18 Many delay it until their last moments: HOMIL. us many ways of obtaining remission even after this. But I. just as those who sin after Baptism are punished for this reason more severely than the Catechumens, so again, those who know that there are medicines in repentance, and yet will not make use of them, will undergo a more grievous chastisement. For by how much the mercy of God is enlarged, by so much does the punishment increase, if we do not duly profit by that mercy. What sayest thou, O man? When thou wast full of such grievous evils, and given over, suddenly thou becamest a friend, and wast exalted to the highest honour, not by labours of thine own, but by the gift of God: thou didst again return to thy former misconduct; and though thou didst deserve to be sorely punished, nevertheless, God did not turn away, but gave unnumbered opportunities of salvation, whereby thou mayest yet become a friend: yet for all this, thou hast not the will to labour. What forgiveness canst thou deserve henceforth? Will not the Gentiles with good reason deride thee as a worthless drone? For if there be power in that doctrine of yours, say they, what means this multitude of uninitiated persons? If the mysteries be excellent and desirable, let none receive baptism at his last gasp. For that is not the time for giving of mysteries, but for making of wills; the time for mysteries is in health of mind and soundness of soul. For, if a man would not prefer to make his will in such a condition; and if he does so make it, he gives a handle for subsequent litigation, (and this is the reason why testators premise these words: "Alive, in my senses, and in health, I make this disposal of my property:") how should it be possible for a person who is no longer master of his senses to go through the right course of preparation for the sacred mysteries? For if in the affairs of this life, the laws of the world would not permit a man who was not perfectly sound in mind to make a will, although it be in his own affairs that he would lay down the law; how, when thou art receiving instruction concerning the kingdom of heaven, and the unspeakable riches of that world, shall it be possible for thee to learn all clearly, when very likely too thou art • Μετὰ ἀκριβείας μυσταγωγεῖσθαι: alluding to the κατήχησις μυσταγω Yikh, i. e. the course of instruction by which the catechumens were prepared for Baptism. See the Catechetical Discourses of S. Cyril of Jerusalem. I. 5. therein going against the intention of Baptism: 19 beside thyself through the violence of thy malady? And when Acтs wilt thou say those words to Christ, in the act of being buried Rom. 6, with Him when at the point to depart hence? For indeed both 4. by works and by words must we shew our good will towards Him. Now what thou art doing is all one, as if a man should want to be enlisted as a soldier, when the war is just about to break up; or to strip for the contest in the arena, just when the spectators have risen from their seats. For thou hast thine arms given thee, not that thou shouldest straightway depart hence, but that being equipped therewith, thou mayest raise a trophy over the enemy. Let no one think that it is out of season to discourse on this subject, because it is not Lent now. Nay, this it is that vexes me, that ye look to a set time in such matters. Whereas that Eunuch, barbarian as Acts 8, he was and on a journey, yea on the very highway, yet did 27. not seek for a set time; no, nor the Gaoler, though he was Ib. 16, in the midst of a set of prisoners, and the teacher he saw 29. before him was a man scourged and in chains, and whom he was still to have in his custody. But here, not being inmates of a gaol, nor out on a journey, many are putting off their baptism even to their last breath. Now if thou still questionest that Christ is God, stand [8.] away from the Church: be not here, even as a hearer of the Divine Word, and as one of the catechumens: but if thou art sure of this, and knowest clearly this truth, why delay? why shrink back and hesitate? For fear, say you, lest I should sin. But dost thou not fear what is worse, to depart for the next world with such a heavy burden? For it is not equally excusable, not to have gotten a grace set before you, and to have failed in attempting to live uprightly. If thou be called to account, Why didst thou not come for it? what › Tà phμata èkeîva: i. e. not (as Ben, seems to interpret) " Buried with Christ;" as if this were part of the form of words put into the mouth of the person to be baptized: but the words, "I renounce thee, O Satan, and all thy angels, and all thy service, and all thy pomp: and I enlist myself with Thee, O Christ." S. Chrysost. Serm. ad pop. Antioch. xxi. p. 244. The words, "buried with Him," serve to shew more clearly the absurdity of such delay: we are "buried with 9 The catechumens were allowed to I 20 and converting into funereal sadness HOMIL. wilt thou answer? In the other case thou mayest allege the -burden of thy passions, and the difficulty of a virtuous life: but nothing of the kind here. For here is grace, freely conveying liberty. But thou fearest lest thou shouldest sin? Let this be thy language after Baptism: and then entertain this fear, in order to hold fast the liberty thou hast received; not now, to prevent thy receiving such a gift. Whereas now thou art wary before baptism, and negligent after it. But thou art waiting for Lent: and why? Has that season 4, 4. 