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And where is vainglory? Consider the woman's adornment, not that which is put around the body, but that which beautifies the soul, that which is never put off, that which lies not in a chest, but is laid up in the heavens. 4. See their labor for the proclamation, their crown in martyrdom, their generosity with money, their love for Paul, their affection for Christ; compare your things to these: your eagerness for money, your rivalry with prostitutes, your contention for grass; and then you will see who they were, and who you are. Rather, do not just compare, but also emulate the woman, and having put off the burdens of the grass (for this is the extravagance of clothing), receive the adornment from heaven, and learn from where Priscilla and her husband became such. From where, then, did they become so? For two years they hosted Paul; and what would two years not have worked in their soul? What then am I to do, she says, for I do not have Paul? If you wish, you have him more precisely than they did; for it was not the sight of Paul that made them such, but 60.666 the words of Paul. So that, if you should wish, you will have Paul and Peter and John and the whole choir of the prophets with the apostles speaking to you continually. For take the books of these blessed ones, and read their writings continually, and they will be able to make you like the tentmaker's wife. And why do I say Paul? For if you wish, you will also have Paul's Master himself; for through Paul's tongue he too will speak to you. And in another way again you will be able to receive him, when you receive the saints, when you care for those who believe in him; thus even when they have departed, you will have many reminders of piety. For a table at which the saint ate, and a chair on which he sat, and a bed on which he lay, know how to move to compunction the one who received him, even after he has departed. How then do you think that Shunammite woman was moved to compunction, entering the upper room where Elisha stayed, seeing the table, the bed on which that saint slept? How much piety she must have received from it? For she would not, if this were not so, have cast the dead child there, unless she had reaped much benefit from that place. For if after so much time we, entering where Paul stayed, where he was bound, where he sat and conversed, are given wings, and are transported by the places to the memory of that day; when the events were still fresh, what must those who host with piety have experienced? Knowing these things, therefore, let us receive the saints, so that the house may shine, so that it may be rid of thorns, so that the little room may become a harbor; and