seeking the task granted to them by the Creator. Has the day shone? A The wild beasts gather, and man hastes to his work, and we give way to one another in order. Light and darkness do not endure to wait for one another, but by the law of nature they stand in opposition to each other. — Synesius.
ORDER OF CONTENTS
WHICH ARE CONTAINED IN THIS VOLUME
ST. JOHN DAMASCENE. Admonition to the opusculum on the Holy Trinity. 9 OPUSCULUM ON THE HOLY TRINITY. 9 Admonition on the Trisagion Hymn. 18 EPISTLE ON THE TRISAGION HYMN. 22 Admonition to the opusculum on sacred fasts. 62 EPISTLE ON SACRED FASTS. 63 Admonition to the following opuscula. 78 ON THE EIGHT SPIRITS OF WICKEDNESS. 79 ON VIRTUES AND VICES. 81 Admonition to the Elementary Institution. 98 ELEMENTARY INSTITUTION ON DOGMAS. 99 Chapter I. — On substance, nature and form. 99 Cap. II. — On hypostasis, person and individual. 102 Cap. III. — On difference, quality and property. 102 Cap. IV. — On substantial and adventitious difference, that is, natural difference and accident. 102 Cap. V. — On separable and inseparable accident. 103 Cap. VI. — On those things which are of the same and of diverse substance. 103 Cap. VII. — On genus and species. 106 Cap. VIII. — On operation. 110 Cap. IX. — On passion. 110 Cap. X. — On the will. 110 Admonition to the following dissertation. 111 ON THE COMPOSITE NATURE AGAINST THE ACEPHALI. 111 Admonition to the dissertation on the two wills. 126 ON THE TWO WILLS IN CHRIST. 127 Admonition to the dissertation against the Nestorians. 186 DISSERTATION AGAINST THE HERESY OF THE NESTORIANS. 187 VARIOUS FRAGMENTS. 226 Admonition to the Paschal Canon. 238 PASCHAL CANON. 239 EPISTLE ON THIS: WHAT IS MAN? 243 Admonition to the following Oration. 246 ORATION ON THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP IN FAITH. 250 Admonition to the Epistle on confession. 279 EPISTLE ON CONFESSION. 283 Admonition to the following Oration. 306 ORATION ON THE SACRED IMAGES, AGAINST CONSTANTINE CABALLINUS. 510 Admonition to the Epistle to the Emperor Theophilus. 513 EPISTLE ON THE HOLY IMAGES TO THE EMPEROR THEOPHILUS. 316 Admonition to the opusculum on Unleavened Bread. 386 ON UNLEAVENED BREAD. 387 Admonition to the opusculum on the body and blood of Christ. 397 EPISTLE ON THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST. 402 FRAGMENTS. 411 EXPOSITION AND DECLARATION OF FAITH. 418 Admonition to the following opus. 442 EXPOSITION ON THE EPISTLES OF BLESSED PAUL. EXPOSITION on the Epistle to the Romans. 412 — to the Corinthians. 570 — to the Corinthians. 706 — to the Galatians. 775 — to the Ephesians. 822 — to the Philippians. 855 — to the Colossians. 883 — to the I Thessalonians. 906 — to the II Thessalonians. 918 — to the Hebrews. 930 — to I Timothy. 998 — to II Timothy. 1015 — to Titus. 1026 — to Philemon. 1030 SACRA PARALLELA. 1070 LETTER A. TITLE I. On the eternal divinity of the holy and consubstantial Trinity: and that God is one and alone in all things. 1070 II. That God cannot be avoided, and that He beholds all things, and nothing escapes Him. 1078 III. That God and His works cannot be comprehended, nor should His mysteries be investigated with too much curiosity: for they can neither be approached nor comprehended. 1079 IV. On the love and fear of God: and that they surpass every good. 1086 V. On opposition against God: and that it is by no means permitted to contradict God, nor to expostulate with Him. 1091 VI. On angels: that angels, too, having committed sin, are punished. 1095 VII. On angels: that God has appointed angels as guardians. 1098 VIII. On the formation and structure of man. 1098 IX. On free will: that it has been given to us by God; and that it lies within us, whether to attain salvation or to perish. 1110 X. On the unstable state of human affairs: to which thing man is similar; and that present things are vain, and weaker than shadows. 1114 XI. On beneficence; and that one ought to show kindness to all and bear the burdens of one’s neighbor, and not remember injuries, but receive him kindly, and admonish him, and not return evil for evil. 1133 XII. On the impious and sinners, and unjust and wicked men. 1137
THINGS CONTAINED IN THIS VOLUME
