Against those postponing baptism

The sermon “Against Those Postponing Baptism” was delivered by St. Gregory of Nyssa in Caesarea on January 7, 381. In the 4th century. many postponed baptism until the age of 30 (for example, St. Basil the Great and Gregory the Theologian), and some wanted to be baptized without fail in the Jordan and for many years postponed receiving the sacrament until the time of their intended pilgrimage to the Holy Land (for example, Emperor Constantine). Saint Gregory advises the catechumens not to delay baptism, so as not to die in sin. *The title of the work in Greek is Πρὸς τοὺς βραδύνοντας εἰς τὸ βάπτισμα. *The title of the work in Latin is De iis qui Baptismum differunt. The kings of this world, when they write laws prescribing good rules for the life of people, handing them over to their superiors, order them to promulgate them to their subjects, so that in this way what has been legalized will be preserved inviolably. And the great God gave laws to the heads of the churches, which, offering every year at certain times, we read to you and command you to keep what is written as much as possible. So, here is the good Ruler of all things, who returns the years and rules the circle of times, has brought the day of salvation, on which we usually call for the adoption of strangers, the poor, to the communion of grace, those defiled by sins, to the cleansing of sins. And this is that ancient sermon that shortly preceded the appearance of the Savior: “a voice crying in the wilderness; prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths right” (Matthew 3:3). Although I am neither John nor David, let the insignificance of a minister not harm the power of the law of the Lord: for it is not out of respect for the readers of the law that we obey what is prescribed; but fearing the power of the legislator, we obey orders. The royal mercy has come, giving relief to two kinds of mourners: “relief for the chained, forgiveness for the debtors.” Therefore, I offer healing to both, according to each one, and with full confidence I promise help from healing. And so that no one thinks that medicine is expensive, I will tell you in advance about the medicines that I will use for the sick. To some I promise health through water and font; in others I will destroy the disease with a few tears. Just doing the deed, and God has sent a gift, and great in truth is the success of freeing yourself from old wounds, without cauterization or cutting, from which we seriously suffer from snake bites. So, those who suffer, go to your healing, and do not be negligent in this matter. The disease is old and long-lasting and is not inferior to the art of medicine. Poor and poor, hurry to the distribution of royal gifts, sheep - to the seal and the sign of the cross, delivering from evil. Give me names so that I can enter them into visible books and write them down in ink, and God will signify them on imperishable boards, writing them with His finger, as was once the law for the Jews. “Come to Him and be enlightened, and your faces will not be ashamed” (Ps. 33:6) “Wash yourself, ... take away your sins” (Is. 1:16). This was written long before, but the power of Scripture has not become dilapidated, but is growing and strengthening every day. Come out of prison, I ask you. Hate the dark dwellings of sin. Flee the devil as a cruel one. the guard of the prison, feeding on the misfortune of sinners and profiting from it. For just as God is comforted by our righteousnesses, so the author of sin rejoices at our falls. You are outside paradise, sharing the exile of Adam our ancestor. But now the door has been opened for you; go up from where you came, do not delay, so that death, having overtaken you, does not bar your entrance, the harvest of life is near. Perhaps the sickle is sharpening against us, and I am afraid that while we sleep and spend our time idly, the formidable reaper may come unexpectedly. But I am a young man, you say, I have not yet grown old. Death is not embarrassed by the conditions of age, it is not afraid of those in the prime of life; only daily experience teaches you this. You see the bed on which the dead are carried out; no matter how equally and how by chance, he wears out people of all ages, now an old man, tomorrow a tender and joyful youth, a little later a man whose beard barely shows fluff, then a strong and flourishing one, immediately an elderly woman, and with her a maiden. Seeing this, let us beware of fearlessness. It doesn’t take much for a fur filled with air to lose it; the mouth opens a little, and it is not difficult for the person to suddenly give up the ghost. I see that when an earthquake or plague or invasion of enemies happens in the world, everyone rushes diligently to the baptismal sanctuary, so as not to leave the world uninvolved in grace. What then? Do not other various and unexpected misfortunes have a force equal to these disasters: apoplexy, blows, accidental strangulation, disturbances of the winds, and their consequences? Don’t we see how one talks and falls, another eats and stops eating altogether, another sleeps and imperceptibly passes on to death, the sister of sleep? Protect yourself from the impermanence and uncertainty of life. Do not bargain with grace, lest you lose the gift. Borrow as much as can be forgiven, as long as it does not exceed the Tsar’s love for mankind. And earthly rulers, when they catch