Variety of Holy Scripture. II. 11. 191 every sort of argument, and introduce remedies suited to all JOHN maladies", at one time condemning covetousness, after that touching on luxury, and again on impurity, then composing something in praise of and exhortation to charity, and each of the other virtues in their turn. For I fear lest when my arguments are employed on any one subject, I may without knowing it be treating you for one disease while you are ill of others. So that if this congregation were but one person, I should not have judged it so absolutely necessary to make my discourse varied; but since in such a multitude there are probably also many maladies, I not unreasonably diversify my teaching, since my discourse will be sure to attain its object when it is made to embrace you all. For this cause also Scripture is something multiform', and speaks on ten 1 TOλU· ειδὴς thousand matters, because it addresses itself to the nature of mankind in common, and in such a multitude all the passions of the soul must needs be; though all be not in each. Let us then cleanse ourselves of these, and so listen to the divine oracles, and with contrite heart hear what has been this day read to us. And what is that? This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee. I told you the other day, that there are some who say that this is not the beginning. "For what," says one, "if Cana of Galilee be added? This shews that this was the beginning He made in Cana." But on these points I would not venture to assert any thing exactly. I before have shewn that He began His miracles after His Baptism, and wrought no miracle before it; but whether of the miracles done after His Baptism, this or some other was the first, it seems to me unnecessary to assert positively. And manifested forth His glory. "How?" asks one, "and in what way? For only the servants, the ruler of the feast, and the bridegroom, not the greater number of those present, gave heed to what was done. How then did he "manifest forth His glory?" He • Morel. and Ms. in Bodl. read the passage thus: κινῶ, πᾶσιν ἀνθρώποις ὁμοίως ἀρμόζοντα, καὶ πᾶσιν ἐπιτήδειον πάθεσιν. b Morel. and Ms. in Bodleian read: οὕτω τοῖς θείοις λόγοις προσβάλλωμεν, καὶ οὕτω μετὰ συντετριμμένης σφόδρα c Morel and Ms. in Bodleian read: 192 Miracles withheld from the ill-disposed. HOMIL. manifested it at least for His own part, and if all present heard XXIII. [ad mired Morel. not of the miracle at the time, they would hear of it afterwards, for unto the present time it is celebrated, and has not been unnoticed. That all did not know it on the same day is clear from what follows, for after having said that He manifested forth His glory, the Evangelist adds, And His disciples believed on Him. His disciples, who even before this regarded Him with wonder'. Seest thou that it was especially necessary to and be- work the miracles at times when men were present of honest lieved] minds, and who would carefully give heed to what was done? and Ms. for these would more readily believe, and attend more exactly to the circumstances. "And how could He have become known without miracles?" Because His doctrine and prophetic powers were sufficient to cause wonder in the souls of His hearers, so that they took heed to what He did with a right disposition, their minds being already well affected towards Him. And therefore in many other places the Mat. 12, Evangelists say, that He did no miracle on account of the 38; ch. 13, 58. perversity of the men who dwelt there. &c. 15. Ver. 12. After this He went down to Capernaum, He, and His mother, and His brethren, and His disciples; and they continued there not many days. Wherefore comes He with His mother to Capernaum? for He had done no miracle there, and the inhabitants of that city were not of those who were rightminded towards Him, but of the utterly corrupt. And this Christ declared when Luke10, He said, And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell. Wherefore then goes He? I think it was, because He intended a little after to go up to Jerusalem, that He then went to Capernaum, to avoid 2 Tú leading about every where with Him, His mother, and His ρεσθαι brethren. And so, having departed and tarried a little while to honour His mother, He again commences His miracles after restoring to her home her who had borne Him. Therefore the Evangelist says, After not many days, Ver. 13. He went up to Jerusalem. He received Baptism then a few days before the Passover. But on going up to Jerusalem, what did He? a deed full of high authority; for He cast out of the Temple those dealers II. and money changers, and those who sold doves, and oxen, JOHN and sheep, and who passed their time there for this pur-16-18. pose. [2.] Another Evangelist writes, that as He cast them out, He said, Make not My Father's house' a den of thieves, but Luke this one, 19, 46. ὑμεῖς Ver. 16. (Make not My Father's house) an house of mothmerchandise. σατε K. T.