The Fifty Spiritual Homilies of Saint Macarius the Egyptian were translated by Thomas Haywood and published in 1721 as Primitive Morality: or, the Spiritual Homilies of Saint Macarius the Egyptian, full of very Profitable Instructions concerning that Perfection, which is Expected from Christians, and which it is their Duty to Endeavour after. Done out of Greek into English, with several Considerable Emendations, and some Enlargements from a Bodleian Manuscript, never before printed. By a Presbyter of the Church of England.
This is an octavo volume measuring 20.3 x 13.4 centimetres (8 x 5 1/4 inches). It is a joy to read this pioneering translation in a copy that is now over three hundred years old, and yet so well preserved.
The fire seen by Moses in the Bush was the same fire that bore Elijah from the earth in a chariot of fire. This fire inflamed the heart of Cleopas and his companion when they conversed with the Risen Christ, and descended on the Apostles on the day of Pentecost. It was of this fire that Christ spoke when he said, I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?
From the translator’s Introduction:
Persons that undertake any thing of this kind, little think beforehand what Difficulties and Discouragements they must expect to Encounter. It was not without some Pleasure, that I Observ’d not many Years since, that a very Great Man complains upon much the same Occasion with my self, that it is Hard with the Help of the Best Copies to Hit the True Meaning of an Author that wrote so long ago, and that the Copies we have are All Defective. For I must own, I never once expected the Tenth Part of the Trouble, which to my Great Surprize I really found in this Work, and which Dr. Grabe indeed at first told me I should meet with. Had I been Sensible of it my self, I doubt I should hardly ever have Submitted to the Performance.
Dear Father Justin, thank you very much for the divine treasure you are sharing with us.