{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/112/1120063.htm","path":"chr/ecf/112/1120063.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/112/1120063.htm","text":"Open your hearts to us: we wronged no man, we corrupted no man, we took advantage of no man. I say it not to condemn you; for l have said before, [as I have also declared above] 760 , that ye are in our hearts to die together and live together.\nAgain he raiseth the discourse about love, mitigating the harshness of his rebuke. For since he had convicted and reproached them as being beloved indeed, yet not loving in an equal degree, but breaking away from his love and mixing up with other pestilent fellows; again he softens the vehemence of his rebuke, saying, \u201cMake room for us,\u201d that is, \u201clove us;\u201d and prays to receive a favor involving no burden, and advantaging them that confer above them that receive it. And he said not, \u2018love,\u2019 but with a stronger appeal to their p. 347 pity 761 , \u201cmake room for.\u201d \u2018Who expelled us?\u2019 saith he: \u2018Who cast us out of your hearts? How come we to be straitened in you?\u2019 for since he said above, \u201cYe are straitened in your affections;\u201d here declaring it more clearly, he said, \u201cmake room for us:\u201d in this way also again winning them to himself. For nothing doth so produce love as for the beloved to know that he that loveth him exceedingly desireth his love.\n\u201cWe wronged no man.\u201d See how again he does not mention the benefits [done by him], but frameth his speech in another way, so as to be both less offensive and more cutting 762 . And at the same time he also alludes to the false apostles, saying, \u201cWe wronged no man, we corrupted no man, we defrauded no man.\u201d\nWhat is \u201cwe corrupted?\u201d That is, we beguiled no man; as he says elsewhere also. \u201cLest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve, so your minds should be corrupted.\u201d (2 Cor. xi. 3.)\n\u201cWe defrauded no man;\u201d we plundered, plotted against no man. And he for the present forbears to say, \u2018we benefited you in such and such ways;\u2019 but framing his language so as more to shame them, \u201cWe wronged no man,\u201d he says; as much as saying, \u2018Even had we in no wise benefited you, not even so ought ye to turn away from us; for ye have nothing to lay to our charge, either small or great.\u2019 Then, for he felt the heaviness of his rebuke, he tempers it again. And he was neither silent altogether, for so he would not have aroused them; nor yet did he let the harshness of his language go unmodified, for so he would have wounded them too much. And what says he?\n2 Cor. 7.3. \u201cI say it not to condemn you.\u201d\nHow is this evident? \u201cFor I have said before,\u201d he adds, \u201cthat ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.\u201d This is the greatest affection, when even though treated with contempt, he chooseth both to die and live with them. \u2018For neither are ye merely in our hearts,\u2019 he says, \u2018but in such sort as I said. For it is possible both to love and to shun dangers, but we do not thus.\u2019 And behold here also wisdom unspeakable. For he spake not of what had been done for them, that he might not seem to be again reproaching them, but he promiseth for the future. \u2018For should it chance,\u2019 saith he, \u2018that danger should invade, for your sakes I am ready to suffer every thing; and neither death nor life seemeth aught to me in itself, but in whichever ye be, that is to me more desirable, both death than life and life than death.\u2019 Howbeit, dying indeed is manifestly a proof of love; but living, who is there that would not choose, even of those who are not friends? Why then does the Apostle mention it as something great? Because it is even exceeding great. For numbers indeed sympathize with their friends when they are in misfortune, but when they are in honor rejoice not with, but envy, them. \u2018But not so we; but whether ye be in calamity, we are not afraid to share your ill fortune; or whether ye be prosperous, we are not wounded with envy.\u2019\n[2.] Then after he had continually repeated these things, saying, \u201cYe are not straitened in us;\u201d and, \u201cYe are straitened in your own affections;\u201d and, \u201cmake room for us;\u201d and, \u201cBe ye also enlarged;\u201d and, \u201cWe wronged no man;\u201d and all these things seemed to be a condemnation of them: observe how he also in another manner alleviates this severity by saying, \u201cGreat is my boldness of speech towards you.\u201d \u2018Therefore I venture upon such things,\u2019 he says, \u2018not to condemn you by what I say, but out of my great boldness of speech,\u2019 which also farther signifying, he said, \u201cGreat is my glorying on your behalf.\u201d \u2018For think not indeed,\u2019 he saith, \u2018that because I thus speak, I speak as though I had condemned you altogether; (for I am exceedingly proud of, and glory in, you;) but both out of tender concern and a desire that you should make greater increase unto virtue.\u2019 And so he said to the Hebrews also after much rebuke; \u201cBut we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak: and we desire that each one of you may show the same diligence to the fullness of hope even to the end.\u201d (Heb. 6:9, 11.) So indeed here also, \u201cGreat is my glorying on your behalf.\u201d \u2018We glory to others of you,\u2019 he says. Seest thou what genuine comfort he has given? \u2018And,\u2019 he saith, \u2018I do not simply glory, but also, greatly.\u2019 Accordingly he added these words; \u201cI am filled with comfort.\u201d What comfort? \u2018That coming from you; because that ye, having been reformed, comforted me by your conduct.\u2019 This is the test of one that loveth, both to complain of not being loved and to fear lest he should inflict pain by complaining immoderately. Therefore he says, \u201cI am filled with comfort, I overflow with joy.