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Hebrews xii. 4-6.
"Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. And ye
have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto
children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor
faint when thou art rebuked of Him. For whom the Lord loveth, He
chasteneth: and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth."
There are two kinds of consolation, apparently opposed to one
another, but yet contributing great strength each to the other; both
of which he has here put forward. The one is when we say that persons
have suffered much: for the soul is refreshed, when it has many
witnesses of its own sufferings, and this he introduced above,
saying, "Call to mind the former days, in which after ye had been
illuminated ye endured a great fight of afflictions." (c. x.
32.) The other is when we say, "Thou hast suffered no great
thing." The former, when [the soul] has been exhausted refreshes
it, and makes it recover breath: the latter, when it has become
indolent and supine, turns it again and pulls down pride. Thus that
no pride may spring up in them from that testimony [to their
sufferings], see what he does. "Ye have not yet" (he says)
"resisted unto blood, [striving] against sin." And he did not at
once go on with what follows, but after having shown them all those who
had stood "unto blood," and then brought in the glory of Christ,
His sufferings, he afterwards easily pursued his discourse. This he
says also in writing to the Corinthians, "There hath no temptation
taken you, but such as is common to man" (1 Cor. x. 13), that
is, small. For this is enough to arouse and set right the soul, when
it considers that it has not risen to the whole [trial], and
encourages itself from what has already befallen it.
What he means is this: Ye have not yet submitted to death; your loss
has extended to money, to reputation, to being driven from place to
place. Christ however shed His blood for you, while you have not
[done it] for yourselves. He contended for the Truth even unto
death fighting for you; while ye have not yet entered upon dangers that
threaten death.
"And ye have forgotten the exhortation." That is, And ye have
slackened your hands, ye have become faint. "Ye have not yet," he
said, "resisted unto blood, striving against sin."
Here he indicates that sin is both very vigorous, and is itself
armed. For the [expression] "Ye have resisted [stood firm
against]," is used with reference to those who stand firm.
"Which" (he says) "speaketh unto you as unto sons, My son,
despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor hint when thou art
rebuked of Him." He has drawn his encouragement from the facts
themselves; over and above he adds also that which is drawn from
arguments, from this testimony.
"Faint not" (he says) "when thou art rebuked of Him." It
follows that these things are of God. For this too is no small matter
of consolation, when we learn that it is God's work that such things
have power, He allowing [them]; even as also Paul says; "He
said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is
made perfect in weakness." (2 Cor. xii. 9.) He it is who
allows [them'].
"For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son
whom He receiveth." Thou canst not say that any righteous man is
without affliction: even if he appear to be so, yet we know not his
other afflictions. So that of necessity every righteous man must pass
through affliction. For it is a declaration of Christ, that the wide
and broad way leads to destruction, but the strait and narrow one to
life. (Matt. vii. 13, 14.) If then it is possible to enter
into life by that means, and is not by any other, then all have
entered in by the narrow [way], as many as have departed unto life.
Ver. 7. "Ye endure chastisement" (he says); not for
punishment, nor for vengeance, nor for suffering. See, from that
from which they supposed they had been deserted [of God], from these
he says they may be confident, that they have not been deserted. It
is as if he had said, Because ye have suffered so many evils, do you
suppose that God has left you and hates you? If ye did not suffer,
then it were right to suppose this. For if "He scourgeth every son
whom He receiveth," he who is not scourged, perhaps is not a son.
What then, you say, do not bad men suffer distress? They suffer
indeed; how then? He did not say, Every one who is scourged is a
son, but every son is scourged. For in all cases He scourges His
son: what is wanted then is to show, whether any son is not scourged.
But thou wouldest not be able to say: there are many wicked men also
who are scourged, such as murderers, robbers, sorcerers, plunderers
of tombs. These however are paying the penalty of their own
wickedness, and are not scourged as sons, but punished as wicked: but
ye as sons.
Then again [he argues] from the general custom. Seest thou how he
brings up arguments from all quarters, from facts in the Scripture,
from its words, from our own notions, from examples in ordinary life?
