συμφέρει μοι. Ἐλεύσομαι γὰρ εἰς ὀπτασίας καὶ ἀποκαλύψεις Κυρίου. αʹ. Τί τοῦτο; ὁ τοσαῦτα εἰπὼν, φησὶ, Καυχᾶσθαι δὴ οὐ συμφέρει μοι, φησὶν, ὡς οὐδὲν εἰρηκώς; Οὐχ ὡς οὐδὲν εἰρηκὼς, ἀλλ' ἐπειδὴ μέλλει μεταβαίνειν εἰς ἕτερον εἶδος καυχήσεως, ὃ μισθὸν μὲν οὐκ ἔχει τοσοῦτον, λαμπρότερον δὲ δοκεῖ δεικνύναι τοῖς πολλοῖς, οὐ τοῖς ἀκριβῶς ἐξετάζουσι: φησὶ, Καυχᾶσθαι δὴ οὐ συμφέρει μοι. Τὰ γὰρ μεγάλα καυχήματα ταῦτα, ἅπερ ἀπηριθμήσατο, τὰ τῶν πειρασμῶν: ἔχει δὲ καὶ ἕτερα λέγειν, τὰ τῶν ἀποκαλύψεων, τὰ τῶν ἀποῤῥήτων μυστηρίων. Καὶ τίνος ἕνεκέν φησιν, Οὐ συμφέρει μοι; Ἵνα μή με εἰς ἀπόνοιαν ἐπάρῃ, φησί. Τί λέγεις; ἂν γὰρ μὴ εἴπῃς αὐτὰ, οὐκ οἶδας αὐτά; Ἀλλ' οὐχ ὁμοίως ἐπαιρόμεθα αὐτοὶ εἰδότες αὐτὰ, καὶ εἰς ἄλλους ἐκφέροντες. Οὐ γὰρ ἡ τῶν κατορθωμάτων φύσις ἐπαίρειν εἴωθεν, ἀλλ' ἡ τῶν πολλῶν μαρτυρία καὶ γνῶσις. Διὰ τοῦτο οὖν φησιν, Οὐ συμφέρει μοι, καὶ ἵνα μὴ μείζονα ἐνθῶ περὶ ἐμοῦ ἔννοιαν τοῖς ἀκούουσιν. Ἐκεῖνοι μὲν γὰρ οἱ ψευδαπόστολοι καὶ τὰ οὐκ ὄντα περὶ ἑαυτῶν ἔλεγον: οὗτος δὲ καὶ τὰ ὄντα ἀποκρύπτεται, καὶ ταῦτα ἀνάγκης τοσαύτης ἐπικειμένης καί φησιν, Οὐ συμφέρει μοι, παιδεύων ἅπαντας ἐκ πολλῆς περιουσίας τὸ τοιοῦτον φεύγειν. Οὐδὲν γὰρ ἔχει τὸ πρᾶγμα κέρδος, ἀλλὰ καὶ βλάβην, πλὴν ἐὰν μὴ ἀναγκαία τις ᾖ πρόφασις καὶ ὠφέλιμος ἡ εἰς τοῦτο ἐνάγουσα. Εἰπὼν τοίνυν τοὺς κινδύνους, τοὺς πειρασμοὺς, τὰς ἐπιβουλὰς, τὰς ἀθυμίας, τὰ ναυάγια, ἐφ' ἕτερον μεθίσταται καυχήσεως εἶδος, λέγων: Οἶδα ἄνθρωπον πρὸ ἐτῶν δεκατεσσάρων (εἴτε ἐν σώματι, οὐκ οἶδα: εἴτε ἐκτὸς τοῦ σώματος, οὐκ οἶδα: ὁ Θεὸς οἶδεν) ἁρπαγέντα τὸν τοιοῦτον ἕως τρίτου οὐρανοῦ. Καὶ οἶδα ὅτι ἡρπάγη εἰς τὸν παράδεισον (εἴτε ἐν σώματι, οὐκ οἶδα: εἴτε ἐκτὸς τοῦ σώματος, οὐκ οἶδα), καὶ ἤκουσεν ἄῤῥητα ῥήματα, ἃ οὐκ ἐξὸν ἀνθρώπῳ λαλῆσαι. Ὑπὲρ τοῦ τοιούτου καυχήσομαι: ὑπὲρ δὲ ἐμαυτοῦ οὐ καυχήσομαι. Μεγάλη μὲν αὕτη ἡ ἀποκάλυψις. Οὐκ αὐτὴ δὲ γέγονε μόνη, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἕτεραι πλείους: αὐτὸς δὲ μίαν ἐκ πολλῶν τίθησιν. Ὅτι γὰρ πολλαὶ ἦσαν, ἄκουσον τί φησι: Τῇ ὑπερβολῇ τῶν ἀποκαλύψεων, ἵνα μὴ ὑπεραίρωμαι. Καὶ μὴν εἴποι τις ἂν, εἰ κρύψαι ἤθελε, παντελῶς ἔδει μὴ δοῦναι αἴνιγμα, μηδὲ εἰπεῖν τι τοιοῦτον: εἰ δὲ εἰπεῖν ἤθελε, σαφῶς εἰπεῖν. Τίνος οὖν ἕνεκεν οὔτε σαφῶς εἶπεν, οὔτε ἐσίγησεν; Ἵνα κἀνταῦθα δείξῃ, ὅτι ἄκων ἐπὶ τὸ πρᾶγμα ἔρχεται. Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ τὸν χρόνον ἔθηκε τῶν δεκατεσσάρων ἐτῶν. Οὐδὲ γὰρ ἁπλῶς αὐτοῦ μέμνηται, ἀλλὰ δεικνὺς ὅτι οὐκ ἂν ὁ τοσοῦτον καρτερήσας χρόνον, νῦν ἂν ἐξεῖπεν, εἰ μὴ πολλὴ ἦν ἡ ἀνάγκη, ἀλλ' ὅμως ἐσίγησεν ἂν, εἰ μὴ τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς ἀπολλυμένους ἑώρα. Εἰ δὲ ἐκ προοιμίων τοιοῦτος ἦν ὁ Παῦλος, ὥστε τοιαύτης καταξιωθῆναι ἀποκαλύψεως, ὅτε οὔπω τοιαῦτα κατορθώματα εἶχεν: ἐννόησον ἡλίκος ἐν τεσσαρεσκαίδεκα ἔτεσι γέγονεν. Ὅρα δὲ πῶς καὶ ἐν αὐτῷ τούτῳ μετριάζει τῷ τὰ μὲν εἰπεῖν, τὰ δὲ ὁμολογεῖν ἠγνοηκέναι. Ὅτι μὲν γὰρ ἡρπάγη, εἶπεν, εἴτε δὲ ἐν σώματι, εἴτε