\u201d \u2018But these expressions,\u2019 saith one, \u2018seem to contradict the former.\u2019 They do not do so, however, but are even exceedingly in harmony with them. For these procure for the former a favorable reception; and the praise which they convey makes the benefit of those rebukes more genuine, by quietly abstracting what was painful in them. Wherefore he uses these expressions, but with great genuineness and earnestness 763 . For he did p. 348 not say, \u2018I am filled with joy;\u2019 but, \u201cI abound;\u201d or rather, not \u201cabound\u201d either, but \u201csuperabound;\u201d in this way also again showing his yearning, that even though he be so loved as to rejoice and exult, he does not yet think himself loved as he ought to be loved, nor to have received full payment; so insatiable was he out of his exceeding love of them. For the joy it brings to be loved in any degree by those one passionately loves, is great by reason of our loving them exceedingly. So that this again was a proof of his affection. And of the comfort indeed, he saith, \u201cI am filled;\u201d \u2018I have received what was owing to me;\u2019 but of the joy, \u201cI superabound;\u201d that is, \u2018I was desponding about you; but ye have sufficiently excused yourselves and supplied comfort: for ye have not only removed the ground of my sorrow, but have even increased joy.\u2019 Then showing its greatness, he not only declares it by saying, \u201cI superabound in joy,\u201d but also by adding, \u201cin all our affliction.\u201d \u2018For so great was the delight arising to us on your account that it was not even dimmed by so great tribulation, but through the excess of its own greatness it overcame the sorrows that had hold of us, and suffered us not to feel the sense of them.\u2019\n2 Cor. 7.5. \u201cFor even when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no relief.\u201d\nFor since he said, \u201cour tribulation;\u201d he both explains of what sort it was, and magnifies it by his words, in order to show that the consolation and joys received from them 764 was great, seeing it had repelled so great a sorrow. \u201cBut we were afflicted on every side.\u201d\nHow on every side? for \u201cwithout were fightings,\u201d from the unbelievers; \u201cwithin were fears;\u201d because of the weak among the believers, lest they should be drawn aside. For not amongst the Corinthians only did these things happen, but elsewhere also.\n2 Cor. 7.6. \u201cNevertheless He that comforteth the lowly comforted us by 765 the coming of Titus.\u201d\nFor since he had testified great things of them in what he said, that he may not seem to be flattering them he cites as witness Titus the brother 766 , who had come from them to Paul after the first Epistle to declare unto him the particulars of their amendment. But consider, I pray you, how in every place he maketh a great matter of the coming of Titus. For he saith also before, \u201cFurthermore when I came to Troas for the Gospel, I had no relief for my spirit because I found not Titus my brother;\u201d (c. 2 Cor. 2:12, 13.) and in this place again \u201cwe were comforted,\u201d he saith, \u201cby the coming of Titus.\u201d For he is desirous also of establishing the man in their confidence and of making him exceedingly dear to them. And observe how he provides for both these things. For by saying on the one hand, \u201cI had no relief for my spirit,\u201d he showeth the greatness of his virtue; and by saying on the other, that, in our tribulation his coming sufficed unto comfort; yet \u201cnot by his coming only, but also by the comfort wherewith he was comforted in you,\u201d he endeareth 767 the man unto the Corinthians. For nothing doth so produce and cement friendships as the saying something sound and favorable of any one. And such he testifies Titus did; when he says that \u2018by his coming he hath given us wings with pleasure; such things did he report of you. On this ground his coming made us glad. For we were delighted not \u201conly by his coming, but also for the comfort wherewith he was comforted in you.\u201d And how was he comforted? By your virtue, by your good deeds.\u2019 Wherefore also he adds,\n\u201cWhile he told us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me.\u201d \u2018These things made him glad,\u2019 he says, \u2018these things comforted him.\u2019 Seest thou how he shows that he also is an earnest lover of theirs, seeing he considers their good report as a consolation to himself; and when he was come, gloried, as though on account of his own good things, unto Paul.\nAnd observe with what warmth of expression he reporteth these things, \u201cYour longing, your mourning, your zeal.\u201d For it was likely 768 that they would mourn and grieve why the blessed Paul was so much displeased, why he had kept away from them so long. And therefore he did not say simply tears, but \u201cmourning;\u201d nor desire, but \u201clonging;\u201d nor anger, but \u201czeal;\u201d and again \u201czeal toward him,\u201d which they displayed both about him that had committed fornication and about those who were accusing him. \u2018For,\u2019 saith he, \u2018ye were inflamed and blazed out on receiving my letters.\u2019 On these accounts he abounds in joy, on these accounts he is filled with consolation, because he made them feel. It seems to me, however, that these things are said not only to soften what has gone before, but also in encouragement of those who had acted in these things virtuously. For although I suppose that some were obnoxious to those former accusations and unworthy of these praises; nevertheless, he doth not distinguish them, but makes both the praises and the accusations common, leaving it to the conscience of his hearers to select that which belongs to them. For so both the one would be void of offence, and the other lead them on to much fervor of mind.