Selecta in psalmos
And the ninety-third, which begins: “the lord is a god of vengeance,” and the ninety-fourth, which begins: 12.1057 “come, let us rejoice in the lord,”
The three psalms for the winepresses, namely the eighth, the eightieth, and the eighty-third, seem to me to signify the gathering of the church and
Of my hope. over idumea i will stretch out my shoe to me the foreigners have been subjected.” therefore, along with the israelite tribes, he has incl
Peace in my bones, because of my sins,» and so on and through the whole psalm it signifies the state resulting from the sin that was committed. likew
It is said: “when he changed his countenance before abimelech ” but aquila: “when he altered his taste.” therefore, proceeding in the psalm, hinting a
Symmachus: “the prayers of david are ended ” but according to the fifth edition: “the prayers of david are summed up.” in this they were summed up, in
Of the psalter” and “in psalms,” and “to the victor,” and “of victory” is inscribed. and in the same way you will observe also for the others, as many
Of john, and of isaiah must be considered to be said, but also concerning all divine scripture, as is confessed even by those who are moderately able
And the possible fruits, and the differences of the qualities so we suppose concerning all the things written by the inspiration of the holy spirit,
Of solomon, but now a tree planted by the channels of waters, there being discursive reasonings, or things divided by a dialectical law of which tr
“transplanted.” for from where is the tree, of which the saying is, transplanted to the divisions of the waters? for either having taken root in the f
They answer, that it is of the bodies which we now wear. then, when we ask further whether it is of their whole substance, or not? before examining, t
To have much variation thus it must be understood also in the present case, that the form is the same as the future, although there will be a very gr
Of the body will not be punished concerning which, when discoursing on nature, we have spoken about the form and the first underlying substance. and
And it is not surprising if in one psalm it is not one person who is speaking for this can be seen in many places, as we will show as we proceed. and
To the most ancient. for they say that ezra in the captivity handed down to them different characters from the former ones. and we were reminded of th
Of scourges and rods. for all discipline for the present seems not to be of joy, but of sorrow but afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteou
Therefore from the scriptures that the contrition of some is for their benefit. we find indeed in the fiftieth psalm: “a sacrifice to god is a contrit
To voluntarily surrender himself to this. but it must be answered to the question, since many are perplexed on this point, that perhaps some, because
Having been interpreted, since the sons are also able to serve the lord, fear must be understood as what is sometimes called reverence, which in no wa
Of his son who desired his kingdom, and of his commanding those under him to spare the young man absalom. in many places in scripture we have found th
A wicked son afflicts the father who begot him, but because of his affection, it follows that he is certainly afflicted by the sins of his son in thi
To have previously announced to those who will meet us how he prayed. but it is better to solve the difficulty thus: the beginning of the psalm contai
Of these: “now i would have lain down and been quiet having fallen asleep, then i should have been at rest with kings, counselors of the earth.” but
An army, my heart shall not fear.” and the savior, knowing in spirit the myriads of the people of the concision who demanded that he be crucified, and
Often using [this], our adversaries approach us to eat our flesh, that is, the things that grow from the flesh “now the works of the flesh are manife
What it is to call upon, for those who have not examined the scripture think it is the work of anyone at all who is inclined to pray but the prophet
In us, but you are constrained in your own affections.” then, exhorting them on account of the state of the holy one, he says: “be enlarged, you also.
