Homily XIII.

Philippians iii. 18–21

“For many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is perdition, whose god is the belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven; from whence also we wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall fashion anew the body of our humiliation, that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, according to the working whereby He is able even to subject all things unto Himself.”

Nothing is so incongruous in a Christian, and foreign to his character, as to seek ease and rest; and to be engrossed with the present life is foreign to our profession and enlistment. Thy Master was crucified, and dost thou seek ease? Thy Master was pierced with nails, and dost thou live delicately? Do these things become a noble soldier? Wherefore Paul saith, “Many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ.” Since there were some who made a pretense of Christianity, yet lived in ease and luxury, and this is contrary to the Cross: therefore he thus spoke. For the cross belongs to a soul at its post for the fight, longing to die, seeking nothing like ease, whilst their conduct is of the contrary sort. So that even if they say, they are Christ’s, still they are as it were enemies of the Cross. For did they love the Cross, they would strive to live the crucified life. Was not thy Master hung upon the tree? Do thou otherwise imitate Him. Crucify thyself, though no one crucify thee. Crucify thyself, not that thou mayest slay thyself, God forbid, for that is a wicked thing, but as Paul said, “The world hath been crucified unto me and I unto the world.” (Gal. vi. 14.) If thou lovest thy Master, die His death. Learn how great is the power of the Cross; how many good things it hath achieved, and doth still: how it is the safety of our life. Through it all things are done. Baptism is through the Cross, for we must receive that seal. The laying on of hands is through the Cross. If we are on journeys, if we are at home, wherever we are, the Cross is a great good, the armor of salvation, a shield which cannot be beaten down, a weapon to oppose the devil; thou bearest the Cross when thou art at enmity with him, not simply when thou sealest thyself by it, but when thou sufferest the things belonging to the Cross. Christ thought fit to call our sufferings by the name of the Cross. As when he saith, “Except a man take up his cross and follow Me” (Matt. xvi. 24.), i.e. except he be prepared to die.

But these being base, and lovers of life, and lovers of their bodies, are enemies of the Cross. And every one, who is a friend of luxury, and of present safety, is an enemy of that Cross in which Paul makes his boast: which he embraces, with which he desires to be incorporated. As when he saith, “I am crucified unto the world, and the world unto me.” But here he saith, “I now tell you weeping.” Wherefore? Because the evil was urgent, because such deserve tears. Of a truth the luxurious are worthy of tears, who make fat that which is thrown about them, I mean the body, and take no thought of that soul which must give account. Behold thou livest delicately, behold thou art drunken, to-day and to-morrow, ten years, twenty, thirty, fifty, a hundred, which is impossible; but if thou wilt, let us suppose it. What is the end? What is the gain? Nought at all. Doth it not then deserve tears, and lamentations, to lead such a life; God hath brought us into this course, that He may crown us, and we take our departure without doing any noble action. Wherefore Paul weepeth, where others laugh, and live in pleasure. So sympathetic is he: such thought taketh he for all men. “Whose god,” saith he, “is the belly.” For this have they a God!159    There is some false reading here. Old. Lat. has “What is their God? This, ‘Let us eat and drink!’” That is, “let us eat and drink!” Dost thou see, how great an evil luxury is? to some their wealth, and to others their belly is a god. Are not these too idolaters, and worse than the common? And their “glory is in their shame.” (1 Cor. xv. 32.) Some say it is circumcision. I think not so, but this is its meaning, they make a boast of those things, of which they ought to be ashamed. It is a fearful thing to do shameful actions; yet to do them, and be ashamed, is only half so dreadful. But where a man even boasts himself of them, it is excessive senselessness.

Do these words apply to them alone? And do those who are here present escape the charge? And will no one have account to render of these things? Does no one make a god of his belly, or glory in his shame? I wish, earnestly I wish, that none of these charges lay against us, and that I did not know any one involved in what I have said. But I fear lest the words have more reference to us than to the men of those times. For when one consumes his whole life in drinking and reveling, and expends some small trifle on the poor, whilst he consumes the larger portion on his belly, will not these words with justice apply to him? No words are more apt to call attention, or more cutting in reproof, than these: “Whose god is the belly, whose glory is in their shame.” And who are these? They, he says, who mind earthly things. “Let us build houses.” Where, I ask? On the earth, they answer. Let us purchase farms; on the earth again: let us obtain power; again on the earth: let us gain glory; again on the earth: let us enrich ourselves; all these things are on the earth. These are they, whose god is their belly; for if they have no spiritual thoughts, but have all their possessions here, and mind these things, with reason have they their belly for their god, in saying, “Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die.” And about thy body, thou grievest, tell me, that it is of earth, though thus thou art not at all injured. But thy soul thou draggest down to the earth, when thou oughtest to render even thy body spiritual; for thou mayest, if thou wilt. Thou hast received a belly, that thou mayest feed, not distend it, that thou mayest have the mastery over it, not have it as mistress over thee: that it may minister to thee for the nourishment of the other parts, not that thou mayest minister to it, not that thou mayest exceed limits. The sea, when it passes its bounds, doth not work so many evils, as the belly doth to our body, together with our soul. The former overfloweth all the earth, the latter all the body. Put moderation for a boundary to it, as God hath put the sand for the sea. Then if its waves arise, and rage furiously, rebuke it, with the power which is in thee. See how God hath honored thee, that thou mightest imitate Him, and thou wilt not; but thou seest the belly overflowing, destroying and overwhelming thy whole nature, and darest not to restrain or moderate it.

“Whose God,” he saith, “is their belly.” Let us see how Paul served God: let us see how gluttons serve their belly. Do not they undergo ten thousand such deaths? do not they fear to disobey whatever it orders? do not they minister impossibilities to it? Are not they worse than slaves? “But our citizenship,” says he, “is in Heaven.” Let us not then seek for ease here; there do we shine, where also our citizenship is. “From whence also,” saith he, “we wait for a Saviour,” the Lord Jesus Christ: “who shall fashion anew the body of our humiliation, that it may be conformed to the body of his glory.” By little and little he hath carried us up. He saith, “From Heaven” and “Our Saviour,” showing, from the place and from the Person, the dignity of the subject. “Who shall fashion anew the body of our humiliation,” saith he. The body now suffereth many things: it is bound with chains, it is scourged, it suffereth innumerable evils; but the body of Christ suffered the same. This, then, he hinted at when he said, “That it may be conformed to the body of his glory.” Wherefore the body is the same, but putteth on incorruption. “Shall fashion anew.” Wherefore the fashion is different; or perchance he has spoken figuratively of the change.

He saith, “the body of our humiliation,” because it is now humbled, subject to destruction, to pain, because it seemeth to be worthless, and to have nothing beyond that of other animals. “That it may be conformed to the body of his glory.” What? shall this our body be fashioned like unto Him, who sitteth at the right hand of the Father, to Him who is worshiped by the Angels, before whom do stand the incorporeal Powers, to Him who is above all rule and power, and might? If then the whole world were to take up weeping and lament for those who have fallen from this hope, could it worthily lament? because, when a promise is given us of our body being made like to Him, it still departs with the demons. I care not for hell henceforth; whatever can be said, having fallen from so great glory, now and henceforth consider hell to be nothing to this falling away. What sayest thou, O Paul? To be made like unto Him? Yes, he answereth; then, lest you should disbelieve, he addeth a reason; “According to the working whereby He is able even to subject all things unto Himself.” He hath power, saith he, to subject all things unto Himself, wherefore also destruction and death. Or rather, He doth this also with the same power. For tell me, which requireth the greater power, to subject demons, and Angels, and Archangels, and Cherubim, and Seraphim, or to make the body incorruptible and immortal? The latter certainly much more than the former; he showed forth the greater works of His power, that you might believe these too. Wherefore, though ye see these men rejoicing, and honored, yet stand firm, be not offended at them, be not moved. These our hopes are sufficient to raise up even the most sluggish and indolent.

Chap. iv. ver. 1. “Wherefore,” saith he, “my brethren, beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my beloved.”

“So.” How? Unmoved. See how he addeth praise after exhortation, “my joy and my crown,” not simply joy but glory too, not simply glory but my crown too. Which glory nought can equal, since it is the crown of Paul. “So stand fast in the Lord, my beloved,” i.e. in the hope of God.160    [Chrys. strangely overlooks the fact that in the Epistle “the Lord” usually means Christ. Standing in the Lord may be readily understood if we contrast it with efforts to stand outside of Christ, apart from him. Compare (Meyer) 1 Thess. iii. 8, and often in Paul’s writings.—J.A.B.]

Ver. 2, 3. “I exhort Euodia, and exhort Syntyche, to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yea, I beseech thee also, true yokefellow, help these women.”

Some say Paul here exhorts his own wife; but it is not so, but some other woman, or the husband of one of them. “Help these women, for they labored with me in the Gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow-workers whose names are in the book of life.” Seest thou how great a testimony he beareth to their virtue? For as Christ saith to his Apostles, “Rejoice not that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in the book of life” (Luke x. 20.); so Paul testifieth to them, saying, “whose names are in the book of life.” These women seem to me to be the chief of the Church which was there, and he commendeth them to some notable man whom he calls his “yokefellow,” to whom perchance he was wont to commend them, as to a fellow-worker, and fellow-soldier, and brother, and companion, as he doth in the Epistle to the Romans, when he saith, “I commend unto you Phebe our sister, who is a servant of the Church that is at Cenchrea.” (Rom. xvi. 1.) “Yokefellow;” either some brother of theirs, or a husband of hers; as if he had said, Now thou art a true brother, now a true husband, because thou hast become a Member. “For they labored with me in the Gospel.” This protection161    προστασία, he means the recommendation to protection. came from home, not from friendship, but for good deeds. “Labored with me.” What sayest thou? Did women labor with thee? Yes, he answereth, they too contributed no small portion. Although many were they who wrought together with him, yet these women also acted with him amongst the many. The Churches then were no little edified, for many good ends are gained where they who are approved, be they men, or be they women, enjoy from the rest such honor. For in the first place the rest were led on to a like zeal; in the second place, they also gained162    i.e. a reward, see on 1 Tim. v. 6, Hom. xv. by the respect shown; and thirdly, they made those very persons more zealous and earnest. Wherefore thou seest that Paul hath everywhere a care for this, and commendeth such men for consideration. As he saith in the Epistle to the Corinthians: “Who are the first-fruits of Achaia,” (1 Cor. xvi. 15.) Some say that the word “yokefellow,” (Syzygus,) is a proper name. Well, what? Whether it be so, or no, we need not accurately enquire,163    [Upon this whole passage, ver. 2, 3, nothing is really known to this day beyond what Chrys. here says. The view that Syzygus is a proper name is preferred by Meyer and Grimm (Thayer), and Westcott and Hort so print in the margin. A complete discussion may be found in Lightfoot.—J.A.B.] but observe that he gives his orders, that these women should enjoy much protection.

All we have, saith he, is in the heavens, our Saviour, our city, whatever a man can name: “whence,” saith he, “we wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.” And this is an act of His kindness and love toward man. He Himself again cometh to us, he doth not drag us thither, but takes us, and so departs with us. And this is a mark of great honor; for if He came to us when we were enemies, much rather doth He now when we are become friends. He doth not commit this to the Angels, nor to servants, but Himself cometh to call us to His royal mansion. See, we also “shall be caught up in the clouds” (1 Thess. iv. 17.), doing him honor.

Who then is to be found “the faithful and wise servant”? Who are they that are deemed worthy of such good things? How miserable are those who fail! For if we were forever to weep, should we do aught worthy of the occasion? For were you to make mention of hells innumerable, you would name nothing equal to that pain which the soul sustaineth, when all the world is in confusion, when the trumpets are sounding, when the Angels are rushing forward, the first, then the second, then the third, then ten thousand ranks, are pouring forth upon the earth; then the Cherubim, (and many are these and infinite;) the Seraphim; when He Himself is coming, with His ineffable glory; when those meet Him, who had gone to gather the elect into the midst; when Paul and his companions, and all who in his time had been approved, are crowned, are proclaimed aloud, are honored by the King, before all His heavenly host. For if hell did not exist, how fearful a thing it is, that the one part should be honored, and the other dishonored! Hell, I confess, is intolerable, yea, very intolerable, but more intolerable than it is the loss of the Kingdom. Consider; if any king, or the son of a king, having taken his departure, and been successful in innumerable wars, and become the object of admiration, should with his army entire, return to any city, in his chariot, with his trophies, with his innumerable ranks of golden shields, with his spearmen, his body-guard all about him, whilst the whole city was adorned with crowns, whilst all the rulers of the world accompanied him, and all the soldiery of foreign nations followed him as captives, then præfects, satraps, and in the presence of all the rulers, and all that splendor, he should receive the citizens who meet him, and kiss them, and stretch forth his hand, and give them freedom of access, and converse with them, all standing around, as with friends, and tell them that all that journey was undertaken for their sake, and should lead them into his palace, and give them a share of it, even if the rest should not be punished, to how great punishment would not this be equal? But if in the case of men it were a bitter thing to fall away from this glory, much more is it so with God, when all the heavenly Powers are present with the King, when the demons, bound, and bowing down their heads, and the devil himself is led along in chains, and all military force that opposeth itself, when the Powers of the heavens, when He Himself, cometh upon the clouds.