οὐκ ἐν σώματι, οὐκέτι φησὶν εἰδέναι. Καίτοι γε ἐξήρκει τὴν ἁρπαγὴν εἰπόντι, σιγῆσαι: νυνὶ δὲ μετριάζων καὶ τοῦτο προστίθησι. Τί οὖν; ὁ νοῦς ἡρπάγη καὶ ἡ ψυχὴ, τὸ δὲ σῶμα νεκρὸν ἔμεινεν; ἀλλὰ τὸ σῶμα ἡρπάγη; Ἀλλ' οὐκ ἔστιν εἰπεῖν. Εἰ γὰρ ὁ Παῦλος ἠγνόει ὁ ἁρπαγεὶς, καὶ τοιούτων καὶ τοσούτων τυχὼν ἀποῤῥήτων, πολλῷ μᾶλλον ἡμεῖς. Ὅτι μὲν γὰρ ἐν παραδείσῳ ἦν ᾔδει, καὶ ὅτι ἐν τῷ τρίτῳ ἦν οὐρανῷ, οὐκ ἠγνόει, τὸν δὲ τρόπον οὐκ ᾔδει σαφῶς. Σκόπει δὲ καὶ ἑτέρωθεν αὐτοῦ τὸ ἄτυφον. Ἐπὶ μὲν γὰρ τῆς Δαμασκηνῶν πόλεως πιστοῦται τὸν λόγον, ἐνταῦθα δὲ οὐκέτι: οὐδὲ γὰρ σφόδρα αὐτὸ κατασκευάσαι ἠβούλετο, ἀλλ' εἰπεῖν καὶ αἰνίξασθαι μόνον. Διὸ καὶ ἐπάγει λέγων: Ὑπὲρ τοῦ τοιούτου καυχήσομαι: οὐ τοῦτο δηλῶν, ὅτι ἕτερός τις ἦν ὁ ἁρπαγείς: ἀλλ' ὡς ἐνεχώρει καὶ δυνατὸν ἦν καὶ εἰπεῖν, καὶ διακρούσασθαι τὸ περὶ ἑαυτοῦ εἰπεῖν φανερῶς, οὕτω σχηματίζει τὸν λόγον. Ποία γὰρ ἀκολουθία ἦν, περὶ ἑαυτοῦ διαλεγόμενον, ἄλλον παράγειν εἰς μέσον; Τίνος οὖν ἕνεκεν οὕτως αὐτὸ τέθεικεν; Οὐκ ἦν ἴσον εἰπεῖν, Ἡρπάγην, καὶ, Οἶδα ἁρπαγέντα: καὶ, Καυχῶμαι ὑπὲρ ἐμαυτοῦ, καὶ, Ὑπὲρ τοῦ τοιούτου καυχήσομαι. Εἰ δὲ λέγοι τις, Καὶ πῶς ἔνι χωρὶς σώματος ἁρπαγῆναι; ἐρήσομαι αὐτὸν, Πῶς δὲ ἔνι μετὰ σώματος ἁρπαγῆναι; καὶ γὰρ καὶ τοῦτο ἐκείνου ἀπορώτερον, ἐὰν λογισμοῖς ἐξετάζῃς, καὶ μὴ τῇ πίστει παραχωρῇς. Τίνος δὲ ἕνεκεν καὶ ἡρπάγη; Ὑπὲρ τοῦ δοκεῖν αὐτὸν, ὡς ἔγωγε οἶμαι, ἔλαττον ἔχειν τῶν λοιπῶν ἀποστόλων. Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ ἐκεῖνοι συνεγένοντο τῷ Χριστῷ, οὗτος δὲ οὐδαμῶς, διὰ τοῦτο εἰς δόξαν ἥρπασε καὶ τοῦτον εἰς τὸν παράδεισον. Πολὺ γὰρ ὄνομα τοῦ χωρίου τούτου, καὶ πανταχοῦ ᾔδετο. βʹ. Διὸ καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς ἔλεγε, Σήμερον μετ' ἐμοῦ ἔσῃ ἐν τῷ παραδείσῳ. Ὑπὲρ τοῦ τοιούτου καυχήσομαι. Τίνος ἕνεκεν; εἰ γὰρ ἄλλος ἡρπάγη, σὺ τί καυχᾷ; Ὅθεν δῆλον, ὅτι περὶ ἑαυτοῦ ταῦτα ἔλεγεν. Εἰ δὲ ἐπήγαγεν, Ὑπὲρ δὲ ἐμαυτοῦ οὐ καυχήσομαι: οὐδὲν ἄλλο λέγει, ἢ ὅτι, Ἀνάγκης οὐκ οὔσης, οὐδὲν ἐρῶ τοιοῦτον ἁπλῶς καὶ εἰκῆ: ἢ συσκιάζων πάλιν τὸ εἰρημένον, ὡς ἐνεχώρει. Ὅτι γὰρ περὶ ἑαυτοῦ πᾶς ὁ λόγος ἦν, καὶ τὰ ἑξῆς δηλοῖ: ἐπήγαγε γὰρ λέγων, Ἐὰν δὲ καὶ θελήσω καυχήσασθαι, οὐκ ἔσομαι ἄφρων: ἀλήθειαν γὰρ ἐρῶ. Πῶς οὖν ἔμπροσθεν ἔλεγες, Ὄφελον ἠνείχεσθέ μου μικρὸν τῇ ἀφροσύνῃ, καὶ Ὃ λαλῶ, οὐ κατὰ Κύριον λαλῶ, ἀλλ' ὡς ἐν ἀφροσύνῃ: ἐνταῦθα δὲ, Ἐὰν δὲ καὶ θελήσω καυχήσασθαι, οὐκ ἔσομαι ἄφρων; Οὐ κατὰ τὸ καυχάσθαι, ἀλλὰ κατὰ τὸ ψεύδεσθαι: εἰ γὰρ τὸ καυχᾶσθαι ἀφροσύνης, πόσῳ μᾶλλον τὸ ψεύδεσθαι; Κατὰ τοῦτο οὖν φησιν, Οὐκ ἔσομαι ἄφρων. Διὸ καὶ ἐπήγαγεν, Ἀλήθειαν γὰρ ἐρῶ, Φείδομαι δὲ, μή τις εἰς ἐμὲ λογίσηται ὑπὲρ ὃ βλέπει, ἢ ἀκούει τι ἐξ ἐμοῦ. Αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ ὡμολογημένη αἰτία: καὶ γὰρ καὶ θεοὺς αὐτοὺς ἐνόμισαν διὰ τὸ μέγεθος τῶν σημείων. Καθάπερ οὖν ἐπὶ τῶν στοιχείων ἀμφότερα πεποίηκεν ὁ Θεὸς, καὶ ἀσθενῆ καὶ λαμπρὰ κατασκευάσας, τὸ μὲν, ἵνα κηρύξῃ τὴν αὑτοῦ δύναμιν, τὸ δὲ, ἵνα κωλύσῃ τῶν ἀνθρώπων