498

Rulers most exposed to Satan's assaults.

3, 1. 2.

2 THES. you request the people to intreat for the ruler. I acknowledge it. For those under rule at that time were wretched and mean persons. Wherefore they were saved by the claims and the virtue of their commander alone; but now, when the grace of God has prevailed, and we shall find among those who are ruled many or rather the greater part excelling their ruler in a great degree; do not deprive us of this succour, raise up our hands that they may not be faint, open our mouth for us, that it may not be closed. Intreat God-for this cause intreat Him. It is in our behalf indeed that it is done, but it is wholly for your sakes. For we are appointed for your advantage, and for your interests we are concerned. Intreat every one of you, both privately and 2 Cor. publicly. Mark Paul saying, That for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons, thanks may be given by many on our behalf; that is, that He may give grace to many. If in the case of men, the people coming forward ask a pardon for persons condemned and led away to execution, and the king from regard to the multitude revokes the sentence, much more will God be influenced by regard to you, not by your multitude, but your virtue.

1, 11.

For we have great violence of the enemy. For each of you indeed considers and regards his own interests, but we the concerns of all together. We stand in the part of the battle that is pressed on. The devil is more violently armed against us. For in wars too, he that is on the opposite side endeavours before all others to overthrow the general. For this reason all his fellow-combatants hasten there. For this reason there is much tumult, every one endeavouring to rescue him, and on all sides they surround him with their shields, wishing to preserve his person. Hear what all the people say to David. (I say not this, as comparing myself to David, I am not so mad, but because I wish to shew the affection of the people for their ruler.) Thou shalt go no 21, 17. more out with us to battle, they say, lest thou quench the light of Israel. See how anxious they were to spare the old man. I am greatly in need of your prayers. Let no one, as I have said, from an excessive humility deprive me of this alliance and succour. If our part be well approved, your own also will be more honourable. If our teaching flow

2 Sam.

Boldness of one praying for many. God loves unanimity. 499

IV.

abundantly, the riches will redound to you. Hear the Hoм. prophet saying, Do the shepherds feed themselves?

From

5.

Do you observe Paul constantly seeking these prayers? Ezek. Do you hear that thus Peter was delivered from prison, when LXX. fervent prayer was made for him? I verily believe that your Acts 12, prayer will have great effect, offered with so great unanimity. Do you not think that it is a matter much too great for our littleness to draw nigh to God, and intreat Him for so numerous a people? For if I have not confidence to pray for myself, much less for others. For it belongs to men of high estimation, to beseech God to be merciful to others; it is for those who have rendered Him favourable to themselves. But he who is himself an offender, how shall he intreat for another? But nevertheless, because I embrace you with the bowels of a father, because love dares every thing, not only in the Church, but in the house also, I make my prayer above all other things for your health both in soul and in body. For there is no other prayer so becoming to a Priest, as to draw nigh to God and intreat Him for the good of the people, before his own. For if Job rising up immediately made so many offerings for his children in the flesh, how much more ought we to do this for our spiritual children?

σίας.

And why do I say these things? Because if we, who are (4) so far removed from the greatness of the work, offer supplications and prayers for you, much more is it just that you also should do it. For that one should intreat for many, is exceedingly bold, and requires much confidence': but that agenmany having met together should offer supplication for one, is nothing burdensome. For every one does this not trusting to his own virtue, but to the multitude, and to their unanimity, to which God every where has much respect. For, He says, where two or three are gathered together in My Name, there Mat.20, am I in the midst of them. If where two or three are gathered together, He is in the midst, much more is He among you. For that which a man praying by himself is not able to receive, that he shall receive praying with a multitude. Why? Because although his own virtue has not, yet the common consent has much power.

Where two or three, it is said, are gathered together. Why has he said, Two? For if there be one in Thy Name,

18.

3, 1. 2.

defence.