10. r any advantage? Nay, it was not at the Passover that the Apostles received the grace, but at another season; and ch. 2,41. then three thousand, (Luke says,) and five thousand were and ch. baptized: and again Cornelius. Let us then not wait for a set time, lest by hesitating and putting off we depart empty, and destitute of so great gifts. What do you suppose is my anguish when I hear that any person has been taken away unbaptized, while I reflect upon the intolerable punishments of that life, the inexorable doom! Again, how I am grieved to behold others drawing near to their last gasp, and not brought to their right mind even then. Hence too it is that scenes take place quite unworthy of this gift. For whereas there ought to be joy, and dancing, and exultation, and wearing of garlands, when another is christened; the wife of the sick man has no sooner heard that the physician has ordered this, than she is overcome with grief, as if it were some dire calamity; she sets up the greatest lamentation, and nothing is heard all over the house but crying and wailing, just as it is when condemned criminals are led away to their doom. The sick man again is then more sorely grieved; and if he recovers from his illness, is as vexed as if some great harm had been done to him. For since he had not been prepared for a virtuous life, he has no heart for the conflicts which are to follow, and shrinks at the thought of them. Do you see what devices the devil contrives, what shame, what ridicule? Let us rid ourselves of this disgrace; let us live as Christ has enjoined. He gave us Baptism, not that we should receive and depart, but that we should shew the fruits of it in our after life. How can one say to him who is • Κατηξιώθησαν τῆς χάριτος, as above, p. 17, note m. τί οὖν ἂν καταξιωθείς; that which ought to be a joyful solemnity. 21 How I. 5. Gal. 5, departing and broken down, Bear fruit? Hast thou not ACTS heard that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace? comes it then that the very contrary takes place here? For 22. the wife stands there mourning, when she ought to rejoice; the children weeping, when they ought to be glad together; the sick man himself lies there in darkness, and surrounded by noise and tumult, when he ought to be keeping high festival; full of exceeding despondency at the thought of leaving his children orphans, his wife a widow, his house desolate. Is this a state in which to draw near unto mysteries? answer me; is this a state in which to approach the sacred table? Are such scenes to be tolerated? Should the Emperor send letters and release the prisoners in the gaols, there is joy and gladness: God sends down the Holy Ghost from Heaven to remit not arrears of money, but a whole mass of sins, and do ye all bewail and lament? Why, how grossly unsuitable is this! Not to mention that sometimes it is upon the dead that the water has been poured, and holy mysteries flung upon the ground. However, not we are to blame for this, but men who are so perverse. I exhort you then to leave all, and turn and draw near to Baptism with all alacrity, that having given proof of great earnestness at this present time, we may obtain confidence for that which is to come; whereunto that we may attain, may it be granted unto us all by the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, to Whom be glory and power for ever and ever. Amen. The Holy Communion, administered immediately after Baptism, HOMILY II. 36. ACTS i. 6. When they therefore were come together, they asked of Him, saying, Lord, wilt Thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? WHEN the disciples intend to ask any thing, they approach Him together, that by dint of numbers they may abash Him into compliance. They well knew that in what He had said Mat. 24, previously, Of that day knoweth no man, He had merely declined telling them: therefore they again draw near, and put the question. They would not have put it had they been truly satisfied with that answer. For having heard that they were about to receive the Holy Ghost, they, as being now worthy of instruction, desired to learn. Also they were quite ready for freedom: for they had no mind to address themselves to danger; what they wished was to breathe freely again; for they were no light matters that had happened to them, but the utmost peril had impended over them. And without saying any thing to Him of the Holy Ghost, they put this question: Lord, wilt Thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? They did not ask, when? but whether at this time. So eager were they for that day. Indeed, to me it appears that they had not any clear notion of the nature of that kingdom; for the Spirit had not yet instructed them. And they do not say, When shall these things be? but they approach Him with greater honour, saying, Wilt Thou at this time restore again the kingdom, as being now already fallen. For there they were still affected towards sensible |