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TOPIC: Post-Nicene Fathers Vol 07 (Other Topics in this Collection)
SUBJECT: 27.01.21 Lecture XVI Part 2
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18. Esaias lived nearly a thousand years ago; and he beheld Zion as a booth. The city was still standing, and beautified with public places, and robed in majesty; yet he says, Zion shall be ploughed a fieldhyperlink , foretelling what is now fulfilled in our dayshyperlink . And observe the exactness of the prophecy; for he said, And the daughter of Zion shall be left as a booth in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbershyperlink . And now the place is filled with gardens of cucumbers. Seest thou how the Holy Spirit enlightens the saints? Be not therefore carried away to other things, by the force of a common term, but keep fast the exact meaning.
19. And if ever, while thou hast been sitting here, a thought concerning chastity or virginity has come into thy mind, it has been His teaching. Has not often a maiden, already at the bridal thresholdhyperlink , fled away. He teaching her the doctrine of virginity? Has not often a man distinguished at courthyperlink , scorned wealth and rank, under the teaching of the Holy Ghost? Has not often a young man, at the sight of beauty, closed his eyes, and fled from the sight, and escaped the defilement? Askest thou whence this has come to pass? The Holy Ghost taught the soul of the young man. Many ways of covetousness are there in the world; yet Christians refuse possessions: wherefore? because of the teaching of the Holy Ghost. Worthy of honour is in truth that Spirit, holy and good; and fittingly are we baptized into Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. A man, still clothed with a body, wrestles with many fiercest demons; and often the demon, whom many men could not master with iron bands, has been mastered by the man himself with words of prayer, through the power which is in him of the Holy Ghost; and the mere breathing of the Exorcisthyperlink becomes as fire to that unseen foe. A mighty ally and protector, therefore, have we from God; a great Teacher of the Church, a mighty Champion on our behalf. Let us not be afraid of the demons, nor of the devil; for mightier is He who fighteth for us. Only let us open to Him our doors; for He goeth about seeking such as are worthyhyperlink and searching on whom He may confer His gifts.
20. And He is called the Comforter, because He comforts and encourages us, and helpeth our infirmities; far we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us, with groanings which cannot be utteredhyperlink , that is, makes intercession to God. Oftentimes a man for Christ's sake has been outraged and dishonoured unjustly; martyrdom is at hand; tortures on every side, and fire, and sword, and savage beasts, and the pit. But the Holy Ghost softly whispers to him, "Wait thou on the Lordhyperlink , O man; what is now befalling thee is a small matter, the reward will be great. Suffer a little while, and thou shale be with Angels for ever. The sufferings of this present time art not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in ushyperlink ." He portrays to the man the kingdom of heaven; He gives him a glimpse of the paradise of delight; and the martyrs, whose bodily countenances are of necessity turned to their judges, but who in spirit are already in Paradise, despise those hardships which are seen.
21. And wouldest thou be sure that by the power of the Holy Ghost the Martyrs bear their witness? The Saviour says to His disciples, And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and the magistrates, and authorities, be not anxious how ye shall answer, or what ye shall say; for the Holy Ghost shall teach you in that very hour, what ye ought to sayhyperlink . For it is impossible to testify as a martyr for Christ's sake, except a man testify by the Holy Ghost; for if na man can say that Jesus Christ is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghosthyperlink , how shall any man give his own life for Jesus' sake, but by the Holy Ghost?