(Ver. 8.) "But if ye be without chastisement" [&c.].
Seest thou that he said what I just mentioned, that it is not
possible to be a son without being chastened? For as in families,
fathers care not for bastards, though they learn nothing, though they
be not distinguished, but fear for their legitimate sons lest they
should be indolent, [so here.]. If then not to be chastised is [a
mark] of bastards, we ought to rejoice at chastisement, if this be
[a sign] of legitimacy. "God dealeth with you as with sons"; for
this very cause.
Ver. 9. "Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh which
corrected us, and we gave them reverence." Again, [he reasons]
from their own experiences, from what they themselves suffered. For
as he says above, "Call to mind the former days" (c. x. 32),
so here also "God" (he saith) "dealeth with you as with sons,"
and ye could not say, We cannot bear it: yea, "as with sons"
tenderly beloved. For if they reverence their "fathers of the
flesh," how shall not you reverence your heavenly Father?
However the difference arises not from this alone, nor from the
persons, but also from the cause itself, and from the fact. For it
is not on the same grounds that He and they inflict chastisement: but
they [did it] with a view to "what seemed good to them," that is,
fulfilling [their own] pleasure oftentimes, and not always looking to
what was expedient. But here, that cannot be said. For He does
this not for any interest of His own but for you, and for your benefit
alone. They [did it] that ye might be useful to themselves also,
oftentimes without reason; but here there is nothing of this kind.
Seest thou that this also brings consolation? For we are most closely
attached to those [earthly parents], when we see that not for any
interests of their own they either command or advise us: but their
earnestness is, wholly and solely, on our account. For this is
genuine love, and love in reality, when we are beloved though we be of
no use to him who loves us,--not that he may receive, but that he
may impart. He chastens, He does everything, He uses all
diligence, that we may become capable of receiving His benefits.
(Ver. 10.) "For they verily" (he says) "for a few days
chastened us after their own pleasure, but He for our profit, that we
might be partakers of His holiness."
What is "of his holiness"? It is, of His purity, so as to become
worthy of Him, according to our power. He earnestly desires that ye
may receive, and He does all that He may give you: do ye not
earnestly endeavor that ye may receive? "I said unto the Lord"
(one says) "Thou art my Lord, for of my good things Thou hast no
need." (Ps. xvi. 2.)
"Furthermore," he saith," we have had fathers of our flesh which
corrected us and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in
subjection to the Father of spirits, and live?" ("To the Father
of spirits," whether of spiritual gifts, or of prayers, or of the
incorporeal powers.) If we die thus, then "we shall live. For
they indeed for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure," for
what seems is not always profitable, but "He for our profit."
Therefore chastisement is "profitable"; therefore chastisement is a
"participation of holiness." Yea and this greatly: for when it
casts out sloth, and evil desire, and love of the things of this
life, when it helps the soul, when it causes a light esteem of all
things here (for affliction [does] this), is it not holy? Does it
not draw down the grace of the Spirit?
Let us consider the righteous, from what cause they all shone brightly
forth. Was it not from affliction? And, if you will, let us
enumerate them from the first and from the very beginning: Abel,
Noah himself; for it is not possible that he, being the only one in
that so great multitude of the wicked, should not have been afflicted;
for it is said, "Noah being" alone "perfect in his generation,
pleased God." (Gen. vi. 9.) For consider, I beseech you,
if now, when we have innumerable persons whose virtue we may emulate,
fathers, and children, and teachers, we are thus distressed, what
must we suppose he suffered, alone among so many? But should I speak
of the circumstances of that strange and wonderful rain? Or should I
speak of Abraham, his wanderings one upon another, the carrying away
of his wife, the dangers, the wars, the famines? Should I speak of
Isaac, what fearful things he underwent, driven from every place,
and laboring in vain, and toiling for others? Or of Jacob? for
indeed to enumerate all his [afflictions] is not necessary, but it is
reasonable to bring forward the testimony, which he himself (gave]
when speaking with Pharaoh; "Few and evil are my days, and they
have not attained to the days of my fathers." (Gen. xlvii. 9.)
