Lecture XVIII
LECTURE XVIII.
ON THE RESURRECTION OF THE FLESH, THE CATHOLIC
CHURCH, AND THE LIFE EVERLASTING.
EZEKIKL xxxvii. 1.
The hand of the Lord was upon me, and carried me out tn the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones.
Lect.
1. THE root of all good works is the hope of the ResurXVIII. rection; for the expectation of recompence nerves the soul to good works.
For labourers of every kind are ready to undergo toils, if they see their reward in prospect; but when men weary themselves for nought, their heart as well as their body sinks early.
The soldier who expects a prize is ready for war, but no one is forward to die for a king who is indifferent about those who serve under him, and bestows no honours on their toils. In like manner every soul believing in the Resurrection, is, as is natural, careful of itself; but, disbelieving it, abandons itself to perdition.
He who believes that his body shall remain to be raised again, is careful of his robe, and defiles it not with fornication; but he who disbelieves the Resurrection, gives himself to fornication, and misuses his own body, as though it were not his own.
Faith therefore in the Resurrection of the dead, is a great doctrine and lesson of the Holy Catholic Church; a great and most necessary point gainsayed by many, but surely warranted by cal the truth.
Greeks contradict it, Samaritans disbelieve it, heretics disparage it; the contradiction is manifold, but the truth is uniform.
2. Now Greeks and Samaritans together reason with us thus.
The dead man falls, and moulders away, and is all
Difficulties of the Resurrection answered.
turned into worms; and the worms perish also; so great is the decay and destruction, which is the portion of the body; how then is it to be raised?
The shipwrecked are devoured by fishes, which are themselves devoured.
Of them who fight with wild beasts, the very bones are ground to powder and consumed by bears and lions.
Vultures and ravens feed on the flesh of the unburied dead, and then fly abroad over all the world; from what places then is the body brought together?
For of the fowls who have devoured it, some may chance to die in India, some in Persia, some in the land of the Goths ; other men again are consumed by fire, and their very ashes scattered by the rain or wind; whence is the body brought together again?
8. To thee, poor feeble man, India is far from the land of (2.) the Goths, and Spain from Persia; but to God who holds the whole earth in the hollow of His hand, all things are near at Isa. 40, hand.
Impute not then weakness to God, from a comparison a of thy feebleness, but rather dwell on His power.
Moreover, does the sun, a small work of God, by one glance of his beams give warmth to the whole world; does the atmosphere, which God has made, encompass all things in the world; and is God then, who is the Creator both of the sun, and of the atmosphere, removed very far off from the earth?
Imagine a mixture of seed of different plants; (for as thou art weak as concerning the faith, the examples which I allege are such also;) and that these different seeds are contained in thy single hand; is it then to thee who art a man, a difficult or an easy matter to distinguish what is in thine hand, and to bring each seed together according to its nature, and to assign it to its own kind?
Canst thou then distinguish between things in thine hand, and cannot God distinguish between the things in His hand, and assign them their proper place?
Consider what I say; is it not impious to deny it?
4. Further, attend to the very principle of justice, and consider with thyself.
Thou hast different sorts of servants: and some are good and some bad; thou honourest therefore the good, and smitest the bad.
And if thou art a judge, to the good thou awardest praise, and to the transgressors, punishment.
Is then justice by thee observed a mortal man; R
242 Resurrection probablesrom God' s justice, and man's expectation, Lect. and with God, who is the ever-enduring King of all, is there
XVIII "no retributive justice? To deny it is impious.
For consider what I say.
Many murderers die in their beds unpunished ; where then is the righteousness of God?
Yea, ofttimes a murderer guilty of fifty murders, is beheaded once; how then shall he suffer punishment for the forty and nine?
Unless there is a judgment and a retribution after this world, thou chargest God with unrighteousness.
Marvel not, however, because of the delay of judgment; no combatant is crowned or disgraced, till the contest is over, and no president of the games ever crowns men while yet striving, but he waits till all the combatants are finished, that then deciding between them, he may dispense the prizes and the chaplets.
Even thus God also, so long as the strife in this world lasts, succours the just but partially, but afterwards He assigns to them their rewards fully.
(3.) 5. But if, according to thee there is no resurrection of the dead, wherefore condemnest thou the violators of graves?
