The Homilies of the Anglo-Saxon Church: Containing the Sermones Catholici, or Homilies of Ælfric, in the Original Anglo-Saxon, with an English Version. Volume I.Aelfric, Abbot of Eynsham
Religion
The Homilies of the Anglo-Saxon Church: Containing the Sermones Catholici, or Homilies of Ælfric, in the Original Anglo-Saxon, with an English Version. Volume I.
Aelfric, Abbot of Eynsham
Sermons, English (Old)
On the second day the apostle going in the street, observed where a
philosopher was accompanying two brothers, who had turned all their
parents' treasure into precious gems, and would crush them in the sight of
all the people as a spectacle, in contempt as it were of worldly riches. It
was common at that time for those who would sedulously learn philosophy, to
change their property for gems, and break them in pieces; or for a wedge of
gold, and throw it into the sea; lest the contemplation of those riches
should hinder them at their study. Then the apostle called the philosopher
Graton to him, and said, "It is foolish that any one should despise worldly
riches for praise of men, and be condemned at God's doom. Vain is the
medicine that cannot heal the sick; as also is vain the doctrine that
healeth not the sins and vices of the soul. {63} Verily my teacher, Christ,
enjoined a youth who desired eternal life, in these words, That he should
sell all his wealth, and distribute the value to the poor, if he would be
perfect; and he should afterwards have his treasure in heaven, and, in
addition thereto, eternal life." The philosopher Graton him answered,
"These jewels are crushed for idle vaunt; but if thy teacher is the true
God, join the fragments to soundness, that their value may benefit the
poor." John then gathered the fragments of the jewels, and looked to
heaven, thus saying, "Lord Jesus, to thee no thing is difficult; thou didst
restore this crushed world for thy faithful, through sign of the holy rood;
restore now these precious gems, by thy angels' hands, that these ignorant
men may acknowledge thy powers, and in thee believe." Lo, then suddenly the
gems became sound, so that even no sign of their former broken condition
was seen. Then the philosopher Graton, together with the youths, fell
forthwith at the feet of John, believing in God. The apostle baptized him
with all his family, and he began openly to preach God's faith. The two
brothers, Atticus and Eugenius, gave their gems, and distributed all their
wealth to the poor, and followed the apostle, and a great multitude of
believers also joined themselves to him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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