Homily LXXVI.

Matt. XXIV. 16-18.

“Then let them which be in Judæa flee into the mountains. And let him that is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house. Neither let him which is in his field return back to take his clothes.”2773   [In minor details the Greek text agrees with the received against that of our oldest mss. authorities.—R.]

Having spoken of the ills that were to overtake the city, and of the trials of the apostles, and that they should remain unsubdued, and should overrun the whole world, He mentions again the Jews’ calamities, showing that when the one should be glorious, having taught the whole world, the others should be in calamity.

And see how He relates the war, by the things that seem to be small setting forth how intolerable it was to be. For, “Then,” saith He, “let them which be in Judæa flee into the mountains.” Then, When? When these things should be, “when the abomination of desolation should stand in the holy place.” Whence he seems to me to be speaking of the armies. Flee therefore then, saith He, for thenceforth there is no hope of safety for you.

For since it had fallen out, that they often had recovered themselves in grievous wars, as under Sennacherib, under Antiochus again (for when at that time also, armies had come in upon them, and the temple had been seized beforehand, the Maccabees rallying gave their affairs an opposite turn); in order then that they might not now also suspect this, that there would be any such change, He forbids them all thought of the kind. For it were well, saith He, to escape henceforth with one’s naked body. Therefore them also that are on the housetop, He suffers not to enter into the house to take their clothes, indicating the evils to be inevitable, and the calamity without end, and that it must needs be that he that was involved therein should surely perish. Therefore He adds also, him that is in the field, saying, neither let this man turn back to take his clothes. For if they that are in doors flee, much more they that are out of doors ought not to take refuge within.

“Woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck,”2774   Matt. xxiv. 19.to the one because of their greater inertness, and because they cannot flee easily, being weighed down by the burden of their pregnancy; to the other, because they are held by the tie of feeling for their children, and cannot save their sucklings. For money it is a light thing to despise, and an easy thing to provide, and clothes; but the bonds of nature how could any one escape? how could the pregnant woman become active? how could she that gives suck be able to overlook that which she had borne?

Then, to show again the greatness of the calamity, He saith, “Pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day. For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world until now, neither shall be.”2775   Matt. xxiv. 20, 21.

Seest thou that His discourse is addressed to the Jews, and that He is speaking of the ills that should overtake them? For the apostles surely were not to keep the Sabbath day, neither to be there, when Vespasian did those things. For indeed the most part of them were already departed this life. And if any was left, he was dwelling then in other parts of the world.

But wherefore neither “in the winter, nor on the Sabbath day?”2776   [There is a curious variation in the Greek text here. Our best New Testament mss. reads σαββτ; above the Homily has ἐν σαββτ, but here σαββτου, without any preposition.—R.] Not in the winter, because of the difficulty arising from the season; not on the Sabbath day, because of the absolute authority exercised by the law. For since they had need of flight, and of the swiftest flight, but neither would the Jews dare to flee on the Sabbath day, because of the law, neither in winter was such a thing easy; therefore, “Pray ye,” saith He; “for then shall be tribulation, such as never was, neither shall be.”

And let not any man suppose this to have been spoken hyperbolically; but let him study the writings of Josephus, and learn the truth of the sayings. For neither can any one say, that the man being a believer, in order to establish Christ’s words, hath exaggerated the tragical history. For indeed He was both a Jew, and a determined Jew, and very zealous, and among them that lived after Christ’s coming.

What then saith this man? That those terrors surpassed all tragedy, and that no such had ever overtaken the nation. For so great was the famine, that the very mothers fought about the devouring of their children, and that there were wars about this; and he saith that many when they were dead had their bellies ripped up.

I should therefore be glad to inquire of the Jews. Whence came there thus upon them wrath from God intolerable, and more sore than all that had befallen aforetime, not in Judæa only, but in any part of the world? Is it not quite clear, that it was for the deed of the cross, and for this rejection? All would say it, and with all and before all the truth of the facts itself.

But mark, I pray thee, the exceeding greatness of the ills, when not only compared with the time before, they appear more grievous, but also with all the time to come. For not in all the world, neither in all time that is past, and that is to come, shall any one be able to say such ills have been. And very naturally; for neither had any man perpetrated, not of those that ever have been, nor of those to come hereafter, a deed so wicked and horrible. Therefore He saith, “there shall be tribulation such as never was, nor shall be.”

“And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.”2777   Matt. xxiv. 22. [R.V., “And except those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved: but,” etc.] By these things He shows them to be deserving of a more grievous punishment than had been mentioned, speaking now of the days of the war and of that siege. But what He saith is like this. If, saith He, the war of the Romans against the city had prevailed further, all the Jews had perished (for by “no flesh” here, He meaneth no Jewish flesh), both those abroad, and those at home. For not only against those in Judæa did they war, but also those that were dispersed everywhere they outlawed and banished, because of their hatred against the former.

2. But whom doth He here mean by the elect? The believers that were shut up in the midst of them. For that Jews may not say that because of the gospel, and the worship of Christ, these ills took place, He showeth, that so far from the believers being the cause, if it had not been for them, all had perished utterly. For if God had permitted the war to be protracted, not so much as a remnant of the Jews had remained, but lest those of them who had become believers should perish together with the unbelieving Jews, He quickly put down the fighting, and gave an end to the war. Therefore He saith, “But for the elect’s sake they shall be shortened.” But these things He said to leave an encouragement to those of them who were shut up in the midst of them, and to allow them to take breath, that they might not be in fear, as though they were to perish with them. And if here so great is His care for them, that for their sakes others also are saved, and that for the sake of Christians remnants were left of the Jews, how great will be their honor in the time for their crowns?

By this He also encouraged them not to be distressed at their own dangers, since these others are suffering such things, and for no profit, but for evil upon their own head.

But He not only encouraged them, but also led them off secretly and unsuspectedly from the customs of the Jews. For if there is not to be a change afterwards, and the temple is not to stand, it is quite evident that the law also shall be made to cease.

However, He spake not this openly, but by their entire destruction He darkly intimated it. But He spake it not openly, lest He should startle them before the time. Wherefore neither at the beginning did He of Himself fall into discourse touching these things; but having first lamented over the city, He constrained them to show Him the stones, and question Him, in order that as it were in answering them their question, He might declare to them beforehand all the things to come.

But mark thou, I pray thee, the dispensation of the Spirit, that John wrote none of these things, lest he should seem to write from the very history of the things done (for indeed he lived a long time after the taking of the city), but they, who died before the taking, and had seen none of these things, they write it, in order that every way the power of the prediction should clearly shine forth.

“Then, if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not: for there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, the very elect. Behold, I have told you before.2778   [R.V., “to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. Behold, I have told you beforehand.”] Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, He is in the desert, go not forth: behold, He is in the secret chambers, believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. For wheresoever the carcase is, there shall the eagles be gathered together.”2779   Matt. xxiv. 23–28. [The citation is in verbal agreement with the received text.—R.]

Having finished what concerned Jerusalem, He passes on to His own coming, and tells the signs of it, not for their use only, but for us also, and for all that shall come after us.

“Then.” When? Here, as I have often said, the word, “then,” relates not to the connection in order of time with the things before mentioned. At least, when He was minded to express the connection of time, He added, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days,”2780   Matt. xxiv. 29.but here not so, but, “then,” not meaning what should follow straightway after these things, but what should be in the time, when these things were to be done, of which He was about to speak. So also when it is said, “In those days cometh John the Baptist,”2781   Matt. iii. 1. See the comment on that place.he is not speaking of the time that should straightway follow, but that many years after, and that in which these things were done, of which He was about to speak. For, in fact, having spoken of the birth of Jesus, and of the coming of the magi, and of the death of Herod, He at once saith, “In those days cometh John the Baptist;” although thirty years had intervened. But this is customary in the Scripture, I mean, to use this manner of narration. So then here also, having passed over all the intermediate time from the taking of Jerusalem unto the preludes of the consummation, He speaketh of the time just before the consummation. “Then,” He saith therefore, “if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there, believe it not.”

Awhile He secures them by the place, mentioning the distinguishing marks of His second coming, and the indications of the deceivers. For not, as when at His former coming He appeared in Bethlehem, and in a small corner of the world, and no one knew Him at the beginning, so doth He say it shall be then too; but openly and with all circumstance, and so as not to need one to tell these things. And this is no small sign that He will not come secretly.

But mark how here He saith nothing of war (for He is interpreting the doctrine concerning His advent), but of them that attempt to deceive. For some in the days of the apostles deceived the multitude, “for they shall come,” saith He, “and shall deceive many;”2782   Matt. xxiv. 11.and others shall do so before His second coming, who shall also be more grievous than the former. “For they shall show,” He saith, “signs and wonders, so as to deceive if possible the very elect:”2783   Matt. xxiv. 24.here He is speaking of Antichrist, and indicates that some also shall minister to him. Of him Paul too speaks on this wise. Having called him “man of sin,” and “son of perdition,” He added, “Whose coming is after the working of Satan, with all power and signs and lying wonders; and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish.”2784   2 Thess. ii. 9, 10.

And see how He secures them; “Go not forth into the deserts, enter not into the secret chambers.” He did not say, “Go, and do not believe;” but, “Go not forth, neither depart thither.” For great then will be the deceiving, because that even deceiving miracles are wrought.

