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

NPNF (V1-14)St. Chrysostom469fire, so an angry man filling in with a patient one does no harm to the patient man, but rather benefitshim, and is himself more thoroughly subdued.For nothing is equal to longsuffering. Such a man is never insulted; but as bodies of adamantare not wounded, so neither are such souls. For they are above the reach of the darts. Thelongsuffering man is high, and so high as not to receive a wound from the shot. When one is furious,laugh; but do not laugh openly, lest thou irritate him: but laugh mentally on his account. For in thecase of children, when they strike us passionately, as though forsooth they were avenging themselves,we laugh. If then thou laugh, there will be as great difference between thee and him, as between achild and a man: but if thou art furious thou hast made thyself a child. For the angry are moresenseless than children. If one look at a furious child, does he not laugh at him? “The poor-spirited”(it is said) “is mightily simple.” ( Prov. xiv. 29 .) The simple then is a child: and “he who islongsuffering” (it is said) “is abundant in wisdom.” This “abundant wisdom” then let us followafter, that we may attain to the good things promised us in Christ Jesus our Lord, with whom tothe Father together with the Holy Ghost, be glory, power, honor, now and for ever and world withoutend. Amen.Homily XXIII.Hebrews xi. 7“By faith Noah, being warned of God 3230 of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared anark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of therighteousness which is by Faith.”[1.] “ By faith” (he says) “Noah being warned of God.” As the Son of God, speaking of Hisown coming, said, “In the days of Noah they married and were given in marriage” ( Luke xvii. 26,27 ), therefore the Apostle also recalled to their mind an appropriate image. For the example ofEnoch, was an example only of Faith; that of Noah, on the other hand, of unbelief also. And thisis a complete consolation and exhortation, when not only believers are found approved, but alsounbelievers suffer the opposite.For what does he say? “By faith being warned of God.” 3231 What is “being warned of God”?It is, “It having been foretold to him.” But why is the expression “divine communication” 3232 (Luke ii. 26 ) used? for in another place also it is said, “and it was communicated 3233 to him by theSpirit,” and again, “and what saith the divine communication?” 3234 ( Rom. xi. 4 .) Seest thou the3230χρηματισθείς3231χρηματισθείς3232χρηματισμὸς3233ἦ ν κεχρηματισμένον3234χρηματισμὸς679