And whence know I, you may say, this person, and that person? I speak not of the unknown, but of the notorious.
Shall I say something more fearful. It is not so grievous a thing for the energumens [2977] to be within, as for such as these, whom Paul affirms to trample Christ under foot, and to "account the blood of the covenant unclean, and to do despite to the grace of the Spirit." [2978] For he that hath fallen into sin and draws nigh, is worse than one possessed with a devil. For they, because they are possessed are not punished, but those, when they draw nigh unworthily, are delivered over to undying punishment. Let us not therefore drive away these only, but all without exception, whomsoever we may see coming unworthily.
Let no one communicate who is not of the disciples. Let no Judas receive, lest he suffer the fate of Judas. This multitude also is Christ's body. Take heed, therefore, thou that ministerest at the mysteries, lest thou provoke the Lord, not purging this body. Give not a sword instead of meat.
Nay, though it be from ignorance that he come to communicate, forbid him, be not afraid. Fear God, not man. If thou shouldest fear man, thou wilt be laughed to scorn even by him, but if God, thou wilt be an object of respect even to men.
But if thou darest not to do it thyself, bring him to me; I will not allow any to dare do these things. I would give up my life rather than impart of the Lord's blood to the unworthy; and will shed my own blood rather than impart of such awful blood contrary to what is meet.
But if any hath not known the bad man, after much inquiry, it is no blame. For these things have been said about the open sinners. For if we amend these, God will speedily discover to us the unknown also; but if we let these alone, wherefore should He then make manifest those that are hidden.
But these things I say, not that we repel them only, nor cut them off, but in order that we may amend them, and bring them back, that we may take care of them. For thus shall we both have God propitious, and shall find many to receive worthily; and for our own diligence, and for our care for others, receive great reward; unto which God grant we may all attain by the grace and love towards man of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory world without end. Amen.
[2945] [echaristsa (from verse 27) is substituted for elogsa; and edoken (from the same verse) for eddou (rec. text) or dos, of the more ancient authorities.--R.]
[2946] [The text agrees exactly with the received; except in the substitution of hupr for per. The R.V. following the older authorities, omits "new," also rendering diathke "covenant" in the text.--R.]
[2947] [phrikodestte, "most awful;" literally, "most terrifying," but applied to religious awe.--R.]
[2948] Luke xxii. 3; see also John xiii. 27.
[2949] Exod. xii. 14.
[2950] See 1 Cor. xi. 26, and St. Chrys. on the place, Hom. XXVII. on 1 Cor., where he attributes the words "until He come," expressly to St. Paul. Various early writers attribute them to our Lord.
[2951] Luke xxii. 15.
[2952] John vi. 60, 61, 66.
[2953] Matt. xxvi. 29. [The word "henceforth" is omitted; "this" is joined with "vine," and "new" is in a different position in the Greek. All these are variations from the received text, which is also followed in the R.V.--R.]
[2954] e msonasthetn.
[2955] Matt. xxvi. 31.
[2956] See Zech. xiii. 7. [The words "of the flock" are omitted, as in Mark xiv. 27. They do not occur in the passage in Zechariah.--R.]
[2957] okonoma.
[2958] Matt. xxvi. 32. [R.V., "am raised up."]
[2959] Matt. xxvi. 33. [The word all is inserted, as in Mark xiv. 29.--R.]
[2960] Matt. xvi. 22.
[2961] Gal. vi. 4. [R.V., "glorying."]
[2962] Luke xxii. 32. [R.V., "made supplication."]
[2963] Luke xxii. 31. [R.V., "Satan asked;" margin, "Or, obtained you by asking."]
[2964] [The preposition en is omitted from the Greek text.--R.]
[2965] Matt. xxvi. 34, 35. [R.V., "If I must die with thee, yet will I not deny thee."]
[2966] Matt. xxvi. 33. [Slightly changed.]
[2967] Luke xxii. 24.
[2968] John xxi. 21.
[2969] i.e., the Ascension.
[2970] Acts i. 7.
[2971] Acts x. 15.
[2972] Acts iii. 12. [Slightly altered.]
[2973] Luke vii. 47.
[2974] Ps. cvi. 2.
[2975] Matt. xxvi. 18.
[2976] Ezek. xxxiii. 8.
[2977] i.e., vexed with devils.
[2978] Heb. x. 29. [Slightly altered, as in Homily LXXV. 5, p. 455.--R.]