For if the body perishes, and there is no resurrection to be hoped for, why does the violator of the tomb undergu punishment?
Thou seest that though thou deny the resurrection with thy lips, there yet abides with thee an indestructible instinct in its behalf?
6. Further, does a tree after it has been cut down blossom again, and shall man not blossom again when cut down?
And does the corn sown and reaped remain to the threshing floor, and shall man when reaped from this world not remain for the threshing? And do shoots of vine or other trees, when clean cut off and transplanted, come to life and bear fruit ; and shall man then, for whose sake all these are, fall into the earth and not rise again?
Comparing efforts, which is greater, to mould in the outset a statue which was not, or to recast it after the same model when fallen to pieces?
Cannot God then, who created us out of nothing, raise us again, who are and who decay? But thou believest not what is written of the Resurrection, being a Greek: then from the analogy of nature consider these matters, and understand them from what is seen at this day.
Wheat, it may be, or some other kind of grain, is sown; and when it is cast, it dies and rots, and is henceforth useless for food.
But that which has
JSrom the analogy of vegetation, and of the Phaniz,
rotted, springs up in verdure;. and that which was cast small, springs up most beautiful.
Now wheat was made for us; for wheat and all seeds were not created for themselves, but for our use; are things which were made for us quickened when they die, and do we for whom they were made, not spring up again after our death?
7. The season is now winter, as thou seest; the trees now stand as if they were dead: where are the leaves of the figtree? where are the clusters of the vine?
These in winter time are dead, but in the spring green, and when the season is come, there is given them as it were a quickening from a state of death.
For God, knowing thine unbelief, works a resurrection year by year in these visible things; that, beholding
'what happens to things inanimate, thou mayest believe concerning things animate and intelligent.
Further, flies and bees are often drowned in water, yet after a while revive; and dormice, after remaining motionless during the winter, are puta restored in the summer, (for to thy low thoughts like ex7" amples are offered,) and shall He who to irrational and despised creatures grants a supernatural life, not vouchsafe it to us, for whose sake He made them?
8. But the Greeks ask for a yet more evident resurrection, (4.) and say, that even if these creatures are raised, yet that they have not utterly mouldered away; and they require to see distinctly some creature rising again after complete decay.
God knew men's unbelief, and provided for this purpose a bird, called a Phenix*.
This bird, as Clement writes, and as Clem. many more relate, the only one of its race, going to the land of ae the Egyptians at revolutions of five hundred years, shewsc. 25. forth the Resurrection; and this, not in desert places, lest the mystery which comes to pass should remain unknown, but in a notable city', that men might even handle what they disbelieve.
For it makes itself a nest of frankincense and myrrh and other spices, and entering into this when its years are fulfilled, it evidently dies and moulders away.
Then from the mouldering flesh of the dead a worm springs, and this ® The existence of the Phenix isberound theearth.
In like manner the exllian, Epiphanius, d&ec.as istence of megatheria and ichthyosauri path is Geral a aed till acomwasnotknown till lately, nor the connecparatively late date the doctrine of four tion between magnetism and electricity. elements, or of the motion of the sun , » Heliopolis.
244 from the analogy of man's formation and of the heavenly bodies, worm when grown large is transformed into a bird;—and do not disbelieve this, for thou seest the offspring of bees also fashioned thus out of worms, and from eggs which are most moist thou hast seen the wings and bones and sinews of birds issue.
Afterwards this Phoenix, becoming fledged and a perfect Phoenix, as was the former one, soars up into the air such as it had died, shewing forth to men a most evident resurrection from the dead. The Phoenix indeed is a wondrous bird, yet it is irrational, nor sings psalms to God; it flies abroad through the sky, but it knows not the Only-begotten Son of God.
Is then a resurrection from the dead given unto this irrational creature which knows not its Maker, and to us who ascribe glory to God and keep His commandments, shall there no resurrection be granted ?
Lect.
XVIII.
(5.) 9. But since the sign of the Phcenix is remote and uncommon, and men disbelieve our resurrection still, take again the proof of this from what is seen every day.
