st. john of damascus (676-749 - Cristo Raul

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SERMONS. 1 1 1
lutely to the encounter. Not against men, indeed,
are they drawn up in battle array, nor do they beat
the air ; they bring not plough-oxen under the yoke,
to cleave earth s furrows with them, nor sail over the
briny sea. It is against principalities, against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness of this world, that
they have to strive. In being beaten they rejoice ;
nakedness they count as riches. To the surging
billows of the world, and to the spirits of wickedness
that rouse them, they oppose the rudder of the cross.
These latter they drive away in the might of the Holy
Spirit, like roaring and ravening beasts of prey while
;
in men s hearts, as in so many furrows, they sow the
word of godliness, and reap a manifold return for the
Lord of the harvest (c. xiv. ).
On Peter s wish, Let us make here three tabernacles,
&c., and the refusal of the it, preacher thus com
ments If :
ye had remained on Mount Tabor, the
promise made to thee, Peter, would not have had its
fulfilment. For thou wouldst not have been made
keeper of the keys of the Kingdom ; paradise would
not have been opened to the robber the
; arrogant
usurpation of death would not have been destroyed ;
the palaces of Hades would not have been given for
a prey ; patriarchs and prophets and just men would
not have been released from the depths of hell our
;
nature would not have put on incorruption. If
Adam had not sought to be as God before the time,
he would have attained his desire. Seek not then
what is
good before the time, Peter. The days will
come when thou wilt enjoy this vision unceasingly.
Not tabernacles, but the world-wide church, did the