3. Having told them how Antichrist cometh, as, for instance, that it will be in a place; He saith how Himself also cometh. How then doth He Himself come? “As the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. For wheresoever the carcase is, there also will the eagles be gathered together.”2785   Matt. xxiv. 27, 28.

How then shineth the lightning? It needs not one to talk of it, it needs not a herald, but even to them that sit in houses, and to them in chambers it shows itself in an instant of time throughout the whole world. So shall that coming be, showing itself at once everywhere by reason of the shining forth of His glory. But He mentions also another sign, “where the carcase is, there also shall the eagles be;” meaning the multitude of the angels, of the martyrs, of all the saints.

Then He tells of fearful prodigies. What are these prodigies? “Immediately after the tribulation of those days,” saith He, “the sun shall be darkened.”2786   Matt. xxiv. 29. Of the tribulation of what days doth He speak? Of those of Antichrist and of the false prophets? For there shall be great tribulation, there being so many deceivers. But it is not protracted to a length of time. For if the Jewish war was shortened for the elect’s sake, much more shall this temptation be limited for these same’s sake. Therefore, He said not, “after the tribulation,” but Immediately “after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened,” for almost at the same time all things come to pass. For the false prophets and false Christs shall come and cause confusion, and immediately He Himself will be here. Because no small turmoil is then to prevail over the world.

But how doth He come? The very creation being then transfigured, for “the sun shall be darkened,” not destroyed, but overcome by the light of His presence; and the stars shall fall, for what shall be the need of them thenceforth, there being no night? and “the powers of Heaven shall be shaken,” and in all likelihood, seeing so great a change come to pass. For if when the stars were made, they trembled and marvelled (“for when the stars were made, all angels,” it is said, “praised Me with a loud voice”);2787   Job xxxviii. 7, LXX. [The LXX. is accurately cited. At this point there is a great variation in the readings of the mss. of the Homilies, which may be due to the variation from the Hebrew.—R.]much more seeing all things in course of change, and their fellow servants giving account, and the whole world standing by that awful judgment-seat, and those who have lived from Adam unto His coming, having an account demanded of them of all that they did, how shall they but tremble, and be shaken?

“Then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in Heaven;”2788   Matt. xxiv. 30.that is, the cross being brighter than the sun, since this last will be darkened, and hide himself, and that will appear when it would not appear, unless it were far brighter than the beams of the sun. But wherefore doth the sign appear? In order that the shamelessness of the Jews may be more abundantly silenced. For having the cross as the greatest plea, Christ thus cometh to that judgment-seat, showing not His wounds only, but also the death of reproach. “Then shall the tribes mourn,” for there shall be no need of an accusation, when they see the cross; and they shall mourn, that by His death they are nothing benefited; because they crucified Him whom they ought to have adored.

Seest thou how fearfully He has pictured His coming? how He has stirred up the spirits of His disciples? For this reason, let me add, He puts the mournful things first, and then the good things, that in this way also He may comfort and refresh them. And of His passion He suggests to them the remembrance, and of His resurrection, and with a display of glory,2789   μετ λαμπρο το σχματο. He mentions His cross, so that they may not be ashamed nor grieve, whereas indeed He cometh then setting it forth for His sign. And another saith, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.” Therefore it is that they shall mourn, when they see that this is He.

And forasmuch as He had made mention of the cross, He added, “They shall see the Son of Man coming,” no longer on the cross, but “in the clouds of Heaven, with power and great glory.”2790   Matt. xxiv. 30.

For think not, He meaneth, because thou hearest of the cross, that it is again anything mournful, for He shall come with power and great glory. But He bringeth it, that their sin may be self-condemned, as if any one who had been struck by a stone, were to show the stone itself, or his garments stained with blood. And He cometh in a cloud as He was taken up, and the tribes seeing these things mourn. Not however that the terrors shall with them proceed no further than mournings; but the mourning shall be, that they may bring forth their sentence from within, and condemn themselves.

And then again, “He will send His angels with a great trumpet,2791   [So Tischendorf, and R.V. margin.—R.]and they shall gather the elect from the four winds, from one end of Heaven to the other.”2792   Matt. xxiv. 31.

But when thou hast heard of this, consider the punishment of them that remain. For neither shall they suffer that former penalty only, but this too. And as above He said, that they should say, “Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord,”2793   Matt. xxii. 39.so here, that they shall mourn. For since He had spoken unto them of grievous wars, that they might learn, that together with the fearful things here, the torments there also await them, He brings them in mourning and separated from the elect, and consigned to hell; by this again rousing the disciples, and indicating from how many evils they should be delivered, and how many good things they shall enjoy.

4. And why now doth He call them by angels, if He comes thus openly? To honor them in this way also. But Paul saith, that they “shall be caught up in clouds.” And He said this also, when He was speaking concerning a resurrection. “For2794   1 Thess. iv. 16.the Lord Himself,” it is said, “shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel.” So that when risen again, the angels shall gather them together, when gathered together the clouds shall catch them up; and all these things are done in a moment, in an instant. For it is not that He abiding above calleth them, but He Himself cometh with the sound of a trumpet. And what mean the trumpets and the sound? They are for arousing, for gladness, to set forth the amazing nature of the things then doing, for grief to them that are left.

Woe is me for that fearful day! For though we ought to rejoice when we hear these things, we feel pain, and are dejected, and our countenance is sad. Or is it I only that feel thus, and do ye rejoice at hearing of these things? For upon me at least there comes a kind of shudder when these things are said, and I lament bitterly, and groan from the very depth of my heart. For I have no part in these things, but in those that are spoken afterwards, that are said unto the virgins, unto him that buried the talents he had received, unto the wicked servant. For this cause I weep, to think from what glory we are to be cast out, from what hope of blessings, and this perpetually, and forever, to spare ourselves a little labor. For if indeed this were a great toil, and a grievous law, we ought even so to do all things; nevertheless many of the remiss would seem to have at least some pretext, a poor pretext indeed, yet would they seem to have some, that the toil was great, and the time endless, and the burden intolerable; but now we can put forward no such objection; which circumstance most of all will gnaw2795   διατργειν .us no less than hell at that time, when for want of a slight endeavor, and a little toil, we shall have lost Heaven, and the unspeakable blessings. For both the time is short, and the labor small, and yet we faint and are supine. Thou strivest on earth, and the crown is in Heaven; thou art punished of men, and art honored of God; the race is for two days, and the reward for endless ages; the struggle is a corruptible body, and the rewards in an incorruptible.

And apart from these things, we should consider another point also, that even if we do not choose to suffer any of the things that are painful for Christ’s sake, we must in other ways most assuredly endure them. For neither, though thou shouldest not have died for Christ, wilt thou be immortal; neither though thou shouldest not have cast away thy riches for Christ, wilt thou go away hence with them. These things He requires of thee, which although He should not require them, thou wilt have to give up, because thou art mortal; He willeth thee to do these by thy choice, which thou must do by necessity. So much only He requires to be added, that it be done for His sake; since that these things befall men and pass away, cometh to pass of natural necessity. Seest thou how easy the conflict? What it is altogether necessary for thee to suffer, that choose to suffer for my sake; let this only be added, and I have sufficient obedience. The gold which thou intendest to lend to another, this lend to me, both at more profit, and in greater security. Thy body, wherewith thou art going to warfare for another, make it to war for me, for indeed I surpass thy toils with recompenses in the most abundant excess. Yet thou in all other matters preferrest him that giveth thee more as well in loans, as in marketing and in warfare; but Christ alone, when giving more, and infinitely more than all, thou dost not receive. And what is this so great hostility? What is this so great enmity? Where will there be any excuse or defense left for thee, when the reasons for which thou preferrest man to man avail not to induce thee to prefer God to man?

Why dost thou commit thy treasure to the earth? “Give it into my hand,” He saith. Doth not the earth’s Lord seem to thee more worthy of trust than the earth? This indeed restoreth that which thou laidest in it, though oftentimes not even this, but He gives thee also recompense for His keeping of it? For indeed He doth exceedingly love us. Therefore if thou shouldest wish to lend, He stands ready; or to sow, He receives it; or if thou shouldest wish to build, He draws thee unto Himself, saying, Build in my regions. Why runnest thou unto poor, unto beggarly men, who also for little gains occasion thee great trouble? Nevertheless, not even on hearing these things, do we make up our minds to it, but where are fightings and wars, and wild struggles,2796   παγκρτια.and trials and suits of law, and false accusations, thither do we hasten.

5. Doth He not justly turn away from us, and punish us, when He is giving up Himself unto us for all things, and we are resisting Him? It is surely plain to all. For whether thou art desirous to adorn thyself, “Let it, He saith, be with my ornaments;” or to arm thyself, “with my arms,” or to clothe thyself, “with my raiment;” or to feed thyself, “at my table;” or to journey, “on my way;” or to inherit, “my inheritance;” or to enter into a country, “the city of which I am builder and maker;” or to build a house, “amongst my tabernacles.” “For I, so far from asking thee for a recompense of the things that I give thee, to even make myself owe thee a recompense for this very thing, if thou be willing to use all I have.” What can be equal to this munificence, “I am Father, I am brother, I am bridegroom, I am dwelling place, I am food, I am raiment, I am root, I am foundation, all whatsoever thou willest, I am.” “Be thou in need of nothing, I will be even a servant, for I came to minister, not to be ministered unto; I am friend, and member, and head, and brother, and sister, and mother; I am all; only cling thou closely2797   οκεω χε.to me. I was poor for thee, and a wanderer for thee, on the cross for thee, in the tomb for thee, above I intercede for thee to the Father; on earth I am come for thy sake am ambassador from my Father. Thou art all things to me, brother, and joint heir, and friend, and member.” What wouldest thou more? Why dost thou turn away from Him, who loveth thee? Why dost thou labor for the world? Why dost thou draw water into a broken cistern? For it is this to labor for the present life. Why dost thou comb wool into the fire? Why dost thou “beat the air?”2798   1 Cor. ix. 26. Why dost thou “run in vain?”2799   Gal. ii. 2.