someone in excessive waste of public property and insatiable use of royal money, without despairing of returning it, severely punish (the spendthrift), being content with punishments instead of money. You spent a lot of time indulging in pleasure; give room for wisdom. Throw off the old man like an unclean, shameful, disgraceful garment, woven from a multitude of sins, knitted from the miserable rags of iniquity. Accept the robe of immortality that Christ stretches out to you; and do not reject the gift, so as not to offend the One who gives. You've been lying in the mud for a long time; hasten, O man, to my Jordan; It is not John who calls you, but Christ who convinces you. For everywhere flows a river of grace; It does not have its source in Palestine and does not hide in the neighboring sea, but flows around the entire universe and flows into paradise, meeting the four rivers flowing from there, bringing into paradise incomparably more precious than what they wore out. For they bear aromas, fruitfulness, and vegetation of the earth; and this one brings (into heaven) people generated by the Spirit. Wherever you lead (this river), there it will flow; pours out over the entire universe and is not exhausted, dividing into channels. For it has a rich source - Christ, and flowing from Him, washes the whole world in waves. It is sweet and drinkable, without any admixture of unpleasant saltiness (for it becomes sweet from the descent of the Spirit, like the source of Marrah, from the touch of a tree - (Ex. 15:23); easily accessible for the pious, but deep and inaccessible to the unclean. Imitate Joshua, take the Gospel, as he did the ark of the covenant; leave the wilderness of sin, cross the Jordan, hasten to dwell in Christ, to a land abundant with joyful fruits, and flowing, according to the promise, with honey and milk. Destroy Jericho, the old way of life, do not leave its stronghold, destroy to the ground the mother of sinful thoughts. Make the wicked Gibeonites slaves of Israel, that is, evil thoughts, the servants of the gospel life. the insidious and covetous Achar, who stole the golden vessel; this is the one who violated the preservation of the honest commandment. All this is an image for us; Finally, release the voracious raven from you (Gen. 8:6–7); give time for the dove to fly to you, which Jesus was the first to figuratively bring down from heaven (Matthew 3:16), a dove that knows no guile, meek, prolific, which, when it finds a man purified like fire, well prepared, dwells in him, warms the soul as if hatching eggs, gives birth to many and beautiful children, that is, good deeds, honest thoughts, faith, piety, truth, chastity, purity, purity; Such are the children of the Spirit, and our acquisitions. How long will you study the first principles (of faith)? Open your soul like a charter, and allow us to outline the perfect teaching; It's not all about babbling with children; don't be a baby meaning. I am ashamed of you that, having already grown old, you are expelled from the catechumens, like an unreasonable child and unable to keep the secret that they intend to proclaim. Join those initiated into the sacraments and learn the secret speeches. Say to us what the six-winged Seraphim say when they sing with perfect Christians. Desire food that strengthens the soul; taste the drink that makes your heart glad; love the mystery that invisibly returns the old to youth. Imitate the fiery desire of the Ethiopian eunuch; for he, after accepting Philip, brought by the Spirit, as a companion on the chariot, during the journey he learned not only to read, but also to understand the wise Isaiah; and with the help of interpretation, like a good hunting dog, sensing blood and a slain lamb, he began to bark loudly at Philip until he led him to a perfect catch of the prophecy that was in his hands; Having desired, he immediately received baptism, without waiting for an inn, without waiting for a city or village or a sacred place. He rightly reasoned that every place is the Lord’s, and every water is suitable for performing baptism, as long as there is faith in the recipient and the blessing of the sanctifying priest. By delaying, do not irritate the baptist, do not anger him, putting it off from day to day and wasting fleeting time in promises. Be careful that you are not rebuked like John, and that you are not called a generation of vipers (Matt. 3, 7) and a deaf asp, who becomes enraged by the voice of the enchanting (Ps. 57:5-6), so that they do not show you a sophisticated and sparkling ax lying by the tree and threatening to be cut (Matthew 3, 10). When choosing between two evils, it is better, having been worthy of saving baptism, to fall again into sin rather than to end one’s life uninvolved in grace. For sin, perhaps, will also receive forgiveness due to God’s love for mankind, for which the good have great hope, but salvation, by exact definition, is completely inaccessible to them. For when I hear that a true voice says: “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless someone is born... from above, he cannot see... the kingdom of God” (John 3:5), then I cannot expect anything good for those not washed with the water of baptism. In fact, what kind of condescension do those deserve who neglected the royal mercy, did not accept forgiveness of debts, and did not give thanks for freedom, appropriating it when it voluntarily descended to them from