Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles 9 part 2/2

let whoever it may be, then, be brought to me, since these matters too must come up to us, as with little children.

For it is a shame still to have to entreat and to teach concerning some things.

Do you, being uninitiated, dare to touch the sacred table? But what is yet worse: you, though initiated, dare to touch the sacred table—which it is not lawful even for all priests to touch—and thus to swear.

And you would not go and touch your child's head, yet you touch the table, and do not shudder nor fear? Bring such men to me;

I will judge the case, and send both parties away rejoicing.

I lay down this law: not to swear at all.

What hope of salvation is there, when we thus make everything void? For this reason there are bonds, for this reason there are contracts—that you may slay your own soul? What do you gain so great as what you lose? Did he swear falsely? You have destroyed both him and yourself.

But did he not swear falsely? Even so you have destroyed him, by forcing him to transgress the commandment.

Let us drive out this disease from the soul;

for the present let us chase it from the marketplace, from the grocers' stalls, from the rest of the workshops;

our gain will be the greater.

Do not suppose that by transgressions of the divine laws the affairs of this life are set right.

For indeed I once heard this too from certain persons: that 'Unless I swear ten thousand oaths, he does not believe me.'

You are the cause of this, you who swear so readily;

for if this were not so, but it were plain to all that you do not swear, believe me when I say that you would be trusted more, on a mere nod, than those who devour ten thousand oaths.

For behold, tell me, whom then do you trust more—me who do not swear, or those who swear? But you, one says, are a ruler and a bishop. What then, if

I show that it is not for this reason alone? Answer me truly, I beg you: if I swore continually and without ceasing, would my office have protected me? By no means.

Do you see that it is not for that reason? And what do you gain at all? tell me.

You too, then, choose rather to hunger than to transgress any of the commandments of God.

Why are you so unbelieving? You, indeed, would choose to do and to suffer all things for the sake of not swearing;

and will He not reward you? But does He feed the perjurers and the swearers of many oaths every single day,

and will He deliver you over to famine because you have hearkened to Him? Let all see that of those gathered into this church there is not one who swears;

and by this let us be known—not by faith alone, and this toward the Greeks—and let us have this as our distinguishing mark before all.

Let us receive a seal from the heavens, that everywhere we may appear like a royal flock;

let us for the present be recognized by our mouth and tongue, just as the barbarians are;

just as those who know Greek differ thereby from the barbarians, so let us differ.

For tell me, those birds called parrots—whence are they recognized? Is it not from speaking like a man? Let us, then, be recognized from speaking like the apostles;

from speaking like the angels.

If someone says, 'Swear,' let him hear that Christ commanded, and I do not swear.

This is enough to bring in every virtue.

It is a door of godliness, a way leading to the love of wisdom (to reverence), a wrestling-school it is.

Let us keep these things, that we may attain both the present good things and those to come, by the grace and loving-kindness of our Lord Jesus Christ, with whom to the Father, together with the Holy Spirit, be glory, might, and honor, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.