τὴν πλάνην: οὕτω δὴ καὶ ἐνταῦθα καὶ θαυμαστοὶ ἦσαν καὶ ἀσθενεῖς, ὥστε δι' αὐτῶν τῶν ἔργων παιδεύεσθαι τοὺς ἀπίστους. Εἰ γὰρ μένοντες θαυμαστοὶ μόνον, καὶ μηδὲν ἀσθενείας δεῖγμα φέροντες, λόγῳ τοὺς πολλοὺς ἀπῆγον τοῦ μείζονα περὶ αὐτῶν ὑποπτεύειν τῆς ἀληθείας: οὐ μόνον οὐδὲν ἂν ἤνυσαν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοὐναντίον ἂν κατεσκεύασαν. Αἱ γὰρ διὰ τῶν λόγων γινόμεναι παραιτήσεις, ταπεινοφροσύνης ἂν ἔδοξαν εἶναι μᾶλλον, καὶ πλέον αὐτοὺς θαυμασθῆναι παρεσκεύασαν. Διὰ τοῦτο ἔργῳ καὶ πράγμασιν ἡ ἀσθένεια αὐτῶν ἐξεκαλύπτετο. Καὶ τοῦτο ἴδοι τις ἂν ἐπὶ τῶν ἐν τῇ Παλαιᾷ γενομένων ἀνθρώπων. Καὶ γὰρ ὁ Ἠλίας θαυμαστὸς ἦν, ἀλλ' ἠλέγχθη ποτὲ ὑπὸ δειλίας: καὶ ὁ Μωϋσῆς μέγας, ἀλλὰ καὶ οὗτος δι' αὐτὸ τοῦτο τὸ πάθος ἐδραπέτευσε. Ταῦτα δὲ ἔπασχον, τοῦ Θεοῦ ἀφιστῶντος, καὶ συγχωροῦντος ἐλεγχθῆναι τὴν ἀνθρωπίνην φύσιν. Εἰ γὰρ, ἐπειδὴ ἐξήγαγεν αὐτοὺς, λέγουσι, Ποῦ ἔστι Μωϋσῆς; εἰ καὶ εἰσήγαγε, τί οὐκ ἂν εἶπον; Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ αὐτός φησι, Φείδομαι μή τις εἰς ἐμὲ λογίσηται. Οὐκ εἶπεν, Εἴπῃ, ἀλλ', Ἵνα μηδὲ λογίσηταί τι μεῖζον τῆς ἀξίας τῆς ἐμῆς. Ὥστε κἀντεῦθεν δῆλον, ὅτι περὶ αὐτοῦ πᾶς ὁ λόγος. Διὸ καὶ ἀρχόμενος ἔλεγε, Καυχᾶσθαι δὴ οὐ συμφέρει μοι. Οὐκ ἂν, εἰ περὶ ἑτέρου ἔμελλεν ἐρεῖν ἅπερ εἶπε, τοῦτο εἶπε: τίνος γὰρ ἕνεκεν οὐ συμφέρει περὶ ἑτέρου καυχᾶσθαι; Ἀλλ' αὐτὸς ἦν ὁ τούτων ἀξιωθείς: διὸ καὶ ἐπάγει λέγων, Καὶ τῇ ὑπερβολῇ τῶν ἀποκαλύψεων, ἵνα μὴ ὑπεραίρωμαι, ἐδόθη μοι σκόλοψ τῇ σαρκὶ, ἄγγελος σατᾶν, ἵνα με κολαφίζῃ. Τί λέγεις; ὁ τὴν βασιλείαν οὐδὲν εἶναι νομίζων, οὐδὲ τὴν γέενναν πρὸς τὸν πόθον τοῦ Χριστοῦ, τὴν παρὰ τῶν πολλῶν ἐνόμιζέ τι εἶναι τιμὴν, ὥστε καὶ ἐπαρθῆναι, καὶ διηνεκοῦς δεῖσθαι τοῦ χαλινοῦ; οὐ γὰρ εἶπεν, Ἵνα κολαφίσῃ, ἀλλ' Ἵνα κολαφίζῃ. Καὶ τίς ἂν τοῦτο εἴποι; Τί οὖν ἐστι τὸ λεγόμενον; Ὅταν ἀνακαλύψωμεν τίς ποτέ ἐστιν ὁ σκόλοψ, καὶ τίς ὁ ἄγγελος τοῦ σατᾶν, τότε καὶ τοῦτο ἐροῦμεν. Τινὲς μὲν οὖν κεφαλαλγίαν τινὰ ἔφασαν αὐτὸν λέγειν ὑπὸ τοῦ διαβόλου γινομένην: ἀλλὰ μὴ γένοιτο. Οὐ γὰρ ἂν τὸ σῶμα τοῦ Παύλου ταῖς τοῦ διαβόλου χερσὶν ἐξεδόθη, ὅπου γε αὐτὸς ὁ διάβολος ἐπιτάγματι μόνον εἶκεν αὐτῷ τῷ Παύλῳ: καὶ νόμους αὐτῷ καὶ ὅρους ἐτίθει, ὅτε τὸν πορνεύοντα παρέδωκεν εἰς ὄλεθρον τῆς σαρκός: καὶ ὑπερβῆναι τούτους οὐκ ἐτόλμησεν ἐκεῖνος. Τί οὖν ἐστι τὸ λεγόμενον; Σατᾶν ὁ ἀντικείμενος λέγεται τῇ τῶν Ἑβραίων φωνῇ: καὶ ἐν τῇ τρίτῃ τῶν Βασιλειῶν τοὺς ἀντικειμένους οὕτως ἐκάλεσεν ἡ Γραφὴ, καὶ περὶ τοῦ Σολομῶντος διηγουμένη φησὶν, Οὐκ ἦν σατᾶν ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις αὐτοῦ: τουτέστιν, ἀντικείμενος, πολεμῶν, ἢ ἐνοχλῶν. Ὃ τοίνυν λέγει, τοῦτό ἐστιν: Οὐκ εἴασεν ὁ Θεὸς προχωρῆσαι τὸ κήρυγμα, τὸ φρόνημα καταστέλλων ἡμῶν, ἀλλὰ συνεχώρησε τοῖς ἀντικειμένοις ἐπιτίθεσθαι ἡμῖν. Τοῦτο μὲν γὰρ ἱκανὸν ἦν κατασπάσαι τὸ φρόνημα, ἐκεῖνο δὲ οὐκέτι, τὸ τῆς κεφαλαλγίας. Ἄγγελον τοίνυν σατᾶν λέγει Ἀλέξανδρον τὸν χαλκέα, τοὺς περὶ Ὑμέναιον καὶ Φιλητὸν, πάντας