Homily XLII.

Acts XIX. 21, 23

“After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the Spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome. So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season. And the same time there arose no small stir about the Way.”

He sends Timothy and Erastus into Macedonia, but himself remains at Ephesus. Having made a long enough stay in that city, he wishes to remove elsewhere again. But how is it, that having from the first chosen to depart into Syria, he turns back to Macedonia? “He purposed,” it says, “in the Spirit,” showing that all (that he did) was done not of his own power. Now he prophesies, saying, “I must also see Rome:” perhaps to comfort them with the consideration of his not remaining at a distance, but coming nearer to them again, and to arouse the minds of the disciples by the prophecy. At this point,975    ᾽Εντεῦθεν. If St. Chrys. is rightly reported, he means the second Epistle, which he proceeds to quote from. But that Epistle was plainly not written ἀπὸ ᾽Εφέσου. Perhaps what he said was to this effect: “At this point I suppose it was—viz. after the mission of Timothy and Erastus—that he wrote (his first Epistle) to the Corinthians from Ephesus: and in the second Epistle he alludes to the great trial which ensued in the matter of Demetrius. He had promised to come to Corinth sooner, and excuses himself on the score of the delay.” But τὰ κατὰ Δημήτριον διηγούμενος can hardly be meant of St. Paul: it should be αἰνιττόμενος. I suppose, it was that he wrote his Epistle to the Corinthians from Ephesus, saying, “I would not have you ignorant of the trouble which came to us in Asia.” (2 Cor. i. 8.) For since he had promised to go to Corinth, he excuses himself on the score of having loitered, and mentions the trial relating the affair of Demetrius. “There arose no small stir about the Way.”976    The use of ἡ ὁδός without further definition, to represent the Christian religion, is peculiar to the Acts (ix. 2; Acts xix. 9, 23, Acts xxiv. 22). Κυρίου or σωτηρίας would express the omitted defining idea.—G.B.S. Do you see the renown977    ῞Ορᾳς τὴν εὐδοκίμησιν; This seems to refer to v. 17–20. “But see how successes and trials here, as all along, alternate. Then the Jews contradicted: (v. 9) then miracles, twofold, (11–12 and 13–19): now again (after that εὐδοκίμησις), danger.”—Here the mss. and Edd. give v. 24–27, which we have distributed to their proper places. (acquired)? They contradicted, it says: (then) came miracles, twofold: (then) again, danger: such is the way the threads alternate throughout the whole texture (of the history). “For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver temples of Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen.” (v. 24.). “Which made,” it says, “silver temples of Diana.” And how is it possible that temples could be made of silver? Perhaps as small boxes (κιβώρια.)978    These silver “temple” (ναοὺς) were shrines, small models of the temple containing images of the goddess, which pilgrims to the temple purchased and carried away and probably used in their homes as objects of domestic worship.—G.B.S. Great was the honor paid to this (Diana) in Ephesus; since, when (Hom. in Eph. Prol.) their temple was burnt it so grieved them, that they forbade even the name of the incendiary ever to be mentioned. See how, wherever there is idolatry, in every case we find money at the bottom of it. Both in the former instance it was for money, and in the case of this man, for money. (ch. xix. 13.) It was not for their religion, because they thought that in danger; no, it was for their lucrative craft, that it would have nothing to work upon. Observe the maliciousness of the man. He was wealthy himself, and to him indeed it was no such great loss; but to them the loss was great, since they were poor, and subsisted on their daily earnings. Nevertheless, these men say nothing, but only he. And observe:979    Καὶ ὅρα κοινωνοὺς ὄντας αὐτούς· εἶτα τὸν κίνδυνον ἐπέστησεν (so Cat. C. -σαν, A. B. ἐπέτησεν). Mod. text, “But being themselves partners of the craft, he takes them as partners also of the riot. Then also he exaggerated (ηὔξησεν) the danger, adding. This our craft is in danger of coming into contempt. For this is pretty nearly what he declares by this, that from this art,” etc. “Whom having collected, and the workmen of like occupation,” having themselves common cause with him, “he said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth” (v. 25); then he brought the danger home to them, that we are in danger of falling from this our craft into starvation. “Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands: so that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at naught; but also, that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth. And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.” (v. 26–28.) And yet the very things he spoke were enough to bring them to true religion: but being poor senseless creatures, this is the part they act. For if this (Paul being) man is strong enough to turn away all, and the worship of the gods is in jeopardy, one ought to reflect, how great must this man’s God be, and that he will much more give you those things, for which ye are afraid. Already (at the outset) he has secured a hold upon their minds by saying, “This Paul hath turned away much people, saying, that they be no gods, which are made with men’s hands.” See what it is that the heathen are so indignant at; because he said that “they which be made of men are no gods.” Throughout, he drives his speech at their craft. Then that which most grieved them he brings in afterwards. But, with the other gods, he would say, we have no concern, but that “the temple also of the great goddess Diana is in danger to be destroyed.” Then, lest he should seem to say this for the sake of lucre, see what he adds: “Whom the whole world worshippeth.” Observe how he showed Paul’s power to be the greater, proving all (their gods) to be wretched and miserable creatures, since a mere man, who was driven about, a mere tentmaker, had so much power. Observe the testimonies borne to the Apostles by their enemies, that they overthrew their worship.980    ὅτι καθαιρῶν (Cat. ὅτε ἐκαθῄρουν) αὐτῶν τὰ σεβάσματα, ἐκεῖ στέμματα καὶ ταύρους προσέφερον· ἐνταῦθα φησιν ὅτι κινδυνεύει κ. τ. λ. These seem to be only rough notes or hints of what Chrys. said. The first words καθ. αὐτῶν τὰ σεβ. look like a reference to Acts xvii. 23, ἀναθεωρῶν τὰ σεβάσματα ὑμῶν: “thus at Athens, surveying the objects of their worship, and finding an Altar, etc. he thence takes occasion to preach the Unknown God. At Lystra, they brought garlands and oxen, and the Apostles thereupon, etc. Therefore these men here might well say, Our craft is in danger. For it was true, as was said on another occasion (at Jerusalem), Ye have filled, etc.: and, They that have turned the world, etc. Nay, of Christ also the Jews said the same, The world is going after Him.” There (at Lystra) they brought “garlands and oxen.” (ch. xiv. 13.) Here he says, “This our craft is in danger to be set at naught.—Ye have filled (all) everywhere with your doctrine.” (ch. v. 28.) So said the Jews also with regard to Christ: “Ye see how the world is going after Him” (John xii. 19); and, “The Romans shall come and take away our city.” (ch. xi. 48). And again on another occasion, “These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also.” (ch. xvii. 6).—“And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath.” Upon what was that wrath called forth? On hearing about Diana, and about their source of gain. “And cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. And the whole city was filled with confusion: and rushed with one accord into the theatre.” (v. 29). Such is the way with vulgar minds, any trivial occasion shall hurry them away and inflame their passions. Therefore981    Διὰ ταῦτα μετ᾽ ἐξετάσεως δεῖ ποιεῖν, Mod. text adds πάντα. This sentence, om. by A., seems to be out of place, and to belong rather to v. 36. We have transposed the text v. 28, 29, which in mss. and Edd. is given after ὡς πᾶσι προκεῖσθαι. it behooves to do (things) with (strict) examination. But see how contemptible they were, to be so exposed to all (excitements)! “Having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel, they dragged them:” (here) again recklessly, just as did the Jews in the case of Jason; and everywhere they set upon them.982    καὶ πανταχοῦ αὐτοῖς προκεῖνται. To make some sense of the passage, we adopt προσκεῖνται from B. We also transpose v. 30 which is given with 31 after the following sentence. “And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not,” (v. 30) so far were they from all display and love of glory. “And certain of the Asiarchs, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre” (v. 31) to a disorderly populace and tumult. And Paul complies, for he was not vainglorious, nor ambitious. “Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused.” Such is the nature of the multitude: it recklessly follows, like fire when it has fallen upon fuel; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.” (v. 32.) “And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward.” It was the Jews that thrust him forward;983    Προεβάλοντο ᾽Ιουδαῖοι οἰκονομικῶς δὲ (supplied by Cat.) οὗτος οὐκ ἐφθέγξατο. Mod. text “The Jews thrust him forward, as Providence ordered it, that they might not have (it in their power) to gainsay afterwards. This man is thrust forward, and speaks: and hear what (he says).” but as providence ordered it, this man did not speak. “And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people.” (v. 33.) “But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.” (v. 34.) A childish understanding indeed! as if they were afraid, lest their worship should be extinguished, they shouted without intermission. For two years had Paul abode there, and see how many heathen there were still! “And when the town clerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is temple-keeper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?” (v. 35.) As if the thing were not palpable. With this saying first he extinguished their wrath. “And of the Diopetes.” There was another sacred object (ἱερὸν) that was so called. Either he means the piece of burnt earth or her image.984    Old text: ῾Ιερὸν ἕτερον οὕτως ἐκαλεῖτο—meaning, as we take it, the Palladium of Troy, which was also called “the Diopetes,” τὸ Παλλάδιον τὸ Διοπετὲς καλούμενον, Clem. Alex. Protrept. iv. 47.—ἤτοι τὸ ὄστρακον αὐτῆς φησιν. Something more is needed, therefore we supply ἢ τὸ ἄγαλμα αὐτῆς φησιν. But ἱερὸν in this sense is not usual. ῎Οστρακον, whatever it mean, cannot be the image of Diana, which was known to be of wood. The passage seems to be corrupt, and one might conjecture that ἱερὸν ἕτερον relates to “another Temple” of Diana built after the first which was burned by Herostratos, and that the name of this man is latent in the unintelligible ητοιτοοστρακον, and that Chrysostom’s remark is this, that together with that former Temple perished the original Diopetes: so that to speak of that image as still in being was a lie (τοῦτο ψεῦδος)—Mod. text “But a different ἱερὸν was thus called διοπετές: either then the idol of Diana they called Diopetes, ὡς ἐκ τοῦ Διὸς τὸ ὄστρακον ἐκεῖ νοπεπτωκὸς, and not made by man: or a different ἄγαλμαwas thus called among them.”—Isidore of Pelus. in the Catena: “Some say that it is spoken of the image of Diana, i.e. ‘(a worshipper) of the great Diana and of her διοπετες ἄγαλμα:’ some that the Palladium also (is here named as διοπ.), i.e. the image of Minerva, which they worshipped along with Diana.” Ammonius ibid., “the ναὸς τοῦ Διός: or the στρογγυλοειδὲς”—meaning the ὄστρακον?—“or rather, which is the true explanation, this image of Diana: or the Palladium, which they thought came from Jupiter, and was not the work of men.” Œcum. gives the same variety of explanations, from the Catena. The words τοῦτο ψεῦδος, which in the mss. follow the text v. 36, 37, are better referred to the Diopetes, as in our translation.—Mod. text ἄρα τὸ πᾶν ψεῦδος: and then, “these things however he says to the people, in order that those also,” etc. omitting δὲ preserved by the old text.985    This Diopetes, the image which was supposed to have fallen down from Jupiter or heaven (Δίος—πίπτω), was the image of Diana which was in the great temple at Ephesus. This was the superstitious belief of the people as is clear from the many instances in classic mythology in which statues are famed to have fallen from heaven. This image was of wood and was probably found there by the Greeks when they colonized Ionia.—G.B.S. This (is) a lie. “Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly. For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.” (v. 36, 37.) All this however he says to the people; but in order that those (workmen) also might become more reasonable, he says: “Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsman which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another. But if ye enquire anything concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly. For we are in danger to be called in question for this day’s uproar, there being no cause, for which (matter) we shall not be able to give an account for this concourse.” (v. 38–40.) “A lawful assembly,” he says, for there were three assemblies according to law in each month; but this one was contrary to law. Then he terrified them also by saying, “We are in danger to be called to account” for sedition. But let us look again at the things said.

