Homily XXXI.

John iii. 35, 36

“The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hand. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life, and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

[1.] Great is shown to be in all things the gain of humility.768   lit. “condescension.” Thus it is that we have brought arts to perfection, not by learning them all at once from our teachers; it is thus that we have built cities, putting them together slowly, little by little; it is thus that we maintain769   διακρατοῦμεν our life. And marvel not if the thing has so much power in matters pertaining to this life, when in spiritual things one may find that great is the power of this wisdom. For so the Jews were enabled to be delivered from their idolatry, being led on gently and little by little, and hearing from the first nothing sublime concerning either doctrine or life. So after the coming of Christ, when it was the time for higher doctrines, the Apostles brought over all men without at first uttering anything sublime. And so Christ appears to have spoken to most at the beginning, and so John did now, speaking of Him as of some wonderful man, and darkly introducing high matter.

For instance, when commencing he spake thus: “A man cannot receive anything of himself”770   [ἐ ὰ ν μὴ ᾖ δεδ. αὐτῷ.] G. T. ( c. iii. 27 ): then after adding a high expression, and saying, “He that cometh from heaven771   ἄ νωθεν, G. T. is above all,” he again brings down his discourse to what is lowly, and besides many other things saith this, that “God giveth not the Spirit by measure.” Then he proceeds to say, “The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hand.” And after that, knowing that great is the force of punishment,772   al. “of the mention of punishment.” and that the many are not so much led by the promise of good things as by the threat of the terrible, he concludes his discourse with these words; “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; but he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” Here again he refers the account of punishment to the Father, for he saith not “the wrath of the Son,” (yet He is the Judge,) but sets over them the Father, desiring so the more to terrify them.

“Is it then enough,” saith one, “to believe on the Son, that one may have eternal life?” By no means. And hear Christ Himself declaring this, and saying, “Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven” ( Matt. vii. 21 ); and the blasphemy against the Spirit is enough of itself to cast a man into hell. But why speak I of a portion of doctrine? Though a man believe rightly on the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, yet if he lead not a right life, his faith will avail nothing towards his salvation. Therefore when He saith, “This is life eternal, that they may know Thee the only true God” ( c. xvii. 3 ), let us not suppose that the (knowledge) spoken of is sufficient for our salvation; we need besides this a most exact life and conversation. Since though he has said here, “He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life,” and in the same place something even stronger, (for he weaves his discourse not of blessings only, but of their contraries also, speaking thus: “He that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him”;) yet not even from this do we assert that faith alone is sufficient to salvation. And the directions for living given in many places of the Gospels show this. Therefore he did not say, “This by itself is eternal life,” nor, “He that doth but believe on the Son hath eternal life,” but by both expressions he declared this, that the thing773   i.e. believing. doth contain life, yet that if a right conversation follow not, there will follow a heavy punishment. And he did not say, “awaiteth him,” but, “abideth on him,” that is, “shall never remove from him.” For that thou mayest not think that the “shall not see life,” is a temporary death, but mayest believe that the punishment is continual, he hath put this expression to show that it rests774   lit. “sits upon.” upon him continually. And this he has done, by these very words forcing them on775   ὠ θῶν to Christ. Therefore he gave not the admonition to them in particular, but made it universal, the manner which best might bring them over. For he did not say, “if ye believe,” and, “if ye believe not,” but made his speech general, so that his words might be free from suspicion. And this he has done yet more strongly than Christ. For Christ saith, “He that believeth not is condemned already,” but John saith, “shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.” With good cause; for it was a different thing for a man to speak of himself and for another to speak of him. They would have thought that Christ spake often of these things from self-love, and that he was a boaster; but John was clear from all suspicion. And if at a later time, Christ also used stronger expressions, it was when they had begun to conceive an exalted opinion of Him.

Chap. IV. Ver. 1, 2, 3. “When therefore Jesus776   ὁ Κύριος, G. T. knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, (though Jesus Himself baptized not but His disciples,) He left Judæa, and departed again into Galilee.”

He indeed baptized not, but they who carried the news, desiring to excite their hearers to envy, so reported. “Wherefore then ‘departed’ He?” Not from fear, but to take away777   lit. “cut out.” their malice, and to soften their envy. He was indeed able to restrain them when they came against Him, but this He would not do continually, that the Dispensation of the Flesh might not be disbelieved. For had He often been seized and escaped, this would have been suspected by many; therefore for the most part, He rather orders matters after the manner of a man. And as He desired it to be believed that He was God, so also that, being God, He bore the flesh; therefore even after the Resurrection, He said to the disciple, “Handle Me and see, for a spirit hath not flesh and bones” ( Luke xxiv. 39 ); therefore also He rebuked Peter when he said, “Be it far from Thee, this shall not be unto thee.” ( Matt. xvi. 22.) So much was this matter an object of care to Him.

[2.] For this is no small part of the doctrines of the Church; it is the chief point of the salvation wrought for us;778   τῆς ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν σωτ by which all has been brought to pass, and has had success, for it was thus that the bonds of death were loosed, sin taken away, and the curse abolished, and ten thousand blessings introduced into our life. And therefore He especially desired that the Dispensation should be believed, as having been the root and fountain of innumerable goods to us.

Yet while acting thus in regard of His Humanity,779   οἰκονομῶν τὰ ἀνθρώπινα He did not allow His Divinity to be overcast. And so, after His departure He again employed the same language as before. For He went not away into Galilee simply,780   i.e. without an object, ἁ πλῶς but in order to effect certain important matters, those among the Samaritans; nor did He dispense these matters simply, but with the wisdom that belonged to781   or, “became.” Him, and so as not to leave to the Jews any pretense even of a shameless excuse for themselves. And to this the Evangelist points when he says,

Ver. 4. “And He must needs go through Samaria.”

Showing that He made this the by-work of the journey. Which also the Apostles did; for just as they, when persecuted by the Jews, came to the Gentiles; so also Christ, when the Jews drove Him out, then took the Samaritans in hand, as He did also in the case of the Syrophenician woman. And this was done that all defense might be cut away from the Jews, and that they might not be able to say, “He left us, and went to the uncircumcised.” And therefore the disciples excusing themselves said, “It was necessary that the Word of God should first have been spoken unto you; but seeing ye judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.” ( Acts xiii. 46.) And He saith again Himself, “I am not come782   [οὐκ ἀπεστάλην] G. T. but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel” ( Matt. xv. 24 ); and again, “It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to give783   [βάλλειν] G. T. it to dogs.” But when they drove Him away, they opened a door to the Gentiles. Yet not so did He come to the Gentiles expressly, but in passing.784   Morel. “having thus hinted that which he wished, he again begins, saying, Jesus therefore cometh,” &c. In passing then,

Ver. 5, 6. “He cometh to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob’s well was there.”

Why is the Evangelist exact about the place? It is, that when thou hearest the woman say, “Jacob our father gave us this well,” thou mayest not think it strange. For this was the place where Levi and Simeon, being angry because of Dinah, wrought that cruel slaughter. And it may be worth while to relate from what sources the Samaritans were made up; since all this country is called Samaria. Whence then did they receive their name? The mountain was called “Somor” from its owner ( 1 Kings xvi. 24 ): as also Esaias saith, “and the head of Ephraim is Somoron” ( Isa. vii. 9 , LXX.), but the inhabitants were termed not “Samaritans” but “Israelites.” But as time went on, they offended God, and in the reign of Pekah, Tiglath-Pileser came up, and took many cities, and set upon Elah, and having slain him, gave the kingdom to Hoshea.785   This account does not agree with the history, (2 Kings xv. 29, 30 ,) but there is no other reading. ( 2 Kings xv. 29.) Against him Shalmaneser came and took other cities, and made them subject and tributary. ( 2 Kings xvii. 3.) At first he yielded, but afterwards he revolted from the Assyrian rule, and betook himself to the alliance of the Ethiopians.786   i.e. the Egyptians. The Assyrian learnt this, and having made war upon them and destroyed their cities, he no longer allowed the nation to remain there, because he had such suspicions that they would revolt. ( 2 Kings xvii. 4.) But he carried them to Babylon and to the Medes, and having brought thence nations from divers places, planted them in Samaria, that his dominion for the future might be sure, his own people occupying the place. After this, God, desiring to show that He had not given up the Jews through weakness, but because of the sins of those who were given up, sent lions against the foreigners,787   βαρβάρους who ravaged all their nation. These things were reported to the king, and he sent a priest to deliver to them the laws of God. Still not even so did they desist wholly from their impiety, but only by halves. But as time went on, they in turn abandoned788   lit. “started away from.” their idols, and worshiped God. And when things were in this state, the Jews having returned, ever after entertained a jealous feeling towards them as strangers and enemies, and called them from the name of the mountain, “Samaritans.” From this cause also there was no little rivalry between them. The Samaritans did not use all the Scriptures, but received the writings of Moses only, and made but little account of those of the Prophets. Yet they were eager to thrust themselves into the noble Jewish stock, and prided themselves upon Abraham, and called789   lit. “registered.” him their forefather, as being of Chaldæa; and Jacob also they called their father, as being his descendant. But the Jews abominated them as well as all (other nations). Wherefore they reproached Christ with this, saying, “Thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil.” ( c. viii. 48.) And for this reason in the parable of the man that went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, Christ makes the man who showed pity upon him to have been “a Samaritan” ( Luke x. 33 ), one who by them was deemed mean, contemptible, and abominable. And in the case of the ten lepers, He calls one a “stranger” on this account, (for “he was a Samaritan,”) and He gave His charge to the disciples in these words, “Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not.” ( Matt. x. 5.)

