John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Gospel of John

[1.] They that are spectators of the heathen games, when they have learned that a distinguished athlete and winner of crowns is come from any quarter, run all together to view his wrestling, and all his skill and strength; and you may see the whole theater of many ten thousands, all there straining their eyes both of body and mind, that nothing of what is done may escape them. So again these same persons, if any admirable musician come amongst them, leave all that they had in hand, which often is necessary and pressing business, and mount the steps, and sit listening very attentively to the words and the accompaniments, and criticising the agreement of the two. This is what the many do.

Again; those who are skilled in rhetoric do just the same with respect to the sophists, for they too have their theaters, and their audience, and clappings of hands, and noise, and closest criticism of what is said.

And if in the case of rhetoricians, musicians, and athletes, people sit in the one case to look on, in the other to see at once and to listen with such earnest attention; what zeal, what earnestness ought ye in reason to display, when it is no musician or debater who now comes forward to a trial of skill, but when a man is speaking from heaven, and utters a voice plainer than thunder? for he has pervaded the whole earth with the sound; and occupied and filled it, not by the loudness of the cry, but by moving his tongue with the grace of God.

And what is wonderful, this sound, great as it is, is neither a harsh nor an unpleasant one, but sweeter and more delightful than all harmony of music, and with more skill to soothe; and besides all this, most holy, and most awful, and full of mysteries so great, and bringing with it goods so great, that if men were exactly and with ready mind to receive and keep them, they could no longer be mere men nor remain upon the earth, but would take their stand above all the things of this life, and having adapted themselves to the condition of angels, would dwell on earth just as if it were heaven.

[2.] For the son of thunder, the beloved of Christ, the pillar of the Churches throughout the world, who holds the keys of heaven, who drank the cup of Christ, and was baptized with His baptism, who lay upon his Master’s bosom with much confidence,1 παῤῥησίας πολλῆς. this man comes forward to us now; not as an actor of a play, not hiding his head with a mask, (for he hath another sort of words to speak,) nor mounting a platform,2 ὀ κρίβαντος. nor striking the stage with his foot, nor dressed out with apparel of gold, but he enters wearing a robe of inconceivable beauty. For he will appear before us having “put on Christ” ( Rom. xiii. 14; Gal. iii. 27 ), having his beautiful “feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace” ( Eph. vi. 15 ); wearing a girdle not about his waist, but about his loins, not made of scarlet leather nor daubed outside3 ἄνωθεν ἠλειμμένην. with gold, but woven and composed of truth itself. Now will he appear before us, not acting a part, (for with him there is nothing counterfeit, nor fiction, nor fable,) but with unmasked head he proclaims to us the truth unmasked; not making the audience believe him other than he is by carriage, by look, by voice, needing for the delivery of his message no instruments of music, as harp, lyre, or any other the like, for he effects all with his tongue, uttering a voice which is sweeter and more profitable than that of any harper or any music. All heaven is his stage; his theater, the habitable world; his audience, all angels; and of men as many as are angels already, or desire to become so, for none but these can hear that harmony aright, and show it forth by their works; all the rest, like little children who hear, but what they hear understand not, from their anxiety about sweetmeats and childish playthings; so they too, being in mirth and luxury, and living only for wealth and power and sensuality, hear sometimes what is said, it is true, but show forth nothing great or noble in their actions through fastening4 προσηλοῦν. themselves for good to the clay of the brickmaking. By this Apostle stand the powers from above, marveling at the beauty of his soul, and his understanding, and the bloom of that virtue by which he drew unto him Christ Himself, and obtained the grace of the Spirit. For he hath made ready his soul, as some well-fashioned and jeweled lyre with strings of gold, and yielded it for the utterance of something great and sublime to the Spirit.

[3.] Seeing then it is no longer the fisherman the son of Zebedee, but He who knoweth “the deep things of God” ( 1 Cor. ii. 10 ), the Holy Spirit I mean, that striketh this lyre, let us hearken accordingly. For he will say nothing to us as a man, but what he saith, he will say from the depths of the Spirit, from those secret things which before they came to pass the very Angels knew not; since they too have learned by the voice of John with us, and by us, the things which we know. And this hath another Apostle declared, saying, “To the intent that unto the principalities and powers might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God.” ( Eph. iii. 10.) If then principalities, and powers, and Cherubim, and Seraphim, learned these things by the Church, it is very clear that they were exceedingly earnest in listening to this teaching; and even in this we have been not a little honored, that the Angels learned things which before they knew not with us; I do not at present speak of their learning by us also. Let us then show much silence and orderly behavior; not to-day only, nor during the day on which we are hearers, but during all our life, since it is at all times good to hear Him. For if we long to know what is going on in the palace, what, for instance, the king has said, what he has done, what counsel he is taking concerning his subjects, though in truth these things are for the most part nothing to us; much more is it desirable to hear what God hath said, especially when all concerns us. And all this will this man tell us exactly, as being a friend of the King Himself, or rather, as having Him speaking within himself, and from Him hearing all things which He heareth from the Father. “I have called you friends,” He saith, “for all things that I have heard of My Father, I have made known unto you.” ( John xv. 15.)