Or should I speak of Joseph himself? Or of Moses? Or of
Joshua? Or of David? Or of Elijah? Or of Samuel? Or wouldest
thou [that I speak] of all the prophets? Wilt thou not find that
all these were made illustrious from their afflictions? Tell me then,
dost thou desire to become illustrious from ease and luxury? But thou
canst not.
Or should I speak of the Apostles? Nay but they went beyond all.
And Christ said this, "In the world ye shall have tribulation."
(John xvi. 33.) And again, "Ye shall weep and lament, but
the world shall rejoice." (John xvi. 20.) And, that "Strait
and narrow is the way that teadeth unto life." (Matt. vii.
14.) The Lord of the way said, that it is "narrow and strait";
and dost thou seek the "broad" [way]? How is this not
unreasonable? In consequence thou wilt not arrive at life, going
another [way], but at destruction, for thou hast chosen the [path]
which leads thither.
Wouldst thou that I bring before you those [that live] in luxury?
Let us ascend from the last to the first. The rich man who is burning
in the furnace; the Jews who live for the belly, "whose god is their
belly" (Phil. iii. 19), who were ever seeking ease in the
wilderness, were destroyed; as also those in Sodore, on account of
their gluttony; and those in the time of Noah, was it not because
they chose this soft and dissolute life? For "they luxuriated," it
says, "in fullness of bread." (Ezek. xvi. 49.) It speaks of
those in Sodom. But if "fullnes of bread" wrought so great evil,
what should we say of other delicacies? Esau, was not he in ease?
And what of those who being of "the sons of God" (Gen. vi.
2), looked on women, and were borne down the precipice? And what
of those who were maddened by inordinate lust? and all the kings of the
nations, of the Babylonians, of the Egyptians, did they not perish
miserably?
Are they not in torment?
And as to things now, tell me, are they not the same? Hear Christ
saying, "They that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses"
(Matt. xi. 8), but they who do not [wear] such things, are in
Heaven. For the soft garment relaxes even the austere soul, breaks
it and enervates it: yea, even if it meet with a body rough and hard,
it speedily by such delicate treatment makes it soft and weak.
For, tell me, for what other reason do you suppose women are so
weak? Is it from their sex only? By no means: but from their way of
living, and their bringing up. For their avoiding exposure, their
inactivity, their baths, their unguents, their multitude of
perfumes, the delicate softness of their couches, makes them in the
end such as they are.
And that thou mayest understand, attend to what I say. Tell me;
take from a garden a tree from those standing in the uncultivated part
and beaten by the winds, and plant it in a moist and shady place, and
thou wilt find it very unworthy of that from which thou didst originally
take it. And that this is true, [appears from the fact that] women
brought up in the country are stronger than citizens of towns: and they
would overcome many such in wrestling. For when the body becomes more
effeminate, of necessity the soul also shares the mischief, since,
for the most part, its energies are affected in accordance with the
[body]. For in illness we are different persons owing to weakness,
and when we become well, we are different again. For as in the case
of a string when the tones are weak and relaxed, and not well
arranged, the excellence of the art is also destroyed, being obliged
to serve the ill condition of the strings: so in the case of the body
also, the soul receives from it many hurts, many necessities. For
when it needs much nursing, the other endures a bitter servitude.
Wherefore, I beseech you, let us make it strong by work, and not
nurse it as an invalid. My discourse is not to men only but to women
also. For why dost thou, O woman, continually enfeeble [thy body]
with luxury and exhaust it? Why dost thou ruin thy strength with fat?
This fat is flabbiness, not strength. Whereas, if thou break off
from these things, and manage thyself differently, then will thy
personal beauty also improve according to thy wish, when strength and a
good habit of body are there. If however thou beset it with ten
thousand diseases, there will neither be bloom of complexion, nor good
health; for thou wilt always be in low spirits. And you know that as
when the air is smiling it makes a beautiful house look splendid, so
also cheerfulness of mind when added to a fair countenance, makes it
better: but if [a woman] is in low spirits and in pain she becomes
more ill-looking. But diseases and pains produce low spirits; and
diseases are produced from the body too delicate through great luxury.
So that even for this you will flee luxury, if you take my advice.
'But, you will say, luxury gives pleasure.' Yes, but not so
great as the annoyances. And besides, the pleasure goes no further
than the palate and the tongue. For when the table has been removed,
and the food swallowed, thou wilt be like one that has not partaken,
or rather much worse, in that thou bearest thence oppression, and
distension, and headache, and a sleep like death, and often too,
sleeplessness from repletion, and obstruction of the breathing, and
eructation. And thou wouldest curse bitterly thy belly, when thou
oughtest to curse thy immoderate eating.
Let us not then fatten the body, but listen to Paul saying, "Make
not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof," (Rom.
xiii.
14.) As if one should take food and throw it into a drain, so is
he who throws it into the belly: or rather it is not so, but much
worse. For in the one case he uses the drain without harm to himself:
but in the other he generates innumerable diseases. For what nourishes
is a sufficiency which also can be digested: but what is over and above
our need, not only does not nourish, but even spoils the other. But
no man sees these things, owing to some prejudice and unseasonable
pleasure.
Dost thou wish to nourish the body? Take away What is superfluous;
give what is sufficient, and as much as can be digested, Do not load
it, lest thou overwhelm it. A sufficiency is both nourishment and
pleasure. For nothing is so productive of pleasure, as food well
digested: nothing so [productive of] health: nothing [so productive
of] acuteness of the faculties, nothing tends so much to keep away
disease. For a sufficiency is both nourishment, and pleasure, and
health; but excess is injury, and unpleasantness and disease. For
what famine does, that also satiety does; or rather more grievous
evils. For the former indeed within a few days carries a man off and
sets him free; but the other eating into and putrefying the body,
gives it over to long disease, and then to a most painful death. But
we, while we account famine a thing greatly to be dreaded, yet run
after satiety, which is more distressing than that.
Whence is this disease? Whence this madness? I do not say that we
should waste ourselves away, but that we should eat as much food as
also gives us pleasure, that is really pleasure, and can nourish the
body, and furnish it to us well ordered and adapted for the energies of
the soul, well joined and fitted together. But when it comes to be
water-logged by luxury, it cannot in the flood-wave, keep fast the
bolts themselves, as one may say, and joints which hold the frame
together. For the flood-wave coming in, the whole breaks up and
scatters.
"Make not provision for the flesh" (he says) "to fulfill the lusts
thereof." (Rom. xiii. 14.) He said well. For luxury is fuel
for unreasonable lusts; though the luxurious should be the most
philosophical of all men, of necessity he must be somewhat affected by
wine, by eating, he must needs be relaxed, he must needs endure the
greater flame. Hence [come] fornications, hence adulteries. For a
hungry belly cannot generate lust, or rather not one which has used
just enough. But that which generates unseemly lusts, is that which
is relaxed by luxury. And as land which is very moist and a dung-hill
which is wet through and retains much dampness, generates worms, while
that which has been freed from such moistness bears abundant fruits,
when it has nothing immoderate: even if it be not cultivated, it
yields grass, and if it be cultivated, fruits: [so also do we].
Let us not then make our flesh useless, or unprofitable, or hurtful,
but let us plant in it useful fruits, and fruit-bearing trees; let us
not enfeeble them by luxury, for they too put forth worms instead of
fruit when they are become rotten. So also implanted desire, if thou
moisten it above measure, generates unreasonable pleasures, yea the
most exceedingly unreasonable. Let us then remove this pernicious
evil, that we may be able to attain the good things promised us, in
Christ Jesus our Lord, with whom to the Father, together with the
Holy Spirit, be glory now and ever and world without end. Amen.
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