The Worlds Great Sermons, Volume 1 | Page 2

product of much
observation and study during many years, and an enthusiasm for his
work that has been fostered by close intercourse in professional service
with preachers and theological students. He has had the assistance also
of men whose acquaintance with homiletic literature is very extensive,
whose critical judgments are sound and reliable and who may be
regarded as experts in this branch of knowledge. These volumes,
therefore, may be accepted as a judiciously selected collection of
sermons by many of the most notable preachers of the ancient and
modern Christian world. Their value as illustrating varieties of gift,
diversities of method, racial, national and ecclesiastical peculiarities,
and above all progress in the science and art of preaching, may well be
recognized even by a generation that is likely to regard anything that is
more than twenty-four hours old as obsolete.
LEWIS O. BRASTOW.
_Yale University, New Haven, Conn., October, 1908._

CONTENTS
VOLUME I
PREFACE
INTRODUCTION
BASIL (329-379). The Creation of the World
CHRYSOSTOM (347-407). Excessive Grief at the Death of Friends
AUGUSTINE (354-430). The Recovery of Sight by the Blind
WYCLIF (1324-1384). Christ's Real Body Not in the Eucharist
SAVONAROLA (1452-1498). The Ascension of Christ
LUTHER (1483-1546). The Method and Fruits of Justification
LATIMER (1485-1555). On Christian Love
MELANCHTHON (1497-1560). The Safety of the Virtuous
KNOX (1505-1572). The First Temptation of Christ

CALVIN (1509-1564). Enduring Persecution for Christ

BASIL
THE CREATION OF THE WORLD
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Basil, bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, and styled "The Great," was
the founder of Eastern monasticism, defender of the Nicene doctrines
and doctor of the Church. He was born at Caesarea in 329, and was
thoroughly educated in all that a teacher like Libanius could impart at
Rome, and Himerius at Constantinople. Returning home, he plunged
into the pleasures of social life, but was induced by his sister to visit the
hermits of Syria, Palestine and Egypt. Attracted during his travels to
the religious life, he secluded himself in a lonely spot in inclement
Pontus.
During his monastic life of seven years (357-364) he formulated the
monastic rule still observed by Eastern monks. Ordained presbyter in
364, he labored in founding religious institutions of various kinds. He
attracted notice by his growing Nicene predilections, and was elected
bishop of his native town (370) and virtual primate of Asia Minor. His
conduct in dealing with the Arians was uncompromising yet
conciliating. As a theologian he stands next to his brother Gregory and
to Athanasius, but he excels them both in the literary charm and variety
of his Greek style. He died in 379.

BASIL 329-379
THE CREATION OF THE WORLD
_The earth was without form and void._--Gen. i, 2.
In the few words which have occupied us this morning we have found
such a depth of thought that we despair of penetrating farther. If such is
the forecourt of the sanctuary, if the portico of the temple is so grand
and magnificent, if the splendor of its beauty thus dazzles the eyes of
the soul, what will be the holy of holies? Who will dare to try to gain
access to the innermost shrine? Who will look into its secrets? To gaze
into it is indeed forbidden us, and language is powerless to express
what the mind conceives.
However, since there are rewards, and most desirable ones, reserved by

the just Judge for the intention alone of doing good, do not let us
hesitate to continue our researches. Altho we may not attain to the truth,
if, with the help of the Spirit, we do not fall away from the meaning of
Holy Scripture, we shall not deserve to be rejected, and with the help of
grace, we shall contribute to the edification of the Church of God.
"The earth," says Holy Scripture, "was without form and void"--_i.e._,
invisible and unfinished. The heavens and the earth were created
together. How, then, is it that the heavens are perfect whilst the earth is
still unformed and incomplete? In one word, what was the unfinished
condition of the earth and for what reason was it invisible? The fertility
of the earth is its perfect finishing; growth of all kinds of plants, the
up-springing of tall trees, both productive and unfruitful, flowers' sweet
scents and fair colors, and all that which, a little later, at the voice of
God came forth from the earth to beautify her, their universal mother.
As nothing of all this yet existed, Scripture is right in calling the earth
"without form." We could also say of the heavens that they were still
imperfect and had not received their natural adornment, since at that
time they did not shine with the glory of the sun and of the moon, and
were not crowned by the choirs of the stars. These bodies were