[4.] As then we should all run together if we saw one from above bend down “on a sudden”5 ἄθροον, comp. Eus. Hist. Eccl. v. i. 29. from the height of heaven, promising to describe exactly all things there, even so let us be disposed now. It is from thence that this Man speaketh to us; He is not of this world, as Christ Himself declareth, “Ye are not of the world” ( John xv. 19 ), and He hath speaking within him the Comforter, the Omnipresent, who knoweth the things of God as exactly as the soul of man knoweth what belongs to herself, the Spirit of holiness, the righteous Spirit, the guiding Spirit, which leads men by the hand to heaven, which gives them other eyes, fitting them to see things to come as though present, and giving them even in the flesh to look into things heavenly. To Him then let us yield ourselves during all our life6 πολλὴν παρέχωμεν τὴν ἡσυχίαν. in much tranquillity. Let none dull, none sleepy, none sordid, enter here and tarry; but let us remove ourselves to heaven, for there He speaketh these things to those who are citizens there. And if we tarry on earth, we shall gain nothing great from thence. For the words of John are nothing to those who do not desire to be freed from this swinish life, just as the things of this world to him are nothing. The thunder amazes our souls, having sound without significance; 7 ἄ σημον. but this man’s voice troubles none of the faithful, yea, rather releases them from trouble and confusion; it amazes the devils only, and those who are their slaves. Therefore that we may know how it amazes them, let us preserve deep silence, both external and mental, but especially the latter; for what advantage is it that the mouth be hushed, if the soul is disturbed and full of tossing? I look for that calm which is of the mind, of the soul, since it is the hearing of the soul which I require. Let then no desire of riches trouble us, no lust of glory, no tyranny of anger, nor the crowd of other passions besides these; for it is not possible for the ear, except it be cleansed, to perceive as it ought the sublimity of the things spoken; nor rightly to understand the awful and unutterable nature of these mysteries, and all other virtue which is in these divine oracles. If a man cannot learn well a melody on pipe or harp, unless he in every way strain his attention; how shall one, who sits as a listener to sounds mystical, be able to hear with a careless soul?

[5.] Wherefore Christ Himself exhorted, saying, “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine.” ( Matt. vii. 6.) He called these words “pearls,” though in truth they be much more precious than they, because we have no substance more precious than that. For this reason too He is wont often to compare their sweetness to honey, not that so much only is the measure of their sweetness, but because amongst us there is nothing sweeter. Now, to show that they very exceedingly surpass the nature of precious stones, and the sweetness of any honey, hear the prophet speaking concerning them, and declaring this superiority; “More to be desired are they,” he saith “than gold and much precious stone; sweeter are they also than honey and the honeycomb.” ( Ps. xix. 10.) But to those (only) who are in health; wherefore he has added, “For thy servant keepeth them.” And again in another place calling them sweet he has added, “to my throat.” For he saith, “How sweet are thy words unto my throat.” ( Ps. cxix. 103.) And again he insisteth on the superiority, saying, “Above honey and the honeycomb to my mouth.” For he was in very sound health. And let not us either come nigh to these while we are sick, but when we have healed our soul, so receive the food that is offered us.

It is for this reason that, after so long a preface, I have not yet attempted to fathom8 καθῆκα. these expressions (of St. John), in order that every one having laid aside all manner of infirmity, as though he were entering into heaven itself, so may enter here pure, and freed from wrath and carefulness and anxiety of this life, of all other passions. For it is not otherwise possible for a man to gain from hence anything great, except he have first so cleansed anew his soul. And let no one say that the time to the coming communion9 συνάξεως. is short, for it is possible, not only in five days, but in one moment, to change the whole course of life. Tell me what is worse than a robber and a murderer, is not this the extremest kind of wickedness? Yet such an one arrived straight at the summit of excellence, and passed into Paradise itself, not needing days, nor half a day, but one little moment. So that a man may change suddenly, and become gold instead of clay. For since what belongs to virtue and to vice is not by nature, the change is easy, as being independent of any necessity. “If ye be willing and obedient,” He saith, “ye shall eat the good of the land.” ( Isa. i. 19.) Seest thou that there needs the will only? will—not the common wishing of the multitude—but earnest will. For I know that all are wishing to fly up to heaven even now; but it is necessary to show forth the wish by works. The merchant too wishes to get rich; but he doth not allow his wish to stop with the thought of it; no, he fits out a ship, and gets together sailors, and engages a pilot, and furnishes the vessel with all other stores, and borrows money, and crosses the sea, and goes away into a strange land, and endures many dangers, and all the rest which they know who sail the sea. So too must we show our will; for we also sail a voyage, not from land to land, but from earth to heaven. Let us then so order our reason, that it be serviceable to steer our upward course, and our sailors that they be obedient to it, and let our vessel be stout, that it be not swamped amidst the reverses and despondencies of this life, nor be lifted up by the blasts of vainglory, but be a fast and easy vessel. If so we order our ship, and so our pilot and our crew, we shall sail with a fair wind, and we shall draw down to ourselves the Son of God, the true Pilot, who will not leave our bark to be engulfed, but, though ten thousand winds may blow, will rebuke the winds and the sea, and instead of raging waves, make a great calm.

[6.] Having therefore ordered yourselves, so come to our next assembly, if at least it be at all an object of desire to you to hear somewhat to your advantage, and lay up what is said in your souls. But let not one of you be the “wayside,” none the “stony ground,” none the “full of thorns.” ( Matt. xiii. 4, 5, 7.) Let us make ourselves fallow lands. For so shall we (the preachers) put in the seed with gladness, when we see the land clean, but if stony or rough, pardon us if we like not to labor in vain. For if we shall leave off sowing and begin to cut up thorns, surely to cast seed into ground unwrought were extreme folly.

It is not meet that he who has the advantage of such hearing be partaker of the table of devils. “For what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?” ( 2 Cor. vi. 14.) Thou standest listening to John, and learning the things of the Spirit by him; and dost thou after this depart to listen to harlots speaking vile things, and acting viler, and to effeminates cuffing one another? How wilt thou be able to be fairly cleansed, if thou wallowest in such mire? Why need I reckon in detail all the indecency that is there? All there is laughter, all is shame, all disgrace, revilings and mockings, all abandonment, all destruction. See, I forewarn and charge you all. Let none of those who enjoy the blessings of this table destroy his own soul by those pernicious spectacles. All that is said and done there is a pageant of Satan. But ye who have been initiated know what manner of covenants ye made with us, or rather ye made with Christ when He guided you into His mysteries, what ye spoke to Him, what speech ye had with Him concerning Satan’s pageant;10 πομπῆς. how with Satan and his angels ye renounced this also, and promised that you would not so much as cast a glance11 παρακύψειν. that way. There is then no slight ground for fear, lest, by becoming careless of such promises, one should render himself unworthy of these mysteries.