(Recapitulation.) “After these things were ended,” it says, “Paul purposed in the Spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem,” saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” (v. 21.) He no longer speaks here after the manner of a man,986    i.e. In this, he prophesies (see above on this verse): but in his purpose of going to Jerusalem from Achaia, he was disappointed, for he had to return through Macedonia: ἢ προείλετο, i.e. this is the meaning of ἔθετο ἐν πνεύματι. Mod. text om. οὐκέτι ἐγχρονίσας, and adds: “for this is the meaning of ἔθετο, and such is the force of the expression.” Then: “But why he sends away T. and E., the writer does not say: but it seems to me that of this also he says, ᾽Εν πνεύματι. Wherefore when,” etc.—The meaning is: “He sends them away on this occasion, as he did at Athens: viz. because he could no longer forbear, therefore he thought it good to be left alone.” or, He purposed to pass through those regions, without tarrying longer. Wherefore does he send away Timothy and Erastus? Of this I suppose he says, “Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone. He sent away,” it says, “two of those who ministered to him” (1 Thess. iii. 1), both to announce his coming, and to make them more eager. “But he himself tarried awhile in Asia.” (v. 22.) Most of all does he pass his time in Asia; and with reason: there, namely, was the tyranny, of the philosophers.987    ἐκεῖ γὰρ ἦν ἡ τυραννὶς (mod. text ἡ πολλὴ φατρία) τῶν φιλοσόφων. But this seems to belong rather to Athens. (Afterwards) also he came and discoursed to them again. “And the same time” etc. (v. 23), for indeed the superstition was excessive. (a) “Ye both see and hear,” so palpable was the result that was taking place—“that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul by persuading hath turned away,” not by violence: this is the way to persuade a city. Then, what touched them closely, “that they be no gods which are made with hands.” (v. 26.) He overturns, says he, our craft: (e) “From this work we have our wealth. Hath persuaded.” How988    Mod. text inserts for connection: “And if from this work wealth accrues to you, how hath he persuaded,” etc. did he persuade—he, a man of mean consideration? How prevail over so great a force of habit? by doing what—by saying what? It is not for a Paul (to effect this), it is not for a man. Even this is enough, that he said, “They are no gods.” Now if the impiety (of the heathen religions) was so easy to detect, it ought to have been condemned long ago: if it was strong, it ought not to have been overthrown so quickly. (b) For, lest they should consider within themselves (how strange), that a human being should have such power as this, and if a human being has power to effect such things, why then one ought to be persuaded by that man, he adds: (f) “not only is this our craft in danger to be set at naught, but also,” as if forsooth alleging a greater consideration, “the temple of the great goddess Diana,” etc. (c) “whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.” (v. 27.) (g) “And when they heard, they were filled with wrath, and shouted, Great is Diana of the Ephesians!” (v. 28.) For each city had its proper gods. (d) They thought to make their voice a barrier against the Divine Spirit. Children indeed, these Greeks! (h) And their feeling was as if by their voice they could reinstate the worship of her, and undo what had taken place! “And the whole city,” etc. (v. 29.) See a disorderly multitude! “And when Paul,” etc. (v. 30.) Paul then wished to enter in that he might harangue them: for he took his persecutions as occasions for teaching: “but the disciples suffered him not.” Mark, how great forethought we always find them taking for him. At the very first they brought him out that they might not (in his person) receive a mortal blow; and yet they had heard him say, “I must also see Rome.” But it was providential that he so predicts beforehand, that they might not be confounded at the event. But they would not that he should even suffer any evil. “And certain of the Asiarchs besought him that he would not enter into the theatre.” Knowing his eagerness, they “besought him:” so much did all the believers love him.—“And they drew Alexander,” etc. (v. 33.) This Alexander, why did he wish to plead? Was he accused? No, but it was to find an opportunity, and overturn the whole matter, and inflame989    ἐκκαῦσαι. Erasm. ut et confutaret totum et furorem populi extingueret. Ben. subverteret.…extingueret. But ἐκκαῦσαι will not bear this sense, nor does the context suggest it. Alexander’s object, it is represented, was to overthrow the preaching, and kindle the rage of the people yet more.—Cat. and Sav. marg. ἑλκύσαι. the anger of the people. “But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.” (v. 34.) Do you mark the inordinate rage? Well, and with rebuke does the town clerk say, “What man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians—” (v. 35) (coming to the point) which they were frightened about. Is it this,990    Mod. text “As if he had said, Do ye not worship her?” says he, that ye do not worship her? And he does not say, “That knoweth not” Diana, but, “our city,” that it always worshipped her.991    Mod. text “But, Our city, paying court to them: θεραπεύων αὐτοὺς:” for which the old text has, But, Your city. ᾽Εθεράπευσεν αὐτήν. Which may mean, Thus he, the town clerk, paid homage to the city, by speaking of its honors. But θεραπεύετε αὐτὴν in the preceding sentence requires the sense given in the translation. “Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against.” (v. 36.) Why then do ye make a question about them, as if these things were not plain? (b) Then he quietly chides them, showing that they had come together without reason. “And to do nothing rashly,” he says. Showing that they had acted rashly. (a) “For ye have brought hither,” etc. (v. 37.) They wanted to make religion the pretext for what concerned their own money-making: (c) and it was not right on account of private charges to hold a public assembly. For he put them to a nonplus, and left them not a word to say for themselves.992    Σφόδρα γὰρ αὐτοὺς ἠλόγησεν καὶ διηπόρησεν. Mod. text Τούτῳ σφ. αὐτοὺς διηπ., omitting, ἠλόγησεν, which, if not corrupt is here put in an unusual sense. “There being no cause,” he says, “for this concourse, for which” (matter) “we shall not993    οὐ δυνησόμεθα old text, here and above, as in the Alexandrine ms. of the N. T. (received by Griesbach) but here with τῆς συστρ. τ. transposed. (If the negative be retained, it is better to read περὶ τῆς σ. τ. as in the leading authorities of the text: so that this clause is epexegetical to περὶ οὗ· for which, namely, for this concourse.) be able to give the account.” (v. 40.) See how prudently, how cleverly, the unbelievers (act). Thus he extinguished their wrath. For as it is easily kindled, so also is it easily extinguished. “And when he had thus spoken,” it says, “he dismissed the assembly.” (v. 41.)

