CHAPTER 1.
ENCOURAGES CORINTHIANS BEFORE ADDRESSING THEIR SCHISM.
The Church of God which temporarily resides at Rome, to the Church of God temporarily residing at Corinth, to them that are called and sanctified by the will of God through our Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied unto you, from Almighty God through Jesus Christ.
Dear brethren,
Owing to the sudden and successive calamitous events which have happened to ourselves, we feel that we have been somewhat tardy in turning our attention to the points respecting which you consulted us; and especially to that shameful and detestable rebellion, utterly abhorrent to the elect of God, which a few rash and arrogant people have kindled to such a pitch of frenzy, that your venerable and illustrious name, worthy to be universally loved, has suffered grievous injury. For whoever dwelt even for a short time among you, and did not find your faith to be as fruitful of virtue as it was firmly established? Who did not admire the sobriety and moderation of your godliness in Christ? Who did not proclaim the magnificence of your habitual hospitality? And who did not rejoice over your perfect and well-grounded knowledge?
For you did all things without respect of persons and walked in the commandments of God, being obedient to those who had the rule over you and giving all fitting honor to the presbyters among you. You enjoined young men to be of a sober and serious mind; you instructed your wives to do all things with a blameless, becoming, and pure conscience, loving their husbands as in duty bound; and you taught them that living in the rule of obedience they should manage their household affairs becomingly, and be in every respect marked by discretion.
CHAPTER 2.
PRAISE CONTINUED.
Moreover, you were all distinguished by humility and not puffed up with pride, but yielded obedience rather than extorted it, and were more willing to give than to receive. Content with the provision which God had made for you, and carefully attending to His words, you were inwardly filled with His doctrine, and His sufferings were before your eyes.
Thus, a profound and abundant peace was given and all of you had an insatiable desire for doing good, while a full outpouring of the Holy Spirit was upon you all. Full of holy designs with true earnestness of mind and a godly confidence, you did stretch forth your hands to God Almighty, beseeching Him to be merciful unto you, if you had been guilty of any involuntary transgression. Day and night ye were anxious for the whole brotherhood, that the number of God’s elect might be saved with mercy and a good conscience.
You were all sincere and uncorrupted, and forgetful of injuries between one another. Every kind of faction and schism was abominable in your sight. You all mourned over the transgressions of your neighbors: their deficiencies you deemed your own. You never grudged any act of kindness, being ready to every good work. Adorned by a thoroughly virtuous and religious life, you did all things in the fear of God. The commandments and ordinances of the Lord were written upon the tablets of your hearts.
CHAPTER 3.
ENVY CAUSED THEIR SCHISM.
Every kind of honor and happiness was bestowed upon you, and then was fulfilled that which is written, “My beloved did eat and drink, and was enlarged and became fat, and kicked” (Deut 32:15). Hence flowed emulation and envy, strife, sedition, persecution, disorder, war and captivity. So the worthless rose up against the honored, those of no reputation against such as were renowned, the foolish against the wise, the young against those advanced in years.
For this reason, righteousness and peace are now far departed from you, inasmuch as everyone abandons the fear of God and has become blind in His faith, neither walks in the ordinances of His appointment, nor acts a part becoming a Christian, but walks after his own wicked lusts, resuming the practice of an unrighteous and ungodly envy by which death itself entered into the world.
CHAPTER 4.
ENVY CAUSED MANY EVILS IN OLD TESTAMENT TIMES.
For thus it is written: “And it came to pass after certain days, that Cain brought of the fruits of the earth a sacrifice unto God; and Abel also brought of the firstlings of his sheep, and of the fat thereof. And God had respect to Abel and to his offerings, but Cain and his sacrifices He did not regard. And Cain was deeply grieved, and his countenance fell. And God said to Cain, Why are you grieved, and why has your countenance fallen? If you offer rightly, but dost not divide rightly, hast thou not sinned? Be at peace: thine offering returns to thyself, and thou shalt again possess it. And Cain said to Abel his brother, Let us go into the field. And it came to pass, while they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him” (Gen 4:3-8). You see, brethren, how envy and jealousy led to the murder of a brother.
Envy also made our father Jacob flee from the face of Esau his brother (Gen 27:43).