\np. 349 [4.] Such also now should be the feelings of those who are reprehended; thus should they lament and mourn; thus yearn after their teachers; thus, more than fathers, seek them. For by those indeed living cometh, but by these good living. Thus ought they to bear the rebukes of their fathers, thus to sympathize with their rulers on account of those that sin. For it does not rest all with them, but with you also. For if he that hath sinned perceives that he was rebuked indeed by his father, but flattered by his brethren; he becometh more easy of mind. But when the father rebukes, be thou too angry as well, whether as concerned for thy brother or as joining in thy father\u2019s indignation; only be the earnestness thou showest great; and mourn, not that he was rebuked, but that he sinned. But if I build up and thou pull down, what profit have we had but labor? (Ecclesiasticus 34.23.) Yea, rather, thy loss stops not here, but thou bringest also punishment on thyself. For he that hindereth the wound from being healed is punished not less than he that inflicted it, but even more. For it is not an equal offence to wound and to hinder that which is wounded from being healed; for this indeed necessarily gendereth death, but that not necessarily. Now I have spoken thus to you; that ye may join in the anger of your rulers whenever they are indignant justly; that when ye see any one rebuked, ye may all shun him more than does the teacher. Let him that hath offended fear you more than his rulers. For if he is afraid of his teacher only, he will readily sin: but if he have to dread so many eyes, so many tongues, he will be in greater safety. For as, if we do not thus act, we shall suffer the extremest punishment; so, if we perform these things, we shall partake of the gain that accrues from his reformation. Thus then let us act; and if any one shall say, \u2018be humane towards thy brother, this is a Christian\u2019s duty;\u2019 let him be taught, that he is humane who is angry [with him], not he who sets him at ease 769 prematurely and alloweth him not even to come to a sense of his transgression. For which, tell me, pities the man in a fever and laboring under delirium, he that lays him on his bed, and binds him down, and keeps him from meats and drinks that are not fit for him; or he that allows him to glut himself with strong drink, and orders him to have his liberty, and to act in every respect as one that is in health? Does not this person even aggravate the distemper, the man that seemeth to act humanely, whereas the other amends it? Such truly ought our decision to be in this case also. For it is the part of humanity, not to humor the sick in every thing nor to flatter their unseasonable desires. No one so loved him that committed fornication amongst the Corinthians, as Paul who commandeth to deliver him to Satan; no one so hated him as they that applaud and court him; and the event showed it. For they indeed both puffed him up and increased his inflammation; but [the Apostle] both lowered it and left him not until he brought him to perfect health. And they indeed added to the existing mischief, he eradicated even that which existed from the first. These laws, then, of humanity let us learn also. For if thou seest a horse hurrying down a precipice, thou appliest a bit and holdest him in with violence and lashest him frequently; although this is punishment, yet the punishment itself is the mother of safety. Thus act also in the case of those that sin. Bind him that hath transgressed until he have appeased God; let him not go loose, that he be not bound the faster by the anger of God. If I bind, God doth not chain; if I bind not, the indissoluble chains await him. \u201cFor if we judged ourselves, we should not be judged. (1 Cor. xi. 31.) Think not, then, that thus to act cometh of cruelty and inhumanity; nay, but of the highest gentleness and the most skillful leechcraft and of much tender care. But, saith one, they have been punished for a long time. How long? Tell me. A year, and two, and three years? Howbeit, I require not this, length of time, but amendment of soul. This then show, whether they have been pricked to the heart, whether they have reformed, and all is done: since if there be not this, there is no advantage in the time. For neither do we inquire whether the wound has been often bandaged, but whether the bandage has been of any service. If therefore it hath been of service, although in a short time, let it be kept on no longer: but if it hath done no service, even at the end of ten years, let it be still kept on: and let this fix the term of release, the good of him that is bound. If we are thus careful both of ourselves and of others, and regard not honor and dishonor at the hands of men; but bearing in mind the punishment and the disgrace that is there, and above all the provoking of God, apply with energy the medicines of repentance: we shall both presently arrive at the perfect health, and shall obtain the good things to come; which may all we obtain, through the grace and love towards men of our Lord Jesus Christ, with Whom, to the Father, with the Holy Spirit, be glory, might, honor, now and ever, and world without end. Amen.\nThis clause, inserted by St. Chrysostom, is not found in the Received text.\n347:761 347:762 347:763 348:764 348:765\n\u1f10\u03bd R.T. \u1f10\u03c0\u1f76 St. C. [The former is the true text. C.]\n348:766 348:767 348:768 349:769\n\u03c7\u03b1\u03bb\u1ff6\u03bd Field. The mss. have \u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u1ff6\u03bd, for which \u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03b1\u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u1ff6\u03bd and \u03ba\u03bf\u03bb\u03b1\u03ba\u03b5\u03cd\u03c9\u03bd have been conjectured. \u03c7\u03b1\u03bb\u03ac\u03c9 is used elsewhere in the same sense by Chrysostom. See above, Hom. XIII. p. 346. line 29, first column, \u201csoftened.\u201d","title":"Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Vol. XII: Homilies on Sec...","type":"page"}