A XIII. On failing to be blameless; and that, apart from God, no one is immune from sin. 1171 XIV. On those who have renounced their vices and fall back into them again. 1171 XV. On the resurrection, and judgment, and eternal punishment. 1175 XVI. On imprecation by the Lord, and prophets, and apostles, when it is practiced. 1187 XVII. On those who are injured; and that it is necessary to bring them aid. 1191 XVIII. On charity and peace, and on peaceable and meek men. 1194 XIX. On truth and fixed testimony. 1203 XX. On subjects: that they imitate the ways of their princes, whether they be good or evil. 1206 XXI. On subjects: that they ought to obey their princes and be submissive, and show them honor, not oppose them. 1207 XXII. On anarchy, that is, on a people lacking a shepherd and a prince. 1210 XXIII. On sloth and sorrow. 1210 XXIV. On the insane, and the foolish, and the ignorant, and the simple-minded. 1214 XXV. On the simple, and those endowed with innocence of manners. 1218 XXVI. On poverty, and sufficiency, and the frugality of life. 1219 XXVII. On deception done with deliberate counsel. 1223 XXVIII. On him who announces or procures an answer; and that he who spurns messengers also shows contempt for him by whom they are sent. 1227 XXIX. On the ungrateful and those forgetful of favors. 1230 XXX. On impossible things. 1251 XXXI. On holy and blessed men. 1231 XXXII. On first fruits, and those who offer tithes, and that it is necessary to offer them to God. 1259 XXXIII. On joyful news. 1242 XXXIV. On bad news. 1242 XXXV. On a kiss: that modesty conciliates benevolence. 1245 XXXVI. On those things which happen; and on those who slip from bad to worse. 1243 XXXVII. On leisure and quiet. 1243 XXXVIII. On condemnation or judgment, and the severity of God: that sins should not be punished beyond God's wrath, nor should one use kindness further than He has commanded. 1247 XXXIX. On coercion. 1250 XL. On good shame. 1250 XLI. On bad shame. 1250 XLII. On iniquitous petitions: and that one ought not to bring them to a conclusion, even if it is a mother who makes them. 1251 XLIII. On insatiable greed; and that we always desire more without any satiety. 1251 XLIV. On brothers. 1254 XLV. On the petitioner or beggar. 1254 XLVI. On lewd speech; and that foul language should not be uttered. 1254 XLVII. On excommunication justly or unjustly pronounced; and that one ought to pray for good, not evil. 1255 XLVIII. On the remission of sins; and by what means we may obtain pardon. 1255 XLIX. On despair: and that we ought not to cast away the hope of our salvation. 1258 L. On anathema and excommunication. 1258 LI. On those things which cannot be mixed and have commerce with one another. 1258
B LITTERA B. TITLE I. On the kingdom of heaven. 1259 II. On the counsel of God: and that men can neither change nor comprehend it. 1263 III. On the aid of God: and that, with God favoring, the machinations of men are weak, and the few are superior to the many. 1266 IV. On baptism, and the prophecy of the holy laver. 1270 V. On abominations or idols, and those who are falsely called gods. 1279 VI. On this life and the world: and that both we and our life are in distraction and labor. 1279 VII. On the violent man, and on the fact that he is free from coercion. 1283 VIII. On the blasphemer, and the braggart. 1286 IX. On a good king, and one who hates evil. 1287 X. On a king who is not entirely worthy of admiration. 1291 XI. On a king, and that prayers to God should be made for him. 1291 XII. On counsel: and that nothing should be done without deliberation and counsel. 1291 XIII. On foods and things necessary for life. 1294
C LITTERA F. TITLE I. On learned and spiritual men: and how many good things shall follow them. 1295 II. On this preface, "Know thyself"; or, "Look to thyself"; and that it behooves everyone to overlook what is his own, and not curiously search out the evils of others. 1298 III. On murmurings. 1306 IV. On elders and ancient men; and that it is necessary to show them honor. 1306 V. On agriculture and farmers; and that it is good to work. 1307 VI. On the gymnasium, meditation and exercise. 1310 VII. On those who repent. 1311 VIII. On women; that it is necessary for them to be subject to their husbands, and to do nothing without their authority. 1311 IX. On women in childbirth: and that if a male is born, the woman may not enter the house of the Lord before forty days; but if female, she shall wait eighty days. 1314 X. On women: that they ought not to pray with an uncovered face, nor speak or teach in the Church of God. 1314 XI. On a strong and chaste woman. 1314 XII. On wicked women, and adulteresses, and prostitutes, and those abounding in every kind of vice. 1318 XIII. On gluttony and greed; and that these hasten death. 1331 XIV. On those who guard their tongue. 1339 XV. On those who do not guard their tongue. 1342
D LITTERA A. TITLE I. On the power of God. 1347 II. On the creation of things: and that nothing has been done by God in vain, and all things are very good. 1350 III. On the glorification of God: and that it is necessary to glorify Him and preach the holy one, and that He also in turn glorifies those by whom He is glorified. 1354 IV. On expostulation; and who have justly expostulated with God. 1358 V. On those who serve God; and that it is necessary to honor them, and to provide them those things which are needful. 1359 VI. On the discretion of good and evil: and that each one should be proven by deeds, and not by words. 1362 VII. On the righteous and their prayers: and that they exempt them from temptations. 