λ. They do not in this contradict each other, but shew that G. T. He did this a second time, and that both these expressions were not used on the same occasion, but that He acted thus once at the beginning of His ministry, and again when He had come to the very time of His Passion. Therefore, (on the latter occasion,) employing more strong expressions, He spoke of it as2 (being made) a den of thieves, but here at 2 lit. the commencement of His miracles He does not so, but it' uses a more gentle rebuke; from which it is probable that this took placed a second time. 2 "And wherefore," says one, "did Christ do this same, and use such severity against these men, a thing which He is no where else seen to do, even when insulted and reviled, and called by them 'Samaritan' and' demoniac?' for He was not even satisfied with words only, but took a scourge, and so cast them out." Yes, but it was when others were receiving benefit, that the Jews accused and raged against Him; when it was probable that they would have been made savage by His rebukes, they shewed no such disposition towards Him, for they neither accused nor reviled Him. What say they? Ver. 18. What sign shewest Thou unto us, seeing that Thou doest these things? Seest thou their excessive malice, and how the benefits done to others incensed them more (than reproofs)? At one time then He said, that the Temple was made by them a den of thieves, shewing that what they sold was gotten by theft, and rapine, and covetousness, and that they were rich through other men's calamities; at another, a house of merchandize, pointing to their shameless traffickings. "But wherefore did He this?" Since he was about to heal d Or, ' that He did this.” ὅθεν εἰκὸς δεύτερον τοῦτο γεγενῆσθαι. al. πεποιηκέναι. 'called 194 Zeal of Christ for His Father's House. XXIII. 1 or HOMIL. On the Sabbath day, and to do many such things which were thought by them transgressions of the Law, in order that He might not seem to do this as though He had come ad- to be some rival God1 and opponent of His Father, He takes versary, occasion hence to correct any such suspicion of theirs. For One who had exhibited so much zeal for the House was not likely to oppose Him who was Lord of the House, and Who was worshipped in it. No doubt even the former years during which He lived according to the Law, were sufficient to shew His reverence for the Legislator, and that He came not to give contrary laws; yet since it was likely that those years were forgotten through lapse of time, as not having been known to all because He was brought up in a poor and mean dwelling, He afterwards does this in the presence of all, (for many were present because the feast was nigh at hand,) and at great risk. For He did not merely cast them out, but also overturned the tables, and poured out the money, giving them by this to understand, that He Who threw Himself into danger for the good order of the House could never despise its Master. Had He acted as He did from hypocrisy, He should only have advised them; but to place Himself in danger was very daring. For it was no light thing to offer 2 or base Himself to the anger of so many market-folk, to excite persons' ἀγοραί- against Himself a most brutal mob of petty dealers by His reproaches and His blows, this was not the action of a pretender, but of one choosing to suffer every thing for the order of the House. ων 3 τὴν πρὸς αὐτὸν And therefore not by His actions only, but by His words, He shews His agreement with the Father'; for He saith not "the Holy House," but, My Father's House. See, He even ovμow calls Him, Father, and they are not wroth; they thought As He spoke in a general way'; but when He went on and spoke more plainly, so as to set before them the idea of His Equality, then they become angry. νίαν 4 ἁπλῶς And what say they? What sign shewest Thou unto us, seeing that Thou doest these things? Alas for their utter madness! Was there need of a sign before they could cease their evil doings, and free the house of God from such dishonour? and was it not the greatest sign of His Excellence that He had gotten such zeal for that House? In fact, the Sign refused: dark sayings given. 195 well disposed' were distinguished by this very thing, for They, JOHN His disciples, it says, II. 17-22. Ver. 17. Remembered that it is written, The zeal of thine evyvwhouse hath eaten me up. μόνες 4. But the Jews did not remember the Prophecy, and said, What sign shewest Thou unto us? both grieving that their Ps.69,9. shameful traffic was cut off, and expecting by these means to stop Him, and also desiring to challenge Him to a miracle, and to find fault with what He was doing. Wherefore He will not give them a sign; and before, when they came and asked Him, He made them the same answer, A Mat.16, wicked and adulterous generalion seeketh after a sign; and* there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. Only then the answer was clear, now it is more ambiguous. This He doth on account of their extreme insensibility; for He Who prevented them without their al. asking, and gave them signs, would never when they asked have turned away from them, had He not seen that their minds were wicked and false, and their intention treacherous. Think how full of wickedness the question itself3ovov was at the outset. When they ought to have applauded Him for His earnestness and zeal, when they ought to have been astonished that He cared so greatly for the House, they reproach Him, saying, that it was lawful to traffic, and unlawful for any to stop their traffic, except he should shew them a sign. What saith Christ? Ver. 19. Destroy this Temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Many such sayings He utters which were not intelligible to His immediate hearers, but which were to be so to those that should come after. And wherefore doth He this? In order that when the accomplishment of His prediction should have come to pass, He might be seen to have foreknown from the beginning what was to follow; which indeed was the case with this prophecy. For, saith the Evangelist, Ver. 22. When He was risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this; and they believed the Scripture, and the word which Jesus had said. But at the time when this was spoken, the Jews were 'took to Him' |