John chapter 1, verse 9.-"That was the true Light, which
lighteth every man that cometh into the world."
[1.] The reason, O children greatly beloved, why we entertain you portion
by portion with the thoughts taken from the Scriptures, and do not at once
pour all forth to you, is, that the retaining what is successively set
before you may be easy. For even in building, one who before the first
stones are settled lays on others, constructs1 a rotten wall altogether,
and easily thrown down while one who waits that the mortar may first get
hard, and so adds what remains little by little, finishes the whole house
firmly, and makes it strong, not one to last for a short time, or easily
to fall to pieces. These builders we imitate,2 and in like manner build
up your souls. For we fear lest, while the first foundation is but newly
laid, the addition of the succeeding speculations3 may do harm to the former,
through the insufficiency of the intellect to contain them all at once.
What now is it that has been read to us today?
"That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into
the world." For since above in speaking of John he said, that he came "to
bear witness of that Light"; and that he wassent in these our days;4 lest
any one at hearingthis should, on account of the recent coming of the witness,
conceive some like suspicion concerning Him, who is witnessed of, he has
carried up the imagination, and transported it to that existence which
is before all beginning, which has neither end nor commencement.
"And how is it possible," says one, "that being a Son, He should possess
this (nature)?" We are speaking of God, and do you ask how? And do you
not fear nor shudder? Yet should any one ask you, "How should our souls
andbodies have endless life in the world to come?5 " you will laugh at
the question, on the ground that it does not belong to the intellect of
man to search into such questions, but that he ought only to believe, and
not to be over-curious on the subject mentioned, since he has a sufficient
proof of the saying, in the power of Him who spake it. And if we say, that
He, who created our souls and bodies, and who incomparably excels all created
things, is without beginning, will you require us to say "How?" Who could
assert this to be the act of a well-ordered soul, or of sound reason? you
have heard that "That was the true Light": why are you vainly and rashly
striving to overshoot6 by force of reasoning this Life which is unlimited?
You cannot do it. Why seek what may not be sought? Why be curious about
what is incomprehensible? Why search what is unsearchable? Gaze upon the
very source of the sunbeams. You cannot; yet you are neither vexed nor
impatient at your weakness; how then have you become so daring and headlong
in greater matters? The son of thunder, John who sounds7 the spiritual
trumpet, when he had heard from the Spirit the was, enquired no farther.
And are you, who share not in his grace, but speak from your own wretched
reasonings, ambitious to exceed the measure of his knowledge? Then for
this very reason you will never be able even to reach to the measure of
his knowledge. For this is the craft of the devil: he leads away those
who obey him from the limits assigned by God, as though to things much
greater: but when, having enticed us by these hopes, he has cast us out
of the grace of God, he not only gives nothing more, (how can he, devil
as he is?) but does not even allow us to return again to our former situation,
where we dwelt safely and surely, but leads us about in all directions
wandering and not having any standing ground. So he caused the first created
man to be banished from the abode of Paradise. Having puffed him up with
the expectation of greater knowledge and honor, he expelled him from what
he already possessed in security. For he not only did not become like a
god as (the devil) promised him, but even fell beneath the dominion of
death; having not only gained no further advantage by eating of the tree,
but having lost no small portion of the knowledge which he possessed, through
hope of greater knowledge. For the sense of shame, and the desire to hide
himself because of his nakedness, then came upon him, who before the cheat
was superior to all such shame; and this very seeing himself to be naked,
and the need for the future of the covering of garments, and many other
infirmities,8 became thenceforth natural to him. That this be not our case,
let us obey God, continue in His commandments, and not be busy about anything
beyond them, that we may not be cast out from the good things already given
us. Thus they have fared (of whom we speak). For seeking to find a beginning
of the Life which has no beginning, they lost what they might have retained.
They found not what they sought, (this is impossible,) and they fell away
from the true faith concerning the Only-Begotten.
Let us not then remove the eternal bounds which our fathers set, but
let us ever yield to the laws of the Spirit; and when we hear that "That
was the true Light," let us seek to discover nothing more. For it is not
possible to pass beyond this saying. Had His generation been like that
of a man, needs must there have been an interval between the begetter and
the begotten; but since it is in a manner ineffable and becoming God, give
up the "before" and the "after," for these are the names of points in time,
but the Son is the Creator even of all ages.9
[2.] "Then," says one, "He is not Father, but brother." What need, pray?