1362 VIII. On the righteous: that they shall be held in contempt and torn by slanders. 1363 IX. On those who lend and borrow money; and on evil men. 1363 X. On masters and heads of families; and that they should not be grave and harsh, but gentle to those who are weak. 1374 XI. On teachers. 1374 XII. On calumny: and that it is not right to accept it rashly against anyone. 1375 XIII. On narration made by prudent men: and that it is necessary for us to be studious and diligent in hearing them, but to flee from the narrations and conversation of treacherous men. 1378 XIV. On justice and virtue. 1378 XV. On the difference of men, and their dissimilar status. 1382 XVI. On righteous, good, and upright men. 1383 XVII. On the double-tongued man. 1386 XVIII. On incorrupt judges, who have clean hands, and who judge righteously. 1386 XIX. On corrupt judges, who take bribes and judge iniquitously. 1395 XX. On good servants. 1399 XXI. On bad servants. 1402 XXII. On the morose. 1402 XXIII. On the double-minded, the mutable, and the fickle in heart, and the treacherous. 1403 XXIV. On glory and honor: and that it is not right to give one's own glory to another. 1403 XXV. On the devil or Satan, and the demons. 1406 XXVI. On incredulity: and that he who for a probable cause does not immediately believe God, obtains pardon. 1410 XXVII. On dinner and the banquet. 1411 XXVIII. On the righteous: and that the Lord keeps them. 1411
ORDER OF THE MATTERS CONTAINED IN THIS VOLUME
XXIX. On the righteous, and that their death is precious in the sight of God. 1592 XXX. On the distinction between God and men: and concerning sins which are committed against God, and those against men; and that there is a long distance between God and men. 1413
LETTER E
TITLE I. On the commandments of God, and those who keep them. 1413 II. On the commandments of God, and those who do not keep them. 1422 III. On happiness, and exceeding congratulation; and that no one before death should be called blessed or happy. 1426 IV. On dreams. 1426 V. On hope, and that hope should be placed in God; and not in human protections. 1426 VI. On the church, and the house of God, and the altar, and the priestly sacrifice: and that one ought not to sleep in the church. 1431 VII. On prayer, and how great things are accomplished by its works. 1433 VIII. On almsgiving and beneficence toward the poor. 1455 IX. On those who perform no almsgiving, but suffer from avarice and parsimony, and burn with the desire for riches and money. 1475 X. On works and actions: and that such as a person performs, such he shall also sustain, and that a reward corresponds to our works before God. 1502 XI. On happiness and unhappiness: and that a man should not be puffed up on account of prosperous success. 1523 XII. On abundance and fertility, and that in that time sins are accustomed to be committed. 1530 XIII. On snares, and those who lay snares for their neighbors: and that the snares which are laid against associates and neighbors are turned against those who have devised them. 1531 XIV. On enemies, and their ruin: and that one should by no means rejoice in the calamity of enemies. 1531 XV. On beneficence and oblation from unrighteous gains. 1533 XVI. On redemptors and procurators, and those who cast themselves into the lawsuits of others. 1535 XVII. On upright bishops, and those who keep the commandments of God. 1535 XVIII. On bad bishops, and those who do not keep the commandments of God at all. 1550 XIX. On surety. 1555 XX. On concupiscence; and that evil desires are not to be followed. 1555 XXI. On sins, both those which are committed voluntarily and those which are committed involuntarily. 1558 XXII. On those who give thanks for benefits received: and that one ought to proclaim benefactors. 1559 XXIII. On vindication: and that it is not permitted to exact penalties for the same matter twice. 1562 XXIV. On common business matters: and that common inns are to be avoided, because quarrels and dissensions are born from them. 1562 XXV. On the splendor of a name: and that a right action is worthy of glory. 1562 XXVI. On merchants. 1562 XXVII. On eunuchs; and that they may be wicked. 1563 XXVIII. On praises, and those who take pleasure in them: and that no one ought to be praised before the danger has been proven. 1563 XXIX. That God avenges those upon whom injury is inflicted, and that vengeance should be remitted to Him. 1566 XXX. On those who are punished, and those who pay penalties: and that no one should be punished for another. 1566 XXXI. On reproofs. 1567
LETTER Z
TITLE I. That one ought to seek God, and follow Him, and adhere to Him, and do everything in His name. 1567 II. On brute animals endowed with natural wisdom and sagacity. 1570 III. On just weights and measures. 1583 IV. On unjust weights and measures. 1583 V. On good and evil zeal. 1586
LETTER H
I. On the good. 1586 II. On the evil day. 1586 III. On day and night. 1586
THE END OF THE NINETY-FIFTH VOLUME.