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Do you take witnesses? Let not even a servant see, if possible, nor a wife. Many are the scandals of the crafty one; often she who has never hindered, then hinders either out of vainglory, or for some other reason. Since Abraham also, although having a wonderful wife, when he was about to offer up his son, concealed it, although not knowing what the outcome would be, but convinced that he would certainly slay him. What then would one of the common men have said? would he not have said, Who is this who is doing these things? would he not have slandered him for cruelty and boorishness? The wife was not even deemed worthy to see her child, nor to hear a final voice, nor to see him struggling, but as if taking a captive, so he led him away. But that just man considered none of these things, being drunk with desire. For he saw nothing else, but how he might perform what was commanded, nor was a child there, nor a wife; rather he himself did not even know the outcome; so from every side he strove to bring up a pure sacrifice, not to defile it with tears, not with contradiction. But see with how much gentleness Isaac asks, and what he says to him; Behold the wood and the fire, where is the lamb? What then the Father? God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering, my child. And this is also said as a prophecy, that God will provide Himself the Son for a burnt offering; and at the same time it also then came to pass. Why do you conceal it even from him, tell me, the one who is to be slain? Yes, he says, I fear lest he grow numb, I fear lest he be seen as unworthy. Do you see how with much precision he did all things? Therefore the Scripture said well, Let not 62.579 thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth; that is, Even if we have someone as a close member, let us not be eager to show him, unless there is a necessity. For from this many terrible things happen. One is lifted up into vainglory, an obstacle often arises. Therefore let us also 62.580 hide from ourselves, if possible, that we may obtain the promised goods, by the grace and loving-kindness of our Lord Jesus Christ, with whom to the Father, together with the Holy Spirit, be glory, dominion, honor, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

HOMILY 15. But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry, having condemnation, because they have cast off their first faith. And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not. I will therefore that the younger widows marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary

to speak reproachfully. For some are already turned aside after Satan. 1. Paul having made a long discourse concerning widows, and having defined their age by saying, Let not a widow be taken into the number under sixty years old, and having taught the character of the widow by saying, If she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet. again here he says; But refuse the younger widows. But concerning virgins, although the matter is much more burdensome, he hints at nothing of the sort; reasonably. Why? Because they had registered for greater things, and from a greater resolve that work proceeded. So then, If she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, and all such things, he indicated through her constant devotion, and by saying, She that is unmarried careth for the things of the Lord. But if on account of age nothing is spoken precisely, do not be surprised; for indeed from this that also is clear. Moreover I have said that those chose virginity from a greater resolve. And in addition to these things, here already falls have occurred, and these women were providing

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παραλαμβάνεις μάρτυρας; μηδὲ οἰκέτης ἰδέτω, εἰ δυνατὸν, μηδὲ γυνή. Πολλὰ τὰ σκάνδαλα τοῦ δολίου· πολλάκις ἡ μηδέποτε ἐμποδίσασα, τότε ἐμποδίζει ἢ ὑπὸ κενοδοξίας, ἢ ὑπὸ ἑτέρου τινός. Ἐπεὶ καὶ ὁ Ἀβραὰμ, καίτοι θαυμαστὴν ἔχων γυναῖκα, τὸν υἱὸν μέλλων ἀναφέρειν, ἔκρυπτε, καίτοι γε οὐκ εἰδὼς τὸ ἐκβησόμενον, ἀλλὰ πεπεισμένος, ὅτι πάντως ἀναιρήσει. Τί οὖν ἔμελλε λέγειν, εἴ τις ἦν ἄνθρωπος τῶν πολλῶν; οὐκ ἂν εἶπε, Τίς ἐστιν οὗτος ὁ ταῦτα διαπραττόμενος; οὐκ ἂν ἐπὶ ἀπηνείᾳ αὐτὸν διέβαλε καὶ ἀγροικίᾳ; Οὐδὲ ἰδεῖν κατηξιώθη τὸ παιδίον τὸ ἑαυτῆς ἡ γυνὴ, οὐδὲ ὑστέρας ἀκοῦσαι φωνῆς, οὐδὲ σπαῖρον θεάσασθαι, ἀλλ' ὥσπερ αἰχμάλωτον λαβὼν, οὕτως ἀπήγαγεν. Ἀλλ' οὐδὲν τούτων ἐνενόησεν ὁ δίκαιος ἐκεῖνος, μεθύων τῷ πόθῳ. Οὐδὲν γὰρ ἄλλο ἑώρα, ἀλλὰ τὸ προσταττόμενον ὅπως ἐργάσαιτο, οὐδὲ παῖς ἦν ἐκεῖ, οὐδὲ γυνή· μᾶλλον δὲ οὐδὲ αὐτὸς ᾔδει τὸ ἐκβησόμενον· οὕτω πάντοθεν ἐσπούδαζε καθαρὸν τὸ ἱερεῖον ἀναγαγεῖν, μὴ δάκρυσιν αὐτὸ, μὴ ἀντιλογίᾳ μολῦναι. Ὅρα δὲ μεθ' ὅσης ἡμερότητος ὁ Ἰσαὰκ ἐρωτᾷ, καὶ τί φησι πρὸς αὐτόν· Ἰδοὺ τὰ ξύλα καὶ τὸ πῦρ, ποῦ τὸ πρόβατον; Τί οὖν ὁ Πατήρ; Ὁ Θεὸς ὄψεται ἑαυτῷ πρόβατον εἰς ὁλοκάρπωσιν, τέκνον. Λέγεται δὲ τοῦτο καὶ ὡς προφητεία, ὅτι τὸν Υἱὸν ὄψεται ἑαυτῷ Θεὸς εἰς ὁλοκάρπωσιν· καὶ ἅμα καὶ τότε ἐκβέβηκε. Τί καὶ αὐτὸν κρύπτεις, εἰπὲ, τὸν σφαγιασθησόμενον; Ναὶ, φησὶ, δέδοικα μὴ ναρκήσῃ, δέδοικα μὴ ἀνάξιος ὀφθῇ. Εἶδες πῶς μετὰ πολλῆς τῆς ἀκριβείας ἅπαντα ἔπραττεν; Ἄρα καλῶς εἶπεν ἡ Γραφὴ, Μὴ γνώτω 62.579 ἡ ἀριστερά σου τί ποιεῖ ἡ δεξιά σου· τουτέστι, Κἂν ὡς οἰκεῖον μέλος ἔχωμέν τινα, μὴ σπουδάζωμεν αὐτῷ δεικνύναι, πλὴν εἰ μὴ ἀνάγκη εἴη. Πολλὰ γὰρ ἀπὸ τούτου γίνεται τὰ δεινά. Εἰς κενοδοξίαν τις αἴρεται, κώλυμα γίνεται πολλάκις. ∆ιὰ δὴ τοῦτο καὶ 62.580 ἑαυτοὺς λανθάνωμεν, εἰ δυνατὸν, ἵνα τύχωμεν τῶν ἐπηγγελμένων ἀγαθῶν, χάριτι καὶ φιλανθρωπίᾳ τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, μεθ' οὗ τῷ Πατρὶ, ἅμα τῷ ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι, δόξα, κράτος, τιμὴ, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ, καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων.