A hundred or two 'hundred years ago, we all, speakers and hearers, where were we? Know we not the groundwork of the substance of our bodies? Knowest thou not how from weak and shapeless and simple elements we have our beginning, and that from what is simple and weak is shaped the living man? and how that weak element being made flesh is changed into strong nerves, and bright eyes, and sensitive nose, and hearing ears, and speaking tongue, and beating heart, and busy hands, and swift feet, and into members of all hinds? and how weak elements become a shipwright, and a mason, and a masterbuilder, and a crafisman of various arts, and a soldier, and a ruler, and a lawgiver, and a king? Cannot God then, who has made us of rude materials, raise us up when we have fallen into decay? He who frames a body out of what is vile, cannot He raise it again when destroyed? And does not He who fashions that which is not, raise up that which is and is fallen?
10. Take further a manifest proof of the resurrection of the dead, witnessed month by month in the sky and its luminaries.
The face of the moon vanishes completely, so that no part of it is any more seen, yet it fills again, and is restored to its former state; and for the perfect demonstration of the matter, the moon at certain revolutions of years suffering eclipse and
Som the law of Moses.
becoming changed into blood, yet recovers its luminous body: God having provided this, that thou, O man, who art formed of blood, mightest not refuse credence to the resurrection of the dead, but mightest believe concerning thyself also what thou beholdest in respect of the moon.
These arguments therefore use thou against the Greeks; for with them who receive not what is written, fight thou with unwritten weapons, by reasonings only and demonstrations, for these men know not who Moses is, nor Esaias, nor the Gospels, nor Paul.
1]. Turn now to the Samaritans, who, receiving the Law (6.) only, allow not the Prophets.
To them the text just now read from Ezekiel appears of no force, for, as I said, they admit not the Prophets; whence then shall we persuade the Samaritans also? Let us go to the writings of the Law.
Now God says to Moses, I am the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and Ex04.3, of Jacob; this must mean of what is and subsists.
For Stice. if Abraham be dead, and Isaac, and Jacob, He is the God of *4r«. what is nothing.
When did a king ever say, that he was the king of soldiers whom he had not? When did any display wealth of which he was not the owner?
Therefore Abraham and Tsaac and Jacob must truly subsist, that God may be the sped.
God of things which are; for He said not, " I was their God," but J am.
And that there is a judgment, Abraham shews, saying to the Lord, He who judgeth the earth, shali He not ¢ Gen. 18,
23.Sept. execute judgment?
12. But to this the foolish Samaritans answer by way of objection, that the souls possibly of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob continue, but that it is impossible that their bodies should arise.
Was it then possible that the rod of righteous Moses should become a serpent, and is it impossible that the bodies of the righteous should live and rise again? And was that done contrary to its nature, and shall they not be restored according to their nature? Again, the rod of Aaron, though cut offand dead, budded, without the scent of waters, sprouting Job 14, forth into blossoms as in the fields, though under a roof; and™ though set in dry places, yielding in one night the flowers and fruit of plants watered for many years.
Did Aaron's rod, as it were, rise from the dead, and shall not Aaron himself be raised?
And did God work wonders in wood, to secure to
Arguments for the Resurrection from the Law.
Lror. him the high-priesthood, and will He not vonchsafe to Aaron XVIII 'himself a resurrection? A woman also was made salt contrary to nature; and flesh was turned into salt; and shall not flesh be restored to flesh? Was Lot's wife made a pillar of salt, and shall not Abraham's wife be raised again? By what power was Moses' hand changed, which in one hour became as snow, and then was restored? Simply by God's command.
Had it force then, has it not force now ?
18. And whence in the beginning came man into being at all, O ye Samaritans, most shallow of men?
Go to the first Gen. 3, book of the Scripture, which even you receive; And the Lord
God formed man of the dust of the ground, Is dust transformed into flesh, and shall not flesh be again restored to flesh? You must be asked too, whence the heavens had their being, and the earth, and the seas? Whence the sun, and the moon, and the stars? How from the waters were made things which fly and swim? And how from the earth all beasts?
Were so many thousands brought from nothing into being, and shall we men, who bear God's image, not be raised up?
Truly this course is mere unbelief, and an ample condemnation of the unbelievers; considering Abraham addresses the Lord as the Judge of all the earth, and the learners of the Law disbelieve; when it is written that man is of the earth, and the readers disbelieve it also.
