What then was it which caused this especial love? To my thinking, it was that the man displayed great gentleness and meekness, for which reason he doth not appear in many places speaking openly. And how great a thing this is, is plain also from the case of Moses. It was this which made him such and so great as he was. There is nothing equal to lowliness of mind. For which cause Jesus with this began the Beatitudes, and when about to lay as it were the foundation and base of a mighty building, He placed first lowliness of mind. Without this a man cannot possibly be saved; though he fast, though he pray, though he give alms, if it be with a proud spirit, these [884] things are abominable, if humility be not there; while if it be, all these things are amiable and lovely, and are done with safety. Let us then be modest, [885] beloved, let us be modest; success is easy, if we be sober-minded. For after all what is it, O man, that exciteth thee to pride? Seest thou not the poverty of thy nature? the unsteadiness [886] of thy will? Consider thine end, consider the multitude of thy sins. But perhaps because thou doest many righteous deeds thou art proud. By that very pride thou shalt undo them all. Wherefore it behoveth not so much him that has sinned [887] as him that doeth righteousness to take pains to be humble. Why so? Because the sinner is constrained by conscience, while the other, except he be very sober, soon caught up as by a blast of wind is lifted on high, and made to vanish like the Pharisee. Dost thou give to the poor? What thou givest is not thine, but thy Master's, common to thee and thy fellow-servants. For which cause thou oughtest especially to be humbled, in the calamities of those who are thy kindred foreseeing thine own, and taking knowledge of thine own nature in their cases. We ourselves perhaps are sprung from such ancestors; and if wealth has shifted to you, it is probable that it will leave you again. And after all, what is wealth? A vain [888] shadow, dissolving smoke, a flower of the grass, or rather something meaner than a flower. Why then art thou high-minded over grass? Doth not wealth fall to thieves, and effeminates, and harlots, and tomb-breakers? Doth this puff thee up, that thou hast such as these to share in thy possession? or dost thou desire honor? Towards gaining honor nothing is more serviceable than almsgiving. For the honors arising from wealth and power are compulsory, and attended with hatred, but these others are from the free will and real feeling of the honorers; and therefore those who pay them can never give them. Now if men show such reverence for the merciful, and invoke all blessings upon them, consider what return, what recompense they shall receive from the merciful God. Let us then seek this wealth which endureth forever, and never deserts [889] us, that, becoming great here and glorious there, we may obtain everlasting blessings, through the grace and lovingkindness of our Lord Jesus Christ, with whom to the Father and the Holy Spirit be glory, now and ever, and world without end. Amen.
[857] diabalein, al. dialabein, al. diaperan
[858] hu meis legete, G. T.
[859] polu mega
[860] parelkon
[861] al. "favor."
[862] al. "at this rate."
[863] al. "removed (her) reasoning from such things."
[864] sunkrotei
[865] hu pothesin
[866] lit. "removing this."
[867] al. "truth."
[868] or, "this."
[869] The passage is read differently in the ms. in Bodl. "not willing them to continue in those ancient (practices)."
[870] al. "by these means."
[871] al. "in spirit. where? in," &c.
[872] ms. in Bodl. "this is to worship in truth."
[873] a pegoreuse
[874] ms. in Bodl. "the law of Moses."
[875] ho apokeitai
[876] al. "this."
[877] e sageneuse
[878] ms. in Bodleian, "for, saith the Evangelist, Peter looks on the disciple."
[879] e xaireton
[880] koruphaios
[881] al. "all places."
[882] Simon Iona, G. T.
[883] i.e. St. Peter loved his Lord, and therefore we infer that he was loved of Him; of St. John Scripture speaks expressly, as being "the Disciple whom Jesus loved."
[884] al. "all."
[885] metriazomen
[886] to euolisthon
[887] al. "that sinneth."
[888] a dranes
[889] drapeteuonta