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

NPNF (V1-14)St. Chrysostom50as he ought, gains some benefit from the application, while he who does not place it upon thewound, makes the evil greater, and brings it to the most painful end. Let us then not fret when weare being healed, but much rather rejoice, even though the system of discipline bring bitter pains,for hereafter it will show to us fruit sweeter than any. Let us then do all to this end, that we maydepart to that world, 393 cleared of the wounds and strokes which the teeth of sin make in the soul,so that having become worthy to behold the countenance of Christ, we may be delivered in thatday, not to the avenging and cruel powers, but to those who are able to bring us to that inheritanceof the heavens which is prepared for them that love Him; to which may it come to pass that we allattain, through the grace and lovingkindness of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory anddominion for ever and ever. Amen.Homily XV.John i. 18“No man hath seen God at any time; the Only-begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father,He hath declared Him.”[1.] God will not have us listen to the words and sentences contained in the Scriptures carelessly,but with much attention. This is why the blessed David hath prefixed in many places to his Psalmsthe title “for understanding,” 394 and hath said, “Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrousthings out of Thy Law.” ( Ps. xxxii. 42, &c.; Ps. cxix. 18 .) And after him his son again showsthat we ought to “seek out wisdom as silver, 395 and to make merchandise of her rather than of gold.”( Prov. ii. 4 and iii. 14 [partially quoted]; John v. 39 .) And the Lord when He exhorts the Jews to“search the Scriptures,” the more urges us to the enquiry, for He would not thus have spoken if itwere possible to comprehend them immediately at the first reading. No one would ever search forwhat is obvious and at hand, but for that which is wrapt in shadow, and which must be found aftermuch enquiry; and so to arouse us to the search He calls them “hidden treasure.” ( Prov. ii. 4; Matt.xiii. 44 .) These words are said to us that we may not apply ourselves to the words of the Scripturescarelessly or in a chance way, but with great exactness. For if any one listen to what is said in themwithout enquiring into the meaning, and receive all so as it is spoken, according to the letter, hewill suppose many unseemly things of God, will admit of Him that He is a man, that He is madeof brass, is wrathful, is furious, and many opinions yet worse than these. But if he fully learn thesense that lies beneath, he will be freed from all this unseemliness. ( Rev. i. 15 .) The very textwhich now lies before us says, that God has a bosom, a thing proper to bodily substances, yet no393 .394εἰς σύνεσιν מַשְׂכִּיל Maschil, σύνεσις, intellectus , et ut Hieron. reddit, eruditio , aliqui, erudiens , vel intellectum præstans. Lorin. in tit . Ps. 31 (32).395 Some mss. read “silver, and search for it as treasure; He would not have said Search , &c.”81