Homilies on the Gospel of St. John and the Epistle to the Hebrews

NPNF (V1-14)St. Chrysostomtender care. Let us then, admiring His lovingkindness, contribute what is in our power, that havingboth in this life and in that which is to come obtained in abundance the lovingkindness of God, wemay be able to enjoy the good things promised to us, through the grace and lovingkindness of ourLord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.Homily LXXV.John xiv. 15–17“If ye love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you anotherComforter, that He may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannotreceive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him.” 2138272[1.] We need everywhere works and actions, not a mere show of words. For to say and topromise is easy for any one, but to act is not equally easy. Why have I made these remarks? Becausethere are many at this time who say that they fear and love God, but in their works show the contrary;but God requireth that love which is shown by works. Wherefore He said to the disciples, “If yelove Me, keep My commandments.” For after He had told them, “Whatsoever ye shall ask, 2139 Iwill do it,” that they might not deem the mere “asking” to be availing, He added, “If ye love Me,”“then,” He saith, “I will do it.” And since it was likely that they would be troubled when they heardthat, “I go 2140 to the Father,” He telleth them “to be troubled now is not to love, to love is to obeyMy words. I have given you a commandment that ye love one another, that ye do so to each otheras I have done to you; this is love, to obey these My words, and to yield to Him who is the objectof your love.”“And I will ask the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter.” Again His speech is oneof condescension. For since it was probable, that they not yet knowing Him would eagerly seekHis society, His discourse, His presence in the flesh, and would admit of no consolation when Hewas absent, what saith He? “I will ask the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter,” thatis, “Another like unto Me.” Let those be ashamed who have the disease of Sabellius, 2141 who holdnot the fitting opinion concerning the Spirit. For the marvel of this discourse is this, that it hathstricken down contradictory heresies with the same blow. For by saying “another,” He showeth thedifference of Person, and by “Paraclete,” the connection of Substance. But why said He, “I willask the Father”? Because had He said, “I will send Him,” they would not have so much believedand now the object is that He should be believed. For afterwards He declares that He Himself2138“ But ye know Him, for He dwelleth with you, and shall be with you. ” N.T.2139“ in My Name, ” N.T.2140al. “ depart. ”2141Sabellius was a bishop in Upper Egypt in the third century. The heresy which bears his name denies the Personality ofthe Son and the Holy Spirit, and holds that they are manifestations or characters of the Godhead.410