(7.) 14. To them therefore, the unbelievers, we say these things; but the words of the Prophets are for us, who believe.
But since some who also use the Prophets believe not what is ES 1, 5. written, and allege against us that passage, The ungodly shall
Job7,,9. not rise up in judgment, and, He that goeth dotwon to the Ps. 115,9rave shall come up no more, and, The dead pratse not Thee, pele O Lord,—using ill, what is written well,—it will be well in a cursory manner, as far as is now possible, to meet them.
For ifitis said, that the ungodly shall not rise up in judgment, this shews that they shall rise, not in judgment, but in condemnation; for God needs not long scrutiny, but close on the resurrection of the ungodly follows their punishment.
And if itis said, The dead praise not Thee, O Lord, this shews, that since in this life only is the appointed time for repentr.ance and pardon, for which they who enjoy it shall praise the ©, ne fact"
_ Lord, it remains after death for them who have died in sins,
Objections from Scripture answered.
not to give praise as the receivers of a blessing, but to bewail themselves ; for praise belongs to them who give thanks, but to them who are under the scourge, lamentation.
Therefore the just shall then offer praise; but they who have died in sins will have no further season for acknowledgment.
We speds15. And respecting that passage, He that goeth down to view. the grave shall come up no more, observe what follows, He is. shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know Job 7, him any more.
For since the whole world shall pass away, and every house shall be destroyed, how shall he return to his own house, there being henceforth a new earth?
But they ought to have heard Job, saying, For there is hope of a tree, Job 14, it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the aes tender branch thereof will not cease.
Though the root thereof waz old tn the earth, and the stock thereof diein the ground; yet through the scent of water tt will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant. And manwhenhe dies, departeth; but v. Sept. when mortal man falls, is he no longer?
As it were remonstrating and reproving; (for thus ought we to read the dewws. words, with an interrogation ;) for since a tree falls and revives, he says, shall not man revive, for whom all trees were made?
And that thou mayest not suppose that I am forcing the words, read what follows; for after saying by way of question, When mortal man falls, is he no longer ? he says,
If a man die, he shall live again; and immediately he adds, Ib. Sept.
I will wait till my change come ; and again elsewhere, Who ope shall raise up on the earth my skin, which endures these"? things.
And Esaias the Prophet says, Thy dead men shall OF 26, live, together with my dead body shall they arise.
And the ~ Prophet Ezekiel, now before us, says most plainly, Behold, path Iwill open your graves, and cause you to come up out ofyour
' graves. And Daniel says, Many that sleep in the dust of the Dao. 12, earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
16. And many Scriptures are there which testify the Resurrection of the dead; for there are other and many more sayings on this matter.
But now, by way of remembrance only, we will make a passing mention of the raising of Lazarus after four days; and just allude, because of the shortness of the time, to the widow's son also who was raised.
Now also let
The power residing in the bodies of Saints departed.
Leor. me just remind you of the ruler's daughter; and mention the XVIII. ending of the rocks, and how there arose many bodies of the saints which slept, their graves having been opened.
But specially let us call to mind that Christ was raised from the dead.
I speak but in passing of Elias, and the widow's son whom he raised; of Elisseus also, who raised the dead twice ; once when living, and once after his death.
For when alive he wrought the resurrection by means of his soul ; but that not the souls only of the just might be honoured, but that it might be believed that in the bodies also of the just there is power, the corpse which was thrown into the grave of Elisseus, when it touched the dead body of the prophet, was quickened, and the dead body of the prophet did the work of the soul, and that which was dead and buried gave life to the dead, and while imparting life, yet continued itself among the dead.
Wherefore?
Lest if Elisseus should rise again, the work should be ascribed to his soul alone; and to shew, that even though the soul is not present, a virtue resides in the body of the saints, because of the righteous soul which has for so many years tenanted it, and used it as its minister.
And let us not foolishly disbelieve, as though this thing had Actsi9,not happened; for if handkerchiefs and aprons, which are
15. — from without, touching the bodies of the diseased, have raised up the sick, how much more should the body itself of the Prophet raise the dead?
