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

NPNF (V1-14)St. Chrysostomand that [future] state. Or, if some captive, having suffered innumerable evils, should be caught upat once to the royal throne.But not even thus have I attained to the image exactly. For here indeed whatever good thingsa person may obtain, even shouldst thou say the kingdom itself, during the first day indeed hisdesires are in full vigor, and for the second too, and the third, but as time goes on, he continuesindeed to have pleasure, but not so great. For whatever it be, it always ceases from familiarity withit. But yonder it not only does not diminish, but even increases. For consider how great a thing itis, that a soul after departing thither, should no longer look for an end of those good things, nor yetchange, but increase, and life that has no end, and life set free from all danger, and from alldespondency and care, full of cheerfulness and blessings innumerable.For if when we go out into a plain, and there see the soldiers’ tents fixed with curtains, and thespears, and helmets, and bosses of the bucklers glittering, we are lifted up with wonder; but if wealso chance to see the king himself running in the midst or even riding with golden armor, we thinkwe have everything; what thinkest thou [it will be] when thou seest the everlasting tabernacles ofthe saints pitched in heaven? (For it is said, “They shall receive you into their everlastingtabernacles”— Luke xvi. 9 ) when thou seest each one of them beaming with light above the raysof the sun, not from brass and steel, but from that glory whose gleamings the eye of man cannotlook upon? And this indeed with respect to the men. But what, if one were to speak of the thousandsof Angels, of Archangels, of Cherubim, of Seraphim, of thrones, of dominions, of principalities,of powers, whose beauty is inimitable, passing all understanding?But how far shall I go in pursuing what cannot be overtaken? “For eye hath not seen,” it is said,“nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared forthem that love Him.” ( 1 Cor. ii. 9 .) Therefore nothing is more pitiable than those who miss, noranything more blessed than those who attain. Let us then be of the blessed, that we may attain tothe everlasting good things that are in Christ Jesus our Lord, with whom to the Father together withthe Holy Ghost be glory, might, honor, now and for ever and world without end. Amen.398Homily VII.Hebrews iv. 11–13“Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.For the word of God is quick [i.e. living] and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword,piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and isa discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart, neither is there any creature that is notmanifest in His sight, but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom wehave to do.”[1.] Faith is indeed great and bringeth salvation, and without it, it is not possible ever to besaved. It suffices not however of itself to accomplish this, but there is need of a right conversation573