τοὺς ἀντικειμένους τῷ λόγῳ, τοὺς φιλονεικοῦντας αὐτῷ καὶ πολεμοῦντας, τοὺς ἐμβάλλοντας εἰς δεσμωτήριον, τοὺς δέροντας, τοὺς ἀπάγοντας: ἐπειδὴ τὰ τοῦ σατανᾶ ἔπραττον. Ὥσπερ οὖν υἱοὺς διαβόλου καλεῖ τοὺς Ἰουδαίους τὰ ἐκείνου ζηλοῦντας, οὕτω καὶ ἄγγελον σατᾶν ἅπαντα τὸν ἀντιπίπτοντα. Τοῦτο οὖν φησιν, Ἐδόθη μοι σκόλοψ, ἵνα με κολαφίζῃ: οὐχ ὡς τοῦ Θεοῦ τοὺς τοιούτους ὁπλίζοντος, μὴ γένοιτο, οὐ κολάζοντος οὐδὲ τιμωρουμένου, ἀλλὰ συγχωροῦντος καὶ ἀφιέντος τέως. Ὑπὲρ τούτου τρὶς τὸν Κύριον παρεκάλεσα: τουτέστι, πολλάκις. γʹ. Καὶ τοῦτο πολλῆς ταπεινοφροσύνης, τὸ μὴ κρύψαι ὅτι οὐκ ἔφερε τὰς ἐπιβουλὰς, ὅτι ἔκαμνε, καὶ δεήσεως ἐδεῖτο ὑπὲρ ἀπαλλαγῆς. Καὶ εἶπέ μοι: Ἀρκεῖ σοι ἡ χάρις μου ἡ γὰρ δύναμίς μου ἐν ἀσθενείᾳ τελειοῦται. Τουτέστιν, Ἀρκεῖ σοι ὅτι νεκροὺς ἐγείρεις, ὅτι τυφλοὺς θεραπεύεις, ὅτι λεπροὺς καθαίρεις, ὅτι τὰ ἄλλα θαυματουργεῖς: μὴ ζήτει καὶ τὸ ἀκίνδυνον καὶ τὸ ἀδεὲς καὶ τὸ χωρὶς πραγμάτων κηρύττειν. Ἀλλὰ ἀλγεῖς, καὶ ἀθυμεῖς; Μὴ δόξῃ τοῦτο ἀσθενείας εἶναι ἐμῆς, τὸ πολλοὺς εἶναι τοὺς ἐπιβουλεύοντας καὶ δέροντάς σε καὶ ἐλαύνοντας καὶ μαστίζοντας: τοῦτο μὲν αὐτὸ δείκνυσί μου τὴν δύναμιν: Ἡ γὰρ δύναμίς μου, φησὶν, ἐν ἀσθενείᾳ τελειοῦται: ὅταν διωκόμενοι τῶν διωκόντων περιγίνησθε, ὅταν ἐλαυνόμενοι τῶν ἐλαυνόντων κρατῆτε, ὅταν δεσμούμενοι τοὺς δεσμοῦντας τρέπησθε. Μὴ τοίνυν ζήτει τὰ περιττά. Ὁρᾷς πῶς ἄλλην μὲν αἰτίαν αὐτὸς τίθησιν, ἄλλην δὲ ὁ Θεός; Αὐτὸς μὲν γὰρ λέγει, Ἵνα μὴ ὑπεραίρωμαι, ἐδόθη μοι σκόλοψ τῇ σαρκί: τὸν δὲ Θεὸν εἰρηκέναι φησὶν, ὑπὲρ τοῦ δεῖξαι τὴν δύναμιν αὐτοῦ, τοῦτο συγχωρεῖ. Οὐ τοίνυν περιττὸν μόνον ζητεῖς, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐπισκοτοῦν τῇ τῆς δυνάμεώς μου δόξῃ πρᾶγμα. Τὸ γὰρ, Ἀρκεῖ σοι, τοῦτο δηλοῦντός ἐστιν, ὡς οὐκ ὀφείλοντος προστεθῆναι ἑτέρου τινὸς, ἀλλ' ὡς τοῦ παντὸς ἀπηρτισμένου. Ὥστε κἀντεῦθεν δῆλον, ὅτι οὐ κεφαλαλγίαν φησίν. Οὐ γὰρ δὴ νοσοῦντες ἐκήρυττον (οὐ γὰρ ἠδύναντο κηρύττειν ἀσθενοῦντες), ἀλλ' ὅτι ἐλαυνόμενοι, διωκόμενοι, πάντων περιεγένοντο. Ἐπειδὴ οὖν ταῦτα ἤκουσα, φησὶν, ἥδιστα οὖν καυχήσομαι ἐν ἀσθενείαις μου. Ἵνα γὰρ μὴ καταπέσωσιν, ἐκείνων τῶν ψευδαποστόλων ἐπὶ τοῖς ἐναντίοις καυχωμένων, καὶ τούτων ὄντων ἐν διωγμοῖς, δείκνυσιν, ὅτι διὰ τοῦτο λαμπρότερος γίνεται, καὶ οὕτω μᾶλλον ἡ δύναμις τοῦ Θεοῦ διαλάμπει, καὶ καυχήσεως ἄξια τὰ γινόμενα. Διό φησιν, Ἥδιστα οὖν καυχήσομαι. Οὐχὶ λυπούμενος ταῦτα εἶπον ἅπερ ἀπηριθμησάμην, ἢ τοῦτο ὅπερ εἴρηκα νῦν, ὅτι Ἐδόθη μοι σκόλοψ, ἀλλ' ἐγκαλλωπιζόμενος καὶ πλείονα δύναμιν ἐφελκόμενος. Διὸ καὶ ἐπάγει, Ἵνα ἐπισκηνώσῃ ἐπ' ἐμὲ ἡ δύναμις τοῦ Χριστοῦ. Ἐνταῦθα καὶ ἕτερόν τι αἰνίττεται, ὅτι ὅσῳ τὰ τῶν πειρασμῶν ἐπετείνετο, τοσούτῳ τὰ τῆς χάριτος ηὔξετο καὶ ἐπέμενε. Διὸ εὐδοκῶ ἐν ἀσθενείαις πολλαῖς. Ποίαις, εἰπέ μοι; Ἐν ὕβρεσιν, ἐν διωγμοῖς, ἐν ἀνάγκαις, ἐν στενοχωρίαις. Εἶδες πῶς αὐτὸ νῦν ἀπεκάλυψε σαφέστατα; Λέγων γὰρ τῆς ἀσθενείας τὸ εἶδος, οὐκ εἶπε πυρετοὺς, ἢ περίοδόν τινα τοιαύτην, ἢ ἄλλην ἀῤῥωστίαν σωματικὴν, ἀλλὰ ὕβρεις, διωγμοὺς, στενοχωρίας. Εἶδες ψυχὴν εὐγνώμονα; Ἐπεθύμει ἀπαλλαγῆναι τῶν δεινῶν: ὅτε δὲ ἤκουσε παρὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὅτι οὐ δεῖ τοῦτο γίνεσθαι, οὐ μόνον οὐκ ἠθύμησεν ἀποτυχὼν τῆς εὐχῆς, ἀλλὰ καὶ ηὐφράνθη. Διὸ ἔλεγεν, Εὐδοκῶ, χαίρω, ἐπιθυμῶ, ὑβρίζεσθαι, διώκεσθαι, στενοχωρεῖσθαι ὑπὲρ Χριστοῦ. Ταῦτα δὲ ἔλεγε, κἀκείνους καταστέλλων, καὶ τούτων ἐπαίρων τὰ φρονήματα, ἵνα μὴ αἰσχύνωνται τοῖς Παύλου παθήμασιν. Ἀρκεῖ γὰρ ἡ ὑπόθεσις πάντων ποιῆσαι λαμπροτέρους. Εἶτα καὶ ἄλλην αἰτίαν τίθησιν: Ὅταν γὰρ ἀσθενῶ, τότε δυνατός εἰμι. Τί θαυμάζεις, εἰ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡ δύναμις τότε διαδείκνυται; καὶ ἐγὼ τότε δυνατός εἰμι: τότε γὰρ μάλιστα ἡ χάρις ἐπῄει. Καθὼς γὰρ περισσεύει τὰ παθήματα αὐτοῦ, περισσεύει καὶ ἡ παράκλησις ἡμῶν. Ὅπου θλίψις, ἐκεῖ καὶ παράκλησις: ὅπου παράκλησις, ἐκεῖ καὶ χάρις. Ὅτε γοῦν ἐνέπεσεν εἰς τὸ δεσμωτήριον, τότε τὰ θαυμαστὰ ἐποίησεν ἐκεῖνα: ὅτε ἐναυάγησε καὶ εἰς τὴν βάρβαρον ἐξηνέχθη χώραν, τότε μάλιστα ἐδοξάσθη. Ὅτε εἰς τὸ δικαστήριον εἰσῆλθε δεδεμένος, τότε καὶ τοῦ δικαστοῦ περιγέγονεν. Οὕτω καὶ ἐν τῇ Παλαιᾷ συνέβαινεν: ἐν τοῖς πειρασμοῖς ἤνθουν οἱ δίκαιοι: οὕτως οἱ τρεῖς παῖδες, οὕτως ὁ Δανιὴλ, καὶ Μωϋσῆς, καὶ ὁ Ἰωσήφ: πάντες ἐντεῦθεν λαμπροὶ, καὶ μεγάλων κατηξιώθησαν στεφάνων. Τότε γὰρ καὶ ἡ ψυχὴ καθαίρεται, ὅτε διὰ τὸν Θεὸν θλίβεται: τότε μείζονος ἀπολαύει βοηθείας, πλείονος δεομένη συμμαχίας, καὶ πλείονος ἀξία χάριτος. Καὶ πρὸ τοῦ μισθοῦ δὲ τοῦ παρὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ κειμένου, μεγάλα καρποῦται ἀγαθὰ φιλόσοφος γινομένη. Καὶ γὰρ τὸν τῦφον περισπᾷ, καὶ τὴν ῥᾳθυμίαν ἐκκόπτει πᾶσαν ἡ θλῖψις, καὶ πρὸς ὑπομονὴν ἀλείφει: ἐκκαλύπτει τῶν ἀνθρωπίνων πραγμάτων τὴν εὐτέλειαν, καὶ πολλὴν εἰσάγει φιλοσοφίαν. Πάντα γὰρ αὐτῇ παραχωρεῖ τὰ πάθη, βασκανία, ζῆλος, ἐπιθυμία, δυναστεία, χρημάτων ἔρως καὶ σωμάτων, ἀλαζονεία, τῦφος, θυμὸς, ἅπας ὁ λοιπὸς τῶν νοσημάτων τούτων ἐσμός. Καὶ εἰ βούλει ἐπ' αὐτῶν τῶν πραγμάτων ἰδεῖν, καὶ ἄνδρα ἰδίᾳ καὶ δῆμον ὁλόκληρον, δυνήσομαί σοι δεῖξαι, καὶ ἐν θλίψει γενομένους, καὶ ἐν ἀνέσει, καὶ διδάξαι πόσον ἐντεῦθεν τὸ κέρδος, καὶ πόση ἐκεῖθεν ἡ ῥᾳθυμία. δʹ. Καὶ γὰρ ὁ τῶν Ἑβραίων δῆμος, ὅτε μὲν ἐκακοῦντο καὶ ἠλαύνοντο, ἔστενον καὶ τὸν Θεὸν παρεκάλουν, καὶ πολλὴν ἄνωθεν ἐπεσπῶντο τὴν ῥοπήν: ὅτε δὲ ἐλιπάνθησαν, ἀπεσκίρτησαν. Οἱ Νινευῗται πάλιν, ὅτε μὲν ἀδείας ἀπήλαυον, οὕτω τὸν Θεὸν παρώξυναν, ὡς ὁλόκληρον ἀπειλῆσαι τὴν πόλιν ἐκ βάθρων ἀνασπᾷν: ὅτε δὲ ὑπὸ τοῦ κηρύγματος ἐταπεινώθησαν ἐκείνου, πᾶσαν ἐπεδείξαντο φιλοσοφίαν. Εἰ δὲ καὶ ἄνδρα καθ' ἑαυτὸν ἰδεῖν ἐθέλοις, ἐννόησον τὸν Σολομῶντα. Καὶ γὰρ οὗτος ὅτε μὲν ἦν ἐν φροντίσι καὶ ταραχῇ περὶ τῆς ἀρχῆς τοῦ ἔθνους ἐκείνου βουλευόμενος, τῆς ὄψεως ἠξιώθη ἐκείνης: ὅτε δὲ ἐν τρυφῇ γέγονεν, εἰς αὐτὸ τῆς κακίας τὸ βάραθρον ἐξωλίσθησε. Τί δὲ ὁ τούτου πατήρ; πότε θαυμαστὸς ἦν καὶ παράδοξος; οὐχ ὅτε ἐν πειρασμοῖς ἦν; Ὁ δὲ Ἀβεσσαλὼμ, οὐχ ἕως μὲν ἔφευγεν, ἐσωφρόνει, ἐπειδὴ δὲ ἐπανῆλθε, καὶ τυραννικὸς καὶ πατραλοίας ἐγένετο; Τί δὲ ὁ Ἰώβ; Οὗτος γὰρ λαμπρὸς μὲν ἦν καὶ ἐν ἀνέσει, λαμπρότερος δὲ μετὰ τὴν θλῖψιν ἐφάνη. Καὶ τί δεῖ λέγειν τὰ ἀρχαῖα καὶ παλαιά; ἂν γὰρ τὰ ἡμέτερά τις ἐξετάσῃ τὰ νῦν, ὄψεται ἡλίκον τῆς θλίψεως τὸ κέρδος. Νῦν μὲν γὰρ εἰρήνης ἀπολαύοντες, ἀναπεπτώκαμεν, καὶ διεῤῥύημεν, καὶ μυρίων τὴν Ἐκκλησίαν ἐνεπλήσαμεν κακῶν: ὅτε δὲ ἠλαυνόμεθα, καὶ σωφρονέστεροι καὶ ἐπιεικέστεροι καὶ σπουδαιότεροι καὶ περὶ τοὺς συλλόγους τούτους ἦμεν προθυμότεροι, καὶ περὶ τὴν ἀκρόασιν. Ὅπερ γὰρ τῷ χρυσίῳ τὸ πῦρ, τοῦτο, ἡ θλῖψις ταῖς ψυχαῖς, τὸν ῥύπον ἀποσμήχουσα, καθαροὺς ἐργαζομένη, λαμπροὺς κατασκευάζουσα καὶ φαιδρούς. Αὕτη εἰς βασιλείαν εἰσάγει, ἐκείνη δὲ εἰς γέενναν. Διὸ ἡ μὲν ἔστιν εὐρύχωρος, ἡ δὲ στενή. Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ αὐτὸς ἔλεγεν, Ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ θλῖψιν ἕξετε: ὡς μέγα τι καταβάλλων ἡμῖν ἀγαθόν. Εἰ τοίνυν μαθητὴς εἶ, τὴν στενὴν καὶ τεθλιμμένην ὅδευε, μηδὲ δυσχέραινε μηδὲ ἀποδυσπέτει. Κἂν γὰρ οὕτω μὴ θλιβῇς, ἀνάγκη θλιβῆναι πάντως ἐξ ἑτέρας ὑποθέσεως ἀκερδοῦς. Καὶ γὰρ ὁ βάσκανος, καὶ ὁ χρημάτων ἐρῶν, καὶ ὁ πόρνης περικαιόμενος, καὶ ὁ κενόδοξος, καὶ τῶν ἄλλων ἕκαστος τῶν τὰ πονηρὰ ἐπιόντων πολλὰς ἀθυμίας ὑπομένει καὶ θλίψεις, καὶ τῶν πενθούντων οὐκ ἐλάττω θλίβεται. Εἰ δὲ μὴ δακρύει μηδὲ πενθεῖ, δι' αἰσχύνην καὶ ἀναισθησίαν: ὡς εἴ γε τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ καταμάθοις, μυρίων ὄψει κυμάτων γέμουσαν. Ὅταν οὖν καὶ τοῦτον καὶ ἐκεῖνον μετιόντας τὸν βίον ἀνάγκη θλίβεσθαι, διὰ τί μὴ τοῦτον αἱρούμεθα τὸν μετὰ θλίψεως μυρίους φέροντα στεφάνους; Καὶ γὰρ τοὺς ἁγίους ἅπαντας οὕτως ἤγαγεν ὁ Θεὸς διὰ θλίψεως καὶ στενοχωρίας, ὁμοῦ μὲν ἐκείνους ὠφελῶν, ὁμοῦ δὲ τοὺς λοιποὺς ἀσφαλιζόμενος, ὥστε μὴ μείζονα τῆς ἀξίας περὶ αὐτῶν δόξαν ἔχειν. Οὕτω γὰρ καὶ εἰδωλολατρεῖαι τὴν ἀρχὴν ἐκράτησαν, τῶν ἀνθρώπων ὑπὲρ τὴν ἀξίαν θαυμαζομένων: οὕτως Ἀλέξανδρον τρισκαιδέκατον ἐνόμισεν εἶναι θεὸν ἡ σύγκλητος Ῥωμαίων. Καὶ γὰρ αὕτη ταύτην εἶχε τὴν ἀξίαν χειροτονεῖν καὶ ἐγκρίνειν θεούς. Ὅτε γοῦν τὰ κατὰ Χριστὸν ἀπηγγέλη πάντα, ἔπεμψεν ὁ τοῦ ἔθνους ἄρχων πυνθανόμενος, εἰ δοκεῖ αὐτοῖς καὶ αὐτὸν χειροτονῆσαι θεόν. Οἱ δὲ οὐκ ἐπένευσαν, ὀργιζόμενοι καὶ ἀγανακτοῦντες, ὅτι πρὸ τῆς αὐτῶν ψήφου καὶ γνώμης, ἡ δύναμις τοῦ σταυρωθέντος ἐκλάμψασα, εἰς τὸ οἰκεῖον ἐπεσπάσατο σέβας τὴν οἰκουμένην ἅπασαν. Τοῦτο δὲ ᾠκονομεῖτο καὶ ἀκόντων αὐτῶν, ὥστε μὴ ἐξ ἀνθρωπίνης ψήφου τὴν θεότητα ἀνακηρυχθῆναι τοῦ Χριστοῦ, μηδὲ ἕνα τῶν πολλῶν αὐτὸν εἶναι νομισθῆναι τῶν ὑπ' ἐκείνων χειροτονηθέντων. Καὶ γὰρ καὶ πύκτας θεοὺς ἐνόμισαν, καὶ τὰ παιδικὰ τὰ Ἀδριανοῦ: ὅθεν καὶ ἡ πόλις Ἀντίνοος λέγεται. Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ θάνατος καταμαρτυρεῖ τῆς θνητῆς φύσεως, ἐφεῦρεν ὁ διάβολος ἑτέραν ὁδὸν, τὴν τῆς ψυχῆς ἀθανασίαν, ᾗ τὴν ὑπερβάλλουσαν κολακείαν ἀναμίξας, εἰς ἀσέβειαν πολλοὺς ἐξήγαγε. Καὶ θέα κακουργίαν: ὅταν μὲν ἡμεῖς εἰς δέον αὐτὴν παράγωμεν, ἀνατρέπει τὸν λόγον: ὅταν δὲ εἰς βλάβην αὐτὸς κατασκευάζειν βούληται, μετὰ πολλῆς αὐτὴν ἵστησι τῆς σπουδῆς. Κἂν εἴπῃ τις, Πόθεν θεὸς Ἀλέξανδρος; οὐχὶ τέθνηκε, καὶ ἀθλίως; Ἀλλ' ἀθάνατος ἡ ψυχὴ, φησί. Νῦν ὑπὲρ ἀθανασίας ποιῇ τὸν λόγον, καὶ φιλοσοφεῖς, ἵνα ἀποστήσῃς τοῦ ἐπὶ πάντων Θεοῦ: ὅταν δὲ ἡμεῖς λέγωμεν τοῦτο μέγιστον τοῦ Θεοῦ τὸ δῶρον, τοὺς ταπεινοὺς καὶ χαμαιπετεῖς, καὶ τῶν ἀλόγων οὐδὲν ἄμεινον διακειμένους, ὡς ἠπατημένους πείθεις. Κἂν εἴπωμεν, ὅτι ὁ ἐσταυρωμένος ζῇ, γέλως εὐθέως, καίτοι τῆς οἰκουμένης βοώσης ἁπάσης, καὶ πάλαι καὶ νῦν: τότε μὲν ἀπὸ τῶν σημείων, νῦν δὲ ἀπὸ τῶν ἐπιστρεψάντων: οὐ γὰρ δὴ νεκροῦ ταῦτα τὰ κατορθώματα. Ἂν δὲ εἴπῃ τις, ὅτι Ἀλέξανδρος ζῇ, πιστεύεις, καίτοι γε οὐδὲν ἔχων σημεῖον εἰπεῖν. Ναὶ, φησί: πολλὰ γὰρ καὶ μεγάλα κατώρθωσε ζῶν: καὶ γὰρ καὶ ἔθνη καὶ πόλεις ὑπέταξε, καὶ πολέμους πολλοὺς καὶ μάχας ἐνίκησε, καὶ τρόπαια ἔστησεν. εʹ. Ἐὰν οὖν ἐγὼ δείξω, ὅπερ ἐκεῖνος ζῶν οὐκ ἐνενόησεν, οὐκ αὐτὸς, οὐκ ἄλλος τις τῶν ποτε γενομένων ἀνθρώπων, ποίαν ἑτέραν ζητεῖς ἀναστάσεως ἀπόδειξιν; Τὸ μὲν γὰρ ζῶντα κατορθοῦν πολέμους καὶ νίκας βασιλέα ὄντα, καὶ στρατόπεδα ἔχοντα, θαυμαστὸν οὐδὲν, οὐδὲ παράδοξον καὶ καινόν: τὸ δὲ μετὰ σταυρὸν καὶ τάφον τοσαῦτα ἐργάσασθαι πανταχοῦ γῆς καὶ θαλάττης, τοῦτό ἐστι τὸ μάλιστα πολλῆς ἐκπλήξεως γέμον, καὶ τὴν θείαν καὶ ἀπόῤῥητον ἀνακηρῦττον δύναμιν. Καὶ ὁ μὲν Ἀλέξανδρος μετὰ τὴν τελευτὴν αὐτοῦ, διασπασθεῖσαν τὴν ἀρχὴν αὐτοῦ καὶ τέλεον ἀφανισθεῖσαν οὐκ ἐπανήγαγε: πῶς δὲ ἔμελλεν ὁ νεκρός; ὁ δὲ Χριστὸς τότε αὐτὴν μάλιστα ἔστησεν, ὅτε ἐτελεύτησε. Καὶ τί λέγω περὶ τοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὅπου γε καὶ τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ, μετὰ τὸ τελευτῆσαι, λάμψαι ἔδωκε; Ποῦ γὰρ, εἰπέ μοι, τὸ σῆμα Ἀλεξάνδρου; δεῖξόν μοι, καὶ εἰπὲ τὴν ἡμέραν καθ' ἣν ἐτελεύτησε. Τῶν δὲ δούλων τοῦ Χριστοῦ καὶ τὰ σήματα λαμπρὰ, τὴν βασιλικωτάτην καταλαβόντα πόλιν, καὶ αἱ ἡμέραι καταφανεῖς, ἑορτὴν τῇ οἰκουμένῃ ποιοῦσαι. Καὶ τὸ μὲν ἐκείνου καὶ οἱ οἰκεῖοι ἀγνοοῦσι, τὸ δὲ τούτου καὶ οἱ βάρβαροι ἐπίστανται. Καὶ οἱ τάφοι τῶν δούλων τοῦ σταυρωθέντος λαμπρότεροι τῶν βασιλικῶν εἰσιν αὐλῶν, οὐ τῷ μεγέθει καὶ τῷ κάλλει τῶν οἰκοδομημάτων μόνον: καὶ τούτῳ μὲν γὰρ κρατοῦσιν: ἀλλ', ὃ πολλῷ πλέον ἐστὶ, τῇ σπουδῇ τῶν συνιόντων. Καὶ γὰρ αὐτὸς ὁ τὴν ἁλουργίδα περικείμενος ἀπέρχεται τὰ σήματα ἐκεῖνα περιπτυξόμενος, καὶ τὸν τῦφον ἀποθέμενος ἕστηκε δεόμενος τῶν ἁγίων, ὥστε αὐτοῦ προστῆναι παρὰ τῷ Θεῷ, καὶ τοῦ σκηνοποιοῦ καὶ τοῦ ἁλιέως προστατῶν καὶ τετελευτηκότων δεῖται ὁ τὸ διάδημα ἔχων. Τολμήσεις οὖν, εἰπέ μοι, τὸν τούτων Δεσπότην νεκρὸν εἰπεῖν, οὗ οἱ οἰκέται καὶ τετελευτηκότες, προστάται τῶν τῆς οἰκουμένης βασιλέων εἰσί; Καὶ τοῦτο οὐκ ἐν τῇ Ῥώμῃ ἴδοι τις ἂν γινόμενον μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐν τῇ Κωνσταντινουπόλει. Καὶ γὰρ καὶ ἐνταῦθα Κωνσταντῖνον τὸν μέγαν μεγάλῃ τιμῇ τιμᾷν ἐνόμισεν ὁ παῖς, εἰ τοῖς προθύροις κατάθοιτο τοῦ ἁλιέως: καὶ ὅπερ εἰσὶν οἱ πυλωροὶ τοῖς βασιλεῦσιν ἐν τοῖς βασιλείοις, τοῦτο ἐν τῷ σήματι οἱ βασιλεῖς τοῖς ἁλιεῦσι. Καὶ οἱ μὲν ὥσπερ δεσπόται τοῦ τόπου τὰ ἔνδον κατέχουσιν, οἱ δὲ ὡς πάροικοι καὶ γείτονες ἠγάπησαν τὴν αὔλειον αὐτοῖς ἀφορισθῆναι θύραν, ἀπὸ τῶν ἐνταῦθα καὶ τοῖς ἀπίστοις ἐπιδεικνύντες, ὅτι πλείων ἐν τῇ ἀναστάσει ἡ ὑπεροχὴ ἔσται τοῖς ἁλιεῦσιν. Εἰ γὰρ ἐνταῦθα οὕτως ἐν τοῖς τάφοις, πολλῷ μᾶλλον ἐν τῇ ἀναστάσει. Καὶ ἀντήλλακται ἡ τάξις: οἱ μὲν βασιλεῖς οἰκετῶν καὶ ὑπηρετῶν, οἱ δὲ ἀρχόμενοι βασιλέων τὴν ἀξίαν περίκεινται, μᾶλλον δὲ καὶ λαμπροτέραν. Καὶ ὅτι οὐ κολακεία τὸ πρᾶγμα, αὕτη δείκνυσιν ἡ ἀλήθεια: ἀπὸ γὰρ ἐκείνων καὶ οὗτοι λαμπρότεροι γεγόνασι. Πολὺ γὰρ τῶν ἄλλων τάφων τῶν βασιλικῶν τὰ σήματα ταῦτα σεμνότερα: ἐκεῖ μὲν γὰρ πολλὴ ἡ ἐρημία, ἐνταῦθα δὲ πολλὴ ἡ πανήγυρις. Εἰ δὲ βούλει καὶ ταῖς βασιλικαῖς παραβαλεῖν αὐλαῖς τοὺς τάφους τούτους, πάλιν ἐνταῦθα τὰ νικητήρια. Ἐκεῖ μὲν γὰρ πολλοὶ οἱ σοβοῦντες, ἐνταῦθα δὲ πολλοὶ οἱ καλοῦντες καὶ ἐπισπώμενοι πλουσίους, πένητας, ἄνδρας, γυναῖκας, δούλους, ἐλευθέρους: ἐκεῖ πολὺς ὁ φόβος, ἐνταῦθα ἄφατος ἡ ἡδονή. Ἀλλὰ γλυκὺ θέαμα χρυσοφοροῦντα βασιλέα καὶ ἐστεφανωμένον ἰδεῖν, καὶ παρεστῶτας στρατηγοὺς, ἄρχοντας, ταξιάρχους, φυλάρχους, ὑπάρχους. Ἀλλὰ τὰ ἐνταῦθα τοσούτῳ σεμνότερα καὶ φρικωδέστερα, ὡς ἐκεῖνα σκηνὴν εἶναι καὶ παιδιὰν νομίσαι πρὸς ταῦτα. Ἅμα γὰρ ἐπέβης τῶν οὐδῶν, καὶ πρὸς τὸν οὐρανὸν ὁ τόπος τὴν διάνοιαν παρέπεμψε, πρὸς τὸν ἄνω βασιλέα, πρὸς τὸ στρατόπεδον τὸ τῶν ἀγγέλων, πρὸς τὸν θρόνον τὸν ὑψηλὸν, πρὸς τὴν δόξαν τὴν ἀπρόσιτον. Καὶ ἐνταῦθα μὲν ὑπέταξεν ἄρχοντι τῶν ὑποκειμένων τὸν μὲν λῦσαι, τὸν δὲ δῆσαι: τὰ δὲ ὀστᾶ τῶν ἁγίων οὐ ταύτην ἔχει τὴν ἐξουσίαν τὴν οἰκτρὰν καὶ ταπεινὴν, ἀλλ' ἐκείνην τὴν πολλῷ μείζονα. Δαίμονας γὰρ παρίστησι καὶ βασανίζει, καὶ τῶν δεσμῶν ἐκείνων τῶν πικροτάτων ἀπολύει τοὺς δεδεμένους. Τί φοβερώτερον τοῦ δικαστηρίου τούτου; Οὐδενὸς ὁρωμένου, οὐδενὸς ἐπικειμένου ταῖς πλευραῖς τοῦ δαίμονος, φωναὶ καὶ σπαραγμοὶ, μάστιγες, βάσανοι, γλῶσσαι ἐμπιπράμεναι, τοῦ δαίμονος οὐ φέροντος τὴν θαυμαστὴν δύναμιν ἐκείνην. Καὶ οἱ τὰ σώματα φορέσαντες, τῶν ἀσωμάτων κρατοῦσι δυνάμεων: ἡ κόνις καὶ τὰ ὀστᾶ καὶ ἡ τέφρα τὰς ἀοράτους ἐκείνας διαξαίνει φύσεις. Διὰ δὴ τοῦτο ὑπὲρ μὲν τοῦ βασιλικὰς ἰδεῖν αὐλὰς οὐδεὶς ἄν ποτε ἀποδημήσειε: βασιλεῖς δὲ πολλοὶ πολλάκις ἀποδεδημήκασι ταύτης ἕνεκεν τῆς θεωρίας. Τῆς γὰρ μελλούσης κρίσεως ἴχνη καὶ σύμβολα τὰ μαρτύρια τῶν ἁγίων παρέχεται, δαιμόνων μαστιζομένων, ἀνθρώπων κολαζομένων καὶ ἐλευθερουμένων. Εἶδες τῶν ἁγίων τὴν δύναμιν καὶ τετελευτηκότων; εἶδες τῶν ἁμαρτωλῶν τὴν ἀσθένειαν καὶ ζώντων; Φύγε τοίνυν τὴν κακίαν, ἵνα κρατῇς τῶν τοιούτων, καὶ δίωκε μετὰ σπουδῆς ἁπάσης τὴν ἀρετήν. Εἰ γὰρ τὰ ἐνταῦθα τοιαῦτα, ἐννόησον ἡλίκα τὰ μέλλοντα. Καὶ τῷ ἔρωτι τούτῳ διηνεκῶς κατεχόμενος, ἐπιλαμβάνου τῆς αἰωνίου ζωῆς: ἧς 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.