22. Great indeed, and all-powerful in gifts, and wonderful, is the Holy Ghost. Consider, how many of you are now sitting here, how many souls of us are present. He is working suitably for each, and being present in the midst, beholds the temper of each, beholds also his reasoning and his conscience, and what we say, and think, and believehyperlink . Great indeed is what I have now said, and yet is it small. For consider, I pray, with mind enlightened by Him, how many Christians there are in all this diocese, and how many in the whole provincehyperlink of Palestine, and carry forward thy mind from this province, to the whole Roman Empire; and after this, consider the whole world; races of Persians, and nations of Indians, Garbs and Sarmatians, Gauls and Spaniards, and Moors, Libyans and Ethiopians, and the rest for whom we have no names; for of many of the nations not even the names have reached us. Consider, I pray, of each nation, Bishops, Presbyters, Deacons, Solitaries, Virgins, and laity besides; and then behold their great Protector, and the Dispenser of their gifts;-how throughout the world He gives to one chastity, to another perpetual virginity, to another almsgiving, to another voluntary poverty, to another power of repelling hostile spirits. And as the light, with one touch of its radiance sheds brightness on all things, so also the Holy Ghost enlightens those who have eyes; for if any from blindness is not vouch-safed His grace, let him not blame the Spirit, but his own unbelief.
23. Thou hast seen His power, which is in all the world; tarry now no longer upon earth, but ascend on high. Ascend, I say, in imagination even unto the first heaven, and behold there so many countless myriads of Angels. Mount up in thy thoughts, if thou canst, yet higher; consider, I pray thee, the Archangels, consider also the Spirits; consider the Virtues, consider the Principalities, consider the Powers, consider the Thrones, consider the Dominionshyperlink ;-of all these the Comforter is the Ruler from God, and the Teacher, and the Sanctifier. Of Him Elias has need, and Elisseus, and Esaias, among men; of Him Michael and Gabriel have need among Angels. Naught of things created is equal in honour to Him: for the families of the Angels, and all their hosts assembled together, have no equality with the Holy Ghost. All these the all-excellent power of the Comforter overshadows. And they indeed are sent forth to ministershyperlink , but He searches even the deep things of God, according as the Apostle says, For the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the thing of a man, save the spirit of the man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of Godhyperlink .
24. He preached concerning Christ in the Prophets; He wrought in the Apostles; He to this day seals the souls in Baptism. And the Father indeed gives to the Son; and the Son shares with the Holy Ghost. For it is Jesus Himself, not I, who says, All things are delivered unto Me of My Fatherhyperlink ; and of the Holy Ghost He says, When He, the Spirit of Truth, shall come, and the rest .... He shall glorify Me; for He shall receive of Mine, and shall shew it unto youhyperlink . The Father through the Son, with the Holy Ghost, is the giver of all grace; the gifts of the Father are none other than those of the Son, and those of the Holy Ghost; for there is one Salvation, one Power, one Faith; One God, the Father; One Lord, His only-begotten Son; One Holy Ghost, the Comforter. And it is enough for us to know these things; but inquire not curiously into His nature or substancehyperlink : for had it been written, we would have spoken of it; what is not written, let us not venture on; it is sufficient for our salvation to know, that there is Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost.
25. This Spirit descended upon the seventy Elders in the days of Moses. (Now let not the length of the discourse, beloved, produce weariness in you: but may He the very subject of our discourse grant strength to every one, both to us who speak, and to you who listen!) This Spirit, as I was saying, came down upon the seventy Elders in the time of Moses; and this I say to thee, that I may now prove, that He knoweth all things, and worketh as He willhyperlink .
The seventy Elders were chosen; And the Lord came down in a cloud, and took of the Spirit that was upon Moses, and put it upon the seventy Eldershyperlink ; not that the Spirit was divided, but that His grace was distributed in proportion to the vessels, and the capacity of the recipients. Now there were present sixty and eight, and they prophesied; but Eldad and Modad were not present: therefore that it might be shewn that it was not Moses who bestowed the gift, but the Spirit who wrought, Eldad and Modad, who though called, bad not as yet presented themselves, did also prophesyhyperlink .
