{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/113/1130056.htm","path":"chr/ecf/113/1130056.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/113/1130056.htm","text":"\u201cRejoice in the Lord alway: again I will say, Rejoice. Let your forbearance be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts through Christ Jesus.\u201d\n\u201cBlessed 671 are they that mourn,\u201d and \u201cwoe unto them that laugh\u201d (Matt. 5:4, Luke 6:25.), saith Christ. How then saith Paul, \u201cRejoice in the Lord alway\u201d? \u201cWoe to them that laugh,\u201d said Christ, the laughter of this world which ariseth from the things which are present. He blessed also those that mourn, not simply for the loss of relatives, but those who are pricked at heart, who mourn their own faults, and take count of their own sins, or even those of others. This joy is not contrary to that grief, but from that grief it too is born. For he who grieveth for his own faults, and confesseth them, rejoiceth. Moreover, it is possible to grieve for our own sins, and yet to rejoice in Christ. Since then they were afflicted by their sufferings, \u201cfor to you it is given not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him\u201d (Philip. i. 29.), therefore he saith, \u201cRejoice in the Lord.\u201d For this can but mean, If you exhibit such a life that you may rejoice. Or when your communion with God is not hindered, rejoice. Or else the word \u201cin\u201d may stand for \u201cwith\u201d: 672 as if he had said, with the Lord. \u201cAlway; again I will say, Rejoice.\u201d These are the words of one who brings comfort; as, for example, he who is in God rejoiceth alway. Yea though he be afflicted, yea whatever he may suffer, such a man alway rejoiceth. Hear what Luke saith, that \u201cthey returned from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be scourged for His name.\u201d (Acts v. 41.) If scourging and bonds, which seem to be the most grievous of all things, bring forth joy, what else will be able to produce grief in us?\n\u201cAgain I will say, Rejoice.\u201d Well hath he repeated. For since the nature of the things brought forth grief, he shows by repeating, that they should by all means rejoice.\n\u201cLet your forbearance be known unto all men.\u201d He said above, \u201cWhose god is the belly, and whose glory is in their shame,\u201d and that they \u201cmind earthly things.\u201d (Philip. iii. 19.) It was probable that they would be at enmity with the wicked; he therefore exhorted them to have nothing in common with them, but to use them with all forbearance, and that not only their brethren, but also their enemies and opposers. \u201cThe Lord is at hand, 673 in nothing be anxious.\u201d For why, tell me? do they ever rise in opposition? And if ye see them living in luxury, why are ye in affliction? Already the judgment is nigh; shortly will they give account of their actions. Are ye in affliction, and they in luxury? But these things shall shortly receive their end. Do they plot against you, and threaten you? \u201cIn nothing be anxious.\u201d The judgment is already at hand, when these things shall be reversed. \u201cIn nothing be anxious.\u201d If ye are kindly affected toward those who prepare evil against you, yet it shall not at last turn out to their profit. Already the recompense is at hand, if poverty, if death, if aught else that is terrible be upon you. \u201cBut in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.\u201d There is this for one consolation, \u201cthe Lord is at hand.\u201d And again, \u201cI will be with you alway, even unto the end of the world.\u201d (Matt. xxviii. 20.) Behold another consolation, a medicine which healeth grief, and distress, and all that is painful. And what is this? Prayer, thanksgiving in all things. And so He wills that our prayers should not simply p. 247 be requests, but thanksgivings too for what we have. For how should he ask for future things, who is not thankful for the past? \u201cBut in everything by prayer and supplication.\u201d Wherefore we ought to give thanks for all things, even for those which seem to be grievous, for this is the part of the truly thankful man. In the other case the nature of the things demands it; but this springs from a grateful soul, and one earnestly affected toward God. God acknowledgeth these prayers, but others He knoweth not. Offer up such prayers as may be acknowledged; for He disposeth all things for our profit, though we know it not. And this is a proof that it greatly profiteth, namely, that we know it not. \u201cAnd the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.\u201d What meaneth this? \u201cThe peace of God\u201d which He hath wrought toward men, surpasseth all understanding. For who could have expected, who could have hoped, that such good things would have come? They exceed all man\u2019s understanding, not his speech alone. For His enemies, for those who hated Him, for those who determined to turn themselves away, for these, he refused not to deliver up His Only Begotten Son, that He might make peace with us. This peace then, i.e. the reconciliation, the love of God, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts.\nFor this is the part of a teacher, not only to exhort, but also to pray, and to assist by supplication, that they may neither be overwhelmed by temptations, nor carried about by deceit. As if he had said, May He who hath delivered you in such sort as mind cannot comprehend, may He Himself guard you, and secure you, so that you suffer no ill. Either he means this, or that that peace of which Christ saith, \u201cPeace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you\u201d (John xiv. 27.): this shall guard you, for this peace exceedeth all man\u2019s understanding. How? When he tells us to be at peace with our enemies, with those who treat us unjustly, with those who are at war and enmity toward us; is it not beyond man\u2019s understanding? But rather let us look to the former. If the peace surpasseth all understanding, much more doth God Himself, who giveth peace, pass all understanding, not ours only, but also that of Angels, and the Powers above. What meaneth \u201cin Christ Jesus\u201d? Shall guard us in Him, so that ye may remain firm, and not fall from His faith.\nPhil. 4.8. \u201cFinally, brethren, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are just.\u201d What is \u201cFinally\u201d? It stands for, \u201cI have said all.\u201d It is the word of one that is in haste, and has nothing to do with present things.\n\u201cFinally, brethren, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.\u201d\nVer. 9. \u201cThe things which ye both learned and received, and heard and saw in me.\u201d\nWhat meaneth, \u201cwhatsoever things are lovely\u201d? Lovely to the faithful, lovely to God. \u201cWhatsoever things are true.\u201d Virtue is really true, vice is falsehood. For the pleasure of it is a falsehood, and its glory is falsehood, and all things of the world are falsehood. \u201cWhatsoever things are pure.\u201d This is opposed to the words \u201cwho mind earthly things.\u201d \u201cWhatsoever things are honorable.\u201d This is opposed to the words \u201cwhose god is their belly.\u201d \u201cWhatsoever things are just,\u201d i.e. saith he, 674 \u201cwhatsoever things are of good report.\u201d \u201cIf there be any virtue, if there be any praise.\u201d Here he willeth them to take thought of those things too which regard men. \u201cThink on these things,\u201d saith he. Seest thou, that he desires to banish every evil thought from our souls; for evil actions spring from thoughts. \u201cThe things which ye both learned and received.\u201d This is teaching, in all his exhortations to propose himself for a model: as he saith in another place, \u201ceven as ye have us for an ensample.\u201d (Philip. iii. 17.) And again here, \u201cWhat things ye learned and received,\u201d i.e. have been taught by word of mouth, \u201cand heard and saw in me\u201d: both in respect of my words and actions and conduct. Seest thou, how about everything he lays these commands on us? For since it was not possible to make an accurate enumeration of all things, of our coming in, and going out, and speech, and carriage, and intercourse (for of all these things it is needful that a Christian should have thought), he said shortly, and as it were in a summary, \u201cye heard and saw in me.\u201d I have led you forward both by deeds and by words. 675 \u201cThese things do,\u201d not only in words, but do them also. \u201cAnd the God of peace shall be with you,\u201d i.e. ye shall be in a calm, in great safety, ye shall suffer nothing painful, nor contrary to your will. For when we are at peace with Him, and we are so through virtue, much more will He be at peace with us. For He who so loved us, as to show favor to us even against our will, will He not, if He sees us p. 248 hastening toward Him, Himself yet much more exhibit His love toward us?\nNothing is such an enemy of our nature as vice. And from many things it is evident, how vice is at enmity with us, and virtue friendly toward us. What will ye? That I should speak of fornication? It makes men subject to reproach, poor, objects of ridicule, despicable to all, just as enemies treat them. Ofttimes it hath involved men in disease and danger; many men have perished or been wounded in behalf of their mistresses. And if fornication produces these things, much rather doth adultery. But doth almsgiving so? By no means. But as a loving mother setteth her son in great propriety, in good order, in good report, and gives him leisure to engage in necessary work, thus alms-giving doth not release us nor lead us away from our necessary work, but even renders the soul more wise. For nothing is more foolish than a mistress.\nBut what willest thou? To look upon covetousness? It too treats us like an enemy. And how? It makes us hated by all. It prepareth all men to vaunt themselves against us; both those who have been treated unjustly by us, and those who have not, who share the grief of the former, and are in fear for themselves. All men look upon us as their common foes, as wild beasts, as demons. Everywhere are there innumerable accusations, plots against us, envyings, all which are the acts of enemies. But justice, on the contrary, makes all men friends, all men sociable, all men well disposed towards us, by all men prayers are made in our behalf; our affairs are in perfect safety, there is no danger, there is no suspicion. But sleep also fearlessly comes over us with perfect safety, no care is there, no lamenting.\nHow much better this sort of life is! And what? Is it best to envy, or to rejoice with one another? Let us search out all these things, and we shall find that virtue, like a truly kind mother, places us in safety, while vice is a treacherous thing, and full of danger. For hear the prophet, who saith, \u201cThe Lord is a stronghold of them that fear Him, and His covenant is to show them.\u201d (Ps. xxv. 14, Sept.) He feareth no one, who is not conscious to himself of any wickedness; on the contrary, he who liveth in crime is never confident, but trembles at his domestics, and looks at them with suspicion. Why say, his domestics? He cannot bear the tribunal of his own conscience. Not only those who are without, but his inward thoughts affect him likewise, and suffer him not to be in quiet. What then, saith Paul? Ought we to live dependent on praise? He said not, look to praise, but do praiseworthy actions, yet not for the sake of praise.\n\u201cWhatsoever things are true,\u201d for the things we have been speaking of are false. \u201cWhatsoever things are honorable.