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

NPNF (V1-14)St. Chrysostombound, bending down, we must be dragged to the mouths of the furnace, to the river of fire, to thedarkness, to then ever-dying punishments, and entreat no one. For it is not, it is not possible, Hesays, to pass across from this side to that: for “there is a great gulf betwixt us and you” ( Luke xvi.26 ),and it is not possible even for those who wish it to go across, and stretch out a helping hand:but we must needs burn continually, no one aiding us, even should it be father or mother, or anywhosoever, yea though he have much boldness toward God. For, it says, “A brother doth not redeem;shall man redeem?” ( Ps. xlix. 8 .)Since then it is not possible to have one’s hopes of salvation in another, but [it must be] in one’sself after the lovingkindness of God, let us do all things, I entreat you, so that our conduct may bepure, and our course of life the best, and that it may not receive any stain even from the beginning.But if not, at all events, let us not sleep after the stain, but continue always washing away thepollution by repentance, by tears, by prayers, by works of mercy.What then, you say, if I cannot do works of mercy? 3421 But thou hast “a cup of cold water” (Matt. x. 42 ), however poor thou art. But thou hast “two mites” ( Mark xii. 42 ), in whateverpoverty thou art; but thou hast feet, so as to visit the sick, so as to enter into a prison; but thou hasta roof, so as to receive strangers. For there is no pardon, no, none for him who does not do worksof mercy.These things we say to you continually, that we may effect if it be but a little by the continuedrepetition: these things we say, not caring so much for those who receive the benefits, as foryourselves. For ye give to them indeed things here, but in return you receive heavenly things: whichmay we all obtain, in Christ Jesus our Lord, with whom to the Father be glory, together with theHoly Ghost, now and ever, and world without end. Amen.510Homily XXXII.Hebrews xii. 18–24“For ye are not come unto a fire 3422 that might be touched and that burned, and unto blackness,and darkness, and tempest, and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words, which voicethey that heard entreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more. 3423 (For theycould not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain,it shall be stoned. 3424 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear andquake.) But ye are come unto Mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the Heavenly3421ἐ λετημοσύνην ἐργάζεσθαι3422ὄ ρει is omitted in Mr. Field’s text, as by some [all—F.G.] critical editors of the New Test. It is not referred to by St. Chrys.3423“ that not a word more should be spoken to them. ”3424[The words ἢ βολόδι κατατοξευθήσεται are omitted by St. Chrys., as by all critical editors of the N.T., and are not givenin the R.V.—F.G.]738