But not when singing only, and praying, but also when riveted to their books, they are a pleasing spectacle to the beholders. For after they have ended the choir, one takes Isaiah and discourses with him, another converses with the apostles, and another goes over the labors of other men, and seeks wisdom concerning God, concerning this universe, concerning the things that are seen, concerning the things that are not seen, concerning the objects of sense, and the objects of intellect, concerning the vileness of this present life, and the greatness of that to come.
5. And they are fed on a food most excellent, not setting before themselves cooked flesh of beasts; but oracles of God, beyond honey and the honey comb, a honey marvellous, and far superior to that whereon John fed of old in the wilderness. For this honey no wild bees collect, settling on the flowers, neither do lay it up in hives digesting the dew, but the grace of the Spirit forming it, layeth it up in the souls of the saints, in the place of honeycombs, and hives, and pipes, so that he that will may eat thereof continually in security. These bees then they also imitate, and hover around the honeycombs of those holy books, reaping therefrom great pleasure.
And if thou desirest to learn about their table, be near it, and thou shalt see them bursting forth [2577] with such things, all gentle and sweet, and full of a spiritual fragrance. No foul word can those spiritual mouths bring forth, nothing of foolish jesting, nothing harsh, but all worthy of Heaven. One would not be wrong in comparing the mouths of them that crawl about in the market places, and are mad after worldly things, to ditches of some mire; but the lips of these to fountains flowing with honey, and pouring forth pure streams.
But if any felt displeased that I have called the mouths of the multitude ditches of some mire, let him know that I have said it, sparing them very much. For Scripture hath not used this measure, but a comparison far stronger. "For adder's poison," it is said, "is under their lips, [2578] and their throat is an open sepulchre." But theirs are not so, but full of much fragrance.
And their state here is like this, but that hereafter what speech can set before us? what thought shall conceive? the portion of angels, the blessedness unspeakable, the good things untold?
Perchance some are warmed now, and have been moved to a longing after this good rule of life. But what is the profit, when whilst ye are here only, ye have this fire; but when ye have gone forth, ye extinguish the flame, and this desire fades. How then, in order that this may not be? While this desire is warm in you, go your way unto those angels, kindle it more. For the account that we give will not be able to set thee on fire, like as the sight of the things. Say not, I will speak with my wife, and I will settle my affairs first. This delay is the beginning of remissness. Hear, how one desired to bid farewell to them at his house, [2579] and the prophet suffered him not. And why do I say, to bid farewell? The disciple desired to bury his father, [2580] and Christ allowed not so much as this. And yet what thing seems to thee to be so necessary as the funeral of a father? but not even this did He permit.
Why could this have been? Because the devil is at hand fierce, desiring to find some secret approach; and though it be but a little hindrance or delay he takes hold of, he works a great remissness. Therefore one adviseth, "Put not off from day to day." [2581] For thus shalt thou be able to succeed in most things, thus also shall the things in thine house be well ordered for thee. "For seek ye," it is said, "the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you." [2582] For if we establish in great security them that overlook their own interests, and prefer the care of ours, much more doth God, who even without these things hath a care for us, and provides for us.
Be not thoughtful then about thine interests, but leave them to God. For if thou art thoughtful about them, thou art thoughtful as a man; but if God provide, He provides as God. Be not so thoughtful about them as to let go the greater things, since then He will not much provide for them. In order therefore that He may fully provide for them, leave them to Him alone. For if thou also thyself takest them in hand, having let go the things spiritual, He will not make much provision for them.
In order then that both these things may be well disposed for thee, and that thou mayest be freed from all anxiety, cleave to the things spiritual, overlook the things of the world; for in this way thou shalt have earth also with heaven, and shalt attain unto the good things to come, by the grace and love towards man of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory and might world without end. Amen.
[2552] [R.V., "another country."]
[2553] [The Greek text agrees, as a rule, with the received: but a few peculiarities appear: atoiso is inserted from Luke in verse 37, and the beginning of verse 39 is abridged. The Oxford edition adds verses 43, 44, which are not given in the Greek text of the Homily in Migne, but added in Field's edition.--R.]
[2554] [The verb apedmese means "went into another country." But Chrysostom here speaks of the apodeman as tn polln, thus agreeing with the interpretation of the A.V.--R.]
[2555] Ezek. ii. 5.
[2556] Matt. xxiii. 32.
[2557] Is. i. 15.
[2558] Hosea iv. 2.
[2559] Micah iii. 10.
[2560] Luke xx. 17, 18.
[2561] Ezek. xiii. 10.
[2562] John ix. 16.
[2563] John vii. 12.
[2564] John viii. 48.
[2565] [R.V., "scatter him as dust." Chrysostom seems to accept verse 44 as part of Matthew's account; but as he has just cited the parallel passage in Luke (where this occurs), it is not certain that he refers to Matthew's here.--R.]
[2566] Is. v. 4.
[2567] Jer. ii. 5.
[2568] Micah vi. 3.
[2569] Matt. xxi. 45, 46. ["because of" (di) is peculiar to this citation.--R.]
[2570] [John vii. 25, 26.]
[2571] Gr. okonoma, i.e., the verity of the Incarnation.
[2572] Matt. vi. 33. ["first" is omitted; inserted by the Oxford translator against the Greek text.--R.]
[2573] "For all Thy goodness and loving kindness to us, and to all men." Thanksgiving Prayer. See the Morning Thanksgiving; Const. Apost. viii. 38, and The Eucharistic Prayer, ib. c. 12.
[2574] [Luke ii. 14, as in the received text. But "among men" is the only possible rendering, whichever reading he accepted.--R.]
[2575] Rom. vi. 19. [R.V., "sanctification."]
[2576] ["by the tongues of those;" there being a contrast in the Greek, which is obscured in the English rendering.--R.]
[2577] ereugomnou .
[2578] Ps. cxl. 3 and v. 9.
[2579] 1 Kings xix. 20.
[2580] Matt. viii. 21-22.
[2581] Ecclus. v. 7.
[2582] Matt. vi. 33.