[3.] Nor was it merely to describe the place that the Evangelist has reminded us of Jacob, but to show that the rejection of the Jews had happened long ago. For during the time of their forefathers these Jews possessed the land, and not the Samaritans; and the very possessions which not being theirs, their forefathers had gotten, they being theirs, had lost by their sloth and transgressions. So little790   al. “truly little.” is the advantage of excellent ancestors, if their descendants be not like them. Moreover, the foreigners when they had only made trial of the lions, straightway returned to the right worship791   εὐσεβείαν of the Jews, while they, after enduring such inflictions, were not even so brought to a sound mind.

To this place Christ now came, ever rejecting a sedentary and soft792   βάναυσον καὶ ὑγρὸν life, and exhibiting793   lit. “introducing.” one laborious and active. He useth no beast to carry Him, but walketh so much on a stretch, as even to be wearied with His journeying. And this He ever teacheth, that a man should work for himself, go without superfluities, and not have many wants. Nay, so desirous is He that we should be alienated from superfluities, that He abridgeth many even of necessary things. Wherefore He said, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man hath not where to lay His head.” ( Matt. viii. 20.) Therefore He spent most of His time in the mountains, and in the deserts, not by day only, but also by night. And this David declared when he said, “He shall drink of the brook in the way” ( Ps. cx. 7 ): by this showing His frugal794   or “active.” way of life. This too the Evangelist shows in this place.

Ver. 6, 7, 8. “Jesus therefore, being wearied with His journey, sat thus by the well; and it was about the sixth hour. There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus saith unto her, Give Me to drink. For His disciples were gone away into the city to buy meat.”

Hence we learn His activity in journeying, His carelessness about food, and how He treated it as a matter of minor importance.795   παρέργως And so the disciples were taught to use the like disposition themselves; for they took with them no provisions for the road. And this another Evangelist declares, saying, that when He spake to them concerning “the leaven of the Pharisees” ( Matt. xvi. 6 ), they thought that it was because they carried no bread; and when he introduces them plucking the ears of corn, and eating ( Matt. xii. 1 ), and when he saith that Jesus came to the fig-tree by reason of hunger ( Matt. xxi. 18 ), it is for nothing else but only to instruct us by all these to despise the belly, and not to deem that its service is anxiously to be attended to. Observe them, for instance, in this place neither bringing anything with them, nor because they brought not anything, caring for this at the very beginning and early part of the day, but buying food at the time when all other people were taking their meal.796   ἀ ριστοποιοῦνται. See on Stat. Hom. ix. 1, and note Not like us, who the instant we rise from our beds attend to this before anything else, calling cooks and butlers, and giving our directions with all earnestness, applying ourselves afterwards to other matters, preferring temporal things to spiritual, valuing those things as necessary which we ought to have deemed of less importance.797   πάρεργον Therefore all things are in confusion. We ought, on the contrary, making much account of all spiritual things, after having accomplished these, then to apply ourselves to the others.

And in this place it is not His laboriousness alone that is shown, but also His freedom from pride; not merely by His being tired, nor by His sitting by the way-side, but by His having been left alone, and His disciples having been separated798   al. “having departed.” from Him. And yet it was in His power, if He had willed it, either not to have sent them all away, or when they departed to have had other ministers. But He would not; for so He accustomed His disciples to tread all pride beneath their feet.

“And what marvel,” saith one, “if they were moderate in their wishes, since they were fishermen and tentmakers?” Yes! Fishermen and tentmakers they were; but they had in a moment799   ἄ θροον mounted even to the height of heaven, and had become more honorable than all earthly kings, being deemed worthy to become the companions of the Lord of the world, and to follow Him whom all beheld with awe. And ye know this too, that those men especially who are of humble origin, whenever they gain distinction, are the more easily lifted up to folly, because they are quite ignorant how to bear their sudden800   al. “so great.” honor. Restraining them therefore in their present humblemindedness, He taught them always to be moderate,801   συνεστάλθαι and never to require any to wait upon them.

“He therefore,” saith the Evangelist, “being wearied with His journey, sat802   ἐ κάθητο [ἐ καθέζετο] G. T. thus at the well.”803   ἐ πὶ τῇ πηγῇ

Seest thou that His sitting was because of weariness? because of the heat? because of his waiting for His disciples? He knew, indeed, what should take place among the Samaritans, but it was not for this that He came principally; yet, though He came not for this, it behooved not to reject the woman who came to Him, when she manifested such a desire to learn. The Jews, when He was even coming to them, drove Him away; they of the Gentiles, when He was proceeding in another direction, drew Him to them. They envied, these believed on Him. They were angry with, these revered and worshiped Him. What then? Was He to overlook the salvation of so many, to send away such noble zeal? This would have been unworthy of His lovingkindness. Therefore He ordered all the matter in hand with the Wisdom which became Him. He sat resting His body and cooling It by the fountain; for it was the very middle of the day, as the Evangelist has declared, when he says,

“It was about the sixth hour.”

He sat “thus.” What meaneth “thus”? Not upon a throne, not upon a cushion, but simply, and as He was,804   ὡ ς ἔτυχεν upon the ground.

Ver. 7. “There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water.”

[4.] Observe how he declareth that the woman came forth for another purpose, in every way silencing the shameless gainsaying of the Jews, that none might say that He acted in opposition to His own command, bidding (His disciples) not to enter into any city of the Samaritans, yet conversing with Samaritans. ( Matt. x. 5.) And therefore the Evangelist has put,

Ver. 8. “For His disciples were gone away into the city to buy meat.”805   al. “had not yet come.”

Bringing in many reasons for His conversation with her. What doth the woman? When she heard, “Give Me to drink,”806   al. being asked for water by Christ; for, “Give Me to drink,” the Evangelist tells us, was what Christ said to her. What then saith she? “How is it,” &c. she very wisely makes the speech of Christ an occasion for a question, and saith,

Ver. 9. “How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a Samaritan? For the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.”

And whence did she suppose Him to be a Jew? From His dress, perhaps, and from His dialect. Observe, I pray you, how considerate the woman was. If there was need of caution, Jesus needed it, not she. For she doth not say, “The Samaritans have no dealings with the Jews,” but, “The Jews do not admit the Samaritans.” Yet still, although free herself from blame,807   al. “sin.” when she supposed that another was falling into it she would not even so hold her peace, but corrected, as she thought, what was done unlawfully. Perhaps some one may ask how it was that Jesus asked drink of her, when the law808   i.e. custom. did not permit it. If it be answered that it was because He knew beforehand that she would not give it, then for this very reason He ought not to have asked. What then can we say? That the rejecting such observances as these was now a matter of indifference to Him; for He who induced others to do them away, would much more Himself pass them by. “Not that which goeth in,” saith He, “defileth a man, but that which goeth out.” ( Matt. xv. 11 .) And this conversation with the woman would be no slight charge against the Jews. For often did He draw them to Himself, both by words and deeds, but they would not attend; while observe how she is detained by a simple request.809   al. “introduction.” For He did not as yet enter on the prosecution of this business,810   i.e. conversion. nor the way,811   i.e. of salvation. yet if any came to Him He did not prevent them. And to the disciples also He said thus, “Into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not.” He did not say, “And when they come to you, reject them”; that would have been very unworthy of His lovingkindness. And therefore He answered the woman, and said,

Ver. 10. “If thou knewest the gift of God and who it is that saith to thee, Give Me to drink, thou wouldest have asked of Him, and He would have given thee living water.”

First, He showeth that she is worthy to hear and not to be overlooked, and then He revealeth Himself. For she, as soon as she had learnt who He was, would straightway hearken and attend to Him; which none can say of the Jews, for they, when they had learned, asked nothing of Him, nor did they desire to be informed on any profitable matter, but insulted and drove Him away. But when the woman had heard these words, observe how gently she answers:

Ver. 11. “Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep; from whence then hast thou that living water?”

Already He hath raised her from her low opinion of Him, and from deeming that He is a common man. For not without a reason doth she here call Him, “Lord”;812   Κύριε, “Sir,” E.V. but assigning to Him high honor. That she spake these words to honor Him, is plain from what is said afterwards, since she did not laugh nor mock, but doubted for a while. And wonder not if she did not at once perceive all, for neither did Nicodemus. What saith he? “How can these things be?” and again, “How can a man be born when he is old?” and again, “Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?” But this woman more reverently: “Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep; from whence then hast thou that living water?” Christ said one thing, and she imagined another, hearing nothing beyond the words, and as yet unable to form any lofty thought. Yet, had she spoken hastily, she might have said, “If thou hadst had that living water, thou wouldest not have asked of me, but wouldest rather have provided for thyself. Thou art but a boaster.” But she said nothing like this; she answers with much gentleness, both at first and afterwards. For at first she saith, “How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me?” she saith not, as though speaking to an alien and an enemy, “Far be it from me to give to thee, who art a foe and a stranger to our nation.” And afterwards again, when she heard Him utter great words, a thing at which enemies are most annoyed, she did not mock nor deride813   διέσυρε ; but what saith she?

Ver. 12. “Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?”

Observe how she thrusts herself into the noble stock of the Jews. For what she saith is somewhat of this kind: “Jacob used this water, and had nothing better to give us.” And this she said showing that from the first answer (of Christ) she had conceived a great and sublime thought; for by the words, “he drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle,” she implies nothing else, than that she had a notion of a better Water, but that she 814   al. “not even he.” never found it, nor clearly knew it. More clearly to explain what she means to say, the sense of her words is this: “Thou canst not assert that Jacob gave us this well, and used another himself; for he and his children drank of this one, which they would not have done if they had had another and a better. Now of the water of this well it is not in thy power to give me, and thou canst not have another and a better, unless thou dost confess that thou art greater than Jacob. Whence then hast thou that water which thou promisest that thou wilt give us?” The Jews did not converse with Him thus mildly, and yet He spake to them on the same subject, making mention of the like water, but they profited nothing; and when He made mention of Abraham, they even attempted to stone Him. Not so does this woman approach Him; but with much gentleness, in the midst of the heat, at noon, she with much patience saith and hears all, and does not so much as think of what the Jews most probably would have asserted, that “This fellow is mad, and beside himself: he hath tied me to this fount and well, giving me nothing, but using big words”; no, she endures and perseveres until she has found what she seeks.