[7.] Seest thou not how in king’s palaces it is not those who have offended, but those who have been honorably distinguished,12 τετιμημένοι that are called to share especial favor,13 τῆς γνώμης ἐκείνης. and are numbered among the king’s friends. A messenger has come to us from heaven, sent by God Himself, to speak with us on certain necessary matters, and you leave hearing His will, and the message He sends to you, and sit listening to stage-players. What thunderings, what bolts from heaven, does not this conduct deserve! For as it is not meet to partake of the table of devils, so neither is it of the listening to devils; nor to be present with filthy raiment at that glorious Table, loaded with so many good things, which God Himself hath provided. Such is its power, that it can raise us at once to heaven, if only we approach it with a sober mind. For it is not possible that he who is continually under the influence of14 ἐπᾳδόμενον. the words of God, can remain in this present low condition, but he needs must presently take wing, and fly away to the land which is above, and light on the infinite treasures of good things; which may it be that we all attain to, through the grace and lovingkindness of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom and with whom be glory to the Father and the All-holy Spirit, now and ever, and world without end. Amen.

ΤΟΥ ΕΝ ΑΓΙΟΙΣ ΠΑΤΡΟΣ ΗΜΩΝ ΙΩΑΝΝΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΧΡΥΣΟΣΤΟΜΟΥ ΤΑ ΕΥΡΙΣΚΟΜΕΝΑ ΠΑΝΤΑ. ΥΠΟΜΝΗΜΑ Εἰς τὸν ἅγιον Ἰωάννην τὸν Ἀπόστολον καὶ Εὐαγγελιστήν. ΟΜΙΛΙΑ Αʹ. αʹ. Οἱ τῶν ἀγώνων τῶν ἔξωθεν θεαταὶ, ὅταν τινὰ γενναῖον ἀθλητὴν καὶ στεφανίτην ποθὲν ἥκοντα μάθωσι, συντρέχουσιν ἅπαντες ὥστε ἰδεῖν αὐτοῦ τὰ παλαίσματα, καὶ τὴν τέχνην καὶ τὴν ἰσχὺν ἅπασαν: καὶ ἴδοις ἂν ὁλόκληρον θέατρον μυριάδων πολλῶν, πάντας ἐκεῖ καὶ τοὺς τοῦ σώματος καὶ τοὺς τῆς διανοίας συντείνοντας ὀφθαλμοὺς, ὥστε μηδὲν αὐτοὺς τῶν γινομένων παραδραμεῖν. Καὶ μουσικὸς δὲ εἴ τις θαυμαστὸς ἐπιδημήσειε, πάλιν ὁμοίως οἱ αὐτοὶ δὴ οὗτοι πληροῦσι τὸ θέατρον, καὶ πάντα ἀφέντες τὰ ἐν χερσὶν, ἀναγκαῖα πολλάκις ὄντα καὶ κατεπείγοντα, ἀναβάντες κάθηνται, μετὰ πολλῆς τῆς σπουδῆς τῶν ᾠδῶν καὶ τῶν κρουμάτων ἀκούοντες, καὶ τὴν ἀμφοτέρων βασανίζοντες συμφωνίαν. Καὶ ταῦτα μὲν οἱ πολλοί. Οἱ δὲ ῥητορικῶν ἔμπειροι λόγων, καὶ αὐτοὶ πάλιν ἐπὶ τῶν σοφιστῶν τὸ αὐτὸ τοῦτο πράττουσιν. Ἔστι γὰρ καὶ τούτοις θέατρα, καὶ ἀκροαταὶ, καὶ κρότοι, καὶ ψόφος, καὶ βάσανος τῶν λεγομένων ἐσχάτη. Εἰ δὲ ῥητορικῶν αὐλητικῶν τε καὶ ἀθλητικῶν ἀνδρῶν, τῶν μὲν θεαταὶ, τῶν δὲ ὁμοῦ θεωρηταὶ καὶ ἀκροαταὶ μετὰ τοσαύτης κάθηνται τῆς προθυμίας: πόσην ἡμῖν καὶ σπουδὴν καὶ προθυμίαν ἂν εἴητε δίκαιοι παρασχεῖν, οὐκ αὐλητικοῦ τινος, οὐδὲ σοφιστικοῦ νῦν εἰς ἀγῶνα καθιέντος, ἀλλ' ἀνδρὸς ἀπὸ τῶν οὐρανῶν φθεγγομένου, καὶ βροντῆς λαμπροτέραν