(9.) 1%. And with respect to these instances we might say much, rehearsing in detail the marvellous circumstances of each event; but as you have been already wearied both by the Seige. prolonged fast of the Preparation, and by the watchings, let fies. what has been cursorily spoken concerning them suffice for a while; these words having been as it were sown thinly, that you, receiving the seed like richest ground, may in bearing fruit increase them.
But be it remembered, that the Apostles also raised the dead; Peter raised Tabitha in Joppa, and Paul raised Eutychusin Troas; and thus did all the Apostles, even though the wonders wrought by each have not all been written.
Further, remember all that is said in the first Epistle to the Corinthians, which Paul wrote against them
1 Cor, Who said, How are the dead raised, and with what body do 15, ar they come? And how he says, For if the dead rise not, then ver. 16,
The body having shared with the soul here,shares with it hereafter
Repsae Christ raised; and how he called them Jools, who ver. 36. believed not; and remember the whole of his teaching there concerning the resurrection of the dead, and how he wrote to the Thessalonians, But I would not have you to be ignorant, 1 Thess. brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow MEE not, even as others which have no hope, and all that follows : but chiefly that, 4nd the dead in Christ shall rise Jirsi. ver. 16.
18. But especially mark this, how very pointedly Paul says, For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this \ Cor. mortal must put on immortality.
For this body shall be 15, 53. raised, not remaining weak as now; raised, I say, the very same body, but putting on incorruption it shall be fashioned anew,— as iron blending with fire becomes fire, or rather as He knows how, the Lord who raises us.
This body therefore shall be raised, but it shall abide not such as it now is, but an eternal body; no longer needing for its life nourishment as now, nor stairs for its ascent, for it shall be made spiritual, a marvellous thing, such as we cannot worthily speak of.
Then, v. Matt. it is said, shall the righteous shine forth as the sun, and the 1% 4moon, and as the brightness of the firmament.
And God, ce foreknowing men's unbelief, has given to little worms in the summer to dart beams of light from their body, that from what is seen, that which is looked for might find credence; for He who gives in part is able to give the whole also, and He who makes the worm radiant with light, will much more illuminate a righteous man.
19. We shall be raised therefore, all with our bodies eternal, (10.) but not all with bodies alike: for if a man is righteous, he will receive a heavenly body, that he may be able duly to hold converse with Angels; but if a man is a sinner, he shall receive an eternal body, fitted to endure the pains of sins, that it may burn eternally in fire, nor ever be consumed.
And righteously will God assign this portion to either company ; for we do nothing without the body.
We blaspheme with the mouth, and with the mouth we pray.
With the body we commit fornication, and with the body we keep our chastity.
With the hand we rob, and by the hand we bestow alms; and in like manner the rest.
Since then the body has been our minister in all things, it shall also share with us what befals us hereafter.
Sins before and after Baptism.
Lror.
20. Therefore, brethren, let us be tender of our bodies, nor XVIII-je¢ us misuse them as though not our own.
Let us not say like the heretics, that this vesture of the body belongs not to us', but let us be careful of it as our own; for we must give account to the Lord of all things done through the body.
Say not, no one sees me; think not that there is no witness of the deed.
Human witness oftentimes there is not; but He who fashioned us, an unerring witness, abides faithful in heaven, and beholds what thou doest.
And the stains of sin remain in the body; for as when a wound has gone deep into the body, the scar remains even after healing, even so sin wounds soul and body, and the marks of its scars remain in all; and they are effaced only by receiving the Baptismal laverThe past wounds therefore of soul and body God heals by Baptism ; against future ones let us one and all jointly guard ourselves, that keeping the vestment of the body pure, we may not by fornication and sensual indulgence or other sin for a short season, lose the salvation of heaven, but may inherit the eternal kingdom of God ;—which may God vouchsafe to all of you of His own grace.
(11.) 21. Thus much in proof of the Resurrection of the dead; and now recite ye and go through with all diligence word by word the profession of the faith, when I have again said it to yous. 68
22. The Faith which we rehearse contains in order the following, " And in one Baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; and in one Holy Catholic Church ; and in the resurrection of the flesh ; and in eternal life." Now of Baptism and repentance I have spoken in the foregoing Lectures ; and my present remarks concerning the resurrection of the dead have been made with reference to the Article ' In the resurrection of the flesh."