[5.] If now a woman of Samaria is so earnest to learn something profitable, if she abides by Christ though not as yet knowing Him, what pardon shall we obtain, who both knowing815   al. “having seen.” Him, and being not by a well, nor in a desert place, nor at noon-day, nor beneath the scorching sunbeams, but at morning-tide, and beneath a roof like this, enjoying shade and comfort,816   or, “coolness.” yet cannot endure to hear anything that is said, but are wearied817   ἀ ποκναίοντες, al. ἀ ποκνοῦντες by it. Not such was that woman; so occupied was she by Jesus’ words, that she even called others to hear them. The Jews, on the contrary, not only did not call, but even hindered and impeded those who desired to come to Him,818   al. “to enter in.” saying, “See, have any of the rulers believed on him? but this people, which knoweth not the Law, are cursed.”819    c. vii. 49. al. “is not this people,” &c. Let us then imitate this woman of Samaria; let us commune with Christ. For even now He standeth in the midst of us, speaking to us by the Prophets and Disciples; let us hear and obey. How long shall we live uselessly and in vain? Because, not to do what is well-pleasing to God is to live uselessly, or rather not merely uselessly, but to our own hurt; for when we have spent the time which has been given us on no good purpose, we shall depart this life to suffer severest punishment for our unseasonable extravagance. For it can never be that a man who has received money to trade with, and then has eaten it up, shall have it820   al. “an account.” required at his hands by the man who intrusted it to him; and that one who has spent such a life as ours to no purpose shall escape punishment. It was not for this that God brought us into this present life, and breathed into us a soul, that we should make use of the present time only,821   al. “live only for the present,” κατὰ τὸ π but that we should do all our business with a regard to the life which is to come. Things irrational only are useful for the present life; but we have an immortal soul, that we may use every means to prepare ourselves for that other life. For if one enquire the use of horses and asses and oxen, and other such-like animals, we shall tell him that it is nothing else but only to minister to the present life; but this cannot be said of us; our best condition is that which follows on our departure hence; and we must do all that we may shine there, that we may join the choir of Angels, and stand before the King continually, through endless822   al. “incorrupt.” ages. And therefore the soul is immortal, and the body shall be immortal too, that we may enjoy the never-ending blessings. But if, when heavenly things are proffered thee, thou remainest nailed to earth, consider what an insult is offered to thy Benefactor, when He holdeth forth to thee things above, and thou, making no great account of them choosest earth instead. And therefore, as despised by thee, He hath threatened thee with hell; that thou mayest learn hence of what great blessings thou deprivest thyself. God grant that none make trial of that punishment, but that having been well-pleasing to Christ, we may obtain everlasting blessings, through the grace and lovingkindness of our Lord Jesus Christ; to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be glory, now and ever, and world without end. Amen.