Hath not every art an end? It is surely plain to every one. Do thou also show the end of thy worldly eagerness. But thou canst not; for, “vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”2800   Eccl. i. 2. Let us go to the tombs; show me thy father; show me thy wife. Where is he that was clad in raiment of gold? he that rode in the chariot? he that had armies, that had the girdle,2801   See On Stat. Hom. III. p. 59, a badge of military rank.that had the heralds? he that was slaying these, and casting those into prison? he that put to death whom he would, and set free whom he was minded? I see nothing but bones, and a worm, and a spider’s web; all those things are earth, all those a fable, all a dream, and a shadow, and a bare relation, and a picture, or rather not so much as a picture. For the picture we see at least in a likeness, but here not so much as a likeness.

And would that the evils stop with this. For now the honor, and the luxury, and the distinction, end with a shadow, with words; but the consequences of them, are no longer limited to a shadow and to words, but continue, and will pass over with us elsewhere, and will be manifest to all, the rapine, the covetousness, the fornications, the adulteries, the dreadful things beyond number; these not in similitude, neither in ashes, but written above, both words and deeds.

With what eyes then shall we behold Christ? For if any one could not bear to see his father, when conscious to himself that he had sinned against him, upon Him who infinitely exceeds a father in forbearance how shall we then look? how shall we bear it? For indeed we shall stand at Christ’s judgment-seat, and there will be a strict inquiry into all things.

But if any man disbelieve the judgments to come, let him look at the things here, at those in the prisons, those in the mines, those on the dunghills, the possessed, the frantic, them that are struggling with incurable diseases, those that are fighting against continual poverty, them that live in famine, them that are pierced with irremediable woes, those in captivity. For these persons would not suffer these things here, unless vengeance and punishments were to await all the others also that have committed such sins. And if the rest have undergone nothing here, you ought to regard this very fact as a sign that there is surely something to follow after our departure here. For the self-same God of all would not take vengeance on some, and leave others unpunished, who have committed the same or more grievous offenses, unless He designed to bring some punishments upon them there.

By these arguments then and these examples let us also humble ourselves; and let them who are obstinate unbelievers of the judgment believe it henceforth, and become better men; that having lived here in a manner worthy of the kingdom, we may attain unto the good things to come, by the grace and love towards man of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

