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of him, and his ways are unsearchable!" 8. "The Lord is compassionate and merciful, long-suffering and full of mercy." The Prophet stated the same thing here again. For taking into mind how he formed the nature of men, what honor and providence he deemed them worthy of, that he ordained that all the visible creation should offer its service to them, that he bears with them when they sin each day, and makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust, he calls him not only compassionate, but also merciful, and long-suffering, and full of mercy. For using immeasurable goodness, he has removed our iniquities from us, as far as the east is from the west, and so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son for it. 9. "The Lord is good to all, and his compassion is over all his works." For he not only made provision for the Jews, but he also poured out his love for humanity upon all people. And not only for men, but he also cares for the irrational animals, and provides for all what is suitable. 10. "Let all your works give praise to you, O Lord, and let your saints bless you." Inanimate things do not hymn God, nor do irrational things utter a rational voice; but through these things, the rational and God-loving weave their hymnody. For looking at each of the things that have been made by him, and contemplating the magnificent work of wisdom, 80.1972 they move their tongue to doxology. 11, 12. "They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom, and talk of your power. To make known to the sons of men your power, and the glory of the majesty of your kingdom." For these are the saints, whether prophets, or apostles, and those after them who have received the ministry of preaching, who will teach all men about the eternal kingdom, and the ineffable power. For not only to the Jews, but also to the whole nature of men will they bring this teaching. 13. "Your kingdom is a kingdom of all ages, and your dominion is in every generation and generation." You have boundless power, and an eternal kingdom, neither having begun, nor having ended. "The Lord is faithful in all his words, and holy in all his works." For the truth of his words shines forth, being confirmed by his works; and these too are adorned with justice. 14. "The Lord supports all who are falling, and raises up all who are bowed down." For not only does he care for those nurtured in righteousness, but also for those who slip and are broken down, and who receive the wounds of sin. For some he supports, not allowing them to fall; and others who have fallen he raises up, extending his right hand. 15. "The eyes of all look to you in hope, and you give them their food in due season." The 'look in hope' here he has not set down concerning disposition; for neither do those who live in impiety have this hope, nor do the species of irrational animals have rational perception. but he teaches that each receives its appropriate need from him. Then he also shows the ease of the provision. 