But for the time being, refrain from wanting to hear anything about the clouds, and from wanting to go forward before you have yet learned to walk: gradually, as you go around the creature, learn the path of godliness. But even here behold God's Providence, which watches over the sun, moon and other luminaries, and as if with a voice commands them to illuminate people, and not just to illuminate, but together to serve for the division of time; for the sun, when it rises, produces the day, and when it sets and hides itself, it gives way to night, the darkness of which the Creator dissolves with the light of the moon and the stars. And you can see that it is as if brother and sister (I mean day and night), for the needs of people, borrow time from each other and return it back with gratitude.

That is why the day gradually receives an increase. When the summer reaches the middle, the loan is stopped and the repayment begins immediately; and it is not done in one day, but also little by little, as it was levied, and returns what was taken.

In the same way, the night, having taken a debt, does not refuse to lend again.

Thus our whole life passes in days and nights, and the night is no less useful to people than the day. And, first, the difference between darkness and light makes light more pleasant and delightful for us. Therefore, the morning is more desirable for us than noon. Having had enough of the light during the day, we have need of nightly rest. Then, while the night lasts, our satiety passes, and the light again becomes pleasing to us. Thus, having been satiated with labor during the day, we calm the tired body at night, and, having healed it well with bed, sleep, silence, at dawn, as if it had been renewed, we again devote it to work. So much great benefit does the night bring us. In continuation of it, the hireling calms down and the servant has a rest from his labors. Night and its darkness force even the extremely hardworking to stop working. It was often respected by the combatants: those who defeated and pursued their opponents, seeing the approach of night, stopped the pursuit and allowed those fleeing to flee at a slower speed. Night, as it gathers people into houses and brings them sweet sleep, so it leads animals to prey and gives them the courage to seek food for themselves. For this reason the great David, singing to the God of all things, cries: "He created the moon in the season: the sun knew its setting." Thou didst put darkness, and there was a night, in which all the beasts of the oak grove would pass, and the roaring beasts would catch up, and seek food from God. The sun has risen, and they have gathered, and they will lie down in their beds. A man shall go out to his work and to his work until the evening (Psalm 103:19-23). For this reason the night is also beneficial, because it gives rest to people, and allows animals to fearlessly obtain food for themselves.

But perhaps some of those who deny Providence will say: "For what purpose were the beasts created? What is the use of them to people?" But what can be said in this reasoning as a proof of Providence, will find a place in the word about beasts; Until then, let our word go its own way. Therefore, I think that what has been said is enough to bring us to the senses that the need for the night is necessary and extremely useful to people. However, this word will add something else in confirmation of what has been said before.

Since we have a mortal nature and the time of our life is limited, we must also study the measures of time. Therefore, the night, occupying the middle between two days, serves to measure time. If the light were continuous, then we could not know the annual revolutions and study the number of months, but the measure of the entire present age would seem to us to be one day, which, as we believe, will be the age expected for us, because, as we have been taught, that day will be unfading and completely uninterrupted. And such an age is fitting for those who will be immortal. In the present age, however, because of the nature of mortality and temporality, those who have need of a multitude of time must know the measure of time, so that, seeing the course of it, they may take care of themselves and be ready for resettlement. Wherefore the night, by succession following the day, becomes a measure of time, and having done this seven times, it makes a week. And we borrow the measure of the month from the moon, because from it it also received its name, for the moon is also called the moon. The moon, waxing and waning, becoming sickle-shaped, half-humped, two-humped, full, and again taking the form of a two-humped moon, and then half and sickle-shaped, fulfills the number of thirty days without several hours. And we know the annual circle not only by months, but also by days. For at the beginning of spring, the sun, making its way through the very middle of the sky, produces the equality of day and night. From here, moving to the more northern parts of the east, and there rising, he shortens the nights and increases the days; but by imparting more and more warmth to the earth, he brings its fruits to maturity; and when it has reached its usual limits, it returns from north to south. And again in autumn he establishes the equality of day and night, makes it more southerly, returns to the nights, which, having borrowed from them, gave to the days; the air is allowed to thicken, fill with clouds, and moisten all the solid earth; returning from here to the equinoctial turn, it fulfills the annual cycle.

