講道集 第 5 章

From a most ancient codex of the abbey formerly of St. Dalmatius, concerning which enough has been said by us in the commentaries, we have transcribed this homily and now publish it into the light for the first time. In the codex indeed it bears the name of St. Maximus, and there is no reason why we should think it ought not to be adjudged to the holy prelate. Celebrating with due honour, brethren, the most solemn nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, let us exult and rejoice in the Lord that He has at last come from the heavens to the earth—a man who is the Son of the eternal God, that He might redeem us from the servitude of the devil. That He descended from the heavens, an inhabitant of the heavens, that He might lead the dwellers on earth into heaven.

For today from a virgin who knew no commerce of any man there came forth a man who is at once God and man. Today one and the same was born as God without any carnal conception, and was made man without any begetter. Him God begot from eternity, and in time, the power of Almighty God working, a chaste virgin received Him. He was born from eternity without any beginning of condition; He arose in time from an immaculate virgin. In the first nativity He was born as God; in the second He was brought forth as man. In the first, as God He made man; in the second He absolved man from the bonds of sin by which he was held. Exult therefore and rejoice, O Zion, since thou hast been freed from all fear of the paternal transgression of old.

For that Lord arose in the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, who mercifully absolved our guilt, whereby wretched mortality had for so long a time been encompassed by the devil's frauds, and who piously shook off the yoke of the ancient servitude from our necks. God, the Son of God, was born of a woman, was wrapped in swaddling-clothes, and laid in a manger (here a leaf is wanting, then there follows). To this God, therefore, at once God and man, let us draw near with humble heart, sincere mind, and chaste obedience. Nor, because we are driven by the clamouring arms of foreigners, which the discord of dissenting kings has stirred up, ought we for that reason not to celebrate with joy the most sacred mysteries of this day;

nay rather, let us for that very reason revere the same with becoming joys, entreating God to deign in His mercy to free us from these perils and to guard us (here ten lines are lacking, which have faded in the codex). Let us, therefore, offer our very selves to Him, that being freed by His same mercy from the impending evils, etc. (the rest is wanting).