Believe me, I am not even able to finish my words, from the grief which lays hold of my soul at this relation. Consider of how great glory we shall be deprived, when it is in our power not to be deprived of it. For this is the misery, that we suffer these things, when it is in our power not to suffer them. When he receiveth the one part and leadeth them to His Father in heaven, and rejecteth the other, whom Angels take and drag against their will, weeping, and hanging down their heads, to the fire of hell, when they have first been made a spectacle to the whole world, what grief, think you, is there? Let us then make haste, while there is time, and take great thought of our own salvation. How many things have we to say like the rich man? If any one would now suffer us, we would take counsel of the things that are profitable! But no one doth suffer us. And that we shall so say, is clear, not from him alone, but from many others. And that you may learn this, how many men have been in fevers, and said, if we recover, we shall never again fall into the same state. Many such words we shall then say, but we shall be answered as the rich man was, that there is a gulf, that we have received our good things here. (Luke xvi. 25, 26.) Let us groan then, I entreat you, bitterly, rather let us not only groan, but pursue virtue too; let us lament now, for salvation, that we may not then lament in vain. Let us weep now, and not weep then, at our evil lot. This weeping is of virtue, that of unprofitable repentance; let us afflict ourselves now, that we may not then; for it is not the same thing to be afflicted here and there. Here, thou art afflicted for a little time, or rather thou dost not perceive thy affliction, knowing that thou art afflicted for thy good. But there, the affliction is more bitter, because it is not in hope,164    It is worth observing, that, although he has referred to the rich man in Hades, he is here speaking of Gehenna, and of present self-denial as a means of escaping eternal punishment after Judgment. nor for any escape, but without limit, and throughout.

But may we all be freed from this, and obtain remission. But let us pray and be diligent, that we may obtain the remission. Let us be diligent, I entreat; for if we are diligent, we prevail even through our prayer: if we pray earnestly, God grants our request; but if we neither ask Him, nor do earnestly aught of this sort, nor work, how is it possible that we should ever succeed? By sleeping? Not at all. For it is much if even by running, and stretching forth, and being conformed to His death, as Paul said, we shall be able to succeed, not to say sleeping. “If by any means I may attain,” saith he. But if Paul said, “If by any means I may attain,” what shall we say? For it is not possible by sleeping to accomplish even worldly business, not to say spiritual. By sleeping, not even from friends can anything be received, far less from God. Not even fathers honor them who sleep, far less doth God. Let us labor for a little time, that we may have rest for ever. We must at all events be afflicted. If we are not afflicted here, it awaits us there. Why choose we not to be afflicted here, that there we may have rest, and obtain the unspeakable blessings, in Christ Jesus, with whom, to the Father together with the Holy Spirit, be glory, power, and honor, now and ever, world without end. Amen.