Seest thou how God permits trials, and by them stirs up and awakens the disciples, and makes them more energetic? Then let us not sink down under trials: for He Himself will “also make the way of escape, that we may be able to bear them.” (1 Cor x. 13.) Nothing so makes friends, and rivets them so firmly, as affliction: nothing so fastens and compacts the souls of believers: nothing is so seasonable for us teachers in order that the things said by us may be heard. For the hearer when he is in ease is listless and indolent, and seems to suffer annoyance from the speaker: but when he is in affliction and distress, he falls into a great longing for the hearing. For when distressed in his soul, he seeks on all sides to find comfort for his affliction: and the preaching brings no small comfort. “What then,” you will say, “of the Jews? How was it that in consequence of their weakheartedness, they did not hear?” Why, they were Jews, those ever weak and miserable creatures: and besides, the affliction in their case was great, but we speak of affliction in moderation. For observe: they expected to be freed from the evils that encompassed them, and they fell into numberless greater evils: now this is no common distress to the soul. Afflictions cut us off from the sympathy we have for the present world, as appears in this, that we wish for death immediately, and cease to be loving of the body: which very thing is the greatest part of wisdom, to have no hankering, no ties to the present life. The soul which is afflicted does not wish to be concerned about many things: repose and stillness are all it desired, content for its part to have done with the things present, even though there be nothing else to follow. As the body when wearied and distressed does not wish to indulge in amours, or gormandizing, but only to repose and lie down in quiet; so the soul, harassed994    ταραχθεῖσα B. The other mss.ταριχευθεῖσα, which is unsuitable here. by numberless evils, is urgent to be at rest and quiet. The soul which is at ease is (apt to be) fluttered, alarmed, unsettled: whereas in this there is no vacuity, no running to waste: and the one is more manly, the other more childish; the one has more gravity, in the other more levity. And as some light substance, when it falls upon deep water, is tossed to and fro, just so is the soul when it falls into great rejoicing. Moreover, that our greatest faults arise out of overmuch pleasure, any one may see. Come, if you will, let us represent to ourselves two houses, the one where people are marrying, the other where they are mourning: let us enter in imagination into each: let us see which is better than the other. Why, that of the mourner will be found full of seriousness (φιλοσοφίας); that of the marrying person, full of indecency. For look, (here are) shameful words, unrestrained laughter, more unrestrained motions, both dress and gait full of indecency, words fraught with mere nonsense and foolery: in short, all is ridicule there, all ridiculous.995    ὅλως οὐδὲν ἕτερον ἡ πάντα γέλως καὶ κατάγελως τὰ εκεῖ. I do not say the marriage is this; God forbid; but the accompaniments of the marriage. Then nature is beside itself in excess of riot. Instead of human beings, those present become brute creatures, some neighing like horses, others kicking like asses: such utter license, such dissolute unrestraint: nothing serious, nothing noble: (it is) the devil’s pomp, cymbals, and pipes, and songs teeming with fornication and adultery. But not so in that house where there is mourning; all is well-ordered there: such silence, such repose, such composure; nothing disorderly, nothing extravagant: and if any one does speak, every word he utters is fraught with true philosophy: and then the wonderful circumstance is, that at such times not men only, but even servants and women speak like philosophers—for such is the nature of sorrow—and while they seem to be consoling the mourner, they in fact utter numberless truths full of sound philosophy. Prayers are there to begin with, that the affliction may stop there, and go no further: many a one comforting the sufferer, and recitals without number of the many who have the like cause for mourning. “For what is man?” (they ask) (and thereupon) a serious examination of our nature—“aye, then, what is man!” (and upon this) an impeachment of the life (present) and its worthlessness, a reminding (one another) of things to come, of the Judgment. (So from both these scenes) each returns home: from the wedding, grieved, because he himself is not in the enjoyment of the like good fortune; from the mourning, light-hearted, because he has not himself undergone the like affliction, and having all his inward fever quenched. But what will you? Shall we take for another contrast the prisons and the theatres? For the one is a place of suffering, the other of pleasure. Let us again examine. In the former there is seriousness of mind; for where there is sadness, there must needs be seriousness. He who aforetime was rich, and inflated with his own importance, now will even suffer any common person to converse with him, fear and sorrow, like some mightier fire, having fallen on his soul, and softening down his harshness: then he becomes humble, then of a sad countenance, then he feels the changes of life, then he bears up manfully against everything. But in a theatre all is the reverse of this—laughter, ribaldry, devil’s pomp, dissoluteness, waste of time, useless spending of days, planning for extravagant lust, adultery made a study of, practical training to fornication, schooling in intemperance, encouragement to filthiness, matter for laughter, patterns for the practice of indecency. Not so the prison: there you will find humbleness of mind, exhoration, incentive to seriousness, contempt of worldly things; (these) are all trodden under foot and spurned and, fear stands over (the man there), as a schoolmaster over a child, controlling him to all his duties. But if you will, let us examine in a different way.996    C., ᾽Αλλ᾽ εἰ βούλει πάλιν πολλοὺς ἐξετάσωμεν τόπους· B., ᾽Αλλὰ πάλιν εἰ βούλει ἑτέρους ἐξετ. τόπους. Mod. text ᾽Αλλ᾽ εἰ β., πάλιν ἑτέρως ἐξετ. τοὺς αὐτοὺς τόπους. In the Translation we adopt ἑτέρως and omit τόπους. I should like you to meet a man on his return from a theatre, and another coming out of prison; and while you would see the soul of the one fluttered, perturbed, actually tied and bound, that of the other you would see enlarged, set free, buoyant as on wings. For the one returns from the theatre, enfettered by the sight of the women there, bearing about chains harder than any iron, the scenes, the words, the gestures, that he saw there. But the other on his return from the prison, released from all (bounds), will no longer think that he suffers any evil as comparing his own case with that of (those) others. (To think) that he is not in bonds will make him thankful ever after; he will despise human affairs, as seeing so many rich men there in calamity, men (once) having power to do many and great things, and now lying bound there: and if he should suffer anything unjustly, he will bear up against this also; for of this too there were many examples there: he will be led to reflect upon the Judgment to come and will shudder, seeing here997    The text is corrupt: καὶ φρίξει τοὺς τόπους—perhaps it should be τοὺς ἐκεῖ τόπους—ἐνταῦθα ὁρῶν· καθάπερ, γὰρ ἐνταῦθα ἐν δεσμωτηρί& 251· τυγχάνων οὕτω κἀκεῖ πρὸ τῆς κρίσεως πρὸ τῆς μελλούσης ἡμέρας, sc. φρίξει. i.e. “just as here, being shut up in prison he looks forward with dread to the coming trial, so will he in that world,” etc. Mod. text quite misrepresenting the sense: “For, as he that is here shut up in prison is gentle towards all, so those also before the Judgment, before the coming Day, will be more gentle,” etc. (in the earthly prison) how it will be there. For as it is with one here shut up in prison, so in that world also before the Judgment, before the Day that is to come. Towards wife, children, and servants, he will be more gentle.

Not so he that comes from the theatre: he will look upon his wife with more dislike, he will be peevish with his servants, bitter towards his children, and savage towards all. Great are the evils theatres cause to cities, great indeed, and we do not even know that they are great. Shall we examine other scenes of laughter also, I mean the feasts, with their parasites, their flatterers, and abundance of luxury, and (compare with them) places where are the halt and blind? As before, in the former is drunkenness, luxury, and dissoluteness, in the latter the reverse.—See also with regard to the body, when it is hot-blooded, when it is in good case, it undergoes the quickest change to sickness: not so, when it has been kept low. Then let me make my meaning clearer to you:—let there be a body having plenty of blood, plenty of flesh, plump with good living: this body will be apt even from any chance food to engender a fever, if it be simply idle. But let there be another, struggling rather with hunger and hardship: this is not easily overcome, not easily wrestled down by disease. Blood, though it may be healthy in us, does often by its very quantity engender disease: but if it be small in quantity, even though it be not healthy, it can be easily worked off. So too in the case of the soul, that which leads an easy, luxurious life, has its impulses quickly swayed to sin: for such a soul is next neighbor to folly, to pleasure, to vainglory also, and envy, and plottings, and slanderings. Behold this great city of ours, what a size it is! Whence arise the evils? is it not from those who are rich? is it not from those who are in enjoyment? Who are they that “drag” men “before the tribunals?” Who, that dissipate properties? Those who are wretched and outcasts, or those who are inflated with consequence, and in enjoyment? It is not possible that any evil can happen from a soul that is afflicted. (James ii. 6.) Paul knew the gain of this: therefore he says, “Tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience, and experience hope, and hope maketh not ashamed.” (Rom. v. 3.) Then let us not sink in our afflictions, but in all things give thanks, that so we may get great gain, that we may be well-pleasing to God, who permits afflictions. A great good is affliction: and we learn this from our own children: for without affliction (a boy) would learn nothing useful. But we, more than they, need affliction. For if there, when the passions (as yet) are quiet, (chastisement) benefits them, how much more us, especially possessed as we are by so many! Nay, we behoove rather to have schoolmasters than they: since the faults of children cannot be great, but ours are exceeding great. Our schoolmaster is affliction. Let us then not draw it down willingly upon ourselves, but when it is come let us bear it bravely, being, as it is, always the cause of numberless good things; that so we may both obtain grace from God, and the good things which are laid up for them that love Him, in Christ Jesus our Lord, with Whom to the Father, together with the Holy Spirit, be glory, might, honor, now and evermore, world without end. Amen.

