and the whole world would be Christian.

163

TOS.

IV.

table, that the expense may not be so great? For so it is, Acts division always makes diminution, concord and agreement 23-37. make increase. The dwellers in the monasteries live just as the faithful did then: now did ever any of these die of hunger? was ever any of them not provided for with plenty of every thing? Now, it seems, people are more afraid of this than of falling into a boundless and bottomless deep. But if we had made actual trial of this, then indeed we should boldly venture upon this plan. What grace too, ' τοῦ think you, would there not be! For if at that time, when πράγμαthere was no believer but only the three thousand and the five thousand: when all, throughout the world, were enemies, when they could nowhere look for comfort, they yet boldly entered upon this plan with such success; how much more would this be the case now, when by the grace of God there are believers everywhere throughout the world? What Gentile would be left? For my part, I think there would not be one; we should so attract all, and draw them to us! But yet if we do but make 'fair progress, I trust in God that even this shall be realized. Only do as I say, and let us successfully achieve things in their regular order; if God grant life, I trust that we shall soon bring you over to this way of life.

In the first place, as regards that law about swearing: ac- [4.] complish that; establish it firmly: and let him that has kept it make known him that has not, and call him to account withal, and rebuke him sternly. For the appointed time is at hand, 2 ἡ προθεσμία, and I am holding inquisition in the matter, and him that is supra, found guilty I will banish and exclude. But God forbid Hom. that any such should be found among us; rather may it appear, that all have strictly kept this spiritual watch-word. And as in war it is by the watch-word that friends and strangers are shewn, so let it be now; for indeed now

XI.

164 From the easier duty, "Swear not at all,"

HOMIL.also we are engaged in a war; that we may know our brethren that are properly such. For what a good thing it is that we should have this to be our cognizance both here and in a foreign land! What a weapon this, against the very head of the devil! A mouth that cannot swear will soon both engage God in prayers, and smite the devil a deadly blow. A mouth that cannot swear will also be incapable of using insulting language. Cast out this fire from your tongue, as you would from a house: this fire, drag it out. Give your tongue a little rest: make the sore less virulent. Yea, I beseech you, do this, that I may go on to set you another lesson: for as long as this is not rightly done, I dare not pass on to any other. Let this lesson be got perfectly, and you shall have a consciousness of the achievement, and then I will introduce you to other laws, or rather not I, but Christ. Implant in your soul this good thing, and by little and little ye shall be a paradise of God, far better than that paradise of old. No serpent among you, no deadly tree, nor any such thing. Fix this habit deep. If this be done, not ye only that are present shall be benefited, but all that are in all the world; and not they alone, but those that are to succeed hereafter. For a good habit having once entered, and being kept by all, will be handed on to long ages, and no circumstances shall be able to erase it. If he that gathered sticks on the sabbath was stoned,the man that is doing a far more heinous work than that gathering, the man that is amassing a load of sins, for such is the multitude of oaths, what shall he undergo? what shall he not have to endure? You will receive great assistance from God, if this be well achieved by you. If I were to say, Be not abusive, immediately you will plead to me your indignation; should I say, Be not envious, you will urge some other excuse. But in this case you have nothing of the kind to say. On which account I began with the easy precepts, which indeed is also the uniform practice in all arts. And thus one comes to the higher duties, by learning first those which are easier far. How easy it is you will see, when by the grace of God having succeeded in this, you shall receive another precept.

Put it in my power to speak out boldly, in the presence

advance to higher achievements of virtue.

165

IV.

birth again; nor will Gal. 4, For I am persuaded, 19.

1.

both of Gentiles and of Jews, and, above all, of God. Yea, Acts I entreat you by the love, by the pangs wherewith I have 23-37. travailed for your birth, my little children. I will not add what follows, of whom I travail in I say, until Christ be formed in you. that Christ has been formed in you. Other language I will use towards you; My brethren, dearly beloved and longed Phil. 4, for, my joy and my crown. Believe me that I shall use no other language. If at this moment there were placed upon my head ten thousand richly-jewelled royal crowns, they could not give me the joy which I feel at your growth in holiness; or rather, I do not think the monarch himself has such a joy, as that wherewith I joy over you. Let him have come home, victorious over all the nations at war with him, let him have won many other crowns besides the crown of his right; and receive other diadems as tokens of his victory: I do not think he would joy over his trophies, as I joy over your souls' progress. For I exult, as if I had a thousand crowns on my head; and well may I rejoice. For if by the grace of God you achieve this good habit, you will have gained a thousand battles far more difficult than his; by wrestling and fighting with malicious demons, and fiendish spirits, with the tongue, not with sword, but by the will. For consider how much is gained, if so be that you do succeed! You have eradicated, first, a heinous habit; secondly, an evil conceit, the source of all evil, namely, the opinion that the thing is indifferent and can do no hurt; thirdly, wrath; fourthly, covetousness; for all these are the offspring of swearing. Nay, hence you will acquire a sure footing in the way to all other virtues. For as when children learn their letters, they learn not them alone, but by means of them are gradually taught to read; so shall it be with you. That evil conceit will no longer deceive you, you will not say, This is indifferent; you will no longer speak by mere habit, but will manfully stand against all, so that having perfected in all parts that virtue which is after God, you may reap eternal blessings, through the grace and lovingkindness of His Only-Begotten Son, to Whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be glory, power, and honour, now and ever, world without end. Amen.

HOMILY XII.

2.

ACTS iv. 36, 37.

And Joses, who by the Apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the Apostles' feet.

THE writer is now about to relate the affair of Ananias and Sapphira, and in order to shew that the man's sin was of the worst description, he first mentions him who performed the virtuous deed; that, there being so great a multitude all doing the same, so great grace, so great miracles, he, taught by none of these, but blinded by covetousness, brought destruction upon his own head. Having land, meaning that this was all he possessed, —

sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the Apostles'

ch. 5, 1. feet. But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, and kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the Apostles' feet. The aggravating circumstance was, that the sin was concerted, and none other saw what was done. How came it into the mind of this hapless wretch to commit this crime? But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Observe even in this, a great miracle performed, greater far than the former. Whiles it remained, says he, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? That is, 'Was there any obligation and force? do we constrain you against your will? Why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but Ananias and Sapphira sin in the midst of grace.

167

IV. 36.

unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, Acrs and gave up the ghost. This miracle is greater than that tov. 15. of the lame man, in respect of the death inflicted, and the knowing what was in the thought of the heart, even what was done in secret. And great fear came on all them that heard these things. And the young men arose, and wound v. 6-8. him up, and carried him out, and buried him. And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? The woman he would fain save, for the man had been the author of the sin: therefore he gives her time to clear herself, and opportunity for repentance, saying, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. Then Peter said unto her, How is it v.9-11. that ye have agreed together to tempt the Holy Ghost? Behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. Then she fell down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost; and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. And great fear came upon all the Church, and upon as many as heard these things.

After this fear had come upon them, he wrought more miracles; both Peter and the rest: And by the hands of the v. 12-15. Apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. And of the rest durst no man join himself to them, i. e. to the Apostles; but the people magnified them, i. e. the Jewish people. If no man durst join himself unto them, the Apostles, [there were, however, the more added unto the Lord, believers, multitudes both of men and of women,