John Chrysostom, On the First Letter to the Corinthians

Thus, inasmuch as he had with exactness rehearsed unto them all the excellence of love, he exhorts them in what follows, with alacrity to lay hold of it. Wherefore also he said, “Follow after:” for he that is in chase beholds that only which is chased, and towards that he strains himself, and leaves not off until he lay hold of it. He that is in chase, when by himself he cannot, by those that are before him he doth overtake the fugitive, beseeching those who are near with much eagerness to seize and keep it so seized for him until he shall come up. This then let us also do. When of ourselves we do not reach unto love, let us bid them that are near her to hold her, till we come up with her, and when we have apprehended, no more let her go, that she may not again escape us. For continually she springs away from us, because we use her not as we ought, but prefer all things unto her. Therefore we ought to make every effort, so as perfectly to retain her. For if this be done, we require not henceforth much labor, nay rather scarce any; but taking our ease, and keeping holiday224 πανηγυρίζοντες., we shall march on in the narrow path of virtue. Wherefore he saith, “Follow after her.”

Then that they might not suppose that for no other end he brought in the discourse of charity, except that he might extinguish the gifts, he subjoins as follows;

Ver. 1. “Yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts; but rather that ye may prophesy.”

Ver. 2. “For he that speaketh in a tongue, speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth; but in the Spirit he speaketh mysteries.”

Ver. 3. “But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men edification, and exhortation, and comfort.”

At this point he makes a comparison between the gifts, and lowers that of the tongues, showing it to be neither altogether useless, nor very profitable by itself. For in fact they were greatly puffed up on account of this, because the gift was considered to be a great one. And it was thought great because the Apostles received it first, and with so great display; it was not however therefore to be esteemed above all the others. Wherefore then did the Apostles receive it before the rest? Because they were to go abroad every where. And as in the time of building the tower the one tongue was divided into many; so then the many tongues frequently met in one man, and the same person used to discourse both in the Persian, and the Roman, and the Indian, and many other tongues, the Spirit sounding within him: and the gift was called the gift of tongues because he could all at once speak divers languages. See accordingly how he both depresses and elevates it. Thus, by saying, “He that speaketh with tongues, speaketh not unto men, but unto God, for no man understandeth,” he depressed it, implying that the profit of it was not great; but by adding, “but in the Spirit he speaketh mysteries” he again elevated it, that it might not seem to be superfluous and useless and given in vain.

“But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men edification, and exhortation, and comfort.”

Seest thou by what he signifies the choice nature of this gift? i.e., by the common benefit? and how every where he gives the higher honor to that which tends to the profit of the many? For do not the former speak unto men also? tell me. But not so much “edification, and exhortation, and comfort.” So that the being powered by the Spirit is common to both, as well to him that prophesieth, as to him that speaketh with tongues; but in this, the one (he, I mean, who prophesieth) hath the advantage in that he is also profitable unto the hearers. For they who with tongues were not understood by them that had not the gift.

What then? Did they edify no man? “Yes,” saith he, “themselves alone:” wherefore also he adds,

Ver. 4. “He that speaketh in tongue edifieth himself.”

And how, if he know not what he saith? Why, for the present, he is speaking of them who understand what they say;—understand it themselves, but know not how to render it unto others.

“But he that prophesieth edifieth the Church.” Now as great as is the difference between a single person and the Church, so great is the interval between these two. Seest thou his wisdom, how he doth not thrust out the gift and make nothing of it, but signifies it to have some advantage, small though it be, and such as to suffice the possessor only?

[2.] Next, lest they should suppose that in envy to them he depresses the tongues, (for the more part had this gift,) to correct their suspicion he saith,

Ver. 5. “I would have you all speak with tongues, but rather that ye should prophesy: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the Church may receive edifying.”

But “rather” and “greater,” do not mark opposition, but superiority. So that hence also it is evident that he is not disparaging the gift, but leading them to better things, displaying both his carefulness on their behalf, and a spirit free from all envy. For neither did he say, “I would that two or three,” but, “that ye all spake with tongues” and not this only, but also, “that ye prophesied;” and this rather than that; “for greater is he that prophesieth.” For since he hath established and proved it, he next proceeds also to assert it; not however simply, but with a qualification. Accordingly he adds, “except he interpret;” since if he be able to do this, I mean the interpreting, “he hath become equal unto the prophet,” so he speaks, “because then there are many who reap the advantage of it;” a thing to be especially observed, how this throughout, before all else, is his object,

Ver. 6. “But now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching?”

“And why speak I,” saith he, “of the rest? Nay, let the person who speaketh with tongues be Paul: for not even so will any good come to the hearers.” And these things he saith to signify that he is seeking their profit, not bearing any grudge against them that have the gift; since not even in his own person doth he shrink from pointing out its unprofitableness. And indeed it is his constant way to work out the disagreeable topics in his own person: as in the beginning of the Epistle he said, “Who then is Paul? and who is Apollos? and who is Cephas?” This same then he doth also here, saying, “Not even I shall profit you, except I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of prophesying, or of knowledge, or of teaching.” And what he means is, “if I say not somewhat that can be made intelligible to you and that may be clear, but merely make display of my having the gift of tongues;—tongues which ye do not understand, ye will go away with no sort of profit. For how should you profit by a voice which ye understand not?”

[3] Ver. 7. “Even things without life, giving a voice, whether pipe or harp, if they give not a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped?”

“And why do I say,” saith he, “that in our case this is unprofitable, and that only useful which is clear and easy to be apprehended by the hearers? Since even in musical instruments without life one may see this: for whether it be pipe or harp, yet if it be struck or blown confusedly and unskilfully, without proper cadence or harmony, it will captivate none of the hearers. For even in these inarticulate sounds there is need of some distinctness: and if thou strike not or breathe into the pipe according to art, thou hast done nothing. Now if from things without life we require so much distinctness, and harmony, and appropriateness, and into those inarticulate sounds we strive and contend to infuse so much meaning, much more in men indued with life and reason, and in spiritual gifts, ought one to make significancy an object.

Ver. 8. “For if the trumpet give an uncertain voice, who shall prepare himself for war?”

Thus from things merely ornamental he carries on his argument to those which are more necessary and useful; and saith that not in the harp alone, but in the trumpet also one may see this effect produced. For in that also there are certain measures; and they give out at one time a warlike note, and at another one that is not so; and again sometimes it leads out to line of battle and at others recalls from it: and unless one know this, there is great danger. Which is just what he means, and the mischief of it what he is manifesting, when he saith, “who shall prepare himself for war?” So then, if it have not this quality, it is the ruin of all. “And what is this to us,” saith one? Truly it concerns you very especially; wherefore also he adds,

Ver. 9. “So also ye, unless ye utter by the tongue, speech easy to be understood, ye will be speaking into the air:” i.e., calling to nobody, speaking unto no one. Thus every where he shows its unprofitableness.

[4.] “But if it be unprofitable, why was it given?” saith one. So as to be useful to him that hath received it. But if it is to be so to others also, there must be added interpretation. Now this he saith, bringing them near to one another; that if a person himself have not the gift of interpretation, he may take unto him another that hath it, and make his own gift useful through him. Wherefore he every where points out its imperfection, that so he may bind them together. Any how, he that accounts it to be sufficient for itself, doth not so much commend it as disparage it, not suffering it to shine brightly by the interpretation. For excellent indeed and necessary is the gift, but it is so when it hath one to explain what is spoken. Since the finger too is a necessary thing, but when you separate it from the other members, it will not be equally useful: and the trumpet is necessary, but when it sounds at random, it is rather an annoyance. Yea, neither shall any art come to light, without matter subject to it; nor is matter put into shape, if no form be assigned to it. Suppose then the voice to be as the subject-matter, but the distinctness as that form, which not being present, there will be no use in the material.

Ver. 10. “There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and no kind is without signification:” i.e., so many tongues, so many voices of Scythians, Thracians, Romans, Persians, Moors, Indians, Egyptians, innumerable other nations.

Ver. 11. “If then I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be to him that speaketh a barbarian.” “For suppose not,” saith he, “that this happens only in our case; rather in all one may see this taking place: so that I do not say this to disparage the voice, but to signify that to me it is useless, as long as it is not intelligible.” Next, that he may not render the accusation unpalatable, he makes his charge alike for the two, saying, “He shall be unto me a barbarian, and I to him.” Not from the nature of the voice, but from our ignorance. Seest thou how by little and little he draws men to that which is akin to the subject. Which is his use to do, to fetch his examples from afar, and to end with what more properly belongs to the matter. For having spoken of a pipe and harp, wherein is much that is inferior and unprofitable, he comes to the trumpet, a thing more useful; next, from that he proceeds to the very voice itself. So also before, when he was discoursing to show that it was not forbidden the Apostles to receive, beginning first with husbandmen, and shepherds, and soldiers, then he brought the discourse on to that which is nearer to the subject, the priests in the old covenant.

But do thou, I pray, consider, how every where he hath given diligence to free the gift from censure, and to bring round the charge to the receivers of it. For he said not, “I shall be a barbarian,” but, “unto him that speaketh, a barbarian.” And again, he did not say, “he that speaketh shall be a barbarian,” but “he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me225 ὁ ἐμοι λαλῶν, he that speaketh unto me..”

[5.] “What then must be done?” saith he. Why, so far from disparaging, one ought to recommend and to teach it; as indeed himself also doth. Since after he had accused and rebuked it and shown its unprofitableness, he proceeds to counsel them; saying,

Ver. 12. “So also ye, since as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may abound unto the edifying of the Church.”

Seest thou his aim every where, how he looks to one thing continually and in all cases, the general utility, the profiting the Church; laying this down as a kind of rule? And he did not say, “that ye may obtain the gifts” but, “that ye may abound,” i.e., that ye may even possess them in great plenitude. Thus, so far am I from wishing you not to possess them, that I even wish you to abound in them, only so that ye handle them with a view to the common advantage. And how is this to be done? This he adds, saying,

Ver. 13. “Wherefore let him that speaketh in a tongue pray that he may interpret.”

Ver. 14. “For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.”

Ver. 15. “What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also; I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.”

Here he shows that it is in their power to obtain the gift. For, “let him pray,” saith he, i.e., “let him contribute his own part,” since if thou ask diligently, thou wilt surely receive. Ask accordingly not to have the gift of tongue only, but also of interpretation, that thou mayest become useful unto all, and not shut up thy gift in thyself alone. “For if I pray in a tongue,” saith he, “my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.” Seest thou how by degrees bringing his argument to a point, he signifies that not to others only is such an one useless, but also to himself; if at least “his understanding is unfruitful?” For if a man should speak only in the Persian, or any other foreign tongue, and not understand what he saith, then of course to himself also will he be thenceforth a barbarian, not to another only, from not knowing the meaning of the sound. For there were of old many who had also a gift of prayer, together with a tongue; and they prayed, and the tongue spake, praying either in the Persian or Latin language226 [From this phrase—a similar one occurs in the next homily—it seems that Chrysostom held the tongue to mean the power of speaking in a language not before acquired. Most modern expositors understand by it an ecstatic utterance, a view which Tertullian alone of the patristic writers held.—C.], but their understanding knew not what was spoken. Wherefore also he said, “If I pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth,” i.e., the gift which is given me and which moves my tongue, “but my understanding is unfruitful.”

What then may that be which is best in itself, and doth good? And how ought one to act, or what request of God? To pray, “both with the spirit,” i.e., the gift, and “with the understanding.”227 διανοίᾳ. Wherefore also he said, “I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.”

[6.] He signifieth the same thing here also, that both the tongue may speak, and the understanding may not be ignorant of the things spoken. For except this be so, there will also be another confusion.

Ver. 16. “Else,” saith he, “if thou bless with the spirit, how shall he that filleth the place of the unlearned say the Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he knoweth not what thou sayest?”

Ver. 17. “For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.”

Observe how again here he brings his stone to the plumb-line,228 πρὸς τὴν σπάρτην τὸν λίθον ἆγει. every where seeking the edification of the Church. Now by the “unlearned”229 ἰδιώτην. he means the laymen, and signifies that he also suffers no little loss when he is unable to say the Amen. And what he saith is this: “if thou shalt bless in a barbarian tongue, not knowing what thou sayest, nor able to interpret, the layman cannot respond the Amen. For not hearing the words, ‘forever and ever,’ which are at the end230 i.e., at the end of the Long Thanksgiving in that part of the Service for the Holy Eucharist, which is called the Anaphora. Vid. Brett’s Liturgies, 1838, p. 9, 16, 37, &c., he doth not say the Amen.” Then again, comforting him concerning this, that he might not seem to hold the gift too cheap; the same kind of remark as he made above, that “he speaketh mysteries,” and “speaketh unto God,” and “edifieth himself,” and “prayeth with the spirit,” intending no little comfort from these things, this also he utters here, saying, “for thou indeed givest thanks well,” since thou speakest being moved by the Spirit: but the other hearing nothing nor knowing what is said, stands there, receiving no great advantage by it.”

