614

Beneficial Effect of but one good Habit of Life.

HOMIL. law for all who gather their incomes in an honest way. For XLIII. with those who commend usury I have no concern, neither with soldiers who do violence to others, and turn to their own advantage their neighbours' calamities. Since from that quarter God will accept nothing. But these things I say to those who gather their substance by righteous labour.

Yea, and if we establish ourselves in this kind of habit, we are ever after stung by our conscience if ever we omit this rule; and after a while we shall not even think it a hard thing; and by degrees we shall arrive at the greater things, and by practising how to despise wealth, and by pulling up the root of evils, we shall first pass the present life in peace, and then obtain possession of the life to come; which may it be the portion of us all to attain unto, &c. &c.

HOMILY XLIV.

1 COR. xvi. 10.

But if Timotheus come to you', see that he may be with you! gòs without fear.

PERHAPS some one may think there is something unworthy of Timothy's courage in this piece of advice. But not on Timothy's account is this said, but for the hearers' sake: lest by their design against him they should hurt themselves: since he for his part had his station always in the way of dangers 2.

ὑμᾶς not in rec.

text.

πρός XIVδύνους ἦν

παρεμ

γος .

For as a son with a father, saith he, he hath served with me in the Gospel3. But lest from boldness towards the disciple Banuithey should proceed also to the teacher, and become worse, 3 Phil.2. he checks them from afar off, saying, that he may be with 22. you without fear; that is, that none of those desperate persons rise up against him. For he intended perhaps to rebuke them about the things, concerning which Paul also had written and indeed Paul professed to send him for this very reason. For I have sent Timothy unto you, saith he1, 'c.4. 17. who shall bring you in mind of my ways in Christ, as every where in every Church I teach. In order then that they might not through confidence in their high birth and wealth, and the support of the people, and the wisdom from without, attack him, and spit upon him, and plot against him, being grieved at the reproofs which came from him; or lest in revenge for the teacher's rebuke, they should demand satisfaction of him, so punishing the other; therefore he saith, that he may be without fear among you. As if he had said, "Tell me not of those who are without, the Gentiles and unbelievers. It is your part that I require, you for whom also the whole Epistle was composed," the persons also whom in

616

Recommendations of Timothy and Apollos.

HOMIL. the beginning and the outset he had frightened. Wherefore XLIV. he saith, among you.

Then in virtue of his ministry he sets him forth as a person to be fully trusted; saying, For the work of the Lord he worketh. That is; "look not," saith he, "to this, his not being rich, namely, nor highly educated, nor old: but what commands are laid upon him, what work he is doing. For the work of the Lord he worketh." And this serves him instead of all nobility, and wealth, and age, and wisdom.

And he is not content with this, but adds, Even as I also. And some way above, Who is my beloved son in the Lord; he shall bring you in remembrance of my ways in Christ. Seeing then that he was both young, and had been singly entrusted with the improvement of so numerous a people, both of which things tended to bring him into contempt, he adds, as we might expect,

Ver. 11. Let no one therefore despise him.

And not this only doth he demand of them, but also greater honour; wherefore also he saith, but conduct him forth in peace; that is, without fear; causing no fightings or contentions, no enmities or hatreds, but subjection and honour; giving heed as to a master.

That he may come unto me: for I look for him with the brethren. This also was the language of one that would alarm them. That is, in order that they might become more considerate, as knowing that all would be told him whatever Timothy's treatment might be, he adds therefore, for I expect him. And besides, hereby he both shews that Timothy is worthy of their confidence; since being on the point of departing he waits for him; and also signifies the love which he hath towards them, it appearing that for their sakes he sent away one so useful to him.

Ver. 12. But concerning Apollos our brother, I greatly desired him to come unto you together with the brethren.

This man appears to have been both well-educated, and also older than Timothy. Lest they should say then, "For what possible reason did he not send the man grown, but the youth instead of him?" observe how he softens down this point also, both calling him a brother, and saying that he had often desired him. For lest he should seem to have held

Brief Sentences, referring to the former Topics. 617

16. 13.

Timothy in higher honour than him, and on this account not 1 Cor. to have sent him, and cause their envy to burst out more abundantly, he adds, I have often entreated him to come. What then did not the other yield, nor consent? did he resist and shew himself contentious? He saith not this, but that he might not excite prejudice against him, and also might make excuse for himself, he saith, and his will was not at all to come at this time. Then to prevent their saying that all this was an excuse and pretence, he added, but he will come to you when he shall have convenient time. This was both an excuse for him, and a refreshment to them, desiring to see him, by the hope which it gave of his coming.

[2.] Afterwards indicating, that not in the teachers but in themselves they ought to have their hopes of salvation, he saith, Ver. 13. Watch ye, stand fast in the faith.

Not in the wisdom which is without: for there it is not possible to stand, but to be borne along; even as in the faith ye may stand. Quit you like men, be strong. Let all your things be done in charity. Now in saying these things, he seems indeed to advise; but he is reprimanding them as indolent. Wherefore he saith, Watch, as though they slept; Stand, as though they were rocking to and fro: Quit you like men, as though they were playing the coward: Let all your things be done with charity, as though they were in dissensions. And the first caution refers to the deceivers, viz. Watch, stand: the next, to those who plot against us, Quit you like men: the third, to those who make parties and endeavour to distract, Let all your things be done with charity; which thing is the bond of perfectness, and the root and the fountain of all blessings.

But what means, All things with charity? "Whether any one rebuke," saith he, " or rule, or be ruled, or learn, or teach, let all be with charity;" since in fact all the things which have been mentioned arose from neglect of it. For if this had not been neglected, they would not have been puffed up, they would not have said, I am of Paul, and I of Apollos. If this had existed, they would not have gone to law before heathens, or rather they would not have gone to law at all. If this had existed, that notorious person would not have taken his father's wife; they would not have despised the

XLIV.

618

Praise of Stephanas and his Household:

HOMIL. weak brethren; there would have been no heresies among them; they would not have been vain-glorious about their gifts. Therefore it is that he saith, Let all things be done with charity.

(2.)

[3.] Ver. 15. And I beseech you, brethren;-ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the first-fruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves unto the ministry of the saints. In the beginning too he mentions this man, saying, I baptized also the house of Stephanas: and now he speaks of him as the first-fruits not of Corinth only, but also of all Greece. And this too is no small encomium, that he was the first to come to Christ. Wherefore also in the Epistle to the Romans, praising certain persons on this account, he said, Rom. Who also were in Christ before me1. And he said not, that they were the first who believed, but were the first-fruits; implying that together with their faith they shewed forth also a most excellent life, in every way proving themselves worthy, as in the case of fruits. For so the first-fruits ought to be better than the rest of those things whereof they are the firstfruits: a kind of praise which Paul hath attributed to these also by this expression: namely, that they not only had a genuine faith, as I was saying, but also they exhibited great piety, and the prime of all virtue, and liberality in almsgiving.

16.7.

And not from hence only, but from another topic likewise he indicates their piety, i. e. from their having filled their whole house also with godliness.

And that they flourished in good works also, he declares by what follows, saying, They have addicted themselves unto the ministry of the saints. Hear ye, how vast are the praises of their hospitality? For he did not say, "they minister," but, have addicted themselves: this kind of life they have chosen altogether, this is their business in which they are always busy.

That ye also submit yourselves unto such, that is, "that ye take a share with them both in expenditure of money, and in your personal ministry; that ye be partakers with them." For both to them the labour will be light when they have comrades, and the results of their active benevolence will extend to more.