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

NPNF (V1-14)St. Chrysostomand say, To-day let us set this right. Again, in this month let us school ourselves in forbearance,and in another, in some other virtue: And when we have got into the habit of this virtue let us goto another, just as in the things we learn at school, guarding what is already gained, and acquiringothers.After this let us proceed to contempt for riches. First let us restrain our hands from grasping,and then let us give alms. Let us not simply confound everything, with the same hands both slayingand showing mercy forsooth. After this, let us go to some other virtue, and from that, to another.“Filthiness and foolish talking and jesting, let it not be even named among you.” ( Eph. v. 4, 3 .)Let us be thus far in the right way.There is no need of spending money, there is no need of labor, none of sweat, it is enough tohave only the will, and all is done. There is no need to travel a long way, nor to cross a boundlessocean, but to be in earnest and of ready mind, and to put a bridle on the tongue. Unseasonablereproaches, anger, disorderly lusts, luxuriousness, expensiveness, let us cast off; and the desire ofwealth also from our soul, perjury and habitual oaths.If we thus cultivate ourselves, plucking out the former thorns, and casting in the heavenly seed,we shall be able to attain the good things promised. For the Husbandman will come and will layus up in His Garner, and we shall attain to all good things, which may we all attain, by the graceand lovingkindness of our Lord Jesus Christ, with whom to the Father together with the Holy Ghost,be glory, power, honor, now and for ever, and world without end. Amen.Homily XXV.Hebrews xi. 17–19“ By faith [Abraham], 3263 when he was tried, offered up Isaac; and he that had received the promisesoffered up his only-begotten son, of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:accounting that God was able to raise him up even from the dead; from whence also he receivedhim in a figure.”[1.] Great indeed was the faith of Abraham. For while in the case of Abel, and of Noah, and ofEnoch, there was an opposition of reasonings only, and it was necessary to go beyond humanreasonings; in this case it was necessary not only to go beyond human reasonings, but to manifestalso something more. For what was of God 3264 seemed to be opposed to what was of God; and faithopposed faith, and command promise.I mean this: He had said, “Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and I will givethee this land.” ( Gen. xii. 1, 7 .) “He gave him none inheritance in it, no not so much as to set hisfoot on.” ( Acts vii. 5 .) Seest thou how what was done was opposed to the promise? Again He̓3263Mr. Field’s text omits Αβραὰμ , and has δεξάμενος for ἀ ναδεξάμενος3264τὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ , the acts and words of God.691