Now then let me finish what remains to be said, in consequence of the Article, "In one Holy
Catholic Church," on which, though one might say many things, we will speak but briefly.
28. Now it is called Catholic because it is throughout the world, from one end of the earth to the other; and because it teaches universally and completely one and all the doctrines
* e. g. the Gnostics, Manichees, &c.
Why the Church Catholic is called Catholic, and why Church, 251 which ought to come to men's knowledge, concerning things both visible and invisible, heavenly and earthly; and because it subjugates in order to godliness every class of men, bworda. governors and governed, learned and unlearned; and because ™" it universally treats and heals every sort of sins, which are committed by soul or body, and possesses in itself every form of virtue which is named, both in deeds and words, and in every kind of spiritual gifts.
24. And it is rightly named Church, because it calls forth lxearand assembles together all men; according as the Lord says '*
Pay in Leviticus, And assemble thou ali the congregation to the v. Heb. doors of the tabernacle of witness.
And it is to be noted, that lies, the word assemble, is used for the first time in the Scriptures ie here, at the time when the Lord puts Aaron into the Highsiass. priesthood.
And in Deuteronomy the Lord says to Moses, Assemble to Me the people, and I will make them hear My} Dent. 4, words, that they shall learn to fear Me. And heagain mentions" the name of the Church, when he says concerning the Tables,
And on them was written according to ali the words which per? the Lord spake with you in the mount of the midst of the ia
Jive in the day of the Assembly; as if he had said more plainly, « vias meer. in the day in which ye were called and gathered together by ¢ as 35,
God.
And the Psalmist says, / will give Thee thanks tn the iF ~ great Assembly; I will praise Thee among much people.
2, 13.
25. Of old the Psalmist sung, Bless ye God tn the Church, Ps. 63, even the Lord, from the fountain of Israel.
But since the ~ Jews for their evil designs against the Saviour have been cast away from grace, the Saviour has built out of the Gentiles a second Holy Church, the Church of us Christians, concerning which He said to Peter, And upon this rock [ will build My? eg 16,
Church, and the gates of heil shall not prevail against it. And'® David prophesying of both, said plainly of the first which was rejected, I have hated the Church of the evil doers ; but of the Ps.26,5. second which is built up be says in the same Psalm, Lord, { ver. 8. have loved the habitation of Thine house; and immediately afterwards, In the Churches will I bless the Lord.
For now ver. 12. that the one Church in Judwa is cast off, the Churches of Christ are increased throughout the world; and of them it ts said, Sing unto the Lord a new song, and His praise tn the Ps. 149,
Church of the Saints.
Agreeably to which the Prophet also
252 The title Catholic is a practical guide to the true Church.
Lecr. said to the Jews, / have no pleasure tn you, saith the Lord of XVIL Posts; and immediately afterwards, For from the rising of 10.
"" the sun even unto the going down of the same, My name shall ver. 11. be great among the Gentiles. Concerning this Holy Catholic
1 Tim. Church Paul writes to Timothy, That thou mayest know how 31% thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which ts the Church of the Living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
26. But since the word Church or Assembly is applied to different things, (as also jt is written of the multitude in the Actal9, theatre of the Ephesians, And when he had thus spoken,
Me he dismissed the Assembly, and since one might properly and ear. truly say that there is a Church of the evil doers, 1 mean the meetings of the heretics, the Marcionists and Manichees, and the rest,) the Faith has delivered to thee by way of security the Article, " And in One Holy Catholic Church;" that thou mayest avoid their wretched meetings, and ever abide with the Holy Church Catholic in which thou wast regenerated.
And if ever thou art sojourning in any city, inquire not simply where the Lord's House is, (for the sects of the profane also make an attempt to call their own dens, houses of the Lord,) nor merely where the Church is, but where is the Catholic
Church.
For this is the peculiar name of this Holy Body, the mother of us all, which is the spouse of our Lord Jesus
Eph. 5, Christ, the Only-begotten Son of God, (for it is written, As Christ also loved the Church, and gave Himself for it, and Gal. 4, all the rest,) and is a figure and copy of Jerusalem above,
26. which ts free, and the mother of us all; which before was barren, but now has many children.
