I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus, the same night in which He was betrayed, took bread, &c. [On Thursday in Easter Week.] LECTURE XXIII. (ON THE MYSTERIES. V.) Page 273. ON THE COMMUNION SERVICE. 1 Pet. ii. 1. Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and evil speakings, &c. [On Friday in Easter Week.] CREED OF THE CHURCH OF JERUSALEM, [Collected from St. Cyril's Lectures.] We believe in One God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible, and invisible : And in One Lord Jesus Christ, the Only-begotten Son of God; begotten of the Father Very God, before all worlds; by whom all things were made; who came in the flesh, and was made man of the Virgin and the Holy Ghost; He was crucified and buried; He rose again the third day; and ascended into heaven, and sat on the right hand of the Father; and He cometh in glory to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end: And in One Holy Ghost, the Comforter, who spake in the Prophets and in one Baptism of repentance for the remission of sins and in one Holy Catholic Church and in the Resurrection of the dead: and in the Life everlasting. : CATECHETICAL LECTURES OF S. CYRIL, ARCHBISHOP OF JERUSALEM. ADDRESSED TO CANDIDATES FOR BAPTISM. INTRODUCTORY LECTURE. μένοι. 1. ALREADY is there on you the savour of blessedness, O (1.) ye who are soon to be enlightened: already are you gathering rigóspiritual flowers, to weave heavenly crowns withal: already hath the fragrance of the Holy Ghost refreshed you: already are you at the entrance hall of the King's house: may you be brought into it by the King! For now the blossoms of the trees have budded; may but the fruit likewise be perfected! Thus far, your names have been given in, and the roll-call made for service; there are the torches of the bridal train, and the longings after heavenly citizenship, and a good purpose, and a hope attendant; for He cannot lie who hath said, To them that love God, all things work together for good. Rom. 8, God is indeed lavish in His benefits: yet He looks for each προαίρε man's honest resolve: so the Apostle subjoins, To those who are called according to their purpose. Honesty of purpose makes thee called: for though the body be here, yet if the mind be away, it avails nothing. 28. σιν. 13. 2. Even Simon Magus once came to the Laver of Baptism, Acts 8, he was baptized, but not enlightened. His body he dipped in water, but admitted not the Spirit to illuminate his heart. a S. Austin considers Simon Magus demnation. Vid. in Ps. 103. i. 9. to be born again, but to a greater con B 2 Baptism is offered to all, but to the unprepared is a curse. INTROD. His body went down and came up; but his soul was not LECT. buried together with Christ, nor with Him raised. I mention (2.) such instances of falls, that thou mayest not fail; for these 1 Cor. things happened to them for ensamples, and they are written 10, 11. for the admonition of those, who up to this day are ever 15. coming. Let no one of you be found tempting grace: let no Heb. 12, root of bitterness spring up, and trouble you: let not any of you enter, saying, Come, let us see what the faithful do: I will go in and see, that I may learn what is done. Expectest thou to see, and not to be seen: and thinkest thou to busy thee with what is doing, and God not be busy with thine heart the while? Mat. 22, 12. 3. A certain man in the Gospels busily pried into the marriage feast: he took an unbecoming garment, came in, sat down, and ate; for the bridegroom permitted thus far; whereas, when he saw the white robes of all, he ought himself likewise to have taken such another; yet he shared like meats with them, being unlike them in fashion and in purpose. But the bridegroom, though bountiful, was not undiscerning; and, as he went round to each of the guests and viewed them, (not that he was careful how they feasted, but how they behaved,) seeing a stranger, not having a wedding-garment on, he said to him, Friend, how camest thou in hither? With what stained raiments? with what a conscience? What, though the porter stopped thee not, because of the bountifulness of the entertainer? what, though thou wert ignorant in what fashion thou shouldest enter into the banquet? yet thou camest in, thou didst see the glistering fashion of the guests. Shouldest thou not have learned at least from what thou sawest? Shouldest thou not have made a seasonable retreat, that thou mightest have a seasonable return? but now hast thou turned in unseaCasau- sonably, that unseasonably thou mightest be thrust out. So emenda- he commands his servants, Bind his feet, which have daringly intruded, bind his hands, which were not skilled to robe him in the bright garment; and cast him into the outer darkness; for he is unworthy of the wedding torches. Thou hast seen how he fared then; take heed to thyself. accord ing to bon's tion. (3.) 4. For we, the ministers of Christ, have admitted every man, and holding as it were the place of door-keepers, have left the door unfastened. Thou hast been free then to enter with a |