[7.] Further, because he had run down the possessors of this gift, as though they had no such great thing; that he might not seem to hold them cheap, as being himself destitute of it, see what he saith:

Ver. 18. “I thank God, speaking231 λαλῶν. Rec. vers. “I speak.” with tongues more than ye all.”

And this he doth also in another place intending, namely, to take away the advantages of Judaism and to show that henceforth they are nothing, he begins by declaring that himself had been endowed with them, yea, and that in very great excess; and then he calls them “loss,” thus saying, “If any man thinketh to have confidence in the flesh, I more: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; as touching zeal, persecuting the Church; as touching the righteousness which is the law, found blameless.” (Philip. iii. 4–7.) And then, having signified himself to have the advantage of all, he saith, “Howbeit what things were gain to me, those have I counted loss for Christ.” So also he doth here, saying, “I speak with tongues more than ye all.” Do not ye therefore glory as though ye only had the gift. For I also possess it, yea more than ye.

Ver. 19. “Howbeit in the Church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also.”

What is that, “speak with my understanding, that I might instruct others also?” “Understanding what I say,” and “words which I can both interpret to others, and speak intelligently, and teach the hearers.” “Than ten thousand words in a tongue.” Wherefore? “That I may instruct others,” saith he. For the one hath but display only; the other, great utility: this being what he everywhere seeks, I mean the common profit. And yet the gift of tongues was strange, but that of prophecy familiar and ancient and heretofore given to many; this on the contrary then first given: howbeit it was not much cared for by him. Wherefore neither did he employ it; not because he had it not, but because he always sought the more profitable things: being as he was free from all vain-glory, and considering one thing only, how he might render the hearers better.

[8.] And here is the reason of the faculty he had of looking to the expedient both to himself and to others: viz. because he was free from vain-glory. Since he assuredly that is enslaved by it, so far from discerning what is good to others, will not even know his own.

Such was Simon, who, because he looked to vain-glory, did not even see his own advantage. Such also were the Jews, who because of this sacrificed232 προέπιον. their own salvation to the devil. Hence also did idols spring, and by this madness did the heathen philosophers excite themselves, and make shipwreck in their false doctrines. And observe the perverseness of this passion: how because of it some of them also made themselves poor, others were eager for wealth. So potent is its tyranny that it prevails even in direct contraries. Thus one man is vain of chastity, and contrariwise another of adultery; and this man of justice, and another of injustice; so of luxury and fasting, modesty and rashness, riches and poverty. I say poverty: since some of them that were with out, when it was in their power to receive, for admiration’s sake forbore to receive. But not so the Apostles: that they were pure from vainglory, they showed by their doings: in that, when some were calling them Gods and were ready to sacrifice-unto them oxen with garlands, they did not merely just forbid what was doing, but they even rent their clothes. (Acts xiv. 13, 14.) And after they had set the lame man upright, when all with open mouths were gazing at them, they said, “Why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power we had made this man to walk233 Acts iii. 14, ἢ εὐσεβεία om.?” And those, among men who admired poverty, chose to themselves a state of poverty: but these among persons who despised poverty and gave praise to wealth. And these, if they received aught, ministered to the needy. Thus, not vain-glory but benevolence, was the motive of all they did. But those quite the reverse; as enemies and pests of our common nature, and no otherwise, did they such things. Thus one sunk all his goods in234 Aristippus. See Hor. Sat. ii. 3. 100; Cic. de Invent. ii. 58. the sea for no good purpose, imitating fools and madmen: and another let all his land go to sheep common.235 Democritus. See Hor. Ep. i. 12. Thus they did every thing for vain-glory. But not so the Apostles; rather they both received what was given them, and distributed to the needy with so great liberality that they even lived in continual hunger. But if they had been enamored of glory, they would not have practiced this, the receiving and distributing, for fear of some suspicion arising against them. For he who throws away his own for glory, will much more refuse to receive the things of others, that he may not be accounted to stand in need of others nor incur any suspicion. But these thou seest both ministering to the poor, and themselves begging for them. So truly were they more loving than any fathers.

[9.] And observe also their laws, how moderate and freed from all vain-glory. Thus: “Having” saith he,” food and covering, let us therewith be content.” (1 Tim. vi. 8.) Not like him of Sinope236 Diogenes the Cynic., who clothed in rags and living in a cask to no good end, astonished many, but profited none: whereas Paul did none of these things; (for neither had he an eye to ostentation;) but was both clothed in ordinary apparel with all decency, and lived in a house continually, and displayed all exactness in the practice of all other virtue; which the cynic despised, living impurely and publicly disgracing himself, and dragged away by his mad passion for glory. For if any one ask the reason of his living in a cask, he will find no other but vain-glory alone. But Paul also paid rent for the house wherein he abode at Rome. Although he who was able to do things far severer, could much more have had strength for this. But he looked not to glory, that savage monster, that fearful demon, that pest of the world, that poisonous viper. Since, as that animal tears through the womb of her parent with her teeth, so also this passion tears in pieces him that begets it.

[10.] By what means then may one find a remedy for this manifold distemper? By bringing forward those that have trodden it under foot, and with an eye to their image so ordering one’s own life. For so the patriarch Abraham.—nay, let none accuse me of tautology if I often make mention of him, and on all occasions: this being that which most of all shows him wonderful, and deprives them that refuse to imitate him of all excuse. For, if we exhibit one doing well in this particular, and another in that, some one might say that virtue is hardly to be attained; for that it is scarcely possible to succeed in all those things together, whereof each one of the saints hath performed only a part. But when one and the same person is found to possess all, what excuse will they have, who after the law and grace are not able to attain unto the same measure with them that were before the law and grace? How then did this Patriarch overcome and subdue this monster, when he had a dispute with his nephew? (Gen. xiii. 8.) For so it was, that coming off worst and losing the first share, he was not vexed. But ye know that in such matters the shame is worse than the loss to the vulgar-minded, and particularly when a person having all in his own power, as he had then, and having been the first to give honor, was not honored in return. Nevertheless, none of these things vexed him, but he was content to receive the second place, and when wronged by the young man, himself old, an uncle by a nephew, he was not indignant nor took it ill, but loved him equally and ministered to him. Again, having been victorious in that great and terrible fight, and having mightily put to flight the Barbarians (Gen. xiv.) he doth not add show to victory, nor erect a trophy. For he wished to save only, not to exhibit himself. Again, he entertained strangers, yet did he not here act vain-gloriously, but himself both ran to them and bowed down to them, not as though he were giving, but receiving a benefit, and he calleth them lords, without knowing who they are who are come to him, and presents his wife in the place of a handmaiden. (Gen. xviii.) And in Egypt too before this, when he had appeared so extraordinary a person, and had received back this very woman, his wife, and had enjoyed so great honor (Gen. xii.) he showeth it to no man. And though the inhabitants of the place called him prince, he himself even laid down the price of the sepulchre. (Gen. xxiii. 6.) And when he sent to betroth a wife for his son, he gave no command to speak in high and dignified terms of him, (Gen. xxiv.) but merely to bring the bride.

[11.] Wilt thou examine also the conduct of those under grace, when from every side great was the glory of the teaching flowing round them, and wilt thou see then also this passion cast out? Consider, I pray, this same Apostle who speaks these things, how he ever ascribes the whole to God, how of his sins he makes mention continually, but of his good deeds never, unless perchance it should be needful to correct the disciples; and even if he be compelled to do this, he calls the matter folly, and yields the first place to Peter, and is not ashamed to labor with Priscilla and Aquila, and every where he is eager to show himself lowly, not swaggering in the market place, nor carrying crowds with him, but setting himself down among the obscure. Wherefore also he said, “but his bodily presence is weak.” (2 Cor. x. 10.) i.e., easy to be despised, and not at all accompanied with display. And again, “I pray that ye do no evil, not that we may appear approved.” And what marvel if he despise this glory? seeing that he despises the glory of heaven, and the kingdom, and hell, for that which was pleasing unto Christ: for he wishes237 [Rather he could wish, i.e., if it were proper. C.] himself to be accursed from Christ for the glory of Christ. For if he saith that he is willing to suffer this for the Jews’ sake, he saith it on this account that none of those without understanding might think to take to himself the promises made to them. If therefore he were ready to pass by those things, what marvel is it if he despise human things?

[12.] But the men of our time are overwhelmed by all things, not by desire of glory only, but also, on the other hand, by insult and fear of dishonor. Thus, should any one praise, it would puff thee up, and if he blame, it would cast thee down. And as weak bodies are by common accidents injured, so also souls which grovel on earth. For such not poverty alone, but even wealth destroys, not grief only, but likewise joy, and prosperity more than adversity. For poverty compels to be wise, but wealth leads on oftentimes into some great evil. And as men in a fever are hard to be pleased in any thing, so also they that are depraved in mind on every side receive hurt.

Knowing therefore these things, let us not shun poverty, let us not admire riches: but prepare our soul to be sufficient for all estates. For so any one building an house doth not consider how neither rain may descend, nor sunbeam light on it, (for this were impossible,) but how it may be made capable of enduring all. And he again that builds a ship doth not fashion and design any thing to keep waves from breaking against it, or any tempest from rising in the sea: (for this too were impossible:) but that the sides of the ship may be ready to meet all. And again, he that cares for the body doth not look to this that there may be no inequality in the temperature, but that the body may easily endure all these things. So accordingly let us act in respect of the soul, and neither be anxious to fly poverty nor to become rich, but to regulate each of them for our own safety.

Wherefore, letting alone these things, let us render our soul meet both for wealth and poverty. For although no calamity, such as man is subject to, befall, which is for the most part impossible, even thus, better is he that seeks not wealth, but knows how to bear all things easily than he that is always rich. And why? First, such an one hath his safety from within, but the other from without. And as he is a better soldier who trusts to his bodily powers and skill in fighting, than he that hath his strength in his armor only; so he that relies on his wealth, compared with him that is fenced in by his virtue, is inferior. Secondly, because even if he do not fall into poverty, it is impossible that he should be without trouble. For wealth hath many storms and troubles; but not so virtue, but pleasure only and safety. Yea, and it puts a man out of the reach of them that lay snares for him, but wealth quite the contrary, rendering him easy to be attacked and taken. And as among animals, stags and hares are of all most easily taken through their natural timidity, but the wild boar, and the bull, and the lion, would not easily fall in the way of the liers-in-wait; just so one may see in the case of the rich, and of them that live voluntarily in poverty. The one is like the lion and the bull, the other like the stag and the hare. For whom doth not the rich man fear? Are there not robbers, potentates, enviers, informers? And why speak I of robbers and informers, in a case where a man suspects his very domestics?

[13.] And why say I, “when he is alive?” Not even when dead is he freed from the villainy of the robbers, nor hath death power to set him in safety, but the evil doers despoil him even when dead, so dangerous a thing is wealth. For not only do they dig into houses, but they even burst open tombs and coffins. What then can be more wretched than this man, since not even death can furnish him with this security, but that wretched body, even when deprived of life, is not freed from the evils of life, those that commit such wickedness hastening to war even with dust and ashes, and much more grievously than when it was alive? For then, it might be, entering his storehouse, they would remove his chests, but abstain from his person, and would not take so much as to strip the body itself but now the accursed hands of the tombbreakers do not even abstain from these, but move and turn it about, and with much cruelty insult it. For after it hath been committed to the ground, having stripped it both of its covering of earth and of that which its grave-clothes constitute, they leave it thus to be cast out.

What foe then so deadly as wealth, which destroys both the soul of the living, and insults the body of the dead, not suffering it even to lie buried in the ground, which is common even to the condemned and to them that have been taken in the vilest crimes? For of them the legislators having exacted the punishment of death, inquire no further; but of these, wealth even after death exacts a most bitter punishment, exposing them naked and unburied, a dreadful and pitiable spectacle: since even those who suffer this after sentence and by the anger of their judges, do not suffer so grievously as these. For they indeed remain unburied the first and second day, and so are committed to the ground; but these, when they have been committed to the ground, are then stripped naked and insulted. And if the robbers depart without taking the coffin too, there is still no thanks to their wealth, but in this case also to their poverty. For she it is that guards it. Whereas most assuredly, had we intruded wealth with even so much as this, and leaving off to form it of stone, had forged it of gold, we should have lost this also.