ΟΜΙΛΙΑ ΙΓʹ. Πολλοὶ γὰρ περιπατοῦσιν, οὓς πολλάκις ἔλεγον ὑμῖν, νῦν δὲ καὶ κλαίων λέγω, τοὺς ἐχθροὺς τοῦ σταυροῦ τοῦ Χριστοῦ: ὧν τὸ τέλος ἀπ ώλεια, ὧν ὁ θεὸς ἡ κοιλία, καὶ ἡ δόξα ἐν τῇ αἰσχύνῃ αὐτῶν, οἱ τὰ ἐπίγεια φρονοῦντες. Ἡμῶν γὰρ τὸ πολίτευμα ἐν οὐρανοῖς ὑπάρχει, ἐξ οὗ καὶ Σωτῆρα ἀπεκδεχόμεθα Κύριον Ἰη σοῦν Χριστὸν, ὃς μετασχηματίσει τὸ σῶμα τῆς ταπεινώσεως ἡμῶν εἰς τὸ γενέσθαι αὐτὸ σύμμορφον τῷ σώματι τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ, κατὰ τὴν ἐνέργειαν τοῦ δύνασθαι αὐτὸν καὶ ὑποτά ξαι ἑαυτῷ τὰ πάντα. αʹ. Οὐδὲν οὕτως ἀνάρμοστον καὶ ἀλλότριον Χριστιανοῦ, ὡς ἄνεσιν καὶ ἀνάπαυσιν ζητεῖν: οὐδὲν οὕτω τῆς ἐπαγγελίας καὶ στρατολογίας ἀλλότριον, ὡς τὸ τῷ παρόντι προστετηκέναι βίῳ. Ὁ Δεσπότης σου ἐσταυρώθη, καὶ σὺ ἄνεσιν ζητεῖς; ὁ Δεσπότης σου προσηλώθη, καὶ σὺ τρυφᾷς; καὶ ποῦ ταῦτα στρατιώτου γενναίου; Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ ὁ Παῦλός φησι, Πολλοὶ περιπατοῦσιν, οὓς πολλάκις ἔλεγον ὑμῖν, νῦν δὲ καὶ κλαίων λέγω, τοὺς ἐχθροὺς τοῦ σταυροῦ τοῦ Χριστοῦ. Ἐπειδή τινες ἦσαν ὑποκρινόμενοι μὲν τὸν Χριστιανισμὸν, ἐν ἀνέσει δὲ ζῶντες καὶ τρυφῇ, τοῦτο δὲ ἐναντίον τῷ σταυρῷ: διὰ τοῦτο ταῦτα οὕτως ἔλεγεν. Ὁ γὰρ σταυρὸς ψυχῆς ἐστι παρατεταγμένης, θανατιώσης, οὐδὲν ἀνετὸν ἐπιζητούσης: ἐκεῖνοι δὲ ἀπεναντίας πολιτεύονται. Ὥστε κἂν λέγωσιν εἶναι τοῦ Χριστοῦ, ἀλλ' ὡς ἐχθροί εἰσι τοῦ σταυροῦ: ἦ γὰρ ἂν, εἰ τὸν σταυρὸν ἐφίλουν, ἐσπούδαζον τὸν ἐσταυρωμένον βίον ζῇν. Οὐκ ἀνεσκολοπίσθη σου ὁ Δεσπότης; Μίμησαι σὺ ἄλλως αὐτὸν, εἰ μὴ τὸν ἐκείνου δύνασαι τρόπον: σταύρωσον ἑαυτὸν, κἂν μηδείς σε σταυρώσῃ: σταύρωσον σεαυτὸν λέγω, οὐχ ἵνα σεαυτὸν ἀνέλῃς (μὴ γένοιτο, τοῦτο γὰρ ἀσεβὲς), ἀλλ' ὡς Παῦλος ἔλεγεν: Ἐμοὶ γὰρ, φησὶ, κόσμος ἐσταύρωται, κἀγὼ τῷ κόσμῳ. Εἰ φιλεῖς τὸν Δεσπότην σου, τὸν θάνατον ἀπόθανε τὸν ἐκείνου: μάθε πόση τοῦ σταυροῦ ἡ ἰσχὺς, πόσα κατώρθωσε, πόσα κατορθοῖ, πῶς ἐστιν ἀσφάλεια τοῦ βίου. Διὰ τούτου πάντα τελεῖται: βάπτισμα διὰ τοῦ σταυροῦ (δεῖ γὰρ ἀναλαβεῖν τὴν σφραγῖδα): χειροτονία διὰ τοῦ σταυροῦ: κἂν ἐν ὁδοῖς ὦμεν, κἂν ἐν οἰκίᾳ, κἂν ὅπου ἄν ποτε, μέγα ἀγαθὸν ὁ σταυρὸς, σωτήριον ὅπλον, ἀσπὶς ἄμαχος, τῷ διαβόλῳ ἀντίπαλος. Τούτῳ οὖν ἐχθραίνων βαστάζεις τὸν σταυρὸν, μὴ ἁπλῶς σφραγιζόμενος, ἀλλὰ τὰ τοῦ σταυροῦ πάσχων. Οἶδε σταυρὸν ὁ Χριστὸς τὰ πάθη λέγειν, ὡς ὅταν λέγῃ: Ἐὰν μή τις ἄρῃ τὸν σταυρὸν αὑτοῦ, καὶ ἀκολουθήσῃ μοι: τουτέστιν, ἐὰν μή τις ᾖ παρεσκευασμένος πρὸς θάνατον. Οὗτοι δὲ ἀγενεῖς ὄντες καὶ φιλόζωοι καὶ φιλοσώματοι, ἐχθροὶ τοῦ σταυροῦ τυγχάνουσι: καὶ πᾶς, ὃς ἂν ᾖ τῆς τρυφῆς φίλος καὶ τῆς ἐνταῦθα ἀσφαλείας, ἐχθρός ἐστι τοῦ σταυροῦ, ἐν ᾧ Παῦλος καυχᾶται καὶ περιπλέκεται, ᾧ σπουδάζει συνουσιωθῆναι, ὡς ὅταν λέγῃ: Ἐγὼ ἐσταύρωμαι τῷ κόσμῳ, καὶ ὁ κόσμος ἐμοί. Νῦν δέ φησι, Καὶ κλαίων λέγω. Διὰ τί; Ὅτι ἐπέτεινε τὸ κακὸν, ὅτι δακρύων ἄξιοι οἱ τοιοῦτοι. Ὄντως δακρύων ἄξιοι οἱ τρυφῶντες, τὸ μὲν περιβόλαιον, τουτέστι, τὸ σῶμα λιπαίνοντες, τῆς δὲ μελλούσης εὐθύνας διδόναι οὐδένα ποιούμενοι λόγον. Ἰδοὺ τρυφᾷς, ἰδοὺ μεθύεις, σήμερον καὶ αὔριον, καὶ δέκα ἔτη καὶ εἴκοσι καὶ τριάκοντα καὶ πεντήκοντα καὶ ἑκατὸν, ὅπερ ἀδύνατον: πλὴν ἀλλ', εἰ βούλει, θῶμεν: τί τὸ πέρας; τί τὸ κέρδος; Οὐδέν. Τὸ οὖν τοιοῦτον βίον ζῇν οὐ δακρύων ἄξιον καὶ θρήνων; Ἤγαγεν ἡμᾶς εἰς τὸ στάδιον τοῦτο ὁ Θεὸς, ἵνα στεφανώσῃ, καὶ ἡμεῖς ἄπιμεν μηδὲν ἐργασάμενοι γενναῖον. Κλαίει τοίνυν ὁ Παῦλος ἐφ' οἷς ἕτεροι γελῶσι καὶ σπαταλῶσιν: οὕτως ἐστὶ συμπαθητικὸς, οὕτω φροντίζει πάντων ἀνθρώπων. Ὧν ὁ θεὸς, φησὶν, ἡ κοιλία. Διὰ τοῦτό ἐστι θεὸς αὐτοῖς: τοῦτό ἐστι, Φάγωμεν καὶ πίωμεν. Ὁρᾷς ὅσον