27. For when the first Church was cast off, God, in the 1Cor. second, which is the Catholic Church, hath set first Apostles,
12, 28. secondarily Prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues, and every sort of virtue; I mean wisdom and understanding, temperance and justice, alms-doing and lovingkindness, and patience unconquerable in persecutions.
She, 2Cor.6, by the armour of righteousness on the riyht hand and on the 7.8.
Jeft, by honour and dishonour, in former days amid persecutions and tribulations crowned the holy martyrs with the varied and blooming chaplets of patience, and now in times
Everlasting life from the Father through the Son in the Spirit. 253 of peace by God's grace receives her due honours from princes and nobles, and from every rank and kindred of man.
And while the kings of particular nations have bounds set to their dominion, the Holy Church Catholic alone extends her illimitable sovereignty over the whole world ; for God, as it is Ps. 147, written, hath made her border peace.
But I should need )*:5¢P+ many more hours for my discourse, would I speak of all things which concern her.
28. In this Holy Catholic Church receiving instruction and (13.) behaving ourselves virtuously, we shall attain the kingdom of heaven, and inherit eternal life; for which also we endure all toils, that we may be made partakers of it from the Lord.
For ours is no trifling aim; eternal life is our object of pursuit.
Wherefore in the profession of the Faith, after the words, "' And in the resurrection of the flesh," that is, of the dead, (of which we have discoursed,) we are taught to believe, " And in the life everlasting," for which as Christians we are striving.
29. The Father is the real and true life; and He through the Son in the Holy Spirit pours forth as from a fountain His heavenly gifts to all; for through His love to man, the blessings of everlasting life are promised without fail even to us men.
We must not disbelieve the possibility of this, but having an eye not to our own weakness but to His power, we must believe ; for with God all things are possible.
And that this is possible, and that we may look for everlasting life, Daniel declares, Anc they that turn many to righteousness a8 Dan.i3, the stars for ever and ever.
And Paul says, And so shall we ® (be ever with the Lord: now the being for ever with the Lord Bw implies life everlasting.
But most plainly of all the Saviour ""'
Himself says in the Gospel, And these shall go away into Mat.25, everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal.
30. And many are the proofs concerning the life everlasting.
And when we desire to gain this eternal life, the sacred Scriptures suggest to us the ways of gaining it; of which, because of the length of our discourse, the texts we set before you shall be but few, the rest being left to the search of the diligent.
They declare at one time that it is by faith; for itis written, He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting Jobn 3, life, and what follows; and again He says Himeelf, Verily, 6
Joho 5,
Texts concerning the life everlasting.
Lact. verily, I eay unto you, He that heareth My words, and XVIII. 5 téeveth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and the rest.
At another time, it is by the preaching of the Gospel ; John 4, for He says, that He that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal, At another time, by marJobnl2, tyrdom and confession in Christ's name; for He says, And 'he that hateth his life in this world, shall keep it unto life eternal, And again, by preferring Christ to nches or kindred ;
Mat.19, And every one that hath forsaken brethren, or sisters, and 'the rest, shall inherit everlasting life.
Moreover it is by vs cri keeping the commandments, Thou shalt not commit adultery,
18, Thou shalt not kill, and the rest which follow; as He v.also answered to him that came to Him, and said, Good Master,
10,17, what shall I do that I may have eternal life? Further, it is by departing from evil works, and henceforth serving God;
Rom. 6, for Paul says, Bui now being madefree from sin, and become
servants to God, ye have your fruit unio holiness, and the end everlasting life.
81. And the ways of finding eternal life are many, though I have passed over them by reason of their number.
For God in His loving-kindness has opened, not one or two only, but many doors, by which to enter into the life everlasting, that, as far as lay in Him, all might enjoy it without hindrance.
Thus much have we for the present spoken within compass concerning the life everlasting, which is the last doctrine
_ of those professed in the Faith, and its termination; which may we all, both teachers and hearers, by God's grace enjoy !
(14.) $2. It remains, brethren beloved, to exhort you all by the word of teaching, to prepare your souls for the reception of the heavenly gifts.
As regards the Holy and Apostolic Faith delivered to you to profess, we have spoken as many Lectures, as was possible, in the past days of Lent; not that this is all we ought to have said, for our omissions are many ; and these perchance have been thought out better by more excellent teachers.