If we had asserted that the Father and the Son were from a different root,
you might have then spoken this well. But, if we flee this impiety, and
say the Father, besides being without beginning, is Unbegotten also, while
the Son, though without beginning, is Begotten of the Father, what kind
of need that as a consequence of this idea, that unholy assertion should
be introduced? None at all. For He is an Effulgence: but an effulgence
is included in the idea of the nature whose effulgence it is. For this
reason Paul has called Him so, that you may imagine no interval between
the Father and the Son. (Heb. i. 3.) This expression10 therefore is declaratory
of the point; but the following part of the proof quoted, corrects an erroneous
opinion which might beset simple men. For, says the Apostle, do not, because
you have heard that he is an Effulgence, suppose that He is deprived of
His proper person; this is impious, and belongs to the madness of the Sabellians,
and of Marcellus' followers. We say not so, but that He is also in His
proper Person. And for this reason, after having called Him "Effulgence,"
Paul has added that He is "the express image of His Person" (Heb. i. 3.),
in order to make evident His proper Personality, and that He belongs to
the same Essence of which He is also the express image. For, as I before11
said, it is not sufficient by a single expression to set before men the
doctrines concerning God, but it is desirable that we bring many together,
and choose from each what is suitable. So shall we be able to attain to
a worthy telling of His glory, worthy, I mean, as regards our power; for
if any should deem himself able to speak words suitable to His essential
worthiness, and be ambitious to do so, saying, that he knows God as God
knows Himself, he it is who ismost ignorant of God.
Knowing therefore this, let us continue steadfastly to hold what "they
have delivered unto us, which from the beginning were eye-witnesses, and
ministers of the word." (Luke i. 2.) And let us not be curious beyond:
for two evils will attend those who are sick of this disease, (curiosity,)
the wearying themselves in vain by seeking what it is impossible to find,
and the provoking God by their endeavors to overturn the bounds set by
Him. Now what anger this excites, it needs not that you who know should
learn from us. Abstaining therefore from their madness, let us tremble
at His words, that He may continually build us up. For, "upon whom shall
I look" (Isa. lxvi. 2, Isa. lxvi. 2, LXX.), saith He, "but upon the lowly,
and quiet, and who feareth my words?" Let us then leave this pernicious
curiosity, and bruise our hearts, let us mourn for our sins as Christ commanded,
let us be pricked at heart12 for our transgressions, let us reckon up exactly
all the wicked deeds, which in time past we have dared, and let us earnestly
strive to wipe them off in all kinds of ways.
Now to this end God hath opened to us many ways. For, "Tell thou first,"
saith He, "thy sins, that thou mayest be justified" (Isa. xliii. 2613 );
and again, "I said, I have declared mine iniquity unto Thee, and Thou hast
taken14 away the unrighteousness of my heart" (Ps. xxxii. 5, Ps. xxxii.
5 LXX.); since a continual accusation and remembrance of sins contributes
not a little to lessen their magnitude. But there is another more prevailing
way than this; to bear malice against none of those who have offended against
us, to forgive their trespasses to all those who have trespassed against
us. Will you learn a third? Hear Daniel, saying, "Redeem thy sins by almsdeeds,
and thine iniquities by showingmercy to the poor." (Dan. iv. 27, Dan. iv.
27 LXX.) And there is another besides this; constancy in prayer, and persevering
attendance on the intercessions15 made with God. In like manner fasting
brings to us some, and that not small comfort and release from sins committed,16
provided it be attended with kindness to others, and quenches the vehemence
of the wrath of God. (1 Tim. ii. 1.) For "water will quench a blazing fire,
and by almsdeeds sins are purged away." (Ecclus. iii. 30, Ecclus. iii.
30 LXX.)
Let us then travel along all these ways; for if we give ourselves wholly
to these employments, if on them we spend our time, not only shall we wash
off our bygone transgressions, but shall gain very great profit for the
future. For we shall not allow the devil to assault us with leisure either
for slothful living, or for pernicious curiosity, since by these among
other means, and in consequence of these, he leads us to foolish questions
and hurtful disputations, from seeing us at leisure, and idle, and taking
no forethought for excellency of living. But let us block up this approach
against him, let us watch, let us be sober, that having in this short time
toiled a little, we may obtain eternal goods in endless ages, by the grace
and lovingkindness of our Lord Jesus Christ; by whom and with whom to the
Father and the Holy Ghost, be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
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1 u9fainei.
2 al. "let us imitate."
3 qewrhma/twn.
4 nu=n.
5 meta\ tau=ta
6 u\perakonti/sai.
7 al. "holds."
8 pa/qh.
9 ai0w/nwn.
10 a0pau/gasma.
11 Hom. ii. 4.
12 katanugw=men.
13 Slightly varied from LXX.
14 al. "forgiven."
15 e0nteu/cesin.
16 lu/sin tw=n h9marthme/nwn.
