This sermon too exists inscribed with the name of St. Maximus in the Venetian codex of St. Mark, of which I made mention in the earlier note. Nor indeed does the flowing, weighty, ornate discourse, furnished with a choice selection of sentiments—in a word, an oration plainly worthy of Maximus—allow us to doubt that it must be attributed to that holy prelate. 'We joyfully sing praises to the Lord our God, while we celebrate the feasts of the holy martyrs, whom we have heard were strengthened by the aid of divine grace, and unconquered amid torments. For He gave them strength and consolation who first deigned to undergo suffering both for them and for us, and gave them abundant exultation, promising them a reward in heaven;'
but now, when the reading of the Gospel was read, you heard the consolation, the Lord saying to them: 'But when you shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, fear not; for these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet' (Luke 21). Our Lord and Saviour, therefore, forewarned His disciples, and through them taught us in the second place, bravely to spurn the terrors and persecutions, and the diversity of tribulations inflicted by persecutors, and to be refreshed by the consolation of eternal life. And because these things happen to us the more often, as our sins demand, we ought therefore always to change our ways and manner of life for the better, to forsake vices, and to grow in holy virtues from day to day, and most patiently to bear the reproaches and torments of this age;
that there may be said of us that which is sung in the psalm: 'The saints shall go from strength to strength' (Ps. 83). This example indeed Christ left us, who shed His blood for us. Let every Christian, therefore, consider by what name he is reckoned, that he may imitate Christ in all things, as far as by His bestowed grace he is able; that as he is a partaker of His very name, so he may be an imitator also of His work. Let him count as nothing the honours and dignities of the world, for love of the heavenly kingdom; and if earthly goods fail him, let them by no means be acquired in the world through robbery and fraud. But if they are possessed, let them not be loved through avarice in the world, but let them be preserved through the bounty of almsgiving, to remain in heaven.
Kindle thyself, therefore, O Christian, with a like ardour of love with the holy martyrs; and if at this time there be not so great a necessity of contending against carnal persecutors, let there be steadfastness in contending also against spiritual enemies, and against the flesh. For although now torments are not inflicted by the pagan for thee to endure, yet temptations are offered by the devil which thou must needs overcome. For the pagan too, raging with bloody hand, slaughtered the martyrs of Christ; but the devil, deceiving with crafty temptations, torments the faithful of Christ the more perilously the more secretly. Then the pagan, raging with the ferocity of a lion, compelled to idolatry; now the devil, persuading with a serpent's tooth, has poured in the poison of perfidy.
The pagan, by slaying the martyrs, sent them to the kingdom; the devil, by seducing, leads them with himself to eternal fire. They, therefore, overcame by enduring the torments of the pagan torturer; do thou overcome by despising the countless temptations of the devil the seducer. They bravely resisted the raging pagan; do thou watchfully resist the seducing devil, relying on the help of Christ. For the truth of the catholic faith contend bravely even to the end, and securely await thy reward. Confess the triune Lord, that is, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, of one substance, if thou wilt possess the kingdom of heaven with all the saints. From this salutary confession be not seduced, enticed by temporal rewards; lest thou be unhappily separated from Christ, and be tormented in the fires of Gehenna.
For if thou hast learned to hold in contempt worldly prosperity and adversity, even if torments be inflicted on thee for the name of Christ, thou wilt in no wise be afraid. Only in thine own strength never trust, if thou desirest to be a victor. Let Christ be to thee a sure hope, who is the unconquered strength, lest the mind of the Christian be broken from the hope of recompense. For as in the contest devoted and steadfast virtue is rewarded, so in peace a faithful conscience is crowned. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, through all the ages of ages. Amen.