500

St. Chrysostom asks to be told if thought in fault. 2 THES. why art Thou not there? Because I wish all to be together, and not to be separated. Let us therefore crowd together. Let us bind one another together in love, let no one separate us. If any one accuses, or is offended, let him not retain it in his mind, whether against his neighbour, or against us. This favour I ask of you, to come to us, and bring the acculi. e. a sation, and receive an apology' from us. Reprove him, it From says, lest haply he hath not said it. Reprove him, lest haply Ecclus. he hath not done it; and if he hath done it, that he add not 19, 14. 15. thereto. For then either we have excused ourselves, or being condemned have asked pardon, and henceforth endeavour not to fall into the same faults. This is expedient both for you and for us. For you indeed having accused us perhaps without reason, when you have learned the truth of the matter, will stand corrected, and we have offended unawares and are corrected. It is not expedient for you to be indifferent. For punishment is appointed for those who utter any idle word. But we put off accusations, whether false or true. The false, by shewing that they are false; the true, by not again doing the same things. For it must needs happen that he who has the care of so many things should be ignorant, and through ignorance commit errors. For if every one of you having a house, and presiding over wife and children, and slaves, one more and another fewer, among souls that are so easily numbered, is nevertheless compelled to commit many errors involuntarily, or from ignorance, or when wishing to set something right; much more must it be so with us, who preside over so many people.

And may God still multiply you and bless us, the little with the great! For although the care becomes greater from the increase of numbers, nevertheless we do not cease praying that this our care may be increased, and that this number may be added too, and be many times as great and without limit. For fathers, although often harassed by the number of their children, nevertheless do not wish to lose any one. All things are equal between us and you, even the very chief of our blessings. I do not partake of the holy

adiapogi. Ed, Par. adds the word from one Ms. It means, not to mind whether your complaints are true or not.'

Care of children painful, but sweet to a parent.

501

IV.

Table with greater abundance, and you with less, but both Hoм. equally participate of the same. And if I take it first, it is no great privilege, since even among children, the elder first extends his hand to the feast, but nevertheless no superior advantage is gained thereby. But with us all things are equal. The saving life that sustains our souls is given with equal honour to both. I do not indeed partake of one Lamb and you of another, but we all partake of the same. We both have the same Baptism. We have been vouchsafed the same Spirit. We are both hastening to the same kingdom. We are alike brethren of Christ, we have all things in

k

common.

Where then is my advantage? In cares, in labours, in anxieties, in grieving for you. But nothing is sweeter than this grief, since even a mother grieving for her child is delighted with her grief, she thinks carefully of those whom she has brought forth, and is delighted at her cares. And yet care in itself is bitter, but when it is for children, at least it has in it much pleasure. Many of you have I begotten, but after this are my pangs. For in the case of mothers in the flesh the pangs are first, and then the birth. But here the pangs last till the latest breath, lest there should be any where some abortion even after the birth. And I indeed have a further longing'; for although perchance another has be- 'iol. gotten you, yet I nevertheless am harassed with cares. For we do not of ourselves beget you, but it is all of the grace of God. But if we both through the Spirit beget, he will not err who calls those begotten by me, his children, 3íroμsv and those begotten by him, mine. All these things then consider, and stretch forth your hand, that both you may be our boast and we yours, in the day of the Lord Jesus, which God grant that we may all see with confidence, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

3

goßárov, sheep in general, but he seems to have the Passover in mind.

HOMILY V.

2 THESS. iii. 3-5.

But the Lord is faithful, Who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you. And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.

NEITHER ought we, having committed every thing to the prayers of the Saints, to be idle ourselves, and run into wickedness, and to lay hold of none of those things that lead to virtue; nor again when working good to despise that succour. For great indeed, great are the things which prayer for us can effect, but it is when we ourselves also work. For this reason Paul also, praying for them, again gives them assurance from the promise, and says, But the Lord is faithful, Who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. For if He has chosen you to salvation, He will not deceive you, nor suffer you utterly to perish. But that he may not by these means lead them to sloth, and lest they thinking the whole to be of God should themselves sleep, see how he also demands cooperation from them, saying, And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you. The Lord indeed, he says, is faithful, and promising to save will

1 Ms. omits this clause, but it is said. not more than St. Chrys. may have

b B. and L. having promised.