XLVII.

37.

632 The Word is Christ, the Soul Christ, the Flesh Christ,

HOMIL. die for Christ? I am prepared, saith he. I will say it in other words: Art thou prepared to lay down thy soul for Christ? To these words also he makes me this answer, I am prepared; just as he answered me when I said, Art thou prepared to die? Consequently, to lay down the soul is the same as, to die. But for whom is the encounter there? For all men when they die, lay down their life, or soul; but not all lay it down for Christ. And no man hath power to take what he has laid down; but Christ, both for us laid it down; and when He would, laid it down; and when He would, took it up. Well then, to lay down the soul, is, to John 13, die. Thus also the Apostle Peter said to the Lord, I will lay down my life, or, soul, for Thee: i. e. I will die for Thee. Attribute this to the flesh: the flesh layeth down its soul, and the flesh taketh it again, only, not by its own power as flesh, but by the power of Him that inhabiteth that flesh the flesh then layeth down the soul by expiring John 19, it. See the Lord Himself on the Cross. I thirst, said He: those who stood by, dipped a sponge in vinegar, fastened it upon a reed, and put it to His mouth: which when He had received, He said, It is finished. What meaneth, It is finished? Fulfilled are all things which were prophesied of Me to be before My death. And, because He had power to lay down His soul when He would, after He had said, It is finished, then, what saith the Evangelist? And he bowed His head, and gave up the ghost. This it is to lay down the soul. Now mark here, beloved. Bowed the head, and gave up the ghost. Who gave up? gave up what? Gave up the ghost-the flesh gave it up. How, The flesh gave it up? The flesh sent it forth, the flesh expired or breathed it out. For that is the meaning of the word 'expire'-exspirare, i. e. extra spiritum fieri, to be out of the spirit (or breath of life). Just as the word 'exulare' (to be an exile) is 'extra solum fieri' (to be out of the soil of one's country); 'exorbitare,' 'extra orbitam fieri' (to be out of the round or orbit): so

28-30.

b Sed pro quo ibi est certamen? The meaning seems to be, that, though ponere animam is "to die," and therefore all men ponunt animam when they die, yet not every death is denoted by this phrase, but only that which is pro aliquo, i. e. pro Christo, pro fratribus.

Such a death answers to Christ's ponere animam pro ovibus: but still with this difference, that no man has power sumere animam when he has laid it down; but Christ had this power, and both laid down His life and took it again when He would.

633

X. 17.

yet One Christ, as body and soul is one man. 'exspirare' is 'extra spiritum fieri,' which spirit (or, ghost) JoHN is the soul. When therefore the soul goes out from the flesh, and the flesh remains without the soul, then the man is said to lay down the soul, or, life. When did Christ lay down His soul? When the Word willed so to do. For the rule' was in the Word; therein was the power when the flesh' princishould lay down the soul, and when take it.

12. If then it was the flesh that laid down the soul, how is it that Christ laid down His soul, for the flesh is not Christ? Yes assuredly: both the flesh is Christ, and the soul is Christ, and the Word is Christ: and yet are these three not three Christs, but one Christ. Interrogate man, and make of thyself a step to the things that are above thee, although not yet to be understood at least to be believed. For as soul and body is one man, so Word and man is one Christ. See what I have said, and understand. Soul and body are two things, but one man: Word and man are two things, but one Christ. Ask then concerning man. Where is Paul the Apostle at this present time? If one answer, 'In rest with Christ,' he says true. Again, if one answer, 'At Rome in the sepulchre, he also says true. The former answer tells me of his soul, the latter of his flesh. But for all that, we do not affirm two Apostle Pauls, one, who rests in Christ, another, who is in the sepulchre: albeit we affirm that the Apostle Paul liveth in Christ, and affirm the same Apostle Paul to be lying dead in the sepulchre. A person dies; we say, 'A good man, a true believer; he is in peace with the Lord' and straightway, 'Let us go to his funeral, and bury him.' The man thou art going to bury is the same whom thou didst affirm to be in peace with God: seeing the soul which is quick with immortality is one thing, the body which lieth lifeless in corruptibility another. But since the partnership of flesh and soul hath received the name of man, thence also singly and severally either of the two hath gotten the name of man.

