Homilies on Romans

That is, that you may get clear of that heartlessness (ἀ θυμίας) towards one another, and may never be cast down by temptations. And this will be by your abounding in hope. Now this is the cause of all good things, and it comes from the Holy Ghost. But it is not simply from the Spirit, but on condition of our contributing our part also. This is why he says, “in believing.” For this is the way for you to be filled with joy, if you believe, if you hope. Yet he does not say if you hope, but, “if you abound in hope,” so as not to find comfort in troubles only, but even to have joy through the abundance of faith and hope. And in this way, you will also draw the Spirit to you. In this way, when He has come you will continually keep to all good things. For just as food maintains our life, and by this rules the body, so if we have good works, we shall have the Spirit; and if we have the Spirit, we shall also have good works. As also, on the other hand, if we have no works, the Spirit flies away. But if we be deserted by the Spirit, we shall also halt in our works. For when this has gone, the unclean one comes: this is plain from Saul. For what if he does not choke us as he did him, still he strangles us in some other way by wicked works. We have need then of the harp of David, that we may charm our souls with the divine songs, both these, and those from good actions. Since if we do the one only, and while we listen to the charm, war with the charmer by our actions, as he did of old; the remedy will even turn to judgment to us, and the madness become the more furious. For before we heard, the wicked demon was afraid lest we should hear it and recover. But when after hearing it even, we continue the same as we were, this is the very thing to rid him of his fear. Let us sing then the Psalm of good deeds, that we may cast out the sin that is worse than the demon. For a demon certainly will not deprive us of heaven, but does in some cases even work with the sober-minded. But sin will assuredly cast us out. For this is a demon we willingly receive, a self-chosen madness. Wherefore also it has none to pity it or to pardon it. Let us then sing charms over a soul in this plight, as well from the other Scriptures, as also from the blessed David. And let the mouth sing, and the mind be instructed. Even this is no small thing. For if we once teach the tongue to sing, the soul will be ashamed to be devising the opposite of what this sings. Nor is this the only good thing that we shall gain, for we shall also come to know many things which are our interest. For he discourses to you both of things present, and things to come, and of things seen, and of the invisible Creation. And if you would learn about the Heaven, whether it abides as it is or shall be changed, he gives you a clear answer, and will say, “The heavens shall wax old as does a garment, and as a vesture shall you fold them up, O God, and they shall be changed.” And if you wish to hear of the form of them again, you shall hear, “That spreads forth the Heaven like a curtain” (δέρριν). And if you be minded to know further about the back of them, he will tell you again, “that covers His upper chambers with waters.” And even here he does not pause, but will likewise discourse with you on the breadth and height, and show you that these are of equal measure. For, “As far as the east,” he says, “is from the west, so far has He set our iniquities from us. Like as the heaven's height above the earth, so is the Lord's mercy upon them that fear Him.” (ib. 103:12, 11.) But if you would busy yourself with the foundation of the earth, even this he will not hide from you, but you shall hear him singing and saying, “He has founded it upon the seas.” And if of earthquakes you are desirous to know, whence they come, he will free you from this difficulty also, by saying, “That looks upon the earth, and makes it tremble.” And if you enquire the use of the night, this too may thou learn, and know from him. For “therein all the beasts of the forest do move.” And in what way the mountains are for use, he will tell you, “The high mountains are for the stags.” And why there are rocks, “The rocks are a refuge for the porcupines.” Why are there trees yielding no fruit? Learn from him, for “there the sparrows build their nests.” Why are there fountains in the wildernesses? Hear, “that by them the fowls of the heaven dwell, and the wild beasts.” Why is there wine? Not that you may drink only (for water is of a nature to suffice for this), but that you may be gladdened also, “For wine makes glad the heart of man.” And by knowing this you will know how far the use of wine is allowable. Whence are the fowls and the wild beasts nourished? You will hear from his words, “All these wait upon You, to give them their meat in due season.” If you say, For what purpose are the cattle? He will answer you, that these also are for you, “That causes the grass,” he says, “to grow for the cattle, and the green herb for the service (or retinue)of men.” What is the use of the moon? Hear him saying, “He made the moon for seasons.” And that all things seen and those not seen are made, is a thing that he has also clearly taught us by saying, “Himself spoke, and they were made, He commanded, and they were created.” And that there is an end of death, this he also teaches when he says, “God shall deliver my soul from the hand of hell when He shall receive me.” Whence was our body made? He also tells us; “He remembers that we are dust”; and again, whither goes it away? “It shall return to its dust.” Why was this universe made? For you: “For you crown him with glory and honor, and settest him over the works of Your hands.” (ib. 8:5, 6.) Have we men any community with the Angels? This he also tells us, saying as follows, “You have made him a little lower than the Angels.” Of the love of God, “Like as a father pities his own children, even so is the Lord merciful to them that fear Him.” And of the things that are to meet us after our present life, and of that undisturbed condition, he teaches, “Return unto your rest, O my soul.” Why the Heaven is so great, this he will also say. For it is because “the heavens declare the glory of God.” Why day and night were made—not that they may shine and give us rest only, but also that they may instruct us. “For there are no speeches nor words, the sounds of which (i.e. day and night) are not heard.” How the sea lies round about the earth, this too you will learn from hence. “The deep as a garment is the envelopment thereof.” For so the Hebrew has it.