ble-minded, and those who are doubtful in their hearts. Who say, these things have we heard, and our fathers have told us these things. But behold we, are grown old, and none of them has happened unto us. O ye fools! consider the trees; take the vine for an example; first it sheds its leaves, then it buds; af ter that it spreads its leaves: then it flowers; then come the sour grapes; and after them follows the ripe fruit," James i. 2.] Ye see how in a little time the, fruit of the trees comes to maturity. Of a truth, yet a little while, and his will shall suddenly be accom plished. The holy Scripture itself bearing witness, "that he(o) shall quickly come and not tarry, and that the Lord shall suddenly come to his temple, even the Holy One(p) whom ye look for," [Hab. ii. 3.—Malach, iii. 1.] . 24. Let us consider, beloved, how the Lord does continually shew us, that there shall be a future resurrection, of which he has made our Lord Jesus Christ the first fruits, raising him from the dead. Let us contemplate, beloved, the resurrection that is continually made before our eyes. Day and night manifest a resurrection to us. The night lies down, and the day arises again the day departs and the night comes on. Let us behold the fruits of the earth. Every one sees how the seed is sown. The sower goes forth and casts it upon the earth, and the seed which when it was sown fell upon the earth dry and naked, in time dissolves; and from the dissolution the great power of the providence of the Lord raises it again; and of one seed many arise, and bring forth fruit. 25. Let us consider that wonderful type of the resurrection, which is seen in the eastern countries; that is to say in Arabia. There is a certain bird called a Phoenix; of this there is never but one at a time, and that lives five hundred years. And when the time of its dissolution draws near that it must die, it makes itself a nest of frankincense and myrrh, and (p) "Ay{ta Angel, (0) Ex MS. emitted by Junius. other spices, into which when its time is fulfilled it enters and dies. But its flesh putrifying breeds a certain worm, which being nourished with the juice of the dead bird brings forth feathers; and when it is grown to a perfect state, it takes up the nest in which the bones of its parent lie, and carries it from Arabia into Egypt, to a city called Heliopolis; and flying in open day in the sight of all men, lays it upon the altar of the Sun, and so returns from whence it came. the priests then search into the records of the time, and find that it returned precisely at the end of five hundred years. 26. And shall we then think it to be any very great and strange thing for the Lord of all to raise up those that religiously serve him in the assurance of a good faith, when even by a bird he shews us the greatness of his power to fulfil his promise? for he says in a certain place, thou shalt raise me up and I shall confess unto thee." And again, "I laid me down and slept, and awaked, because thou art with me," [Psal. iii. 5. And again, Job says, "thou shalt raise up this flesh of mine that has suffered all these things, [Job xix. 26.] " 27. Having therefore this hope, let us hold fast to him who is faithful in all his promises, and righteous in all his judgments; who has commanded us not to lie, how much more will he not himself lie? for nothing is impossible with God but to lie. Let his faith then be stirred up again in us; and let us consider that all things are nigh unto him. By the word of his power he made all things, and by the same word he is able, whenever he will, to destroy them. "Who shall say unto him, what doest thou? or who shall resist the power of his strength?" [Wisd. xii. 12.] When, and as he pleased, he will do all things; and nothing shall pass away of all that has been determined by him. All things are open before him, nor can any thing be hid from his counsel. "The Heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament she weth his handy work. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard," [Psal. xix. 1.] 28. Seeing then all things are seen and heard by God, let us fear him, and let us lay aside our wicked works which proceed from ill desires, that through his mercy we may be delivered from the condemnation to come. For whither can any of us flee from his mighty hand? or what world shall receive any of those who run away from him? For thus saith the Scripture in a certain place," whither shall I flee [from thy Spirit] or where shall I hide myself from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven thou art there : if I shall go to the utmost parts of the earth, there is thy right hand if I shall make my bed in the deep, thy Spirit is there.”—[Psal. cxxxix. 7.] Whither then shall any one go, or whither shall he run from him that comprehends all things? 