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present Volume completes the commentaries of St. Chrysostom on the
shorter Epistles of St. Paul. It consists entirely of Homilies
delivered at Constantinople, and one may perhaps remark some
indications of a more matured and severe character than in earlier
works. He refers several times to his responsibility as presiding in
the Church, and sometimes threatens discipline as in that capacity, and
from this it is that the date of the Homilies is chiefly to be
gathered. The end of Hom. ix. on the Philippians, is sufficient for
those Homilies. The close of Hom. iii. on Colossians, is still more
express for them. Hom. viii. on 1 Thessalonians, and Hom. iv. on 2
Thessalonians, are to the like purpose.
Hom. viii. on 1 Thessalonians, seems also to be that which is referred to in Hom. iii. on Ep. to Philemon, as it contains a promise to discuss at some future time the subject there taken up.
Philip. ii. 6, and Col. i. 15, &c. give rise to doctrinal discussions. The readiness in argument, which they suppose in hearers, is greater than one would expect. Hom. v. on Colossians goes farther into the system of typical interpretation than is usual with St. Chrysostom; though the system is in fact acknowledged by him frequently, as in the passage on marriage, which closes the Homilies on the Colossians, and which, though scarcely admissible in modern taste, is one of great value, and of a saintly purity. The close of Hom. iv. on Colossians is most instructive with regard to the use of the Historical Books of the Old Testament, and Hom. ix. points out one great use of the Psalms, for moral impression, and at the same time draws the necessary distinction between that and the higher aim of Hymns. In these Homilies he is particularly severe on luxury and display, by his attacks on which he is known to have incurred the displeasure of the Empress Eudoxia, and much persecution from her.
A passage on the Holy Sacraments
at the end of Hom. vi. on Colossians, one on Prayers for the departed
in Hom. iii. on Philippians, and one in which he urges persons at
enmity to immediate reconciliation, Hom. vi. on 1 Thessalonians, as
well as that in Hom. iii. in Colossians, on unworthiness of Ministers, and several hints that occur about the order of Divine service, are well worthy of remark.
Savile’s text, with some
comparison of others, was used for the Homilies on the Philippians, and
that of the new Paris Edition, with Savile always at hand, for the
rest. Collations of one in British Museum
(Burney 48 here marked B [called C by Field]) were also in hand, but
those of at Venice and Florence came too
late for part of the work. The want of them is not however very
material. The Bodleian referred to, as
well as the Catena published by Dr. Cramer, contain only extracts. It
is hoped that the Homilies on 2 Cor. will have the benefit of a
well-adjusted text before the Translation is published, as they are
preparing for publication by Mr. Field, whom the Editor has to thank
for information on some particulars, as well as for the benefit of having
his accurate edition of the Homilies on St. Matthew to refer
to.
For the Translation of the
Homilies on the Philippians, the Editors are indebted to the Rev. W. C. , M.A. of Ch. Ch. Chaplain to the Bishop of New Zealand; for that of the Homilies on the Colossians, to the Rev. J. , M.A. Fellow of Brasenose College; and for the rest of the volume, to the Rev. , M.A. of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, the Translator of the Homilies on the Pastoral Epistles of St. Paul. The Index to the two former is by the Rev. F. , M.A. of Exeter College, and to the latter by the Editor, which is noticed in order that the reader may find the less difficulty from any difference in the heads under which similar matter may be placed, as the two were made simultaneously to save time.
A few points on which the Editor
was not informed until the sheets were printed are noticed in the
Addenda and Corrigenda. [In the Amer. ed. these are inserted in their
proper places. For the text followed in Amer. ed., see Preface at the
beginning of the volume.]
C.M.