Of the waves of life. opposite to the heavy of heart are those who are under the light yoke of jesus. perhaps, since those who have been made disciple
Of yours, be pricked, etc. through these words, it seems to teach that each person, when going to bed, ought to demand an account from himself of the
Of tribulation, and i will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” and in the fiftieth: “for if you had desired sacrifice, i would have given it you
Which god has prepared for those who love him.” many say: who will show us good things? etc. the more simple will suppose it is said here that, when t
Lineage. but some will suppose that according to the scriptures there are likewise three kinds of goods, and three of evils for accepting that virtue
A savior having come, and how he had removed evils from men: bodily blindness, and deafness, and paralysis of the limbs, and had healed every sickness
...ing but therefore to job the devil was not an evil «since for those who love god, god works all things together for good, for those who are calle
And: unless the lord guards the city, the guard has watched in vain. every one who is progressing builds a house, and every one who is perfect guard
Their spiritual meaning must be sought, as the word is shown through these histories to heal the passions of the soul. it is not out of place in such
A sign, that they may flee from the face of the bow, that your beloved may be delivered ” and in ezekiel: “and the glory of the god of israel went up
With the attention of the lord. and no one who is ruled by sin will say to god: my king and those whose god is their belly will not say, my god,
Men and demons are envious, being grieved at the good things of those who succeed. but observing this, the one before us did not give to his own power
Of him. for this was most eagerly sought by the just. return, as in, restore me to intimacy. but also deliver it, being among enemies. you turned aw
The saying is useful. if i did, he says, this which i suffer if i rose up against my father, or transgressed the law. for he puts forth his lack of m
Opinion. he dug a pit, and excavated it, and he will fall into the hole which he has made. his mischief shall return upon his own head, and upon his o
But we see jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor.” you have crowned him with glo
He blotted out the name of the sinner, therefore he blotted out his worst condition. and let those who know your name hope in you, for you have not fo
They are moved to sin. according to the multitude of his wrath he will not seek, etc. who? whether the lord, or the sinner? and perhaps the sinner. fo
Of the sin of the sinner and the wicked one, he will not be found, having become entirely sin and wickedness or it will be when his sin is sought, an
Let us become poor, so that the eyes of the lord may see us. but if the rich are not poor, the lord does not look upon the rich. with his eyes he sees
I will appoint and i will make as also, whom he hath appointed heir of all things such as also, god hath set some in the church, first apostles,
Let him sing psalms. for he says: “is any among you cheerful? let him sing psalms.” i will have also for the time to come the greatness of the benefic
Transform themselves as ministers of righteousness. and he has done his neighbor no evil. if not all men are neighbors, the text does not forbid doi
He says at once that he will not gather their assemblies, but “of bloods ” nor will he mention their names absolutely, but only “through lips.” perhap
Lord. but the lord is the spirit according to the apostle. i was gladdened, he says, by the hope of the resurrection after the third day. for the to
Such men. from those who resist your right hand, guard me as the apple of your eye, etc. he who resists christ, resists the right hand of god. but you
He calls god. and a beneficent hand are the holy angels, through whom god provides for the world, to whom demons are opposed, who do not wish every pe
Once happened. but they came before him, that is, they went before, and the sins unto death, that is, snares but they did not capture him. therefore,
He transplanted from egypt, to guard it, until the cluster of grapes should ripen, and a boar from the wood might not destroy it. but he can also call
My righteousness, and according to the cleanness of my hands he will reward me, because i have kept the ways of the lord, etc. the one who lifts up ho
Whoever does not enter into temptation, not by not being tempted, but by not being caught in the snares of temptation. therefore this one crosses over
So that they turned their backs to me, or fled. deliver me from the contradictions of the people, you will set me as head of nations, etc. he who beca
Their voices are heard, etc. speech and reason are not the same, since neither is the talker the same as the eloquent man or perhaps the sound is of
Being on a narrow and afflicted way, which leads to life, is certainly afflicted in everything, and is in a day of affliction wherefore he obtains th
