Hath not every art an end? It is surely plain to every one. Do thou also show the end of thy worldly eagerness. But thou canst not; for, "vanity of vanities, all is vanity." [2804] Let us go to the tombs; show me thy father; show me thy wife. Where is he that was clad in raiment of gold? he that rode in the chariot? he that had armies, that had the girdle, [2805] that had the heralds? he that was slaying these, and casting those into prison? he that put to death whom he would, and set free whom he was minded? I see nothing but bones, and a worm, and a spider's web; all those things are earth, all those a fable, all a dream, and a shadow, and a bare relation, and a picture, or rather not so much as a picture. For the picture we see at least in a likeness, but here not so much as a likeness.
And would that the evils stop with this. For now the honor, and the luxury, and the distinction, end with a shadow, with words; but the consequences of them, are no longer limited to a shadow and to words, but continue, and will pass over with us elsewhere, and will be manifest to all, the rapine, the covetousness, the fornications, the adulteries, the dreadful things beyond number; these not in similitude, neither in ashes, but written above, both words and deeds.
With what eyes then shall we behold Christ? For if any one could not bear to see his father, when conscious to himself that he had sinned against him, upon Him who infinitely exceeds a father in forbearance how shall we then look? how shall we bear it? For indeed we shall stand at Christ's judgment-seat, and there will be a strict inquiry into all things.
But if any man disbelieve the judgments to come, let him look at the things here, at those in the prisons, those in the mines, those on the dunghills, the possessed, the frantic, them that are struggling with incurable diseases, those that are fighting against continual poverty, them that live in famine, them that are pierced with irremediable woes, those in captivity. For these persons would not suffer these things here, unless vengeance and punishments were to await all the others also that have committed such sins. And if the rest have undergone nothing here, you ought to regard this very fact as a sign that there is surely something to follow after our departure here. For the self-same God of all would not take vengeance on some, and leave others unpunished, who have committed the same or more grievous offenses, unless He designed to bring some punishments upon them there.
By these arguments then and these examples let us also humble ourselves; and let them who are obstinate unbelievers of the judgment believe it henceforth, and become better men; that having lived here in a manner worthy of the kingdom, we may attain unto the good things to come, by the grace and love towards man of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
[2777] [In minor details the Greek text agrees with the received against that of our oldest mss. authorities.--R.]
[2778] Matt. xxiv. 19.
[2779] Matt. xxiv. 20, 21.
[2780] [There is a curious variation in the Greek text here. Our best New Testament mss. reads sabbt; above the Homily has en sabbt, but here sabbtou, without any preposition.--R.]
[2781] Matt. xxiv. 22. [R.V., "And except those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved: but," etc.]
[2782] [R.V., "to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. Behold, I have told you beforehand."]
[2783] Matt. xxiv. 23-28. [The citation is in verbal agreement with the received text.--R.]
[2784] Matt. xxiv. 29.
[2785] Matt. iii. 1. See the comment on that place.
[2786] Matt. xxiv. 11.
[2787] Matt. xxiv. 24.
[2788] 2 Thess. ii. 9, 10.
[2789] Matt. xxiv. 27, 28.
[2790] Matt. xxiv. 29.
[2791] Job xxxviii. 7, LXX. [The LXX. is accurately cited. At this point there is a great variation in the readings of the mss. of the Homilies, which may be due to the variation from the Hebrew.--R.]
[2792] Matt. xxiv. 30.
[2793] met lampro to schmato.
[2794] Matt. xxiv. 30.
[2795] [So Tischendorf, and R.V. margin.--R.]
[2796] Matt. xxiv. 31.
[2797] Matt. xxii. 39.
[2798] 1 Thess. iv. 16.
[2799] diatrgein .
[2800] pankrtia.
[2801] okeo che.
[2802] 1 Cor. ix. 26.
[2803] Gal. ii. 2.
[2804] Eccl. i. 2.
[2805] See On Stat. Hom. III. p. 59, a badge of military rank.