Holy Obedience the greatest Miracle.

477

X. 13.

vain-glorious, are puffed up, are separated one from another; MATT. did miracles also take place, how could there but be violent rendings? And that what I say is not mere conjecture, the Corinthians bear witness, who from this cause were divided into many parties.

Do not thou therefore seek signs, but the soul's health. Seek not to see one dead man raised; nay, for thou hast learnt that the whole world is arising. Seek not to see a blind man healed, but behold all now restored unto that better and more profitable sight; and do thou too learn to look chastely, and amend thine eye.

For in truth, if we all lived as we ought, workers of miracles would not be admired so much as we by the children of the Heathen. For as to the signs, they often carry with them either a notion of mere fancy, or another evil suspicion, although ours be not such. But a pure life cannot admit of any such reproach; yea, all men's mouths are stopped by the acquisition of virtue.

Let virtue then be our study: for abundant are her riches, and great the wonder wrought in her. She bestows the true freedom, and causes the same to be discerned even in slavery, not releasing from slavery, but while men continue slaves, exhibiting them more honourable than freemen; which is much more than giving them freedom: not making the poor man rich, but while he continues poor, exhibiting him wealthier than the rich.

But if thou wouldest work miracles also, be rid of transgressions, and thou hast quite accomplished it. Yea, for sin is a great dæmon, beloved; and if thou exterminate this, thou hast wrought a greater thing than they who drive out ten thousand dæmons. Do thou listen to Paul, how he speaks, and prefers virtue to miracles. But covet earnestly, saith he, the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way1.11 Cor. 12, 31. And when he was to declare this way, he spoke not of raising the dead, not of cleansing of lepers, not of any other such thing; but in place of all these he set charity. Hearken also unto Christ, saying, Rejoice not that the dæmons obey you, but that your names are written in Heaven. And again? Luke before this, Many will say to Me in that day, Have we not prophesied in Thy name, and cast out devils, and done many

10, 20.

478 Miracles a questionable Good, Obedience not so.

HOMIL. mighty works, and then I will profess unto you, I know you

XXXII.

7,22.23.

11. not'. And when He was about to be crucified, He called His Matt. disciples, and said unto them, By this shall all men know that John ye are My disciples, not "if ye cast out devils," but if ye 13,35. have love one to another. And again, Hereby shall all men 17, 23. know that Thou hast sent Me; not "if these men raise the dead," but, if they be one3.

3 John

22.

For, as to miracles, they oftentimes, while they profited another, have injured him who had the power, by lifting him up to pride and vain-glory, or haply in some other way: but in our works there is no place for any such suspicion, but they profit both such as follow them, and many others.

These then let us perform with much diligence. For if thou change from inhumanity to almsgiving, thou hast stretched forth the hand that was withered. If thou withdraw from theatres and go to the Church, thou hast cured the lame foot. If thou draw back thine eyes from an harlot, and from beauty not thine own, thou hast opened them when they were blind. If instead of satanical songs, thou hast learnt spiritual psalms, being dumb, thou hast spoken.

These are the greatest miracles, these the wonderful signs. If we go on working these signs, we shall both ourselves be a great and admirable sort of persons through these, and shall win over all the wicked unto virtue, and shall enjoy the life to come; unto which may we all attain, by the grace and love towards man of our Lord Jesus Christ, to Whom be glory and might for ever and ever. Amen.

HOMILY XXXIII.

MATT. X. 16.

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves; be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as dores.

HAVING made them feel confident about their necessary food, and opened unto them all men's houses, and having invested their entrance with an appearance to attract veneration, charging them not to come in as wanderers, and beggars, but as much more venerable than those who received them: (for this He signifies by His saying, the workman is worthy of his hire; and by His commanding them to enquire, who was worthy, and there to remain, and enjoining them to salute such as receive them; and by His threatening such as receive them not with those incurable evils:) having, I say, in this way cast out their anxiety, and armed them with the display of miracles, and made them as it were all iron and adamant, by delivering them from all worldly things, and enfranchising them from all temporal care: He speaks in what follows of the evils also that were to befal them; not only those that were to happen soon after, but those too that were to be in long course of time; from the first, even long beforehand, preparing them for the war against the devil. Yea, and many advantages were hence secured; and first, that they learnt the power of His foreknowledge; secondly, that no one should suspect, that through weakness of their Master came these evils upon them; thirdly, that such as undergo

XXXIII.