And now the holy day of Easter is at hand, and Tit. 8,5. your love in Christ is to be illuminated by the Laver of regeneration.
Ye shall therefore again be taught what is requisite, if God so will; with how great piety and order you must enter in when summoned, for what purpose each of the holy
Directions to the Catechumens on their approaching Baptism. 255 mysteries of Baptigm is performed, and with what reverence and order you must go from Baptism to the Holy Altar of God, and enjoy its spiritual and heavenly mysteries; that your souls being previously illuminated by the word of doctrine, ye may discover the greatness of each particular gift bestowed on you by God.
$3, And after the Holy and Salutary Day of Easter, beginning from the second day of the week, ye shall come all the days of the following week after the assembly into the Holy Place of the Resurrection, and there ye shall hear other
Lectures, if God permit; in which ye shall again be taught the reasons of every thing which has been done, aud shall receive the proofs thereof from the Old and New Testaments,— first, of the things done just before Baptism,—next, how ye have been cleansed from your sins by the Lord, with the Eph. 5, washing of water by the word,—and how by being Priests 7 ye have become partakers of Christ's Name,—and how the x. 16.4.
Seal of the fellowship of the Holy Ghost has been given ™**5® you,—and conceming the mysteries at the Altar of the New
Testament, which had their beginning in this place, what the Divine Scriptures have delivered to us, and what is the power of these mysteries, and how ye must approach them, and when and how receive them ;~and finally, how for the time to come ye must behave yourselves worthily of this grace both in works and words, that you may all be enabled to enjoy the life everlasting.
And these things shall be spoken, if it be God's pleasure.
34, Finally, my brethren, rejoice tn the Lord alway; and (15.) again I say, Rejoice: for your redemption hath drawn nigh, Let and the heavenly host of the Angels is waiting for your 4, 4. salvation.
And there is now the voice of one crying in thevaes wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord; and the Prophet 1s.
40,3. cries, Ho, every one that thirsieth, come ye to the waters; 1s.55,1. and immediately afterwards, Hearken diligently unto me,v.3. and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
And within a little while ye shall hear that excellent lesson which says, Be light, be light, O thou sees ae 00
Jerusalem; for thy light is come.
Of this Jerusalem the ot.) prophet hath said, And afterwards thow shalt be called the \s.1,26. city of righteousness, the faithful city Zion ; Sor out of Zion ls. 2; 3.
Blessings.
Lect. shall go forth the law, and out of Jerusalem the word of the XVIITTord, which from hence has been showered down on the whole world.
To her the Prophet also says concerning you, Is.49, Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold thy children
= 60 2 gathered logether; and she answers, saying, Who are these Sept. that fly as a cloud, and as doves with their young ones to me? (She calls them, clouds, because of their spiritual nature,
Is.66,8.and doves, from their purity.) And again she says, Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation
. be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.
And all things shall be filled with joy Is. 65, ineffable, because of the Lord who hath said, Behold, I create
18.
Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.
35. And may these words also apply to you, and at this i 49, time, Sing, O heavens, and be joyful, O earth; for the Lord
'hath comforted His people, and will have mercy on His afflicted.
And this shall come to pass through the lovingIs. 44, kindness of God, who says to you, J eill blot out us a cloud eae thy transgressions, and as a thick cloud thy sins.
But ye who have been counted worthy of the name of Faithful, (of Is. 65, Whom it is written, The Lord God shall call His servunts by Be another name which shall be blessed on the earth,) ye shall
Eph. 1, 8ay with gladness, Blessed be the God and Father of our =.
Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual ver. 7. blessings in heavenly places in Christ; in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace, and what follows; and c.2,4. again, But God who ts rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, ecen when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, and the rest. And again in like manner praise ye the Lord of all good things, saying,
Tit.3,4. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour towards man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we had done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost, which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our
Saviour, that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
And may God Eph 1s Himself and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, give unto you
Blessings.
the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; and keep you ever in good works and words and thoughts:—To whom be glory and honour and might through our Lord Jesus
Christ with the Holy Ghost now and ever, and for all the infinite ages of eternity.
Amen.