4. Often, when conversing with the Jews, because of their hardness of heart, the Lord spoke about many things in secret, in mysterious expressions and parables, about which it was also foretold long ago: "I will open my mouth in parables, I will speak divination from ancient times" (Psalm 77:2). And the wisdom of His conversations was foretold long ago by the prophet in the words: "Grace has poured out of Thy mouth" (Psalm 44:3). Another prophet also predicted the same thing: "Behold, My servant shall understand, and he shall be exalted, and glorified" (Isaiah 52:13). The same prophet, briefly narrating the blessings of His coming, combined with signs, said thus: "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, for the Lord has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor, He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and the opening of prison to the prisoners" (Isaiah 61:1). And it was foretold that after so many blessings His people would turn away from Him in vain and in vain, having no reason to accuse Him of anything, neither small nor great. Listen to how David foretold this: "With them that hate the world," he says, "I am at peace: but only when I speak, they are unto war" (Psalm 119:6-7). That the Lord, sitting on a colt, would enter the city, and this was long foretold by Zechariah in these words: "Rejoice with joy, O daughter of Zion, rejoice, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee, righteous and saving, meek, seated on an ass, and on a colt, the son of a foal" (Zech. 9:9).

He expelled from the temple those who sold doves and changed money (Matt. 21:12; Jn. 2:15). He did this, zealous for the house of God, and at the same time desiring to show that He did not resist God, but was in agreement with the Father; therefore He punished for His house, in which trade was carried on. And this is not left unindicated, but the Prophet David foretold about it, foretelling the intention with which Christ performed this punishment: "Zeal for Thy house," he says, "devours Me" (Psalm 68:10). What could be clearer than this? Christ was to be betrayed, and this betrayal was committed by the one who shared the meal with Him. See how the same prophet foretold this in the words: "The man who is at peace with me, in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, lifted up his heel against me" (Psalm 40:10). Notice how the Evangelist tells in agreement with him: "He who has put his hand into the dish with Me will betray Me" (Matthew 26:23). The betrayer not only betrayed the Lord, but by selling His precious blood and receiving money for it. And the prophet did not keep silent about this, but also pointed out the shameless conditions and consultations of the enemies of Christ. "O God of my praise!" he says, "be not silent, for ungodly lips and deceitful lips have been opened against me" (Psalm 108:1). The same traitor, later recognizing his guilt, threw away the pieces of silver, ended his life, hanging himself on a tree, leaving his wife a widow, his children orphans, and his house desolate. See how the prophet describes this sad event: "Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow" (Psalm 108:9-10). The place of the traitor was taken by Matthias; and this was foretold by the same prophet in the words: "Let another take his dignity" (Psalm 108:8). After Christ was betrayed and voluntarily gave Himself into the hands of His enemies, a judgment seat was formed of Jews and Gentiles, filled with great iniquity. See how the prophet foretells this: "Why," he says, "are the nations troubled, and the nations plot vain?" (Psalm 2:1)? And not only did the prophets foretell this, but Isaiah also clearly spoke about the silence of the Lord, which He kept when those around Him spoke and accused Him much: "Like a sheep He was led to the slaughter, and as a lamb before his shearer is silent, so He did not open His mouth" (Isaiah 53:7). Then, showing the injustice of the sentence, He adds: "In His humility is His judgment" (Isaiah 53:8), that is, no one judged Him justly; and then he explains the cause of Christ's death. He, as blameless and innocent, did not suffer for His sins, but was delivered up for the sins of the universe; on both, see how the prophet indicated: "He committed no sin, and there was no lie in His mouth" (Isaiah 53:9). With these words he explained why Christ was betrayed. There is another reason: "For the transgressions of my people I have suffered execution" (Isaiah 53:8). Wishing to show not only the cause, but also the fruits of His death on the cross, see how the prophet foretells about this: "We all," he says, "have wandered like sheep, each one has turned into his own way; the chastisement of our peace [was] upon Him, and by His stripes we were healed" (Isaiah 53:5-6). Then the same prophet also predicts the punishment to which the Jews were to be subjected for these iniquities in the following words: "They appointed a tomb for him with evildoers, but he is buried with the rich" (Isaiah 53:9). And David, having said: "Let us break their bands, and cast off their fetters," added: "He that dwelleth in heaven shall laugh, and the Lord shall mock them: then shall he speak unto them in His wrath, and with His wrath shall bring them into confusion" (Psalm 2:3-5), meaning the