ΟΜΙΛΙΑ ΛΑʹ. Ὁ Πατὴρ ἀγαπᾷ τὸν Υἱὸν, καὶ πάντα δέδωκεν ἐν τῇ χειρὶ αὐτοῦ. Ὁ πιστεύων εἰς τὸν Υἱὸν, ἔχει ζωὴν αἰώνιον: ὁ δὲ ἀπιστῶν τῷ Υἱῷ, οὐκ ὄψεται τὴν ζωὴν, ἀλλ' ἡ ὀργὴ τοῦ Θεοῦ μένει ἐπ' αὐτόν. αʹ. Πολὺ τῆς συγκαταβάσεως τὸ κέρδος ἐν ἅπασι δείκνυται πράγμασιν. Οὕτω τὰς τέχνας κατωρθώσαμεν, οὐκ ἀθρόον παρὰ τῶν διδασκάλων πάντα μανθάνοντες: οὕτω πόλεις ἐδειμάμεθα, ἠρέμα καὶ κατὰ μικρὸν αὐτὰς συνιστῶντες: οὕτω τὴν ζωὴν διακρατοῦμεν τὴν ἡμετέραν. Καὶ μὴ θαυμάσῃς εἰ ἐπὶ τῶν βιωτικῶν τὸ πρᾶγμα τοσαύτην ἔχει τὴν ἰσχὺν, ὅπου γε καὶ ἐν τοῖς πνευματικοῖς πολλὴν ἄν τις εὕροι ταύτης τῆς σοφίας οὖσαν τὴν δύναμιν. Οὕτω γὰρ καὶ ἠδυνήθησαν ἀπαλλαγῆναι τῆς εἰδωλολατρείας Ἰουδαῖοι, ἠρέμα καὶ κατὰ μικρὸν ἐναγόμενοι, καὶ μηδὲν ἐξ ἀρχῆς ὑψηλὸν ἀκούοντες, μήτε δογμάτων, μήτε πολιτείας ἕνεκεν. Οὕτω μετὰ τὴν τοῦ Χριστοῦ παρουσίαν, ὅτε καὶ ὑψηλοτέρων δογμάτων ὁ καιρὸς ἦν, ἅπαντας προσήγοντο οἱ ἀπόστολοι, οὐδὲν ἐκ πρώτης ὑψηλὸν φθεγγόμενοι. Οὕτω καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς τοῖς πλείοσι διελέγετο παρὰ τὴν ἀρχήν. Οὕτω καὶ Ἰωάννης ἐποίησε νῦν, ὡς περὶ ἀνθρώπου διαλεγόμενός τινος θαυμαστοῦ, καὶ τὰ ὑψηλὰ συνεσκιασμένως παρεντιθείς. Ἀρχόμενος γοῦν οὕτως ἔλεγεν: Οὐ δύναται ἄνθρωπος ἀφ' ἑαυτοῦ λαμβάνειν οὐδέν. Εἶτα ὑψηλόν τι συνάψας καὶ εἰπὼν, Ὁ ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἐρχόμενος, ἐπάνω πάντων ἐστὶ, πάλιν εἰς τὰ ταπεινὰ τὸν λόγον κατάγει, λέγων ἄλλα τε πολλὰ, καὶ ὅτι, Οὐ γὰρ ἐκ μέτρου δίδωσιν ὁ Θεὸς τὸ Πνεῦμα: εἶτα ἐπάγει, λέγων: Ὁ Πατὴρ ἀγαπᾷ τὸν Υἱὸν, καὶ πάντα δέδωκεν ἐν τῇ χειρὶ αὐτοῦ. Εἶτα καὶ εἰδὼς ἀπὸ τοῦ λόγου τῆς κολάσεως γινομένη τὴν ὄνησιν, καὶ οὐχ οὕτω τῇ τῶν χρηστῶν ἐπαγγελίᾳ τοὺς πολλοὺς ἐπαγομένους, ὡς τῇ τῶν φοβερῶν ἀπειλῇ, ἐνταῦθα κατακλείει τὸν λόγον λοιπὸν, καὶ φησίν: Ὁ πιστεύων εἰς τὸν Υἱὸν, ἔχει ζωὴν αἰώνιον: ὁ δὲ ἀπειθῶν τῷ Υἱῷ, οὐκ ὄψεται τὴν ζωὴν, ἀλλ' ἡ ὀργὴ τοῦ Θεοῦ μένει ἐπ' αὐτόν. Πάλιν κἀνταῦθα ἐπὶ τὸν Πατέρα ἀνάγει τὸν τῆς κολάσεως λόγον. Οὐ γὰρ εἶπεν, ἡ ὀργὴ τοῦ Υἱοῦ, καίτοι γε αὐτός ἐστιν ὁ κριτής: ἀλλὰ τὸν Πατέρα αὐτοῖς ἐπέστησε, μᾶλλον φοβῆσαι βουλόμενος. Ἆρα οὖν ἀρκεῖ τὸ πιστεῦσαι εἰς τὸν Υἱὸν, φησὶ, πρὸς τὸ ζωὴν ἔχειν αἰώνιον; Οὐδαμῶς. Καὶ ἄκουε τοῦ Χριστοῦ τοῦτο δεικνύντος καὶ λέγοντος: Οὐ πᾶς ὁ λέγων μοι, Κύριε, Κύριε, εἰσελεύσεται εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τῶν οὐρανῶν: καὶ ἡ εἰς τὸ Πνεῦμα δὲ βλασφημία ἀρκεῖ καὶ μόνη εἰς γέενναν ἐμβαλεῖν. Καὶ τί λέγω περὶ μέρους δόγματος; Κἂν γὰρ εἰς τὸν Πατέρα τις καὶ τὸν Υἱὸν ὀρθῶς πιστεύσῃ, καὶ εἰς τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον, βίον δὲ μὴ ἔχῃ ὀρθὸν, οὐδὲν αὐτῷ κέρδος τῆς πίστεως εἰς σωτηρίαν. Οὐκοῦν καὶ ὅταν λέγῃ, Αὕτη γάρ ἐστιν ἡ αἰώνιος ζωὴ, ἵνα γινώσκωσί σε τὸν μόνον ἀληθινὸν Θεὸν, μὴ νομίσωμεν ἀρκεῖν ἡμῖν εἰς σωτηρίαν τὸ λεγόμενον. Δεῖ γὰρ ἡμῖν καὶ βίου καὶ πολιτείας ἀκριβεστάτης: ἐπεὶ καὶ ἐνταῦθα εἴρηκεν, Ὁ πιστεύων εἰς τὸν Υἱὸν, ἔχει ζωὴν αἰώνιον: ἀλλὰ τὸ τούτου ἑξῆς τέθεικε σφοδρότερον. Οὐδὲ γὰρ ἀπὸ τῶν χρηστῶν μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν ἐναντίων τὸν λόγον ὑφαίνει. Καὶ ὅρα πῶς. Ἐπήγαγε γάρ: Ὁ δὲ ἀπειθῶν τῷ Υἱῷ, οὐκ ὄψεται τὴν ζωὴν, ἀλλ' ἡ ὀργὴ τοῦ Θεοῦ μένει ἐπ' αὐτόν. Ἀλλ' ὅμως οὐδὲ ἐντεῦθέν φαμεν ἀρκεῖν τὴν πίστιν εἰς σωτηρίαν μόνην. Καὶ δείκνυσι τὰ περὶ βίου πολλαχοῦ τῶν Εὐαγγελίων εἰρημένα. Διά τοι τοῦτο οὐκ εἶπεν, αὕτη δέ ἐστιν ἡ αἰώνιος ζωὴ μόνη: οὐδὲ, ὁ πιστεύων εἰς τὸν Υἱὸν μόνον ἔχει αἰώνιον ζωήν: ἀλλ' ἐν ἑκατέρῳ τοῦτο ἐμφαίνει, ὅτι ἔχει ζωὴν τὸ πρᾶγμα. Ἂν μέντοι τὰ τῆς πολιτείας μὴ ἀκολουθῇ, πολλὴ ἕψεται ἡ κόλασις. Καὶ οὐκ εἶπε, Μένει αὐτὸν, ἀλλ' Ἐπ' αὐτὸν, δηλῶν ὅτι οὐδέποτε ἀπ' αὐτοῦ ἀποστήσεται. Ἵνα γὰρ μὴ νομίσῃς θάνατον εἶναι πρόσκαιρον τὸ, Οὐκ ὄψεται ζωὴν, ἀλλὰ πιστεύσῃς ὅτι διηνεκὴς ἡ κόλασις, τοῦτο τέθεικε τὸ ῥῆμα, δεικνὺς ὅτι ἐνιζάνει αὐτῷ διηνεκῶς. Ἐποίησε δὲ τοῦτο, διὰ τούτων αὐτοὺς τῶν ῥημάτων ὠθῶν πρὸς τὸν Χριστόν. Διόπερ οὐδὲ ἰδίᾳ πρὸς αὐτοὺς τὴν παραίνεσιν ἐποιήσατο, ἀλλὰ καθολικὴν, καὶ ὡς ἂν μάλιστα αὐτοὺς ἐπαγαγέσθαι ἐδύνατο. Οὐ γὰρ εἶπεν, ἐὰν πιστεύσητε, καὶ, ἐὰν μὴ πιστεύσητε: ἀλλ' ἐπὶ τοῦ κοινοῦ προάγει τὸν λόγον, ὥστε ἀνύποπτα γενέσθαι τὰ λεγόμενα: καὶ σφοδρότερον ἢ ὁ Χριστὸς τοῦτο πεποίηκεν. Ὁ μὲν γὰρ Χριστὸς εἶπεν, ὅτι Ὁ μὴ πιστεύων ἤδη κέκριται: οὗτος δὲ, Οὐκ ὄψεται τὴν ζωὴν, ἀλλ' ἡ ὀργὴ τοῦ Θεοῦ μένει ἐπ' αὐτόν: καὶ μάλα εἰκότως. Οὐ γὰρ ὁμοίως ἦν αὐτόν τινα περὶ ἑαυτοῦ λέγειν, καὶ ἕτερον περὶ αὐτοῦ. Τὸν μὲν γὰρ Χριστὸν ἐνόμισαν ἂν φιλαυτίας ἕνεκεν ταῦτα πολλάκις φθέγγεσθαι καὶ κομπάζειν: ὁ δὲ Ἰωάννης ταύτης ἀπήλλακτο τῆς ὑποψίας. Εἰ δὲ μετὰ ταῦτα καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς σφοδροτέρῳ κέχρηται λόγῳ, ἀλλ' ὅτε μεγάλην τὴν περὶ αὐτοῦ δόξαν ἔσχον λοιπόν. Ὡς οὖν ἔγνω ὁ Ἰησοῦς, ὅτι ἤκουσαν οἱ Φαρισαῖοι, ὅτι Ἰησοῦς πλείονας μαθητὰς ποιεῖ καὶ βαπτίζει ἢ Ἰωάννης (καίτοι γε αὐτὸς ὁ Ἰησοῦς οὐκ ἐβάπτιζεν, ἀλλ' οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ), ἀνεχώρησεν ἀπὸ τῆς Ἰουδαίας, καὶ ἦλθεν εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν. Αὐτὸς μὲν οὖν οὐκ ἐβάπτιζεν, οἱ δὲ ἀπαγγέλλοντες, βουλόμενοι διεγεῖραι τοὺς ἀκούοντας εἰς φθόνον, οὕτως ἀπήγγελλον. Τί δήποτε οὖν, φησὶν, ἀνεχώρει; Οὐ δειλίας ἕνεκεν; ἀλλ' ἐκκόπτων αὐτῶν τὴν βασκανίαν, καὶ παραμυθούμενος τὸν φθόνον. Δυνατὸς μὲν γὰρ ἦν καὶ ἐπελθόντας ἐπισχεῖν, ἀλλ' οὐκ ἐβούλετο συνεχῶς τοῦτο ποιεῖν, ὥστε μὴ ἀπιστεῖσθαι τῆς σαρκὸς τὴν οἰκονομίαν. Εἰ γὰρ συνεχῶς κρατούμενος διέφευγε, τοῦτο ἂν ὑπωπτεύθη παρὰ πολλοῖς. Διά τοι τοῦτο τὰ πολλὰ ἀνθρωπινώτερον ᾠκονόμει. Ὥσπερ γὰρ ἐβούλετο πιστευθῆναι ὅτι Θεὸς ἦν, οὕτως ὅτι Θεὸς ὢν, σάρκα ἐφόρει. Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ μετὰ τὴν ἀνάστασιν πρὸς τὸν μαθητὴν ἔλεγε: Ψηλάφησον καὶ ἴδε, ὅτι πνεῦμα σάρκα καὶ ὀστέα οὐκ ἔχει. Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ Πέτρῳ ἐπετίμησεν, εἰπόντι: Ἵλεώς σοι, οὐ μὴ ἔσται τοῦτο. Οὕτω σφόδρα αὐτῷ τὸ πρᾶγμα περισπούδαστον ἦν. βʹ. Ἐπεὶ καὶ τῶν τῆς Ἐκκλησίας δογμάτων οὐ μικρὸν τοῦτο τὸ μέρος ἐστὶ, καὶ τῆς ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν σωτηρίας τὸ κεφάλαιον τοῦτο, καὶ δι' οὗ πάντα γεγένηται καὶ κατώρθωται. Οὕτω γὰρ καὶ θάνατος ἐλύθη, καὶ ἁμαρτία ἀνῃρέθη, καὶ κατάρα ἠφανίσθη, καὶ τὰ μυρία εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὸν βίον ἡμῶν ἀγαθά. Διὸ μάλιστα ἐβούλετο πιστεύεσθαι τὴν οἰκονομίαν, τὴν ῥίζαν καὶ πηγὴν ἡμῖν τῶν μυρίων γενομένην ἀγαθῶν. Οἰκονομῶν δὲ τὰ ἀνθρώπινα, οὔτε τὰ θεῖα συσκιάζεσθαι ἠφίει. Ἀναχωρήσας γοῦν, πάλιν τῶν αὐτῶν εἴχετο ὧν καὶ πρότερον. Οὐ γὰρ ἁπλῶς ἐπὶ τὴν Γαλιλαίαν ἀπήρχετο, ἀλλὰ μεγάλα τινὰ κατασκευάζων πράγματα τὰ κατὰ τοὺς Σαμαρείτας: καὶ οὐχ ἁπλῶς οἰκονομῶν αὐτὰ, ἀλλὰ μετὰ τῆς προσηκούσης αὐτῷ σοφίας, καὶ τοῦ μηδεμίαν καταλιπεῖν Ἰουδαίοις μηδὲ ἀναισχύντου τινὸς ἀπολογίας πρόφασιν. Ὅπερ καὶ ὁ Εὐαγγελιστὴς αἰνιττόμενος ἐπήγαγεν, Ἔδει δὲ αὐτὸν διέρχεσθαι διὰ τῆς Σαμαρείας, δεικνὺς ὁδοῦ πάρεργον αὐτὸν τοῦτο ποιούμενον. Οὕτω καὶ οἱ ἀπόστολοι ἐποίουν. Καθάπερ γὰρ ἐκεῖνοι διωκόμενοι ὑπὸ Ἰουδαίων, τότε ἐπὶ τὰ ἔθνη ἤρχοντο: οὕτω καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς, ὅτε αὐτὸν ἀπήλασαν, τότε καὶ ἐκείνων ἥπτετο, ὡς καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς Συροφοινικίσσης ἐποίησε γυναικός. Τοῦτο δὲ ἐγένετο, ὥστε πᾶσαν ἐκκοπῆναι Ἰουδαίοις ἀπολογίαν, καὶ ἵνα μὴ ἐξῇ αὐτοῖς λέγειν, ὅτι καταλιπὼν ἡμᾶς πρὸς τοὺς ἀκροβύστους ἀπῆλθε. Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ οἱ μαθηταὶ ἀπολογούμενοι ἔλεγον: Ὑμῖν ἦν ἀναγκαῖον πρῶτον λαληθῆναι τὸν λόγον τοῦ Θεοῦ: ἐπειδὴ δὲ ἀναξίους κρίνετε ἑαυτοὺς, ἰδοὺ στρεφόμεθα εἰς τὰ ἔθνη: καὶ αὐτὸς πάλιν, Οὐκ ἦλθον εἰ μὴ εἰς τὰ πρόβατα τὰ ἀπολωλότα οἴκου Ἰσραήλ: καὶ πάλιν, Οὐκ ἔστι καλὸν λαβεῖν τὸν ἄρτον τῶν τέκνων, καὶ δοῦναι τοῖς κυναρίοις. Ἐπειδὴ δὲ αὐτὸν ἀπήλασαν, θύραν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν ἀνέῳξαν. Καὶ οὐδὲ οὕτω προηγουμένως ἐπ' ἐκείνους ἔρχεται, ἀλλὰ παριών. Παριὼν τοίνυν, Ἦλθεν εἰς πόλιν τῆς Σαμαρείας λεγομένην Συχὰρ, πλησίον τοῦ χωρίου, οὗ ἔδωκεν Ἰακὼβ Ἰωσὴφ τῷ υἱῷ αὑτοῦ: ἦν δὲ ἐκεῖ πηγὴ τοῦ Ἰακώβ. Τίνος ἕνεκεν ἀκριβολογεῖται ὁ Εὐαγγελιστὴς περὶ τοῦ τόπου; Ἵνα ὅταν ἀκούσῃς τῆς γυναικὸς λαλούσης, Ἰακὼβ ὁ πατὴρ ἡμῶν ἔδωκεν ἡμῖν τὴν πηγὴν ταύτην, μὴ ξενισθῇς. Ὁ γὰρ τόπος ἐκεῖνος ἦν ἔνθα ὑπὲρ τῆς Δείνας οἱ περὶ τὸν Λευῒ καὶ Συμεὼν ἀγανακτοῦντες, τὸν χαλεπὸν ἐκεῖνον εἰργάσαντο φόνον. Ἄξιον δὲ εἰπεῖν καὶ πόθεν οἱ Σαμαρεῖται συνέστησαν. Καὶ γὰρ ὁ τόπος οὗτος ἅπας Σαμάρεια καλεῖται. Πόθεν οὖν τὴν προσηγορίαν ἔλαβον; Σομὸρ τὸ ὄρος ἐλέγετο ἀπὸ τοῦ κτησαμένου, καθάπερ καὶ Ἡσαΐας φησί: Καὶ ἡ κεφαλὴ Σομόρων, Ἐφραΐμ: ἀλλ' οἱ κατοικοῦντες οὐ Σαμαρεῖται, ἀλλ' Ἰσραηλῖται ἐλέγοντο. Χρόνου δὲ προϊόντος, προσέκρουσαν τῷ Θεῷ: καὶ βασιλεύσαντος Φακεὲ, ἀνελθὼν Θεγλὰθ Φαλασὰρ, πόλεις τε εἷλε πολλὰς, καὶ ἐπέθετο τῷ Ἠλᾷ, καὶ ἀνελὼν αὐτὸν, Ὠσηὲ τὴν βασιλείαν ἔδωκεν. Ἐπὶ τοῦτον ἐλθὼν ὁ Σαλμανασὰρ, εἷλε πόλεις ἑτέρας, καὶ ὑποφόρους ἐποίησε καὶ ὑποτελεῖς. Ἀλλ' οὗτος τὸ μὲν πρῶτον εἶξεν: ὕστερον δὲ ἀπέστη τῆς ἀρχῆς, καὶ πρὸς τὴν τῶν Αἰθιόπων κατέφυγε συμμαχίαν. Ἔγνω τοῦτο ὁ Ἀσσύριος, καὶ ἐπιστρατεύσας, καὶ ἀνελὼν αὐτοὺς, οὐκ ἔτι τὸ ἔθνος ἐκεῖ μένειν ἀφίησι, διὰ τὰς τοιαύτας τῆς ἀποστάσεως ὑποψίας: ἀλλὰ τούτους μὲν εἰς Βαβυλῶνα ἤγαγε καὶ Μήδους, ἐκεῖθεν δὲ ἔθνη ἐκ διαφόρων τόπων ἀγαγὼν, κατῴκισεν ἐν τῇ Σαμαρείᾳ, ὥστε λοιπὸν ἀσφαλῆ αὐτῷ τὴν ἀρχὴν εἶναι, τῶν οἰκείων ἐχόντων τὸν τόπον. Τούτων δὲ γενομένων, βουλόμενος ὁ Θεὸς δεῖξαι τὴν αὐτοῦ δύναμιν, καὶ ὡς οὐ δι' ἀσθένειαν ἐξέδωκεν Ἰουδαίους, ἀλλὰ δι' ἁμαρτίας τῶν ἐκδοθέντων, ἐπαφίησι λέοντας τοῖς βαρβάροις: οἵτινες ἐλυμαίνοντο τὸ ἔθνος ἅπαν. Ἀπηγγέλη ταῦτα τῷ βασιλεῖ, καὶ πέμπει ἱερέα τινὰ τὸν παραδώσοντα αὐτοῖς τοὺς τοῦ Θεοῦ νόμους. Ἀλλ' ὅμως οὐδὲ οὕτως ἐξ ὁλοκλήρου τῆς ἀσεβείας ἀπέστησαν, ἀλλ' ἐξ ἡμισείας. Χρόνου δὲ προϊόντος, πάλιν τῶν μὲν εἰδώλων ἀπεπήδησαν, ἔσεβον δὲ τὸν Θεόν. Τῶν οὖν πραγμάτων ἐν τούτοις ὄντων, ἐπανελθόντες Ἰουδαῖοι λοιπὸν, ζηλοτύπως πρὸς αὐτοὺς εἶχον ἅτε πρὸς ἀλλοφύλους καὶ πολεμίους, οἳ καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ ὄρους Σαμαρείτας αὐτοὺς ἐκάλουν. Ἰουδαίοις δὲ οὐ μικρὰ καὶ ἐντεῦθεν ἦν πρὸς αὐτοὺς ἡ φιλονεικία. Οὐδὲ γὰρ ταῖς Γραφαῖς πάσαις ἐκέχρηντο, ἀλλὰ τὰ Μωϋσέως μόνα δεχόμενοι, τῶν προφητῶν οὐ πολὺν ἐποιοῦντο λόγον. Ἐφιλονείκουν μέντοι εἰς τὴν εὐγένειαν εἰσωθεῖν