Crowns those who hope with mercy and compassion. he asked life of you, and you gave him length of days for ever and ever, etc. inquire if one life is
Forsaken me, etc. this is the voice of the lord christ, nailed to the cross, and in another way it also prefigures our passion. for we were the ones w
Goring their men and the devil as a lion roaring against us, and seizing many, from which lion the good shepherd snatched two legs and the lobe of an
Psalm 22. the lord shepherds me, and i shall want nothing, etc. just as the sheep is nourished by green pasture and water, so also man is made alive b
No longer introductory and moral teaching as before, but mystical and the contemplation of the truth. but consider, if and as much as one is in this l
In your tabernacle?” and so on and see, that there such a person will first sojourn in the lord's tabernacle, then he will dwell in his holy mountain
Of this he will be cast out.” lord of hosts, this is the king of glory, etc. they called him lord of hosts as ruler of armies. but it is to be noted t
Someone hungers, being without confidence from the consciousness of sins, and toils for the fruits of repentance. 12.1273 let me not be ashamed, for i
The lord. and paul, saying, so that we despaired even of life, was speaking of the divine life. but he who says these things from disposition will n
Third, he is exalted on a rock. he asks, therefore, to dwell in the church by thinking ecclesiastical thoughts all the days of his enlightened life. w
Of evil, from which he begets his lawless sons. just as paul through the gospel begets the galatians, so also through evil the devil begets the wicked
Names for this distinction, saying: i exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made, sa
To them » as if he said according to the secret things of their works, render their recompense to them. the insightful man, approaching matters with
For when we are lifted up from the earth, suspended and raised up by the cross of christ who said: “when i am lifted up, i will draw all to myself,” w
To say 'not to be shaken' 12.1296 while being in abundance. however, as we have often said, he says this of the human nature of the savior. but accord
Let me not be ashamed forever in your righteousness rescue me and deliver me, etc. as if he were saying: let me not be ashamed in any part of the age
The tent guards the mind through true knowledge from contrary words and false doctrines. blessed be the lord, for he has made his mercy wonderful in a
When the whole earth was filled with the churches of christ. perhaps one might say: men, love, but let the earth fear. but those who inhabit the inhab
The lord [guards] all their bones not one of them will be broken, etc. by bones he now means the powers of the soul, or the true doctrines which hold
Crucified the very lord of glory. delivering the poor from the hand of those stronger than him, etc. from this we know that without the lord we are no
Reveal your way to the lord, etc. “everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light,” he does not reveal his way to the lord. fi
I went about grieving, etc. this must be said to those who laugh much, and take pleasure in jests. my friends and my neighbors drew near before me and
12.1409 psalm 39. he brought me up out of a pit of misery, etc. the pit of misery is wickedness and ignorance. “and he set my feet upon a rock.” the r
Enemies wished him to die, so that they might extinguish the glory of his name but in addition to not perishing, also every knee shall bow in the nam
To the holy powers but if virtue and wisdom were also understood in terms of power, also in the opposing powers but if in one way by power, and in a
“my soul is very sorrowful.” or christ says this questioningly, as if showing something like this: what is accomplished worthy of me, having been cast
God, but he plants virtue and knowledge. for every plant which god has not planted will be uprooted. by nations he means the five satrapies in pal
Transgressing. from the voice of one who reproaches and speaks evil, etc. this should be said to those who have endured in persecutions. and we have n
By the same. perhaps «the thigh» is a symbol of generation. therefore, what is said is something like this: join to your generation the heresy of the
Having inherited faith and knowledge. for the inheritance of a rational nature is the knowledge of god. psalm 45. god is our refuge and strength, etc.
Of exultation so that it might be: clap your hands to god with a voice of exultation. it can be everything according to god, which exultation follows
Of a great king. according to this it can be said in the gospel, jerusalem to be of the great king, as here: “the mountains of sion, the sides of the
Understanding, what is the promise? 12.1444 when the meditation of the heart is understanding, evil thoughts do not come forth from within the heart,
To save those who believe. he who is fully persuaded about the coming judgment, when he sees the wise dying, will not think that what is happening is
Of the heavenly zion, being of equal power with the father for he was the heavenly god, even when he came manifestly, that is, when he became flesh.
