Since then we have been vouchsafed a larger and more perfect teaching, God having no longer spoken by the prophets, but "having in these last days spoken to us by His Son" ( Heb. i. 1 ), let us show forth a conversation far higher than theirs, and suitable to the honor bestowed on us. Strange would it be that He should have so far lowered Himself, as to choose to speak to us no longer by His servants, but by His own mouth, and yet we should show forth nothing more than those of old. They had Moses for their teacher, we, Moses' Lord. Let us then exhibit a heavenly wisdom [417] worthy of this honor, and let us have nothing to do with earth. It was for this that He brought His teaching from heaven above, that He might remove our thoughts thither, that we might be imitators of our Teacher according to our power. But how may we become imitators of Christ? By acting in everything for the common good, and not merely seeking our own. "For even Christ," saith Paul, "pleased not Himself, but as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached Thee fell on Me." ( Rom. xv. 3; Ps. lxix. 9.) Let no one therefore seek his own. In truth, a man (really) seeks his own good when he looks to that of his neighbor. What is their good is ours; we are one body, and parts and limbs one of another. Let us not then be as though we were rent asunder. Let no one say, "such a person is no friend of mine, nor relation, nor neighbor, I have nought to do with him, how shall I approach, how address him?" Though he be neither relation nor friend, yet he is a man, who shares the same nature with thee, owns the same Lord, is thy fellow-servant, and fellow-sojourner, [418] for he is born in the same world. And if besides he partakes of the same faith, behold he hath also become a member of thee: for what friendship could work such union, as the relationship of faith? And our intimacy one with another must not be such nearness only as friends ought to show to friends, but such as is between limb and limb, because no man can possibly discover any intimacy greater than this sort of friendship and fellowship. [419] As then you cannot say, "Whence arises my intimacy and connection with this limb?" (that would be ridiculous;) so neither can you say so in the case of your brother. "We are all baptized into one body" ( 1 Cor. xii. 13 ), saith Paul. "Wherefore into one body?" That we be not rent asunder, but preserve the just proportions of that one body by our intercourse and friendship one with another.
Let us not then despise one another, lest we be neglectful of ourselves. [420] "For no man ever yet hated his own flesh, but nourisheth and cherisheth it." ( Eph. v. 29.) And therefore God hath given to us but one habitation, this earth, hath distributed all things equally, hath lighted one sun for us all, hath spread above us one roof, the sky, made one table, the earth, bear [421] food for us. And another table hath He given far better than this, yet that too is one, (those who share our mysteries understand my words,) one manner of birth He hath bestowed on all, the spiritual, we all have one country, that in the heavens, of the same cup drink we all. He hath not bestowed on the rich man a gift more abundant and more honorable, and on the poor one more mean and small, but He hath called all alike. He hath given carnal things with equal regard to all, [422] and spiritual in like manner. Whence then proceeds the great inequality of conditions in life? From the avarice and pride of the wealthy. But let not, brethren, let not this any longer be; and when matters of universal interest and more pressing necessity bring us together, let us not be divided by things earthly and insignificant: I mean, by wealth and poverty, by bodily relationship, by enmity and friendship; for all these things are a shadow, nay less substantial than a shadow, to those who possess the bond of charity from above. Let us then preserve this unbroken, and none of those evil spirits [423] will be able to enter in, who cause division in so perfect union; [424] to which may we all attain by the grace and lovingkindness of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom and with whom, to the Father and the Holy Ghost, be glory, now and ever, and world without end. Amen.
[394] eis sunesin mskyl Maschil, sunesis, intellectus, et ut Hieron. reddit, eruditio, aliqui, erudiens, vel intellectum præstans. Lorin. in tit. Ps. 31 (32).
[395] Some mss. read "silver, and search for it as treasure; He would not have said Search, &c."
[396] gnostos.
[397] Augus. De Civ. Dei, lib. 16, 39.
[398] lit. "been likened."
[399] al. "only singing."
[400] al. "they shall answer again."
[401] e xaireton.
[402] al. therefore saith (Paul), "Who was manifested in the flesh," for the manifestation, &c.
[403] al. "many say."
[404] a grupnon.
[405] al. "many prophets."
[406] periousias, al. "exactness."
[407] e ndiaitasthai.
[408] trephesthai, al. strephesthai, versari.
[409] lit. "uses."
[410] lit. "He Who Is." Another reading of the passage is, "if he were asked...and should answer, he is bidden to say that, &c."
[411] a narchos kai aidios.
[412] al. "allows to be applied."
[413] a no kai kato.
[414] e xegesato.
[415] or, "Messenger."
[416] megales boules angelos. The LXX. version of the titles of Christ, Isa. ix. 6.
[417] philosophian.
[418] ho moskenos, "tent-fellow."
[419] al. "care."
[420] al. "let us then so care for our neighbors, as not neglecting each his own flesh."
[421] a neken.
[422] ho motimos.
[423] al. "passions."
[424] al. "union with Him."