The Glories of the City of God.

15

For not by local space, but by moral disposition, are these distances defined.

But thou knowest exactly the affairs of the world, as well new as old, and such too as are quite ancient; thou canst number the Princes under whom thou hast served in time past, and the ruler of the games, and them that gained the prize, and the leaders of armies, matters that are of no concern to thee; but who hath become ruler in this city, the first or the second or the third, and for how long, each of them; and what each hath accomplished, and brought to pass, thou hast not imagined even as in a dream. And the laws that are set in this city thou wilt not endure to hear, nor attend to them, even when others tell thee of them. How then, I pray thee, dost thou expect to obtain the blessings that are promised, when thou dost not even attend to what is said?

[17.] But though never before, now, at any rate, let us do this. Yea, for we are on the point of entering into a city (if God permit) of gold, and more precious than any gold.

Let us then mark her foundations, her gates consisting of sapphires and pearls; for indeed we have in Matthew an excellent guide. For through his gate we shall now enter in, and much diligence is required on our part. For should He see any one not attentive, He casts him out of the city.

Yes, for the city is most kingly and glorious; not as the cities with us, divided into a market-place, and the royal courts; for there all is the court of the King. Let us open therefore the gates of our mind, let us open our ears, and with great trembling, when on the point of setting foot on the threshold, let us worship the King that is therein. For indeed the first approach hath power straightway to confound the beholder.

For the present we find the gates closed; but when we see them thrown open, (for this is the solution of the difficulties,) then we shall perceive the greatness of the splendor within. For there also, leading thee with the eyes of the Spirit, is one who offers to shew thee all, even this Publican; where the King sitteth, and who of His host stand by Him; where are the Angels, where the Archangels; and what place is set

I. 17.

16 With what Silence the Gospel should be heard.

HOMIL. apart for the new citizens in this city, and what kind of way it is that leads thither, and what manner of portion they have received, who first were citizens therein, and those next after them, and such as followed these. And how many are the orders of those Tribes, how many those of the Senate, how many the distinctions of dignity.

Let us not therefore with noise or tumult enter in, but with a mystical silence.

For if in a theatre, when a great silence hath been made, then the letters of the king are read, much more in this city must all be composed, and stand with soul and ear erect. For it is not the letters of any earthly master, but of the Lord of Angels, which are on the point of being read.

If we would order ourselves on this wise, the grace itself of the Spirit will lead us in great perfection, and we shall arrive at the very Royal Throne, and attain to all the good things, by the grace and love towards man of our Lord Jesus Christ, to Whom be glory and might, together with the Father and the Holy Ghost, now and always, even for ever and ever. Amen.

Reverence due on beginning to read the Gospel.

17

HOMILY II.

MATT. i. 1.

The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham.

1. 1.

Do ye indeed remember the charge, which we lately made MATT. you, entreating you to hearken unto all the things that are said with all silence, and mystical quietness? For we are today to set foot within the holy vestibule, wherefore I have also put you in mind of the charge.

Since, if the Jews, when they were to approach 'a mountain1 Heb. 12, 18. that burned, and fire, and blackness, and darkness, and tempest; -or rather when they were not so much as to approach, but both to see and to hear these things from afar;—were commanded for three days before to abstain from their wives, and to wash their garments, and were in trembling and fear, both themselves and Moses with them; much more we, when we are to hearken to such words, and are not to stand far from a smoking mountain, but to enter into Heaven itself, ought to shew forth a greater self-denial; not washing our garments, but wiping clean the robe of our soul, and ridding ourselves of all mixture with worldly things. For it is not blackness that ye shall see, nor smoke, nor tempest, but the King Himself sitting on the throne of that unspeakable Glory, and Angels, and Archangels standing by Him, and the tribes of the Saints, with those interminable myriads.

2

For such is the city of God, having the Church of Heb. the first-born, the Spirits of the just, the general assembly of 23. 44. the Angels, the blood of sprinkling, whereby all are knit into one, and Heaven hath received the things of earth, and earth

C

II.

18

The Vestibule of the Gospel History.