ΟΜΙΛΙΑ ΜΒʹ. Ὡς δὲ ἐπληρώθη ταῦτα, ἔθετο ὁ Παῦλος ἐν τῷ Πνεύματι, διελθὼν τὴν Μακεδονίαν καὶ Ἀχαΐαν, πορεύεσθαι εἰς Ἱερουσαλὴμ, εἰπὼν, ὅτι Μετὰ τὸ γενέσθαι με ἐκεῖ, δεῖ με καὶ Ῥώμην ἰδεῖν. Ἀπο στείλας δὲ εἰς τὴν Μακεδονίαν δύο τῶν διακο νούντων αὐτῷ, Τιμόθεον καὶ Ἔραστον, αὐτὸς ἐπέσχε χρόνον εἰς τὴν Ἀσίαν. Ἐγένετο δὲ κατὰ τὸν καιρὸν ἐκεῖνον τάραχος οὐκ ὀλίγος περὶ τῆς ὁδοῦ. αʹ. Ἱκανῶς ἐνδιατρίψας τῇ πόλει βούλεται μεταστῆναι πάλιν. Διὸ καὶ πέμπει τὸν Τιμόθεον καὶ τὸν Ἔραστον εἰς Μακεδονίαν, αὐτὸς δὲ μένει εἰς Ἔφεσον. Πῶς δὲ ἐξ ἀρχῆς ἑλόμενος εἰς Συρίαν ἀπελθεῖν, πάλιν εἰς Μακεδονίαν ὑποστρέφει; Δεικνὺς, ὅτι πάντα οὐκ οἰκείᾳ δυνάμει ἔπραττεν. Ἤδη προφητεύει λέγων, Δεῖ με καὶ Ῥώμην ἰδεῖν. Τοῦτο δὲ εἶπεν, ἴσως παραμυθούμενος αὐτοὺς, ὡς οὐκ ἀπομένων, ἀλλ' ὡς πάλιν ἐγγυτέρω γινόμενος αὐτῶν, καὶ διανιστῶν τὰς ψυχὰς τῶν μαθητῶν τῇ προφητείᾳ. Ἐντεῦθέν μοι δοκεῖ γράφειν Κορινθίοις ἀπὸ Ἐφέσου, καὶ λέγειν, ὅτι Οὐ θέλω ὑμᾶς ἀγνοεῖν ὑπὲρ τῆς θλίψεως τῆς γενομένης ἡμῖν ἐν τῇ Ἀσίᾳ. Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ ἐπηγγέλλετο εἰς Κόρινθον ἀπελθεῖν, ἀπολογεῖται ἅτε βραδύνας, καὶ λέγει τὸν πειρασμὸν λοιπὸν, τὰ κατὰ Δημήτριον διηγούμενος. Τοῦτον γὰρ αἰνίττεται, τάραχον οὐκ ὀλίγον εἰπὼν περὶ τῆς ὁδοῦ γεγενῆσθαι. Πάλιν κίνδυνος, πάλιν τάραχος. Ὁρᾷς τὴν εὐδοκίμησιν; Ἐγένετο σημεῖα διπλᾶ: οἱ δὲ ἀντέλεγον. Οὕτω διὰ πάντων ὑφαίνεται τὰ πράγματα. Δημήτριος γάρ τις ὀνόματι, ἀργυροκόπος, ποιῶν ναοὺς ἀργυροῦς Ἀρτέμιδος, παρείχετο τοῖς τεχνίταις ἐργασίαν οὐκ ὀλίγην. Οὓς καὶ συναθροίσας, καὶ ἐπισυναγαγὼν τοὺς περὶ τὰ τοιαῦτα ἐργάτας, εἶπεν: Ἄνδρες, ἐπίστασθε, ὅτι ἐκ ταύτης τῆς ἐργασίας ἡ εὐπορία ἡμῶν ἐστι: καὶ θεωρεῖτε καὶ ἀκούετε, ὅτι οὐ μόνον Ἐφέσου, ἀλλὰ καὶ σχεδὸν πάσης τῆς Ἀσίας ὁ Παῦλος οὗτος πείσας μετέστησεν ὄχλον ἱκανὸν, λέγων, ὅτι Οὐκ εἰσὶ θεοὶ οἱ διὰ χειρῶν ἀνθρώπων γινόμενοι. Οὐ μόνον δὲ τοῦτο κινδυνεύει ἡμῖν τὸ μέρος εἰς ἀπελεγμὸν ἐλθεῖν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸ τῆς μεγάλης θεᾶς ἱερὸν Ἀρτέμιδος εἰς οὐδὲν λογισθῆναι, μέλλειν δὲ καὶ καθαιρεῖσθαι τὴν μεγαλειότητα αὐτῆς, ἣν ὅλη ἡ Ἀσία καὶ ἡ οἰκουμένη σέβεται. Ποιῶν, φησὶ, ναοὺς ἀργυροῦς Ἀρτέμιδος. Καὶ πῶς ἔνι ναοὺς ἀργυροῦς γενέσθαι; Ἴσως ὡς κιβώρια μικρά: πολλὴ γὰρ ταύτης ἦν ἡ τιμὴ ἐν Ἐφέσῳ, ὅπου καὶ τὸ ἱερὸν αὐτῶν ἐμπρησθὲν οὕτως ἐλύπησεν αὐτοὺς, ὡς τὸν ἐμπρήσαντα κελεύειν μηδὲ ὀνόματι λέγεσθαι. Ὅρα πανταχοῦ τὴν εἰδωλολατρείαν ἀπὸ χρημάτων γινομένην. Κἀκεῖνοι διὰ χρήματα, καὶ οὗτος διὰ χρήματα: οὐχ ὡς τῆς εὐσεβείας κινδυνευούσης αὐτοῖς, ἀλλ' ὡς τοῦ πορισμοῦ τὴν ὑπόθεσιν οὐκ ἔχοντος. Καὶ σκόπει κακίαν ἀνδρός: Εὔπορος ἦν αὐτὸς, καὶ αὐτῷ μὲν οὐ τοσαύτη ἔμελλε βλάβη γενέσθαι ἐκ τούτου: ἐκείνοις δὲ ἦν πολλὴ, ἅτε πένησιν οὖσι καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς καθ' ἡμέραν ἐργασίας τρεφομένοις. Καὶ ὅμως οὗτοι μὲν οὐδὲν λέγουσιν, αὐτὸς δέ: κοινωνοὺς δὲ ὄντας αὐτοὺς τῆς τέχνης, κοινωνοὺς λαμβάνει καὶ τοῦ θορύβου. Εἶτα καὶ τὸν κίνδυνον ηὔξησεν, ἐπαγαγὼν, ὅτι Κινδυνεύει ἡμῖν τοῦτο τὸ μέρος εἰς ἀπελεγμὸν ἐλθεῖν. Τοῦτο γὰρ σχεδὸν διὰ τούτου δηλοῖ, ὅτι ἀπὸ τῆς τέχνης ταύτης κινδυνεύομεν εἰς λιμὸν ἐμπεσεῖν. Καίτοι τὰ εἰρημένα ἱκανὰ εἰς εὐσέβειαν αὐτοὺς ἀγαγεῖν: ἀλλὰ ταλαίπωροί τινες ὄντες καὶ ψυχροὶ, ἐπισυνίστανται μᾶλλον, καὶ οὐκ ἐννοοῦσιν, ὅτι Εἰ ὁ ἄνθρωπος οὗτος τοσαῦτα ἰσχύει ὡς μεταστῆσαι πάντας, καὶ κινδυνεύει τὰ τῶν θεῶν, ἡλίκος ὁ τούτου Θεός! καὶ ὅτι Πολλῷ μᾶλλον ἐκεῖνα ἡμῖν δώσει, ὑπὲρ ὧν φοβούμεθα. Ἤδη προκατέλαβεν αὐτῶν τὰς ψυχὰς, λέγων, ὅτι Οὐκ εἰσὶ θεοὶ οἱ ὑπὸ χειρῶν ἀνθρώπων γινόμενοι. Ὅρα ὑπὲρ τίνος ἀγανακτοῦσιν Ἕλληνες: ἐπειδὴ εἶπεν, ὅτι Οἱ ὑπὸ ἀνθρώπων γινόμενοι, οὐκ εἰσὶ θεοί. Πανταχοῦ εἰς τὴν τέχνην ὠθεῖ τὸν λόγον. Εἶτα τὸ μάλιστα αὐτοὺς λυπῆσαν ὕστερον τίθησι, λέγων: Οὐ μόνον δὲ τοῦτο τὸ μέρος κινδυνεύει: τουτέστι, Τῶν μὲν ἄλλων οὐδεὶς λόγος, ἀλλ' ὅτι καὶ τὸ τῆς μεγάλης θεᾶς ἱερὸν Ἀρτέμιδος κινδυνεύει καθαιρεῖσθαι. Εἶτα ἵνα μὴ δόξῃ χρηματισμοῦ ἕνεκεν λέγειν ταῦτα, ὅρα τί προστίθησιν: Ἣν ἡ οἰκουμένη σέβεται. Ὁρᾷς πῶς ἔδειξε μείζω τὴν τοῦ Παύλου δύναμιν, πάντας ἀθλίους καὶ ταλαιπώρους αὐτοὺς ἀποφαίνων, εἴ γε ἄνθρωπος ἐλαυνόμενος καὶ σκηνοποιὸς τοσαῦτα δύναται; Ὅρα παρ' ἐχθρῶν τὰς μαρτυρίας τοῖς ἀποστόλοις γινομένας. Ἐκεῖ μὲν ἔλεγον, Ἰδοὺ πεπληρώκατε τὴν Ἱερουσαλὴμ τῆς διδαχῆς ὑμῶν: ἐνταῦθα, ὅτι Μέλλει καθαιρεῖσθαι τῆς Ἀρτέμιδος ἡ μεγαλειότης: τότε, Οἱ τὴν οἰκουμένην ἀναστατώσαντες ἤκουον, ὅτι Οὗτοι καὶ ἐνθάδε πάρεισι: νῦν, ὅτι Κινδυνεύει ἡμῖν τοῦτο τὸ μέρος εἰς ἀπελεγμὸν ἐλθεῖν. Οὕτω καὶ Ἰουδαῖοι ἐπὶ τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἔλεγον: Ὁρᾶτε, ὅτι ὁ κόσμος ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ ὑπάγει, καὶ ἐλεύσονται οἱ Ῥωμαῖοι καὶ ἀροῦσιν ἡμῶν τὴν πόλιν. Ἀκούσαντες δὲ ταῦτα ἐπλήσθησαν θυμοῦ. Πότε ὁ θυμὸς γέγονεν; Ὅτε περὶ τῆς Ἀρτέμιδος ἤκουσαν, ὅτε περὶ τοῦ πορισμοῦ. Τοιαῦτα γὰρ τὰ τῶν ἀγοραίων ἤθη, ἀπὸ τοῦ τυχόντος συναρπάζεσθαι καὶ ἐκκαίεσθαι. Διὰ ταῦτα μετ' ἐξετάσεως δεῖ ποιεῖν πάντα. Ὅρα δὲ πῶς καὶ ἦσαν εὐκαταφρόνητοι, ὡς πᾶσι προκεῖσθαι. Ἀκούσαντες δὲ, καὶ γενόμενοι πλήρεις θυμοῦ, φησὶν, ἔκραζον λέγοντες: Μεγάλη ἡ Ἄρτεμις Ἐφεσίων! Καὶ ἐπλήσθη ἡ πόλις ὅλη τῆς συγχύσεως: ὥρμησάν τε ὁμοθυμαδὸν εἰς τὸ θέατρον. Συναρπάσαντες δὲ Γάϊον καὶ Ἀρίσταρχον Μακεδόνας, συνεκδήμους Παύλου, εἵλκυσαν αὐτούς. βʹ. Ἁπλῶς πάλιν ἐπίασιν ὡς ἐπὶ Ἰάσονος Ἰουδαῖοι, καὶ πανταχοῦ αὐτοῖς πρόκεινται: οὕτως οὐδὲν εἶχον κόμπου γέμον οὐδὲ δόξης. Τοῦ δὲ Παύλου βουλομένου εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὸν δῆμον, οὐκ εἴων αὐτὸν οἱ μαθηταί. Τινὲς δὲ τῶν Ἀσιαρχῶν ὄντες αὐτῷ φίλοι, πέμψαντες πρὸς αὐτὸν παρεκάλουν μὴ δοῦναι ἑαυτὸν εἰς τὸ θέατρον. Παρακαλοῦσιν, ὅτι ἄτακτος ἦσαν δῆμος ἀλογίστῳ ῥύμῃ πάντα τολμῶντες. Καὶ ὁ Παῦλος πείθεται: οὐ γὰρ ἦν κενόδοξος, οὐδὲ φιλότιμος. Ἄλλοι μὲν οὖν ἄλλο τι ἔκραζον: ἦν γὰρ ἡ ἐκκλησία συγκεχυμένη. Τοιοῦτον γὰρ τὸ πλῆθος: ἁπλῶς ἕπεται καθάπερ πῦρ εἰς ὕλην ἐμπεσόν. Καὶ οἱ πλείους οὐκ ᾔδεισαν, τίνος ἕνεκεν συνεληλύθεισαν. Ἐκ δὲ τοῦ ὄχλου προεβίβασαν Ἀλέξανδρον, προβαλόντων αὐτὸν τῶν Ἰουδαίων. Προεβάλοντο Ἰουδαῖοι οἰκονομικῶς, ἵνα μηδὲν ἔχωσιν ὕστερον ἀντιλέγειν. Οὗτος καὶ προβάλλεται, καὶ φθέγγεται, καὶ τί, ἄκουε: Ὁ δὲ Ἀλέξανδρος κατασείσας τῇ χειρὶ, ἤθελεν ἀπολογεῖσθαι τῷ δήμῳ. Ἐπιγνόντες δὲ, ὅτι Ἰουδαῖός ἐστι, φωνὴ ἐγένετο μία ἐκ πάντων, ὡς ἐπὶ ὥρας δύο κραζόντων: Μεγάλη ἡ Ἄρτεμις Ἐφεσίων. Παιδικὴ ὄντως ἡ διάνοια: καθάπερ φοβούμενοι, μὴ σβεσθῇ τὸ σέβας αὐτῶν, συνεχῶς ἐβόων. Δύο ἔτη ἐκάθισεν ἐκεῖ, καὶ ὅρα πόσοι ἔτι Ἕλληνες ἦσαν. Καταστείλας δὲ ὁ γραμματεὺς τὸν ὄχλον, φησίν: Ἄνδρες Ἐφέσιοι, τίς γάρ ἐστιν ἄνθρωπος, ὃς οὐ γινώσκει τὴν Ἐφεσίων πόλιν νεωκόρον οὖσαν τῆς μεγάλης θεᾶς Ἀρτέμιδος καὶ τοῦ Διοπετοῦς; Τούτῳ πρώτῳ τὸν θυμὸν αὐτῶν ἔσβεσε. Καὶ τοῦ διοπετοῦς. Τοῦτο λέγει, ὡς οὐκ ὄντος δήλου τοῦ πράγματος. Ἱερὸν δὲ ἕτερον οὕτω ἐκαλεῖτο Διοπετές: ἤτοι τὸ εἴδωλον τοίνυν τῆς Ἀρτέμιδος Διοπετὲς ἔλεγον, ὡς ἐκ τοῦ Διὸς τὸ ὄστρακον ἐκεῖνο πεπτωκὸς, καὶ οὐχ ὑπὸ ἀνθρώπου γενόμενον: ἢ ἕτερον ἄγαλμα παρ' αὐτοῖς οὕτως ἐλέγετο. Ἀναντιῤῥήτων οὖν ὄντων τούτων, δέον ἐστὶν ὑμᾶς κατεσταλμένους ὑπάρχειν, καὶ μηδὲν προπετὲς πράσσειν. Ἠγάγετε γὰρ τοὺς ἄνδρας τούτους, οὔτε ἱεροσύλους, οὔτε βλασφημοῦντας τὴν θεὰν ὑμῶν. Ἄρα τὸ πᾶν ψεῦδος: ταῦτα δὲ πρὸς τὸν δῆμον, ὥστε κἀκείνους ἐπιεικεστέρους γενέσθαι, φησίν. Εἰ μὲν οὖν Δημήτριος καὶ οἱ σὺν αὐτῷ τεχνῖται ἔχουσι πρός τινα λόγον, ἀγοραῖοι ἄγονται, καὶ ἀνθύπατοί εἰσιν: ἐγκαλείτωσαν ἀλλήλοις. Εἰ δέ τι περὶ ἑτέρων ἐπιζητεῖτε, ἐν τῇ ἐννόμῳ ἐκκλησίᾳ ἐπιλυθήσεται. Καὶ γὰρ κινδυνεύομεν ἐγκαλεῖσθαι στάσεως περὶ τῆς σήμερον, μηδενὸς αἰτίου ὑπάρχοντος, περὶ οὗ [οὐ] δυνησόμεθα ἀποδοῦναι λόγον τῆς συστροφῆς ταύτης. Καὶ ταῦτα εἰπὼν, ἀπέλυσε τὴν ἐκκλησίαν. Ἔννομον ἐκκλησίαν, φησὶ, διότι τρεῖς ἐκκλησίαι ἐγίνοντο κατὰ νόμον καθ' ἕκαστον μῆνα: αὕτη δὲ ἦν παράνομος. Εἶτα καὶ ἐφόβησεν αὐτοὺς εἰπών: Κινδυνεύομεν ἐγκαλεῖσθαι στάσεως. Ἀλλ' ἴδωμεν ἄνωθεν τὰ εἰρημένα. Ὡς δὲ ἐπληρώθη ταῦτα, φησὶν, ἔθετο ὁ Παῦλος ἐν τῷ Πνεύματι, διελθὼν τὴν Μακεδονίαν καὶ Ἀχαΐαν, πορεύεσθαι εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα. Οὐκ ἔτι ἀνθρωπίνως ἐνταῦθα ποιεῖ, ἀλλὰ Πνεύματι, ᾧ καὶ προείλετο διελθεῖν. Τοῦτο γάρ ἐστι τὸ, Ἔθετο, καὶ τοιαύτην ὁ λόγος ἔννοιαν ἔχει. Τίνος δὲ ἕνεκεν ἀποστέλλει Τιμόθεον καὶ Ἔραστον, οὐ λέγει: ἐμοὶ δὲ δοκεῖ καὶ περὶ τούτου εἰπεῖν τὸ, Ἐν Πνεύματι. Διὸ μηκέτι στέγοντες, εὐδοκήσαμεν καταλειφθῆναι ἐν Ἀθήναις μόνοι. Καὶ ὅρα, δύο τῶν διακονούντων αὐτῷ ἀπέστειλε, τήν τε παρουσίαν ἀπαγγεῖλαι καὶ προθυμοτέρους ποιῆσαι. Μάλιστα πάντων τῇ Ἀσίᾳ ἐνδιατρίβει: εἰκότως: ἐκεῖ γὰρ ἦν ἡ πολλὴ φατρία τῶν φιλοσόφων. Καὶ ἐλθὼν, πάλιν αὐτοῖς διελέγετο: καὶ γὰρ πολλὴ ἦν ἐκεῖ ἡ δεισιδαιμονία. Δημήτριος γάρ τις, φησὶν, ἀργυροκόπος, συναθροίσας τοὺς περὶ τὰ τοιαῦτα ἐργάτας, εἶπεν: Ἄνδρες, ἐπίστασθε καὶ θεωρεῖτε καὶ ἀκούετε: οὕτω κατάδηλον ἦν τὸ γινόμενον: Ὅτι οὗτος, φησὶν, ὁ Παῦλος πείσας μετέστησεν ἱκανὸν ὄχλον. Ὥστε οὐ βιαίως, εἰ ἔπεισεν: οὕτω δεῖ πείθειν πόλιν. Εἶτα ἐπάγει ὅπερ αὐτῶν καθήπτετο, ὅτι Οὐκ εἰσὶ θεοὶ οἱ διὰ χειρῶν γινόμενοι. Τί ἐστι τοῦτο; Ἀνατρέπει, φησὶ, τὴν τέχνην τὴν ἡμετέραν. Καὶ ἵνα μὴ ἐννοήσωσι, καὶ εἴπωσιν, ὅτι μόνος ἄνθρωπος τοιαῦτα ἰσχύει, καὶ εἰ τοσοῦτον ἰσχύει, αὐτῷ δεῖ πείθεσθαι, ἐπήγαγεν: Ἣν ὅλη ἡ Ἀσία καὶ ἡ οἰκουμένη σέβεται. Τὴν φωνὴν αὐτῶν ᾤοντο ἐπιτειχίζειν τῷ Πνεύματι τῷ θείῳ, ὄντες παῖδες Ἕλληνες. Ἐκ ταύτης τῆς ἐργασίας, φησὶν, ἡ εὐπορία ἡμῶν ἐστι. Καὶ εἰ ἀπὸ ταύτης τῆς ἐργασίας εὐπορία ὑμῖν περιγίνεται, πῶς ἔπεισεν ἄνθρωπος εὐτελής; πῶς τοσαύτης ἐκράτησε συνηθείας; τί ποιῶν ἢ τί λέγων; Οὐκ ἔστι Παύλου, οὐκ ἔστιν ἀνδρός. Καὶ τοῦτο ἀρκεῖ τὸ εἰπεῖν, ὅτι Οὐκ εἰσὶ θεοί. Εἰ μὲν οὖν οὕτως εὐφώρατον τὸ τῆς ἀσεβείας, πάλαι καταγνωσθῆναι ἔδει: εἰ δὲ ἰσχυρὸν, οὐχ οὕτως ἀναιρεθῆναι ταχέως. Οὐ μόνον δὲ, φησὶ, τοῦτο κινδυνεύει ἡμῖν τὸ μέρος. Ὡς δή τί ποτε μεῖζον λέγων, τοῦτο ἐπήγαγεν. Ἀκούσαντες δὲ καὶ γενόμενοι πλήρεις θυμοῦ ἔκραζον: Μεγάλη ἡ Ἄρτεμις Ἐφεσίων. Κατὰ πόλιν γὰρ αὐτοῖς ἦσαν θεοί. Καὶ οὕτω διέκειντο, ὡς διὰ τῆς φωνῆς ἀνακτώμενοι τὸ σέβας αὐτῆς, καὶ τὰ γεγενημένα ἀναλύοντες. γʹ. Ὅρα ἄτακτον πλῆθος. Τοῦ δὲ Παύλου, φησὶ, βουλομένου εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὸν δῆμον, οὐκ εἴων αὐτὸν οἱ μαθηταί. Ὁ μὲν οὖν Παῦλος ἐβούλετο εἰσελθεῖν δημηγορῆσαι: τοὺς γὰρ διωγμοὺς ἐλάμβανεν εἰς διδασκαλίαν: ἀλλ' οἱ μαθηταὶ οὐκ εἴων αὐτόν. Σκόπει, πόσῃ περὶ αὐτὸν προνοίᾳ κέχρηνται πανταχοῦ. Καὶ ἐξ ἀρχῆς αὐτὸν ἐξήγαγον, ὥστε μὴ περὶ τὰ καίρια λαβεῖν τὴν πληγήν: καίτοι γε ἤκουσαν, ὅτι δεῖ καὶ Ῥώμην ἰδεῖν: ὅμως κωλύουσιν. Οἰκονομικῶς δὲ προαγορεύει, ἵνα μὴ τῷ γενομένῳ θορυβηθῶσιν. Οὕτως οὐδὲ πάσχειν τι αὐτὸν ἐβούλοντο. Καὶ τῶν ἀσιαρχῶν δέ τινες παρεκάλουν αὐτὸν, φησὶ, μὴ εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὸ θέατρον. Εἰδότες αὐτοῦ τὴν προθυμίαν, παρεκάλουν: οὕτω πάντες αὐτὸν ἐφίλουν οἱ πιστοί. Καὶ τίνος ἕνεκεν, φησὶν, ὁ Ἀλέξανδρος ἐβούλετο ἀπολογεῖσθαι; μὴ γὰρ αὐτὸς ἐνεκλήθη; Ὥστε καιρὸν εὑρεῖν, καὶ τὸ πᾶν καταστρέψαι καὶ ἐκκαῦσαι τοῦ δήμου τὸν θυμόν. Εἶδες θυμὸν ἄτακτον; Καλῶς καὶ ἐπιτιμητικῶς ὁ γραμματεὺς, Τίς ἔστι, φησὶν, ὃς οὐ γινώσκει τὴν Ἐφεσίων πόλιν; Οὕτως εἰπὼν περὶ οὗ ἐφοβοῦντο: ὡσεὶ ἔλεγεν: Οὐ θεραπεύετε αὐτήν; Καὶ οὐκ εἶπε, Τίς γάρ ἐστιν, ὃς οὐ γινώσκει τὴν Ἄρτεμιν; ἀλλὰ, Τὴν πόλιν τὴν ἡμετέραν: θεραπεύων αὐτούς. Ἀναντιῤῥήτων οὖν τούτων ὄντων, δέον ἐστὶν ὑμᾶς κατεσταλμένους ὑπάρχειν. Ταῦτα δῆθεν ἐγκαλεῖ, μονονουχὶ λέγων: Τί τοίνυν ζητεῖτε ὡς ἀδήλων ὄντων; φανερὸν, ὡς ἡ ὕβρις εἰς τὴν θεὸν διαβαίνει. Πρόσχημα τὴν εὐσέβειαν ἐβούλοντο ποιεῖν τοῦ χρηματισμοῦ. Εἶτα ἠρέμα καθάπτεται αὐτῶν, δεικνὺς, ὅτι ἀλογίστως συνῆλθον. Καὶ μηδὲν, φησὶ, προπετὲς πράττειν. Δεικνὺς, ὅτι προπετῶς ἔπραξαν, τοῦτο εἶπεν. Εἰ μὲν οὖν Δημήτριος καὶ οἱ σὺν αὐτῷ ἔχουσι πρός τινα λόγον, ἀνθύπατοί εἰσι. Καὶ τοῦτο λέγει ἐγκαλῶν, καὶ δεικνὺς ὅτι οὐκ ἔδει ἰδιωτικῶν ἐγκλημάτων ἕνεκεν κοινὴν ἐκκλησίαν ποιεῖσθαι. Καὶ γὰρ κινδυνεύομεν, φησὶν, ἐγκαλεῖσθαι. Τούτῳ σφόδρα αὐτοὺς διηπόρησεν. Οὐδενὸς αἰτίου, φησὶν, ὑπάρχοντος, περὶ οὗ δυνησόμεθα λόγον δοῦναι τῆς συστροφῆς ταύτης. Ὅρα πῶς οἱ ἄπιστοι φρονίμως ἀπολογοῦνται, πῶς συνετῶς. Οὕτως ἔσβεσε τὸν θυμόν. Ὥσπερ γὰρ ῥᾳδίως ἐξάπτεται, οὕτω καὶ ῥᾳδίως σβέννυται. Καὶ ταῦτα εἰπὼν, ἀπέλυσε τὴν ἐκκλησίαν, φησίν. Ὁρᾷς τὸν Θεὸν συγχωροῦντα τοὺς πειρασμοὺς, καὶ διεγείροντα καὶ ἀφυπνίζοντα τοὺς μαθητὰς τούτοις καὶ σφοδροτέρους ἐργαζόμενον; Μὴ δὴ καταπίπτωμεν τοῖς πειρασμοῖς: αὐτὸς γὰρ ποιήσει καὶ τὴν ἔκβασιν τοῦ δύνασθαι ὑπενεγκεῖν. Οὐδὲν οὕτω φίλους ποιεῖ καὶ συγκροτεῖ, ὡς θλῖψις: οὐδὲν οὕτω συνδεῖ καὶ ἐπισφίγγει τῶν πιστῶν τὰς ψυχάς: οὐδὲν ἡμῖν τοῖς διδασκάλοις οὕτως ἐπιτήδειον πρὸς τὸ τὰ παρ' ἡμῶν λεγόμενα ἀκούεσθαι. Ἐν μὲν γὰρ ἀνέσει τυγχάνων ἀκροατὴς, χαῦνός τέ ἐστι καὶ ῥᾴθυμος, καὶ ἐνοχλεῖσθαι