ἡ τρυφὴ κακόν; τοῖς μὲν τὰ χρήματα, τοῖς δὲ ἡ κοιλία ὁ θεός. Οὐχὶ εἰδωλολάτραι καὶ οὗτοι, καὶ ἐκείνων χείρους; Καὶ ἡ δόξα, φησὶν, ἐν τῇ αἰσχύνῃ αὐτῶν. Τινὲς τὴν περιτομήν φασι δηλοῦν διὰ τούτου: ἐγὼ δὲ οὐ τοῦτό φημι, ἀλλὰ τοῦτό ἐστιν: Ἐφ' οἷς ἔδει ἐγκαλύπτεσθαι, ἐπὶ τούτοις σεμνύνονται. Τοῦτό ἐστιν ὅ φησιν ἀλλαχοῦ: Τίνα οὖν μισθὸν εἴχετε τότε, ἐφ' οἷς νῦν ἐπαισχύνεσθε; Δεινὸν μὲν γὰρ τὸ αἰσχρὰ πράττειν, τὸ δὲ πράττοντα αἰσχύνεσθαι, ἐξ ἡμισείας ἐστὶ δεινόν: ὅταν μέντοι τις καὶ ἐγκαλλωπίζηται, ὑπερβολὴ ἀναισθησίας. Ἆρα περὶ ἐκείνων μόνον ταῦτα εἴρηται, οἱ δὲ παρόντες ἡμῖν ἐνταῦθα ἐξέφυγον τὸ ἔγκλημα; καὶ οὐδείς ἐστιν ὑπεύθυνος τούτῳ; οὐδὲ Θεὸν ἔχει τὴν κοιλίαν; οὐδὲ τὴν δόξαν ἐν τῇ αἰσχύνῃ; Βούλομαι, καὶ σφόδρα βούλομαι μηδὲν τούτων εἶναι πρὸς ἡμᾶς, μηδὲ εἰδέναι τινὰ ἔνοχον τοῖς λεγομένοις: δέδοικα δὲ μὴ πρὸς ἡμᾶς μᾶλλον, ἢ τοὺς τότε λέγηται. Ὅταν γὰρ πάντα τὸν βίον ἐν πότοις καὶ κώμοις ἀναλίσκῃ τις, καὶ εἰς μὲν πένητας ὀλίγα τινὰ δαπανᾷ, τὸ δὲ πλέον ἀναλίσκῃ εἰς τὴν κοιλίαν, οὐκ εἰκότως καὶ περὶ αὐτοῦ λεχθήσεται; βʹ. Οὐδὲν ἐντρεπτικώτερον τῆς λέξεως, οὐδὲν πληκτικώτερον, Ὧν ὁ θεὸς, φησὶν, ἡ κοιλία, καὶ ἡ δόξα ἐν τῇ αἰσχύνῃ αὐτῶν. Τίνες οὗτοί εἰσιν; Οἱ ἐπίγεια φρονοῦντες, οἱ λέγοντες: Οἰκοδομήσωμεν οἰκίας. Ποῦ; Ἐν τῇ γῇ, φησί: κτησώμεθα ἀγροὺς, ἐν τῇ γῇ πάλιν: ἐπιτύχωμεν ἀρχῆς, πάλιν ἐν τῇ γῇ: τύχωμεν δόξης, πάλιν ἐν τῇ γῇ: πλουτήσωμεν, πάντα ἐν τῇ γῇ. Οὗτοί εἰσιν ὧν ὁ θεὸς ἡ κοιλία. Οἱ γὰρ μηδὲν πνευματικὸν φρονοῦντες, ἀλλ' ἐνταῦθα πάντα κεκτημένοι, καὶ ταῦτα φρονοῦντες, εἰκότως τὴν κοιλίαν θεὸν ἔχουσι, λέγοντες, Φάγωμεν καὶ πίωμεν: αὔριον γὰρ ἀποθνήσκομεν. Εἶτα σὺ μὲν περὶ τοῦ σώματος ἀλγεῖς, ὅτι γήϊνόν ἐστι, καίτοι τοῦτό σε οὐδὲν παραβλάπτει εἰς ἀρετῆς λόγον: τὴν δὲ ψυχὴν εἰς γῆν κατασπῶν τῇ τρυφῇ, καὶ μηδένα λόγον τούτου ποιῶν, γελᾷς, εἰπέ μοι, καὶ διακέχυσαι; καὶ ποίας τεύξῃ συγγνώμης διακείμενος ἀναλγήτως, δέον καὶ τὸ σῶμα ποιῆσαι πνευματικόν; ἔξεστι γὰρ, ἂν θέλῃς. Κοιλίαν ἔλαβες, ἵνα τρέφῃς, οὐχ ἵνα διασπᾷς: ἵνα κρατῇς αὐτῆς, οὐχ ἵνα δέσποιναν ἔχῃς: ἵνα σοι ὑπηρετῇ πρὸς τὴν τῶν λοιπῶν μορίων διατροφὴν, οὐχ ἵνα σὺ αὐτῇ ὑπηρετῇς, οὐχ ἵνα τοὺς ὅρους ἐκβαίνῃς. Οὐ τοσαῦτα κακὰ ἐργάζεται ἡ θάλασσα τοὺς ὅρους ὑπερβαίνουσα, ὅσα ἡ γαστὴρ τὸ σῶμα τὸ ἡμέτερον μετὰ τῆς ψυχῆς: πᾶσαν ἐπικλύζει τὴν οἰκουμένην ἐκείνη, καὶ αὕτη ἅπαν τὸ σῶμα. Θὲς αὐτῇ ὅρον τὴν αὐτάρκειαν, καθὼς Θεὸς ἔθετο τῇ θαλάσσῃ τὴν ἄμμον: κἂν κυμαίνῃ, κἂν ἀγριαίνῃ, ἐπιτίμα αὐτῇ τῇ δυνάμει τῇ οὔσῃ ἐν σοί. Ὅρα πῶς λόγῳ σε ἐτίμησεν ὁ Θεὸς, ἵνα αὐτὸν μιμῇ: σὺ δὲ οὐ θέλεις, ἀλλ' ὁρῶν αὐτὴν ὑπερβλύζουσαν, καὶ πᾶσαν διαφθείρουσαν τὴν φύσιν, καὶ λιμνάζουσαν, οὐ τολμᾷς κατασχεῖν οὐδὲ σωφρονίσαι. Ὧν ὁ θεὸς, φησὶν, ἡ κοιλία. Ἴδωμεν πῶς Παῦλος ἐδούλευσε τῷ Θεῷ: ἴδωμεν πῶς καὶ οἱ γαστρίμαργοι τῇ κοιλίᾳ. Οὐχὶ μυρίους ὑπομένουσιν οὗτοι θανάτους; οὐχ, ἅπερ ἂν προστάττῃ, δεδοίκασι παρακοῦσαι; οὐχὶ τὰ ἀδύνατα διακονοῦνται αὐτῇ; Οὐχὶ ἀνδραπόδων χείρους εἰσίν; Ἀλλ' οὐχ ὁ Παῦλος τοιοῦτος: διὸ καὶ ἔλεγεν, Ἡμῶν δὲ τὸ πολίτευμα ἐν οὐρανῷ ὑπάρχει. Μὴ τοίνυν μηδὲ ἡμεῖς ἐνταῦθα ζητῶμεν ἄνεσιν: ἐκεῖ θελήσωμεν γενέσθαι λαμπροὶ, ἔνθα καὶ πολιτευόμεθα. Ἐξ οὗ καὶ Σωτῆρα, φησὶν, ἀπεκδεχόμεθα Κύριον Ἰησοῦν, ὃς μετασχηματίσει τὸ σῶμα τῆς ταπεινώσεως ἡμῶν εἰς τὸ γενέσθαι αὐτὸ σύμμορφον τῷ σώματι τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ. Κατὰ μικρὸν ἀνήγαγεν ἡμᾶς: ἀπ' οὐρανοῦ, φησὶν, ὁ ἡμέτερος Σωτήρ: ἀπὸ τοῦ τόπου, ἀπὸ τοῦ προσώπου τὸ σεμνὸν δεικνύς. Ὃς μετασχηματίσει τὸ σῶμα, φησὶ, τῆς ταπεινώσεως ἡμῶν. Πολλὰ πάσχει νῦν τὸ ἡμέτερον