let us receive them, and let us wash their feet. You are not better than Sarah, nor nobler, nor wealthier, even if you are a queen. She, at least, had three hundred and eighteen household servants, at a time when even to have two children was wealth. And why do I say three hundred and eighteen servants? She possessed the entire world in her seed and in the promises, she had the friend of God for a husband, God himself as a protector, which was greater than any kingdom. But nevertheless, being in such splendor and glory, she herself kneaded the flour, and ministered in all other things, and stood by them as they were feasting, again in the manner of a handmaid. You are not nobler than Abraham, who did the work of servants, after those trophies, after the victories, after the honor from the king of Egypt, after driving out the kings of the Persians, and setting up splendid trophies. And do not look at this, that the saints who lodge with you are humble in appearance, and poor, and often dressed in rags, but remember that voice which says: As you did it to one of the least of these, you did it to me; and, Do not despise one of these little ones, for their angels always see the face of our Father who is in heaven; and receive them with eagerness, as they bring you countless good things through the greetings of peace. And along with Sarah, consider also Rebekah, who both drew water and gave to drink and called the stranger indoors, having trampled all pride underfoot;

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ποῦ δὲ ἡ δόξα ἡ κενή; Κατάμαθε τῆς γυναικὸς τὸν κόσμον, τὸν οὐ σώματι περικείμενον, ἀλλὰ ψυχὴν καλλωπίζοντα, τὸν οὐδέποτε ἀποτιθέμενον, τὸν οὐκ ἐν κιβωτίῳ κείμενον, ἀλλὰ τοῖς οὐρανοῖς ἐναποκείμενον. δʹ. Βλέπε αὐτῶν τὸν περὶ τὸ κήρυγμα πόνον, τὸν ἐν τῷ μαρτυρίῳ στέφανον, τὴν ἐν τοῖς χρήμασι φιλοτιμίαν, τὴν περὶ Παῦλον ἀγάπην, τὸ περὶ τὸν Χριστὸν φίλτρον· παράβαλε τούτοις τὰ σὰ, τὴν περὶ τὰ χρήματα σπουδὴν, τὴν πρὸς τὰς πορνευομένας ἅμιλλαν, τὴν πρὸς τὸν χόρτον φιλονεικίαν· καὶ τότε ὄψεις τίνες μὲν ἐκεῖνοι, τίς δὲ σύ. Μᾶλλον δὲ μὴ παράβαλε μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ ζήλου τὴν γυναῖκα, καὶ τὰ φορτία τῆς χλόης ἀποθεμένη (τοῦτο γὰρ ἡ τῶν ἱματίων πολυτέλεια), λάμβανε τὸν ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ κόσμον, καὶ μάνθανε πόθεν ἐγένοντο τοιοῦτοι οἱ περὶ Πρίσκιλλαν. Πόθεν οὖν ἐγένοντο; ∆ύο ἔτη τὸν Παῦλον ἐξενοδόχησαν· ἔτη δὲ δύο τί οὐκ ἂν αὐτῶν εἰργάσατο τὴν ψυχήν; Τί οὖν ἐγὼ πάθω, φησὶν, ὅτι Παῦλον οὐκ ἔχω; Ἐὰν θέλῃς, ἀκριβέστερον ἔχεις ἢ ἐκεῖνοι· οὐδὲ γὰρ ἐκείνους ἡ ὄψις ἡ Παύλου τοιούτους ἐποίησεν, ἀλλὰ 60.666 τὰ ῥήματα Παύλου. Ὥστε, εἰ βουληθείης, καὶ Παῦλον καὶ Πέτρον καὶ Ἰωάννην καὶ τῶν προφητῶν ἅπαντα τὸν χορὸν μετὰ τῶν