Envy made Joseph be persecuted unto death, and to come into bondage (Gen 37).
Envy compelled Moses to flee from the face of Pharaoh king of Egypt, when he heard these words from his fellow-countryman, “Who made thee a judge or a ruler over us? wilt thou kill me, as thou didst kill the Egyptian yesterday?” (Exo 2:14)
On account of envy, Aaron and Miriam had to make their abode without the camp (Num 12:14-15).
Envy brought down Dathan and Abiram alive to Hades, through the sedition which they excited against God’s servant Moses (Num 16:33).
Through envy, David underwent the hatred not only of foreigners, but was also persecuted by Saul king of Israel (1 Sa 18:9, 11).
CHAPTER 5.
ENVY CAUSED MANY EVILS IN NEW TESTAMENT TIMES.
But not to dwell upon ancient examples, let us come to the most recent spiritual heroes. Let us take the noble examples furnished in our own generation. Through envy and jealousy, the greatest and most righteous pillars of the Church have been persecuted and put to death. Let us set before our eyes the illustrious apostles.
Peter, through unrighteous envy, endured not one or two, but numerous labors and when he had at length suffered martyrdom, departed to the place of glory due to him.
Owing to envy, Paul also obtained the reward of patient endurance, after being seven times thrown into captivity, compelled to flee, and stoned. After preaching both in the east and west, he gained the illustrious reputation due to his faith, having taught righteousness to the whole world and come to the extreme limit of the west, suffering martyrdom under the prefects. Thus was he removed from the world and went into the holy place, having proved himself a striking example of patience.
CHAPTER 6.
ENVY TORTURED THE FAITHFUL.
To these men who spent their lives in the practice of holiness, there is to be added a great multitude of the elect, who having through envy endured many indignities and tortures, furnished us with a most excellent example. After they had suffered terrible and unspeakable torments being persecuted through envy, those women the Danaids and Dircae finished the course of their faith with steadfastness, and though weak in body, received a noble reward.
Envy has alienated wives from their husbands, and changed that saying of our father Adam, “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh” (Gen 2:23). Envy and strife have overthrown great cities and rooted up mighty nations.
CHAPTER 7.
A CALL TO REPENTANCE.
These things, beloved, we write unto you, not merely to admonish you of your duty, but to also remind ourselves. For we are struggling in the same arena, and the same conflict is assigned to both of us. Therefore, let us give up vain and fruitless cares and approach to the glorious and venerable rule of our holy calling. Let us attend to what is good, pleasing, and acceptable in the sight of Him who formed us. Let us look steadfastly to the blood of Christ, and see how precious that blood is to God, which having been shed for our salvation has set the grace of repentance before the whole world. Let us turn to every age that has passed, and learn that from generation to generation, the Lord has granted a place of repentance to all such as would be converted unto Him.
Noah preached repentance, and as many as listened to him were saved.
Jonah proclaimed destruction to the Ninevites; but they, repenting of their sins, propitiated God by prayer, and obtained salvation, although they were aliens to the covenant of God (Jon 3:5).
CHAPTER 8.
REPENTANCE CONTINUED.
By the Holy Spirit the ministers of the grace of God have spoken of repentance; and the Lord of all things has himself declared with an oath regarding it, “As I live, says the Lord, I desire not the death of the sinner, but rather his repentance” (Eze 33:11).
Adding this gracious declaration, he says “Repent, O house of Israel, of your iniquity. Say to the children of My people, Though your sins reach from earth to heaven, and though they be redder than scarlet, and blacker than sackcloth, yet if ye turn to Me with your whole heart, and say, Father! I will listen to you, as to a holy people” (Apocryphon of Ezekiel).
And in another place He says: “Wash you, and become clean; put away the wickedness of your souls from before mine eyes; cease from your evil ways, and learn to do well; seek out judgment, deliver the oppressed, judge the fatherless, and see that justice is done to the widow; and come, and let us reason together. He declares, Though your sins be like crimson, I will make them white as snow; though they be like scarlet, I will whiten them like wool. And if ye be willing and obey Me, ye shall eat the good of the land; but if ye refuse, and will not hearken unto Me, the sword shall devour you, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken these things” (Isa 1:16-20).
Therefore, desiring that all His beloved should be partakers of repentance, by His almighty will, He has established these declarations.