scattering of the Jews throughout the whole world, of which Christ Himself in the Gospel foretold in the following words: "And those of my enemies, those who would not have me reign over them, bring them hither, and slay them before me" (Luke 19:27). In addition, having spoken about the death of the Lord, the prophets did not keep silent about the very method of death, but David explained it in the following way: "They pierced My hands and My feet, it would be possible to number all My bones" (Psalm 21:17-18). Nor did he keep silent about the iniquity committed after Christ's death on the Cross, saying: "They divide my garments among themselves, and cast lots for my garments" (Psalm 21:19). Further, he also spoke about the burial of the Lord in the words: "Thou hast laid me in the pit of hell, in darkness, in the abyss" (Psalm 87:7). See how he also predicted that Christ would rise: "Thou shalt not leave My soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer Thy holy one to see corruption" (Psalm 15:10). And the prophet Isaiah predicts the same thing, only in different words: "The Lord wants to cleanse Him from the plague: to show Him light, to justify the righteous, who serves many well" (Isaiah 53:10-11). The same prophet predicted that the Lord's death would redeem people from their sins: "He bore the sin of many" (Isaiah 53:12); and that Christ will cast out demons from people: "And he will divide the spoils with the mighty" (Psalm 53:12). Nor did he keep silent about the fact that the Lord would accomplish this by His death: "because," he says, "He gave up His life to death" (Isaiah 53:12); he also predicted that Christ would have dominion over the world: "He will inherit many things" (v. 12). Nor did the prophets keep silent about the fact that the Lord, having descended into hell, would bring him into confusion, fill him with confusion and fear, and break down his stronghold. Of this David says: "Lift up your heads, O gates, and be lifted up, O everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall enter!" (Psalm 23:7); but Isaiah says in other words: "I will go before you, and level the mountains, I will break down the doors of brass, and I will break the bars of iron; and I will give thee the treasures that are kept in darkness and the hidden riches, and I will reveal unto thee the things that are not seen" (Isaiah 45:2), meaning hell here. Although it was hell, it contained the souls of the saints and the precious vessels of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. That is why the prophet called them treasures, and dark because the Sun of righteousness had not yet illumined hell and had not announced the resurrection. And that the Lord, after His resurrection, will not be numbered with angels, or archangels, or any other ministering power, but will sit on the royal throne, listen to how David says again: "The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, until I make Thy enemies Thy footstool" (Psalm 109:1).

5. Isaiah then foretold that Christ would send the apostles (to preach) in the following words: "How beautiful are the feet of the evangelist on the mountains, announcing peace, preaching joy" (Isaiah 52:7). Notice how he glorifies the bodily members, the feet that carried the evangelists everywhere. And David also explains the method of their victory: "The Lord," he says, "gave the word to those who preached the gospel with great power" (Psalm 67:12). In fact, they conquered without the use of weapons, without spending money, not by bodily strength, not by the number of troops, and not by any other such means, but by a simple word, which had great power - the power of signs. They preached the Crucified One and performed signs, and thus conquered the universe. That is why the prophet says: "The Lord gave the word to those who preached the gospel with great power," meaning miracles here. And truly, the ineffable power was in the fact that the fisherman, the publican, and the skin-maker by their own commands raised the dead, cast out demons, delivered them from death, bridled the tongues of philosophers, stopped the mouths of rhetoricians, overcame kings and rulers, defeated barbarians, Greeks, and the entire human race. Well said the prophet. They did all this by word, and by much power they made the dead alive, the sinners righteous, the blind sighted, casting out diseases from the body and vices from the soul. And where did they get such strength? From the Holy Spirit, as it is said: "There appeared to them cloven tongues, as of fire, and rested one upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:3-4). Men and women began to prophesy, as Joel had long foretold in the words: "And it shall come to pass after this, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy; your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions. And also on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out My Spirit, before the great and enlightened day of the Lord comes." (Joel 2:28-31); by the great and enlightened day he means here both the day of the descent of the Spirit and the future day of the end of the world. The same prophet also foretells salvation by faith (for this is not silent) thus: "And it shall come to pass, whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Joel 2:32).