480

Christ's Heralds to be like Sheep and Doves.

HOMIL. these things should not be dismayed by their falling out 1, 2. unexpectedly, and against hope; fourthly, that they might not at the very time of the Cross be troubled on hearing these things. For indeed, they were just so affected at that time; when also He upbraided them, saying, Because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your hearts; and 1 John none of you asketh Me, Whither goest Thou1? And yet He 16, 6.5. had said nothing as yet touching Himself, as that He should

be bound, and scourged, and put to death, that He might not hereby also confound their minds; but for the present He announces before what should happen to themselves.

Then, that they might learn that this system of war is new, and the manner of the array unwonted; as He sends them bare, and with one coat, and unshod, and without staff, and without girdle or scrip, and bids them be maintained by such as receive them; so neither here did He stay His speech, but to signify His unspeakable power, He saith, "Even thus setting out, exhibit the gentleness of sheep, and this, though ye are to go unto wolves; and not simply unto wolves, but into the midst of wolves."

And He bids them have not only gentleness as sheep, but also the harmlessness of the dove. "For thus shall I best shew forth My might, when sheep get the better of wolves, and being in the midst of wolves, and receiving a thousand bites, so far from being consumed, do even work a change on them: a thing far greater and more marvellous than killing them, to alter their spirit, and to reform their mind; and this, being only twelve, while the whole world is filled with the wolves."

Let us then be ashamed, who do the contrary, who set like wolves upon our enemies. For so long as we are sheep, we conquer: though ten thousand wolves prowl around, we overcome and prevail. But if we become wolves, we are worsted, for the help of our Shepherd departs from us: for He feeds not wolves, but sheep;) and He forsakes thee, and retires, for neither dost thou allow His might to be shewn. Because, as He accounts the whole triumph His own, if thou being ill used, shew forth gentleness; so if thou follow it up and give blows, thou obscurest His victory.

[2.] But do thou consider, I pray thee, who they are that hear

The Apostles' Weakness is the Lord's Glory. 481

X. 16.

these injunctions, so hard and laborious: the timid and MATT. ignorant; the unlettered and uninstructed; such as are in every respect obscure, who have never been trained up in the Gentile laws, who do not readily present themselves in the public places; the fishermen, the publicans, men full of innumerable deficiencies. For if these things were enough to confound even the lofty and great, how were they not enough to cast down and dismay them that were in all respects untried, and had never entertained any noble imagination? But they did not cast them down.

"be

"And very naturally," some one may perhaps say; cause He gave them power to cleanse lepers, to drive out devils." I would answer as follows: Nay, this very thing was enough especially to perplex them, that for all their raising the dead, they were to undergo these intolerable evils, both judgments, and executions, and the wars which all would wage on them, and the common hatred of the world; and that such terrors await them, while themselves are working miracles.

[3.] What then is their consolation for all these things? The power of Him that sends them. Wherefore also He puts this before all, saying, Behold, I send you. This suffices for your encouragement, this for confidence, and fearing none of your assailants.

Seest thou authority? seest thou prerogative? seest thou invincible might? Now His meaning is like this: "Be not troubled," (so He speaks,)" that sending you among wolves, I command you to be like sheep and like doves. For I might indeed have done the contrary, and have suffered you to undergo nothing terrible, nor as sheep to be exposed to wolves; I might have rendered you more formidable than lions; but it is expedient that so it should be. This makes you also more glorious; this proclaims also My power."

12, 9.

This He said also unto Paul; My grace is sufficient for thee, for My strength is made perfect in weakness1. "It is I, 12 Cor. now mark it, who have caused you so to be." For in saying, I send you forth as sheep, He intimates this. "Do not therefore despond, for I know, I know certainly, that in this way more than any other ye will be invincible to all.”

After this, that they may contribute something on their