13. Let none therefore stumble when he hears the Lord to have said; I lay down My soul, and take it again. It is the flesh that lays it down, but by power of the Word: it is the flesh that takes it, but by power of the Word. Nay, even the flesh by itself is called the Lord Christ. How, say you, dost

patus

XLVII.

6-8.

634 The Flesh laid down the Soul by power of the Word.

HOMIL. thou prove that? I dare to affirm it: even the flesh by itself is called Christ. We believe, you know, not in God the Father only, but in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord: here now I have said the whole, ' In Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord.' Understand there the whole, both Word and soul and flesh. But of course thou confessest also as the same Creed hath it, namely, that the Christ thou believest in was crucified and buried. Consequently, that Christ was even buried thou dost not deny and yet only the flesh was buried. For if the soul was there, He was not dead: but if it was a true death, that His may be a true resurrection, He was without the soul in the sepulchre; and yet was Christ buried. Consequently, even the flesh without the soul was Christ, for only the flesh was buried. Learn this also in the Phil. 2, Apostolic words. Let this mind, saith he, be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God. Who, but Christ Jesus, in regard that He is the Word, God with God? But see what follows: But made Himself of no reputation, taking upon Him the form of a servant; made in the likeness of men, and found in fashion as a man. And who did this, but the selfsame Christ Jesus? But here now are all these-both the Word, in the form of God which took the form of a servant; and soul and flesh in the form of a servant which was taken by the form of God. He humbled Himself, being made obedient unto death. Well now, in death, it was the flesh alone that was killed Mat. 10, by the Jews. For, if He said to the disciples, Fear not them which kill the body, but cannot kill the soul; had they power in Him to kill more than the body? And yet when the flesh was killed, Christ was killed. So, when the flesh laid down the soul, Christ laid down His soul; and when the flesh, that it might rise again, took the soul, Christ took His soul. Yet not by power of the flesh was this done, but by power of Him Who took unto Him both soul and flesh wherein these things should be fulfilled.

28.

v. 18.

14. This commandment, saith He, have I received of My c.Maxi- Father. He, the Word, not by a word received command19ment, but in the Only-Begotten Word of the Father is all

min. ii.

commandment. But when the Son is said to receive from

The Son "receives" by Eternal Generation.

635

X.

20, 21.

26.

the Father that which He substantially hath, as it is said, JOHN As the Father hath life in Himself, so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself, in this is no lessening of power, John 5, but a betokening of His Generation. For it is not that the Father hath, as unto the Son begotten imperfect, added somewhat, but, to the Son, begotten perfect, hath in begetting given all things. So He gave Equality with Himself to Him Whom He begat not unequal. But when the Lord spake these things, There was a division again among the Jews for v.19-21. these sayings. And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye Him? This was most thick darkness! Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind? Now had these men's eyes begun to be opened!

HOMILY XLVIII.

JOHN X. 22—42.

And it was at Jerusalem the Encænia [or feast of the dedication], and it was winter. And Jesus was walking in the temple in Solomon's porch. Then came the Jews round about Him, and said unto Him, How long dost Thou make us to doubt? If Thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them, I tell you, and ye believe not: the works that I do in My Father's name, they bear witness of Me. But ye believe not, because ye are not of My sheep. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. What My Father gave Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck out of My Father's hand. I and My Father are One. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from My Father; for which of those works do ye stone Me? The Jews answered Him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? If He called them gods, unto whom the word of God came2, and the Scripture cannot be broken: say ye of Him, Whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? If I do not the works of My Father, believe Me not. But if I do, though ye believe not Me, believe the works: that ye

2 Sermo Dei fac

tus est.