σῶμα, δεσμεῖται, μαστίζεται, μυρία πάσχει δεινά: ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸ τοῦ Χριστοῦ τοσαῦτα ἔπαθε. Τοῦτο γοῦν ᾐνίξατο εἰπὼν, Εἰς τὸ γενέσθαι αὐτὸ σύμμορφον τῷ σώματι τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ. Ἄρα τὸ αὐτὸ μέν ἐστιν, ἐνδύεται δὲ ἀφθαρσίαν. Μετασχηματίσει, φησίν. Ἄρα καὶ τὸ σχῆμα ἕτερον, ἢ τὴν μεταβολὴν οὕτω καταχρηστικῶς ἐκάλεσε. Σῶμα δὲ ταπεινώσεως ἡμῶν εἶπεν, ὅτι τεταπείνωται νῦν, ὅτι τῇ φθορᾷ ἐστιν ὑπεύθυνον, τῇ ἀλγηδόνι, ὅτι δοκεῖ εὐτελὲς εἶναι, καὶ οὐδὲν τῶν λοιπῶν ἔχειν τι πλέον. Εἰς τὸ γενέσθαι αὐτὸ, φησὶ, σύμμορφον τῷ σώματι τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ. Βαβαί! ἐκείνῳ, τῷ καθημένῳ ἐν δεξιᾷ τοῦ Πατρὸς, σύμμορφον τοῦτο τὸ σῶμα γίνεται: ἐκείνῳ, τῷ προσκυνουμένῳ ὑπὸ ἀγγέλων, ἐκείνῳ, ᾧ παρεστήκεσαν αἱ ἀσώματοι δυνάμεις, ἐκείνῳ τῷ ἐπάνω πάσης ἀρχῆς καὶ ἐξουσίας καὶ δυνάμεως, ἐκείνῳ σύμμορφον γίνεται. Ἆρα ἂν ἡ οἰκουμένη πᾶσα λαβοῦσα δάκρυα, τοὺς ταύτης τῆς ἐλπίδος ἐκπεπτωκότας δακρύῃ, ἀξίως δακρύσει, ὅτι ἐπαγγελίας ἡμῖν κειμένης ἐκείνῳ γενέσθαι σύμμορφον, μετὰ τῶν δαιμόνων ἀπέρχεται; Οὐ μέλει μοι γεέννης λοιπόν: ὅσα ἂν εἴπῃς, οὐδὲν νομίζω πρὸς τὴν ἔκπτωσιν ταύτην. Τί λέγεις, ὦ Παῦλε; ἐκείνῳ σύμμορφον γίνεται; Ναὶ, φησίν. Εἶτα, ἵνα μὴ ἀπιστήσῃς, καὶ λογισμὸν ἐπήγαγε: Κατὰ τὴν ἐνέργειαν, φησὶ, τοῦ δύνασθαι αὐτὸν καὶ ὑποτάξαι ἑαυτῷ τὰ πάντα. Δύναμιν ἔχει, φησὶν, ὥστε τὰ πάντα ὑποτάξαι, ὥστε καὶ τὴν φθορὰν καὶ τὸν θάνατον: μᾶλλον δὲ ἀπὸ τῆς αὐτῆς δυνάμεως καὶ τοῦτο ποιεῖ. Ποῖον γὰρ δυνάμεώς ἐστι μείζονος, εἰπέ μοι, ἀγγέλους καὶ ἀρχαγγέλους καὶ Χερουβὶμ καὶ Σεραφὶμ ὑποτάξαι καὶ δαίμονας, ἢ σῶμα ποιῆσαι ἄφθαρτον καὶ ἀθάνατον; Πολλῷ δὴ μᾶλλον τοῦτο, ἣ ἐκεῖνο. Ἔδειξε μείζονα ἔργα τῆς δυνάμεως αὐτοῦ, ἵνα καὶ τούτοις πιστεύσῃς. Ὥστε κἂν ὁρᾶτε τούτους χαίροντας, κἂν ὁρᾶτε δεδοξασμένους, στήκετε, μηδὲν παραβλάπτεσθε παρ' αὐτῶν, μηδὲν πτύρεσθε: ἱκαναὶ αὗται αἱ ἐλπίδες καὶ τὸν σφόδρα νωθρὸν καὶ ὑπνηλὸν ἀνορθῶσαι. Ὥστε, ἀδελφοί μου, φησὶν, ἀγαπητοὶ καὶ ἐπιπόθητοι, χαρά μου καὶ στέφανός μου, οὕτω στήκετε ἐν Κυρίῳ, ἀγαπητοί. Οὕτω, πῶς; Ὡς ἑστήκατε ἀκλινεῖς. Ὅρα πῶς μετὰ τὴν παραίνεσιν τὰ ἐγκώμια: Χαρὰ καὶ στέφανός μου. Οὐχ ἁπλῶς χαρὰ, ἀλλὰ καὶ δόξα: οὐχ ἁπλῶς δόξα, ἀλλὰ καὶ στέφανος: ἧς δόξης οὐκ ἔστιν ἴσον, ὅταν Παύλου στέφανος ὦσιν. Οὕτω στήκετε ἐν Κυρίῳ, ἀγαπητοί: τουτέστιν, ἐν τῇ ἐλπίδι τοῦ Θεοῦ. Εὐοδίαν παρακαλῶ, καὶ Συντύχην παρακαλῶ τὸ αὐτὸ φρονεῖν ἐν Κυρίῳ. Καὶ ἐρωτῶ καὶ σὲ, σύζυγε γνήσιε, συναντιλαμβάνου αὐταῖς. γʹ. Τινὲς τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ παρακαλεῖν ἐνταῦθά φασιν, Σύζυγε γνήσιε: ἀλλ' οὐκ ἔστιν, ἀλλά τινα γυναῖκα, ἢ καὶ ἄνδρα μιᾶς αὐτῶν. Συναντιλαμβάνου αὐταῖς, φησὶν, αἵτινες ἐν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ συνήθλησάν μοι, μετὰ καὶ Κλήμεντος καὶ τῶν λοιπῶν συνεργῶν μου, ὧν τὰ ὀνόματα ἐν βίβλῳ ζωῆς. Ὁρᾷς ὅσην αὐτοῖς ἀρετὴν μαρτυρεῖ; Ὅπερ τοῖς ἀποστόλοις εἶπεν ὁ Χριστὸς, Μὴ χαίρετε, ὅτι τὰ δαιμόνια ὑμῖν ὑπακούει, ἀλλ' ὅτι τὰ ὀνόματα ὑμῶν ἐγγεγραμμένα ἐν βίβλῳ ζωῆς, τοῦτο αὐτοῖς μαρτυρεῖ καὶ οὗτος λέγων, Ὧν τὰ ὀνόματα ἐν βίβλῳ ζωῆς. Δοκοῦσι δέ μοι αὗται αἱ γυναῖκες τὸ κεφάλαιον εἶναι τῆς Ἐκκλησίας τῆς ἐκεῖ, καὶ παρατίθεται αὐτὰς ἀνδρὶ ἴσως θαυμαστῷ, ὃν καὶ σύζυγον καλεῖ: ᾧ ἴσως εἰώθει παρατίθεσθαι, ὡς συνεργῷ καὶ στρατιώτῃ καὶ κοινωνῷ καὶ ἀδελφῷ: ὅπερ καὶ ἐν τῇ πρὸς Ῥωμαίους ποιεῖ, λέγων: Συνίστημι ὑμῖν Φοίβην τὴν ἀδελφὴν ἡμῶν, διάκονον οὖσαν τῆς Ἐκκλησίας τῆς ἐν Κεγχρεαῖς. Σύζυγε. Ἢ ἀδελφόν τινα αὐτῶν, ἢ καὶ ἄνδρα μιᾶς αὐτῶν οὕτω καλεῖ: ὡς ἂν εἰ ἔλεγε: Νῦν ἀδελφὸς εἶ γνήσιος, νῦν ἀνὴρ γνήσιος, ὅτι μέλος γέγονας. Αἵτινες ἐν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ συνήθλησάν μοι. Οἴκοθεν ἡ προστασία σου, οὐκ ἀπὸ φιλίας, ἀλλ' ἀπὸ κατορθωμάτων. Συνήθλησάν μοι. Τί λέγεις; γυναῖκες συνήθλησαν; Ναὶ, φησίν. Οὐ μικρὸν καὶ αὗται συνεβάλοντο μέρος: καίτοι δὲ πολλῶν ὄντων τῶν συνεργούντων αὐτῷ, ὅμως ἐν πολλοῖς καὶ αὗται συνέπραττον. Οὐ μικρῶς οὖν τότε συνεκροτοῦντο αἱ Ἐκκλησίαι: τῷ γὰρ τοὺς εὐδοκίμους, εἴτε ἄνδρας, εἴτε γυναῖκας, τοσαύτης παρὰ τῶν λοιπῶν ἀπολαύειν τιμῆς, πολλὰ ἐγίνετο τὰ καλά. Πρῶτον μὲν γὰρ οἱ λοιποὶ πρὸς τὸν ἴσον ἤγοντο ζῆλον: δεύτερον δὲ καὶ ἐκέρδαινον διὰ τῆς τιμῆς: τρίτον καὶ αὐτοὺς ἐκείνους προθυμοτέρους ἐποίουν καὶ σφοδροτέρους. Διὰ τοῦτο πανταχοῦ ὁρᾷς ἐπιμελούμενον τούτου τὸν Παῦλον, καὶ παρατιθέμενον τοὺς τοιούτους: ὅπερ καὶ ἐν τῇ πρὸς Κορινθίους φησὶν, Οἵτινές εἰσιν ἀπαρχὴ τῆς Ἀχαΐας. Τινὲς δέ φασιν ὄνομα ἐκεῖνο κύριον εἶναι τὸ, Σύζυγε: πλὴν εἴτε τοῦτο, εἴτε ἐκεῖνο, οὐ σφόδρα ἀκριβολογεῖσθαι δεῖ, ἀλλ' ὅτι πολλῆς κελεύει αὐτὰς προστασίας ἀπολαῦσαι, θαυμάζειν. δʹ. Πάντα ἡμῖν ἐν οὐρανοῖς ἐστι, καὶ Σωτὴρ καὶ πόλις, καὶ ὅ τι ἂν εἴποι τις: Ἐξ οὗ, φησὶ, καὶ Σωτῆρα ἀπεκδεχόμεθα Κύριον Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν. Καὶ τοῦτο τῆς φιλανθρωπίας αὐτοῦ. Αὐτὸς πάλιν ἔρχεται πρὸς ἡμᾶς, οὐχ ἡμᾶς ἕλκει ἐκεῖ, καὶ οὕτω λαβὼν ἡμᾶς ἄπεισι: καὶ τοῦτο πολλῆς τῆς τιμῆς. Εἰ γὰρ πρὸς ἐχθροὺς ὄντας ἦλθε, πολλῷ μᾶλλον πρὸς φίλους γενομένους. Οὐκ ἐπιτρέπει τοῦτο ἀγγέλοις, οὐδὲ δούλοις, ἀλλ' αὐτὸς ἐπὶ τῶν νεφελῶν ἔρχεται καλέσων ἡμᾶς εἰς τὰ βασίλεια αὐτοῦ. Τάχα δὲ καὶ οἱ αὐτοῦ, τιμώμενοι ὑπ' αὐτοῦ, ἀρθήσονται διὰ νεφελῶν. Καὶ ἡμεῖς γὰρ, φησὶν, ἐν νεφέλαις ἁρπαγησόμεθα οἱ τιμῶντες αὐτὸν, καὶ οὕτω πάντοτε σὺν Κυρίῳ ἐσόμεθα. Τίς ἄρα εὑρεθῇ ὁ πιστὸς δοῦλος καὶ φρόνιμος; τίνες ἄρα οἱ καταξιούμενοι τῶν τοσούτων ἀγαθῶν; πῶς ἐλεεινοὶ οἱ ἀποπίπτοντες; Εἰ γὰρ τὸν πάντα χρόνον ἐκλαίομεν τῆς βασιλείας ἀποτυχόντες, ἆρά τι ἄξιον ἐποιοῦμεν; Εἰ γὰρ μυρίας γεέννας εἴπῃς, οὐδὲν ἴσον ἐρεῖς τῆς ὀδύνης ἐκείνης, ἣν ὑφίσταται τότε ἡ ψυχὴ, τῆς οἰκουμένης κλονουμένης ἁπάσης, τῶν σαλπίγγων ἠχουσῶν, τῶν ἀγγέλων προτρεχόντων, τῶν πρώτων, εἶτα δευτέρων, εἶτα τρίτων, εἶτα μυρίων ταγμάτων ἐκχεομένων εἰς τὴν γῆν, εἶτα τῶν Χερουβὶμ (πολλὰ δὲ ταῦτά ἐστι καὶ ἄπειρα): εἶτα τῶν Σεραφὶμ, αὐτοῦ ἐρχομένου ἐπὶ τῆς δόξης ἐκείνης τῆς ἀφράστου, ἀπαντώντων, τῶν ἀφικομένων τοὺς ἐκλεκτοὺς ἄγειν εἰς μέσον: εἶτα τῶν περὶ Παῦλον, καὶ πάντων ὅσοι εὐδοκίμησαν κατ' αὐτὸν, στεφανουμένων, ἀνακηρυττομένων, τιμωμένων παρὰ τοῦ Βασιλέως ἐπὶ πάσης τῆς στρατιᾶς τῆς οὐρανίου. Εἰ γὰρ μὴ γέεννα ἦν, τὸ τοὺς μὲν τιμᾶσθαι, ἐκείνους δὲ ἀτιμάζεσθαι, πόσον ἐστίν; Ἀφόρητος ἡ γέεννα, ὁμολογῶ. καὶ σφόδρα ἀφόρητος: πλὴν ἀφορητοτέρα αὐτῆς, τῆς βασιλείας ἡ ἔκπτωσις. Εἰπὲ γάρ μοι: εἴ τις βασιλεὺς, ἢ υἱὸς βασιλέως ἀπελθὼν, καὶ πολέμους κατορθώσας μυρίους, καὶ θαυμασθεὶς, καὶ ἔχων στρατόπεδον ὁλόκληρον, ἐπιβαίνοι πόλεώς τινος μετὰ τοῦ ζεύγους, μετὰ τροπαίων, μετὰ μυρίων ταγμάτων πάντων χρυσοφορούντων, μετὰ τῶν δορυφόρων τῶν περὶ αὐτὸν ἁπάντων ἀσπίδας ἐχόντων χρυσᾶς, καὶ πᾶσα ἡ πόλις ἐστεφανωμένη εἴη, καὶ πάντες οἱ τῆς οἰκουμένης ἄρχοντες μετ' αὐτοῦ, ἕποιτο δὲ αὐτῷ καὶ πᾶσα ἡλικία, ὀπίσω ἀλλογενῶν ἐθνῶν δεσμωτῶν, ὑπάρχων, σατραπῶν, ὑπάτων, τυράννων, ἀρχόντων: εἶτα ἐπὶ ἁπάσης τῆς λαμπρότητος ἐκείνης, τοὺς ἀπαντῶντας τῶν πολιτῶν δέχοιτο καὶ καταφιλοίη, καὶ χεῖρα ὀρέγοι, καὶ πάσης μεταδιδοῖ παῤῥησίας, ἢ καὶ πάντων ἑστώτων διαλέγοιτο, ὡς πρὸς φίλους, καὶ λέγοι πᾶσαν τὴν