\u201d That which is \u201chonorable\u201d belongs to external virtue, that which is \u201cpure\u201d to the soul. Give no cause of stumbling, saith he, nor handle of accusation. Because he had said, \u201cWhatsoever things are of good report,\u201d lest you should think that he means only those things which are so in the sight of men, he proceeds, \u201cif there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things\u201d\u2014do these things. He wills us ever to be in these things, to care for these things, to think on these things. For if we will be at peace with each other, God too will be with us, but if we raise up war, the God of peace will not be with us. For nothing is so hostile to the soul as vice. That is, peace and virtue place it in safety. Wherefore we must make a beginning on our part, and then we shall draw God toward us.\nGod is not a God of war and fighting. Make war and fighting to cease, both that which is against Him, and that which is against thy neighbor. Be at peace with all men, consider with what character God saveth thee. \u201cBlessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.\u201d (Matt. v. 9.) Such always imitate the Son of God: do thou imitate Him too. Be at peace. The more thy brother warreth against thee, by so much the greater will be thy reward. For hear the prophet who saith, \u201cWith the haters of peace I was peaceful.\u201d (Ps. cxx. 7, Sept.) This is virtue, this is above man\u2019s understanding, this maketh us near God; nothing so much delighteth God as to remember no evil. This sets thee free from thy sins, this looseth the charges against thee: but if we are fighting and buffeting, we become far off from God: for enmities are produced by conflict, and from enmity springs remembrance of evil.\nCut out the root, and there will be no fruit. Thus shall we learn to despise the things of this life, for there is no conflict, none, in spiritual things, but whatever thou seest, either conflicts or envy, or whatever a man can mention, all these spring from the things of this life. Every conflict hath its beginning either in covetousness, or envy, or vainglory. If therefore we are at peace, we shall learn to despise the things of the earth. Hath a man stolen our money? He hath not injured us, only let him not steal our treasure which is above. Hath he hindered thy glory? Yet not that which is from God, but that which is of no account. For this is no glory, but a mere name of glory, or rather a shame. Hath he stolen thy honor? Rather not thine but his own. For as he who committeth injustice doth not so much inflict as receive injustice, thus too he who plots against his neighbor, first destroyeth himself.\np. 249 For \u201che who diggeth a pit for his neighbor, falleth into it.\u201d (Prov. xxvi. 27.) Let us then not plot against others, lest we injure ourselves. When we supplant the reputation of others, let us consider that we injure ourselves, it is against ourselves we plot. For perchance with men we do him harm, if we have power, but we injure ourselves in the sight of God, by provoking Him against us. Let us not then harm ourselves. For as we injure ourselves when we injure our neighbors, so by benefiting them we benefit ourselves. If then thy enemy harm thee, he hath benefited thee if thou art wise, and so requite him not with the same things, but even do him good. But the blow, you say, remains severe. Consider then that thou dost not benefit, but punishest him, and benefitest thyself, and quickly you will come to do him good. What then? Shall we act from this motive? We ought not to act on this motive, but if thy heart will not hear other reason, induce it, saith he, 676 even by this, and thou wilt quickly persuade it to dismiss its enmity, and wilt for the future do good to thine enemy as to a friend, and wilt obtain the good things which are to come, to which God grant that we may all attain in Christ Jesus. Amen.\n[\u201cHappy\u201d would be more exact, but \u201cblessed\u201d has a fixed association with the passage quoted from the Sermon on the Mount.\u2014J.A.B.]\n246:672\n[Chrys. had little notion of scientific precision in the use or interpretation of language. The word \u1f10\u03bd, \u201cin,\u201d sometimes introduces the instrument, where we in English say \u201cwith\u201d; but it would be hard to find any passage in which it is clearly equivalent to \u03c3\u03cd\u03bd, \u201cwith,\u201d i.e. in company with, in connection with.\u2014J.A.B.]\n246:673\n[It is evident from the connection that Chrys. connects \u201cthe Lord is at hand\u201d with what follows, and not (as Meyer wrongly states) with what precedes. Yet recent commentators generally connect it with what precedes, and are pretty certainly right.\u2014J.A.B.]\n247:674\n[These are hasty jottings by Chrys. or a reporter, and might easily be altered in copying. He can hardly have meant to define \u201cjust\u201d by \u201cof good report,\u201d yet so the Greek stands; or else (as in some documents) he defines \u201cof good report\u201d by \u201cif there be any virtue,\u201d etc. The abridgment in the Catena may have caught the real meaning. It omits \u201cwhatsoever thing are just,\u201d and puts together the three remaining clauses as the occasion of the remark which follows. Or perhaps \u201ci.e. saith he\u201d is a corrupt addition, and all four clauses should be simply taken together; for the remark applies to them all.\u2014J.A.B.]\n247:675\n[All of Field\u2019s mss. here insert \u201cFor nothing is such an enemy of our nature as vice,\u201d which, however, seems here out of place, and fits well below, where it is placed by the altered text.\u2014J.A.B.]\n249:676\ni.e. St. Paul, Rom. xii. 20, on which passage see St. Chrys., who there fully states this view, perhaps the only one that fully explains the difficulty.","title":"Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Vol. XIII: The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians.: Philippians 4:4-7","type":"page"}