But hast thou no husband? yet hast thou a consolation, even the Father of the orphans, and Judge of the widows. Hear even Paul pronouncing this widowhood blessed, and saying, "Now she that is a widow indeed and desolate, trusteth in the Lord." [1332] Because such an one will appear more approved, evincing as she doth greater patience. Mourn not therefore for that which is thy crown, that for which thou demandest a reward.
Since thou hast also restored His deposit, if thou hast exhibited the very thing entrusted to thee. Be not in care any more, having laid up the possession in an inviolable treasure-house.
But if thou wouldest really learn, both what is our present being, and what our life to come; and that the one is a spider's web and a shadow, but the things there, all of them, immoveable and immortal; thou wouldest not after that want other arguments. For whereas now thy child is delivered from all change; if he were here, perhaps he might continue good, perhaps not so. Seest thou not how many openly cast off [1333] their own children? how many are constrained to keep them at home, although worse than the open outcasts?
Let us make account of all these things and practise self-command; for so shall we at once show regard to the deceased, and enjoy much praise from men, and receive from God the great rewards of patience, and attain unto the good things eternal; unto which may we all attain, by the grace and love towards man of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory and might forever and ever. Amen.
[1296] [eelthn, "came in," so Tischendorf, but the R.V. accepts the reading e lthn, "there came one ruler."--R.]
[1297] Luke viii. 49.
[1298] 2 Kings v. 11, LXX.
[1299] Mark v. 37.
[1300] Luke viii. 51.
[1301] Matt. ix. 21, 22. [R.V., "border" for "hem;" "do" for "may;" "made whole" for "whole".]
[1302] Levit. xv. 25.
[1303] Eusebius, E. H., viii. 18, mentions a tradition that she belonged to Cæsarea Philippi, otherwise called Paneas, and that certain brazen statues of a man holding out his hand and a woman kneeling, which were there in his time, were set up at her expense, that being her native place. He adds, that a certain plant which grew by the Saviour's statue, when it came to touch the hem of His garment, stopped growing and that it was endowed with virtue to cure all manner of diseases.
[1304] Luke viii. 50.
[1305] Mark v. 35; Luke viii. 49.
[1306] John xi. 6, 39.
[1307] Matt. ix. 22; see verse 2.
[1308] Luke viii. 45.
[1309] Luke viii. 46. [R.V., "power."]
[1310] Luke viii. 47. [The English rendering has been modified to indicate more exactly the words cited.--R.]
[1311] Luke viii. 48.
[1312] Matt. ix. 23, 24. [R.V., "the flute-players, and the crowds making a tumult."]
[1313] John xi. 11.
[1314] Ex. iv. 2.
[1315] John xi. 34, 39.
[1316] Matt. ix. 18.
[1317] John xi. 44.
[1318] John xii. 2.
[1319] [Probably "Gentiles" or "heathen" would be a better reading. The contrast is with "believer."--R.]
[1320] 2 Cor. vi. 15. [R.V., "unbeliever."]
[1321] Ps. cxvi. 7.
[1322] Gen. iii. 16, 19.
[1323] John xvi. 33.
[1324] Is. xxxv. 10.
[1325] Matt. viii. 11.
[1326] Because the feasts and prayers for the dead being supposed to benefit those only who have fallen asleep in the Lord, and whose final happiness was therefore sure, it was an inconsistency in those who celebrated them to sorrow as if they had no hope. See Bingham, b. xxiii. c. iii. secs. 13, 15.
[1327] [Or, "Gentiles."]
[1328] Not that St. Chrysostom imagined that anything could be done to change the relative condition of those who have died in the favor or displeasure of God: see e.g., Hom. XXXVI. p. 506, ed. Field. Indeed, the same is implied in the words which immediately follow. "Dost thou long to see him? Then live the same life with him," &c.
[1329] Matt. xxvi. 39.
[1330] met poll t tragda.
[1331] metharmzetai .
[1332] 1 Tim. v. 5. [R.V., "hath her hope set on God." Chrysostom reads krion, and Augustin followed the same reading.--R.]
[1333] apokerttousi .