CHAPTER V Chrysostom avoided the office out of love to Christ
CHAPTER V
Chrysostom avoided the office out of love to Christ
141. And first I wish to ask you this, Do you know how great the power of love is? For Christ, setting aside all the miracles which were to be wrought by the apostles, says, “By this shall men know that ye are my disciples, if ye love one another.” And Paul says it is the fulfilling of the law, and that when this is absent no gift is profitable.
142. This excellent good, the distinctive mark of the disciples of Christ, which is above all gifts, I know to be deeply implanted in your soul, and to be covered with much fruit.
[BASIL.] 143. I am indeed, said he, very careful in this matter, and I use my best endeavours in reference to the commandment, and I own it; but that I have not performed the half of it, even you will testify to me, if you dispense with speaking for favour, and mean to do honour to the truth.
[CHRYSOSTOM.] 144. I shall return to my evidences then, said I, and what I threatened, I shall now do, by showing that you would rather depreciate yourself than speak the truth. Now I will mention a thing which has just occurred, that nobody may suspect that, by telling old stories, I attempt to overshadow the truth by length of time; for oblivion does not permit reliance upon things uttered by me for favour’s sake.