So faithless a thing is wealth; which belongs not so much to them that have it, as to them that endeavor to seize it. So that it is but a superfluous argument which aims to show that wealth is irresistible, seeing that not even on the day of their death do its possessors obtain security. And yet who is not reconciled with the departed, whether it be wild beast, or demon, or whatever else? The very sight being enough to bend even one who is altogether iron, and quite past feeling. Wherefore, you know, when one sees a corpse, though it be an enemy public or private whom he sees, yet he weeps for him in common with his dearest friends; and his wrath is extinguished with life, and pity is brought in. And it would be impossible, in time of mourning and carrying out of burial, to distinguish an enemy from him who is not such. So greatly do all men revere their common nature, and the customs which have been introduced respecting it. But wealth not even on obtaining this, remits her anger against her possessors; nay, it renders them that have been no way wronged enemies of the dead; if at least to strip the dead body be an act of persons very bitter and hostile. And nature for her part reconciles even his enemies to him then: but wealth makes foes of them that have nothing to accuse him of, and cruelly intreats the body in its utter desolation. And yet in that case there are many things which might lead one to pity, the fact of its being a corpse, its inability to move, and tending to earth and corruption, the absence of any one to help: but none of these things soften those accursed wretches, because of the tyranny they are under from their base cupidity. For the passion of covetousness, like some ruthless tyrant, is at hand, enjoining those inhuman commands and having made wild beasts of them, so brings them to the tombs. Yea, like wild beasts attacking the dead, they would not even abstain from their flesh, if their limbs were any way useful unto them. Such is our enjoyment of wealth; to be insulted even after death, and deprived of sepulture which even the most desperate criminals obtain.

[14.] Are we still then, tell me, to be fond of so grievous an enemy? Nay, I beseech you, nay, my brethren! but let us fly from it without turning to look: and if it come into our hands, let us not keep it within, but bind it fast by the hands of the poor. For these are the bonds which have more power to hold it, and from those treasuries it will never more escape; and so this faithless one abides for the time to come faithful, tractable, tame, the right hand of Mercy producing this effect on it.

As I have said then, if it ever come to us, let us hand it over to her; but if it come not, let us not seek after it, nor fret ourselves, nor count its possessors happy; for what sort of a notion of happiness is this? Unless thou wouldest also say that those who fight with beasts are to be envied, because those high-priced animals are shut up and reserved by the proposers of such contests for themselves: who however not daring themselves to approach or to touch them, but fearing and trembling because of them, hand over others to them. Something like this, I say, is the case of the wealthy, when they have shut up their wealth in their treasuries as if it were some savage beast, and day by day receive from it innumerable wounds: in this latter unlike to the beasts: since they, when thou leadest them out, then, and not till then, hurt such as meet them: but this, when it is shut up and preserved, then destroys its possessors and hoarders.

But let us make this beast tame. And it will be tame, if we do not shut it up, but give it into the hands of all who are in need. So shall we reap from this quarter the greatest blessings, both living in the present life with safety and a good hope, and in the day that is to come standing with boldness: to which may we all attain, through the grace and mercy, &c. &c.