ὁδὸν ἐκείνην δι' αὐτοὺς πεποιῆσθαι, καὶ τοὺς μὲν εἰς τὰ βασίλεια ἄγοι τὰ ἑαυτοῦ, τοὺς δὲ καταλιμπάνοι, πόσης κολάσεως τοῦτο οὐκ ἄξιον, εἰ καὶ μὴ κολάζονται; Εἰ δὲ ἐπ' ἀνθρώπου οὕτω πικρὸν τὸ τῆς δόξης ταύτης ἀποπεσεῖν, πολλῷ μᾶλλον ἐπὶ Θεοῦ, ὅταν αἱ ἄνω δυνάμεις πᾶσαι παρῶσι μετὰ τοῦ Βασιλέως, ὅταν οἱ δαίμονες δεδεμένοι καὶ κάτω νεύοντες, καὶ ὁ διάβολος αὐτὸς δέσμιος ἄγηται, καὶ πᾶσα ἰσχὺς ἡ ἀντικειμένη, ὅταν αἱ δυνάμεις τῶν οὐρανῶν, ὅταν αὐτὸς ἔρχηται ἐπὶ τῶν νεφελῶν. Πιστεύσατέ μοι, ὑπὸ τῆς ὀδύνης τῆς κατεχούσης μου τὴν ψυχὴν τῷ διηγήματι τούτῳ οὐδὲ ἐξανύσαι τὸν λόγον δύναμαι. Ἐννοήσωμεν πόσης ἀποστερούμεθα δόξης, ἐξὸν μὴ ἀποστερηθῆναι. Τὸ γὰρ δεινὸν τοῦτό ἐστιν, ὅτι κύριοι ὄντες τοῦ μὴ ταῦτα παθεῖν, πάσχομεν. Ὅταν γὰρ τοὺς μὲν δέχηται καὶ ἀπάγῃ πρὸς τὸν Πατέρα εἰς τοὺς οὐρανοὺς, τοὺς δὲ ἀφιῇ, καὶ λαβόντες ἄγγελοί τινες ἕλκωσιν ἄκοντας καὶ δεδακρυμένους καὶ κάτω νεύοντας ἐπὶ τὸ τῆς γεέννης πῦρ, πρῶτον παραδειγματισθέντας ἐπὶ τῆς οἰκουμένης ἁπάσης, πόσην οἴει τὴν ὀδύνην εἶναι; Σπεύδωμεν οὖν ἕως ἐστὶ καιρὸς, καὶ πολλὴν τῆς ἑαυτῶν σωτηρίας τὴν φροντίδα ποιώμεθα. Πόσα τοιαῦτα ἔχομεν εἰπεῖν οἷα ὁ πλούσιος Εἴ τις ἡμᾶς νῦν συνεχώρει, ἐβουλευσάμεθα ἄν τι τῶν συμφερόντων: ἀλλ' οὐδεὶς ἀφίησι! Καὶ ὅτι ἐροῦμεν, οὐχὶ ἀπ' ἐκείνου μόνου δῆλον, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἀπὸ ἄλλων πολλῶν. Καὶ ἵνα μάθῃς, πόσοι ἐν πυρετῷ ἐγένοντο, καὶ εἶπον, Ἐὰν ἀνακτησώμεθα ἑαυτοὺς, οὐκέτι τοῖς αὐτοῖς περιπεσούμεθα! Πολλὰ τοιαῦτα ἐροῦμεν τότε, ἀλλὰ ἀκουσόμεθα ἅπερ ὁ πλούσιος, ὅτι χάσμα ἐστὶν, ὅτι ἀπελάβομεν τὰ ἀγαθὰ ἐνταῦθα. Στένωμεν οὖν, παρακαλῶ, πικρόν: μᾶλλον δὲ μὴ μόνον στένωμεν, ἀλλὰ καὶ μετέλθωμεν τὴν ἀρετήν. Πενθήσωμεν νῦν ἐπὶ σωτηρίᾳ, ἵνα μὴ τότε πενθήσωμεν εἰκῆ: κλαύσωμεν νῦν, καὶ μὴ τότε κλαύσομεν ἐπὶ κακίᾳ: οὗτος ὁ κλαυθμὸς ἀρετῆς, ἐκεῖνος ἀνωφελοῦς μετανοίας: θλίψωμεν ἑαυτοὺς νῦν, ἵνα μὴ τότε θλιβῶμεν. Οὐκ ἔστιν ἴσον ἐνταῦθα θλιβῆναι, κἀκεῖ. Ἐνταῦθα μὲν γὰρ πρὸς βραχὺν θλίβῃ χρόνον, μᾶλλον δὲ οὐδὲ αἴσθησιν λαμβάνεις τῆς θλίψεως, εἰδὼς ὅτι ἐπ' ἀγαθῷ θλίβῃ: ἐκεῖ δὲ χαλεπωτέρα ἡ θλῖψις, ὅτι οὐκ ἐπ' ἐλπίδι, οὐδὲ ἐπί τινι διεξόδῳ, ἀλλὰ ἀπείρως καὶ διαπαντός ἐστι. Γένοιτο δὲ πάντας ἡμᾶς ἀπαλλαγέντας τυχεῖν τῆς ἀνέσεως. Ἀλλ' ἐπεὶ πρὸς τὸ μὴ ταύτης διαμαρτεῖν χρεία συντόνου σπουδῆς καὶ ἀδιαλείπτων εὐχῶν, σπουδάζωμεν, παρακαλῶ: ἂν γὰρ σπουδάζωμεν, καὶ εὐχόμενοι ἀνύομεν: ἐὰν εὐχώμεθα ἐκτενῶς, δίδωσιν ὁ Θεός. Ἂν δὲ μήτε αἰτῶμεν αὐτὸν, μήτε ἐνεργῶμέν τι τοιοῦτον, μηδὲ ἐργαζώμεθα, πῶς ἔνι κατορθῶσαί ποτε καθεύδοντας; Οὐδαμῶς. Ἀγαπητὸν γὰρ τρέχοντας καὶ ἐπεκτεινομένους καὶ συμμορφουμένους τῷ θανάτῳ αὐτοῦ, ὡς Παῦλος εἶπε, δυνηθῆναι ἐπιτυχεῖν, μήτι γε δὴ καθεύδοντας. Εἴ πως καταντήσω, φησίν. Εἰ δὲ Παῦλος ἔλεγεν, Εἴ πως καταντήσω, τί ἡμεῖς ἐροῦμεν; Καθεύδοντας γὰρ οὐδὲ κοσμικὰ πράγματα ἔστιν ἀνύσαι ποτὲ, μήτι γε πνευματικά: καθεύδοντας οὐδὲ παρὰ τῶν φίλων ἔστι τι λαβεῖν ποτε, μήτι γε παρὰ Θεοῦ: καθεύδοντας οὐδὲ πατέρες τιμῶσι, μήτι γε ὁ Θεός. Μικρὸν πονήσωμεν, ἵνα διαπαντὸς ἀναπαυσώμεθα. Πάντως θλιβῆναι δεῖ: κἂν μὴ θλιβῶμεν ἐνταῦθα, ἐκεῖ τοῦτο μένει. Διὰ τί μὴ αἱρούμεθα ἐνταῦθα θλιβῆναι, ἵνα ἐκεῖ ἀναπαυσώμεθα; Γένοιτο δὲ πάντας ἡμᾶς ἀξίως πολιτευσαμένους Χριστοῦ, καὶ τῷ θανάτῳ αὐτοῦ συμμορφωθέντας, τῶν ἀποῤῥήτων τυχεῖν ἀγαθῶν ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ, μεθ' οὗ τῷ Πατρὶ ἅμα τῷ ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι δόξα, κράτος, τιμὴ, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ, καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.