160 Plain diet answers the end of meats. True affluence, what.

Homil.are the stomachs of the rich, or rather of the luxurious; but XII

- they are filled with humours, phlegm, bile, corrupted blood,

putrid rheums, and other such-like matters. Wherefore no one, if he lives always in luxury, can bear it even for a short time; but his life will be spent in continual sicknesses. Wherefore I would gladly ask them, for what end are meats given? that we may be destroyed, or be nourished? that we may be diseased, or be strong? that we may be healthful, or be sickly? Very plainly, for nourishment, and health, and strength. Wherefore then do ye abuse them to the contrary, by their means creating unto the body disease and sickness? But not so the poor man; on the contrary, by his plain diet he purchases to himself health, and vigour, and strength. Weep not then on account of poverty, the mother of health, but even exult in it; and if thou wouldest be rich, despise riches. For this, not the having money, but the not wanting to have it, is truly affluence. If we can achieve this, we shall both be here more affluent than all that are rich, and there shall obtain the good things to come, whereunto may all we attain, through the grace and love towards men of our Lord Jesus Christ, with Whom to the Father, with the Holy Ghost, be glory, might, honour, now and ever, and world without end. Amen.

The Apostle, after much preface, now pttrpoteth to rebuke. 161

HOMILY XIII.

2 Cor. vi. 11, 12.

O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged, ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.

Having detailed his own temptations and afflictions, for in patience, saith he, in afflictions, in necessities, in dis- v. 4, s. tresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tossings to and fro, in labours, in watchings; and having shewn that the thing was a great good, for as sorrowful, saith he, yet alway v. 10. rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things; and having called those things armour, for as chastened, saith he, and not killed; and having hereby represented God's abundant care and power, for he saith, that the excellency of the power c. 4, 7. might be of God, and not of us; and having recounted his labours, for he saith, we always bear about His dying; and that this is a clear demonstration of the Resurrection, for he says, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in o. 4, 10. our mortal flesh; and of what things he was made partaker; and with what had been entrusted, for, we are ambassadors c. 5,20. for Christ, saith he, as though God did beseech you by us; and of what things he is a minister, namely, not of the 0.3,6. letter, but of the Spirit; and that he was not only entitled to reverence on this account, but also for his trials, for, Thanks be to God, saith he, which always causeih us to triumph: he purposeth now also to rebuke them, as not being too well minded towards himself. But though purposing

M

1G2 But first skeweth his love in open mouth, and large heart.

HomiL.he Joes not immediately come upon this, but having first

- spoken of the love which he had displayed towards them, he

then enters also upon his discussion of these things. For if even from his own good deeds, he that rebuketh be entitled to reverence; yet still, when he also displayeth the love, which he bears towards those who are censured, he maketh his speech less offensive. Therefore the Apostle also having stepped out of the subject of his own trials, and toils, and contests, passes on into speaking of his love, and in this way toucheth them to the quick. What then are the indications of his love? O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you. And what kind of sign of love is this? or what meaning even have the words at all ?' We cannot endure,' he says, ' lo be silent towards you, but are always desiring and longing to speak to, and converse with you," which is the wont of those who love. For what infolding in the arms is to the body, that is interchange of language to the soul. And along with this he implies another thing also. Of what kind then is this? That ' we discourse unto you on all points with freedom, as unto persons beloved, and suppressing nothing, reserving nothing,' For since afterwards he proposes to rebuke, he asks forgiveness, using the rebuking them with freedom, as itself a proof of his loving them exceedingly. Moreover the addition of their name is a mark of great love, and warmth, and affection; for we are accustomed to be repeating continually the bare names ofthose we love.

Our heart is enlarged. For as that which warmcth is wont to dilate; so also to enlarge is the work of love. For virtue is warm and fervent This both opened the mouth of Paul, and enlarged his heart. For, ' neither do I love with the mouth only,' saith he, ' but I have also a heart in unison. Therefore I speak with openness, with my whole mouth, with my whole mind.' For nothing is wider than was Paul's heart, which loved all the faithful with all the vehemence that one might bear towards the object of his affection; this his love not being divided and therefore weakened, but abiding in full entireness with each. And what marvel that this was so in the case of the faithful, seeing that even in that of the unfaithful, the heart of Paul embraced the whole world? Therefore he said not,' I love you,' but with Paul, in all his Epistles, burnt up with love of the faithful. 163

more emphasis, our mouth is open, our heart is enlarged, 2 Cor. we have you all within it. and not this merely, but with much —:—'. largeness of room'. For he that is beloved, walketh with great ';*«»«-unrestraint within the heart of him that lovelh. Wherefore he c"' saith, Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels. And this reproof, see it administered with forbearance, as is the wont of such as love exceedingly. He did not say,' ye do not love us,' but,' not in the same measure,' for he does not wish to touch them too sensibly. And indeed every where one may see, how he is burnt up with love of the faithful, by selecting words out of every Epistle. For to the Romans he saith, I long to see you; and, often-Rom. l, times I have purposed to come unto you; and, if by any1^'13' means now at length I might share a prosperous journey to come unto you. And to the Galatians, he says, My little Gal. 4, children, of whom I travail in birth again. To the Ephcsians again, For this cause I bow my knees for you. And to the Ephes. Philippiaus", For what is my hope, or joy, or crown of re-'' joicing? are not even ye? and he said that he bare them Philipp. about in his heart, and' in his bonds. And to the Coios-jq,.' sians, But I would that ye knew what great conflict I have'L"en' for you, and for as many as have not seen my face in 2,1.8. the flesh; that your hearts might be comforted. And to the Thessalouians, Even as a nurse cherisheth her children, so 1 The*). being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have' 8' imparted unto you, not the Gospel only, but also our own souls. And to Timothy, Being mindful of thy tears, that /2 Tim. might be filled with joy. And to Titus, To my beloved1 song^ 4 and to Philemon, in like manner. And to the Hebrews too, (2.) he writes many other such-like things, and ceaseth not to Philem. beseech them, and say, A little while, and he that shall geb 10 come will come, and will not tarry: just like a mother tocher pettish3 children. And to themselves4 he says, Ye are3l»rXt. not straitened in us. But he does not say only, that he JTM"TM' loves, but also that he is beloved by them, in order thatCorinhereby also he may the rather win them. And indeed testifying

to this in them, he says, Titus came and told us your earnest 2 Cor.

7, 7.

164 Loved by them. This no equal return. He claims it a* a father;

Homil. desire, your mourning, your fervent mind, And to the

Gal T." Galatians, If it had been possible, ye would have plucked out

lb. 'your onm eyes, and have given them tome. And to the Thes

j fl e9s"salonians, What manner of entering in use had unto you.

2 Tim. And to Timothy also, Being mindful of thy tears, that I may

1, 4- befilled. with joy. And also throughout his Epistles one may

find him bearing this testimony to the disciples, both that

he loved, and that he is loved, not however equally. And

2 Cor. here he saith, Though the more abundantly I love you, the

''less I be loved. This, however, is near the end; but at present

more vehemently, Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are

straitened in your own bowels. 'You receive one,' he says,

'but I a whole city, and so great a population.' And he said

not,'ye do not receive us,' but, ' ye are straitened;' implying

indeed the same thing, but with forbearance, and without

touching them too deeply.

Ver. 13. Now for a recompense in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.

And yet it is not an equal return, first to be loved, afterwards

to love. For even if one were to contribute that which is equal

in amount, he is inferior, in that he comes to it second. 'But

'tiiif nevertheless I am not going to reckon strictly','saith he,

»wp/jfX..-, a])Cl if ye aftcr having received the first advances' from me

1 Tin do but shew forth the same amount, I am well-pleased and

"tx*' contented.' Then to show that to do this was even a debt,

and that what he said was void of flattery, he saith, I

speak as unto my children. What meaneth, as unto my

children? 'I ask no great thing, if being your father I wish

to be loved by you.' And see wisdom and moderation of

mind. He mentions not here his dangers on their behalf,

and his labours, and his deaths, although he had many

things to tell of: (so free from pride is he !) but his love: and

on this account he claims to be loved; ' because,' saith he,

'I was your father, because I exceedingly burn for you,' [for]

it is often especially offensive to the person beloved, when a

man sets forth his benefits to him; for he seems to reproach.

Wherefore Paul doth not this; but,' like children, love your

'furim,.father,' saith he, which rather proceeds from instinct3; and

is the due of every father. Then that he may not seem to

speak these things for his own sake, he shews that it is