ἀφιέντος φωνήν; Πᾶσαν γὰρ τὴν οἰκουμένην ἐπέσχε, καὶ κατέλαβε, καὶ ἐνέπλησε τῇ βοῇ, οὐ τῷ μέγα ἀνακραγεῖν, ἀλλὰ τῷ μετὰ τῆς θείας χάριτος κινῆσαι τὴν γλῶτταν. Καὶ τὸ δὴ θαυμαστὸν, ὅτι οὕτω μεγάλη οὖσα ἡ βοὴ, οὐκ ἔστι τραχεῖά τις, οὐδὲ ἀηδὴς, ἀλλὰ πάσης μουσικῆς ἁρμονίας ἡδίων καὶ ποθεινοτέρα, καὶ θέλξαι ἐπισταμένη πλέον: καὶ πρὸς τούτοις ἅπασιν ἁγιωτάτη καὶ φρικωδεστάτη, καὶ τοσούτων γέμουσα ἀποῤῥήτων, καὶ τοσαῦτα κομίζουσα ἀγαθὰ, ἃ τοὺς μετὰ ἀκριβείας καὶ προθυμίας λαβόντας καὶ διαφυλάττοντας, οὐκ ἔνι λοιπὸν ἀνθρώπους εἶναι, οὐδὲ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς μένειν, ἀλλ' ἀνωτέρω πάντων ἑστάναι τῶν βιωτικῶν, καὶ πρὸς τὴν ἀγγελικὴν μεθαρμοσαμένους λῆξιν, καθάπερ τὸν οὐρανὸν, οὕτω τὴν γῆν οἰκεῖν. Ὁ γὰρ τῆς βροντῆς υἱὸς, ὁ ἀγαπητὸς τοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὁ στῦλος τῶν κατὰ τὴν οἰκουμένην Ἐκκλησιῶν, ὁ τὰς κλεῖς ἔχων τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, ὁ τὸ ποτήριον τοῦ Χριστοῦ πιὼν, καὶ τὸ βάπτισμα βαπτισθεὶς, ὁ κατακλιθεὶς ἐπὶ τὸ στῆθος τὸ Δεσποτικὸν μετὰ παῤῥησίας πολλῆς, οὗτος ἡμῖν εἰσέρχεται νῦν: οὐ δρᾶμα ὑποκρινόμενος, οὐδὲ προσωπείῳ κρύπτων τὴν κεφαλὴν (οὐ γὰρ τοιαῦτα ἐρεῖ), οὐδὲ ἐπ' ὀκρίβαντος ἀναβαίνων, οὐδὲ ὀρχήστραν τῷ ποδὶ κατακρούων, οὐδὲ ἐσθῆτι κεκοσμημένος χρυσῇ: ἀλλ' εἰσέρχεται στολὴν ἔχων ἀμήχανον ἔχουσαν κάλλος. Τὸν γὰρ Χριστὸν ἐνδεδυμένος ἡμῖν φανεῖται, τοὺς πόδας ὑποδεδεμένος τοὺς ὡραίους ἐν ἑτοιμασίᾳ τοῦ Εὐαγγελίου τῆς εἰρήνης, τὴν ζώνην οὐ περὶ τὸ στῆθος ἔχων, ἀλλὰ περὶ τὴν ὀσφύν: οὐκ ἀπὸ δέρματος φοινικοῦ, οὐδὲ ἄνωθεν ἠλειμμένην χρυσῷ, ἀλλ' ἀπὸ τῆς ἀληθείας ἐξυφασμένην καὶ συγκειμένην αὐτῆς. Οὗτος ἡμῖν φανεῖται νῦν, οὐχ ὑπόκρισιν ἔχων: οὐδὲ γὰρ ὑπόκρισις παρ' αὐτῷ, οὐδὲ πλάσμα καὶ μῦθος: ἀλλὰ γυμνῇ τῇ κεφαλῇ γυμνὴν ἀπαγγέλλει τὴν ἀλήθειαν: οὐχ ἕτερος μὲν ὢν, ἕτερα δὲ περὶ αὐτοῦ τοὺς ἀκούοντας πείθων τῷ σχήματι, τῷ βλέμματι, τῇ φωνῇ: οὐκ ὀργάνων πρὸς τὴν ἀπαγγελίαν δεόμενος, οἷον κιθάρας ἢ λύρας, ἤ τινος τῶν τοιούτων ἑτέρου: ἀλλὰ πάντα τῇ γλώττῃ ἐργάζεται, παντὸς μὲν κιθαριστοῦ, πάσης δὲ μουσικῆς ἡδίω καὶ χρησιμωτέραν φωνὴν ἀφιείς. Ἔστι δὲ αὐτῷ προσκήνιον μὲν, ὁ οὐρανὸς ἅπας: θέατρον δὲ, ἡ οἰκουμένη: θεαταὶ δὲ καὶ ἀκροαταὶ, πάντες ἄγγελοι, καὶ ἀνθρώπων ὅσοιπερ ἄγγελοι τυγχάνουσιν ὄντες, ἢ καὶ γενέσθαι ἐπιθυμοῦσιν. Οὗτοι γὰρ μόνοι ταύτης ἀκριβῶς ἐπακοῦσαι δύναιντ' ἂν τῆς ἁρμονίας, καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν ἔργων αὐτὴν ἐπιδείξασθαι, καὶ ἀκροατὰς εἶναι, οἵους εἶναι χρή. Ὡς οἵ γε ἄλλοι πάντες, καθάπερ τὰ παιδία τὰ μικρὰ, ἀκούουσι μὲν, οὐκ ἴσασι δὲ ἅπερ ἀκούουσιν, ἀλλὰ περὶ πλακοῦντας ἐπτόηνται καὶ ἀθύρματα παιδικά: οὕτω δὴ καὶ οὗτοι γελῶντες, τρυφῶντες, καὶ πλούτῳ, καὶ δυναστείᾳ, καὶ τῇ γαστρὶ ζῶντες, ἀκούουσι μὲν ἔσθ' ὅτε τῶν εἰρημένων, μέγα δὲ οὐδὲν οὐδὲ ὑψηλὸν ἐπὶ τῶν ἔργων ἐνδείκνυνται, τῷ καθάπαξ τῇ πλινθείᾳ καὶ τῷ πηλῷ προσηλοῦν ἑαυτούς. Τούτῳ τῷ ἀποστόλῳ αἱ ἄνωθεν δυνάμεις παρεστήκασιν, ἐκπληττόμεναι τὸ κάλλος αὐτοῦ τῆς ψυχῆς καὶ τὴν σύνεσιν, καὶ τὴν ὥραν τῆς ἀρετῆς, δι' ἧς καὶ αὐτὸν ἐπεσπάσατο τὸν Χριστὸν, καὶ τὴν πνευματικὴν εἴληφε χάριν. Καθάπερ γάρ τινα λύραν εὐάρμοστον καὶ λιθοκόλλητον χρυσοῦς ἔχουσαν φθόγγους, οὕτω τὴν αὑτοῦ παρασκευάσας ψυχὴν, ἔδωκε δι' αὐτῆς μέγα τι καὶ ὑψηλὸν ἐνηχῆσαι τῷ Πνεύματι. βʹ. Ὡς οὖν οὐκέτι τοῦ ἁλιέως, οὐδὲ τοῦ υἱοῦ Ζεβεδαίου, ἀλλὰ τοῦ τὰ βάθη τοῦ Θεοῦ εἰδότος, τοῦ Πνεύματος λέγω, ταύτην ἀνακρουομένου τὴν λύραν, οὕτως ἀκούωμεν. Οὐδὲν γὰρ ἀνθρώπινον ἡμῖν ἐρεῖ, ἀλλ' ἀπὸ τῶν ἀβύσσων τῶν πνευματικῶν, ἅπερ ἂν εἴπῃ, ἀπὸ τῶν ἀποῤῥήτων ἐκείνων, ἃ μηδὲ ἄγγελοι πρὶν ἢ γενέσθαι ᾔδεισαν: Μεθ' ἡμῶν γὰρ δὴ καὶ οὗτοι διὰ τῆς Ἰωάννου φωνῆς, καὶ δι' ἡμῶν ἔμαθον ἅπερ ἔγνωμεν. Καὶ τοῦτο ἐδήλωσεν ἀπόστολος ἕτερος, εἰπών: Ἵνα γνωρισθῇ νῦν ταῖς ἀρχαῖς καὶ ταῖς ἐξουσίαις διὰ τῆς Ἐκκλησίας ἡ πολυποίκιλος σοφία τοῦ Θεοῦ. Εἰ τοίνυν καὶ ἀρχαὶ καὶ ἐξουσίαι καὶ τὰ Χερουβὶμ καὶ τὰ Σεραφὶμ διὰ τῆς Ἐκκλησίας ἔμαθον ταῦτα, εὔδηλον ὅτι καὶ αὗται μετὰ πολλῆς τῆς σφοδρότητος περὶ ταύτην ἐσπούδασαν τὴν ἀκρόασιν. Καὶ γὰρ καὶ τούτῳ τετιμήμεθα οὐ μικρῶς, τῷ μεθ' ἡμῶν τοὺς ἀγγέλους μαθεῖν ἅπερ ἠγνόουν: τὸ δὲ καὶ δι' ἡμῶν, οὔπω τέως φημί. Πολλὴν οὖν παρέχωμεν καὶ ἡμεῖς τὴν σιγὴν μετὰ τῆς εὐκοσμίας, μὴ σήμερον μόνον, μηδὲ κατὰ τὴν ἡμέραν ἐν ᾗ ἀκούομεν, ἀλλὰ διὰ παντὸς τοῦ βίου: ἐπειδὴ καὶ διὰ παντὸς ἀκούειν αὐτοῦ καλόν. Εἰ γὰρ τὰ ἐν βασιλείοις γινόμενα ποθοῦμεν εἰδέναι: οἷον, τί εἶπε, τί πεποίηκε, τί βουλεύεται περὶ τῶν ἀρχομένων ὁ βασιλεύων, καίτοι γε πολλάκις οὐδὲν πρὸς ἡμᾶς ὄντα: πολλῷ μᾶλλον ἅπερ ὁ Θεὸς εἶπε ποθεινὸν ἀκοῦσαι, καὶ μάλιστα ὅταν ἡμῖν ἅπαντα διαφέρῃ. Ταῦτα δὲ ἅπαντα μετὰ ἀκριβείας ἡμῖν οὗτος ἐρεῖ, φίλος αὐτοῦ τοῦ βασιλεύοντος ὤν: μᾶλλον δὲ καὶ αὐτὸν ἔχων ἐν ἑαυτῷ λαλοῦντα, καὶ παρ' αὐτοῦ πάντα ἀκούων, ἃ παρὰ τοῦ Πατρὸς ἐκεῖνος: Ὑμᾶς γὰρ εἴρηκα φίλους, φησὶν, ὅτι πάντα, ἃ ἤκουσα παρὰ τοῦ Πατρός μου, ἐγνώρισα ὑμῖν. Ὥσπερ οὖν εἴ τινα ἄνωθεν ἐκ τῆς κορυφῆς τοῦ οὐρανοῦ διακύψαντα ἀθρόον εἴδομεν, καὶ ἐπαγγελλόμενον τὰ ἐκεῖ μετὰ ἀκριβείας ἐρεῖν, πάντες ἂν ἐπεδράμομεν: οὕτω καὶ νῦν διατεθῶμεν. Ἐκεῖθεν γὰρ ἡμῖν ὁ ἀνὴρ οὗτος διαλέγεται. Οὐ γάρ ἐστιν ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου τούτου, καθώς φησι καὶ αὐτὸς ὁ Χριστός: Ὑμεῖς οὐκ ἐστὲ ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου τούτου: καὶ τὸν Παράκλητον ἔχει φθεγγόμενον ἐν ἑαυτῷ τὸν πανταχοῦ παρόντα, τὸν οὕτως ἀκριβῶς εἰδότα τὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὡς τὰ ἑαυτῆς οἶδεν ἡ τῶν ἀνθρώπων ψυχή: τὸ Πνεῦμα τῆς ἁγιωσύνης, τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ εὐθὲς, τὸ ἡγεμονικὸν, τὸ χειραγωγοῦν εἰς τοὺς οὐρανοὺς, τὸ ποιοῦν ὀφθαλμοὺς ἑτέρους, τὸ παρασκευάζον τὰ μέλλοντα ὡς τὰ παρόντα ὁρᾷν, τὸ καὶ μετὰ σαρκὸς τὰ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς κατοπτεύειν παρέχον. Πολλὴν τοίνυν παρέχωμεν τὴν ἡσυχίαν διὰ παντὸς αὐτῷ τοῦ βίου: μηδεὶς νωθὴς, μηδεὶς ὑπνηλὸς, μηδεὶς ῥυπώδης ἐνταῦθα εἰσιὼν μενέτω: ἀλλὰ μεταστήσωμεν ἑαυτοὺς πρὸς τὸν οὐρανόν: ἐκεῖ γὰρ ταῦτα φθέγγεται τοῖς ἐκεῖ πολιτευομένοις. Κἂν μείνωμεν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, οὐδὲν κερδανοῦμεν ἐντεῦθεν μέγα. Οὐδὲν γὰρ πρὸς τοὺς οὐ βουλομένους ἀπαλλαγῆναι τοῦ χοιρώδους βίου τὰ Ἰωάννου, ὥσπερ οὖν οὐδὲ πρὸς ἐκεῖνον τὰ ἐνταῦθα. Ἡ μὲν οὖν βροντὴ καταπλήττει τὰς ἡμετέρας ψυχὰς, ἄσημον ἔχουσα τὴν ἠχήν: ἡ δὲ τούτου φωνὴ θορυβεῖ μὲν οὐδένα τῶν πιστῶν, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἀνίησι θορύβου καὶ ταραχῆς: καταπλήττει δὲ δαίμονας μόνους καὶ τοὺς ἐκείνοις δουλεύοντας. Ἵν' οὖν ἴδωμεν ὅπως αὐτοὺς καταπλήττῃ, πολλὴν παρέχωμεν τὴν σιγὴν καὶ τὴν ἔξωθεν καὶ τὴν κατὰ διάνοιαν: καὶ ταύτην μάλιστα, Τί γὰρ ὄφελος τοῦ στόματος ἠρεμοῦντος, ὅταν ἡ ψυχὴ θορυβῆται καὶ πολλὴν ἔχῃ τὴν ζάλην; Ἐκείνην ἐγὼ ζητῶ τὴν ἡσυχίαν, τὴν ἀπὸ διανοίας, τὴν ἀπὸ ψυχῆς: ἐπειδὴ καὶ τῆς ἀκοῆς ἐκείνης δέομαι. Μηδεμία τοίνυν ἐνοχλείτω χρημάτων ἐπιθυμία, μηδὲ δόξης ἔρως, μὴ θυμοῦ τυραννὶς, μὴ τῶν ἄλλων παθῶν ὁ λοιπὸς ὄχλος. Οὐ γὰρ ἔστι μὴ καθαρθεῖσαν τὴν ἀκοὴν ἰδεῖν τῶν λεγομένων τὸ ὕψος, ὡς ἰδεῖν χρὴ, οὐδὲ γνῶναι ὡς δεῖ τῶν μυστηρίων τούτων τὸ φρικτὸν καὶ ἀπόῤῥητον, καὶ τὴν ἄλλην ἅπασαν ἀρετὴν τὴν ἐν τοῖς θείοις τούτοις χρησμοῖς. Εἰ γὰρ μέλος αὐλητικὸν καὶ κιθαρῳδίαν οὐκ ἄν τις μάθοι καλῶς, μὴ πάντη συντείνας τὸν νοῦν, πῶς μυστικῶν φωνῶν καθήμενος ἀκροατὴς ἐπακοῦσαι δυνήσεται ῥᾳθυμούσῃ ψυχῇ; γʹ. Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ Χριστὸς παρῄνει, λέγων: Μὴ δῶτε τὰ ἅγια τοῖς κυσὶ, μηδὲ ῥίψητε τοὺς μαργαρίτας ἔμπροσθεν τῶν χοίρων. Μαργαρίτας δὲ ταῦτα τὰ ῥήματα ἐκάλεσε, καίτοι πολλῷ τιμιώτερα τούτων ὄντα, ἐπειδὴ ταύτης τῆς ὕλης οὐκ ἔστιν ἡμῖν ἑτέρα τιμιωτέρα. Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ τὴν ἡδονὴν αὐτῶν μέλιτι πολλάκις παραβάλλειν εἴωθεν, οὐκ ἐπειδὴ τοσοῦτον αὐτῆς τὸ μέτρον μόνον, ἀλλ' ὅτι τούτου οὐδέν ἐστιν ἕτερον ἥδιον παρ' ἡμῖν. Ἐπεὶ ὅτι γε καὶ λίθων φύσιν τιμίων, καὶ παντὸς μέλιτος ἡδονὴν, κατὰ πολλὴν νικᾷ τὴν ὑπερβολὴν, ἄκουσον τοῦ Προφήτου λέγοντος περὶ αὐτῶν, καὶ τὴν ὑπερβολὴν ταύτην δεικνύντος: Ἐπιθυμητὰ γὰρ, φησὶν, ὑπὲρ χρυσίον καὶ λίθον τίμιον πολὺ, καὶ γλυκύτερα ὑπὲρ μέλι καὶ κηρίον: ἀλλὰ τοῖς ὑγιαίνουσι: διὸ ἐπήγαγε, Καὶ γὰρ ὁ δοῦλός σου φυλάσσει αὐτά. Καὶ ἀλλαχοῦ πάλιν, εἰπὼν αὐτὰ γλυκέα, προσέθηκε, Τῷ λάρυγγί μου. Ὡς γλυκέα γὰρ, φησὶ, τῷ λάρυγγί μου τὰ λόγιά σου. Καὶ τὴν ὑπερβολὴν πάλιν διατηρεῖ, λέγων: Ὑπὲρ μέλι καὶ κηρίον τῷ στόματί μου: ἐπειδὴ σφόδρα ὑγίαινε. Μὴ τοίνυν μηδὲ ἡμεῖς νοσοῦντες προσερχώμεθα τούτοις: ἀλλὰ θεραπεύσαντες τὴν ψυχὴν, οὕτω δεχώμεθα τὴν ἑστίασιν. Διὰ γὰρ τοῦτο τοσαῦτα