26. Jesus the Son of Nun, the successor of Moses, was amazed; and came to him and said, "Hast thou heard that Eldad and Modad are prophesying? They were called, and they came not; my lard Moses, forbid themhyperlink ." "I cannot forbid them," he says, "for this grace is from Heaven; nay, so far am I from forbidding them, that I myself am thankful for it. I think not, however, that thou hast said this in envy; art thou jealous for my sake, because that they prophesy, and thou prophesiest not yet? Wait for the proper season; and oh that all the Lord's people may be prophets, whenever the Lord shall give His Spirit upon themhyperlink ! "saying this also prophetically, whenever the Lord shall give; "For as yet then He has not given it; so thou hast it not yet."-Had not then Abraham this, and Isaac, and Jacob, and Joseph? And they of old, had they it not? Nay, but the words, "whenever the Lord shall give" evidently mean "give it upon all; as yet indeed the grace is partial, then it shall be given lavishly." And he secretly alluded to what was to happen among us on the day of Pentecost; for He Himself came down among us. He had however also come down upon many before. For it is written, And Jesus the son of Nun was filled with a spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon himhyperlink . Thou seest the figure everywhere the same in the Old and New Testament;-in the days of Moses, the Spirit was given by laying on of hands; and by laying on of hands Peterhyperlink also gives the Spirit. And on thee also, who art about to be baptized, shall His grace come; yet in what manner I say not, for I will not anticipate the proper season.
27. He also came down upon all righteous men and Prophets; Enos, I mean, and Enoch, and Noah, and the rest; upon Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; for as regards Joseph, even Pharaoh perceived that he had tire Spirit of God within himhyperlink . As to Moses, and the wonderful works wrought by the Spirit in his days, thou hast heard often: This Spirit Job also had, that most enduring man, and all the saints, though we repeat not all their names. He also was sent forth when the Tabernacle was in making, and filled with wisdom the wise-hearted men who were with Bezaleelhyperlink .
28. In the might of this Spirit, as we have it in the Book of Judges, Othniel judgedhyperlink ; Gideonhyperlink waxed strong; Jephtha conqueredhyperlink ; Deborah, a woman, waged war; and Samson, so long as he did righteously, and grieved Him not, wrought deeds above man's power. And as for Samuel and David, we have it plainly in the Books of the Kingdoms, how by the Holy Ghost they prophesied themselves, and were rulers of the prophets;-and Samuel was called the Seerhyperlink ; and David says distinctly, The Spirit of the Lord spake by mehyperlink , and in the Psalms, And take not thy Holy Spirit from mehyperlink , and again, Thy good Spirit shall lead me in the land of righteousnesshyperlink . And as we have it in Chronicles, Azariahhyperlink , in the time of King Asa, and Jahazielhyperlink in the time of King Jehoshaphat, partook of the Holy Ghost; and again, another Azariah, he who was stonedhyperlink . And Ezra says, Thou gavest also Thy good Spirit to instruct themhyperlink . But as touching Elias who was taken up, and Elisseus, those inspiredhyperlink and wonder-working men, it is manifest, without our saying so, that they were full of the Holy Ghost.
29. And if further a man peruse all the books of the Prophets, both of the Twelve, and of the others, he will find many testimonies concerning. the Holy Ghost; as when Micah says m the person of God, surely I will perfect power by the Spirit the Lordhyperlink ; and Joel cries, And it shall come to pass afterwards, saith God, that I will pour out My Spirit upon all fleshhyperlink , and the rest; and Haggai, Because I am with you, saith the Lord of Hostshyperlink ; and My Spirit remaineth in the midst of youhyperlink ; and in like manner Zechariah, But, receive My words and My statutes which command by My Spirit, to My servants the Prophetshyperlink ; and other passages.