Is the knowledge of god. and we place this with adulterers, taking up theirs. here he calls the fornicator an adulterer, and every kind of licentious
Of the sinner, as for him to turn, and live, he wisely mentioned the preceding words while constructing his argument: because, if you will forgive me
The saint said within himself: but i am like a fruitful olive tree. he likens himself to a fruitful olive tree, since, with almsgiving prevailing in
And my eye has looked upon my enemies.” it is good for our enemies, previously unseen, if they are still hidden from us, to be seen at last for what t
One advances in virtue, the passionate part not being destroyed, it happens to be in what is called sympathy. indeed, the person before us, pushed by
And jacob, rising early, wrestled with an angel abraham saw the angels at midday but lot in the evening. by the same. “evening,” at the eleventh hou
Etc. 12.1473 let us see what it is to truly speak righteousness, and in how many ways such a thing may come to be. and in one way, it is possible to s
Instead of he will crush, by a change of tense. and god does this for them as a benefactor, so that by devouring the men deceived by them, they may
You have shown your people hard things, etc. hard things are shown to someone when he falls into laborious circumstances which if someone receives fo
Is expected to be given after the resurrection in the age to come but indeed, having already been prepared, it has been given to those who will be le
Him, every assembly of the people, etc. as if he said: not only the remnant according to the election of grace which will be, when all israel will be
Of those 12.1489 not being so so also in spiritual matters there is an analogy for each. for the prophet, knowing the superabundant food of the soul,
They have searched out iniquity. they have searched out iniquity, they have failed in searching a search, etc. this is also what the counterfeiters of
Illuminating with the light of righteousness. then he recounts the power of god, as far as is possible. preparing the mountains in his strength, etc.
Terrible works of the lord for his wonders in the deep, which are analogous to the works of the lord, are not terrible. let all the earth worship, et
It happens, when it does not happen to another, but is offered to god in the manner that incense ought to be before him. and prayer, or offering, is m
But those who hate are as smoke, smoke that is harmful to the eyes. «as wax melts before the face of fire,» and so on. just as the righteous are wheat
He gave gifts to men ” by gifts he means the charisms of the holy spirit. thus having shown the descent of the savior and the destruction of the demon
The disobedience of those who do not obey his teaching is spoken of. but if also in regard to not growing weary in prayer, but crying out day and nigh
One to grieve with me, and there was none, and for one to comfort me, and i found none, etc. it is not said, one to grieve with *me*, but one to grie
Their writings. for indeed he knows how to teach the killing letter the things of the life-giving spirit. and this one, having risen from the dead, th
Give to your king, and your righteousness to the king's son, etc. christ is king, the son of god the king wherefore he himself reigns, until all the
Is seen in an evil life, but impiety in false doctrines. their iniquity shall come forth as from fatness, etc. their eyes came out from fat, accordi
An evil enemy is among the saints. and now the enemy works evil in the holy place, that is, in the church. and if one falls away from the feasts of go
Etc. the church in christ speaks the two verses. i will tell of all your wonderful works. when i find an opportunity, etc. symmachus: “when i take the
Like a gazelle from the snares, and like a bird from the trap.” of the same. thus men of wealth, as men of blood for men having passions are named af
5. first is the thunder of the lightning, but the lightning is seen first. your way is in the sea, and your paths in many waters, and your tracks will
He heard a law which he did not know. there will not be in you a new god, etc. a new god is one who can bring nothing into being, or one who is charac
Your righteousness in a forgotten land, etc. a forgotten land is a rational soul deprived of the fruits of the holy spirit. your terrors have troubled
Etc. true knowledge is the weapon of christ, and he who is surrounded by it will not be terrified. from the arrow that flies by day, etc. he now calle
Etc. the rest of the lord, knowledge of him and he who has entered into it will rest upon it. psalm 5. sing to the lord a new song, etc. the old man,
Bless the lord, o my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name, etc. the things within the inner man are the intellectual power, and the re
The art which is concerned with matter. there are reptiles without number, etc. the number of reptilian men, on account of their wickedness, is withou
E. beelphegor is an idol of bel in the place of phegor. and they ate the sacrifices of the dead, etc. they conducted rites for beelphegor, being initi
To pry into the generation of christ and of the morning star is not within our power. for the discourse on this is long and difficult to contemplate.