CHAPTER 9.
THE EXAMPLES OF ENOCH AND NOAH.
Therefore, let us yield obedience to His excellent and glorious will; and imploring His mercy and loving-kindness, while we forsake strife, envy, and all fruitless labor which leads to death. Let us turn and have recourse to His compassion. Let us steadfastly contemplate those who have perfectly ministered to His excellent glory:
Enoch, who being found righteous in obedience, was translated, and death was never known to happen to him (Gen 5:24).
Noah, being found faithful, preached regeneration to the world through his ministry, and the Lord saved by him the animals which entered into the ark with one accord (Gen 7:9).
CHAPTER 10.
THE EXAMPLE OF ABRAHAM.
Abraham, styled “the friend,” was found faithful inasmuch as he rendered obedience to the words of God. In the exercise of obedience, he went out from his own country, kindred, and father’s house, in order that (by forsaking a small territory, weak family, and insignificant house) he might inherit the promises of God. For God said to him, “Get thee out from thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, into the land which I shall show thee. And I will make thee a great nation, and will bless thee, and make thy name great, and thou shall be blessed. And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee; and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed” (Gen 12:1-3).
And again on his departing from Lot, God said to him. “Lift up thine eyes, and look from the place where thou now art, northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward; for all the land which you see, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed forever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth, so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered” (Gen 13:14-16).
And again the Scripture says, “God brought forth Abram, and spoke unto him, Look up now to heaven, and count the stars if thou be able to number them; so shall thy seed be. And Abram believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness” (Gen 15:5-6).
On account of his faith and hospitality, a son was given him in his old age, and in the exercise of obedience he offered him as a sacrifice to God on one of the mountains which He showed him (Gen 21:2, 22:2).
CHAPTER 11.
THE EXAMPLE OF LOT.
On account of his hospitality and godliness, Lot was saved out of Sodom when all the country round was punished by means of fire and brimstone, the Lord thus making it manifest that He does not forsake those that hope in Him, but gives up such as depart from Him to punishment and torture (Gen 19).
For Lot’s wife, who went forth with him being of a different mind from himself and not continuing in agreement with him, was made an example so as to be a pillar of salt unto this day. This was done that all might know that those who are of a double mind and who distrust the power of God, bring down judgment on themselves and become a sign to all succeeding generations (Gen 19:26).
CHAPTER 12.
THE EXAMPLE OF RAHAB.
On account of her faith and hospitality, Rahab the harlot was saved. For when spies were sent to Jericho by Joshua, the son of Nun, the king of the country ascertained that they were come to spy out their land. So he sent men to seize them and put them to death. But the hospitable Rahab receiving them, concealed them on the roof of her house under some stalks of flax.
When the men sent by the king arrived and said “There came men unto thee who are to spy out our land; bring them forth, for so the king commands,” she answered them, “The two men whom ye seek came unto me, but quickly departed again and are gone,” thus not discovering the spies to them. Then she said to the men, “I know assuredly that the Lord your God hath given you this city, for the fear and dread of you have fallen on its inhabitants. When therefore ye shall have taken it, keep ye me and the house of my father in safety.” And they said to her, “It shall be as thou hast spoken to us. As soon, therefore, as you know that we are at hand, thou shalt gather all thy family under thy roof, and they shall be preserved, but all that are found outside of thy dwelling shall perish” (Jos 2).
Moreover, they told her that she should hang a scarlet thread from her house as a sign to this effect. Thus they made it manifest that redemption should flow through the blood of the Lord to all them that believe and hope in God. You see, beloved, that there was not only faith, but prophecy in this woman.
CHAPTER 13.
A CALL TO HUMILITY.
Therefore, brethren, let us be of humble mind. Laying aside all haughtiness, pride, foolishness, and angry feelings, let us act according to that which is written (for the Holy Spirit says, “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, neither let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him that glories glory in the Lord, in diligently seeking Him, and doing judgment and righteousness” (Jer 9:23)), being especially mindful of the words of the Lord Jesus which He spoke, teaching us meekness and long-suffering.