ΟΜΙΛΙΑ ΟϚʹ. Τότε οἱ ἐν τῇ Ἰουδαίᾳ, φευγέτωσαν εἰς τὰ ὄρη καὶ ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ δώματος, μὴ καταβάτω ἆραι τὰ ἐκ τῆς οἰκίας αὐτοῦ: καὶ ὁ ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ αὐτοῦ, μὴ ἐπι στρεψάτω εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω ἆραι τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ. αʹ. Εἰπὼν περὶ τῶν κακῶν τῶν τὴν πόλιν καταληψομένων, καὶ τῶν πειρασμῶν τῶν ἀποστολικῶν, καὶ ὅτι ἀχείρωτοι μενοῦσι, καὶ πᾶσαν διαδραμοῦνται τὴν οἰκουμένην, λέγει πάλιν τὰς Ἰουδαϊκὰς συμφορὰς, δεικνὺς ὅτι ὅταν ὦσιν οὗτοι λαμπροὶ, τὴν οἰκουμένην διδάξαντες ἅπασαν, τότε ἐκεῖνοι ἐν συμφοραῖς. Καὶ ὅρα πῶς διηγεῖται τὸν πόλεμον, διὰ τῶν δοκούντων εἶναι μικρῶν παριστῶν αὐτοῦ τὸ ἀφόρητον. Τότε γὰρ, φησὶν, οἱ ἐν τῇ Ἰουδαίᾳ, φευγέτωσαν εἰς τὰ ὄρη. Τότε, πότε; Ὅταν ταῦτα γένηται, ὅταν τὸ βδέλυγμα τῆς ἐρημώσεως στῇ ἐν τόπῳ ἁγίῳ. Ὅθεν μοι δοκεῖ τὰ στρατόπεδα λέγειν. Φεύγετε τοίνυν τότε, φησίν: οὐδεμία γὰρ λοιπὸν ἐλπὶς σωτηρίας ὑμῖν. Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ συνέβη πολλάκις αὐτοὺς ἀνενεγκεῖν ἐν πολέμοις χαλεποῖς, οἷον ἐπὶ τοῦ Σεναχηρεὶμ, ἐπὶ Ἀντιόχου πάλιν: (καὶ γὰρ καὶ τότε στρατοπέδων ἐπεισελθόντων καὶ τοῦ ναοῦ προκαταληφθέντος, συστραφέντες οἱ Μακκαβαῖοι μετέστησαν εἰς τὸ ἐναντίον τὰ πράγματα:) ἵνα οὖν μὴ καὶ νῦν τοῦτο ὑποπτεύσωσιν, ὅτι ἔσται τις μεταβολὴ τοιαύτη, πᾶν τὸ τοιοῦτον αὐτοῖς ἀπαγορεύει. Ἀγαπητὸν γὰρ, φησὶ, τὸ γυμνῷ τῷ σώματι σωθῆναι λοιπόν. Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ τοὺς ἐπὶ τῶν δωμάτων οὐκ ἀφίησιν εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν εἰσελθεῖν, ὥστε ἆραι τὰ ἱμάτια, τὰ ἄφευκτα δηλῶν κακὰ, καὶ τὴν ἀπέραντον συμφοράν: καὶ ὅτι τὸν ἐμπεσόντα ἀνάγκη πάντως ἀπολέσθαι. Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ τὸν ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ προστίθησι λέγων, Μηδὲ οὗτος ἐπιστρεψάτω ἆραι τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ. Εἰ γὰρ οἱ ἔνδον ὄντες φεύγουσι, πολλῷ μᾶλλον τοὺς ἔξωθεν οὐ χρὴ καταφεύγειν ἐκεῖ. Οὐαὶ δὲ ταῖς ἐν γαστρὶ ἐχούσαις καὶ ταῖς θηλαζούσαις: ταῖς μὲν, διὰ τὸ νωθρότερον καὶ τὸ μὴ δύνασθαι φεύγειν εὐκόλως, τῷ φορτίῳ τῆς κυήσεως βαρουμένας: ταῖς δὲ, διὰ τὸ δεσμῷ κατέχεσθαι τῷ τῆς συμπαθείας τῶν παιδίων, καὶ μὴ δύνασθαι συνδιασώζειν τὰ θηλάζοντα. Χρημάτων μὲν γὰρ καὶ καταφρονῆσαι εὔκολον καὶ προνοῆσαι ῥᾴδιον, καὶ ἱματίων: τὰ δὲ ἀπὸ τῆς φύσεως πῶς ἄν τις διαφύγοι; πῶς ἂν ἡ ἔγκυος γένοιτο κούφη; πῶς δὲ ἡ θηλάζουσα δυνήσεται τοῦ τεχθέντος ὑπεριδεῖν; Εἶτα πάλιν δεικνὺς τὸ μέγεθος τῆς συμφορᾶς, φησί: Προσεύχεσθε, ἵνα μὴ γένηται ἡ φυγὴ ὑμῶν ἐν χειμῶνι, μηδὲ ἐν σαββάτῳ. Ἔσται γὰρ τότε θλῖψις μεγάλη, οἵα οὐκ ἐγένετο ἀπ' ἀρχῆς κόσμου ἕως τοῦ νῦν, οὐδὲ μὴ γένηται. Ὁρᾷς ὅτι πρὸς Ἰουδαίους ὁ λόγος αὐτῷ, καὶ περὶ τῶν ἐκείνους καταληψομένων κακῶν διαλέγεται; Οὐ γὰρ δὴ οἱ ἀπόστολοι ἔμελλον Σάββατον τηρεῖν, ἢ ἐκεῖ ἔσεσθαι, ἡνίκα Οὐεσπασιανὸς ταῦτα ἔπραξε. Καὶ γὰρ ἔφθασαν προαπελθόντες οἱ πλείους: εἰ δέ τις ἀπελείφθη, ἐν ἄλλοις τῆς οἰκουμένης διέτριβε μέρεσι τότε. Διατί δὲ μηδὲ χειμῶνος, μηδὲ Σαββάτου; Χειμῶνος μὲν, διὰ τὴν δυσκολίαν τὴν ἀπὸ τοῦ καιροῦ: Σαββάτου δὲ, διὰ τὴν αὐθεντίαν τὴν ἀπὸ τοῦ νόμου. Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ φυγῆς χρεία, καὶ φυγῆς ταχίστης, οὔτε δὲ ἐν Σαββάτῳ τότε Ἰουδαῖοι φεύγειν ἐτόλμων διὰ τὸν νόμον, οὔτε δὲ ἐν χειμῶνι τὸ τοιοῦτον εὔκολον, διὰ τοῦτο, Προσεύχεσθε, φησίν. Ἔσται γὰρ τότε θλῖψις, οἵα οὐκ ἐγένετο, οὐδὲ μὴ γένηται. Καὶ μή τις νομίσῃ τοῦτο ὑπερβολικῶς εἰρῆσθαι: ἀλλ' ἐντυχὼν τοῖς Ἰωσήπου γράμμασι, μανθανέτω τῶν εἰρημένων τὴν ἀλήθειαν. Οὐδὲ γὰρ ἐκεῖνο ἂν ἔχοι τις εἰπεῖν, ὅτι πιστὸς ὢν ὁ ἄνθρωπος εἰς τὸ συστῆσαι τὰ εἰρημένα ἐξώγκωσε τὴν τραγῳδίαν. Καὶ γὰρ καὶ Ἰουδαῖος ἦν, καὶ σφόδρα Ἰουδαῖος, καὶ ζηλωτὴς, καὶ τῶν μετὰ τὴν Χριστοῦ παρουσίαν. Τί οὖν οὗτός φησιν; Ὅτι πᾶσαν ἐνίκησε τραγῳδίαν ἐκεῖνα τὰ δεινὰ, καὶ πόλεμος οὐδεὶς οὐδέποτε τοιοῦτος τὸ ἔθνος κατέλαβε. Τοσοῦτος γὰρ ἦν ὁ λιμὸς, ὡς αὐταῖς ταῖς μητράσι περιμάχητον εἶναι τὴν παιδοφαγίαν, καὶ ὑπὲρ τούτου πολέμους γίνεσθαι: πολλοὺς δὲ καὶ νεκροὺς γενομένους κατὰ μέσας ἀναῤῥήγνυσθαι τὰς γαστέρας ἔφη. Ἡδέως ἂν οὖν ἐροίμην Ἰουδαίους, πόθεν οὕτω θεήλατος ὀργὴ καὶ ἀφόρητος ἦλθεν ἐπ' αὐτοὺς, καὶ πασῶν ἔμπροσθεν γενομένων, οὐκ ἐν Ἰουδαίᾳ μόνον, ἀλλὰ πανταχοῦ τῆς οἰκουμένης χαλεπωτέρα; Οὐκ εὔδηλον, ὅτι διὰ τὸ τοῦ σταυροῦ τόλμημα καὶ τὴν ἀπόφασιν ταύτην; Ἅπαντες εἴποιεν ἂν, καὶ μετὰ πάντων καὶ πρὸ πάντων αὐτὴ ἡ τῶν πραγμάτων ἀλήθεια. Θέα δέ μοι τὴν ὑπερβολὴν τῶν κακῶν, ὅταν μὴ πρὸς τὸν ἔμπροσθεν χρόνον παραβαλλόμενα χαλεπώτερα φαίνηται, ἀλλὰ καὶ πρὸς τὸν ἐπιόντα ἅπαντα. Οὔτε γὰρ ἐν τῇ οἰκουμένῃ πάσῃ, οὔτε ἐν τῷ χρόνῳ παντὶ, τῷ γενομένῳ τῷ τε ἐσομένῳ, δυνήσεταί τις εἰπεῖν τοιαῦτα κακὰ γεγενημένα. Καὶ μάλα εἰκότως. Οὐδὲ γὰρ ἐτόλμησέ τις ἀνθρώπων, οὐ τῶν πώποτε, οὐ τῶν μετὰ ταῦτα, τόλμημα οὕτω παράνομον καὶ φρικῶδες. Διὰ τοῦτό φησιν: Ἔσται θλῖψις οἵα οὐκ ἐγένετο, οὐδὲ μὴ γένηται. Καὶ εἰ μὴ ἐκολοβώθησαν αἱ ἡμέραι ἐκεῖναι, οὐκ ἂν ἐσώθη πᾶσα σάρξ: διὰ δὲ τοὺς ἐκλεκτοὺς κολοβωθήσονται αἱ ἡμέραι ἐκεῖναι. Ἀπὸ τούτων δείκνυσιν αὐτοὺς χαλεπωτέρας τιμωρίας ἀξίους ὄντας τῆς εἰρημένης, ἡμέρας νῦν λέγων τὰς τοῦ πολέμου καὶ τῆς πολιορκίας ἐκείνης. Ὃ δὲ λέγει, τοιοῦτόν ἐστιν: Εἰ ἐπὶ πλέον ἐκράτησε, φησὶν, ὁ πόλεμος Ῥωμαίων ὁ κατὰ τῆς πόλεως, ἅπαντες ἂν ἀπώλοντο Ἰουδαῖοι (πᾶσαν γὰρ σάρκα ἐνταῦθα τὴν Ἰουδαϊκὴν λέγει): καὶ οἱ ἔξω, καὶ οἱ ἔνδον. Οὐ γὰρ δὴ μόνον τοῖς ἐν Ἰουδαίᾳ ἐπολέμουν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοὺς πανταχοῦ διεσπαρμένους ἀπεκήρυττόν τε καὶ ἤλαυνον, διὰ τὸ πρὸς ἐκείνους μῖσος. βʹ. Τίνας δὲ ἐνταῦθά φησι τοὺς ἐκλεκτούς; Τοὺς πιστοὺς τοὺς ἐν μέσοις ἀπειλημμένους αὐτοῖς. Ἵνα γὰρ μὴ λέγωσιν Ἰουδαῖοι, ὅτι διὰ τὸ κήρυγμα καὶ τὸ προσκυνεῖσθαι τὸν Χριστὸν ταῦτα γέγονε τὰ κακὰ, δείκνυσιν ὅτι οὐ μόνον οἱ πιστοὶ τούτων αὐτοῖς οὐκ ἐγένοντο αἴτιοι, ἀλλ' εἰ μὴ ἐκεῖνοι ἦσαν, πρόῤῥιζοι ἂν ἀπώλοντο ἅπαντες. Εἰ γὰρ συνεχώρησεν ὁ Θεὸς ἐκταθῆναι τὸν πόλεμον, οὐδ' ἂν λείψανον ἔμεινεν Ἰουδαίων: ἀλλ' ἵνα μὴ συναπόλωνται τοῖς ἀπίστοις Ἰουδαίοις οἱ ἐξ αὐτῶν γενόμενοι πιστοὶ, ταχέως κατέλυσε τὴν μάχην, καὶ πέρας ἔδωκε τῷ πολέμῳ. Διὰ τοῦτό φησι: Διὰ δὲ τοὺς ἐκλεκτοὺς κολοβωθήσονται. Ταῦτα δὲ ἔλεγε, καταλιμπάνων παραμυθίαν τοῖς ἐν μέσῳ ἀπειλημμένοις αὐτῶν, καὶ διδοὺς ἀναπνεῦσαι, ἵνα μὴ φοβῶνται ὡς συναπολούμενοι. Εἰ δὲ ἐνταῦθα τοσαύτη αὐτῶν πρόνοια, ὡς δι' αὐτοὺς καὶ ἑτέρους σώζεσθαι, καὶ τῶν ἀπίστων λείψανα γίνεσθαι Ἰουδαίων διὰ Χριστιανοὺς, πόση ἐν τῷ καιρῷ τῶν στεφάνων ἡ τιμή; Ἐντεῦθεν αὐτοὺς καὶ παρεμυθεῖτο μὴ ἀλγεῖν ἐπὶ τοῖς οἰκείοις κινδύνοις, ὅπου γε καὶ ἐκεῖνοι τοιαῦτα πάσχουσι, καὶ ἐπ' οὐδενὶ κέρδει, ἀλλ' ἐπὶ κακῷ τῆς ἑαυτῶν κεφαλῆς. Οὐ παρεμυθεῖτο δὲ μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἀπῆγε τῶν Ἰουδαϊκῶν ἐθῶν λοιπὸν λανθανόντως καὶ ἀνυπόπτως. Εἰ γὰρ οὐκ ἔσται μεταβολὴ λοιπὸν, οὐδὲ ὁ ναὸς στήσεται, εὔδηλον ὅτι καὶ ὁ νόμος παυθήσεται. Ἀλλὰ φανερῶς μὲν τοῦτο οὐκ εἶπε, διὰ δὲ τῆς παντελοῦς αὐτῶν ἀπωλείας τοῦτο ᾐνίξατο. Φανερῶς δὲ οὐκ εἶπεν, ἵνα μὴ πρὸ καιροῦ πλήξῃ. Διὸ οὐδὲ ἀρχόμενος προηγουμένως εἰς τὸν περὶ τούτων ἐνέβαλε λόγον: ἀλλὰ ταλανίσας πρῶτον τὴν πόλιν, εἰς ἀνάγκην αὐτοὺς κατέστησε τῆς τε ἐπιδείξεως τῶν λίθων καὶ τῆς ἐρωτήσεως, ἵνα ὡς αὐτοῖς ἀποκρινόμενος πρὸς τὴν ἐρώτησιν ἅπαντα προαναφωνήσῃ τὰ μέλλοντα. Σὺ δέ μοι σκόπει Πνεύματος οἰκονομίαν, ὅτι τούτων οὐδὲν ἔγραψεν Ἰωάννης, ἵνα μὴ δόξῃ ἐξ αὐτῆς τῶν γεγενημένων τῆς ἱστορίας γράφειν: (καὶ γὰρ καὶ μετὰ τὴν ἅλωσιν ἔζη χρόνον πολύν:) ἀλλ' οἱ πρὸ τῆς ἁλώσεως ἀποθανόντες, καὶ μηδὲν τούτων ἑωρακότες, αὐτοὶ γράφουσιν, ὥστε πανταχόθεν διαλάμπειν τῆς προῤῥήσεως τὴν ἰσχύν. Τότε ἐάν τις ὑμῖν εἴπῃ, Ἰδοὺ ὧδε ὁ Χριστὸς, ἢ ὧδε, μὴ πιστεύσητε. Ἐγερθήσονται γὰρ ψευδόχριστοι καὶ ψευδοπροφῆται, καὶ δώσουσι σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα, ὥστε πλανῆσαι, εἰ δυνατὸν, καὶ τοὺς ἐκλεκτούς. Ἰδοὺ προείρηκα ὑμῖν. Ἐὰν οὖν εἴπωσιν ὑμῖν: Ἰδοὺ ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ, μὴ ἐξέλθητε: Ἰδοὺ ἐν τοῖς ταμείοις, μὴ πιστεύσητε. Ὥσπερ γὰρ ἡ ἀστραπὴ ἐξέρχεται ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν, καὶ φαίνεται ἕως δυσμῶν, οὕτως ἔσται καὶ ἡ παρουσία τοῦ Υἱοῦ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου. Ὅπου γὰρ ἂν ᾖ τὸ πτῶμα, ἐκεῖ συναχθήσονται καὶ οἱ ἀετοί. Πληρώσας τὰ περὶ τῶν Ἱεροσολύμων, εἰς τὴν αὐτοῦ λοιπὸν διαβαίνει παρουσίαν, καὶ λέγει αὐτῆς τὰ σημεῖα, οὐκ ἐκείνοις χρήσιμα μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἡμῖν καὶ τοῖς μεθ' ἡμᾶς ἐσομένοις πᾶσι. Τότε, πότε; Ἐνταῦθα, ὃ πολλάκις εἶπον, οὐχὶ τῆς ἀκολουθίας ἐστὶ τοῦ καιροῦ τῶν ἔμπροσθεν εἰρημένων τὸ, Τότε: ὅπου γοῦν ἀκολουθίαν ἐβούλετο εἰπεῖν, ἐπήγαγεν, Εὐθέως μετὰ τὴν θλῖψιν τῶν ἡμερῶν ἐκείνων: ἐνταῦθα δὲ οὐχ οὕτως, ἀλλὰ, Τότε: οὐ τὰ μετὰ ταῦτα εὐθέως δηλῶν, ἀλλὰ τὰ ἐν τῷ καιρῷ, ᾧ μέλλει ταῦτα γίνεσθαι, ἅπερ ἔμελλε λέγειν. Οὕτω καὶ ὅταν λέγῃ, Ἐν ἐκείναις ταῖς ἡμέραις παραγίνεται Ἰωάννης ὁ Βαπτιστὴς, οὐ τὸν ἑξῆς εὐθέως λέγει καιρὸν, ἀλλὰ τὸν μετὰ πολλὰ ἔτη, καὶ τὸν καθ' ὃν ταῦτα ἐγίνετο, ἅπερ ἐρεῖν ἔμελλε. Καὶ γὰρ περὶ τῆς γεννήσεως διαλεχθεὶς τοῦ Ἰησοῦ, καὶ τῆς τῶν μάγων παρουσίας, καὶ τῆς τελευτῆς Ἡρώδου, εὐθέως φησίν: Ἐν ἐκείναις ταῖς ἡμέραις παραγίνεται Ἰωάννης ὁ Βαπτιστής: καίτοι τριάκοντα μεταξὺ γέγονεν ἔτη. Ἀλλ' ἔθος τοῦτο τῇ Γραφῇ τούτῳ κεχρῆσθαι τῆς ἱστορίας τῷ τρόπῳ. Οὕτω δὴ καὶ ἐνταῦθα, τὸν μέσον ἅπαντα χρόνον παρελθὼν, τὸν ἀπὸ τῆς ἁλώσεως τῶν Ἱεροσολύμων ἕως τῶν προοιμίων τῆς συντελείας, λέγει τὸν ὀλίγῳ πρὸ τῆς συντελείας. Τότε οὖν ἐάν τις ὑμῖν εἴπῃ, φησὶν, Ὧδε ὁ Χριστὸς, ἢ ὧδε, μὴ πιστεύσητε. Τέως ἀπὸ τοῦ τόπου αὐτοὺς ἀσφαλίζεται, λέγων τὰ ἰδιώματα τῆς αὐτοῦ. παρουσίας τῆς δευτέρας, καὶ τὰ τῶν πλάνων δείγματα. Οὐ γὰρ ὥσπερ ἐν τῇ προτέρᾳ ἐν Βηθλεὲμ ἐφάνη, καὶ ἐν γωνίᾳ μικρᾷ τῆς οἰκουμένης, καὶ οὐδενὸς εἰδότος ἐξ ἀρχῆς, οὕτω καὶ τότε φησίν: ἀλλὰ φανερῶς καὶ μετὰ περιφανείας ἁπάσης, καὶ ὡς μὴ δεῖσθαι τοῦ ταῦτα ἀπαγγέλλοντος. Οὐ μικρὸν δὲ τοῦτο σημεῖον τοῦ μὴ λανθανόντως παραγίνεσθαι. Σκόπει δὲ πῶς ἐνταῦθα οὐδὲν περὶ πολέμου διαλέγεται: τὸν γὰρ περὶ τῆς παρουσίας αὐτοῦ διευκρινεῖ λόγον: ἀλλὰ περὶ τῶν ἀπατᾷν ἐπιχειρούντων. Οἱ μὲν γὰρ ἐπὶ τῶν ἀποστόλων τοὺς πολλοὺς ἠπάτων: Ἐλεύσονται γὰρ, φησὶ, καὶ ἀπατήσουσι πολλούς: οἱ δὲ πρὸ τῆς δευτέρας αὐτοῦ παρουσίας, οἳ καὶ ἐκείνων ἦσαν πικρότεροι. Δώσουσι γὰρ, φησὶ, σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα, ὥστε πλανῆσαι, εἰ δυνατὸν, καὶ τοὺς ἐκλεκτούς. Ἐνταῦθα τὸν ἀντίχριστόν φησι, καὶ δείκνυσί τινας καὶ διακονησομένους αὐτῷ: περὶ οὗ καὶ Παῦλος οὕτω φησί. Καλέσας γὰρ αὐτὸν ἄνθρωπον ἁμαρτίας καὶ υἱὸν ἀπωλείας, ἐπήγαγεν: Οὗ ἐστιν ἡ παρουσία κατ' ἐνέργειαν τοῦ Σατανᾶ, ἐν πάσῃ δυνάμει καὶ σημείοις καὶ τέρασι ψεύδους, ἐν πάσῃ ἀπάτῃ τῆς ἀδικίας ἐν τοῖς ἀπολλυμένοις. Καὶ ὅρα πῶς ἀσφαλίζεται. Μὴ ἐξέλθητε, φησὶ, εἰς τὴν ἔρημον, μὴ εἰσέλθητε εἰς τὰ ταμεῖα. Οὐκ εἶπεν, Ἀπέλθετε καὶ μὴ πιστεύσητε: ἀλλὰ, Μὴ ἐξέλθητε, μηδὲ ἀπέλθητε. Καὶ γὰρ πολλὴ τότε ἡ ἀπάτη, διὰ τὸ καὶ σημεῖα γίνεσθαι ἀπάτης. γʹ. Εἰπὼν τοίνυν πῶς ἐκεῖνος παραγίνεται, οἷον ὅτι ἐν τόπῳ, λέγει πῶς καὶ αὐτός. Πῶς οὖν αὐτός; Ὥσπερ ἡ ἀστραπὴ ἐξέρχεται ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν, καὶ φαίνεται ἕως δυσμῶν, οὕτως ἔσται καὶ ἡ παρουσία τοῦ Υἱοῦ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου. Ὅπου γὰρ ἂν ᾖ τὸ πτῶμα, ἐκεῖ καὶ οἱ ἀετοί. Πῶς οὖν ἡ ἀστραπὴ φαίνεται; Οὐ δεῖται ἀπαγγέλλοντος, οὐ δεῖται κήρυκος, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοῖς ἐν οἰκίαις καθημένοις, καὶ ταῖς ἐν θαλάμοις, ἐν ἀκαριαίᾳ ῥοπῇ κατὰ τὴν οἰκουμένην δείκνυται πᾶσαν. Οὕτως ἔσται ἡ παρουσία ἐκείνη, ὁμοῦ πανταχοῦ φαινομένη διὰ τὴν ἔκλαμψιν τῆς δόξης. Λέγει δὲ καὶ ἕτερον σημεῖον: Ὅπου τὸ πτῶμα, ἐκεῖ καὶ οἱ ἀετοί: τὸ πλῆθος τῶν ἀγγέλων, τῶν μαρτύρων, τῶν ἁγίων ἁπάντων δηλῶν. Εἶτα λέγει θαύματα φοβερά. Τίνα δέ ἐστι τὰ θαύματα; Εὐθέως μετὰ τὴν θλῖψιν τῶν ἡμερῶν ἐκείνων, φησὶν, ὁ ἥλιος σκοτισθήσεται. Θλῖψιν ποίων λέγει ἡμερῶν; Τοῦ ἀντιχρίστου καὶ τῶν ψευδοπροφητῶν. Θλῖψις γὰρ τότε ἔσται μεγάλη, τοσούτων ὄντων τῶν ἀπατώντων. Ἀλλ' οὐκ ἐκτείνεται εἰς χρόνου μῆκος. Εἰ γὰρ ὁ Ἰουδαϊκὸς πόλεμος διὰ τοὺς ἐκλεκτοὺς ἐκολοβώθη, πολλῷ μᾶλλον οὗτος ὁ πειρασμὸς συσταλήσεται διὰ τοὺς αὐτοὺς τούτους. Διὰ τοῦτο οὐκ εἶπε, μετὰ τὴν θλῖψιν, ἀλλ', Εὐθέως μετὰ τὴν θλῖψιν τῶν ἡμερῶν ἐκείνων ὁ ἥλιος σκοτισθήσεται: ὁμοῦ γὰρ σχεδὸν ἅπαντα γίνεται. Οἵ τε γὰρ ψευδοπροφῆται καὶ οἱ ψευδόχριστοι θορυβήσουσι παραγενόμενοι, καὶ εὐθέως αὐτὸς παρέσται. Καὶ γὰρ οὐ μικρὰ τότε μέλλει κατέχειν ταραχὴ τὴν οἰκουμένην. Πῶς δὲ παραγίνεται; Μετασχηματιζομένης λοιπὸν αὐτῆς τῆς κτίσεως: καὶ γὰρ Ὁ ἥλιος σκοτισθήσεται, οὐκ ἀφανιζόμενος, ἀλλὰ νικώμενος τῷ φωτὶ τῆς παρουσίας αὐτοῦ: Καὶ τὰ ἄστρα πεσεῖται: τίς γὰρ αὐτῶν ἔσται χρεία λοιπὸν, νυκτὸς οὐκ οὔσης; Καὶ αἱ δυνάμεις τῶν οὐρανῶν σαλευθήσονται: καὶ μάλα εἰκότως, ὁρῶσαι τοσαύτην μεταβολὴν γινομένην. Εἰ γὰρ ὅτε ἐγένετο τὰ ἄστρα, οὕτως ἔφριξαν καὶ ἐθαύμασαν: (Ὅτε γὰρ ἐγενήθη ἄστρα, ᾔνεσάν με, φησὶ, φωνῇ μεγάλῃ πάντες ἄγγελοι:) πολλῷ μᾶλλον ὁρῶντες πάντα μεταῤῥυθμιζόμενα, καὶ τοὺς συνδούλους αὐτῶν διδόντας εὐθύνας, καὶ τὴν οἰκουμένην ἅπασαν φοβερῷ παρισταμένην δικαστηρίῳ, καὶ τοὺς ἐκ τοῦ Ἀδὰμ μέχρι τῆς αὐτοῦ παρουσίας γενομένους λόγον ἀπαιτουμένους ἁπάντων ὧν ἔπραξαν, πῶς οὐ φρίξουσι καὶ σαλευθήσονται; Τότε φανήσεται τὸ σημεῖον τοῦ Υἱοῦ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ: τουτέστιν, ὁ σταυρὸς, τοῦ ἡλίου φαιδρότερος ὤν: εἴγε ἐκεῖνος μὲν σκοτίζεται καὶ κρύπτεται, οὗτος δὲ φαίνεται: οὐκ ἂν φανεὶς, εἰ μὴ πολλῷ τῶν ἡλιακῶν ἀκτίνων φαιδρότερος ἦν. Τίνος δὲ ἕνεκεν τὸ σημεῖον φαίνεται; Ὥστε ἐκ περιουσίας πολλῆς ἐπιστομισθῆναι τῶν Ἰουδαίων τὴν ἀναισχυντίαν. Καὶ γὰρ δικαίωμα μέγιστον ἔχων τὸν σταυρὸν, οὕτω παραγίνεται εἰς ἐκεῖνο τὸ δικαστήριον ὁ Χριστὸς, οὐχὶ τὰ τραύματα μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸν θάνατον τὸν ἐπονείδιστον δεικνύς. Τότε κόψονται αἱ φυλαί. Οὐ γὰρ χρεία κατηγορίας, ὅταν ἴδωσι τὸν σταυρόν: καὶ κόψονται, ὅτι ἀποθανόντος οὐδὲν ὠφελήθησαν, ὅτι ἐσταύρωσαν ὃν προσκυνῆσαι ἔδει. Εἶδες πῶς ὑπέγραψε τὴν παρουσίαν αὐτοῦ φοβερῶς; πῶς ἀνέστησε τὰ φρονήματα τῶν μαθητῶν; Διά τοι τοῦτο πρότερον τὰ λυπηρὰ τίθησι, καὶ τότε τὰ χρηστὰ, ἵνα καὶ ταύτῃ αὐτοὺς παραμυθήσηται καὶ ἀναπαύσῃ. Καὶ περὶ τοῦ πάθους δὲ αὐτοὺς ὑπομιμνήσκει πάλιν καὶ τῆς ἀναστάσεως, καὶ μετὰ λαμπροῦ τοῦ σχήματος μέμνηται τοῦ σταυροῦ, ὥστε μὴ αἰσχύνεσθαι αὐτοὺς, μηδὲ ὀδυνᾶσθαι, ὅπου γε ἀντὶ σημείου τότε ἔρχεται προβαλλόμενος αὐτόν. Ἄλλος δέ φησιν, ὅτι Ὄψονται εἰς ὃν ἐξεκέντησαν. Διὰ δὴ τοῦτο κόψονται, ἰδοῦσαι ὅτι οὗτος ἐκεῖνός ἐστιν. Ἐπειδὴ δὲ καὶ σταυροῦ ἀνέμνησε, προσέθηκεν ὅτι Ὄψονται τὸν Υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐρχόμενον, οὐκέτι ἐπὶ τοῦ σταυροῦ, ἀλλ' ἐπὶ τῶν νεφελῶν τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, μετὰ δυνάμεως καὶ δόξης πολλῆς. Μὴ γὰρ ἐπειδὴ τὸν σταυρὸν ἤκουσας, φησὶ, νομίσῃς πάλιν σκυθρωπὸν εἶναί τι: μετὰ γὰρ δυνάμεως ἥξει καὶ δόξης πολλῆς. Φέρει δὲ αὐτὸν, ἵνα αὐτοκατάκριτος αὐτῶν γένηται ἡ ἁμαρτία: ὥσπερ ἂν εἴ τις λίθῳ πληγεὶς, αὐτὸν ἐπιδείξειε τὸν λίθον, ἢ τὰ ἱμάτια ᾑμαγμένα. Καὶ ἐν νεφέλῃ ἔρχεται, ὡς ἀνελήφθη: καὶ ταῦτα ὁρῶσαι θρηνοῦσιν αἱ φυλαί. Οὐ μὴν μέχρι θρήνων στήσεται αὐτοῖς τὰ δεινά: ἀλλ' ὁ μὲν θρῆνος ἔσται, ἵνα οἴκοθεν τὴν ψῆφον ἐξενέγκωσι, καὶ ἑαυτοὺς καταδικάσωσι: τότε δὲ πάλιν Ἀποστελεῖ τοὺς ἀγγέλους αὐτοῦ μετὰ σάλπιγγος μεγάλης, καὶ συνάξουσι τοὺς ἐκλεκτοὺς ἐκ τῶν τεσσάρων ἀνέμων, ἀπ' ἄκρων τῶν οὐρανῶν ἕως ἄκρων αὐτῶν. Ὅταν δὲ τοῦτο ἀκούσῃς, ἐννόει τῶν μενόντων τὴν κόλασιν. Οὐδὲ γὰρ ἐκείνην δώσουσι τὴν δίκην μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ ταύτην. Καὶ ὥσπερ ἀνωτέρω ἔλεγεν, ὅτι ἐροῦσιν, Εὐλογημένος ὁ ἐρχόμενος ἐν ὀνόματι Κυρίου: οὕτως ἐνταῦθα, ὅτι Κόψονται. Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ περὶ πολέμων αὐτοῖς διελέχθη χαλεπῶν, ἵνα μάθωσιν, ὅτι μετὰ τῶν ἐνταῦθα δεινῶν καὶ τὰ ἐκεῖ αὐτοὺς ἀναμένει βασανιστήρια, καὶ κοπτομένους εἰσάγει, καὶ χωριζομένους τῶν ἐκλεκτῶν, καὶ γεέννῃ παραδιδομένους: κἀντεῦθεν πάλιν τοὺς μαθητὰς διεγείρων, καὶ δεικνὺς, ὅσων μὲν ἀπαλλαγήσονται κακῶν, ὅσων δὲ ἀπολαύσονται ἀγαθῶν. δʹ. Καὶ τί δήποτε δι' ἀγγέλων αὐτοὺς καλεῖ, εἰ οὕτω φανερῶς ἔρχεται; Τιμῶν αὐτοὺς καὶ ταύτῃ. Ὁ δὲ Παῦλος, ὅτι ἁρπαγήσονται ἐν νεφέλαις. Εἶπε δὲ καὶ τοῦτο, ὅτε περὶ ἀναστάσεως διελέγετο. Αὐτὸς γὰρ, φησὶν, ὁ Κύριος καταβήσεται ἀπ' οὐρανοῦ ἐν κελεύσματι, ἐν φωνῇ ἀρχαγγέλου. Ὥστε ἀναστάντας μὲν συλλέξουσιν ἄγγελοι, συλλεγέντας δὲ ἁρπάσουσιν αἱ νεφέλαι: καὶ ταῦτα πάντα ἐν ἀκαριαίῳ γίνεται, ἐν ἀτόμῳ. Οὐ γὰρ δὴ ἄνω μένων αὐτοὺς καλεῖ, ἀλλ' αὐτὸς ἔρχεται ἐν σάλπιγγι. Καὶ τί βούλονται αἱ σάλπιγγες καὶ ἡ ἠχή; Πρὸς διανάστασιν, πρὸς εὐφροσύνην, πρὸς παράστασιν τῆς τῶν γινομένων ἐκπλήξεως, πρὸς ὀδύνην τῶν ἀπολιμπανομένων. Οἴμοι ἀπὸ τῆς ἡμέρας ἐκείνης τῆς φοβερᾶς. Δέον ἡμᾶς χαίρειν ὅταν ταῦτα ἀκούωμεν, ἀλγοῦμεν, καὶ κατηφεῖς ἐσμεν, καὶ σκυθρωπάζομεν. Ἢ μόνος ἐγὼ ταῦτα πάσχω, ὑμεῖς δὲ χαίρετε ἐν τῇ τούτων ἀκροάσει; Ὡς ἔμοιγε καὶ φρίκη τις ὑπεισέρχεται λεγομένων τούτων, καὶ πικρὸν ὀδύρομαι, καὶ ἐκ βαθυτάτης στενάζω καρδίας. Οὐδὲν γὰρ τούτων πρὸς ἐμὲ, ἀλλ' ἐκείνων τῶν μετὰ ταῦτα λεχθέντων, τῶν πρὸς τὰς παρθένους, τῶν πρὸς τὸν καταχώσαντα τὸ τάλαντον ὅπερ ἔλαβε, τῶν πρὸς τὸν πονηρὸν δοῦλον. Διὰ ταῦτα δακρύω, ὅσης δόξης ἐκπίπτειν μέλλομεν, ὅσης ἐλπίδος ἀγαθῶν, καὶ τοῦτο διηνεκῶς καὶ εἰς ἀεὶ, ἵνα μὴ μικρὸν σπουδάσωμεν. Εἰ μὲν γὰρ πόνος πολὺς ἦν καὶ νόμος βαρὺς, ἔδει μὲν καὶ οὕτω πάντα ποιεῖν: πλὴν ἀλλὰ κἂν πρόφασίν τινα ἐδόκουν ἔχειν πολλοὶ τῶν ῥᾳθύμων, ψυχρὰν μὲν, ἐδόκουν δ' οὖν ἔχειν, τὸ ὑπέρογκον τῶν ἐπιταγμάτων, καὶ ὅτι μέγας ὁ πόνος, καὶ ἄπειρος ὁ χρόνος, καὶ ἀφόρητον τὸ φορτίον: νῦν δὲ οὐδὲν τοιοῦτον ἔστι προβάλλεσθαι: ὅπερ μάλιστα τῆς γεέννης οὐχ ἧττον ἡμᾶς διατρώγειν μέλλει κατὰ τὸν καιρὸν ἐκεῖνον, ὅταν διὰ μικρὰν ῥοπὴν καὶ ὀλίγον ἱδρῶτα, τὸν οὐρανὸν ὦμεν ἀπολωλεκότες καὶ τὰ ἀπόῤῥητα ἀγαθά. Καὶ γὰρ καὶ ὁ χρόνος βραχὺς, καὶ ὁ πόνος ὀλίγος: καὶ ὅμως ἐκλελύμεθα καὶ ἀναπεπτώκαμεν. Ἐν γῇ ἀγωνίζῃ, καὶ ἐν οὐρανοῖς ὁ στέφανος: ὑπὸ ἀνθρώπων κολάζῃ, καὶ ὑπὸ Θεοῦ τιμᾶσαι: ἐν δύο ἡμέραις τρέχεις, καὶ εἰς ἀπείρους αἰῶνας τὰ βραβεῖα: ἐν φθαρτῷ σώματι ἡ πάλη, καὶ ἐν ἀφθάρτῳ αἱ τιμαί. Καὶ χωρὶς δὲ τούτων κἀκεῖνο λογίζεσθαι χρὴ, ὅτι κἂν μὴ διὰ τὸν Χριστὸν ἑλώμεθά τι παθεῖν τῶν ὀδυνηρῶν, ἀνάγκη αὐτὰ καὶ ἄλλως ὑπομεῖναι πάντως. Οὐδὲ γὰρ ἂν διὰ τὸν Χριστὸν μὴ ἀποθάνῃς, ἀθάνατος ἔσῃ: οὐδὲ ἂν διὰ τὸν Χριστὸν μὴ ῥίψῃς τὰ χρήματα, ἔχων αὐτὰ ἀπελεύσῃ. Ταῦτα ἀπαιτεῖ παρὰ σοῦ, ἃ καὶ μὴ ἀπαιτοῦντος δώσεις, διὰ τὸ θνητὸς εἶναι: ταῦτά σε βούλεται ποιεῖν σῇ γνώμῃ, ἃ καὶ ἀνάγκῃ σε δεῖ ποιῆσαι. Τοσοῦτον δὲ ἀπαιτεῖ προσεῖναι μόνον, τὸ δι' αὐτὸν γίνεσθαι: ὡς τό γε συμβῆναι ταῦτα καὶ παρελθεῖν, καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς κατὰ τὴν φύσιν ἀνάγκης γίνεται. Εἶδες πῶς εὔκολος ὁ ἀγών; Ἃ πάντως ἀνάγκη σε παθεῖν, ἑλοῦ παθεῖν δι' ἐμέ: τοῦτο προσκείσθω μόνον, καὶ ἀρκοῦσαν ἔχω τὴν ὑπακοήν. Ὃ ἑτέρῳ μέλλεις δανείζειν χρυσίον, τοῦτο δάνεισον ἐμοὶ, καὶ ἐπὶ πλείοσι, καὶ ἐπὶ ἀσφαλείᾳ μείζονι: ὃ ἑτέρῳ μέλλεις στρατεύειν σῶμα, τοῦτο στράτευσον ἐμοί: καὶ γὰρ ὑπερβαίνω σου τοὺς πόνους ταῖς ἀντιδόσεσιν ἐκ πολλῆς τῆς περιουσίας. Σὺ δὲ ἐν μὲν τοῖς ἄλλοις τὸν τὸ πλέον παρέχοντα προτιμᾷς, καὶ ἐν δανείσμασι, καὶ ἐν ἀγορασίᾳ, καὶ ἐν στρατείᾳ: τὸν δὲ Χριστὸν μόνον πλέον ἁπάντων παρέχοντα, καὶ ἀπείρως πλέον, τοῦτον οὐ καταδέχῃ. Καὶ τίς ὁ τοσοῦτος πόλεμος; τίς ἡ τοσαύτη ἀπέχθεια; Πόθεν λοιπὸν ἕξεις συγγνώμην καὶ ἀπολογίαν, οὐδὲ ἀφ' ὧν ἀνθρώπους προτιμᾷς ἀνθρώπων, ἀπὸ τούτων ἀνεχόμενος τὸν Θεὸν προτιμῆσαι τῶν ἀνθρώπων; Τί τῇ γῇ παραδίδως τὸν θησαυρόν; Δὸς τῇ ἐμῇ χειρὶ, φησίν. Οὐ δοκεῖ σοι τῆς γῆς ἀξιοπιστότερος εἶναι ὁ τῆς γῆς Δεσπότης; Ἐκείνη τὸ καταβληθὲν ἀποδίδωσι, πολλάκις δὲ οὐδὲ τοῦτο: αὐτὸς δὲ καὶ μισθούς σοι ἀποδίδωσι τῆς φυλακῆς. Καὶ γὰρ σφόδρα ἡμῶν ἐρᾷ. Διὰ τοῦτο κἂν δανεῖσαι θέλῃς, ἕστηκεν ἕτοιμος: κἂν σπεῖραι, αὐτὸς ὑποδέχεται: κἂν οἰκοδομῆσαι θέλῃς, ἕλκει σε πρὸς ἑαυτὸν, Ἐν τοῖς ἐμοῖς, λέγων, οἰκοδόμει. Τί τρέχεις πρὸς τοὺς πένητας, πρὸς ἀνθρώπους τοὺς πτωχεύοντας; Δράμε πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν, τὸν ὑπὲρ μικρῶν μεγάλα σοι παρέχοντα πράγματα. Ἀλλ' ὅμως οὐδὲ ταῦτα ἀκούοντες ἀνεχόμεθα, ἀλλ' ἔνθα μάχαι, καὶ πόλεμοι, καὶ παγκράτια, καὶ δίκαι καὶ συκοφαντίαι, ἐκεῖ σπεύδομεν. εʹ. Ἆρ' οὖν οὐ δικαίως ἡμᾶς ἀποστρέφεται καὶ κολάζει, ὅταν εἰς πάντα ἡμῖν ἑαυτὸν παρέχῃ, ἡμεῖς δὲ ἀντιπίπτωμεν; Παντί που δῆλον. Εἴτε γὰρ καλλωπίσασθαι θέλεις, φησὶ, τὸν ἐμὸν καλλωπισμόν: εἴτε ὁπλισθῆναι, τὰ ἐμὰ ὅπλα: εἴτε ἐνδύσασθαι, τὸ ἱμάτιον τὸ ἐμόν: εἴτε τραφῆναι, τὴν τράπεζαν τὴν ἐμήν: εἴτε ὁδεῦσαι, τὴν ὁδὸν τὴν ἐμήν: εἴτε κληρονομῆσαι, τὴν κληρονομίαν τὴν ἐμήν: εἴτε εἰς πατρίδα εἰσελθεῖν, εἰς τὴν πόλιν, ἧς τεχνίτης καὶ δημιουργὸς ἐγώ: εἴτε οἰκοδομῆσαι οἰκίαν, ἐν ταῖς σκηναῖς ταῖς ἐμαῖς. Ἐγὼ γὰρ ὧν δίδωμι οὐκ ἀπαιτῶ σε μισθὸν, ἀλλὰ καὶ αὐτοῦ τούτου μισθόν σοι προσοφείλω, ἂν τοῖς ἐμοῖς χρήσασθαι βουληθῇς ἅπασι. Τί ταύτης γένοιτ' ἂν ἴσον τῆς φιλοτιμίας; Ἐγὼ πατὴρ, ἐγὼ ἀδελφὸς, ἐγὼ νυμφίος, ἐγὼ οἰκία, ἐγὼ τροφὴ, ἐγὼ ἱμάτιον, ἐγὼ ῥίζα, ἐγὼ θεμέλιος, πᾶν ὅπερ ἂν θέλῃς ἐγώ: μηδενὸς ἐν χρείᾳ καταστῇς. Ἐγὼ καὶ δουλεύσω: ἦλθον γὰρ διακονῆσαι, οὐ διακονηθῆναι. Ἐγὼ καὶ φίλος, καὶ μέλος, καὶ κεφαλὴ, καὶ ἀδελφὸς, καὶ ἀδελφὴ, καὶ μήτηρ, πάντα ἐγώ: μόνον οἰκείως ἔχε πρὸς ἐμέ. Ἐγὼ πένης διὰ σέ: καὶ ἀλήτης διὰ σέ: ἐπὶ σταυροῦ διὰ σὲ, ἐπὶ τάφου διὰ σέ: ἄνω ὑπὲρ σοῦ ἐντυγχάνω τῷ Πατρὶ, κάτω ὑπὲρ σοῦ πρεσβευτὴς παραγέγονα παρὰ τοῦ Πατρός. Πάντα μοι σὺ, καὶ ἀδελφὸς, καὶ συγκληρονόμος, καὶ φίλος, καὶ μέλος. Τί πλέον θέλεις; τί τὸν φιλοῦντα ἀποστρέφῃ; τί τῷ κόσμῳ κάμνεις; τί εἰς πίθον ἀντλεῖς τετρημένον; Τοῦτο γάρ ἐστιν εἰς τὸν παρόντα βίον πονεῖσθαι. Τί εἰς πῦρ ξαίνεις; τί τῷ ἀέρι πυκτεύεις; τί εἰκῆ τρέχεις; Οὐχὶ ἑκάστη τέχνη τέλος ἔχει; Παντί που δῆλον. Δεῖξόν μοι καὶ σὺ τῆς σπουδῆς τῆς βιωτικῆς τὸ τέλος. Ἀλλ' οὐκ ἔχεις. Ματαιότης γὰρ ματαιοτήτων, τὰ πάντα ματαιότης. Ἴωμεν εἰς τοὺς τάφους, δεῖξόν μοι τὸν πατέρα, δεῖξόν μοι τὴν γυναῖκα. Ποῦ ὁ χρυσᾶ ἐνδεδυμένος ἱμάτια; ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ ὀχήματος καθήμενος; ὁ στρατόπεδα ἔχων, ὁ τὴν ζώνην, ὁ τοὺς κήρυκας; ὁ τοὺς μὲν ἀναιρῶν, τοὺς δὲ ἐμβάλλων εἰς δεσμωτήριον; ὁ ἀποκτέννων οὓς ἐβούλετο, καὶ ἀπαλλάττων οὓς ἤθελεν; Οὐδὲν ὁρῶ πλὴν ὀστέων, καὶ σητὸς, καὶ ἀράχνης: πάντα ἐκεῖνα γῆ, πάντα ἐκεῖνα μῦθος, πάντα ὄναρ καὶ σκιὰ, καὶ διήγημα ψιλὸν, καὶ γραφή: μᾶλλον δὲ οὐδὲ γραφή. Τὴν μὲν γὰρ γραφὴν κἂν ἐν εἰκόνι ὁρῶμεν: ἐνταῦθα δὲ οὐδὲ εἰκόνα. Καὶ εἴθε μέχρι τούτων τὰ δεινά! Νυνὶ δὲ τὰ μὲν τῆς τιμῆς, καὶ τῆς τρυφῆς, καὶ τῆς περιφανείας, μέχρι σκιᾶς, μέχρι ῥημάτων: τὰ δὲ ἀπ' αὐτῶν οὐκέτι μέχρι σκιᾶς καὶ ῥημάτων, ἀλλὰ μένει καὶ διαβήσεται μεθ' ἡμῶν ἐκεῖ, καὶ πᾶσιν ἔσται δῆλα: αἱ ἁρπαγαὶ, αἱ πλεονεξίαι, αἱ πορνεῖαι, αἱ μοιχεῖαι, τὰ μυρία δεινά: ταῦτα οὐκ ἐν εἰκόνι, οὐδὲ ἐν τέφρᾳ, ἀλλὰ γεγραμμένα ἄνω καὶ ῥήματα καὶ πράγματα. Ποίοις οὖν ὀψόμεθα τὸν Χριστὸν ὀφθαλμοῖς; Εἰ γὰρ πατέρα τις οὐκ ἂν ἤνεγκεν ἰδεῖν, συνειδὼς ἑαυτῷ ἡμαρτηκότι εἰς αὐτὸν, τὸν πατρὸς μᾶλλον ἀπείρως πραότερον ὄντα πῶς ἀντιβλέψομεν τότε; πῶς οἴσομεν; Καὶ γὰρ παραστησόμεθα τῷ βήματι τοῦ Χριστοῦ, καὶ πάντων ἀκριβὴς ἔσται ἐξέτασις. Εἰ δέ τις ἀπιστεῖ τῇ μελλούσῃ κρίσει, ὁράτω τὰ ἐνταῦθα, τοὺς ἐν τοῖς δεσμωτηρίοις, τοὺς ἐν τοῖς μετάλλοις, τοὺς ἐν ταῖς κοπρίαις, τοὺς δαιμονῶντας, τοὺς παραπαίοντας, τοὺς νόσοις ἀνιάτοις παλαίοντας, τοὺς πενίᾳ διηνεκεῖ πυκτεύοντας, τοὺς λιμῷ συζῶντας, τοὺς πένθεσιν ἀνηκέστοις βεβλημένους, τοὺς ἐν αἰχμαλωσίαις. Οὐ γὰρ ἂν οὗτοι ταῦτα ἔπαθον νῦν, εἰ μὴ καὶ τοὺς ἄλλους ἅπαντας τοὺς τὰ τοιαῦτα ἡμαρτηκότας ἔμελλεν ἀναμένειν τιμωρία καὶ κόλασις. Εἰ δὲ μηδὲν ἐνταῦθα ὑπέμειναν οἱ λοιποὶ, τοῦτο μὲν οὖν αὐτὸ σημεῖόν σε ποιεῖσθαι δεῖ τοῦ πάντως εἶναί τι μετὰ τὴν ἐντεῦθεν ἀποδημίαν. Οὐ γὰρ ἂν ἁπάντων ὁ αὐτὸς ὢν Θεὸς τοὺς μὲν ἐτιμωρήσατο, τοὺς δὲ ἀφῆκεν ἀτιμωρήτους, τὰ αὐτὰ ἢ καὶ χαλεπώτερα πεπλημμεληκότας, εἰ μή τινα ἔμελλεν ἐκεῖ αὐτοῖς τιμωρίαν ἐπάγειν. Ἀπὸ τούτων τοίνυν τῶν λογισμῶν καὶ τῶν παραδειγμάτων καὶ ἡμεῖς ταπεινώσωμεν ἑαυτοὺς, καὶ οἱ τῇ κρίσει διαπιστοῦντες πιστευέτωσαν λοιπὸν, καὶ βελτίους γινέσθωσαν: ἵνα ἀξίως ἐνταῦθα τῆς βασιλείας βιώσαντες, τῶν μελλόντων ἐπιτύχωμεν ἀγαθῶν, χάριτι καὶ φιλανθρωπίᾳ τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ᾧ ἡ δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.