Therefore, since you know the need of the sun and the moon, the equal succession of night and day, and the benefit that is brought to people, then pay attention to this most pleasant and useful transition of the seasons. The Creator did not divide the annual cycle into two equal parts, nor did He give us only summer and winter, and we do not pass directly from one extreme to the other; on the contrary, spring and autumn, having taken into account the medium dissolution of air, form the middle between cold and heat. An excessively humid and cold winter is not followed by an excessively dry and hot summer, but by spring, which, having a part of the warmth of summer and the cold of winter, produces a beautiful mixture of the two extremes, and, as if with some hands, taking the two opposites, the cold of winter and the heat of summer, these completely hostile qualities bring into rapprochement and friendship. Therefore, when we pass from winter to summer, we proceed without sorrow, because, gradually moving away from the winter cold and approaching the warmth of summer, we do not suffer any harm from a sudden change. Thus we pass from summer to winter, by means of autumn, which does not allow two excessive opposites to suddenly touch us, but dissolves extreme warmth with extreme cold, produces a new mixture, and gradually leads us to this extreme. Such is the care of Him Who created us! In the same way, by the changes of the annual seasons, it achieves that we not only do not tolerate sorrow, but also feel pleasant.

But perhaps some ungrateful, despising what is done so well and arranged so wisely and usefully, will say: "Why are there changes of the year? What benefit do these transitions of the annual times give us?"

Thus, the winter season serves to nourish you, ungrateful, so that you, who are unappreciative, may prepare the most necessary things for your needs. At the beginning of spring again, the farmers: some form old vines, others plant new ones, and, nourished by the warmth of the air, they hasten to prove fruitful. And when the middle of summer comes and the sun warms the air strongly, the wheat calls the farmer to harvest, the grapes turn black, the olives bend from the weight of the pouring fruits, and various kinds of vegetables ripen. Autumn, which came later, passes all this on to the perfectly mature planters, who, having finished harvesting the fruits, begin sowing again. Therefore, cease to show your ingratitude, trying to turn the gifts of Providence into blasphemy to Providence and to wound their Giver with these blessings. In all that we have said, ascertain God's Providence, Which disposes and governs you, prepares for you an abundance of all blessings.

Pay attention also to the nature, position, and order of the stars, to their variety, pleasantness, usefulness, rotation, ascent and setting. The Creator of all things created them not only to illuminate the darkness of the night and to provide people with the necessary light in the moonless night, but also to guide the traveler, to show the way to the sailors, because, looking at them, sailors follow an untrodden path and, observing their position, guide the boat and reach the desired harbors. Since the aquatic nature does not take upon itself any trace of horses, donkeys, mules (mules - Ed.) and pedestrians, nor the ruts of chariots, looking at which travelers could undoubtedly make their way, then the Lord of all, as if by some traces on the paths of the sea, gave the position of the stars to those who swim across the vast seas. What ineffable philanthropy! What ineffable wisdom! Who can worthily marvel at the goodness and power of God's Providence, at His prosperity in difficulties, at the fulfillment of what seems impossible, at the greatness and ease of His works? And if you also listen to me, you will proclaim the same thing, you will glorify the Benefactor to the best of your ability, and, seeing His thousands of blessings on you, you will not cease to express your gratitude to Him.

But in order not to bring you, who have just begun to walk, having forced you to make a long journey, to fatigue, let us stop here for the moment and leave you to consider God's Providence, which is revealed in the heavens and heavenly bodies. For it is probable that you yourself will continue your consideration according to this guidance, and what for the sake of brevity the word did not touch, you will find from what has been said, and you will exclaim with the Prophet: For Thy works are magnified, O Lord: Thou hast created all things in wisdom! (Psalm 103:24). To Thee be glory and honor, and worship forever! Amen.

Homily 2. Proof borrowed from the consideration of air, land, sea, rivers, and springs

Those who do not believe that there are reins of Providence, and who very recklessly assert that this world - heaven and earth - moves with such harmony and in such order without the Reins, it seems to me that they are like a man who sits on a ship and crosses the sea.

He sees how the helmsman, taking hold of the helm, turns the rudder where it is necessary: now he tilts to the right, then turns to the left - and directs the boat to the pier he wants.