He said, “Be ye merciful, that ye may obtain mercy; forgive, that it may be forgiven to you; as ye do, so shall it be done unto you; as ye judge, so shall ye be judged; as ye are kind, so shall kindness be shown to you; with what measure ye mete, with the same it shall be measured to you.” (Matt 5:7, 6:14, 7:2, 12)
Let us establish ourselves by this precept and by these rules that we walk with all humility in obedience to His holy words. For the holy word says, “On whom shall I look, but on him that is meek and peaceable, and that trembles at My words?” (Isa 66:2)
CHAPTER 14.
OBEY GOD RATHER THAN MAN.
Therefore, men and brethren, it is right and holy to obey God rather than to follow those who through pride and sedition have become the leaders of a detestable emulation. For we shall incur no slight injury, but rather great danger, if we rashly yield ourselves to the inclinations of men who aim at exciting strife and tumults (so as to draw us away from what is good).
Let us be kind one to another after the pattern of the tender mercy and benignity of our Creator. For it is written, “The kindhearted shall inhabit the land, and the guiltless shall be left upon it, but transgressors shall be destroyed from off the face of it” (Pro 2:21-22).
And again the Scripture says, “I saw the ungodly highly exalted, and lifted up like the cedars of Lebanon: I passed by, and, behold, he was not; and I diligently sought his place, and could not find it. Preserve innocence, and look on equity: for there shall be a remnant to the peaceful man.” (Ps 37:35-37)
CHAPTER 15.
FOLLOW THOSE WHO TRULY CULTIVATE PEACE.
Therefore, let us cleave to those who cultivate peace with godliness, and not to those who hypocritically profess to desire it. For the Scripture says in a certain place, “This people honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.” And again: “They bless with their mouth, but curse with their heart.” (Isa 29:13).
And again it says, “They loved Him with their mouth, and lied to Him with their tongue; but their heart was not right with Him, neither were they faithful in His covenant” (Ps 62:4).
“Let the deceitful lips become silent… and the boastful tongue of those who have said, Let us magnify our tongue; our lips are our own; who is lord over us? For the oppression of the poor, and for the sighing of the needy, will I now arise, says the Lord: I will place him in safety; I will deal confidently with him” (Ps 31:18, 12:3-5).
CHAPTER 16.
THE EXAMPLE OF HUMILITY IN CHRIST.
Christ is of those who are of a humble mind, and not of those who exalt themselves over His flock. Our Lord Jesus Christ (the Scepter of the majesty of God) did not come in the pomp of pride or arrogance (although He might have done so), but in a lowly condition, as the Holy Spirit had declared regarding Him.
He says, “Lord, who hath believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? We have declared our message in His presence: He is, as it were, a child, and like a root in thirsty ground; He has no form nor glory, yea, we saw Him, and He had no form nor comeliness; but His form was without eminence, yea, deficient in comparison with the ordinary form of men. He is a man exposed to stripes and suffering, and acquainted with the endurance of grief: for His countenance was turned away; He was despised, and not esteemed. He bears our iniquities, and is in sorrow for our sakes; yet we supposed that on His own account He was exposed to labor, and stripes, and affliction. But He was wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we were healed. All we, like sheep, have gone astray; every man has wandered in his own way; and the Lord has delivered Him up for our sins, while He in the midst of His sufferings opened not His mouth. He was brought as a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before her shearer is dumb, so He opened not His mouth. In His humiliation His judgment was taken away; who shall declare His generation? for His life is taken from the earth. For the transgressions of my people was He brought down to death. And I will give the wicked for His sepulcher, and the rich for His death, because He did no iniquity, neither was guile found in His mouth. And the Lord is pleased to purify Him by stripes. If ye make an offering for sin, your soul shall see a long-lived seed. And the Lord is pleased to relieve Him of the affliction of His soul, to show Him light, and to form Him with understanding, to justify the Just One who ministers well to many; and He Himself shall carry their sins. On this account He shall inherit many, and shall divide the spoil of the strong; because His soul was delivered to death, and He was reckoned among the transgressors, and He bare the sins of many, and for their sins was He delivered.” (Isa 53 [LXX])
Again He says, “I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. All that see Me have derided Me; they have spoken with their lips; they have wagged their head, saying, ‘He hoped in God, let Him deliver Him, let Him save Him, since He delights in Him’” (Ps 22:6-8).
