he that crieth out to Christ that his inward blindness may be driven away by Christ as He is " passing by," that is, as He is dispensing to us those temporal sacraments, whereby we are instructed to receive the things which are eternal? Who is he that crieth out unto Christ? Whoso despiseth the world, crieth out unto Christ. Whoso saith, not with his tongue, but with his life, "The world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world," crieth out unto Christ. Whoso "disperseth abroad and giveth to the poor, that his righteousness may endure for ever," crieth out unto Christ. For let him that hears, and is not deaf to the sound, "Sell that ye have, and give to the poor; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not," let him as he hears the sound as it were of Christ's footsteps "passing by," cry out in response to this in his blindness, that is, let him do these things. Let his voice be in his actions. Let him begin to despise the world, to distribute to the poor his goods, to esteem as nothing worth what other men love; let him disregard injuries, not seek to be avenged; let him give his cheek to the smiters, let him pray for his enemies; if any one have taken away his goods, let him not ask for them again; if he have taken anything from any man, let him restore fourfold.

When he shall begin to do all this, all his kinsmen, relations, and friends, will be in commotion. They who love this world will oppose him. "What madness this! you are too extreme! What! are not other men Christians? This is folly, this is madness!"

And other such like things do the multitude cry out to prevent the blind from crying out. The multitude rebuked them as they cried out, but did not overcome their cries. Let them who wish to be healed understand what they have to do. Jesus is also now passing by;" let them who are by the way side cry out. These are they "who know God with their lips, but their heart is far from Him;" these are they by the way side, to whom as blinded in heart, Jesus gives His precepts. For when those passing things which Jesus did are recounted, Jesus is always represented to us as " passing by." For even unto the end of the world there will not be wanting "blind men sitting by the way side." Need then there is that they who sit by the way side should cry out. The multitude that was with the Lord would repress the crying out of those who were seeking for recovery. Brethren, do ye see my meaning? Evil and lukewarm Christians hinder good Christians who are truly earnest, and wish to do the commandments of God which are written in the Gospel. This multitude which is with the Lord hinders those who are crying out, hinders those, that is, who are doing well, that they may not by perseverance be healed. But let them cry out, and not faint; let them not be led away as if by the authority of numbers; let them not imitate those who live evil lives themselves, and are jealous of the good deeds of others. Let them not say, "Let us live as these so many live." Why not rather as the Gospel ordains? Why dost thou wish to live accord

ing to the remonstrances of the multitude who would hinder thee, and not after the steps of the Lord, "Who passeth by ?" They will mock, and abuse, and call thee back; do thou cry out till thou reach the Ears of Jesus. For they who persevere in doing such things as Christ hath enjoined, and regard not the multitudes that hinder them, nor think much of their appearing to follow Christ, that is, of their being called Christians; but who love the light which Christ is about to restore to them, more than they fear the uproar of those who are hindering them; they shall on no account be separated from Him, and Jesus will "stand still," and make them whole.

See what crowds there are which "rebuke the blind as they cry out !" But let them not deter you, whosoever among this crowd desire to be healed; for there are many Christians in name, and in works ungodly; let them not deter you from good works. Cry out amid the crowds that are restraining you, and calling you back, and insulting you, whose lives are evil. Cry out amidst the very crowds, despair not of reaching the ears of the Lord. For the blind

men in the Gospel did not cry out in that quarter where no crowd was, so that they might be heard in that direction, where there was no impediment from persons hindering them. Amidst the very crowds they cried out, and yet the Lord heard them. And so also do ye now amidst sinners and sensual men, amidst the lovers of the vanities of the world, there cry out that the Lord may heal you. Consider, brethren, how in the crowd which was hindering

them from crying out, even there were they who cried out made whole. For observe this too, holy brethren, what it is to persevere in crying out. I will speak of what many as well as myself have experienced in Christ's Name, for the Church does not cease to give birth to such as these. When any Christian has begun to live well, to be fervent in good works, and to despise the world; in this newness of his life he is exposed to the animadversions and contradictions of cold Christians. But if he persevere, and get the better of them by his endurance, and faint not in good works, those very same persons who before hindered him will now respect him.

Homil. on the New Testament, xxxviii.

Third Friday in Lent.

REPENTANCE BEFORE COMMUNION. S. PACIAN.

BRETHREN, I call on you, who having committed crimes, refuse penance: you I say, timid after being shameless, modest after sinning: who blush not to sin, yet blush to confess; who with evil conscience touch the holy things of God, and fear not the altar

of the Lord; who come to the hands of the priest, who come in the sight of angels with the confidence of innocence; who insult the Divine patience; who bring to God (as if, because silent, He knew not) a polluted soul and a profane body. Hear first what the Lord hath done, and then what He hath said. When the people of the Hebrews were bringing back the ark of the Lord to Jerusalem, Uzzah from the house of Amminadab the Israelite, who had touched the side of the ark without having examined his conscience, was slain; and yet he had drawn near, not to take anything from it, but to hold it when leaning through the stumbling of the kine. So great a care was there of reverence towards God, that He endured not bold hands even in help. The same also the Lord crieth, saying, “And as for the flesh, all that be clean shall eat thereof. But the soul that eateth of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace-offerings, having uncleanness upon him, that soul shall be cut off from his people." (Lev. vii. 19.) Are these things old, and happen they not now? What then? Hath God ceased to care for what concerns us? Had He withdrawn out of view of the world, and doth He look down upon no one from heaven? Is His long-suffering ignorance? God forbid, thou wilt say, He seeth then what we do, but He waiteth indeed and endureth, and granteth a season for repentance, and alloweth His Christ to put off the end, lest they quickly perish whom He hath redeemed. Understand well, thou sinner, thou art beheld by God. Thou canst appease Him if thou wilt. But grant that it is a