6. That the Lord will send preachers into all the world, and that no one will remain unheard of the preaching, this is also foretold. Listen to the prophetic words of David about this: "Their sound goes through all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world" (Psalm 18:5). The same prophet in another place predicts that they will preach with authority, and will be more powerful than those who are clothed with diadems: "Thou shalt make them princes over all the earth" (Psalm 44:17). Indeed, the very deeds show that Peter and Paul surpassed kings and rulers. The laws of kings are abolished even during their lifetime; and the laws of these fishermen remain firm and unshakable even after their death, although demons, and long-term habit, and impiety, and voluptuousness, and other innumerable powers, tried to overthrow them. Further, wishing to show that these ordained "princes" would be desired and loved by all, the prophet added: "Therefore the nations shall praise Thee for ever and ever" (Psalm 44:18), that is, they will thank Thee, they will cherish great gratitude for the fact that Thou hast granted them such princes. It was also prophesied that the preaching (of the Gospel) would triumph everywhere. See how David presents this to you in these words: "Ask of me, and I will give the nations for your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for your possession" (Psalm 2:8). Another prophet foretells the same thing, expressing himself thus: "The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea" (Isaiah 11:9). And note how easily this submission will be accomplished: "And they shall no more teach one another, brother of brother, and say, 'Know the Lord,' for they shall all know me themselves, from the least to the greatest" (Jeremiah 31:34); and what is the steadfastness of the church: "And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be set at the head of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it" (Isaiah 2:2). And that the Church will not only be firm, unyielding, and immovable, but will also spread abundant peace throughout the world, that after many kingdoms and powers have fallen, a single kingdom will rise above all, in which, not as in the former, abundant peace will reign; - since in ancient times even artists of all kinds and rhetoricians took up arms and joined the ranks of the army, after the coming of Christ all this ceased, and war became the occupation of only famous people; - and about this one prophet clearly said: "They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more" (Isaiah 2:4). In fact, in the past all men were engaged in war: but now they have forgotten the art of war; or rather, most of the people did not touch it at all; and if there are some (engaged in it), then few, rarely and in small numbers, whereas before there were incessant disturbances in every nation. Further, the prophet also predicts who the church will consist of. Since not only modest, meek and good people, but also fierce and inhuman people, and in their morals like wolves, lions and oxen, had to join with them, and all form one church, listen to how the prophet said about the diversity of this flock: "Then the wolf will dwell with the lamb" (Isaiah 11:6), thereby expressing the simplicity of the life of kings. And that it is not about beasts, let the Jew say, when did it happen? The wolf and the lamb never grazed together; and if they had ever begun to graze together, what would have been the benefit to the human race? No, he speaks of people with ferocious morals, of the Scythians, Thracians, Moors, Indians, Sauromatians, Persians. That all these nations would be subject to the same yoke, the other prophet clearly said: "They shall serve Him under one yoke, and shall worship Him every man from his own place" (Zeph. 3:9), not in Jerusalem alone, but throughout the whole world; for there will be no command for people to go to Jerusalem, but each one will remain at home and perform this service.