You see, beloved, what is the example which has been given us? For if the Lord humbled Himself in this way, what shall we do who have (through Him) come under the yoke of His grace?
CHAPTER 17.
THE EXAMPLE OF HUMILITY IN THE OLD TESTAMENT.
Let us also be imitators of those who in goat-skins and sheep-skins went about proclaiming the coming of Christ: I mean Elijah, Elisha, and Ezekiel among the prophets, with those others to whom a like testimony is borne in Scripture.
Abraham was especially honored, and was called the friend of God; yet earnestly regarding the glory of God, he humbly declared, “I am but dust and ashes” (Gen 18:27).
Moreover, it is thus written of Job, “Job was a righteous man, and blameless, truthful, God-fearing, and one that kept himself from all evil” (Job 1:1).
But bringing an accusation against himself, he said, “No man is free from defilement, even if his life be but of one day” (Job 14:4-5).
Moses was called faithful in all God’s house. Through instrumentality of Moses, God punished Egypt was punished with plagues and tortures. Yet, though Moses was greatly honored, he did not adopt lofty language. Rather, Moses said (when the divine oracle came to him out of the bush), “Who am I, that Thou sendest me? I am a man of a feeble voice and a slow tongue” (Exo 3:11, 9:10).
*He also said, “I am but as the smoke of a pot.” (1 Chr 29:15).
[*Some scholars suggest that this section actually belongs at the end of Chapter 18]
CHAPTER 18.
THE EXAMPLE OF HUMILITY IN DAVID.
What shall we say concerning David, to whom such testimony was borne, and of whom God said, “I have found a man after Mine own heart, David the son of Jesse; and in everlasting mercy have I anointed him?”
Yet this very man says to God, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, according to Thy great mercy; and according to the multitude of Thy compassion, blot out my transgression. Wash me still more from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my iniquity, and my sin is ever before me. Against Thee only have I sinned, and done that which was evil in Thy sight; that Thou may be justified in Thy sayings, and may overcome when Thou art judged. For, behold, I was conceived in transgressions, and in my sins did my mother conceive me. For, behold, Thou hast loved truth; the secret and hidden things of wisdom hast Thou shown me. Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed; Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Thou shalt make me to hear joy and gladness; my bones, which have been humbled, shall exult. Turn away Thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation, and establish me by Thy governing Spirit. I will teach transgressors Thy ways, and the ungodly shall be converted unto Thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation: my tongue shall exult in Thy righteousness. O Lord, Thou shalt open my mouth, and my lips shall show forth Thy praise. For if Thou had desired sacrifice, I would have given it; Thou wilt not delight in burnt-offerings. The sacrifice [acceptable] to God is a bruised spirit; a broken and a contrite heart God will not despise.”
CHAPTER 19.
IMITATE THESE EXAMPLES AND SEEK PEACE.
Thus the humility and godly submission of so great and illustrious men have rendered us (and all the generations before us), better; even as many as have received His oracles in fear and truth.
Therefore, having so many great and glorious examples set before us, let us turn again to the practice of that peace which from the beginning was the mark set before us; and let us look steadfastly to the Father and Creator of the universe, and cleave to His mighty and great gifts and benefactions of peace. Let us contemplate Him with our understanding, and look with the eyes of our soul to His long-suffering will. Let us reflect how free from wrath He is towards all His creation.
CHAPTER 20.
THE PEACE AND HARMONY OF THE UNIVERSE.
The heavens revolving under His government are subject to Him in peace.
The day and night run the course appointed by Him, in no way hindering each other.
The sun and moon with the companies of the stars roll on in harmony according to His command, within their prescribed limits, and without any deviation.
The fruitful earth, according to His will in the proper seasons, brings forth an abundance of food for man, beast, and all the living beings upon it, never hesitating nor changing any of the ordinances which He has fixed. The unsearchable places of abysses, and the indescribable arrangements of the lower world are restrained by the same laws.
The vast immeasurable sea (gathered together by His working into various basins), does as He commanded and never passes beyond the bounds placed around it. For He said, “Thus far shalt thou come, and thy waves shall be broken within thee.” Impassable to man and the worlds beyond it, the oceans are regulated by the same enactments of the Lord.