ΟΜΙΛΙΑ ΛΕʹ. Διώκετε τὴν ἀγάπην: ζηλοῦτε δὲ τὰ πνευματικὰ, μᾶλλον δὲ ἵνα προφητεύητε. αʹ. Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ μετὰ ἀκριβείας τὴν ἀρετὴν αὐτοῖς κατέλεξεν ἅπασαν τῆς ἀγάπης, παραινεῖ λοιπὸν μετὰ προθυμίας αὐτῆς ἀντέχεσθαι: διὸ καὶ ἔλεγε, Διώκετε. Ὁ γὰρ διώκων ἐκεῖνο μόνον ὁρᾷ τὸ διωκόμενον, καὶ πρὸς ἐκεῖνο τέταται, καὶ οὐκ ἀφίσταται ἕως ἂν λάβῃ. Ὁ διώκων ὅταν δι' ἑαυτοῦ μὴ δυνηθῇ, διὰ τῶν πρὸ αὐτοῦ καταλαμβάνει τὸν φεύγοντα, τοὺς ἐγγὺς ὄντας μετὰ πολλῆς παρακαλῶν τῆς σπουδῆς κατέχειν καὶ τηρεῖν αὐτῷ κατασχεθέντα, ἕως ἂν φθάσῃ. Τοῦτο δὴ καὶ ἡμεῖς ποιῶμεν: καὶ ὅταν αὐτοὶ μὴ φθάνωμεν τὴν ἀγάπην, τοὺς ἐγγὺς ὄντας αὐτῆς κελεύωμεν κατέχειν αὐτὴν, ἕως ἂν φθάσωμεν πρὸς αὐτήν: εἶτα ἐπειδὰν ἐπιλαβώμεθα, μηκέτ' ἀφῶμεν αὐτὴν, ἵνα μὴ πάλιν ἡμᾶς διαφύγῃ. Συνεχῶς γὰρ ἡμῶν ἀποπηδᾷ, ἐπειδὴ οὐκ εἰς δέον αὐτῇ κεχρήμεθα, ἀλλὰ πάντα αὐτῆς προτιμῶμεν. Διὰ τοῦτο πάντα χρὴ ποιεῖν, ὥστε αὐτὴν μετὰ ἀκριβείας κατασχεῖν. Ἐὰν γὰρ τοῦτο γένηται, οὐδὲ πολλοῦ δεῖ πόνου ἡμῖν λοιπὸν, μᾶλλον δὲ οὐδὲ τοῦ τυχόντος, ἀλλὰ τρυφῶντες καὶ πανηγυρίζοντες, τὴν στενὴν τῆς ἀρετῆς ὁδὸν βαδιούμεθα. Διό φησι, Διώκετε αὐτήν. Εἶτα ἵνα μὴ νομίσωσιν, ὅτι διὰ τοῦτο τὸν τῆς ἀγάπης εἰσήγαγε λόγον, ἵνα σβέσῃ τὰ χαρίσματα, ἐπάγει λέγων: Ζηλοῦτε δὲ τὰ πνευματικὰ, μᾶλλον δὲ ἵνα προφητεύητε. Ὁ γὰρ λαλῶν γλώσσῃ, οὐκ ἀνθρώποις λαλεῖ, ἀλλὰ τῷ Θεῷ: οὐδεὶς γὰρ ἀκούει: Πνεύματι δὲ λαλεῖ μυστήρια: ὁ δὲ προφητεύων, ἀνθρώποις λαλεῖ οἰκοδομὴν καὶ παράκλησιν καὶ παραμυθίαν. Σύγκρισιν ἐνταῦθα λοιπὸν ποιεῖται τῶν χαρισμάτων, καὶ καθαιρεῖ τὸ τῶν γλωσσῶν, οὔτε πάντη ἄχρηστον δεικνὺς, οὔτε σφόδρα ὠφέλιμον καθ' ἑαυτό. Καὶ γὰρ σφόδρα ἐπὶ τούτῳ ἐφυσῶντο, ἐπειδὴ καὶ μέγα εἶναι τὸ χάρισμα ἐνομίζετο. Ἐνομίζετο δὲ μέγα εἶναι διὰ τὸ πρῶτον αὐτὸ τοὺς ἀποστόλους εἰληφέναι, καὶ μετὰ τοσαύτης ἐπιδείξεως. Οὐ μὴν διὰ τοῦτο τῶν ἄλλων προτιμότερον ἦν. Τίνος οὖν ἕνεκεν πρὸ τῶν ἄλλων ἔλαβον αὐτὸ οἱ ἀπόστολοι; Ἐπειδὴ πανταχοῦ διέρχεσθαι ἔμελλον. Καὶ ὥσπερ ἐν τῷ καιρῷ τῆς πυργοποιίας ἡ μία γλῶττα εἰς πολλὰς διετέμνετο: οὕτω τότε αἱ πολλαὶ πολλάκις εἰς ἕνα ἄνθρωπον ᾔεσαν, καὶ ὁ αὐτὸς καὶ τῇ Περσῶν καὶ τῇ Ῥωμαίων καὶ τῇ Ἰνδῶν καὶ ἑτέραις πολλαῖς διελέγετο γλώτταις, τοῦ Πνεύματος ἐνηχοῦντος αὐτῷ: καὶ τὸ χάρισμα ἐκαλεῖτο χάρισμα γλωττῶν, ἐπειδὴ πολλαῖς ἀθρόον ἐδύνατο λαλεῖν φωναῖς. Ὅρα τοίνυν πῶς αὐτὸ καὶ καθαιρεῖ καὶ ἐπαίρει. Τῷ μὲν γὰρ εἰπεῖν, Ὁ λαλῶν γλώσσαις, οὐκ ἀνθρώποις λαλεῖ, ἀλλὰ Θεῷ: οὐδεὶς γὰρ ἀκούει, καθεῖλε, δείξας οὐ πολὺ τὸ χρήσιμον ὄν: τῷ δὲ ἐπάγειν, ὅτι Πνεύματι λαλεῖ μυστήρια, πάλιν ἐπῆρεν, ἵνα μὴ περιττὸν εἶναι δόξῃ καὶ ἄχρηστον καὶ εἰκῆ δεδομένον. Ὁ δὲ προφητεύων, ἀνθρώποις λαλεῖ οἰκοδομὴν καὶ παράκλησιν καὶ παραμυθίαν. Εἶδες πόθεν τὸ ἐξαίρετον δείκνυσι τοῦ χαρίσματος τούτου, ἀπὸ τοῦ κοινῇ συμφέροντος, καὶ πῶς πανταχοῦ τοῦτο προτιμᾷ τὸ εἰς τὴν τῶν πολλῶν ὠφέλειαν γινόμενον; Ἐκεῖνοι γὰρ οὐκ ἀνθρώποις λαλοῦσιν, εἰπέ μοι; Ἀλλ' οὐ τοιαύτην οἰκοδομὴν καὶ παράκλησιν καὶ παραμυθίαν. Ὥστε τὸ μὲν ὑπὸ τοῦ Πνεύματος κατέχεσθαι, ἀμφοτέροις κοινὸν, καὶ τῷ προφητεύοντι καὶ τῷ γλώσσαις λαλοῦντι: τούτῳ δὲ αὐτὸς, ὁ προφητεύων λέγω, πλεονεκτεῖ, τῷ καὶ χρήσιμος εἶναι τοῖς ἀκούουσι. Τῶν γὰρ γλώσσαις λαλούντων οὐκ ἤκουον οἱ τὸ χάρισμα οὐκ ἔχοντες. Τί οὖν; οὐδένα ᾠκοδόμουν ἐκεῖνοι; Ναὶ, φησὶν, ἑαυτοὺς μόνους: διὸ καὶ ἐπήγαγεν, Ὁ λαλῶν γλώσσῃ, ἑαυτὸν οἰκοδομεῖ. Καὶ πῶς, εἰ μὴ οἶδεν ἃ λέγει; Ἀλλὰ τέως περὶ τῶν εἰδότων ἃ λέγουσι διαλέγεται, εἰδότων μὲν αὐτῶν, οὐκ ἐπισταμένων δὲ εἰς ἑτέρους ἐξενεγκεῖν. Ὁ δὲ προφητεύων, Ἐκκλησίαν οἰκοδομεῖ. Ὅσον δὲ τὸ μέσον ἑνὸς καὶ Ἐκκλησίας, τοσοῦτον τὸ διάφορον τούτου κἀκείνου. Εἶδες αὐτοῦ τὴν σοφίαν, πῶς οὐκ εἰς τὸ μηδὲν ἐξωθεῖ τὸ χάρισμα, ἀλλὰ δείκνυσιν ἔχον μὲν κέρδος, μικρὸν δὲ καὶ ὅσον τῷ κεκτημένῳ μόνον ἀρκέσαι; Εἶτα ἵνα μὴ νομίσωσιν, ὅτι βασκαίνων αὐτοῖς καθαιρεῖ τὰς γλώσσας (καὶ γὰρ οἱ πλείους εἶχον τὸ χάρισμα τοῦτο), διορθούμενος αὐτῶν τὴν ὑπόνοιάν φησι: Θέλω δὲ πάντας ὑμᾶς λαλεῖν γλώσσαις, μᾶλλον δὲ ἵνα προφητεύητε. Μείζων γὰρ ὁ προφητεύων ἢ ὁ λαλῶν γλώσσαις, ἐκτὸς εἰ μὴ διερμηνεύει, ἵνα ἡ Ἐκκλησία οἰκοδομὴν λάβῃ. Τὸ δὲ μᾶλλον καὶ μεῖζον οὐ τῶν ἐναντίων ἐστὶν, ἀλλὰ τῶν ὑπερεχόντων. βʹ. Ὥστε κἀντεῦθεν δῆλον, ὅτι οὐ διαβάλλει τὸ χάρισμα, ἀλλ' ἐπὶ τὰ βελτίονα αὐτοὺς ἄγει, τήν τε περὶ αὐτοὺς κηδεμονίαν, καὶ τὴν φθόνου παντὸς ἀπηλλαγμένην ψυχὴν ἐπιδεικνύς. Οὐδὲ γὰρ εἶπε, Δύο ἢ τρεῖς, ἀλλὰ, Πάντας ὑμᾶς θέλω γλώσσαις λαλεῖν: καὶ οὐ τοῦτο μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ προφητεύειν: καὶ τοῦτο μᾶλλον, ἢ ἐκεῖνο: μείζων γὰρ ὁ προφητεύων. Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ κατεσκεύασε αὐτὸ καὶ ἀπέδειξε, τότε λοιπὸν καὶ ἀποφαίνεται, οὐ μὴν ἁπλῶς, ἀλλὰ μετὰ προσθήκης: ἐπήγαγε γὰρ, Ἐκτὸς εἰ μὴ διερμηνεύει: ὡς ἐὰν δύνηται τοῦτο, τὸ διερμηνεύειν λέγω, ἴσος γέγονε τῷ προφήτῃ, φησὶν, ἐπειδὴ πολλοὶ οἱ τὴν ὠφέλειαν καρπούμενοι: ὃ χρὴ μάλιστα παρατηρεῖν, πῶς διὰ πάντων τοῦτο πρὸ τῶν ἄλλων ἐπιζητεῖ. Νυνὶ δὲ, ἀδελφοὶ, ἐὰν ἔλθω πρὸς ὑμᾶς γλώσσαις λαλῶν, τί ὑμᾶς ὠφελήσω, ἐὰν μὴ ὑμῖν λαλήσω ἢ ἐν ἀποκαλύψει, ἢ ἐν γνώσει, ἢ ἐν προφητείᾳ, ἢ ἐν διδαχῇ; Καὶ τί λέγω, φησὶ, τοὺς ἄλλους; Ἔστω γὰρ ὁ φθεγγόμενος γλώσσαις Παῦλος: οὐδὲ γὰρ οὕτως ἔσται τι πλέον τοῖς ἀκούουσι. Ταῦτα δὲ λέγει, δεικνὺς ὅτι τὸ ἐκείνοις συμφέρον ζητεῖ: οὐ πρὸς τοὺς τὸ χάρισμα ἔχοντας ἀπεχθῶς ἔχει, ὅπου γε οὐδὲ ἐπὶ τοῦ οἰκείου προσώπου παραιτεῖται δεῖξαι τὸ ἀνωφελές. Καὶ ἀεὶ δὲ τὰ φορτικὰ ἐπὶ τοῦ οἰκείου προσώπου γυμνάζει, ὡς καὶ ἀρχόμενος τῆς Ἐπιστολῆς ἔλεγε: Τίς ἐστι Παῦλος; τίς δὲ Ἀπολλώς; τίς δὲ Κηφᾶς; Ὃ δὴ καὶ ἐνταῦθα ποιεῖ λέγων, ὅτι Οὐδὲ ἐγὼ ὑμᾶς ὠφελήσω, ἐὰν μὴ ὑμῖν λαλήσω ἢ ἐν ἀποκαλύψει, ἢ ἐν προφητείᾳ, ἢ ἐν γνώσει, ἢ ἐν διδαχῇ. Ὃ δὲ λέγει, τοῦτό ἐστιν: Ἐὰν μή τι εἴπω δυνάμενον ὑμῖν εὔληπτον γενέσθαι, καὶ δυνάμενον εἶναι σαφὲς, ἀλλ' ἐπιδείξομαι μόνον, ὅτι γλωττῶν ἔχω χάρισμα, γλωττῶν ὧν ἀκούσαντες, οὐδὲν κερδάναντες Ὅμως τὰ ἄψυχα φωνὴν διδόντα, εἴτε αὐλὸς, εἴτε κιθάρα, ἂν διαστολὴν τοῖς φθόγγοις μὴ δῷ, πῶς γνωσθήσεται τὸ αὐλούμενον ἢ τὸ κιθαριζόμενον: ἀπελεύσεσθε. Πῶς γὰρ ἀπὸ φωνῆς, ἧς οὐ συνίετε; Καὶ τί λέγω, φησὶν, ὅτι ἐφ' ἡμῶν τοῦτο μὲν ἀκερδὲς, ὠφέλιμον δὲ τὸ σαφὲς καὶ εὔληπτον τοῖς ἀκούουσι; Καὶ γὰρ καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἀψύχοις ὀργάνοις τῆς μουσικῆς τοῦτο ἴδοι τις ἄν: εἴτε γὰρ αὐλὸς, εἴτε κιθάρα εἴη, καὶ μηδὲ ῥυθμῷ μηδὲ ἁρμονίᾳ τῇ προσηκούσῃ, ἀλλὰ συγκεχυμένως καὶ ἁπλῶς κρούοιτο καὶ ἐμπνέοιτο, οὐδένα ψυχαγωγήσει τῶν ἀκουόντων. Καὶ γὰρ ἐν τοῖς ἀνάρθροις ἐκείνοις δεῖ τινος σαφηνείας: κἂν μὴ κατὰ τέχνην κρούσῃς, καὶ ἐμπνεύσῃς τῷ αὐλῷ, οὐδὲν ἐποίησας. Εἰ δὲ παρὰ τῶν ἀψύχων τοσαύτην ἀπαιτοῦμεν σαφήνειαν καὶ ἁρμονίαν καὶ διάκρισιν, καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἀσήμοις ἐκείνοις φθόγγοις βιαζόμεθα καὶ φιλονεικοῦμεν πολλὴν ἐπιθεῖναι τὴν σημασίαν, πολλῷ μᾶλλον ἐν τοῖς ἐμψύχοις καὶ λογικοῖς ἀνθρώποις, καὶ ἐν τοῖς πνευματικοῖς χαρίσμασι τὸ εὔσημον διώκειν δεῖ. Καὶ γὰρ ἐὰν ἄδηλον φωνὴν σάλπιγξ δῷ, τίς παρασκευάσεται εἰς πόλεμον; Ἀπὸ γὰρ τῶν περιττῶν ἐπὶ τὰ ἀναγκαιότερα καὶ χρησιμώτερα τὸν λόγον ἄγει, καί φησιν, ὅτι οὐκ ἐπὶ τῆς κιθάρας μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς σάλπιγγος τοῦτο συμβαῖνον ἴδοι τις ἄν. Εἰσὶ γὰρ καὶ ἐκεῖ ῥυθμοὶ, καὶ ἐνδείκνυνται ποτὲ μὲν πολεμικὴν ἠχὴν, ποτὲ δὲ οὐ τοιαύτην: καὶ ποτὲ μὲν εἰς παράταξιν ἐξάγει, ποτὲ δὲ ἀνακαλεῖται: κἂν μὴ τοῦτό τις εἰδῇ, περὶ τῶν ἐσχάτων ὁ κίνδυνος. Ὃ δὴ δηλῶν καὶ τὴν βλάβην ἐμφαίνων φησὶ, Τίς παρασκευάσεται εἰς πόλεμον; Ὥστε ἂν μὴ τοῦτο ἔχῃ, τὸ πᾶν ἀπώλεσε. Καὶ τί πρὸς ἡμᾶς ταῦτα; φησί. Πρὸς ὑμᾶς μὲν οὖν μάλιστα, διὸ καὶ ἐπάγει: Οὕτω καὶ ὑμεῖς, ἐὰν μὴ εὔσημον λόγον δῶτε διὰ τῆς γλώττης, πῶς γνωσθήσεται τὸ λαλούμενον; ἔσεσθε γὰρ εἰς ἀέρα λαλοῦντες. Τουτέστιν, οὐδενὶ φθεγγόμενοι, πρὸς οὐδένα λαλοῦντες. Καὶ πανταχοῦ τὸ ἀνωφελὲς δείκνυσι. Καὶ εἰ ἀνωφελὲς, διὰ τί ἐδόθη; φησίν. Ὥστε ἐκείνῳ χρήσιμον εἶναι τῷ λαβόντι: εἰ δὲ καὶ ἑτέροις μέλλοι γίνεσθαι, ἑρμηνείαν δεῖ προσεῖναι. Ταῦτα δὲ λέγει, συνάγων αὐτοὺς πρὸς ἀλλήλους, ἵνα κἂν αὐτὸς μὴ ἔχῃ τὸ χάρισμα τοῦ ἑρμηνεύειν, ἕτερον προσλαβὼν τὸν τοῦτο ἔχοντα, ὠφέλιμον τὸ ἑαυτοῦ δι' ἐκείνου ποιήσῃ. Διὸ πανταχοῦ δείκνυσιν ἀτελὲς ὂν, ἵνα κἂν οὕτως αὐτοὺς συνδήσῃ. Ὡς ὅ γε νομίζων ἀρκεῖν αὐτὸ ἑαυτῷ, οὐχ οὕτως αὐτὸ ἐγκωμιάζει, ὡς καθαιρεῖ, οὐκ ἀφιεὶς αὐτὸ λάμψαι καλῶς διὰ τῆς ἑρμηνείας. Καλὸν μὲν γὰρ καὶ ἀναγκαῖον τὸ χάρισμα, ἀλλ' ὅταν ἔχῃ τὸν σαφηνίζοντα τὰ λεγόμενα. Ἐπεὶ καὶ ὁ δάκτυλος ἀναγκαῖον, ἀλλ' ὅταν αὐτὸν ἀποστήσῃς τῶν λοιπῶν, οὐχ ὁμοίως ἔσται χρήσιμος: καὶ ἡ σάλπιγξ ἀναγκαία, ἀλλ' ὅταν ἁπλῶς ἠχῇ, καὶ ἐπαχθής. Οὔτε γὰρ τέχνη φανεῖται, μὴ ὑποκειμένης ὕλης, οὐδὲ ὕλη μορφοῦται, μὴ ἐπιτεθειμένου τοῦ εἴδους. Τίθει τοίνυν τὴν μὲν φωνὴν ὡς ὑποκείμενον, τὴν δὲ σαφήνειαν ὡς εἶδος, οὗ μὴ παρόντος οὐδὲν ὄφελος τοῦ ὑποκειμένου. Τοσαῦτα, εἰ τύχοι, γένη φωνῶν ἐστιν ἐν κόσμῳ, καὶ οὐδὲν αὐτῶν ἄφωνον. Τουτέστι, Τοσαῦται γλῶσσαι, τοσαῦται φωναὶ, Σκυθῶν, Θρᾳκῶν, Ῥωμαίων, Περσῶν, Μαύρων, Ἰνδῶν, Αἰγυπτίων, ἑτέρων μυρίων ἐθνῶν. Ἐὰν οὖν μὴ εἰδῶ τὴν δύναμιν τῆς φωνῆς, ἔσομαι τῷ λαλοῦντι βάρβαρος. γʹ. Μὴ γὰρ δὴ νομίσῃς, ὅτι ἐφ' ἡμῶν τοῦτο μόνον συμβαίνει, φησὶν, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐπὶ πάντων τοῦτο γινόμενον ἴδοι τις ἄν. Ὥστε οὐ διαβάλλων τὴν φωνὴν ταῦτα λέγω, ἀλλὰ δεικνὺς, ὅτι ἐμοὶ ἀνωφελὴς, ἕως ἂν ᾖ ἀσαφής. Εἶτα ἵνα μὴ ἐπαχθῆ ποιήσῃ τὴν κατηγορίαν, ἐξισάζει τὸ ἔγκλημα, λέγων: Ἐκεῖνος ἐμοὶ βάρβαρος, κἀγὼ ἐκείνῳ: οὐ παρὰ τὴν φύσιν τῆς φωνῆς, ἀλλὰ παρὰ τὴν ἡμετέραν ἄγνοιαν. Εἶδες πῶς κατὰ μικρὸν ἐπὶ τὸ συγγενὲς ἤγαγεν; ὅπερ ἔθος αὐτῷ ποιεῖν, πόῤῥωθεν ἕλκειν τὰ ὑποδείγματα, καὶ πρὸς τὸ οἰκειότερον τῷ ὑποκειμένῳ τελευτᾷν. Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ εἶπε περὶ αὐλοῦ καὶ κιθάρας, ἔνθα πολὺ τὸ ἀποδέον ἦν καὶ ἀνόνητον, ἔρχεται ἐπὶ τὴν σάλπιγγα, τὸ χρησιμώτερον, εἶτα ἐκεῖθεν καὶ ἐπ' αὐτὴν λοιπὸν τὴν φωνήν. Οὕτω καὶ ἔμπροσθεν ὅτε περὶ τοῦ δεῖξαι μὴ κεκωλυμένον τὸ λαμβάνειν τοὺς ἀποστόλους διελέγετο, ἀρξάμενος πρῶτον ἀπὸ γεωργῶν καὶ ποιμένων καὶ στρατιωτῶν, τότε καὶ ἐπὶ τὸ ἐγγύτερον τῷ προκειμένῳ τὸν λόγον ἤγαγε, τοὺς ἱερεῖς τοὺς ἐν τῇ Παλαιᾷ. Σὺ δέ μοι σκόπει, πῶς πανταχοῦ ἐσπούδακεν ἀπαλλάξαι τὸ χάρισμα κατηγορίας, καὶ περιστῆσαι τὸ ἔγκλημα εἰς τοὺς εἰληφότας. Οὐ γὰρ εἶπεν, Ἔσομαι βάρβαρος, ἀλλὰ, Τῷ λαλοῦντι βάρβαρος. Καὶ πάλιν οὐκ εἶπεν, Ὁ λαλῶν βάρβαρος, ἀλλ', Ὁ ἐμοὶ λαλῶν βάρβαρος. Τί οὖν δεῖ γενέσθαι; φησίν. Οὐ γὰρ μόνον οὐ διαβάλλειν χρὴ, ἀλλὰ καὶ παραινεῖν καὶ διδάσκειν: ὃ δὴ καὶ αὐτὸς ποιεῖ. Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ ἐνεκάλεσε καὶ ἐπετίμησε καὶ τὸ ἀνωφελὲς ἔδειξε, καὶ συμβουλεύει λοιπὸν λέγων: Οὕτω καὶ ὑμεῖς, ἐπεὶ ζηλωταί ἐστε πνευμάτων, πρὸς τὴν οἰκοδομὴν τῆς Ἐκκλησίας ζητεῖτε, ἵνα περισσεύητε. Εἶδες αὐτοῦ τὸν σκοπὸν πανταχοῦ, πῶς πρὸς ἓν ὁρᾷ διηνεκῶς καὶ διὰ πάντων, τὸ τοῖς πολλοῖς χρήσιμον, τὸ τὴν Ἐκκλησίαν ὠφελοῦν, ὥσπερ τινὰ κανόνα τοῦτο τιθείς; Καὶ οὐκ εἶπεν, Ἵνα κτήσησθε τὰ χαρίσματα, ἀλλ', Ἵνα καὶ περισσεύητε, τουτέστιν, ἵνα καὶ μετὰ δαψιλείας πολλῆς αὐτὰ ἔχητε. Τοσοῦτον γὰρ ἀπέχω τοῦ μὴ βούλεσθαι ἔχειν ὑμᾶς αὐτὰ, ὅτι καὶ περισσεύειν ὑμᾶς ἐν αὐτοῖς βούλομαι, μόνον ἂν εἰς τὸ κοινῇ συμφέρον αὐτὰ μεταχειρίζητε. Καὶ πῶς αὐτὸ τοῦτο γένοιτο, φησὶ, καὶ ἐπάγει λέγων: Διόπερ ὁ λαλῶν γλώσσῃ, προσευχέσθω ἵνα διερμηνεύῃ. Ἐὰν γὰρ προσεύξωμαι τῇ γλώσσῃ, τὸ πνεῦμά μου προσεύχεται, ὁ δὲ νοῦς μου ἄκαρπός ἐστι. Τί οὖν ἐστι; Προσεύξομαι τῷ πνεύματι, προσεύξομαι δὲ καὶ τῷ νοΐ: ψαλῶ δὲ τῷ πνεύματι, ψαλῶ δὲ καὶ τῷ νοΐ. Ἐνταῦθα δείκνυσιν ἐν αὐτοῖς ὂν τὸ λαβεῖν τὸ χάρισμα. Προσευχέσθω γὰρ, φησὶ, τουτέστι, τὰ παρ' ἑαυτοῦ εἰσαγέσθω. Καὶ γὰρ ἐὰν σπουδαίως αἰτήσῃς, λήψῃ. Αἴτει τοίνυν μὴ γλώττης ἔχειν χάρισμα μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἑρμηνείας, ἵνα πᾶσιν ὠφέλιμος γένῃ, καὶ μὴ ἐν σεαυτῷ μόνῳ κατακλείσῃς τὸ χάρισμα. Ἐὰν γὰρ προσεύξωμαι τῇ γλώττῃ, φησὶ, τὸ πνεῦμά μου προσεύχεται, ὁ δὲ νοῦς μου ἄκαρπός ἐστιν. δʹ. Εἶδες πῶς κατὰ μικρὸν τὸν λόγον ἀνάγων δείκνυσιν, ὅτι οὐκ ἄλλοις ἄχρηστος μόνον ὁ τοιοῦτος, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἑαυτῷ, εἴ γε ὁ νοῦς αὐτῷ ἄκαρπος; Ἂν γάρ τις φθέγγηται μόνον τῇ Περσῶν γλώσσῃ, ἢ ἑτέρᾳ τινὶ ἀλλοτρίᾳ, μὴ εἰδῇ δὲ ἃ λέγει, ἄρα καὶ ἑαυτῷ λοιπὸν ἔσται βάρβαρος, οὐχ ἑτέρῳ μόνον, διὰ τὸ μὴ εἰδέναι τὴν δύναμιν τῆς φωνῆς. Καὶ γὰρ ἦσαν τὸ παλαιὸν καὶ χάρισμα εὐχῆς ἔχοντες πολλοὶ μετὰ γλώττης, καὶ ηὔχοντο μὲν, καὶ ἡ γλῶττα ἐφθέγγετο, ἢ τῇ Περσῶν, ἢ τῇ Ῥωμαίων φωνῇ εὐχομένη, ὁ νοῦς δὲ οὐκ ᾔδει τὸ λεγόμενον. Διὸ καὶ ἔλεγεν, Ἐὰν προσεύξωμαι τῇ γλώττῃ, τὸ πνεῦμά μου προσεύχεται, τουτέστι, τὸ χάρισμα τὸ δοθέν μοι καὶ κινοῦν τὴν γλῶτταν, ὁ δὲ νοῦς μου ἄκαρπός ἐστι. Τί ποτ' οὖν τὸ ἄριστον καὶ τὸ ὠφέλιμον; καὶ πῶς χρὴ ποιεῖν, ἢ τί αἰτεῖν παρὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ; Τὸ καὶ τῷ Πνεύματι, τουτέστι, τῷ χαρίσματι, καὶ τῇ διανοίᾳ προσεύχεσθαι. Διὸ καὶ ἔλεγε, Προσεύξομαι τῷ πνεύματι, προσεύξομαι δὲ καὶ τῷ νοΐ: ψαλῶ τῷ πνεύματι, ψαλῶ δὲ καὶ τῷ νοΐ. Τὸ αὐτὸ πάλιν καὶ ἐνταῦθα δηλοῖ, Ἵνα καὶ ἡ γλῶττα φθέγγηται, καὶ ὁ νοῦς μὴ ἀγνοῇ τὰ λεγόμενα. Ἂν γὰρ μὴ τοῦτο ᾖ, καὶ ἑτέρα σύγχυσις ἔσται. Καὶ γὰρ ἐὰν εὐλογήσῃς, φησὶ, τῷ πνεύματι, ὁ ἀναπληρῶν τὸν τόπον τοῦ ἰδιώτου, πῶς ἐρεῖ τὸ Ἀμὴν ἐπὶ τῇ σῇ εὐχαριστίᾳ, ἐπειδὴ τί λέγεις οὐκ οἶδε. Σὺ μὲν γὰρ καλῶς εὐχαριστεῖς, ἀλλ' ὁ ἕτερος οὐκ οἰκοδομεῖται. Σκόπει πῶς πάλιν ἐνταῦθα πρὸς τὴν σπάρτην τὸν λίθον ἄγει, τὴν οἰκοδομὴν πανταχοῦ ζητῶν τῆς Ἐκκλησίας. Ἰδιώτην δὲ τὸν λαϊκὸν λέγει, καὶ δείκνυσι καὶ αὐτὸν οὐ μικρὰν ὑπομένοντα τὴν ζημίαν, ὅταν τὸ Ἀμὴν εἰπεῖν μὴ δύνηται. Ὃ δὲ λέγει, τοῦτό ἐστιν: Ἂν εὐλογήσῃς τῇ τῶν βαρβάρων φωνῇ, οὐκ εἰδὼς τί λέγεις, οὐδὲ ἑρμηνεῦσαι δυνάμενος, οὐ δύναται ὑποφωνῆσαι τὸ Ἀμὴν ὁ λαϊκός. Οὐ γὰρ ἀκούων τὸ, Εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων, ὅπερ ἐστὶ τέλος, οὐ λέγει τὸ, Ἀμήν. Εἶτα πάλιν παραμυθούμενος τοῦτο, ἵνα μὴ δόξῃ σφόδρα ἐξευτελίζειν τὸ χάρισμα ὅπερ ἀνωτέρω ἔλεγεν, ὅτι λαλεῖ μυστήρια, καὶ, Θεῷ λαλεῖ, καὶ, ἑαυτὸν οἰκοδομεῖ, καὶ, ὅτι τῷ πνεύματι προσεύχεται, παραμυθίαν ἐπινοῶν οὐ μικρὰν ἐκ τούτων, τοῦτο καὶ ἐνταῦθα ποιεῖ, λέγων: Σὺ μὲν γὰρ καλῶς εὐχαριστεῖς: Πνεύματι γὰρ κινούμενος φθέγγῃ: ἀλλ' ἐκεῖνος οὐδὲν ἀκούων, οὐδὲ εἰδὼς τὰ λεγόμενα, ἕστηκεν οὐ πολλὴν δεχόμενος τὴν ὠφέλειαν. δʹ. Εἶτα ἐπειδὴ κατέδραμε τῶν τὸ χάρισμα τοῦτο ἐχόντων, ὡς οὐδὲν μέγα ἐχόντων, ἵνα μὴ δόξῃ ὡς ἀπεστερημένος αὐτοῦ ἐξευτελίζειν αὐτοὺς, ὅρα τί φησιν: Εὐχαριστῶ τῷ Θεῷ, πάντων ὑμῶν μᾶλλον γλώσσαις λαλῶν. Τοῦτο δὲ καὶ ἀλλαχοῦ ποιεῖ. Μέλλων γὰρ καθαιρεῖν τοῦ Ἰουδαϊσμοῦ τὰ πλεονεκτήματα, καὶ δεικνύναι λοιπὸν οὐδὲν ὄντα, πρότερον ἑαυτὸν ταῦτα ἐσχηκότα δείκνυσι, καὶ μετὰ πλείονος ὑπερβολῆς, καὶ τότε ζημίαν αὐτὰ καλεῖ, οὕτω λέγων Εἴ τις δοκεῖ πεποιθέναι ἐν σαρκὶ, ἐγὼ μᾶλλον. Περιτομὴ ὀκταήμερος, ἐκ γένους Ἰσραὴλ, φυλῆς Βενιαμὶν, Ἑβραῖος ἐξ Ἑβραίων, κατὰ νόμον Φαρισαῖος, κατὰ ζῆλον διώκων τὴν Ἐκκλησίαν, κατὰ δικαιοσύνην τὴν ἐν νόμῳ γενόμενος ἄμεμπτος. Καὶ τότε ὅτε ἔδειξε πάντων ἑαυτὸν πλεονεκτοῦντα, φησὶν, Ἀλλ' ἅτινά μοι ἦν κέρδη, ταῦτα ἥγημαι διὰ τὸν Χριστὸν ζημίαν. Οὕτω καὶ ἐνταῦθα ποιεῖ λέγων: Πάντων ὑμῶν μᾶλλον γλώσσαις λαλῶν. Μὴ τοίνυν μέγα φρονεῖτε, ὡς μόνοι τὸ χάρισμα ἔχοντες: καὶ γὰρ καὶ ἐγὼ κέκτημαι, καὶ ὑμῶν πλέον. Ἀλλὰ θέλω πέντε λόγους ἐν Ἐκκλησίᾳ διὰ τοῦ νοός μου λαλῆσαι, ἵνα καὶ ἄλλους κατηχήσω. Τί ἐστι, Διὰ τοῦ νοός μου λαλῆσαι, ἵνα καὶ ἄλλους κατηχήσω; Νοῶν ἃ λέγω, καὶ ἃ δύναμαι καὶ ἑτέροις ἑρμηνεῦσαι καὶ μετὰ συνέσεως εἰπεῖν καὶ διδάξαι τοὺς ἀκούοντας. Ἢ μυρίους λόγους ἐν γλώσσῃ. Διὰ τί; Ἵνα κατηχήσω καὶ ἄλλους, φησί. Τὸ μὲν γὰρ ἐπίδειξιν ἔχει μόνον, τὸ δὲ πολλὴν τὴν ὠφέλειαν. Τοῦτο γάρ ἐστιν ὃ πανταχοῦ ζητεῖ, τὸ κοινῇ συμφέρον. Καίτοι γε ξένον τὸ χάρισμα ἦν τὸ τῶν γλωσσῶν, τὸ δὲ τῆς προφητείας σύνηθές τε καὶ παλαιὸν καὶ πολλοῖς ἤδη δοθὲν, τοῦτο δὲ τότε πρῶτον: ἀλλ' ὅμως οὐ σφόδρα ἦν αὐτῷ περισπούδαστον. Διόπερ οὐδὲ ἐκέχρητο αὐτῷ, οὐ παρὰ τὸ μὴ ἔχειν, ἀλλὰ παρὰ τὸ τὰ χρησιμώτερα ζητεῖν. Καὶ γὰρ ἦν πάσης κενοδοξίας ἀπηλλαγμένος, καὶ ἓν μόνον σκοπῶν, ὅπως βελτίους ἐργάσηται τοὺς ἀκούοντας. Διὸ καὶ τὸ χρήσιμον καὶ ἑαυτῷ καὶ τοῖς ἄλλοις ἠδύνατο βλέπειν, ἐπειδὴ τῆς κενῆς δόξης ἀπήλλακτο. Ὡς ὅ γε ἐκείνῃ καταδουλωθεὶς, οὐ τὸ τῶν ἄλλων μόνον, ἀλλ' οὐδὲ τὸ ἑαυτοῦ δυνήσεται κατιδεῖν συμφέρον. Τοιοῦτος ἦν ὁ Σίμων, ὃς ἐπειδὴ πρὸς δόξαν εἶδε κενὴν, οὐδὲ τὸ ἑαυτοῦ χρήσιμον εἶδε: τοιοῦτοι καὶ Ἰουδαῖοι, οἳ διὰ ταύτην τῷ διαβόλῳ τὴν οἰκείαν προέπιον σωτηρίαν. Ἐντεῦθεν καὶ εἴδωλα ἐτέχθη, καὶ οἱ τῶν ἔξωθεν φιλόσοφοι ἐπὶ τὰ πονηρὰ δόγματα ἐκ ταύτης παροξύναντες ἐξώκειλαν τῆς μανίας. Καὶ ὅρα τὴν διαστροφὴν τοῦ πάθους. Διὰ γὰρ ταύτην κἀκείνων ἔνιοι πένητες ἐγένοντο, καὶ ἕτεροι περὶ πλοῦτον ἐσπούδασαν. Τοσαύτη αὐτῆς ἡ τυραννὶς, ὡς καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἐναντίοις κρατεῖν. Καὶ γὰρ ἐπὶ σωφροσύνῃ τις κενοδοξεῖ, καὶ ἐπὶ μοιχείᾳ πάλιν ἄλλος, καὶ ἐπὶ δικαιοσύνῃ οὗτος, καὶ ἐπ' ἀδικίᾳ ἕτερος, καὶ ἐπὶ τρυφῇ, καὶ ἐπὶ νηστείᾳ, καὶ ἐπὶ ἐπιεικείᾳ, καὶ ἐπὶ θρασύτητι, καὶ ἐπὶ πλούτῳ, καὶ ἐπὶ πενίᾳ. Καὶ γὰρ ἔνιοι τῶν ἔξωθεν, παρὸν λαβεῖν, διὰ τὸ θαυμάζεσθαι οὐκ ἐλάμβανον. Ἀλλ' οὐχ οἱ ἀπόστολοι οὕτως. Ὅτι γὰρ καθαροὶ δόξης ἦσαν, ἐδήλωσαν δι' ὧν ἐποίησαν. Καὶ γὰρ ὅτε θεοὺς αὐτοὺς ἐκάλουν, καὶ θύειν αὐτοῖς ἦσαν παρεσκευασμένοι ταύρους ἐστεμμένους, οὐχ ἁπλῶς ἀπηγόρευσαν τὸ γινόμενον μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ διέῤῥηξαν αὐτῶν τὰ ἱμάτια. Καὶ ὅτε τὸν χωλὸν διώρθωσαν, πάντων πρὸς αὐτοὺς κεχηνότων ἔλεγον, Τί ἡμῖν ἀτενίζετε ὡς ἰδίᾳ δυνάμει πεποιηκόσι τοῦ περιπατεῖν τοῦτον; Κἀκεῖνοι μὲν ἐν ἀνδράσι θαυμάζουσι πενίαν, τὰ τῆς πενίας ᾑροῦντο: οὗτοι δὲ ἐν ἀνθρώποις καταφρονοῦσι πενίας, καὶ ἐπαινοῦσι πλοῦτον. Καὶ οὗτοι μὲν, εἴ τι ἔλαβον, τοῖς δεομένοις ἐπήρκουν: οὕτως οὐ διὰ κενοδοξίαν, ἀλλὰ διὰ φιλανθρωπίαν ἅπαντα ἔπραττον: ἐκεῖνοι δὲ τοὐναντίον ἅπαν, ὥσπερ ἐχθροὶ καὶ λυμεῶνες τῆς κοινῆς φύσεως ὄντες, οὕτω καὶ ταῦτα ἐποίουν. Ὁ μὲν γὰρ εἰς θάλατταν τὰ αὐτοῦ κατεπόντιζεν ἅπαντα εἰκῆ καὶ μάτην, τοὺς παραπαίοντας καὶ μαινομένους μιμούμενος: ὁ δὲ μηλόβοτον τὴν αὐτοῦ χώραν πᾶσαν ἀνῆκεν. Οὕτω πάντα πρὸς φιλοτιμίαν ἐποίουν. Ἀλλ' οὐχ οὗτοι, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐδέχοντο τὰ διδόμενα, καὶ διένεμον τοῖς δεομένοις μετὰ τοσαύτης ἐλευθερίας, ὡς καὶ λιμῷ διηνεκεῖ συζῇν. Εἰ δὲ δόξης ἤρων, οὐκ ἂν τοῦτο ἐποίουν, τὸ λαμβάνειν καὶ διανέμειν, δεδοικότες μή τις ὑποψία γένηται κατ' αὐτῶν. Ὁ γὰρ τὰ ἑαυτοῦ ῥίψας διὰ δόξαν, πολλῷ μᾶλλον τὰ ἑτέρων οὐ λήψεται, ὥστε μὴ δοκεῖν ἑτέρων δεῖσθαι, μηδὲ ὑποπτεύεσθαι. Τούτους δὲ ὁρᾷς καὶ διακονουμένους καὶ προσαιτοῦντας αὐτοὺς ὑπὲρ τῶν δεομένων: οὕτω πατέρων ἦσαν πάντων φιλοστοργότεροι. Θέα δὲ καὶ τοὺς νόμους αὐτῶν συμμέτρους, καὶ κενοδοξίας ἀπηλλαγμένους. Ἔχοντες γὰρ, φησὶ, σκεπάσματα καὶ τροφὰς, τούτοις ἀρκεσθησόμεθα: οὐ καθάπερ ὁ Σινωπεὺς ἐκεῖνος ὁ ῥάκια περιβεβλημένος καὶ πίθον οἰκῶν εἰς οὐδὲν δέον, ἐξέπληξε μὲν πολλοὺς, ὠφέλησε δὲ οὐδένα. Ὁ δὲ Παῦλος τούτων μὲν οὐδὲν ἐποίει: οὐδὲ γὰρ πρὸς φιλοτιμίαν ἔβλεπεν, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἱμάτια περιβέβλητο μετὰ εὐσχημοσύνης ἁπάσης, καὶ οἰκίαν ᾤκει διηνεκῶς, καὶ τὴν ἀκρίβειαν ἅπασαν ἐπὶ τῆς ἄλλης ἀρετῆς ἐπεδείκνυτο, ἧς ὁ Κυνικὸς κατεφρόνει ζῶν ἀσελγῶς, καὶ δημοσίᾳ ἀσχημονῶν, καὶ ὑπὸ τῆς περὶ τὴν δόξαν μανίας