30. Esaias too, with his majestic voice, says, And the Spirit of God shall rest upon Him, the spirit ode wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and godliness; and the Spirit of the fear of God shall fill Himhyperlink ; signifying that the Spirit is one and undivided, but His operations various. So again, Jacob My servant, ..... I have put My Spirit upon Himhyperlink . And again, I will pour My Spirit upon thy seedhyperlink ; and again, And now the Lord Almighty and His Stirs hath sent Mehyperlink ; and again, This is My covenant with them, saith the Lord, My Spirit which is upon theehyperlink ; and again, The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Mehyperlink , and the rest; and again in his charge against the Jews, But they rebelled and vexed His Holy Spirithyperlink , and Where is He that put His Holy Spirit within themhyperlink ? Also thou hast in Ezekiel (if thou be not now weary of listening), what has already been quoted, And the Spirit fell upon me, and said unto me, Speak; Thus saith the Lordhyperlink . But the words, fell upon me we must understand in a good sense, that is "lovingly;" and as Jacob, when he had found Joseph, fell upon his neck; as also in the Gospels, the loving father, on seeing his son who had returned from his wandering, had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck, and kissed himhyperlink . And again in Ezekiel, And he brought me in a vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldaea, to them of the captivityhyperlink . And other texts thou heardest before, in what was said about Baptism; Then will I sprinkle clean water upon youhyperlink , and the rest; a new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within youhyperlink ; and then immediately, And I will put My Spirit within youhyperlink . And again. The hand of the Lord was upon me, and carried me out in the Spirit of the Lordhyperlink .
31. He endued with wisdom the soul of Daniel, that young as he was he should become a judge of Elders. The chaste Susanna was condemned as a wanton; there was none to plead her cause; for who was to deliver her from the rulers? She was led away to death, she was now in the hands of the executioners. But her Helper was at hand, the Comforter, the Spirit who sanctifies every rational nature. Come hither to me, He says to Daniel; young though thou be, convict old men infected with the sins of youth; for it is written, God raised up the Holy Spirit upon a young striplinghyperlink ; and nevertheless, (to pass on quickly,) by the sentence of Daniel that chaste lady was saved. We bring this forward as a testimony; for this is not the season for expounding. Nebuchadnezzar also knew that the Holy Spirit was in Daniel; for he says to him, O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, of whom I know, that the Holy Spirit of God is in thee . One thing he said truly, and one falsely; for that he had the Holy Spirit was true, but he was not the master of the magicians, for he was no magician, but was wise through the Holy Ghost. And before this also, he interpreted to him the vision of the Image, which he who had seen it himself knew not; for he says, Tell me the vision, which I who saw it know not . Thou seest the power of the Holy Ghost; that which they who saw it, know not, they who saw it not, know and interpret.
Footnotes
62 Micah iii. 12; ascribed by Cyril to Isaiah.
63 Cf. Euseb. Dem. Evang. vi. 13: "In our own time we have seen with our eyes the Sion of old renown being ploughed by Romans with yokes of oxen, and Jerusalem in a state of utter desolation as the oracle itself says, like a lodge in a garden of cucumbers. AS Cyril at that time saw the Prophet's prediction fulfilled, so we also to the present day see most plainly the fulfilment of the divine oracle, and Sion ploughed before our eyes: for except the Church of the Apostles, with the houses lying around it, and the house of Caiaphas and the cemeteries, all the remaining space of this hill, lying without the city, is under plough." (Jerusalem Editor).
64 Isa i. 8. o'pwpofnla/kion is the hut of the watchman who guarded the crop when ripening for harvest. Sikuh/laton is explained by Basil in his comment on the passage of Isaiah as "A place that produces quick-growing and perishable fruits." This agrees with the etymological sense of the word as "a forcing-bed for cucumbers" (Hippocrates apud Fritzsche, "Der Brief des Jeremia," v. 70). On the form siknhra/tw, see the notes on the epistle of Jeremy in the Speaker's Commentary.
65 pasta/daj. On the meaning of pasta/ see the notes on Herodotus, II. 148, 169 in Bähr, and Rawlinson. Here it appears to mean the cloister or colonnade which gave access to the bridal chamber, qavlamo".