heaven, but by disdaining the gift brought dishonor to the Giver? I don’t know whether the Angels will accept a soul that is not enlightened and not adorned with the grace of rebirth if it is separated from the body. And how can this be when she is unsealed and does not bear any sign of the Master? Naturally, she will spin in the air, wandering, rushing here and there, not sought by anyone, as if she has no master, wanting peace and shelter and not finding it, vainly mourning, fruitlessly repenting, like a rich man who, dressed in purple and fine linen, prepares substance for an unquenchable fire in all kinds of pleasures and luxurious life. But I want to tell you a story about an unfortunate man who had lost his great hope and was looking for water in a waterless time. Recently, when the invasion of the nomadic Scythians devastated many countries with their inhabitants, in the neighboring city of Komanakh, while the barbarians were plundering the suburbs, one young man of a noble family named Archius, whom I knew well, grieving over his own and the general misfortunes of his fatherland, came out of the city and fortress in order to truly consider how many robbers, barbarians, and how much evil they had done, but when caught by the enemies, he was struck by an arrow. Having fallen and approaching death, as much as he could, he shouted (since he was not baptized), “baptize the mountains and forests, trees, stones, springs, give grace,” and with these pitiful cries he died. The city, having learned about this, grieved more than about the disasters caused by the war. Similar to this are those who accidentally become ill. For when yesterday someone who is healthy and promises himself long years of life experiences the fate of an ancient madman (Lk. 12:20), and he will be hopelessly told that this night your soul will be separated from your body, then there will be a cry and a cry; everything is required as quickly as possible - a vessel, water, a priest, a word, preparing for the reception of grace, which the need requires, but illness interrupts, making breathing strong and frequent. There is confusion no less than that produced by a conflict in war; all the household, meeting each other, rush about, there is a crush, confusion, sad and inarticulate noise everywhere, as if during a night battle; slaves, relatives, friends, children, wives collide with each other. So, while the time of peace, let us arrange our affairs prudently; during the silence and peace of life, accept the gift of Christ, when the recipient of a high and incomparable benefit is gladly included in the list of those being adopted, and everyone who knows him receives indescribable joy and joy from a change for the better. But I am afraid, you say, that our nature is prone to sin, and therefore I am slow to begin the grace of rebirth. Although the pretext of your fear is plausible, and you cover yourself well with a veil of caution, a short question offered to you will easily take off your disguise. You say that you remain a catechumen, fearing sin: tell me, what kind of life are you living: not subject to condemnation, a sinless life, or in sins? If sinless, then why are you afraid of baptism, even before it maintaining the correctness of life prescribed by law? If your life is not pure and attentive, then why do you hesitate in iniquities and acquire skill in evil through long practice? It is clear that you are waiting for your last breath, so that with the acceptance of baptism at the last hour your life will end. This is a new and strange trade, not in gold and clothes, but in a multitude of iniquities, petty profiteering that purifies the soul. How pigs move from puddle to puddle, and the mud serves as their home; Thus, those who have become accustomed to uncleanness add one lawlessness to another, for they either become defiled by fornication, or indulge in vile adultery, or indulge in drunkenness, which arouses evil desires, or commit related and similar sins. They fear baptism as a prohibition of pleasures and a restraint from vile pleasures. So, when someone who uses sins as an excuse for delaying baptism says, “I’m afraid,” it is clear that he is not afraid of sin, but wants to remain longer in a sinful life. And those who have such a bad thought in the depths of their souls, first of all, are not rewarded with grace, but deceiving themselves with vain hopes, they are suddenly caught by death, which overtakes them quietly and unexpectedly, like an insidious thief. But if God, in His great long-suffering and goodness, honors the lover of sin with the sacraments on the last day, they will not receive as much benefit from this bargaining as they think. They think that the kingdom of heaven will immediately open for them; that they will receive a certain dwelling, abundant in wondrous blessings, and will receive honors on a par with the righteous. But this is a vain hope that deceives the soul with a false opinion. It seems to me that the fate of people in the future life will be threefold, speaking without divisions at all. The first order is those worthy of praise and the righteous; the second - both not honored and not punished; the third - those who bear punishment for their sins. Where do we place those who have received the benefit of baptism before death? It is clear that they are in the second category, and this is out of condescension, so that they too would not be deprived of a share