HOMIL. the things of Heaven, and that peace hath come which was 1-3. of old longed for both by Angels and by Saints.

Herein standeth the trophy of the cross, glorious, and conspicuous, the spoils won by Christ, the first-fruits of our nature, the booty of our King; all these, I say, we shall out of the Gospels know perfectly. If thou follow in becoming quietness, we shall be able to lead thee about every where, and to shew where death is set forth crucified, and where sin is hanged up, and where are the many and wondrous offerings from this war, from this battle.

Thou shalt see likewise the tyrant here bound, and the multitude of the captives following, and the citadel from which that unholy demon overran all things in time past. Thou wilt see the hiding places, and the dens of the robber, broken up now, and laid open, for even there also was our

King present".

But be not thou weary, beloved, for if any one were describing a visible war, and trophies, and victories, wouldest thou feel no satiety at all; nay, thou wouldest not prefer either drink or meat to this history. But if that kind of narrative be welcome, much more this. For consider what a thing it is to hear, how on the one side God from Heaven, arising 1 Wisd. out of the Royal Thrones, leaped down unto the earth, and 18, 15. even unto Hell itself, and stood in the battle array; and how the Devil on the other hand set himself in array against Him; or rather not against God unveiled, but God hidden in man's

nature.

And what is marvellous, thou wilt see Death destroyed by death, and curse extinguished by curse, and the dominion of the Devil put down by those very things whereby he did prevail. Let us therefore rouse ourselves thoroughly, and let us not sleep, for lo, I see the gates opening to us; but let us enter in with all seemly order, and with trembling, setting foot straightway within the vestibule itself.

[2.] But what is this vestibule? The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, Son of David, Son of Abraham.

a See 1 S. Pet. 3. 19, 20; 4. 6; S. Iren. 4. 45; 3. 23; 4. 39, 56, 66; 5. 31; Orig. in Joan. t. ii. 30; contr. Cels. ii. 43; in Rom. lib. 5. 1. t. iv.

551. B; Tert. de Anim. 7; S. Greg. Naz. Or. 42. p. 693. Ed. Morell; and others cited by Cotelerius on S. Hermas, iii. 16.

Our Lord's Eternal and Temporal Birth.

19

I. 1.

"What sayest thou? Didst thou not promise to discourse of MATT. the Only-begotten Son of God, and dost thou make mention of David, a man born after a thousand generations, and say that he is both Father and Ancestor?" Stay, seek not to learn all at once, but gently and by little and little. Why, it is in the vestibule that thou art standing, by the very porch; why then dost thou hasten towards the inner shrine? As yet thou hast not well marked all without. For neither for a while do I declare unto thee that other generation: or rather not even this which cometh after, for it is unutterable, and unspeakable. And before me the Prophet Esaias hath told thee this; where when proclaiming His passion, and His great care for the world, and admiring who He was, and what He became, and whither He descended, he cried out loud and clear, saying thus, Who shall declare His generation 1?

1 Isaiah 53, 8.

It is not then of that we are now to speak, but of this beneath, this which took place on earth, which was amongst ten thousand witnesses. And concerning this again we will relate in such wise as it may be possible for us, having received the grace of the Spirit. For not even this may any one set forth altogether plainly, forasmuch as this too is most awful. Think not, therefore, it is of small things thou art hearing, when thou hearest of this Birth, but rouse up thy mind, and straightway tremble, being told that God hath come upon earth. For so marvellous was this, and beyond expectation, that because of these things the very angels formed a choir, and in behalf of the world offered up their praise for them, and the prophets from the first were amazed at this, that He was seen upon earth, and conversed with men 2. 2Baruch 3, 37. Yea, for it is far beyond all thought to hear that God the Unspeakable, the Unutterable, the Incomprehensible, and He that is equal to the Father, hath passed through a Virgin's womb, and hath vouchsafed to be born of a woman, and to have Abraham and David for forefathers. But why do I say Abraham and David? For what is even more amazing, there are those women, whom we have lately mentioned.

[3.] Hearing these things, arise, and surmise nothing low :

Or Unapproachable, årgóriros, according to some Mss. Savil,