66 Wisdom vi. 16. Compare the saying in Clem. Alex. Quis dives salvetur? § 31: au1to\n zhtei=n tou\j eu' peisome/nouj a'ci/ouj te o!ntaj tou= Swth=roj maqhta/j. The Jerusalem Editor quotes from Origen (Prolog. in Cantic.) a passage which may have been known to Cyril: "This Comforter therefore goeth about seeking if He may discover any worthy and receptive souls to whom He may reveal the greatness of the love which is in God."
67 Rom. viii. 26.
68 Ps. xxviii. 14; xxxvii. 34.
69 Rom. viii. 18.
70 Luke xii. 11, 12.
71 1 Cor. xii. 3. Marturh=sai, "to bear witness by death."
72 Codd. Monac. Vind Roe. Casaub. add kai\ ti/ pisteu/omen.
73 The terms paroiki/a, the See of a bishop, and e'parxia, the Province of a Metropolitan, were both adopted from the corresponding divisions of the Roman Empire. See Bingham, Antt. Book IX. i..§§ 2-6
74 S. Basil (De Spiritu S. c. xvi. § 38), after quoting the same passage, Col. i. 16, proceeds - ei!te kuriothtej, kai\ ei! tine/j ei'sin e!terai logikai\ fu/seij a 9katono/mastoi. The last word shews that Basil had in mind this passage of Cyril, who after the names of nations in § 22, adds kai\ tou\j loi/pouj a'katonoma/stouj h 9mi=n.
75 Heb. i. 14.
76 1 Cor. ii. 10, 11.
77 Matt. xi. 27.
78 John xvi. 13, 14.
79 In regard to the caution with which St. Cyril here speaks, we must remember that the heresy of Macedonius had not yet given occasion to the formal discussion and determination of the "nature and substance" of the Holy Ghost.
80 1 Cor. xii. 11.
81 Num. xi. 24, 25. "Modad" is the form of the name in LXX..
82 The apocryphal book of Eldad and Modad is mentioned by Hermas, Shepherd, Vis. ii. § 3. S. Basil, Liber de Spir. S.. cap. 61, referring to Num. xi. 26, says that the Spirit rested permanently only upon Eldad and Modad.
83 Num. xi. 28.
84 Num. xi. 29.
85 Deut. xxxiv. 9.
86 Acts viii. 18. On this passage of Cyril, see the section on "Chrism" in the Introduction.
87 Gen. xli. 38.
88 Ex. xxxi. 1-6; xxxvi. 1.
89 Judges iii. 10.
90 Ib. vi. 34.
91 Ib. xi. 29.
92 1 Sam. ix. 9.
93 2 Sam. xxiii. 2.
94 Ps. li. 11.
95 Ps. cxliii. 10.
96 2 Chron. xv. 1.
97 Ib. xx. 14.
98 Ib. xxiv. 20, 21.
99 Neh. ix. 20. Ezra and Nehemiah form one book "Ezra" in the Hebrew Canon.
100 pneumatofo/rwn, used only twice in the Sept. (Hosea ix. 7; Zeph. iii. 4), and in an unfavourable sense. With Cyril's use of it compare Theophilus, Ad Autolyc. ii. 9: Qeou= a'nqrw/pouj pneumatofo/rouj Pneu/matoj a'gi/ou.
101 Mic. iii. 8.
102 Joel ii. 28.
103 Haggai ii. 4.
104 Ib. v. 5.
105 Zech. i. 6.
106 Is. xi. 2.
107 Ib. xliv. 1; xlii. 1.
108 Ib. xliv. 3.
109 Ib. xlviii. 15.
110 Is. lix. 21.
111 Is. lxi. 1.
112 Ib. lxiii. 10.
113 v. 11.
114 Ezek. xi. 5.
115 Gen. xlvi. 29; Luke xv. 20.
116 Ezek. xi. 24.
117 Ib. xxxvi. 25; Cat. iii. 16.
118 Ib. v. 26.
119 Ib. v. 27.
120 Ezek. xxxvii. 1.
121 Susanna, v. 45.
122 Dan. iv. 9.
123 Ib. ii. 26, 31.