προειπὼν, οὐδέπω καθῆκα εἰς τὰς ῥήσεις ταύτας, ἵνα ἕκαστος πάντα ἀποθέμενος ἀῤῥωστίας τρόπον, ὥσπερ εἰς αὐτὸν εἰσιὼν τὸν οὐρανὸν, οὕτως εἰσίῃ καθαρὸς καὶ θυμοῦ, καὶ φροντίδος, καὶ ἀγωνίας βιωτικῆς, καὶ τῶν ἄλλων ἀπηλλαγμένος παθῶν. Οὐ γὰρ ἔστιν ἑτέρως κερδᾶναί τι μέγα ἐντεῦθεν, μὴ πρότερον οὕτως ἀνακαθάραντα τὴν ψυχήν. Καὶ μή μοι λεγέτω τις ὅτι βραχὺς ὁ καιρὸς ὁ μεταξὺ τῆς συνάξεως τῆς μελλούσης. Ἔξεστι γὰρ οὐχὶ ἐν πέντε μόνον ἡμέραις, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐν μιᾷ ῥοπῇ μεταθέσθαι τὸν βίον ἅπαντα. Τί γὰρ, εἰπέ μοι, λῃστοῦ καὶ ἀνδροφόνου χεῖρον; οὐχὶ τὸ ἔσχατον τοῦτο τῆς κακίας εἶδός ἐστιν; Ἀλλ' ὅμως εἰς τὸ ἄκρον τῆς ἀρετῆς εὐθέως ἔφθασε, καὶ εἰς αὐτὸν ἐχώρησε τὸν παράδεισον: οὐχ ἡμερῶν δεηθεὶς, οὐχ ἡμίσους ἡμέρας, ἀλλὰ βραχείας ῥοπῆς. Ὥστε ἔξεστιν ἄφνω μεταθέσθαι, καὶ γενέσθαι χρύσεον ἀντὶ πηλίνου. Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ οὐ φύσει τὰ τῆς ἀρετῆς καὶ τῆς κακίας ἐστὶν, εὔκολος ἡ μετάθεσις, πάσης ἀνάγκης ἀπηλλαγμένη. Ἐὰν θέλητε καὶ εἰσακούσητέ μου, φησὶ, τὰ ἀγαθὰ τῆς γῆς φάγεσθε. Ὁρᾷς ὅτι βουλήσεως δεῖ μόνης; βουλήσεως, οὐ τῆς κοινῆς μόνον ταύτης, τῆς τῶν πολλῶν, ἀλλὰ τῆς ἐσπουδασμένης. Ἐπεὶ ἅπαντας οἶδα εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν θέλοντας ἀναπτῆναι νῦν, ἀλλὰ διὰ τῶν ἔργων δεῖ τὴν θέλησιν ἐπιδείξασθαι. Καὶ γὰρ ὁ ἔμπορος θέλει πλουτεῖν, ἀλλ' οὐ μέχρι τῆς διανοίας τὸ θέλειν ἵστησιν, ἀλλὰ καὶ πλοῖον κατασκευάζεται, καὶ συνάγει ναύτας, καὶ παρακαλεῖ κυβερνήτην, καὶ τοῖς ἄλλοις ἅπασι κατασκευάζει τὸ πλοῖον, καὶ χρυσίον δανείζεται, καὶ περᾷ πέλαγος, καὶ εἰς ξένην ἄπεισι γῆν, καὶ κινδύνους ὑπομένει πολλοὺς, καὶ τὰ ἄλλα πάντα ἅπερ ἴσασιν οἱ τὴν θάλατταν πλέοντες. Οὕτω καὶ ἡμᾶς δεῖ τὴν βούλησιν ἐπιδείξασθαι. Πλέομεν γὰρ καὶ ἡμεῖς πλοῦν, οὐ τὸν ἀπὸ γῆς εἰς γῆν, ἀλλὰ τὸν ἀπὸ γῆς εἰς οὐρανόν. Κατασκευάσωμεν οὖν τὸν λογισμὸν τὸν ἡμέτερον πρὸς κυβέρνησιν ἐπιτήδειον τὴν ἄνω φέρουσαν, καὶ ναύτας αὐτῷ πειθηνίους, καὶ πλοῖον στερεὸν, ὥστε μήτε περιστάσει καὶ ἀθυμίᾳ βαπτίζεσθαι βιωτικῇ, μήτε ἀλαζονείας ἐπαίρεσθαι πνεύματι, ἀλλ' εὔζωνον εἶναι καὶ κοῦφον. Ἂν οὕτω μὲν τὸ πλοῖον, οὕτω δὲ τὸν κυβερνήτην καὶ τοὺς ναύτας παρασκευάσωμεν, ἐξ οὐρίων πλευσόμεθα, καὶ τὸν Υἱὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ τὸν ἀληθῆ κυβερνήτην ἐπισπασόμεθα πρὸς ἑαυτούς: ὃς οὐκ ἀφήσει βαπτισθῆναι τὸ σκάφος ἡμῖν, ἀλλὰ κἂν μυρίοι πνεύσωσιν ἄνεμοι, καὶ τοῖς ἀνέμοις ἐπιτιμήσει, καὶ τῇ θαλάττῃ, καὶ ἀντὶ σάλου πολλὴν ἐργάσεται τὴν γαλήνην. δʹ. Κατασκευάσαντες τοίνυν ἑαυτοὺς οὕτως, τῇ ἐπιούσῃ παραγένεσθε τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ, εἴ γε περισπούδαστον ὑμῖν τι τῶν χρησίμων ἀκοῦσαι καὶ ἐναποθέσθαι τὰ λεγόμενα τῇ ψυχῇ. Μηδεὶς ὁδὸς ἔστω, μηδεὶς πέτρα, μηδεὶς ἀκανθῶν πεπληρωμένος. Ποιήσωμεν ἑαυτοὺς νεώματα: οὕτω γὰρ καὶ ἡμεῖς μετὰ προθυμίας τὰ σπέρματα