ἑαυτοὺς τὴν Ἰουδαϊκὴν, καὶ ἐφιλοτιμοῦντο ἐπὶ τῷ Ἀβραὰμ, καὶ πρόγονον αὐτὸν ἐπεγράφοντο, ἅτε ἀπὸ τῆς Χαλδαίας ὄντα: καὶ τὸν Ἰακὼβ δὲ πατέρα ἐκάλουν, ἅτε ἐκείνου ὄντα ἀπόγονον: οἱ δὲ Ἰουδαῖοι μετὰ πάντων καὶ τούτους ἐβδελύσσοντο. Ὅθεν καὶ τῷ Χριστῷ ταῦτα ὠνείδιζον λέγοντες: Σαμαρείτης εἶ σὺ, καὶ δαιμόνιον ἔχεις: καὶ ἐπὶ τοῦ καταβάντος ἀπὸ Ἱερουσαλὴμ εἰς Ἱεριχὼ, ταύτης ἕνεκεν τῆς ὑποθέσεως ὁ Χριστὸς Σαμαρείτην εἰσάγει, τὸν ἔλεον εἰς αὐτὸν πεποιηκότα, τὸν εὐτελῆ, τὸν εὐκαταφρόνητον, τὸν βδελυκτὸν παρ' αὐτοῖς: καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν δέκα λεπρῶν, ἀλλογενῆ τὸν ἕνα φησὶ διὰ τοῦτο (Σαμαρείτης γὰρ ἦν): καὶ αὐτὸς δὲ τοῖς μαθηταῖς οὕτω λέγων ἐκέλευσεν: Εἰς ὁδὸν ἐθνῶν μὴ ἀπέλθητε, καὶ εἰς πόλιν Σαμαρειτῶν μὴ εἰσέλθητε. γʹ. Οὐ τῆς ἱστορίας δὲ ἕνεκεν μόνης τοῦ τόπου μόνον ἀνέμνησεν ἡμᾶς τοῦ Ἰακὼβ ὁ Εὐαγγελιστὴς, ἀλλὰ καὶ ὑπὲρ τοῦ δεῖξαι τὴν ἀποβολὴν τὴν Ἰουδαϊκὴν πάλαι γεγενημένην. Καὶ γὰρ ἐπὶ τῶν προγόνων αὐτῶν τοὺς τόπους ἀντ' αὐτῶν κατέσχον ἐκεῖνοι. Ἃ γὰρ οἱ πρόγονοι αὐτῶν εἶχον, οὐκ ὄντα αὐτῶν, ταῦτα διὰ τὴν ῥᾳθυμίαν αὐτῶν καὶ παρανομίαν, ὄντα αὐτῶν, ἀπώλεσαν οὗτοι. Οὕτως οὐδὲν κέρδος, προγόνων εἶναι χρηστῶν, ὅταν μὴ τοιοῦτοι τύχωσιν οἱ ἐξ ἐκείνων ὄντες. Οἱ μὲν γὰρ βάρβαροι, ἵνα λεόντων πεῖραν λάβωσι μόνον, πρὸς τὴν Ἰουδαϊκὴν εὐσέβειαν ἐπανῆλθον εὐθέως: ἐκεῖνοι δὲ τοσαύτας ὑπομένοντες τιμωρίας, οὐδὲ οὕτως ἐσωφρονίσθησαν. Ἐνταῦθα τοίνυν ὁ Χριστὸς παρεγένετο, τὸν μὲν βάναυσον καὶ ὑγρὸν ἐκβάλλων βίον ἀεὶ, τὸν δὲ ἐπίπονον εἰσάγων καὶ συνεσταλμένον. Οὐ γὰρ ὑποζυγίοις κέχρηται, ἀλλ' οὕτω βαδίζει συντόνως, ὡς καὶ κοπιᾶσαι ἐκ τῆς ὁδοιπορίας. Καὶ τοῦτο πανταχοῦ παιδεύει, τὸ αὐτουργὸν εἶναι καὶ ἀπέριττον, καὶ τὸ μὴ πολλῶν δεῖσθαι. Οὕτω γὰρ βούλεται τῶν περιττῶν ἀλλοτρίους ἡμᾶς εἶναι, ὡς καὶ αὐτῶν τῶν ἀναγκαίων πολλὰ περικόπτειν. Διὰ τοῦτο ἔλεγεν: Αἱ ἀλώπεκες φωλεοὺς ἔχουσι, καὶ τὰ πετεινὰ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ κατασκηνώσεις: ὁ δὲ Υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου οὐκ ἔχει ποῦ τὴν κεφαλὴν κλίνῃ. Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ ἐν τοῖς ὄρεσι τὰ πλείονα διατρίβει, οὐκ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐν νυκτὶ, καὶ ἐν ταῖς ἐρήμοις. Τοῦτο καὶ ὁ Δαυῒδ ἀνακηρύττων ἔλεγεν, Ἐκ χειμάῤῥου ἐν ὁδῷ πίεται, τὸ εὐσταλὲς αὐτοῦ τοῦ βίου δηλῶν. Τοῦτο καὶ Ἰωάννης ἐνταῦθα δείκνυσιν: Ὁ οὖν Ἰησοῦς κεκοπιακὼς ἐκ τῆς ὁδοιπορίας, ἐκάθητο οὕτως ἐπὶ τῇ πηγῇ. Ὥρα ἦν ὡσεὶ ἕκτη. Ἔρχεται γυνὴ ἐκ τῆς Σαμαρείας ἀντλῆσαι ὕδωρ. Λέγει αὐτῇ ὁ Ἰησοῦς: Δός μοι πιεῖν. Οἱ δὲ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ ἀπῆλθον εἰς τὴν ἀγορὰν, ἵνα τροφὰς ἀγοράσωσιν. Ἐντεῦθεν μανθάνομεν καὶ τὸ περὶ τὰς ὁδοιπορίας εὔτονον αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὸ περὶ τὰς τροφὰς ἠμελημένον, καὶ πῶς παρέργως τῷ πράγματι κέχρηται. Οὕτω γοῦν καὶ οἱ μαθηταὶ ἐπαιδεύθησαν τὰ καθ' ἑαυτοὺς διατίθεσθαι. Οὐ γὰρ ἐπήγοντο ἐφόδια. Καὶ δηλοῖ τοῦτο ἕτερος εὐαγγελιστὴς λέγων, ἡνίκα περὶ τῆς ζύμης τῶν Φαρισαίων αὐτοῖς διελέγετο, ὅτι ἐκεῖνοι ἐνόμιζον ὅτι ἄρτους οὐκ ἐβάσταζον. Καὶ ὅταν πεινῶντας εἰσάγῃ, καὶ τίλλοντας τῶν ἀσταχύων, καὶ ἐσθίοντας, καὶ ὅταν λέγῃ αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τὴν συκῆν διὰ τὴν πεῖναν ἐληλυθέναι, οὐδὲν ἄλλο ἢ τοῦτο διὰ πάντων ἡμᾶς παιδεύει, τὸ καταφρονεῖν γαστρὸς, καὶ μὴ περισπούδαστον τὴν αὐτῆς νομίζειν εἶναι λειτουργίαν. Σκόπει γοῦν αὐτοὺς καὶ ἐνταῦθα, οὔτε ἐπιφερομένους τι, οὔτε ἐπειδὴ μὴ ἐβάσταζον, ἐκ προοιμίων καὶ εὐθὺς τῆς ἡμέρας τούτου φροντίζοντας, ἀλλὰ κατὰ τὸν καιρὸν, καθ' ὃν ἅπαντες ἀριστοποιοῦνται, τροφὰς ἀγοράζοντας. Ἀλλ' οὐχ ἡμεῖς, οἳ εὐθέως ἀπὸ κλίνης διανιστάμενοι πρὸ τῶν ἄλλων τοῦτο σκοπούμεθα, μαγείρους καὶ τραπεζοποιοὺς καλοῦντες, καὶ μετὰ πολλῆς ταῦτα ἐπισκήπτοντες τῆς σπουδῆς, καὶ μετ' ἐκεῖνα τῶν ἄλλων οὕτως ἁπτόμενοι, τὰ βιωτικὰ πρὸ τῶν πνευματικῶν σπουδαῖα ποιούμενοι, καὶ ἃ πάρεργον ἔχειν ἐχρῆν, ὡς ἀναγκαῖα τιμῶντες. Διὰ τοῦτο πάντα ἄνω καὶ κάτω γίνεται. Τοὐναντίον γὰρ ἐχρῆν ἁπάντων τῶν πνευματικῶν πολὺν ποιησαμένους λόγον, μετὰ τὸ πληρῶσαι ἐκεῖνα, τότε ἅπτεσθαι τούτων. Οὐ τὸ ἐπίπονον δὲ μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸ ἄτυφον ἐντεῦθεν δείκνυται, οὐ τῷ κοπιᾶσαι, οὐδὲ τῷ καθίσαι ἐπὶ τῆς ὁδοῦ μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ τῷ καταλειφθῆναι μόνον καὶ τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ ἀπελθεῖν. Καίτοι γε ἐξῆν εἴ γε ἐβούλετο, ἢ μὴ πάντας ἐκπέμψαι, ἢ ἀπελθόντων ἐκείνων, ἑτέρους διακόνους ἔχειν: ἀλλ' οὐκ ἠθέλησε: καὶ γὰρ τοὺς μαθητὰς οὕτως εἴθισε πάντα τῦφον καταπατεῖν. Καὶ τί μέγα, φησὶν, εἰ ἐμετρίαζον, ἴσως εἴποι τις ἂν, ἁλιεῖς ὄντες καὶ σκηνοποιοί; [Ἁλιεῖς μὲν ἦσαν καὶ σκηνοποιοὶ,] ἀλλ' ἀθρόον εἰς αὐτὴν ἀνέβησαν τοῦ οὐρανοῦ τὴν κορυφὴν, καὶ πάντων ἐγένοντο βασιλέων σεμνότεροι, ὁμιληταὶ γενέσθαι καταξιωθέντες τοῦ τῆς οἰκουμένης Δεσπότου, καὶ παρακολουθῆσαι τῷ θαυμαζομένῳ πάντοθεν. Ἴστε δὲ κἀκεῖνο, ὅτι μάλιστα οἱ ἐκ ταπεινῶν ὄντες, ὅταν ἀξιωμάτων ποτὲ λάβωνται, εὐκολώτερον αἴρονται πρὸς ἀπόνοιαν, ἅτε ἀπειροκάλως ἔχοντες πρὸς τὴν τοσαύτην τιμήν. Κατέχων οὖν αὐτοὺς ἐπὶ τῆς αὐτῆς ταπεινοφροσύνης, ἐπαίδευεν αὐτοὺς