29. Let us therefore come to him with holiness of heart, lifting up chaste and undefiled hands unto him: loving our gracious and merciful Father, who has made us to partake of his election. For so it is written, "when the most high divided the nations, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the nations, according to the number of his Angels: › his people Jacob became the portion of the Lord, and Israel the lot of his inheritance."-[Deut. xxxii. 8, 9.] And in another place he saith, "behold the Lord taketh to himself a nation out of the midst of nations, as a man taketh the first fruits of his flour, and the most holy shall come out of that nation."-[Deut. iv. 34.-Numb. xxvii.] 30. Wherefore we being the portion of the holy one, let us do all those things that pertain unto holi ness, fleeing all evil speaking against one another, all filthy and impure embraces, together with all drunkenness, youthful lusts, abominable concupiscences, detestable adultery, and execrable pride. For God, saith he, "resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble."-[Jam. iv. 6.-1 Pet. v. 5.] Let us therefo.e; hold fast to those to whom God has given his grace. And let us put on concord, being humble, temperate, free from all whispering and detraction, and justiñed by our actions, not our words. For he saith," doth he that speaketh and heareth many things, and that is of a ready tongue, suppose that he is righteous ? blessed is he that is born of a woman, that liveth but a few days; use not therefore much speech."-[Job xi, 2, 3. lxx.] Let our praise be of God, not of ourselves, for God hateth those that commend themselves. Let the witness of our good actions be given to us of others, as it was given to the holy men who went be fore us. Kashness, and arrogance, and confidence, belong to them who are accursed of God: but equity, and humility, and mildness to such as are blessed by him. 31. Let us then lay hold of his blessing, and let us consider what are the ways by which we may attain unto it. Let us look back upon those things that happened from the beginning. For what was our Father Abraham blessed? Was it not because that through faith he wrought righteousness and truth? Isaac being fully persuaded of what he knew was to come, cheerfully yielded himself up for a sacrifice. Jacob with humility departed out of his own country, fleeing from his brother, and went unto Laban and served him and so the sceptre of the twelve tribes of Israel was given unto him. 32. Now what the greatness of this gift(r) was, will plainly appear, if we shall take the pains distinctly to consider all the parts of it. For from him came the Priests and Levites, who all ministered at the altar of God. From him came our Lord Jesus Christ, according to the flesh. From him came the kings and princes, and rulers in Judah. Nor were the rest of (2) The gifts that were gi en by him, were, he shall know whoso ever will, one by one, carefully and distinctly consider them. his tribes(s) in any small glory : God having promised that "thy seed [says he] shall be as the stars of hea ven."-[Gen. xxvii. 17.] They were all therefore greatly glorified, not for their own sake, or for their own works, or for the righteousness that. they themselves wrought, but through his will. And we also being called by the same will in Christ Jesus, are not justed by ourselves, neither by our own wisdom, or knowledge, or piety, or the works which we have done in the holiness of our hearts; but by that faith by which God Almighty has justified all men from the beginning, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. 33. What shall we do therefore, brethren? shall we be slothful in well-doing, and lay aside our charity? God forbid that any such thing should be done by us. But rather let us hasten with all earnestness and readiness of mind, to perfect every good work. For even the Creator and Lord of all things himself rejoices in his own works. By his Almighty power he fixed the Heavens, and by his incomprehensible wisdom he adorned them. He also divided the earth from the water with which it is encompassed, and fixed it as a secure tower, upon the foundation of his own will. He also by his appointment commanded all the living créatures that are upon it, to exist. So likewise the sea, and all the creatures that are in it, having first created them, he enclosed them therein by his power. And above all, he with his holy and pure hands, formed man, the most excellent, and as to his understanding, truly the greatest of all other creatures, the character of his own image. For so God says, "let us make man in our image, after our own likeness: so God created man, male and female created he them," [Gen. i. 26, 27.] And having thus finished all these things, he commended all that he had made, and blessed them, and said, increase and multiply, [Gen i. 28.] we see how all righteous men have been adorned with good works: wherefore even (8) Sceptres: see Jun. Annot. |