συρόμενος. Ἂν γὰρ ἔρηταί τις τῆς τοῦ πίθου οἰκήσεως τὴν αἰτίαν, οὐδεμίαν ἑτέραν εὑρήσει, ἀλλ' ἢ κενοδοξίαν μόνην. εʹ. Ὁ δὲ Παῦλος καὶ μισθὸν παρεῖχε τῆς οἰκίας, ἐν ᾗ κατέμενεν ἐν τῇ Ῥώμῃ. Καίτοι γε ὁ τὰ πολλῷ εὐτονώτερα δυνηθεὶς, πολλῷ μᾶλλον τοῦτο ἴσχυσεν ἄν. Ἀλλ' οὐχ ἑώρα πρὸς δόξαν, τὸ χαλεπὸν θηρίον, τὸν δαίμονα τὸν δεινὸν, τὴν λύμην τῆς οἰκουμένης, τὴν ἔχιν τὴν ἰοβόλον. Καθάπερ γὰρ τὸ θηρίον ἐκεῖνο τὴν νηδὺν τῆς τεκούσης διαῤῥήγνυσι τοῖς ὀδοῦσιν, οὕτω καὶ τοῦτο τὸ πάθος τὸν τίκτοντα διασπαράττει. Πόθεν οὖν ἄν τις εὕροι τῷ ποικίλῳ τούτῳ νοσήματι φάρμακον; Εἰ τοὺς καταπατήσαντας αὐτὸ εἰς μέσον ἀγάγοι, καὶ πρὸς τὴν ἐκείνων εἰκόνα βλέπων, οὕτω τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ζωὴν κατευθύνειε. Καὶ γὰρ ὁ πατριάρχης Ἀβραάμ: ἀλλὰ μηδεὶς ἐγκαλείτω ταυτολογίαν, εἰ πολλάκις αὐτοῦ μνημονεύομεν, καὶ ἐπὶ πάντων. Τοῦτο γὰρ μάλιστά ἐστιν ὃ κἀκεῖνον θαυμαστὸν ἀποφαίνει, καὶ τοὺς μὴ ζηλοῦντας αὐτὸν πάσης ἀποστερεῖ συγγνώμης. Εἰ μὲν γὰρ μέρος μέν τι τοῦτον, μέρος δὲ ἕτερον κατωρθωκότα ἐπιδείκνυμεν, εἶπεν ἄν τις καὶ δυσκατόρθωτον εἶναι τὴν ἀρετήν: οὐδὲ γὰρ εἶναι εὔκολον ἑνὶ πάντα ὁμοῦ κατορθοῦν, ὧν μέρος ἕκαστος τῶν ἁγίων ἤνυσεν: ὅταν δὲ εὑρίσκηται εἷς καὶ ὁ αὐτὸς τὰ πάντα ἔχων, ποίαν ἕξουσιν ἀπολογίαν οἱ μετὰ νόμον καὶ χάριν τοῖς πρὸ τοῦ νόμου καὶ τῆς χάριτος εἰς τὸ αὐτὸ μέτρον μὴ δυνάμενοι φθάσαι; Πῶς οὖν οὗτος ὁ πατριάρχης τοῦ θηρίου τούτου περιεγένετο καὶ ἐκράτησεν, ἡνίκα πρὸς τὸν ἀδελφιδοῦν ἀμφισβήτησιν εἶχε; Καὶ γὰρ ἐλαττωθεὶς, καὶ τῶν πρωτείων ἀποτυχὼν, οὐκ ἤλγησεν. Ἴστε δὲ ὅτι ἐν τοῖς τοιούτοις ἡ αἰσχύνη τῆς ζημίας χείρων τοῖς μικροψύχοις, καὶ μάλιστα ὅταν αὐτὸς ἁπάντων κύριος ὢν, καθάπερ ἐκεῖνος τότε, καὶ τῆς τιμῆς πρότερος ἄρξας, μὴ ἀντιτιμῷτο. Ἀλλ' ὅμως οὐδὲν τούτων ἐκεῖνον ἔδακνεν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὰ δεύτερα ἔχων ἔστεργε, καὶ ἀδικηθεὶς παρὰ τοῦ νέου ὁ πρεσβύτης, καὶ παρὰ τοῦ ἀδελφιδοῦ ὁ θεῖος οὐκ ἠγανάκτει, οὐδὲ ἐδυσχέραινεν, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐφίλει ὁμοίως καὶ ἐθεράπευε. Πάλιν νικήσας τὸν πόλεμον ἐκεῖνον τὸν μέγαν καὶ φοβερὸν, καὶ τοὺς βαρβάρους κατὰ κράτος ἐλάσας, οὐκ ἐμπομπεύει τῇ νίκῃ, οὐδὲ τρόπαιον ἵστησι: σῶσαι γὰρ ἐβούλετο μόνον, οὐκ ἐπιδείξασθαι. Ξένους ἐδέχετο πάλιν, καὶ οὐδὲ ἐνταῦθα ἐκενοδόξει, ἀλλ' αὐτὸς καὶ προσέτρεχε καὶ προσεκύνει, οὐχ ὡς εὖ ποιῶν, ἀλλ' ὡς εὖ πάσχων, καὶ κυρίους καλεῖ, οὐδὲ εἰδὼς τίνες ποτέ εἰσιν οἱ παραγενόμενοι, καὶ παρίστησι τὴν γυναῖκα ἐν τάξει θεραπαινίδος. Καὶ ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ δὲ πρὸ τούτου θαυμαστὸς οὕτω φανεὶς, καὶ αὐτὴν ταύτην τὴν γυναῖκα ἀπολαβὼν, καὶ τοσαύτης ἀπολαύσας τιμῆς, πρὸς οὐδένα ἐπιδείκνυται: ἀλλ' οἱ μὲν ἐγχώριοι καὶ βασιλέα αὐτὸν ἐκάλουν, αὐτὸς δὲ καὶ τιμὴν κατέβαλε τοῦ τάφου. Καὶ ἡνίκα δὲ ἔπεμπε μνηστευσόμενος τῷ παιδὶ, οὐδὲν ἐκέλευσε μέγα περὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ λαμπρὸν εἰπεῖν, ἀλλ' ἁπλῶς ἀγαγεῖν τὴν νύμφην. Βούλει καὶ τοὺς ἐπὶ τῆς χάριτος ἐξετάσαι, ὅτε πολλὴ πανταχόθεν αὐτοὺς περιέῤῥει τῆς διδασκαλίας ἡ δόξα, καὶ ἰδεῖν καὶ τότε τοῦτο τὸ πάθος ἐκβεβλημένον; Ἐννόησόν μοι τοῦτον αὐτὸν τὸν ταῦτα λέγοντα, πῶς ἀεὶ τὸ πᾶν ἀνατίθησι τῷ Θεῷ, πῶς τῶν μὲν ἁμαρτημάτων αὑτοῦ μέμνηται συνεχῶς, τῶν δὲ κατορθωμάτων οὐκέτι. Πλὴν εἴ ποτε μαθητὰς ἐπανορθῶσαι δέοι, κἂν ἀναγκασθῇ ποιῆσαι τοῦτο, ἀφροσύνην τὸ πρᾶγμα καλεῖ, καὶ τῶν πρωτείων τῷ Πέτρῳ παραχωρεῖ, καὶ οὐκ αἰσχύνεται ἐργαζόμενος παρὰ Πρισκίλλῃ καὶ Ἀκύλᾳ, καὶ πανταχοῦ ταπεινὸν ἑαυτὸν ἐσπούδακε δεικνύναι, οὐ σοβῶν ἐπὶ τῆς ἀγορᾶς, οὐδὲ ὄχλους περιφέρων, ἀλλ' ἐν τοῖς ἀσήμοις κατατάττων ἑαυτόν. Διὸ καὶ ἔλεγεν, Ἡ δὲ παρουσία τοῦ σώματος ἀσθενὴς, τουτέστιν, εὐκαταφρόνητος καὶ οὐδὲν ἔχουσα κομψόν: καὶ πάλιν, Εὔχομαι ὑμᾶς μὴ ποιῆσαι κακὸν μηδὲν, ἵνα μὴ ἡμεῖς δόκιμοι φανῶμεν. Καὶ τί θαυμαστὸν, εἰ δόξης καταφρονεῖ ταύτης; Ὁ γὰρ τῆς ἄνω δόξης καταφρονῶν καὶ βασιλείας καὶ γεέννης διὰ τὸ τῷ Χριστῷ δοκοῦν (καὶ γὰρ ἀνάθεμα εὔχεται εἶναι ἀπὸ τοῦ Χριστοῦ ὑπὲρ τῆς τοῦ Χριστοῦ δόξης: κἂν γὰρ ὑπὲρ Ἰουδαίων τοῦτο λέγῃ βούλεσθαι πάσχειν, διὰ τοῦτο λέγει, ἵνα μὴ δόξῃ τις τῶν ἀνοήτων ἐπιλαμβάνεσθαι τῶν ἐπαγγελιῶν τῶν πρὸς αὐτοὺς γεγενημένων): εἰ τοίνυν ἐκεῖνα παραδραμεῖν ἕτοιμος, τί θαυμάζεις, εἰ τὰ ἀνθρώπων ὑπερορᾷ; Ἀλλὰ τοὺς νῦν ἅπαντα βαπτίζει, οὐ δόξης ἐπιθυμία μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοὐναντίον ὕβρις καὶ ἀτιμίας δέος. Ἄν τε γὰρ ἐπαινέσῃ τις, ἐφυσήθης, ἄν τε ψέξῃ, κατηνέχθης ἄν. Καὶ καθάπερ τὰ ἀσθενῆ σώματα καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν τυχόντων ἐπηρεάζεται, οὕτω καὶ αἱ χαμαίζηλοι ψυχαί. Τοὺς γὰρ τοιούτους οὐ πενία μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ πλοῦτος ἀπόλλυσιν, οὐ λύπη μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ χαρὰ, καὶ τὰ χρηστὰ μᾶλλον ἢ τὰ λυπηρά. Ἡ μὲν γὰρ πενία καὶ σωφρονεῖν ἀναγκάζει, ὁ δὲ πλοῦτος καὶ εἰς κακόν τι μέγα ἐξάγει πολλάκις. Καὶ ὥσπερ οἱ πυρέττοντες πρὸς πάντα εἰσὶ δυσάρεστοι, οὕτω καὶ οἱ διεφθαρμένοι τὴν ψυχὴν πάντοθεν πλήττονται. Ϛʹ. Ταῦτ' οὖν εἰδότες, μὴ πενίαν φεύγωμεν, μὴ πλοῦτον θαυμάζωμεν, ἀλλὰ τὴν ψυχὴν πρὸς πάντα ἱκανὴν κατασκευάζωμεν. Καὶ γὰρ οἰκίαν τις οἰκοδομούμενος, οὐ τοῦτο σκοπεῖ, ὅπως μήτε ὑετὸς ἐπ' αὐτὴν κατενεχθείη, μήτε ἀκτὶς ἔλθοι: τοῦτο γὰρ ἀμήχανον: ἀλλ' ὅπως αὐτὴ ἱκανὴ γένοιτο πάντα φέρειν. Καὶ ὁ πλοῖον δὲ τεκταινόμενος, οὐχ ὅπως μὴ κύματα αὐτῷ προσρήξειε, μηδὲ χειμὼν ἀρθείη θαλάσσης, ποιεῖ τι καὶ μηχανᾶται: καὶ γὰρ καὶ τοῦτο ἀμήχανον: ἀλλ' ὅπως οἱ τοῖχοι τῆς νεὼς πρὸς ἅπαντα εἶεν ἐπιτήδειοι. Καὶ ὁ σώματος φροντίζων πάλιν οὐ τοῦτο σκοπεῖ, ὅπως μὴ ἀνωμαλία ἀέρων γένοιτο, ἀλλ' ὅπως τὸ σῶμα εὐκόλως ἅπαντα ταῦτα φέροι. Οὕτω τοίνυν καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς ψυχῆς ποιῶμεν, καὶ μὴ ὅπως φύγωμεν πενίαν, μηδὲ ὅπως γενώμεθα πλούσιοι σπουδάζωμεν, ἀλλ' ὅπως πρὸς τὴν ἑαυτῶν ἀσφάλειαν ἕκαστον τούτων μεταχειρίσωμεν. Διὸ ταῦτα ἀφέντες, κατασκευάζωμεν τὴν ψυχὴν καὶ πλούτῳ καὶ πενίᾳ ἐπιτηδείαν. Κἂν γὰρ μηδὲν ἀνθρώπινον συμβαίνῃ, ὅπερ ὡς τὰ πολλὰ ἀδύνατον, καὶ οὕτω βελτίων ὁ μὴ πλοῦτον ζητῶν, ἀλλ' εἰδὼς πάντα φέρειν εὐκόλως, τοῦ διαπαντὸς πλουτοῦντος. Τί δήποτε; Πρῶτον μὲν ὁ τοιοῦτος οἴκοθεν ἔχει τὸ ἀσφαλὲς, ἐκεῖνος δὲ ἔξωθεν. Καὶ ὥσπερ στρατιώτης βελτίων ὁ τῷ σώματι θαῤῥῶν καὶ τῇ τέχνῃ τοῦ πολεμεῖν, τοῦ τὴν ἰσχὺν ἐν τοῖς ὅπλοις ἔχοντος μόνον: οὕτω τοῦ χρήμασι θαῤῥοῦντος ὁ ἀπὸ τῆς ἀρετῆς πεφραγμένος ἀμείνων. Δεύτερον, ὅτι, κἂν