δοκεῖ παρὰ τοῦ λέγοντος: ἐν δὲ θλίψει καὶ στενοχωρίᾳ εἰς πολλὴν ἐπιθυμίαν ἀκροάσεως ἐμπίπτει. Στενοχωρούμενος γὰρ τὴν ψυχὴν, πανταχόθεν ζητεῖ παραμυθίαν τῆς θλίψεως εὑρεῖν: οὐ μικρὰν δὲ φέρει λόγος παραμυθίαν. Τί οὖν, φησὶν, οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι; πῶς θλιβόμενοι ἀπὸ τῆς ὀλιγοψυχίας οὐκ ἤκουον; Ὅτι Ἰουδαῖοι ἦσαν, οἱ ἀεὶ ἀσθενεῖς καὶ ταλαίπωροι: ἄλλως τε καὶ ὅτι καὶ ἐκεῖ πολλὴ ἡ θλῖψις ἦν, ἡμῖν δὲ περὶ συμμέτρου ὁ λόγος. Ὅρα γάρ: προσεδόκησαν ἀπαλλάττεσθαι τῶν κατεχόντων αὐτοὺς κακῶν ἐκεῖνοι, καὶ μυρίοις περιέπεσον μᾶλλον δεινοῖς: τοῦτο δὲ οὐχ ὡς ἔτυχεν ἀπορεῖ ψυχήν. Αἱ θλίψεις ἀποσχίζουσιν ἡμᾶς τῆς συμπαθείας τῆς πρὸς τὸν παρόντα κόσμον: εὐθέως γοῦν τὸν θάνατον αἰτοῦμεν, καὶ οὐκ ἐσμὲν φιλοσώματοι: ὅπερ μέγιστον φιλοσοφίας μέρος ἐστὶ, μὴ κεχηνέναι μηδὲ προσδεδέσθαι τῇ παρούσῃ ζωῇ. Ἡ θλιβομένη ψυχὴ οὐ βούλεται περὶ πολλὰ εἶναι, ἀλλ' ἀναπαύσεώς τινος μόνον καὶ ἡσυχίας ἐρᾷ: ἀγαπητὸν αὐτῇ τῶν παρόντων ἀπαλλαγῆναι, κἂν μηδὲν ἕτερον ᾖ. Καθάπερ σῶμα πεπονηκὸς καὶ ταλαιπωρηθὲν οὐκ ἐρᾷν βούλεται, οὐ γαστρίζεσθαι, ἀλλ' ἀναπαύεσθαι καὶ ἡσυχῇ κεῖσθαι: οὕτω καὶ ψυχὴ μυρίοις ταριχευθεῖσα κακοῖς, πρὸς ἀνάπαυσιν καὶ ἡσυχίαν ἐπείγεται εἶναι. Ἡ ἐν ἀνέσει οὖσα ἐπτόηται, τεθορύβηται, μετέωρός ἐστιν: αὕτη δὲ οὐδὲν κεχηνὸς ἔχουσα οὐδὲ διαῤῥέον, ὅλη συνέσφιγκται καὶ μένει ἀμετεώριστος: καὶ ἡ μὲν ἀνδρειοτέρα, ἡ δὲ παιδικωτέρα ἐστί: καὶ ἡ μὲν βαρυτέρα, ἡ δὲ κουφοτέρα. Καὶ καθάπερ ἐν πολλῷ ὕδατι ἐμπεσόν τι κοῦφον σαλεύεται: οὕτω καὶ εἰς πολλὴν χαρὰν ἐμπεσοῦσα ψυχή. Καὶ τὰ μέγιστα δὲ ἡμῖν ἁμαρτήματα ἀπὸ πολλῆς ἡδονῆς γεγενημένα ἴδοι τις ἄν. Καὶ εἰ βούλεσθε, οἰκίας ὑπογράψωμεν δύο, τὴν μὲν γαμούντων, τὴν δὲ πενθούντων: εἰσέλθωμεν τῷ λόγῳ πρὸς ἑκατέρους: ἴδωμεν τίς τίνος βελτίων. Εὑρεθήσεται γὰρ ἡ τοῦ πενθοῦντος φιλοσοφίας γέμουσα, ἡ δὲ τοῦ γαμοῦντος ἀσχημοσύνης, Ὅρα γάρ: αἰσχρὰ ἐκεῖ ῥήματα, γέλως ἄτακτος, βήματα ἀτακτότερα, στολὴ καὶ βάδισις ἀσχημοσύνης γέμουσα, σχήματα πολλῆς ἀνοίας καὶ μωρίας: καὶ ὅλως οὐδὲν ἕτερον ἢ πάντα γέλως καὶ κατάγελως τὰ ἐκεῖ. Οὐχ ὁ γάμος, λέγω, μὴ γένοιτο: ἀλλὰ τὰ περὶ τὸν γάμον. Ἐκβακχεύεται τότε ἡ φύσις, ἄλογα ἀντὶ ἀνθρώπων οἱ παρόντες γίνονται, οἱ μὲν ὡς ἵπποι χρεμετίζουσιν, οἱ δὲ ὡς ὄνοι λακτίζουσι: πολλὴ ἡ διάχυσις, πολλὴ ἡ διάλυσις, οὐδὲν σπουδαῖον, οὐδὲν γενναῖον: πολλὴ ἐκεῖ τοῦ διαβόλου ἡ πομπὴ, κύμβαλα, αὐλοὶ, καὶ ᾄσματα πορνείας γέμοντα καὶ μοιχείας. Ἀλλ' οὐκ ἐκεῖ, ἔνθα τὸ πένθος, ἀλλὰ πάντα εὔτακτα: πολλὴ γὰρ ἡ σιγὴ, πολλὴ ἡ ἡσυχία, πολλὴ ἡ καταστολὴ, οὐδὲν ἄτακτον, οὐδὲν ἄῤῥυθμον: εἴ τίς τι καὶ ἐφθέγξατο, πάντα φιλοσοφίας γέμοντα ῥήματα ἐφθέγξατο: καὶ τὸ δὴ θαυμαστὸν, ὅτι παρ' ἐκεῖνον τὸν καιρὸν οὐκ ἄνδρες μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ οἰκεῖοι καὶ γυναῖκες φιλοσοφοῦσι. Τοιαύτη γὰρ ἡ τοῦ πένθους φύσις. Καὶ δοκοῦσι μὲν παρακαλεῖν τὸν πενθοῦντα, μυρία δὲ φθέγγονται δόγματα φιλοσοφίας μεστά: εὐχαὶ εὐθέως ὥστε μέχρι τούτου στῆναι, καὶ ἱκανοὶ οἱ τὸν πεπονηκότα παραμυθούμενοι, καὶ ἀπαριθμήσεις τῶν τοιαῦτα πενθούντων μυρίαι. Τί γάρ ἐστιν ἄνθρωπος; Τῆς φύσεως ἐξέτασις τῆς ἡμετέρας. δʹ. Τί τοίνυν ἐστὶν ἄνθρωπος; Τοῦ βίου καὶ τῆς εὐτελείας αὐτοῦ κατηγορία, ἀνάμνησις τῶν ἐν τῷ μέλλοντι πραγμάτων, τῆς κρίσεως. Ἕκαστος οἴκαδε ἀναχωρεῖ, ἀπὸ μὲν γάμου λυπούμενος, ὅτι δὴ αὐτὸς μὴ ἐν εὐπραγίᾳ ἐστίν: ἀπὸ δὲ πένθους ἀνειμένος, ὅτι δὴ μὴ τοιαῦτα ἔπαθε, καὶ τὴν φλεγμονὴν σβέσας ἅπασαν ἀπῆλθεν. Ἀλλὰ τί; θέλεις τὰ δεσμωτήρια, καὶ τὰ θέατρα ἀντεξετάσωμεν; Ὁ μὲν γὰρ θλίψεως, ὁ δὲ ἡδονῆς τόπος. Φέρε οὖν, ἴδωμεν τὰ ἐξ ἑκατέρων συμβαίνοντα. Ἐκεῖ φιλοσοφία πολλή: ἔνθα γὰρ ἀθυμία, καὶ φιλοσοφία πάντως. Ὁ πρὸ τούτου πλουτῶν, ὁ μεγάλα φυσῶν, καὶ τοῦ τυχόντος ἀνέξεται διαλεγομένου πρὸς αὐτὸν, τοῦ φόβου καὶ τῆς ἀθυμίας καθάπερ τινὸς πυρὸς σφοδροτέρου ἐπιπεσόντος αὐτοῦ τῇ ψυχῇ, καὶ μαλάττοντος τὸ σκληρόν: τότε ταπεινὸς γίνεται, τότε σκυθρωπὸς, τότε τῆς μεταβολῆς αἰσθάνεται τῆς βιωτικῆς, τότε καρτερεῖ πρὸς πάντα. Ἐν δὲ θεάτρῳ πάντα τὰ ἐναντία, γέλως, αἰσχρότης, πομπὴ διαβολικὴ, διάχυσις, ἀνάλωμα χρόνου, καὶ δαπάνη ἡμερῶν περιττὴ, ἐπιθυμίας ἀτόπου κατασκευὴ, μοιχείας μελέτη, πορνείας γυμνάσιον, ἀκολασίας διδασκαλεῖον, προτροπὴ αἰσχρότητος, γέλωτος ὑπόθεσις, ἀσχημοσύνης παραδείγματα. Ἀλλ' οὐ τὸ δεσμωτήριον τοιοῦτον: ἀλλ' ἐκεῖ ταπεινοφροσύνη, παράκλησις, φιλοσοφίας προτροπὴ, ὑπεροψία τῶν βιωτικῶν: πάντα πεπάτηται καὶ καταπεφρόνηται, καὶ καθάπερ παιδίῳ παιδαγωγὸς ὁ φόβος ἐφέστηκε, πρὸς πάντα τὰ δέοντα ῥυθμίζων αὐτόν. Ἀλλ' εἰ βούλει, πάλιν ἑτέρως ἐξετάσωμεν τοὺς αὐτοὺς τόπους. Ἐβουλόμην συντυχεῖν ἀνθρώπῳ ἀπὸ θεάτρου κατιόντι, καὶ ἄλλῳ ἀπὸ δεσμωτηρίου ἐξιόντι, καὶ εἶδες ἂν τοῦ μὲν τὴν ψυχὴν ἐπτοημένην, τεθορυβημένην, δεδεμένην ὄντως, τοῦ δὲ ἀνειμένην, λελυμένην, ἐπτερωμένην. Ὁ μὲν γὰρ ἀπὸ τοῦ θεάτρου ἀναχωρεῖ, ταῖς ὄψεσι τῶν ἐκεῖ γυναικῶν προσδεθεὶς, παντὸς σιδήρου χαλεπώτερα φέρων δεσμὰ, τοὺς τόπους τοὺς ἐκεῖ, τὰ ῥήματα, τὰ σχήματα: ὁ δὲ ἀπὸ δεσμωτηρίου, πάντων ἀνεθεὶς, οὐκ ἔτι ἡγήσεται πάσχειν τι δεινὸν, τοῖς τῶν ἑτέρων τὰ αὐτοῦ παραβάλλων. Ὅτι οὐ δέδεται, χάριν εἴσεται λοιπὸν, καταφρονήσει τῶν ἀνθρωπίνων πραγμάτων, πολλοὺς πλουτοῦντας ὁρῶν ἐν συμφοραῖς, πολλὰ καὶ μεγάλα δυναμένους καὶ δεδεμένους ἐκεῖ: κἂν ἀδίκως τι πάθῃ, καὶ πρὸς τοῦτο καρτερήσει: καὶ γὰρ καὶ τούτου πολλὰ ἐκεῖ τὰ ὑποδείγματα: εἰς ἔννοιαν ἐλεύσεται τῆς μελλούσης κρίσεως, καὶ φρίξει τοὺς τόπους ἐνταῦθα ὁρῶν. Καθάπερ γὰρ ἐνταῦθα ἐν δεσμωτηρίῳ συγκεκλεισμένος, ἐπιεικὴς πρὸς πάντας ἐστίν: οὕτω κἀκεῖνοι πρὸ τῆς κρίσεως, πρὸ τῆς μελλούσης ἡμέρας, πρὸς γυναῖκα, πρὸς παιδία, πρὸς τοὺς οἰκέτας ἔσονται ἐπιεικέστεροι. Ἀλλ' ἀπὸ τοῦ θεάτρου οὐχ οὕτως, ἀλλ' ἀηδέστερον ὄψεται τὴν γυναῖκα, καὶ δυσχερὴς πρὸς τοὺς οἰκείους ἔσται, παροξυνθήσεται πρὸς τὰ παιδία, ἐκθηριωθήσεται πρὸς πάντας. Μεγάλα κακὰ τὰ θέατρα παρασκευάζει ταῖς πόλεσι, μεγάλα, καὶ οὐδὲ τοῦτο ἴσμεν ὅτι μεγάλα. Εἰ δὲ οὐκ ἀπεκάμετε, ἐξετάσωμεν καὶ τοὺς τοῦ γέλωτος τόπους, τὰ συμπόσια λέγω, ἔνθα παράσιτοι καὶ κόλακες καὶ πολλὴ ἡ τρυφὴ, καὶ τόπους ἑτέρους, ἔνθα χωλοὶ καὶ ἀνάπηροι. Πάλιν ἐκεῖ μὲν μέθη καὶ τρυφὴ καὶ διάχυσις, ἐνταῦθα δὲ τοὐναντίον. Ὅρα καὶ ἐπὶ τοῦ σώματος, ὅταν φλεγμαίνῃ, ὅταν εὐπαθῇ, ταχίστην ἔχει πρὸς νόσον μετάπτωσιν: ὅταν δὲ κατεσταλμένον ᾖ, οὐχ οὕτως. Ἵνα δὲ σαφέστερον ὑμῖν ὃ λέγω ποιήσω, ἔστω σῶμα ἔχον πολὺ αἷμα καὶ σάρκας πολλὰς καὶ σφριγῶν: τοῦτο καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς τυχούσης τροφῆς πυρετὸν δυνήσεται τεκεῖν, ἂν ἁπλῶς ἀργήσῃ. Ἔστω δὲ ἕτερον λιμῷ μᾶλλον παλαῖον καὶ θλίψει: τοῦτο δυσάλωτον καὶ δυσκαταγώνιστον πρὸς ἀῤῥωστίαν. Αἷμα κἂν ὑγιὲς ᾖ ἐν ἡμῖν, τῷ πλήθει πολλάκις νόσον ἔτεκεν: ἂν δὲ ὀλίγον ᾖ, κἂν μὴ ὑγιὲς, εὐκόλως κατεργασθῆναι δύναται. Οὕτω δὴ καὶ ἐπὶ ψυχῆς, ἡ μὲν ἐν ἀνέσει καὶ τρυφῇ ὀξυῤῥόπους ἔχει πρὸς ἁμαρτίαν τὰς ὁρμάς: καὶ γὰρ ἀπονοίας ἐγγὺς ἡ τοιαύτη ἕστηκε καὶ ἡδονῆς καὶ κενοδοξίας καὶ φθόνου καὶ ἐπιβουλῶν καὶ συκοφαντιῶν: ἀλλ' οὐχ ἡ ἐν θλίψει καὶ αὐταρκείᾳ, ἀλλὰ πάντων τούτων ἀπήλλακται. Ἰδοὺ ἡλίκη πόλις ἡμῖν ἐστιν ἡ μεγάλη αὕτη. Πόθεν οὖν τίκτεται τὰ κακά; οὐκ ἀπὸ τῶν πλουτούντων; οὐκ ἀπὸ τῶν χαιρόντων; Τίνες εἰς δικαστήρια ἕλκουσι; τίνες οὐσίας διασπαθῶσιν; οἱ ταλαίπωροι καὶ ἀπεῤῥιμμένοι, ἢ οἱ μεγάλα φυσῶντες καὶ χαίροντες; Οὐκ ἔστιν ἀπὸ ψυχῆς τεθλιμμένης γενέσθαι τι κακόν. Οἶδεν αὐτῆς τὸ κέρδος ὁ Παῦλος: διὰ τοῦτό φησιν: Ἡ θλῖψις ὑπομονὴν κατεργάζεται, ἡ δὲ ὑπομονὴ δοκιμὴν, ἡ δὲ δοκιμὴ ἐλπίδα, ἡ δὲ ἐλπὶς οὐ καταισχύνει. Μὴ δὴ καταπίπτωμεν ἐν ταῖς θλίψεσιν, ἀλλ' ἐν ἅπασιν εὐχαριστῶμεν, ἵνα τι κερδάνωμεν μέγα, ἵνα εὐδοκιμήσωμεν παρὰ τῷ Θεῷ τῷ τὰς θλίψεις συγχωροῦντι. Μέγα θλῖψις ἀγαθόν: καὶ τοῦτο ἀπὸ τῶν παίδων τῶν ἡμετέρων μανθάνομεν: χωρὶς γὰρ θλίψεως οὐδὲν ἂν μάθοι χρήσιμον. Ἡμεῖς δὲ μᾶλλον αὐτῶν δεόμεθα θλίψεως. Εἰ γὰρ ἐκεῖνα τῶν παθῶν ἠρεμούντων αὐτοῖς θάλλει, πολλῷ μᾶλλον ἡμεῖς, καὶ μάλιστα τοσούτοις συνεχόμενοι. Ἀλλ' ἡμᾶς μᾶλλον παιδαγωγοὺς ἔχειν ἐχρῆν: παρὰ μὲν γὰρ τῶν παίδων τὰ ἁμαρτήματα οὐκ ἂν μεγάλα γένοιτο, παρὰ δὲ ἡμῶν σφόδρα μεγάλα. Παιδαγωγὸς δὲ ἡμῶν ἡ θλῖψις: Μήτε οὖν ἐπισπώμεθα αὐτὴν, καὶ παροῦσαν γενναίως φέρωμεν, ἀεὶ μυρίων οὖσαν ἀγαθῶν αἰτίαν, ἵνα καὶ τῆς παρὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ ῥοπῆς ἀπολαύσωμεν, καὶ τῶν ἀποκειμένων ἀγαθῶν τοῖς ἀγαπῶσιν αὐτὸν, ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ τῷ Κυρίῳ ἡμῶν, μεθ' οὗ τῷ Πατρὶ ἅμα τῷ ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι δόξα, κράτος, τιμὴ, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ, καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.