Зображення сторінки
PDF
ePub

Hezekiah spared for David's sake.

343

I.

verted? For tell me, why do not the wicked become good? HOM. Is it not then manifest, that it is because they do not choose to contribute any thing of themselves? Prayers, then, profit greatly, but it is when we also contribute our own parts.

3. and

42.

Would you learn how much prayers have profited? consi- Acts 10, der, I pray, Cornelius, Tabitha. Hear also Jacob saying to 9, 36. Laban, Except the Fear of my father had been with me, Gen. 31, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. Hear also God again, saying, I will defend this city for Mine own sake, and 2 Kings for My servant David's sake. But when? In the time of 9, 34. Hezekiah, who was righteous. Since if prayers availed even for the extremely wicked, why did not God say this also when Nebuchadnezzar came, and why did He give up the city? Because wickedness prevailed in a greater degree. Again, Samuel himself also prayed for the Israelites, and prevailed. But when? When they also pleased God, then He put their enemies to flight. And what need, you say, of prayer from another, when I myself please God. Never, O man, say this. There is need, aye, and need of much prayer. For hear God saying concerning the friends of Job; And he Job 41, shall pray for you, and your sin shall be forgiven you. Because they had sinned indeed, but not a great sin. But this just man, who then saved his friends by prayer, in the season of the Jews, was not able to save the Jews who were perishing. And that you may learn this, hear God saying by the prophet; If Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, they Ezek. shall deliver neither sons nor daughters. Because wicked- 14, 14. ness prevailed excessively. And again, Though Moses and Jerem. Samuel stood before Me.

8.

16.

15, 1.

And see how this is said to the two Prophets, because both prayed for them, and did not prevail. For when Ezekiel said, Ah Lord, wilt thou destroy the residue of Israel? God, Ezek. 9, shewing that He does this justly, and that not despising him 8. does He reject his supplication for them, shews him their sins, almost saying, These things indeed are enough even to persuade thee, that not despising thee, but on account of

al.' are not able,' for do not choose. do not contribute any thing of themBoth are perhaps glosses for the clause selves.'

in B. and Sav. mar. If these (men)

1, 7. From

14.

344

No intercession can save the wicked.

1 THES. their many sins, I do not accept thy supplication. Nevertheless He adds this also, Though Noah, Job, and Daniel Ezek. stood before Me. And perhaps He the rather says this to him, because it is he who suffered so many things. Thou badest me, he says, eat upon dung, and I ate upon it. Thou badest me shave my head, and I shaved it. Thou badest me lie upon one side, and I did it. Thou badest me go out through a hole in the wall, bearing a burden, and I went out. Thou tookest away my wife, and badest me not mourn, and I did not mourn, but bore it with fortitude. Ten thousand other things have I done for them: and I entreat for them, and dost Thou not comply? God therefore, shewing that it is not from despising him that He does this, says, Though Noah, Job, and Daniel were there, and should intreat for their sons and daughters, I would not comply.

Ezek.

24, 18.

And again to Jeremiah, who had suffered less from the commandments of God, but more from their wickedness, Jer. 7, what does He say? Seest thou not what they do?

17.

Exod.

32, 32.

Sept.

Yea,'

he says, they do so-but do Thou do it for my sake.' On this account He says to him, Though Moses and Samuel stood before Me. Moses, their first lawgiver, who often delivered them from dangers, who had said, If now thou forgivest their sin, forgive it; but if not, blot me out also. If therefore he were now alive, and spoke thus, he would not prevail, nor would Samuel, again, who himself also delivered them, and who from his earliest youth was admired. For to the former indeed I said, that I conversed with him as a friend with a friend, and not by dark sayings. And of the latter I said, that in his first youth I was revealed to him, and that on his account, being prevailed upon, I opened the 1 Sam. prophecy that had been shut up. For the word of the Lord, it is said, was precious in those days; there was no open vision. If these men, therefore, stood before Me, they would Gen. 6, profit nothing. And of Noah He says, Noah was a just man, and perfect in his generation. And concerning Job, Job 1, 1. He was blameless, just, true, fearing God. These then, had they stood before Him, and Daniel, whom the Chaldeans even thought a god, they would not be able, He said, to deliver their sons and daughters. Knowing these things,

3, 1.

9.

LXX.

S i. e. food baked on it. Ezek. 4, 12. 15.

[ocr errors]

I.

Prayers of the Saints good, but with good practice. 345 therefore, let us neither despise the prayers of the Saints, Hoм. nor throw every thing upon them: that we may not, on the one hand, be indolent and live carelessly; nor on the other deprive ourselves of a great advantage. But let us both beseech them to pray and lift up their hands for us, and let us adhere to virtue; that we may be able to obtain the blessings promised to those who love Him by the grace and lovingkindness of our Lord Jesus Christ, with Whom, &c.

HOMILY II.

1 THESS. i. 8, 9, 10.

For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in
Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith
to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to
speak any thing. For they themselves shew of us what
manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned
to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And
to wait for His Son from Heaven, Whom He raised from
the dead, even Jesus, Who delivered us from the wrath to

come.

up

their

As a sweet-smelling ointment keeps not its fragrance shut up in itself, but diffuses it afar, and scenting the air with its perfume, so conveys it also to the senses of the neighbours ; so too illustrious and admirable men do not shut virtue within themselves, but by their good report benefit others, and render them better. Which also then happened. Wherefore he said, Ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. For from you, he says, sounded out the word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad. Ye have filled, therefore, all your neighbours with 1 B. and instruction', and the world with wonder. For this is meant by the expression, in every place. And he has not said, your faith is noised abroad, but sounded out, shewing that as every place near is filled with the sound of a loud trumpet, so

Cat.

'your faith.'

4

II.

Faith of the Thessalonians how known every where. 347 the report of your manfulness is loud, and sounding even like Hoм. that, is sufficient to fill the world, and to fall with equal sound upon all that are round about. For great actions are more B. and loudly celebrated there, where they have taken place; afar off Cat. indeed they are celebrated, but not so much.

Γλαμπρὰ

Edd.

But in your case it was not so, but the sound of good 2 So B. report was spread abroad in every part of the earth. And let from not any one think these words hyperbolical. For this nation you.' of the Macedonians, before the coming of Christ, was renowned, and celebrated every where more than the Romans. And the Romans were admired on this account, that they took them captive. For the actions of the Macedonian king exceeded all report, who, setting out from a little city indeed, yet subdued the world. Wherefore also the Prophet saw him, a winged leopard, shewing his swiftness, his vehemence, his fiery nature, his suddenly in a manner over-running the world with the trophies of his victory. And they say, that hearing from a certain philosopher, that there were infinite worlds, he groaned bitterly, that when they were numberless, he had not conquered even one. So high-minded was he, of so lofty a soul, and celebrated in every part of the world. And with the fame of the king the glory of the nation also advanced3. 3 For he was called 'Alexander, the Macedonian.' So that as B. he was loudly celebrated, what took place there was also ju naturally much talked of. For nothing can be concealed that relates to the illustrious. The Macedonians then were not inferior to the Romans.

3 συναν

ju

συναπ

gone

Your faith to God-ward, he says, is spread abroad. Ob- Gr. serve how, as if he were speaking of something living, he forth. introduces the word gone forth. This too arose from their earnestness. Then shewing that thus they displayed their faith strong and active, he adds, so that we need not to speak any thing, for they themselves shew of us what entering in we had unto you. They do not wait to hear from us", but those who were not present, and have not seen, anticipate those who were present, and have seen your good deeds. So manifest were they every where made by report. We shall not therefore need, by relating your actions, to bring them to

a B. and Cat. rag' nμãv, for wigi iuv,' concerning you.'

« НазадПродовжити »