εἰς πενίαν μὴ καταπέσῃ, οὐ δυνατὸν αὐτὸν ἀτάραχον εἶναι: καὶ γὰρ πολλοὺς ἔχει κλύδωνας ὁ πλοῦτος καὶ ταραχάς. Ἀλλ' οὐχ ἡ ἀρετὴ, ἀλλ' ἡδονὴν μόνον καὶ ἀσφάλειαν: καὶ γὰρ ἀχείρωτον ποιεῖ τοῖς ἐπιβουλεύουσιν: ὁ δὲ πλοῦτος τοὐναντίον ἅπαν, εὐεπιχείρητον καὶ ἁλώσιμον. Καὶ καθάπερ ἐν τοῖς ζώοις ἔλαφοι καὶ λαγωοὶ μάλιστα πάντων εἰσὶν εὐχείρωτοι διὰ τὴν ἐν τῇ φύσει δειλίαν, ὗς δὲ ἄγριος καὶ ταῦρος καὶ λέων οὐδ' ἂν ἐμπέσοιεν ῥᾳδίως τοῖς ἐπιβουλεύουσιν: οὕτω δὴ καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν πλουτούντων, καὶ ἐν πενίᾳ ζώντων ἑκόντων ἔστιν ἰδεῖν. Ὁ μὲν γὰρ τῷ λέοντι καὶ τῷ ταύρῳ ἔοικεν, ὁ δὲ τῇ ἐλάφῳ καὶ τῷ λαγωῷ. Τίνα γὰρ οὐ δέδοικεν ὁ πλουτῶν; οὐχὶ λῃστάς; οὐχὶ δυνάστας; οὐ βασκάνους; οὐ συκοφάντας; Καὶ τί λέγω λῃστὰς καὶ συκοφάντας, ὅπου γε καὶ τοὺς οἰκέτας αὐτοὺς ὑποπτεύει; Καὶ τί λέγω ζῶν; οὐδὲ τελευτήσας τῆς τῶν λῃστευόντων κακουργίας ἀπήλλακται, οὐδὲ ἰσχύει ὁ θάνατος ἐν ἀσφαλείᾳ αὐτὸν καταστῆσαι, ἀλλὰ καὶ νεκρὸν ὄντα συλῶσιν οἱ κακουργοῦντες: οὕτω πρᾶγμα ἐπισφαλὲς ὁ πλοῦτος. Οὐ γὰρ δὴ οἰκίαι διορύττονται μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ τάφοι ἀναῤῥήγνυνται καὶ θῆκαι. Τί οὖν ἀθλιώτερον τούτου γένοιτ' ἂν, ὅταν μηδὲ θάνατος αὐτῷ παρέχῃ τὴν ἄδειαν ταύτην, ἀλλὰ τὸ δείλαιον ἐκεῖνο σῶμα οὐδὲ ζωῆς ἀποστερηθὲν ἀπήλλακται τῶν ἐν τῇ ζωῇ κακῶν, τῶν τὰ τοιαῦτα κακουργούντων καὶ πρὸς κόνιν καὶ τέφραν ἐπειγομένων πολεμεῖν, καὶ πολλῷ χαλεπώτερον, ἢ ἡνίκα ἔζη; Τότε μὲν γὰρ εἰς ταμιεῖον εἰσιόντες, τὰ κιβώτια μὲν ἐκίνουν, τοῦ σώματος δὲ ἀπείχοντο, καὶ οὐκ ἂν τοσαῦτα ἔλαβον, ὡς καὶ αὐτὸ γυμνῶσαι τὸ σῶμα: νυνὶ δὲ οὐδὲ τούτων ἀπέχονται αἱ μιαραὶ τῶν τυμβωρύχων χεῖρες, ἀλλὰ κινοῦσιν αὐτὸ καὶ περιστρέφουσι, καὶ μετὰ πολλῆς ὠμότητος ἐνυβρίζουσι. Μετὰ γὰρ τὸ παραδοθῆναι τῇ γῇ, γυμνὸν καὶ τῆς ἐκεῖθεν περιβολῆς καὶ τῆς ἀπὸ τῶν ἱματίων ποιήσαντες, οὕτως ἀφιᾶσιν ἐῤῥῖφθαι. Τίς οὖν οὕτω πολέμιος, ὡς ὁ πλοῦτος, ζώντων μὲν καὶ τὴν ψυχὴν ἀπολλὺς, τελευτησάντων δὲ καὶ τὸ σῶμα ἐνυβρίζων, καὶ οὐδὲ τῇ γῇ κρύπτεσθαι συγχωρῶν; ὃ κοινὸν καὶ τῶν καταδίκων ἐστὶ, καὶ τῶν ἐπὶ τοῖς αἰσχίστοις ἑαλωκότων. Ἐκείνους μὲν γὰρ τοῦ θανάτου τὴν δίκην ἀπαιτήσαντες οἱ νομοθέται, οὐδὲν περαιτέρω περιεργάζονται: τούτους δὲ ὁ πλοῦτος καὶ μετὰ θάνατον πικροτάτην ἀπαιτεῖ δίκην, γυμνοὺς προτιθεὶς καὶ ἀτάφους, θέαμα δεινὸν καὶ ἐλεεινόν. Καὶ γὰρ τῶν ἀπὸ ψήφου τοῦτο πασχόντων καὶ θυμοῦ δικαστικοῦ χαλεπώτερα οὗτοι πάσχουσιν. Ἐκεῖνοι μὲν γὰρ μίαν τὴν πρώτην καὶ δευτέραν ἡμέραν μείναντες ἄταφοι, τῇ γῇ παραδίδονται: οὗτοι δὲ ὅταν παραδοθῶσι τῇ γῇ, τότε γυμνοῦνται καὶ ὑβρίζονται. Εἰ δὲ μὴ καὶ τὴν θήκην λαβόντες ἀπέρχονται οἱ λῃσταὶ, οὐκέτι τῷ πλούτῳ χάρις, ἀλλὰ τῇ πενίᾳ κἀνταῦθα: αὕτη γὰρ αὐτὴν φυλάττει: ὡς εἴ γε καὶ ταύτην ἐνεχειρίσαμεν τῷ πλούτῳ, καὶ ἀφέντες ἀπὸ λίθου κατασκευάζειν αὐτὴν, ἐχαλκεύσαμεν ἀπὸ χρυσοῦ, καὶ ταύτην ἂν ἀπωλέσαμεν. Οὕτως ἄπιστον πρᾶγμα ὁ πλοῦτος, καὶ οὐ τῶν ἐχόντων τοσοῦτόν ἐστιν, ὅσον τῶν ἁρπάζειν ἐπιχειρούντων. Ὥστε περιττὸς ὁ λόγος ἐκεῖνος ὁ σπουδάζων δεικνύναι ὅτι δυσχείρωτον ὁ πλοῦτος, ὅπου οὐδὲ ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῆς τελευτῆς τυγχάνουσιν ἀσφαλείας οἱ τοῦτον ἔχοντες. Καίτοι γε τίς πρὸς τὸν ἀπελθόντα οὐ καταλλάττεται, κἂν θηρίον ᾖ, κἂν δαίμων, κἂν ὁστισοῦν; καὶ γὰρ ἡ θέα ἱκανὴ καὶ τὸν σφόδρα σιδηροῦν καὶ ἀνάλγητον ἐπικάμψαι. Διά τοι τοῦτο, ὅταν τις ἴδῃ νεκρὸν, κἂν ἐχθρὸν ἴδῃ, κἂν πολέμιον, μετὰ τῶν φιλτάτων δακρύει: καὶ ἡ μὲν ὀργὴ μετὰ τῆς ζωῆς σβέννυται, ὁ δὲ ἔλεος ἐπεισάγεται. Καὶ οὐκ ἄν τις ἐπὶ κήδους καὶ ἐκφορᾶς διαγνοίη τὸν ἐχθρὸν, καὶ τὸν οὐ τοιοῦτον: οὕτως ἅπαντες τὴν κοινὴν αἰδοῦνται φύσιν, καὶ τοὺς περὶ αὐτὴν εἰσενεχθέντας νόμους. Ἀλλ' ὁ πλοῦτος, οὐδὲ τούτου τυχὼν, ἀφίησι τὴν ὀργὴν τοῖς κτησαμένοις αὐτὸν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοὺς οὐδὲν ἠδικημένους τοῦ τετελευτηκότος ἐχθροὺς καθίστησιν, εἴ γε τὸ νεκρὸν σῶμα γυμνοῦν, τῶν σφόδρα ἐχθρῶν καὶ πολεμίων ἐστί. Καὶ ἡ μὲν φύσις καὶ τοὺς ἐχθροὺς αὐτῷ καταλλάττει τότε, ὁ δὲ πλοῦτος καὶ τοὺς οὐδὲν ἔχοντας ἐγκαλεῖν ἐκπολεμοῖ, καὶ ἐν ἐρημίᾳ πολλῇ τὸ σῶμα αἰκίζεται. Καίτοι πολλὰ ἐκεῖ τὰ δυνάμενα ἐπισπάσασθαι πρὸς οἶκτον, αὐτὸ τὸ νεκρὸν εἶναι, τὸ ἀκίνητον, τὸ πρὸς γῆν ὁδεύειν καὶ φθορὰν, τὸ μηδένα παρεῖναι τὸν βοηθήσοντα. Ἀλλ' οὐδὲν τούτων κατακλᾷ τοὺς μιαροὺς ἐκείνους διὰ τὴν ἀπὸ τῆς πονηρᾶς ἐπιθυμίας τυραννίδα. Ὁ γὰρ τῆς φιλοχρηματίας ἔρως, καθάπερ τις τύραννος ἀπηνὴς, ἐφέστηκεν ἐγκελευόμενος αὐτοῖς τὰ ἀπάνθρωπα ἐπιτάγματα ἐκεῖνα, καὶ θηρία ποιήσας, οὕτως ἐπὶ τὰς θήκας ἄγει. Καθάπερ γὰρ θηρία τοῖς τετελευτηκόσιν ἐπιτιθέμενοι, οὐδ' ἂν τῶν σαρκῶν ἀπέσχοντο, εἴ γέ που χρήσιμα ἦν αὐτοῖς τὰ μέλη. Τοιαῦτα ἀπολαύομεν τοῦ πλούτου, καὶ μετὰ τελευτὴν ὑβριζόμενοι, καὶ ταφῆς ἀποστερούμενοι, ἧς καὶ οἱ τὰ ἀνήκεστα τετολμηκότες ἀπολαύουσιν. Ἔτι οὖν, εἰπέ μοι, στέρξομεν αὐτὸν τὸν οὕτω πολέμιον; Μὴ, παρακαλῶ, μὴ, ἀδελφοὶ, ἀλλὰ φεύγωμεν ἀμεταστρεπτί: κἂν εἰς χεῖρας ἔλθῃ τὰς ἡμετέρας, μὴ κατέχωμεν ἔνδον, ἀλλὰ δήσωμεν αὐτὸν ταῖς τῶν πενήτων χερσί. Ταῦτα γὰρ αὐτὸν δύναται μᾶλλον τὰ δεσμὰ κατέχειν, καὶ ἐκ τῶν ταμιείων ἐκείνων οὐδέποτε διαφεύξεται, καὶ ὁ ἄπιστος οὗτος μένει λοιπὸν πιστὸς, χειροήθης, ἥμερος, τῇ τῆς ἐλεημοσύνης δεξιᾷ ταῦτα γενόμενος. Ἂν μὲν οὖν παραγένηταί ποτε ἡμῖν, ταύτῃ παραδῶμεν αὐτόν: ἂν δὲ μὴ παραγένηται, μὴ ζητῶμεν, μηδὲ ἄγχωμεν ἑαυτοὺς, μηδὲ τοὺς ἔχοντας μακαρίζωμεν. Ποῖος γὰρ οὗτος μακαρισμός; πλὴν εἰ μὴ καὶ τοὺς θηριομάχους ζηλωτοὺς εἶναι φαίης, ὅτι τὰ πολυτίμητα ἐκεῖνα θηρία κατακλείσαντες ἑαυτοῖς φυλάττουσιν οἱ τοὺς τοιούτους τιθέντες ἀγῶνας, αὐτοὶ μέντοι οὐ προσελθεῖν, οὐχ ἅψασθαι τολμῶντες, ἀλλ' ἀγωνιῶντες αὐτὰ καὶ τρέμοντες. Τοιοῦτον γάρ τι καὶ οἱ πλουτοῦντες πάσχουσιν, ὥσπερ θηρίον ἀπηνὲς ἐν τοῖς ταμιείοις κατακλείσαντες τὸν πλοῦτον, καὶ καθ' ἑκάστην παρ' αὐτοῦ τὴν ἡμέραν μυρία δεχόμενοι τὰ τραύματα, ἀπεναντίας τοῖς θηρίοις. Ἐκεῖνα μὲν γὰρ ὅταν ἐξαγάγῃς, τότε λυμαίνεται τοῖς ἀπαντῶσιν: οὗτος δὲ ὅταν συγκεκλεισμένος ᾖ καὶ φυλαττόμενος, τότε ἀπόλλυσι τοὺς κεκτημένους αὐτὸν καὶ φυλάττοντας. Ἀλλ' ἡμεῖς τὸ θηρίον τοῦτο ποιήσωμεν ἥμερον. Ἔσται δὲ ἥμερον, ἂν μὴ κατακλείωμεν αὐτὸ, ἀλλὰ ταῖς ἁπάντων τῶν δεομένων προσάγωμεν χερσίν. Οὕτω καὶ τὰ μέγιστα ἐντεῦθεν καρπωσόμεθα ἀγαθὰ, καὶ ἐν τῷ παρόντι βίῳ μετὰ ἀσφαλείας καὶ χρηστῆς ζῶντες ἐλπίδος, καὶ κατὰ τὴν μέλλουσαν ἡμέραν μετὰ παῤῥησίας ἱστάμενοι: ἧς γένοιτο πάντας ἡμᾶς ἐπιτυχεῖν, χάριτι καὶ φιλανθρωπίᾳ, καὶ τὰ ἑξῆς.