7. Nor did the prophets keep silent about the fact that the Jews would be rejected; See how the prophet foretold about it: "And the doors will be shut among you, and you will not kindle a fire on My altar freely" (Mal. 1:10). It is also foretold who will serve God: "From the east of the sun to the west," says the prophet, "My Name shall be great among the nations, and in every place they shall offer incense to My name, a pure sacrifice" (Mal. 1:11). Do you see how he depicted the dignity of this divine service, its superiority and establishment in place of the former one, and that this worship will depend not on the place, but on the inner disposition, and will consist not in incense and smoke, but in some other divine service. How, it will be said, did the apostles draw all the nations to themselves? How could one who knew only one language, the Hebrew, convince a Scythian, an Indian, a Sauromat, and a Thracian? Having received from the Holy Spirit the grace-filled gift of many tongues to convince the pagans; and for the persuasion of Israel, the giving of tongues. But the Jews did not heed the conviction, of which, listen to how the prophet says: "With evil lips and in a strange tongue... they will speak to this people, but they would not hear," saith the Lord (Isaiah 28:11-12). "What could be clearer than that?" The Jews did not believe, but the Gentiles were converted; And this was predicted. Listen to the prophet Isaiah, who clearly says: "I have made myself known to them that have not inquired about me; Those who did not seek Me found Me. "Here I am! behold I!' I said to a people who were not called by My name" (Isaiah 65:1); and about the Israelites: "All day long I stretched out My hands to a disobedient people" (Isaiah 61:2); and again: "I ascended before Him as a sprout, and as a sprout out of dry land" (Isaiah 53:2); and again, "Who believed what we heard, and to whom was the arm of the Lord revealed?" (Isaiah 53:1)? The prophet did not say, "to our teaching," wishing to show that the apostles did not speak of themselves, but proclaimed what they had heard from God. That our worship is more excellent than that of the Jews, Moses foretold, saying: "I will provoke you, "not with a people, but with a people of no sense I will grieve" you (Deuteronomy 32:21); by the expression: "not a people," he denoted the former humiliated state of the pagan people, who were not considered a people because of their contemptibility, ignorance, and madness; but the faith produced such a change in the Gentiles that they became much more honorable than the Jews who were honored. Here it is revealed that this will greatly move the Jews and they will become better because of it; for the prophet did not simply say, "I will prefer," but also indicated that their correction would come from envious irritation. "I will provoke you" with "not the people," he says, as if to say: "I will give them so many blessings that you will be jealous, that you will be irritated." This is what made them the best.

Now none of them slaughters their children, does not turn to idols, does not worship the calf. The beauty of virginity in the Old Testament was not even known by name, but in the New Testament it was to shine, as David predicts: "Virgins, her friends, are brought to Thee with gladness and rejoicing, they enter into the palace of the King" (Psalm 44:15-16). The prophets were not silent about the priests, i.e. about the bishops: "I will make peace your ruler, and righteousness your overseers," says Isaiah (Isaiah 60:17).

8. Christ will come again and demand an account from the human race, among other things from the Jews; about this, see how David and Malachi foretold; the latter says, "And who shall endure the day of his coming, and who shall stand when he comes? For He is like a refiner's fire, and like a cleansing lye, and He will sit down to refine and refine silver" (Mal. 3:1-3), in accordance with the words of Paul, who writes thus: "The day will show, because in fire it is revealed" (1 Cor. 3:13). And David, with the words: "God appears, our God is coming" (Psalm 49:2-3), also indicates His second coming. The first coming of Christ was very humble; but the second will not be the same, fear and terror will accompany it, the angels will precede it, and the very appearance will illuminate everything like lightning: "As lightning proceedeth from the east, and is seen even to the west, so shall be the coming of the Son of man" (Matt. 24:27), says the Lord, thus expressing the brilliance that announces itself, since it does not need a herald, but reveals itself. David expresses the same thing in the words: "Our God is coming." Then, depicting the future judgment, the prophet adds: "Before Him is a consuming fire, and around Him is a mighty storm" (Psalm 49:3). Having spoken of punishments, he also depicts the solemnity of judgment: "He calls from above heaven and earth, to judge His people" (Psalm 49:4), meaning by earth the human race. Further, having mentioned the Jews (to whom he is especially addressed) together with the whole human race, the prophet continues: "Gather to Me My saints, who have entered into a covenant with Me at the sacrifice." And the heavens shall declare His righteousness, for God is the judge."

(Psalm 49:5-6). About the abolition of the sacrificial divine service by the coming Christ and the introduction of our divine service in its place, listen to how it is prophesied: "Sacrifice and offering Thou didst not desire; but hath prepared for me a body; burnt offerings and sin offerings Thou didst not demand" (Psalm 39:7); The prophet points out the same thing in another place: "A people whom I did not know serve me; by the mere hearing of me they obey me" (Psalm 17:44-45), i.e. not contemplating the parted sea and the stones parting, but having listened to my apostles. Having said: "And he has prepared for me a body," the prophet adds: "Then I said, Behold, I am coming; in the scroll of the book is written about me" (Psalm 39:8). Two circumstances are indicated here: that the Lord will come, and that He will come when the sacrifices are abolished; This happened when the power over the Jews passed to the Romans. About the coming of the Lord we find a prophecy in Baruch, who says: "He appeared on earth and passed among men." (Baruch 3:38).Moses also says: "I will raise up for them a prophet from among their brethren, such as you, and I will put My words in His mouth, and He will speak to them all that I command Him, and whoever does not listen to My words, which [that Prophet] will speak in My name, from him I will demand" (Deuteronomy 18:12-19). In whom else has this come true, if not in Christ alone? Though many prophets arose, and though the Jews did not listen to all of them, yet they suffered nothing for it; and because of their disobedience to Christ, they now drag out their lives everywhere, as wanderers and homeless, as fugitives and exiles. See how, having lost their citizenship, of their fathers' laws and customs, they are everywhere subjected to dishonor and shame, punishment and torment. And how much they suffered under Vespasian and Titus, it is impossible to say: so their miserable fate exceeded all misfortune; thus the prophetic words were fulfilled: "Whosoever shall not hearken unto my words, which [that prophet] shall speak, from him will I demand." For this reason everything turned into a desert among them, because they did not listen to that Prophet. That the Lord will resurrect all is foretold by Isaiah in these words: "Thy dead shall live, dead bodies shall arise! Arise and rejoice, you who are cast down in the dust: for your dew is the dew of plants, and the earth will vomit up the dead" (Isaiah 26:19). And not only did he predict this, but also that after the Lord's death on the Cross His deeds would be more brilliant, and that after His resurrection His preaching (the Gospel) would be most widespread. He was betrayed by his disciple, bound, insulted, mocked, tortured, and crucified, and would not have received burial if it had depended on the Jews; and His garments were divided by soldiers, and ended His life with suspicion of coveting power, with the name of a blasphemer and a rebel; For it was said of him: "Everyone who makes himself a king is an adversary of Caesar" (John 19:12), and again: "Behold, now you have heard His blasphemy!"

(Matt. 26:65); Since all this was to take place, the prophet, wishing to stir up and encourage the hearer, says: Do not be afraid of this; He who was crucified, scourged, reviled by robbers, killed on suspicion of blasphemy, after death and resurrection will do such deeds of which no one will say that they are not filled with great honor. And this came to pass, as the prophet had long predicted: "And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Gentiles shall turn to the root of Jesse, which shall be as an ensign unto the nations, and his rest shall be glory" (Isaiah 11:10). It is as if he said: "Such a death is more honorable than a diadem; kings, composing diadems, take the cross - a sign of His death; on the porphyry there is a cross, on the diade, on the cross, in prayer the cross, on the arms the cross, on the sacred table the cross, and in all the universe the cross shines brighter than the sun" - "and his rest will be glory."

