or it appears to have been delivered in homilies to
the people, though it is not now divided into discourses. It was
certainly compiled at Antioch.

The twenty-four homilies On the Epistle to the Ephesians (t. 11) were
preached at Antioch; and though some passages might have received a
higher polish from a second touch of the saint's masterly file, are a
most useful and excellent work. From Hom. 3, p. 16, it {271} is clear
that his predecessor Nectarius had not abolished canonical public
penances, when he removed the public penitentiary; but that this office,
as before the institution of such a charge, was exercised altogether by
the bishop. For St. Chrysostom having taken notices that many assisted
at mass who did not communicate, tells them, that those who were guilty
of any grievous sin could not approach the holy table even on the
greatest solemnity; but that such persons ought to be in a course of
penance, and consequently not at mass with the rest of the faithful: and
he terrifies them by exaggerating the danger and crime of delaying to do
penance. Those who are not excluded by such an obstacle, he exhorts
strongly to frequent communion, seeming desirous that many would
communicate at every day's mass. "With a pure conscience," says he,
"approach always; without this disposition, never. In vain is the daily
sacrifice offered; to no purpose do we assist at the altar: no one
communicates. I say not this to induce any one to approach unworthily,
but to engage all to render yourselves worthy. The royal table is
prepared, the administering angels are present, the King himself is
there waiting for you: yet you stand with indifference," &c. (Hom. 3, in
Ephes. p. 23.) The virtues of St. Paul furnish the main subject of his
sixth and seventh homilies; in the eighth he speaks of that apostle's
sufferings for Christ, and declares, in a kind of rapturous exclamation,
that he prefers his chains to gold and diadems, and his company in
prison to heaven itself. He wishes he could make a pilgrimage to Rome,
to see and kiss those chains at which the devils tremble, and which the
angels reverence, while they venerate the hands which were bound with
them. For it is more desirable and more glorious to suffer with Christ,
than to be honored with him in glory: this is an honor above all others.
Christ himself left heaven to meet his cross: and St. Paul received more
glory from his chains, than by being rapt up to the third heaven, or by