ΟΜΙΛΙΑ ΙΕʹ. Νεωτέρας δὲ χήρας παραιτοῦ· ὅταν γὰρ καταστρηνιάσωσι τοῦ Χριστοῦ, γαμεῖν θέλουσιν, ἔχουσαι κρῖμα, ὅτι τὴν πρώτην πίστιν ἠθέτησαν. Ἅμα δὲ καὶ ἀργαὶ μανθάνουσι περιερχόμεναι τὰς οἰκίας· οὐ μόνον δὲ ἀργαὶ, ἀλλὰ καὶ φλύαροι καὶ περίεργοι, λαλοῦσαι τὰ μὴ δέοντα. Βούλομαι οὖν νεωτέρας χήρας γαμεῖν, οἰκοδεσποτεῖν, μηδεμίαν ἀφορμὴν διδόναι τῷ ἀντικειμένῳ

λοιδορίας χάριν. Ἤδη γάρ τινες ἐξετράπησαν ὀπίσω τοῦ Σατανᾶ. αʹ. Πολὺν ὑπὲρ τῶν χηρῶν ὁ Παῦλος ποιησάμενος λόγον, καὶ χρόνον αὐτῶν διορίσας τῷ λέγειν, Χήρα καταλεγέσθω μὴ ἔλαττον ἐτῶν ἑξήκοντα γεγονυῖα, καὶ τὴν ποιότητα διδάξας τῆς χήρας τῷ εἰπεῖν, Εἰ ἐτεκνοτρόφησεν, εἰ ἐξενοδόχησεν, εἰ ἁγίων πόδας ἔνιψε. πάλιν ἐνταῦθά φησι· Νεωτέρας δὲ χήρας παραιτοῦ. Περὶ δὲ τῶν παρθένων, καίτοι γε πολὺ φορτικωτέρου τοῦ πράγματος ὄντος, οὐδὲν τοιοῦτον αἰνίττεται· εἰκότως. ∆ιὰ τί; Ὅτι ἐπὶ μείζοσιν ἀπεγράψαντο, καὶ ἀπὸ μείζονος τῆς διανοίας ἐκεῖ τὸ ἔργον προέβη τοῦτο. Τὸ μὲν οὖν, Εἰ ἐξενοδόχησεν, εἰ ἁγίων πόδας ἔνιψε, καὶ πάντα τὰ τοιαῦτα, διὰ τοῦ εὐπροσέδρου παρέσησε, καὶ τοῦ λέγειν, Ἡ δὲ ἄγαμος μεριμνᾷ τὰ τοῦ Κυρίου. Εἰ δὲ χρόνων ἕνεκεν οὐδὲν ἀκριβολογεῖται, μὴ θαυμάσῃς· μάλιστα μὲν γὰρ ἀπὸ τούτου κἀκεῖνο δῆλον. Ἄλλως δὲ εἶπον, ὅτι ἀπὸ μείζονος διανοίας ἐκεῖναι τὴν παρθενίαν εἵλοντο. Πρὸς δὲ τούτοις, ἐνταῦθα ἤδη πτώματα γέγονε, καὶ αὗται παρεῖχον