ἀποστόλων ἕξεις ὁμιλοῦντά σοι διηνεκῶς. Λάβε γὰρ τῶν μακαρίων τούτων τὰς βίβλους, καὶ ἐντύγχανε διηνεκῶς ταῖς ἐκείνων γραφαῖς, καὶ δυνήσονταί σε ποιῆσαι κατὰ τὴν τοῦ σκηνοποιοῦ γυναῖκα. Καὶ τί λέγω Παῦλον; Ἂν γὰρ ἐθέλῃς, καὶ αὐτὸν ἕξεις τὸν Παύλου ∆εσπότην· διὰ γὰρ τῆς Παύλου γλώττης καὶ ἐκεῖνός σοι διαλέξεται. Καὶ ἑτέρως δὲ πάλιν δυνήσῃ δέξασθαι τοῦτον, ὅταν τοὺς ἁγίους δέξῃ, ὅταν τοὺς εἰς ἐκεῖνον πιστεύοντας θεραπεύσῃς· οὕτω καὶ ἀπελθόντων ἐκείνων, πολλὰ ὑπομνήματα εὐλαβείας ἕξεις. Οἶδε γὰρ καὶ τράπεζα ἐφ' ἧς ὁ ἅγιος ἔφαγε, καὶ καθέδρα ἐφ' ἧς ἐκάθισε, καὶ κλίνη ἐφ' ἧς κατεκλίθη, κατανύξαι τὸν ὑποδεξάμενον, καὶ ἀπελθόντος ἐκείνου. Πῶς γοῦν οἴει τὴν Σωναμῖτιν ἐκείνην κατανύττεσθαι, εἰσελθοῦσαν εἰς τὸ ὑπερῷον ἔνθα κατέμενεν ὁ Ἐλισσαῖος, ὁρῶσαν τὴν τράπεζαν, τὴν κλίνην ἐφ' ἧς ὁ ἅγιος ἐκεῖνος ἐκάθευδε; πόσην ἐντεῦθεν δέχεσθαι τὴν εὐλάβειαν; Οὐδὲ γὰρ ἂν, εἰ μὴ τοῦτο ἦν, ἔῤῥιψεν ἐκεῖ τὸ παιδίον νεκρὸν, εἰ μὴ πολλὴν ἐκεῖθεν ἐκαρποῦτο τὴν ὠφέλειαν. Εἰ γὰρ μετὰ τοσοῦτον χρόνον εἰσιόντες, ἔνθα ἔμεινε Παῦλος, ἔνθα ἐδέθη, ἔνθα συνεκάθισε καὶ διελέχθη, πτερούμεθα, καὶ πρὸς τὴν μνήμην τῆς ἡμέρας ἀπὸ τῶν τόπων παραπεμπόμεθα· ἔτι νεωτέρων τῶν πραγμάτων ὄντων, τί πάσχειν εἰκὸς τοὺς μετ' εὐλαβείας ξενοδοχοῦντας; Ταῦτ' οὖν εἰδότες ὑποδεχώμεθα τοὺς ἁγίους, ἵνα λάμπῃ ἡ οἰκία, ἵνα ἀπαλλάττηται τῶν ἀκανθῶν, ἵνα λιμὴν γένηται τὸ δωμάτιον· καὶ ὑποδεχώμεθα, καὶ τοὺς πόδας νίπτωμεν. Οὐκ εἶ σὺ τῆς Σάῤῥας βελτίων οὐδὲ εὐγενεστέρα οὐδὲ εὐπορωτέρα, κἂν βασίλισσα ᾖς. Τριακοσίους γοῦν καὶ δεκακαιοκτὼ οἰκογενεῖς εἶχεν ἐκείνη, ὅτε καὶ τὸ δύο παῖδας ἔχειν πλοῦτος ἦν. Καὶ τί λέγω τριακοσίους καὶ δεκακαιοκτὼ οἰκέτας; Τὴν οἰκουμένην ἅπασαν ἐν τῷ σπέρματι καὶ ταῖς ἐπαγγελίαις ἐκέκτητο, τὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ φίλον εἶχεν ἄνδρα, αὐτὸν τὸν Θεὸν προστάτην, ὃ πάσης βασιλείας μεῖζον ἦν. Ἀλλ' ὅμως ἐν τοσαύτῃ οὖσα περιφανείᾳ καὶ δόξῃ, αὐτὴ ἔφυρε τὰ ἄλευρα, καὶ τὰ ἄλλα πάντα διηκονεῖτο, καὶ ἑστιωμένοις παρειστήκει πάλιν ἐν τάξει θεραπαινίδος. Οὐκ εἶ σὺ τοῦ Ἀβραὰμ εὐγενέστερος, ὃς τὰ οἰκετῶν ἔπραττε, μετὰ τὰ τρόπαια ἐκεῖνα, μετὰ τὰς νίκας, μετὰ τὴν τιμὴν τοῦ βασιλέως Αἰγύπτου, μετὰ τὸ τοὺς Περσῶν ἐλάσαι βασιλεῖς, καὶ τὰ λαμπρὰ στῆσαι τρόπαια. Μηδὲ τοῦτο ἴδῃς, ὅτι εὐτελεῖς τὸ φαινόμενον οἱ ἅγιοι οἱ πρὸς σὲ καταγόμενοι, καὶ πτωχοὶ καὶ ῥακοδυτοῦντες πολλάκις, ἀλλ' ἐκείνης μέμνησο τῆς φωνῆς τῆς λεγούσης· Ἐφ' ὅσον ἐποιήσατε ἑνὶ τούτων τῶν ἐλαχίστων, ἐμοὶ ἐποιήσατε· καὶ, Μὴ καταφρονήσητε ἑνὸς τῶν μικρῶν τούτων, ὅτι οἱ ἄγγελοι αὐτῶν διαπαντὸς βλέπουσι τὸ πρόσωπον τοῦ Πατρὸς ἡμῶν τοῦ ἐν οὐρανοῖς· καὶ δέχου μετὰ προθυμίας αὐτοὺς, τὰ μυρία σοι κομίζοντας ἀγαθὰ διὰ τῶν ἀσπασμῶν τῆς εἰρήνης. Καὶ μετὰ τῆς Σάῤῥας λογίζου καὶ τὴν Ῥεβέκκαν, ἣ καὶ ὑδρεύετο καὶ ἐπότιζε καὶ ἐκάλει τὸν ξένον ἔνδον, πάντα καταπατήσασα τῦφον·