“Let every one,” he says, “that nameth the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.” [2 Timothy 2:19]
These are the distinguishing marks of the foundation. As a foundation
is shown to be firm, and as letters are inscribed upon a stone that the
letters may be significant. But these letters are shown by works,
“Having,” he says, “this seal” fixed thereon, “Let every one that nameth
the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.” Thus if any one is
unrighteous, he is not of the foundation. So that this too is of the
seal, not to do iniquity.
Moral. Let us not therefore put off from us the royal seal and token,
that we may not be of those who are not sealed, that we may not be
unsound, that we may be firmly grounded, that we may be of the
foundation, and not carried to and fro. This marks them that are of God,
that they depart from iniquity. For how can any one be of God Who is
just, if he does iniquity, if by his works he opposes Him, if he insults
Him by his misdeeds? Again we are speaking against injustice, and again
we have many that are hostile to us.
For this affection, like a tyrant, has seized upon the souls of all,
and, what is worse, not by necessity nor violence, but by persuasion and
gentle insinuation, and they are grateful for their slavery.
And this is indeed the misery; for if they were held by constraint
and not by love, they would soon depart. And whence is it, that a thing
which is most bitter, appears to be sweet? Whence is it that
righteousness, which is a most sweet thing, becomes bitter? It is the
fault of our senses. Thus some have thought honey bitter, and have taken
with pleasure other things that were noxious. And the cause is not in
the nature of things, but in the perverseness of the sufferers.
The judging faculty of the soul is disordered. Just as a balance, if
its beam be un-steady, moves round, and does not show accurately the
weight of things placed in it; so the soul, if it has not the beam of
its own thoughts fixed, and firmly riveted to the law of God, being
carried round and drawn down, will not be able to judge aright of
actions.
+ St. John Chrystostom, Homily V, Homilies on Timothy
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