March 26

And we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.—John 1. 14.

HAVING declared that we were made sons of God, and having shown in what manner, namely, by the Word having been made flesh, John again mentions another advantage which we gain from this same circumstance. What is it? We beheld his glory, the glory as of the Only-Begotten of the Father; which we could not have beheld, had it not been shown to us, by means of a body like to our own. For if the men of old time could not even bear to look upon the glorified countenance of Moses, who partook of the same nature with us, if that just man needed a veil which might shade over the purity of his glory, and show to them the face of their prophet mild and gentle; how could we creatures of clay and earth have endured the unveiled Godhead, which is unapproachable even by the powers above? Wherefore he tabernacled among us, that we might be able with much fearlessness to approach him, speak to, and converse with him.

But what means the glory as of the Only-Begotten of the Father? Since many of the prophets too were glorified, as this Moses himself, Elijah, and Elisha, the one encircled by the fiery chariot, the other taken up by it; and after them, Daniel and the Three Children, and the many others who showed forth wonders; and angels who have appeared among men, and partly disclosed to beholders the flashing light of their proper nature; and since not angels only, but even the Cherubim were seen by the Prophet in great glory, and the Seraphim also: the Evangelist leading us away from all these, and removing our thoughts from created things, and from the brightness of our fellow-servants, sets us at the very summit of good. For, "not of prophet," says he, "nor angel, nor archangel, nor of the higher powers, nor of any other created nature, if other there be, but of the Master himself, the King himself, the true Only-Begotten Son himself, of the very Lord of all, did we behold the glory."

For the expression as, does not in this place belong to similarity or comparison, but to confirmation and unquestionable definition; as though he said, "We beheld glory, such as it was becoming, and likely that he should possess, who is the Only-

Begotten and true Son of God, the king of all." The habit of so speaking is general, for I shall not refuse to strengthen my argument even from common custom, since it is not now my object to speak with any reference to beauty of words, or elegance of composition, but only for your advantage; and therefore there is nothing to prevent my establishing my argument by the instance of a common practice. What then is the habit of most persons? Often when any have seen a king richly decked, and glittering on all sides with precious stones, and are afterward describing to others the beauty, the ornaments, the splendor, they enumerate as much as they can the glowing tint of the purple robe, the size of the jewels, the whiteness of the mules, the gold about the yoke, the soft and shining couch. But when after enumerating these things, and other things besides these, they can not, say what they will, give a full idea of the splendor, they immediately bring in: "But why say much about it; once for all, he was like a king;" not desiring by the expression "like," to show that he, of whom they say this, resembles a king, but that he is a real king. Just so now the Evangelist has put the word as, desiring to represent the transcendent nature and incomparable excellence of his glory.

For indeed all others, both angels and archangels, and prophets, did every thing as under command; but he with the authority which becomes a King and Master; at which even the multitudes wondered, that he taught as one having authority. Even angels, as I said, have appeared with great glory upon the earth, as in the case of Daniel, of David, of Moses, but they did all as servants who have a Master. But he as Lord and Ruler of all, and this when he appeared in poor and humble form; but even so creation recognized her Lord. Now the star from heaven which called the wise men to worship him, the vast throng pouring everywhere of angels attending the Lord, and hymning his praise, and besides them, many other heralds sprang up on a sudden, and all, as they met, declared to one another the glad tidings of this ineffable mystery; the angels to the shepherds; the shepherds to those of the city; Gabriel to Mary and Elizabeth; Anna and Simeon to those who came to the temple. Nor were men and women only lifted up with pleasure, but the very infant who had not yet come forth to light, I mean the citizen of the wilderness, the namesake of this Evangelist, leaped while yet in his mother's womb, and all were soaring with hopes of the future. This too immediately after the birth. But when he had manifested himself still farther, other wonders, yet greater than the first, were seen. For it was no more star, or sky, no more angels, or archangels, not Gabriel, or Michael, but the Father himself from heaven above, who proclaimed him, and with the Father the Comforter, flying down at the uttering of the voice and resting on him. Truly therefore did he say, We beheld his glory, the glory as of the Only-Begotten of the Father.

"Eternal depth of love divine, In Jesus, God with us, displayed; How bright thy beaming glories shine! How wide thy healing streams are spread!

"With whom dost thou delight to dwell? Sinners, a vile and thankless race! O God, what tongue aright can tell How vast thy love, how great thy grace!"