Etc. as indeed for the history, once in the desert 12.1573 having struck the rock he gave drink to israel but as for the spirit, he always strikes th
Assent. but i said in my ecstasy: every man is a liar, etc. if david is also a man, he is a liar but if he is a liar, saying of himself that he is a
They have warred against me, let israel now say.” let the house of aaron now say, etc. if someone is not israel, or the house of aaron, or one fearing
The phrase, who is this king of glory? indeed, there are gates of righteousness for many, but which is the gate of the lord alone? therefore, he cal
Their fruit in their season,» because they have become «trees planted by the rivers of water.» by the same. he says the cherubim «covering» are those
That is, they will walk in righteousness in the ways of god. therefore, the ways of god are the contemplations of the things that have come to be, in
Minas the master who bestowed them on him. uncover my eyes, and i will understand the wondrous things from your law, etc. the law requires uncovering
Running the way of the commandments of god. thus the wide and broad way leads to destruction, but the narrow heart, not containing in itself the dwell
For if in this life only we have hoped in christ, we are of all men most miserable, because we suffer evil now and not in hope of a future life. but t
I arose to give thanks to you for the judgments of your righteousness, etc. this must be said to those who neglect prayers at night. their heart was c
Instead of in his holy powers. for when all things are ordered there, there is no transgression of the word and in heaven not the one that is passi
It means the jews of the circumcision for above these the christian has been made wise in the commandment of god, understanding and keeping the law s
I choose to do what is better. therefore, be well pleased with this, o lord. and concerning other similar things in our life, we shall find such thing
By not being likened to these. depart from me, you who are evil, and i will search out the commandments of my god, etc. unless the demons depart from
“they have made void.” therefore i was directed to all your commandments, i hated every unjust way, etc. he who has not kept all the commandments has
This for it is temporary and for the most part mistaken. and your law is truth itself, being very true in all things. and truth is understood as upri
I have not forgotten your law, etc. it is blessed to be humbled before god for james says: “humble yourselves before the lord, and he will exalt you.
Love the lord. “for whoever causes one of these little ones to stumble,” he says. but those who love the lord are not scandalized. the little ones do
He says, among you? let him sing psalms»), so to sing hymns is for those who contemplate the words of the commandments. but singing psalms is fitting
Sharpened, being opposed to the arrows of the evil one. woe is me, for my sojourning is prolonged i have dwelt with the tents of kedar, etc. it is no
Him who dwells in heaven, etc. god dwells in the corporeal heavens as creator through his manifold wisdom but in the spiritual heavens as righteousne
Of the enemy as having power only against the slothful for we have received the grace of the spirit, and we are nourished by the blood and body of ch
“the mouth of the righteous meditates wisdom ” and, “open your mouth to the word of god ” and similar to, “our mouth is open to you, corinthians ” the
All those who fear the lord, who walk in his ways, etc. many are the ways of the lord, in which those who walk are blessed, from which it is possible
You should keep watch, lord, lord, who will stand, etc. if the sins according to the mind, making the mind impure, turn it away from the knowledge of
Beyond the jordan. there is a story that the angels who fell away considered their apostasy on this mountain and made a pact. of the same. the mountai
Means 12.1656 but it is also used for the confession of sins, as here. of the same. he is god of those gods to whom the word of god came, according t
Hanging up the things that contribute to the practical life. for there those who took us captive asked us for the words of songs, and those who led us
The top of carmel, from there i will search out and take them and if they should go down from my sight into the depths of the sea, there i will comma
Of the coming judgment, in which, with the impious being handed over to fire, the righteous will be received for rest. from here solomon also, having
I have done for you, or how have i grieved you?” no one living will be justified for in the presence of the lord no one living will be justified but
Of the blessed lord the sons are as young olive plants around his table but the sons of the sons of strangers as young plants planted in their you
The one partaking of the 12.1676 disposition thus also he loves mercy and judgment, that is, the merciful one and the one who judges rightly. and in
His word melts them. he will send forth his word, and will melt them, etc. the snow and the crystal, and the mist and the cold happen to the rational
To the nations,» among the heterodox «and reproofs among the peoples,» those who sin, who are considered ecclesiastical according to their way of lif
He who does not have, is not a melodious cymbal. let every breath praise the lord, etc. if the light of the lord, according to solomon, is the breath
And: "Unless the Lord guards the city, the guard has watched in vain." Every one who is progressing builds a house, and every one who is perfect guards a city; but the work of the one building is in vain, and the guard of the one watching is in vain, unless the Lord builds, and the Lord guards; unless the good of our free choice should be the Lord’s power assisting the building of the one building, and 12.1161 co-building with him who is not able to complete by himself what is being built; the same things must be understood also concerning the city that is being guarded. And just as if I should say that the agricultural good, that which produces the fruit, is a mixture of the voluntary which is according to the art of the farmer, and the involuntary which is from Providence according to the good temperament of the air, and a sufficient supply of rain; so the good of the rational being is a mixture both of his own free choice and of the divine power which cooperates with him who has chosen the best things. Therefore, not only is there need both of our own free choice and of the divine cooperation, which is involuntary as regards us, for becoming noble and good; but also for having become noble and good to remain in virtue; since even the one who has been perfected will fall away, if he should be puffed up over the good, and inscribe himself as the cause of this, and not rather refer the fitting glory to the one who has granted by far the greater part for the acquisition and maintenance of virtue. And some such cause we suppose is also that of the one mentioned in Ezekiel who had walked blamelessly in all his ways, until iniquity was found in him, being the same as he who according to Isaiah has fallen from heaven, having once been the morning star, rising early, later crushed upon the earth; for not only among the sons of men, if anyone is perfect, with the wisdom from God being absent, is it true that he is reckoned as nothing; but also concerning the angelic order, and the ruling, and every order that, insofar as God is present to it, is divine. Perhaps, then, the holy Apostle, seeing that our voluntary effort is much less than the power of God for the acquisition of good things, says that the end is, "not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy;" not as though God shows mercy without our willing and running, but as though the willing and the running are nothing in comparison with the mercy of God, and for this reason the ascription of the good ought to be attributed more to the mercy of God than to human willing and running. These things, seeming to have digressed at great length, we have examined, being persuaded that they are necessary for the verse: "Many say: Who will show us good things?" for as far as possible the discourse has presented and shown to the many who say: "Who will show us good things?" what the good things are; and it is clear also what the evil things are; in order that through both training and prayers we might acquire the good things, and cast out the evil things from our souls. But since in speaking it is possible sometimes to speak literally, and at other times to use words improperly, it is not surprising if we should ever find the designation of good and evil things applied to bodily things and what are called external things by those who do not hold sound doctrines; as for example in Job: "If we have received good things from the hand of the Lord, shall we not endure evil things?" and in Jeremiah: "Evils have come down from the Lord to the gates of Jerusalem." For instead of saying, If we have received such useful and pleasant things that have come to us from Providence, shall we not readily bear bitter and painful things? it is said: "If we have received good things from the hand of the Lord, shall we not endure evil things?" And instead of saying, By Providence these things have happened to Jerusalem for the sake 12.1164 of the chastisement of those who dwell in it, it is written: "Evils have come down from the Lord to the gates of Jerusalem." Therefore it will be necessary for those who understand the matters not to be stingy about the names, but to apprehend when these are properly assigned to the matters, and when through the poverty of names they are used improperly. But if the Savior healed certain such things, and granted health, and sight, and hearing to men, primarily indeed
καί· «Ἐὰν μὴ Κύ ριος φυλάξῃ πόλιν, εἰς μάτην ἠγρύπνησεν ὁ φυλάσ σων.» Οἰκοδομεῖ δὲ οἶκον πᾶς ὁ προκόπτων, καὶ φυλάσ σει πόλιν
πᾶς ὁ τέλειος· μάταιον δὲ τὸ ἔργον τοῦ οἰκο δομοῦντος, καὶ ματαία ἡ φυλακὴ τοῦ τηροῦντος, ἐὰν μὴ Κύριος οἰκοδομήσῃ, καὶ Κύριος
φυλάξῃ· ἐκτὸς ἂν εἴη τῆς προαιρέσεως ἡμῶν ἀγαθὸν, ἡ ἀντιλαμβανομένη τοῦ Κυρίου δύναμις τῆς οἰκοδομῆς τοῦ οἰκοδομοῦντος, καὶ
12.1161 συνοικοδομοῦσα τῷ μὴ δυναμένῳ καθ' αὑτὸν ἀπαρτί σαι τὸ οἰκοδομούμενον· τὰ δὲ αὐτὰ καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς φυλασ σομένης πόλεως