10. "You open your hand, and fill every living thing with your good pleasure." For as soon as you will it, each one enjoys the good things supplied by you. For just as it is easy for us to extend our gathered fingers, and to open our hand, so it is easy for you to provide the abundance of good things in an instant. 17. "The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works." In all your dispensations your righteousness shines forth. For he called the dispensations 'ways'. 18. "The Lord is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth." 'Near' does not signify a local distance; for by nature God is present everywhere; "For in him we live, and move, and have our being," according to the divine Apostle; but through these words he declared the relationship and the disposition. 80.1973 And the addition of 'in truth' is also good. For he does not draw near to those who simply call upon him, but to those who choose to do this in truth. "Not everyone

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αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀνεξιχνίαστοι αἱ ὁδοὶ αὐτοῦ!" ηʹ. "Οἰκτίρμων, καὶ ἐλεήμων ὁ Κύριος, μακρό θυμος, καὶ πολυέλεος." Τὸ αὐτὸ καὶ ἐνταῦθα πάλιν ὁ Προφήτης ὑπέμεινεν. Εἰς νοῦν γὰρ λαβὼν, ὅπως τῶν ἀνθρώπων τὴν φύσιν διέπλασεν, ὅσης τιμῆς τε καὶ προμηθείας ἠξίωσεν, ὅτι πᾶσαν τὴν ὁρωμένην κτίσιν αὐτοῖς προσφέρειν τὴν χρείαν ἐνομοθέτησεν, ὅτι καθ' ἑκάστην ἡμέραν πλημμελούντων ἀνέχεται, καὶ ἀνατέλλει τὸν ἥλιον αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ πονηροὺς καὶ ἀγαθοὺς, καὶ βρέχει ἐπὶ δικαίους καὶ ἀδίκους, οὐ μόνον οἰκτίρμονα καλεῖ, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐλεήμονα, καὶ μα κρόθυμον, καὶ πολυέλεον. Ἀμετρήτῳ γὰρ χρώμενος ἀγαθότητι, ἐμάκρυνεν ἀφ' ἡμῶν τὰς ἀνομίας ἡμῶν, καθόσον ἀπέχουσιν ἀνατολαὶ ἀπὸ δυσμῶν, καὶ ἠγά πησεν οὕτως τὸν κόσμον, ὥστε τὸν Υἱὸν αὑτοῦ τὸν μονογενῆ δοῦναι ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ. θʹ. "Χρηστὸς Κύριος τοῖς σύμπασι, καὶ οἱ οἰ κτιρμοὶ αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ πάντα τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ." Οὐ γὰρ μόνον Ἰουδαίων ἐποιήσατο πρόνοιαν, ἀλλὰ καὶ εἰς πάντας ἀνθρώπους τὴν φιλανθρωπίαν ἐξέχεεν. Οὐκ ἀνθρώπων δὲ μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ τῶν ἀλόγων ἐπιμελεῖ ται, καὶ πᾶσι παρέχει τὰ πρόσφορα. ιʹ. "Ἐξομολογησάσθωσάν σοι, Κύριε, πάντα τὰ ἔργα σου, καὶ οἱ ὅσιοί σου εὐλογησάτωσάν σε." Οὐ τὰ ἄψυχα τὸν Θεὸν ὑμνεῖ, οὐδὲ τὰ ἄλογα φωνὴν ἀφίησι λογικήν· ἀλλὰ καὶ διὰ τούτων οἱ λογικοὶ καὶ φιλόθεοι τὴν ὑμνῳδίαν ὑφαίνουσιν. Εἰς ἕκαστον γὰρ ἀφορῶντες τῶν ὑπ' αὐτοῦ γεγενημένων, καὶ σοφίας 80.1972 τὴν μεγαλουργίαν θεώμενοι, εἰς δοξολογίαν κινοῦσι τὴν γλῶτταν. ιαʹ, ιβʹ. "∆όξαν τῆς βασιλείας σου ἐροῦσι, καὶ τὴν δυναστείαν σου λαλήσουσι. Τοῦ γνωρίσαι τοῖς υἱοῖς τῶν ἀνθρώπων τὴν δυναστείαν σου, καὶ τὴν δόξαν τῆς μεγαλοπρεπείας τῆς βασιλείας σου." Οὗτοι γὰρ οἱ ὅσιοι, εἴτε προφῆται, εἴτε ἀπόστολοι, καὶ οἱ μετ' ἐκείνους τὴν τοῦ κηρύγματος διακονίαν διαδεξάμε νοι, τὴν αἰώνιον βασιλείαν, καὶ τὴν ἄῤῥητον δύναμιν πάντας ἀνθρώπους διδάξουσιν. Οὐ γὰρ μόνοις Ἰου δαίοις, ἀλλὰ καὶ πάσῃ τῶν ἀνθρώπων τῇ φύσει τήνδε τὴν διδασκαλίαν προσοίσουσιν. ιγʹ. "Ἡ βασιλεία σου βασιλεία πάντων τῶν αἰώ νων, καὶ ἡ δεσποτεία σου ἐν πάσῃ γενεᾷ καὶ γενεᾷ." Ἀπέραντον ἔχεις τὸ κράτος, καὶ ἀΐδιον τὴν βασι λείαν, οὔτε ἀρξαμένην, οὔτε λήξασαν. "Πιστὸς Κύριος ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς λόγοις αὑτοῦ, καὶ ὅσιος ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ἔργοις αὑτοῦ." Προλάμπει γὰρ τῶν λόγων ἀλή θεια, βεβαιουμένη τοῖς ἔργοις· καὶ ταῦτα δὲ τῷ δι καίῳ κοσμεῖται. ιδʹ. "Ὑποστηρίζει Κύριος πάντας τοὺς καταπί πτοντας, καὶ ἀνορθοῖ πάντας τοὺς κατεῤῥαγμένους." Οὐ γὰρ μόνον τῶν τῆς δικαιοσύνης τροφίμων ἐπι μελεῖται, ἀλλὰ καὶ τῶν ὀλισθαινόντων καταῤῥηγνυ μένων, καὶ τῆς ἁμαρτίας δεχομένων τὰ τραύματα. Τοὺς μὲν γὰρ ἐρείδων, καταπεσεῖν οὐκ ἐᾷ· τοὺς δὲ πεσόντας ἀνίστησιν, ὀρέγων τὴν δεξιάν. ιεʹ. "Οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ πάντων εἰς σὲ ἐλπίζουσι, καὶ σὺ δίδως τὴν τροφὴν αὐτῶν ἐν εὐκαιρίᾳ." Τὸ ἐλπί ζουσιν ἐνταῦθα οὐκ ἐπὶ διαθέσεως τέθεικεν· οὔτε γὰρ οἱ δυσσεβείᾳ συζῶντες ταύτην ἔχουσι τὴν ἐλπίδα, οὔτε τῶν ἀλόγων τὰ γένη λογικὴν αἴσθησιν ἔχει. ἀλλὰ διδάσκει ὡς ἕκαστον παρ' αὐτοῦ τὴν κατάλλη λον ὑποδέχεται χρείαν. Εἶτα καὶ τὴν εὐκολίαν ὑπο δείκνυσι τῆς χορηγίας. ιʹ. "Ἀνοίγεις σὺ τὴν χεῖρά σου, καὶ ἐμπιπλᾷς πᾶν ζῶον εὐδοκίας." Ἅμα τε γὰρ βούλει, καὶ ἀπο λαύει τῶν σῶν χορηγουμένων ἕκαστον ἀγαθῶν. Καθάπερ γὰρ ἡμῖν ῥᾴδιον τοὺς συνηγμένους ἐκτεῖναι δακτύλους, καὶ ἁπλῶσαι τὴν χεῖρα· οὕτω σοι εὐπε τὲς ἐν ἀκαρεῖ παρασχεῖν τῶν ἀγαθῶν τὴν φοράν. ιζʹ. ∆ίκαιος Κύριος ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὑτοῦ, καὶ ὅσιος ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ἔργοις αὑτοῦ." Ἐν ἁπάσαις δέ σου ταῖς οἰκονομίαις διαλάμπει τὸ δίκαιον. Ὁδοὺς γὰρ τὰς οἰκονομίας ἐκάλεσεν. ιηʹ. "Ἐγγὺς Κύριος πᾶσι τοῖς ἐπικαλουμένοις αὐ τὸν, πᾶσι τοῖς ἐπικαλουμένοις αὐτὸν ἐν ἀληθείᾳ." Τὸ ἐγγὺς οὐ τοπικὸν σημαίνει διάστημα· φύσει γὰρ πανταχοῦ πάρεστιν ὁ Θεός· "Ἐν αὐτῷ γὰρ ζῶμεν, καὶ κινούμεθα, καὶ ἐσμὲν," κατὰ τὸν θεῖον Ἀπόστολον· ἀλλὰ τὴν σχέσιν, καὶ τὴν διάθεσιν διὰ τούτων ἐδή 80.1973 λωσε. Καλὴ δὲ καὶ ἡ προσθήκη τῆς ἀληθείας. Οὐ γὰρ τοῖς ἁπλῶς ἐπικαλουμένοις πελάζει, ἀλλὰ τοῖς ἐν ἀληθείᾳ τοῦτο δρᾷν προαιρουμένοις. "Οὐ πᾶς