The Worlds Great Sermons, Volume 1 | Page 8

this? God,
who made the nature of time, measured it out and determined it by
intervals of days; and, wishing to give it a week as a measure, he
ordered the week to resolve from period to period upon itself, to count
the movement of time, forming the week of one day revolving seven
times upon itself: a proper circle begins and ends with itself. Such is
also the character of eternity, to revolve upon itself and to end nowhere.
If, then, the beginning of time is called "one day" rather than "the first
day," it is because Scripture wishes to establish its relationship with
eternity. It was, in reality, fit and natural to call "one" the day whose
character is to be one wholly separated and isolated from all others. If
Scripture speaks to us of many ages, saying everywhere "age of age,
and ages of ages," we do not see it enumerate them as first, second, and
third. It follows that we are hereby shown, not so much limits, ends,
and succession of ages as distinctions between various states and
modes of action. "The day of the Lord," Scripture says, "is great and
very terrible," and elsewhere, "Woe unto you that desire the day of the
Lord: to what end is it for you? The day of the Lord is darkness and not
light." A day of darkness for those who are worthy of darkness. No;
this day without evening, without succession, and without end is not
unknown to Scripture, and it is the day that the Psalmist calls the eighth
day, because it is outside this time of weeks. Thus, whether you call it
day or whether you call it eternity, you express the same idea. Give this

state the name of day; there are not several, but only one. If you call it
eternity still it is unique and not manifold. Thus it is in order that you
may carry your thoughts forward toward a future life that Scripture
marks by the word "one" the day which is the type of eternity, the
first-fruits of days, the contemporary of light, the holy Lord's day.
But while I am conversing with you about the first evening of the world,
evening takes me by surprize and puts an end to my discourse. May the
Father of the true light, who has adorned day with celestial light, who
has made to shine the fires which illuminate us during the night, who
reserves for us in the peace of a future age a spiritual and everlasting
light, enlighten your hearts in the knowledge of truth, keep you from
stumbling, and grant that "you may walk honestly as in the day." Thus
shall you shine as the sun in the midst of the glory of the saints, and I
shall glory in you in the day of Christ, to whom belong all glory and
power for ever and ever. Amen.

CHRYSOSTOM
EXCESSIVE GRIEF AT THE DEATH OF FRIENDS
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Chrysostom (that is, "Of the Golden Mouth") was a title given to John,
Archbishop of Constantinople. He was born of a patrician family at
Antioch about 347, and owed much to the early Christian training of
his Christian mother, Anthusa. He studied under Libanius, and for a
time practised law, but was converted and baptized in 368. He made a
profound study of the Scriptures, the whole of which, it is said, he
learned to repeat by heart.
Like Basil and Gregory he began his religious life as a hermit in the
desert. After six years he returned to Antioch, where he gained
reputation as the greatest preacher in the Eastern Church. Raised to the
metropolitan See of Constantinople in 397, his fulminations against the
corruptions of the court caused him to be banished, after a stormy
ministry of six years. He was recalled in response to popular clamor,
but removed again, and shortly after died, in 407. He was a great
exegete, and showed a spirit of intellectual liberty which anticipated
modern criticism. Sermons to the number of one thousand have been
attributed to him.

CHRYSOSTOM 347-407
EXCESSIVE GRIEF AT THE DEATH OF FRIENDS
_But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them
which are asleep, that ye sorrow not._--1 Thess. iv., 13.
We have occupied four days in explaining to you the parable of
Lazarus, bringing out the treasure that we found in a body covered with
sores; a treasure, not of gold and silver and precious stones, but of
wisdom and fortitude, of patience and endurance. For as in regard to
visible treasures, while the surface of the ground shows only thorns and
briers, and rough earth, yet, let a person dig deep into it, abundant
wealth discovers itself; so it has proved in respect to