καταβαλοῦμεν, ἐὰν ἴδωμεν τὴν γῆν καθαράν: ἐὰν δὲ λιθώδη καὶ τραχεῖαν, σύγγνωτε μὴ βουλομένοις εἰκῆ πονεῖσθαι: εἰ γὰρ τὸ σπείρειν ἀφέντες, ἀρξόμεθα τὰς ἀκάνθας ἐκκόπτειν, πάλιν ἐσχάτης ἀνοίας σπέρματα καταβαλεῖν εἰς ἀνέργαστον γῆν. Τὸν ταύτης ἀπολαύοντα τῆς ἀκροάσεως, οὐ δεῖ τῆς δαιμονικῆς μετέχειν τραπέζης. Τίς γὰρ κοινωνία δικαιοσύνῃ καὶ ἀνομίᾳ; Ἕστηκας ἀκούων Ἰωάννου, καὶ δι' ἐκείνου τὰ τοῦ Πνεύματος μανθάνων, καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα ἀπέρχῃ πορνῶν ἀκουσόμενος γυναικῶν, αἰσχρὰ φθεγγομένων, αἰσχρότερα ὑποκρινομένων, καὶ μαλακῶν ῥαπιζομένων τε καὶ ῥαπιζόντων ἀλλήλους, Πῶς δυνήσῃ καλῶς καθαρθῆναι, ἐγκαλινδούμενος βορβόρῳ τοσούτῳ; Τί γὰρ δεῖ κατὰ μέρος πᾶσαν καταλέγειν τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην τὴν αὐτόθι; Πάντα γὰρ ἐκεῖ γέλως, πάντα αἰσχύνη, πάντα ὄνειδος, καὶ λοιδορίαι καὶ σκώμματα: πάντα ἔκλυσις, πάντα λύμη. Ἰδοὺ προλέγω καὶ παραγγέλλω πᾶσιν ὑμῖν: μηδεὶς τῶν ταύτης ἀπολαυόντων τῆς τραπέζης, φθειρέτω τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ψυχὴν τοῖς δηλητηρίοις ἐκείνοις θεάμασι. Πομπὴ πάντα ἐστὶ τὰ ἐκεῖ λεγόμενα καὶ πραττόμενα σατανική. Ἴστε δὲ οἱ μεμυημένοι, ποίας ἡμῖν ἔθεσθε συνθήκας: μᾶλλον δὲ ποίας ἔθεσθε τῷ Χριστῷ, ὅτε ὑμᾶς αὐτὸς ἐμυσταγώγει: τί πρὸς αὐτὸν εἴπατε, τί περὶ τῆς πομπῆς τῆς σατανικῆς αὐτῷ διελέχθητε, πῶς μετὰ τοῦ σατανᾶ καὶ τῶν ἀγγέλων αὐτοῦ, καὶ ταύτῃ τότε ἀπετάττεσθε, καὶ ὑπισχνεῖσθε, μηδὲ παρακύψειν ἐκεῖ; Δέος οὖν οὐ μικρὸν, μὴ περὶ τὰς τοιαύτας ὑποσχέσεις ἀγνώμων τις γενόμενος, ἀνάξιον ἑαυτὸν καταστήσῃ τῶν μυστηρίων τούτων. Οὐχ ὁρᾷς πῶς ἐν ταῖς βασιλικαῖς αὐλαῖς, οὐχ οἱ προσκεκρουκότες, ἀλλ' οἱ τετιμημένοι καλοῦνται μεθέξοντες τῆς γνώμης ἐκείνης, καὶ εἰς τοὺς φίλους τάττονται τοὺς βασιλικούς; Πρεσβευτὴς ἡμῖν ἦλθεν ἐξ οὐρανοῦ, παρ' αὐτοῦ πεμφθεὶς τοῦ Θεοῦ, περί τινων ἀναγκαίων διαλεξόμενος: εἶτα ὑμεῖς ἀφέντες ἀκοῦσαι τί βούλεται καὶ τί διαπρεσβεύεται πρὸς ἡμᾶς, κάθησθε μίμων ἀκούοντες. Καὶ πόσων οὐκ ἄξια ταῦτα κεραυνῶν, πόσων σκηπτῶν; Ὥσπερ γὰρ τραπέζης οὐ χρὴ μετέχειν δαιμονίων: οὕτως οὐδὲ ἀκροάσεως δαιμονίων, οὐδὲ μετὰ ῥυπαρᾶς τῆς ἐσθῆτος εἰς τὴν λαμπρὰν τράπεζαν παραγενέσθαι τὴν τοσούτων γέμουσαν ἀγαθῶν, ἣν αὐτὸς παρεσκεύασεν ὁ Θεός. Τοσαύτη γὰρ αὐτῆς ἡ δύναμις, ὡς καὶ πρὸς τὸν οὐρανὸν αὐτὸν ἀθρόον ἡμᾶς ἐπᾶραι, μόνον ἐὰν σώφρονι διανοίᾳ προσέχωμεν. Οὐ γὰρ ἔστι τὸν συνεχῶς τοῖς θείοις ἐπᾳδόμενον λόγοις ἐπὶ τῆς παρούσης μεῖναι ταπεινότητος: ἀλλὰ ἀνάγκη πτερωθῆναι εὐθέως, καὶ πρὸς αὐτὸν ἀναπτῆναι τὸν ἄνω χῶρον, καὶ τοῖς ἀπείροις ἐντυχεῖν τῶν ἀγαθῶν θησαυροῖς: ὧν γένοιτο πάντας ἡμᾶς ἐπιτυχεῖν, χάριτι καὶ φιλανθρωπίᾳ τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, δι' οὗ καὶ μεθ' οὗ τῷ Πατρὶ ἡ δόξα ἅμα τῷ παναγίῳ Πνεύματι, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ, καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.