διὰ πάντων συνεστάλθαι. καὶ μηδαμοῦ δεῖσθαι τῶν διακονησομένων. Αὐτὸς δὲ Κεκοπιακὼς ἐκ τῆς ὁδοιπορίας, φησὶν, ἐκάθητο οὕτως ἐπὶ τῇ πηγῇ. Ὁρᾷς ὅτι διὰ τὸν κόπον ἡ καθέδρα γέγονε, διὰ τὸ καῦμα, διὰ τὸ περιμεῖναι τοὺς μαθητάς; Ἤ|δει μὲν γὰρ συμβησόμενον τὸ κατὰ τοὺς Σαμαρείτας. Οὐκ ἐπὶ τοῦτο δὲ ἦλθε προηγουμένως: οὐ μὴν ἐπειδὴ διὰ τοῦτο οὐκ ἦλθε, παραγενόμενον τὸ γύναιον ἀπώσασθαι ἐχρῆν, οὕτω πολλὴν φιλομάθειαν ἐπιδεικνύμενον. Οἱ μὲν γὰρ Ἰουδαῖοι καὶ πρὸς αὐτοὺς ἐρχόμενον ἀπήλαυνον, οἱ δὲ ἐξ ἐθνῶν καὶ ἀλλαχοῦ βαδίζοντα πρὸς ἑαυτοὺς εἷλκον: καὶ οἱ μὲν ἐφθόνουν, οἱ δὲ ἐπίστευον: ἐκεῖνοι ἠγανάκτουν, οὗτοι ἐθαύμαζον καὶ προσεκύνουν. Τί οὖν; ἔδει τοσούτων σωτηρίαν ὑπεριδεῖν, καὶ προθυμίαν οὕτω γενναίαν ἀφεῖναι; Τοῦτο μὲν οὖν ἀνάξιον ἦν αὐτοῦ τῆς φιλανθρωπίας: διόπερ μετὰ τῆς προσηκούσης αὐτῷ σοφίας πάντα τὰ παρόντα οἰκονομεῖ. Ἐκάθητο μὲν γὰρ, ἀναπαύων τὸ σῶμα, καὶ παρὰ τὴν πηγὴν ἀναψύχων αὐτό. Αὐτὸ γὰρ ἦν τῆς ἡμέρας τὸ μεσαίτατον, ὅπερ καὶ ὁ Εὐαγγελιστὴς ἐδήλωσεν εἰπὼν, Ὥρα ἦν ὡσεὶ ἕκτη: καὶ ἐκάθητο οὕτως. Τί δέ ἐστιν, Οὕτως; Οὐκ ἐπὶ θρόνου, φησὶν, οὐκ ἐπὶ προσκεφαλαίου, ἀλλ' ἁπλῶς καὶ ὡς ἔτυχεν ἐπ' ἐδάφους. Ἔρχεται γυνὴ ἐκ τῆς Σαμαρείας ἀντλῆσαι ὕδωρ. δʹ. Ὅρα πῶς καὶ τὴν γυναῖκα δι' ἄλλο δείκνυσιν ἐξελθοῦσαν, πανταχοῦ τὴν ἀναίσχυντον τῶν Ἰουδαίων ἐπιστομίζων ἀντιλογίαν, καὶ ἵνα μή τις λέγῃ ὅτι ἐναντιοῦται ἑαυτοῦ τῷ προστάγματι, εἰς μὲν πόλιν κελεύων μὴ εἰσιέναι Σαμαρειτῶν, Σαμαρείταις δὲ διαλεγόμενος. Διὸ καὶ τὸ, Ἀπεληλύθεισαν οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ εἰς τὴν πόλιν, ἵνα τροφὰς ἀγοράσωσι, τέθεικεν ὁ Εὐαγγελιστὴς, πολλὰς εἰσάγων αἰτίας τῆς πρὸς αὐτὴν διαλέξεως. Τί οὖν ἡ γυνή; Ἀκούσασα, Δός μοι πιεῖν, σφόδρα συνετῶς εἰς κατασκευὴν ἐρωτήσεως τὸν παρὰ τοῦ Χριστοῦ λόγον λαμβάνει, καὶ λέγει: Πῶς σὺ Ἰουδαῖος ὢν, αἰτεῖς παρ' ἐμοῦ πιεῖν οὔσης γυναικὸς Σαμαρείτιδος; Οὐ γὰρ συγχρῶνται Ἰουδαῖοι Σαμαρείταις. Καὶ πόθεν αὐτὸν Ἰουδαῖον ἐνόμιζεν εἶναι; Ἀπὸ τοῦ σχήματος ἴσως, καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς διαλέξεως. Σὺ δέ μοι σκόπει πῶς διεσκεμμένον τὸ γύναιον ἦν. Εἰ γὰρ ἐχρῆν φυλάξασθαι, τὸν Ἰησοῦν ἐχρῆν, οὐκ ἐκείνην. Οὐ γὰρ εἶπεν, ὅτι Σαμαρεῖται τοῖς Ἰουδαίοις οὐ συγχρῶνται, ἀλλ', Ἰουδαῖοι Σαμαρείτας οὐ προσίενται. Ἀλλ' ὅμως ἡ γυνὴ καίτοι κατηγορίας ἀπηλλαγμένη, ἐπειδὴ ἐνόμισεν ἕτερον αὐτῇ ἀντιπίπτειν, οὐδὲ οὕτως ἐσίγησεν, ἀλλ' ὡς οἴεται διορθοῦται τὸ μὴ κατὰ νόμον γινόμενον. Ἀλλ' ἐκεῖνο ἄν τις διαπορήσειε, πῶς ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐζήτησε παρ' αὐτῆς πιεῖν, τοῦ νόμου οὐκ ἐπιτρέποντος; Εἰ γὰρ λέγοι τις, ὅτι τῷ προειδέναι μὴ δώσουσαν, δι' αὐτὸ μὲν οὖν τοῦτο οὐδὲ αἰτῆσαι ἐχρῆν. Τί οὖν ἔστιν εἰπεῖν; Ὅτι ἀδιάφορον αὐτῷ λοιπὸν ἦν τὰς τοιαύτας ἐκβάλλειν παρατηρήσεις. Ὁ γὰρ τοὺς ἄλλους ἐνάγων εἰς τὸ λύειν, πολλῷ μᾶλλον αὐτὸς αὐτὰς ἂν παρέδραμεν. Οὐ γὰρ τὸ εἰσπορευόμενον, φησὶ, κοινοῖ τὸν ἄνθρωπον, ἀλλὰ τὸ ἐκπορευόμενον. Οὐ μικρὰ δὲ κατηγορία γένοιτ' ἂν τῶν Ἰουδαίων ἡ πρὸς τὴν γυναῖκα διάλεξις, διότι ἐκεῖνοι μὲν πολλάκις ἐπεσπῶντο, καὶ διὰ ῥημάτων καὶ διὰ πραγμάτων, καὶ οὐκ ἠνείχοντο: αὕτη δὲ, ὅρα πῶς κατέχεται ἀπὸ ψιλῆς ἐρωτήσεως. Αὐτὸς μὲν γὰρ οὐκ ἐνεστήσατο τέως ταύτην τὴν πραγματείαν, οὐδὲ τὴν ὁδόν: εἰ δέ τινες παρεγένοντο, οὐκ ἐκώλυε. Καὶ γὰρ τοῖς μαθηταῖς ἁπλῶς ἔλεγεν, εἰς πόλιν Σαμαρειτῶν μὴ εἰσελθεῖν, οὐχὶ καὶ προσιόντας διακρούεσθαι: σφόδρα γὰρ ἀνάξιον ἦν αὐτοῦ τῆς φιλανθρωπίας. Διὰ δὴ τοῦτο καὶ ἀποκρίνεται τῇ γυναικὶ, καί φησιν: Εἰ ᾔδεις τὴν δωρεὰν τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ τίς ἐστιν ὁ λέγων σοι, Δός μοι πιεῖν: σὺ ἂν ᾔτησας αὐτὸν, καὶ ἔδωκεν ἄν σοι ὕδωρ ζῶν. Πρότερον δείκνυσιν ἀξίαν οὖσαν ἀκοῦσαι, καὶ μὴ παροφθῆναι: καὶ τότε ἑαυτὸν ἐκκαλύπτει. Καὶ γὰρ ἔμελλεν εὐθέως μαθοῦσα ὅστις ἐστὶν, ὑπακούσεσθαι καὶ προσέξειν αὐτῷ: ὅπερ περὶ Ἰουδαίων οὐκ ἄν τις εἴποι. Καὶ γὰρ μαθόντες, ᾔτησαν αὐτὸν οὐδὲν, οὐδὲ ἐπεθύμησάν τι μαθεῖν τῶν χρησίμων, ἀλλὰ καὶ ὕβριζον καὶ ἀπήλαυνον. Ἡ δὲ γυνὴ ταῦτα ἀκούσασα, ὅρα πῶς ἐπιεικῶς ἀποκρίνεται: Κύριε, οὔτε ἄντλημα ἔχεις, καὶ τὸ φρέαρ ἐστὶ βαθύ: πόθεν οὖν ἔχεις τὸ ὕδωρ τὸ ζῶν; Τέως αὐτὴν τῆς ὑπονοίας τῆς ταπεινῆς ἀνέστησε, καὶ τοῦ νομίζειν ἕνα τῶν πολλῶν εἶναι. Οὐ γὰρ ἁπλῶς ἐνταῦθα καλεῖ Κύριον, ἀλλὰ πολλὴν ἀπονέμουσα τὴν τιμήν. Ὅτι γὰρ τιμῶσα ταῦτα ἔλεγεν, ἀπὸ τῶν ἑξῆς εἰρημένων δῆλον. Οὐ γὰρ κατεγέλασεν, οὐδὲ ἐκωμῴδησεν, ἀλλὰ διηπόρει τέως. Εἰ δὲ μὴ εὐθέως τὸ πᾶν ἐνενόησε, μὴ θαυμάσῃς: οὐδὲ γὰρ ὁ Νικόδημος. Τί γὰρ ἐκεῖνός φησι; Πῶς δύναται ταῦτα γενέσθαι; καὶ πάλιν: Πῶς δύναται ἄνθρωπος γεννηθῆναι γέρων ὤν: καὶ πάλιν: Μὴ δύναται εἰς τὴν κοιλίαν τῆς μητρὸς αὐτοῦ δεύτερον εἰσελθεῖν καὶ γεννηθῆναι; Αὕτη δὲ αἰδεσιμώτερον: Κύριε, οὔτε ἄντλημα ἔχεις, καὶ τὸ φρέαρ ἐστὶ βαθύ: πόθεν οὖν ἔχεις τὸ ὕδωρ τὸ ζῶν; Ἄλλο πρὸς αὐτὴν ἔλεγεν, ἄλλο δὲ ὑπώπτευεν ἐκείνη, οὐδὲν πλέον ἀκούουσα τῶν ῥημάτων, οὐδὲ ἐννοῆσαι τέως τι ὑψηλὸν δυναμένη, καίτοι γε ἐνῆν εἰπεῖν προπετῶς φθεγγομένην, ὅτι εἰ εἶχες τὸ ὕδωρ τὸ ζῶν, οὐκ ἂν ᾔτησας παρ' ἐμοῦ, ἀλλὰ σαυτῷ παρέσχες ἂν προτέρῳ: νῦν δὲ κομπάζεις. Ἀλλ' οὐδὲν τούτων εἶπεν, ἀλλὰ μετ' ἐπιεικείας ἀποκρίνεται πολλῆς, καὶ ἐν ἀρχῇ καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα. Καὶ γὰρ ἐν ἀρχῇ φησι: Πῶς σὺ Ἰουδαῖος ὢν αἰτεῖς παρ' ἐμοῦ πιεῖν; Καὶ οὐκ εἶπεν, ἅτε πρὸς ἀλλόφυλον, καὶ ἐχθρὸν διαλεγομένη: Μή μοι γένοιτό σοι μεταδοῦναι ἀνθρώπῳ πολεμίῳ καὶ τοῦ ἔθνους ἡμῶν ἠλλοτριωμένῳ. Καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα πάλιν ἀκούσασα μεγάλα λέγοντος, ἐφ' ᾧ μάλιστα δάκνονται οἱ ἐχθροὶ, οὐ κατεγέλασεν, οὐδὲ διέσυρεν: ἀλλὰ τί φησι; Μὴ σὺ μείζων εἶ τοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν Ἰακὼβ, ὃς ἔδωκεν ἡμῖν τὸ φρέαρ τοῦτο, καὶ αὐτὸς ἐξ αὐτοῦ ἔπιε, καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὰ θρέμματα αὐτοῦ; Ὁρᾷς πῶς εἰσωθεῖ ἑαυτὴν εἰς τὴν εὐγένειαν τὴν Ἰουδαϊκήν; Ὃ δὲ λέγει, τοιοῦτόν ἐστιν: Ἐκεῖνος τούτῳ ἐκέχρητο τῷ ὕδατι, καὶ πλέον ἔσχεν οὐδὲν δοῦναι. Ταῦτα δὲ ἔλεγε, δεικνῦσα πῶς ἐκ πρώτης ἀποκρίσεως ἐδέξατο νόημα μέγα καὶ ὑψηλόν. Τὸ γὰρ, Αὐτὸς ἔπιεν ἀπ' αὐτοῦ, καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὰ θρέμματα αὐτοῦ, οὐδὲν ἄλλο αἰνιττομένης ἐστὶν, ἀλλ' ἢ ὅτι ἔσχε μὲν ἔννοιαν μείζονος ὕδατος, οὐχ εὕρισκε δὲ αὐτὸ, οὐδὲ ᾔδει σαφῶς. Ἵνα δὲ καὶ σαφέστερον εἴπω, ὃ βούλεται εἰπεῖν, τοῦτό ἐστιν: Οὐκ ἔχεις εἰπεῖν, φησὶν, ὅτι Ἰακὼβ μὲν ἡμῖν ταύτην ἔδωκε τὴν πηγὴν, ἑτέρᾳ δὲ αὐτὸς ἐχρήσατο: καὶ γὰρ αὐτὸς καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ ἀπ' αὐτῆς ἔπιον, οὐκ ἂν πιόντες, εἴ γε βελτίονα εἶχεν ἑτέραν. Ἀπὸ ταύτης μὲν οὖν οὐδὲ αὐτὸς δυνήσῃ δοῦναι, ἑτέραν δὲ βελτίονα οὐκ ἔστι σε ἔχειν, εἰ μὴ καὶ τοῦ Ἰακὼβ ὁμολογεῖς μείζονα εἶναι σαυτόν. Πόθεν οὖν ἔχεις τὸ ὕδωρ ὃ ἐπαγγέλλῃ δώσειν ἡμῖν: Ἀλλ' οὐχὶ Ἰουδαῖοι οὕτω προσηνῶς αὐτῷ διαλέγονται, καίτοι καὶ αὐτοῖς περὶ τῆς αὐτῆς ὑποθέσεως διελέχθη, τοῦ τοιούτου μνημονεύσας ὕδατος: ἀλλ' οὐδὲν ἐκέρδαναν. Ὅτε δὲ τοῦ Ἀβραὰμ ἐμνημόνευσε, καὶ λίθοις βάλλειν αὐτὸν ἐπεχείρουν. Ἀλλ' οὐχ ἡ γυνὴ τοῦτον αὐτῷ τὸν τρόπον προσφέρεται, ἀλλὰ μετὰ πολλῆς τῆς ἐπιεικείας ἐν μέσῳ καύματι, καὶ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ μέσῃ, καὶ λέγει καὶ ἀκούει πάντα μετὰ μακροθυμίας πολλῆς, καὶ οὐδὲν ἐννοεῖ τι τοιοῦτον οἷον εἰκὸς Ἰουδαίους εἰπεῖν, ὅτι Μαίνεται καὶ ἐξέστηκεν οὗτος, προσέδησέ με πηγῇ καὶ φρέατι, παρέχων μὲν οὐδὲν, φυσῶν δὲ τοῖς ῥήμασιν: ἀλλὰ καρτερεῖ καὶ προσεδρεύει, ἕως ἂν εὕρῃ τὸ ζητούμενον. εʹ. Εἰ δὲ γυνὴ Σαμαρεῖτις τοσαύτην ποιεῖται σπουδὴν ὑπὲρ τοῦ μαθεῖν τι χρήσιμον, καὶ παραμένει τῷ Χριστῷ, καίτοι γε ἀγνοοῦσα αὐτόν: τίνος ἡμεῖς τευξόμεθα συγγνώμης, οἱ καὶ εἰδότες αὐτὸν, καὶ μήτε ὄντες παρὰ φρέαρ, μήτε ἐν ἐρημίᾳ, μήτε ἐν ἡμέρᾳ μέσῃ, μήτε ἀκτῖνος καιούσης: ἀλλ' ὑπὸ τὴν ἕω καὶ ὑπὸ τοιοῦτον ὄροφον σκιᾶς ἀπολαύοντες καὶ εὐψυχίας, καὶ μὴ καρτεροῦντες ἀκοῦσαί τι τῶν λεγομένων, ἀλλ' ἀποκναίοντες; Ἀλλ' οὐκ ἐκείνη τοιαύτη, ἀλλ' οὕτω κατέχεται τοῖς λεγομένοις, ὡς καὶ ἑτέρους καλέσαι. Ἰουδαῖοι δὲ οὐ μόνον οὐκ ἐκάλουν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοὺς βουλομένους προσελθεῖν ἐκώλυον καὶ ἐνεπόδιζον: διὸ καὶ ἔλεγον: Μή τις ἐκ τῶν ἀρχόντων ἐπίστευσεν εἰς αὐτόν; Ἀλλ' ὄχλος οὗτος ὁ μὴ γινώσκων τὸν νόμον, ἐπικατάρατοί εἰσι. Μιμησώμεθα τοίνυν τὴν Σαμαρεῖτιν: διαλεχθῶμεν τῷ Χριστῷ. Καὶ γὰρ καὶ νῦν μέσος ἡμῶν ἕστηκε, καὶ διὰ τῶν προφητῶν καὶ διὰ τῶν μαθητῶν ἡμῖν φθεγγόμενος. Ἀκούσωμεν οὖν καὶ πεισθῶμεν. Μέχρι τίνος ζῶμεν εἰκῆ καὶ μάτην; Τὸ γὰρ μὴ τὰ δοκοῦντα τῷ Θεῷ ποιεῖν, εἰκῆ ζῇν ἐστι: μᾶλλον δὲ οὐκ εἰκῆ μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐπὶ κακῷ. Ὅταν γὰρ τὸν δοθέντα ἡμῖν χρόνον ἀναλώσωμεν εἰς οὐδὲν δέον, ἀπελευσόμεθα δίκην δώσοντες τὴν ἐσχάτην τῆς ἀκαίρου δαπάνης. Οὐ γὰρ δήπου ὁ μὲν χρήματα ἐμπορεύσασθαι λαβὼν, εἶτα καταφαγὼν, λόγον ἀπαιτηθήσεται παρὰ τοῦ πιστεύσαντος: ὁ δὲ ζωὴν τοιαύτην δαπανήσας μάτην, οὐ δώσει δίκην. Οὐ διὰ τοῦτο ἡμᾶς ὁ Θεὸς ἤγαγεν εἰς τὸν παρόντα βίον, καὶ ψυχὴν ἐνέπνευσεν, ἵνα τῷ παρόντι χρησώμεθα μόνον, ἀλλ' ἵνα πάντα πρὸς τὴν μέλλουσαν πραγματευσώμεθα ζωήν. Τὰ γὰρ ἄλογα μόνα τῷ παρόντι χρήσιμα βίῳ: ἡμεῖς δὲ διὰ τοῦτο ψυχὴν ἀθάνατον ἔχομεν, ἵνα πρὸς τὴν ἐκείνης τῆς ζωῆς παρασκευὴν πάντα πράξωμεν. Ἵππων μὲν γὰρ, καὶ ὄνων, καὶ βοῶν, καὶ τῶν ἄλλων τῶν τοιούτων βοσκημάτων ἂν ἐρωτήσῃ τις τὴν χρείαν, οὐδεμίαν ἄλλην ἐροῦμεν, ἀλλὰ τὴν ἐν τῷ παρόντι βίῳ διακονίαν. Περὶ δὲ ἡμῶν οὐκ ἔστι τοῦτο εἰπεῖν, ἀλλ' ἡ βελτίων κατάστασις, ἡ μετὰ τὴν ἐντεῦθέν ἐστιν ἀποδημίαν: καὶ δεῖ πάντα ποιεῖν, ἵνα ἐκεῖ λάμψωμεν, ἵνα μετὰ ἀγγέλων χορεύσωμεν, ἵνα τῷ βασιλεῖ παραστήκωμεν διαπαντὸς ἐν τοῖς αἰῶσι τοῖς ἀπεράντοις. Διὰ τοῦτο γὰρ καὶ ἀθάνατος γέγονεν ἡ ψυχὴ, καὶ τὸ σῶμα δὲ ἔσται ἀθάνατον, ἵνα τῶν ἀτελευτήτων ἀπολαύσωμεν ἀγαθῶν. Ἂν δὲ τῇ γῇ προσηλωμένος ᾖς τῶν οὐρανίων προκειμένων, ἐννόησον ὅση γίνεται ὕβρις εἰς τὸν δωρούμενον. Ἐκεῖνος μὲν γὰρ τὰ ἄνω σοι προτείνει: σὺ δὲ οὐ πολὺν αὐτῶν ποιούμενος λόγον, τὴν γῆν ἀνταλλάσσῃ. Διὰ ταῦτα καὶ γέενναν ἠπείλησεν, ἅτε καταφρονούμενος, ἵνα μάθῃς ἐντεῦθεν, ὅσων σαυτὸν ἀποστερεῖς καλῶν. Ἀλλὰ μὴ γένοιτο πεῖραν λαβεῖν τῆς κολάσεως ἐκείνης, ἀλλ' εὐαρεστήσαντας ἡμᾶς τῷ Χριστῷ, τῶν αἰωνίων ἐπιτυχεῖν ἀγαθῶν, χάριτι καὶ φιλανθρωπίᾳ τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, μεθ' οὗ τῷ Πατρὶ ἡ δόξα, ἅμα τῷ ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι, εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.