9. Such are not the works of men; but usually it is the other way around with them! The affairs of famous people, as long as they live, prosper; but after their death they perish. This can be seen in the fate not only of the rich man and the ruler, but even of kings. And their laws are abolished, and their images are obscured, and their memory is destroyed, and their name is forgotten, and those who are close to them are despised; whereas before they brandished their weapons, moved nations and cities with a wave of their movements, and changed the state of affairs, had the power to put to death and restore to life those who were being led away to be executed. All this is disappearing, although it was in glory before. And with Christ, everything is the opposite. Before His death on the Cross, His circumstances were sad; Judas betrayed, Peter denied, the other disciples fled, He alone remained among the enemies; many who believed in Him turned back. But after His suffering and death, so that you may know that the Crucified One was not an ordinary man, the circumstances become more brilliant, more glorious and more excellent. Before the crucifixion of Christ, the chief of the apostles could not endure the threat of the doorkeeper, but after such a last supper he replied that he did not know (Jesus), and after the crucifixion he had passed (with preaching) the universe; From that time innumerable hosts of martyrs were put to death, deciding rather to die than to say what the chief of the apostles had said, fearing the threat of a single doorkeeper. From that time on, all countries, cities and deserts, inhabited and uninhabited places, were proclaimed with the glorification of the Crucified One; Kings, generals, city governors, and judges, slaves and freemen, commoners, wise and foolish, barbarians, and the various tribes of men, who inhabit all the sunflower earth, call on His Name and worship Him, that you may know what it means, "And His rest shall be glory." The very place where the body of the Crucified One was buried, small and very cramped, became more brilliant than the multitude of royal palaces and more honorable than the kings themselves. "And his rest shall be glory." It is especially surprising that the same thing happened not only to Him, but also to His disciples. During their lifetime they were taken and led, subjected to reproach, imprisonment in chains, and other innumerable torments: and after death they became more honorable than the kings themselves. How? This can be seen from the following.

"And there shall be," says the Scriptures, "His rest be His glory!" All the greatness of this honor you will know when you look at the sign of His death, a cursed death, a death the most reproachful of all kinds of death; for this one kind of death is cursed. In ancient times, for example, some criminals were burned, others were stoned, others were deprived of life in some other way of punishment; but he who was crucified and hanged on a tree (of the cross) suffered not only from being punished with such torment, but also from being cursed: "For cursed is in the sight of God [everyone] hanged [on a tree]," says the Scriptures (Deuteronomy 21:23). But this accursed, reproachful sign of extreme torment has now become desirable and gracious.

It shines at the sacred table, at the ordination of priests, and together with the body of Christ at the Last Supper, everywhere it can be seen ascending: in houses, in marketplaces, in deserts, on roads, on mountains, in caves, on hills, on the sea, on ships, on islands, on couches, on garments, on weapons, in palaces, in banquets, on gold and silver vessels, on precious stones, on wall paintings, on the body of sick animals, on the body of demons, in war, in peace, day and night, in feast meetings and in the cells of ascetics; Thus this wondrous gift, filled with ineffable grace, became desired by all! No one is ashamed or closed at the thought that the cross is a sign of accursed death; On the contrary, we all esteem it to adorn us more than crowns and diadems, and many necklaces of precious stones. Thus he became not only not feared, but also desired, amiable and honorable for all, and shines everywhere: on the walls of houses, on roofs, on books, in cities, in villages, in uninhabited and inhabited places. Now I would gladly ask a pagan why this sign of terrible punishment and accursed death has become amiable and desirable to all, if not from the great power of the Crucified One?

10. But if you are so shameless that you consider it as nothing, and rebel against the truth, and remain blind in the light; now I will give you another proof of how important this is. What kind of proof is this? Judges have many kinds of instruments for torment: wood, whips, claws, leaden prongs, with which they scrape the body, tear and break the limbs.

Foreseeing all this, the prophet said: "And his rest will be glory." This sign of death (I will not cease to speak of it constantly) became a source of great blessing, a wall against all danger, a deadly reflection of the devil, a bridle of demons, a menace to opposing forces; he trampled down death, smashed the brass gates of hell, broke its iron cords, destroyed the stronghold of the devil, cut the fetters of sin, delivered the entire universe from condemnation, healed the wound inflicted on our nature by God's decree.