in the love of mankind characteristic of God. For he who is negligent about the path of success in virtue is not free from punishment and condemnation, because if the desire for evil exposes him to condemnation, then hatred of good is a clear sign of depravity. So, what great thing will you gain when you lose the kingdom and those promises that no eye has seen and no ear has heard? But I do not tolerate punishment, you say, I am not afraid of threats; It is enough for me if I do not tolerate anything bad, although I do not succeed in anything noble. This is the way of thinking of a crafty slave, condemned to hard work, chains, whips, who only tries to avoid punishment and places the enjoyment of free glory and bright honors at nothing. Such people are disgusted by the very voice of all the saints, the deeds of the righteous from the beginning of the world are disgusted. They all fearlessly loved danger, allowed those who wished to cut and kill the body in various ways, and despite any torment they did not weaken in feat, expecting honor in the kingdom of heaven for blood and courage. For this reason, Abraham, having received the command, sacrificed his son, Moses struggled with the difficulties of the desert, Elijah led a deserted and deprived life; and all the prophets “came in sheepskins and goatskins, in deprivation, in sorrow, in embitterment” (Heb. 11:37). For the sake of this honor, the evangelists suffered wounds for the Gospel and the martyrs fought against executions from their tormentors. And every truly rational person, bearing within himself the image of God and sympathizing with the high and heavenly, would not want to live or be resurrected along with other people who have come to life, if he did not hope to earn praise from God, as a good servant, and to receive some honors. With this way of thinking, David likens his own desire for God to a thirst for olive oil and desires to see the face of God in order to rejoice in mental embraces (Psalm 41:1-3); and Paul desires, having put off the flesh as a heavy and burdensome garment, “to be allowed to be with Christ” (Phil. 1:23). Of course they both meant blissful and unchanging joy. If there is no attraction to it, then everything else in truth, as Ecclesiastes says, is “vanity of vanities” (Eccl. 1:2). So, Christians, partakers of the heavenly calling, avoid any such thought worthy of robbers and evildoers, and do not consider the ability to avoid punishment to be the height of bliss; but covet the gifts and crowns that God has prepared for the ascetics of righteousness. Without guile, wish for baptism, accept the talent and put it to work, and thus, according to the word of the parable, you will be rulers of ten cities (Luke 19:17). And the one who died at the moment of baptism hid the talent in the ground and will certainly hear what was said to the evil and lazy servant (Matthew 25:26). A newly enlightened person, if he does not add keeping the commandment to faith, is in truth nothing more than innocent. He was a prisoner, guilty of countless guilt, fearful of judgment, trembling at the time of answer. The king’s love for mankind suddenly appeared; He opened the prison and released the evil ones. Let us sing and worship the One who bestowed grace, for through the abundance of grace He saved the lives of those who were in despair. And let the pardoned one know himself and behave humbly. Let him not think that he has done anything good, because he is freed from bondage. Forsaking guilt demonstrates the mercy of the forgiver, and not the good behavior of the forgiven. One who has taken the bath of rebirth is like a young warrior who has just been included in the military lists, but has not yet shown anything warlike or courageous. Just as he, having tied a belt and put on a chlamys, does not immediately consider himself brave, and when approaching the king does not speak boldly to him, like an acquaintance, and does not ask for the mercies distributed to those who worked and struggled: so you, having received grace, do not think of living with the righteous and being counted among them, unless you endure many troubles for piety, you will not fight the flesh and then with the devil, and you cannot courageously resist all the shootings of evil spirits. But it is better, if you like, that we will take as our instruction in this case the words of the Lord himself, which will be spoken at the general judgment. What is He saying? “Come, blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34) For what? Not because you put on the clothing of incorruptibility, not because you washed away your sins, but because you did deeds of love, and immediately follows a list of those who were fed, watered, and clothed. And justly the false Judge judges thus; for grace is the gift of the Lord, and the way of life is the work of one who is honored. No one demands a reward for the mercy received, but on the contrary becomes a debtor. Therefore, when we are enlightened by baptism, we owe gratitude to the Benefactor, and our gratitude to God consists in mercy towards our fellow men, in concern for our salvation, in exercise, in virtue. So, give up this vain thought, you who put off baptism until death, knowing that faith requires the companionship of its sister - a good life, which may we be rewarded with according to the good will and help of God; worship is due to Him now and forever. Amen. You might be interested in: