that do His commandments. So then, thou meanest by thy prayer, as Thy will is done by the Angels, so be it done on earth also by me, Lord."

17.

ται, σύ

στασιν.

(13.)

15. Give us this day our super-substantial bread. This (12.) common bread is not super-substantial bread, but this Holy Bread is super-substantial, that is, appointed for the substance of the soul. For this Bread goeth not into the belly and is cast Mat. 15, out into the draught, but is diffused through all thou art, for avadidothe benefit of body and soul. But by this day, he means, ra. dú"each day," as also Paul has said, While it is called to-day. Heb. 3, 16. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. 13. For we have many sins. For we offend both in word and in thought, and very many things do we worthy of condemnation; and if we say that we have no sin, we lie, as John 1 John says. And we enter into a covenant with God, entreating Him to pardon our sins, as we also forgive our neighbours their debts. Considering then what we receive and for what, let us not put off, nor delay to forgive one another. The offences committed against us are slight and trivial, and easily settled; but those which we have committed against God are great, and call for mercy such as His only is. Take heed therefore, lest for these small and inconsiderable sins against thyself, thou bar against thyself forgiveness from God for thy most grievous sins.

1. 8.

2.

17. And lead us not into temptation, O Lord. Does then (14.) the Lord teach to pray thus, viz. that we may not be tempted at all? And how is it said elsewhere," the man who is not tempted, is unproved";" and again, My brethren, count it all Jam. 1, joy when ye fall into divers temptations; or rather does not the entering into temptation mean the being whelmed under the temptation? For the temptation is like a winter-torrent difficult to cross. Some then, being most skilful swimmers, pass over, not being whelmed beneath temptations, nor swept down by them at all; while others who are not such,

'Erlourios is so explained by Jerome, who for the panem quotidianum of the old Latin version, substituted panem supersubstantialem. Others explain the word to mean future or to come, i. e. the new or spiritual bread, the bread of the new kingdom which is promised us. vid. Athan. de Incarn. 16. Damasc. de Fid.

Orth. iv. 13. Others to mean sufficient,
or necessary. vid. Theophylact. in Matt.
vi. Basil. Reg. Brev. 252.

d This is not in Scripture, but seems
rather to be a proverb giving the sense
of Scripture. It is referred to by Nazi-
anzen, (Ep. 215.) &c. Ed. Ben.

XXIII.

5.

278 The mode of communicating in the Body of Christ,

LECT. entering into them sink in them. As for example, Judas Must. 5, entering into the temptation of covetousness, swam not through it, but sinking beneath it was choked both in body and spirit. Peter entered into the temptation of the denial; but having entered it, he was not overwhelmed by it, but manfully swimming through it, he was delivered from the temptation. Listen again, in another place, to the company of unscathed saints, giving thanks for deliverance from temptPs. 66, ation, For Thou, O God, hast proved us; Thou hast tried us 10-12. like as silver is tried. Thou broughtest us into the net; Thou

(15.)

laidest affliction upon our loins. Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; but Thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place. Thou seest them speaking boldly, because they passed through and were not pierced. But Thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place; now their coming into a wealthy place, is their being delivered from temptation.

18. But deliver us from the evil. If Lead us not into temptation had implied the not being tempted at all, He would not have said, But deliver us from the evil. Now the evil is the Wicked Spirit who is our adversary, from whom we pray to be delivered. Then, after completing the prayer, Thou sayest, Amen; by this Amen, which means, "So be it," setting thy seal to the petitions of this divinely-taught prayer.

19. After this the Priest says, "Holy things to holy men." (16.) Holy are the gifts presented, since they have been visited by ἐπιφοίτηin the Holy Ghost; holy are you also, having been vouchsafed

supr.

, vid. the Holy Ghost; the holy things therefore correspond to the xxi. 1. holy persons. Then ye say, "One is Holy, One is the Lord, Jesus Christ." For truly One is holy, by nature holy; we prox. too are holy, but not by nature, only by participation, and konnou discipline, and prayer.

(17.)

20. After this ye hear the chanter, with a sacred melody inviting you to the communion of the Holy Mysteries, and Ps.34,9. saying, O taste and see that the Lord is good. Trust not the decision to thy bodily palate; no, but to faith unfaltering; for when we taste we are bidden to taste, not bread and wine, but the sign of the Body and Blood of Christ.

c'AVTITÚTOV σúparos. vid. above, Lect. xxi. 1. where oil is said to be the avrí

Turov of the Holy Ghost in Confirmation, and xx. 6. where Baptism is said to be not

and in the Blood of Christ.-The Thanksgiving.

279

21. Approaching therefore, come not with thy wrists ex- (18.) tended, or thy fingers open; but make thy left hand as if a throne for thy right, which is on the eve of receiving the King. And having hallowed thy palm, receive the Body of Christ, saying after it, Amen. Then after thou hast with carefulness hallowed thine eyes by the touch of the Holy Body, partake thereof; giving heed lest thou lose any of it; for what thou losest, is a loss to thee as it were from one of thine own members. For tell me, if any one gave thee gold dust, wouldest thou not with all precaution keep it fast, being on thy guard against losing any of it, and suffering loss? How much more cautiously then wilt thou observe that not a crumb falls from thee, of what is more precious than gold and precious stones?

προσκυ

σε

22. Then after having partaken of the Body of Christ, (19.) approach also to the Cup of His Blood; not stretching forth thine hands, but bending and saying in the way of worship s and reverence, Amen, be thou hallowed by partaking also of βάσμα the blood of Christ. And while the moisture is still upon thy ros. lips, touching it with thine hands, hallow both thine eyes and brow and the other senses. Then wait for the prayer, and give thanks unto God, who hath accounted thee worthy of so great mysteries.

5, 23.

23. Hold fast these traditions unspotted, and keep yourselves free from offence. Sever not yourselves from the Communion; deprive not yourselves, by the pollution of sins, of these Holy and Spiritual Mysteries. And the God of peace 1 Thess. sanctify you wholly; and may your whole spirit, and soul, and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:-To whom be glory and honour and might, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and world without end. Amen.

only pardon and adoption, but also the avríTuToy of the sufferings of Christ. vid. Theod. Inconfus. p. 125. Damascene

however maintains the word cannot be
applied to the elements after consecra-
tion. vid. de Fid. Orthod. iv. 13. fin.

INDEX.