Commendation of those who came to hear after taking
a meal.—Observations on the physiology of the natural world; and
against those who deify the creation; and on the duty of not
swearing.
1. I and rejoice
with you all, that ye have actually put in practice that admonition
of ours, which we lately made with respect to those who were
absent, for the reason that they were not fasting. For I think that
many of those who have dined are to-day present; and go to fill
up this goodly assemblage; and that this is the fact, I conjecture
from the more brilliant spectacle that I see around me, and the
greater concourse of hearers. Not in vain, it seems, did I lately spend so
many words on their account, appealing to your Charity, to draw
them to their Mother; and to persuade them that it is
lawful, even after bodily nourishment, to partake also of that
which is spiritual. And in which case, beloved, I ask, did ye act
for the better; at the time of the last assembly when after your
meal ye turned to your slumbers; or now, when after the meal ye
have presented yourselves at the hearing of the divine laws? Was it
best when ye loitered about in the forum, and took part in meetings
which were no wise profitable; or now, when ye stand with your own
brethren, and hear the prophetic oracles? It is no disgrace, beloved, to have eaten, but after eating to remain at home, and so to be deprived of this sacred banquet. For whilst thou remainest at home, thou wilt be more slothful and supine; but coming here thou wilt shake off all slumber and listlessness; and laying aside not only listlessness, but also all sadness, thou wilt be more at ease, and in better heart in all the events that may happen.
2. What need then is there to say more? Stand only
nigh the man who fasts, and thou wilt straightway partake of his
good odour; for fasting is a spiritual perfume; and through the
eyes, the tongue, and every part, it manifests the good disposition
of the soul. I have said this, not for the purpose of condemning
those who have dined, but that I may shew the advantage of fasting. I do not, however, call mere abstinence from meats, fasting; but even before this, abstinence from sin; since he who, after he has taken a meal, has come hither with suitable sobriety, is not very far behind the man who fasts; even as he who continues fasting, if he does not give earnest and diligent heed to what is spoken, will derive no great benefit from his fast. He who eats, and yet takes a part in the sacred assembly with suitable earnestness, is in much better case than he who eats not at all, and remains absent. This abstinence will by no means be able to benefit us as much as the participation in spiritual instruction conveyeth to us benefit and advantage. Where indeed, besides, wilt thou hear the things upon which thou meditatest here? Wert thou to go to the bench of justice? quarrels and contentions are there! or into the council-chamber? there is anxious thought about political matters! or to thine home? solicitude on the subject of thy private affairs afflicts thee in every direction! or wert thou to go to the conferences and debates of the forum? every thing there is earthly and corruptible! For all the words that pass among those assembled there, are concerning merchandize, or taxes, or the sumptuous table, or the sale of lands, or other contracts, or wills, or inheritances, or some other things of that kind. And shouldest thou enter even into the royal halls, there again thou wouldest hear in the same way all discoursing of wealth, or power, or of the glory which is held in honour here, but of nothing that is spiritual. But here on the contrary everything relates to heaven, and heavenly things; to our soul, to our life, the purpose for which we were born, and why we spend an allotted time upon earth, and on what terms we migrate from hence, and into what condition we shall enter after these things, and why our body is of clay, what also is the nature of death, what, in short, the present life is, and what the future. The discourses that are here made by us contain nothing at all of an earthly kind, but are all in reference to spiritual things. Thus, then, it is that we shall have made great provision for our salvation, and shall depart hence with a good hope.