νοητέον. Καὶ ὥσπερ ἐὰν εἴποιμι τὸ γεωργικὸν ἀγαθὸν, τὸ ποιητικὸν τοῦ καρποῦ, μικτὸν εἶναι ἐκ προαιρετικοῦ τοῦ κατὰ τὴν τέχνην
τοῦ γεωρ γοῦ, καὶ ἀπροαιρέτου τοῦ παρὰ τῆς Προνοίας κατὰ τὴν τῶν ἀέρων εὐκρασίαν, καὶ φορὰν αὐτάρκους ὑετοῦ· οὕτω τὸ τοῦ λογικοῦ
ἀγαθὸν μικτόν ἐστιν ἔκ τε τῆς προαιρέσεως αὐτοῦ καὶ τῆς συμπνεούσης θείας δυνάμεως τῷ τὰ κάλλιστα προελομένῳ. Οὐ μόνον τοί
νυν εἰς τὸ καλὸν καὶ ἀγαθὸν γενέσθαι χρεία καὶ τῆς προαιρέσεως τῆς ἡμετέρας καὶ τῆς θείας συμπνοίας, ἥτις ἐστὶν ὡς πρὸς ἡμᾶς
ἀπροαίρετος· ἀλλὰ καὶ εἰς τὸ γενόμενον καλὸν καὶ ἀγαθὸν διαμεῖναι ἐν τῇ ἀρε τῇ· μεταπεσουμένου καὶ τοῦ τελειωθέντος, εἰ ὑπερ
επαρθείη ἐπὶ τῷ καλῷ, καὶ ἑαυτὸν ἐπιγράφοι τούτου αἴτιον, οὐχὶ δὲ τὴν δέουσαν δόξαν ἀναφέρων τῷ τὸ πολλῷ πλεῖον δωρησαμένῳ
εἰς τὴν κτῆσιν καὶ τὴν συνοχὴν τῆς ἀρετῆς. Τοιοῦτον δέ τι αἴτιον καὶ τοῦ κατὰ τὸν Ἰεζεκιὴλ εἰρημένου ἀμώμου περιπεπατη κέναι
ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτοῦ, ἕως εὑρεθῇ ἀνομία ἐν αὐτῷ, ἡγούμεθα τυγχάνειν τοῦ αὐτὸν κατὰ τὸν Ἠσαΐαν ἐκπεπτωκέναι τοῦ οὐρανοῦ,
ἑωσφόρον ποτὲ γενόμενον, πρωῒ ἀνατέλλοντα, ὕστερον συντετριμμέ νον ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν· οὐ μόνον γὰρ ἐπὶ τοῖς υἱοῖς τῶν ἀν θρώπων,
ἐάν τις τέλειος ᾖ, τῆς ἀπὸ Θεοῦ σοφίας ἀπούσης, ἀληθὲς τὸ εἰς οὐδὲν αὐτὸν λογισθῆναι· ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς ἀγγελικῆς τάξεως, καὶ
ἀρχικῆς, καὶ πά σης τῆς, ὅσον Θεὸς πάρεστιν αὐτῇ, θείας τυγχανούσης. Τάχα γοῦν ὁρῶν ὁ ἱερὸς Ἀπόστολος πολὺ ἔλαττον τὸ ἡμέτερον
προαιρετικὸν τῆς τοῦ Θεοῦ δυνάμεως πρὸς τὴν κτῆσιν τῶν ἀγαθῶν, φησὶ τὸ τέλος, «οὐ τοῦ θέλον τος εἶναι, οὐδὲ τοῦ τρέχοντος,
ἀλλὰ τοῦ ἐλεοῦντος Θεοῦ·» οὐχ ὡς χωρὶς τοῦ θέλειν, καὶ τοῦ τρέχειν ἐλεοῦντος Θεοῦ, ἀλλ' ὡς οὐδενὸς ὄντος τοῦ θέλειν, καὶ τοῦ
τρέχειν, συγκρίσει τοῦ ἐλέους τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ διὰ τοῦτο τὴν ἐπιγραφὴν τοῦ καλοῦ δέοντος μᾶλλον ἀνα τιθέναι τῷ ἐλέῳ τοῦ Θεοῦ
ἤπερ τῷ ἀνθρωπίνῳ θέλειν καὶ τρέχειν. Ταῦτα δὲ, ἐπὶ πολὺ παρεκβεβηκέναι δο κοῦντες, ἐξητάσαμεν, πειθόμενοι ἀναγκαῖα αὐτὰ εἶναι
πρὸς τό· «Πολλοὶ λέγουσι· Τίς δείξει ἡμῖν τὰ ἀγαθά;» κατὰ τὸ δυνατὸν γὰρ ὁ λόγος τοῖς λέγουσι πολλοῖς· «Τίς δείξει ἡμῖν τὰ
ἀγαθά;» παρέστησε καὶ ἔδειξε τίνα τὰ ἀγαθά· δῆλον δὲ, ὅτι καὶ τίνα τὰ κακά· ἵνα διά τε ἀσκήσεων καὶ εὐχῶν κτησώμεθα τὰ ἀγαθὰ,
καὶ ἀνατρέψωμεν τὰ κακὰ ἀπὸ τῶν ψυχῶν ἡμῶν. Ἀλλ' ἐπείπερ ἐστὶν ἐν τῷ φράζειν ὁτὲ μὲν κυριολεκτεῖν, ὁτὲ δέ που καὶ καταχρῆσθαι,
οὐ θαυμαστὸν εἴποτε εὑρήσομεν τὴν τῶν ἀγαθῶν καὶ κακῶν προσηγορίαν κειμένην ἐπὶ τῶν σωματικῶν καὶ τῶν ἐκτὸς λεγομέ νων παρὰ
τοῖς οὐχ ὑγιῆ δόγματα ἔχουσιν· οἷον ἐν τῷ Ἰώβ· «Εἰ τὰ ἀγαθὰ ἐδεξάμεθα ἐκ χειρὸς Κυρίου, τὰ κακὰ οὐχ ὑποίσομεν;» καὶ ἐν τῷ
Ἱερεμίᾳ· «Κατέβη κακὰ παρὰ Κυρίου ἐπὶ πύλας Ἱερουσαλήμ.» Ἀντὶ γὰρ τοῦ εἰπεῖν, Εἰ τὰ τοιάδε χρηστά τινα, καὶ ἡδέα τυγχάνοντα
ἐδεξάμεθα παρὰ τῆς Προνοίας εἰς ἡμᾶς ἐφθακότα, πικρὰ καὶ ἐπίπονα οὐχὶ προθύμως ἐνεγκοῦμεν; λέγεται τό· «Εἰ τὰ ἀγαθὰ ἐδεξάμεθα
ἐκ χει ρὸς Κυρίου, τὰ κακὰ οὐχ ὑποίσομεν;» Καὶ ἀντὶ τοῦ φάναι, Κατὰ Πρόνοιαν τάδε τινὰ τῇ Ἱερουσαλὴμ ὑπὲρ 12.1164 τοῦ παιδευθῆναι
τοὺς ἐνοικοῦντας ἐν αὐτῇ γεγένηται, γέγραπται τό· «Κατέβη κακὰ παρὰ Κυρίου ἐπὶ πύ λας Ἱερουσαλήμ.» ∆εήσει τοίνυν τὰ πράγματα
συνιέντας, μὴ γλίσχρους εἶναι περὶ τὰ ὀνόματα, ἀλλὰ καταλαμβάνειν πότε κυρίως τῶν πραγμάτων ταῦτα τέτακται, καὶ πότε διὰ τὴν
στενοχωρίαν τῶν ὀνομά των ἐν καταχρήσει. Εἰ δὲ ὁ Σωτὴρ τάδε τινὰ ἰάσατο, καὶ ἐδωρήσατο ὑγείαν, καὶ ὄψεις, καὶ ἀκοὰς ἀνθρώ
ποις, προηγουμένως μὲν