The seasons of spring, summer, autumn, and winter, peacefully give place to one another. The winds in their several quarters fulfill their service without hindrance at the proper time.
The ever-flowing fountains, formed both for enjoyment and health, furnish their breasts for the life of men without fail.
The very smallest of living beings meet together in peace and harmony.
The great Creator and Lord of all has appointed all these to exist in peace and harmony. He does good to all, but most abundantly to us who have fled for refuge to His compassion through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom be glory and majesty for ever and ever. Amen.
CHAPTER 21.
HOW CHRISTIANS SHOULD CONDUCT THEMSELVES.
Take heed, beloved, lest His many kindnesses lead to the condemnation of us all. Unless we walk worthy of Him, and with one mind do those things which are good and well-pleasing in His sight. For the Scripture says in a certain place, “The Spirit of the Lord is a candle searching the secret parts of the belly.”
Let us reflect how near He is, and that none of the thoughts or reasoning in which we engage are hid from Him. Therefore, it is right that we should not leave the post which His will has assigned us.
Let us rather offend those men who are foolish, inconsiderate, and lifted up, and who glory in the pride of their speech rather than God.
Let us reverence the Lord Jesus Christ, whose blood was given for us; let us esteem those who have the rule over us.
Let us honor the aged among us.
Let us train up the young men in the fear of God.
Let us direct our wives to that which is good and let them exhibit the lovely habit of purity; Let them show forth the sincere disposition of meekness; Let them make manifest the command which they have of their tongue, by their manner of speaking; Let them display their love not by preferring one to another, but by showing equal affection to all that piously fear God.
Let your children be partakers of true Christian training. Let them learn of how great avail humility is with God—how much the spirit of pure affection can prevail with Him—how excellent and great His fear is, and how it saves all those who walk in it with a pure mind. For He is a Searcher of the thoughts and desires of the heart. His breath is in us, and when He pleases, He will take it away.
CHAPTER 22.
THESE THINGS CONFIRMED BY GOD.
Now the faith which is in Christ confirms all these admonitions. For He Himself by the Holy Ghost thus addresses us: “Come, ye children, hearken unto Me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. What man is he that desires life, and loves to see good days? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers. The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. The righteous cried, and the Lord heard him, and delivered him out of all his troubles.” “Many are the stripes appointed for the wicked; but mercy shall compass those about who hope in the Lord.”
CHAPTER 23.
CHRIST WILL COME AGAIN.
The all-merciful and beneficent Father has bowels of compassion towards those that fear Him, and kindly and lovingly bestows His favors upon those who come to Him with a simple mind.
Therefore, let us not be double-minded; neither let our soul be lifted up on account of His exceedingly great and glorious gifts. Far from us be that which is written, “Wretched are they who are of a double mind, and of a doubting heart; who say, These things we have heard even in the times of our fathers; but, behold, we have grown old, and none of them has happened unto us.”
You who are foolish, compare yourselves to a vine: First it sheds its leaves, then it buds, next come leaves, and then it flowers; after that comes the sour grape, and then follows the ripened fruit. Do you see how in a little time the fruit of a tree comes to maturity? Truly soon and suddenly shall His will be accomplished, as the Scripture also bears witness, saying, “Speedily will He come, and will not tarry;” and, “The Lord shall suddenly come to His temple, even the Holy One, for whom ye look.”
CHAPTER 24.
NATURE DECLARES THE RESURRECTION.
Beloved, let us consider how the Lord continually proves to us that there shall be a future resurrection, of which He has rendered the Lord Jesus Christ the first-fruits by raising Him from the dead. Let us contemplate the resurrection which is always taking place.
Day and night declare to us a resurrection. The night sinks to sleep, and the day arises. The day departs, and the night comes on.
Let us behold the fruits of the earth, how the sowing of grain takes place. The sower goes and casts it into the ground, and the seed being scattered is gradually dissolved (though dry and naked when it fell upon the earth). Then out of its death, the mighty power of the Lord’s providence raises it up again, and from one seed many arise and bring forth fruit.
CHAPTER 25.
THE PHOENIX DECLARES THE RESURRECTION.
Let us consider that wonderful sign of the resurrection which takes place in Eastern lands. That is, in Arabia and the countries round about.
There is a certain bird which is called a phoenix. This is the only one of its kind, and lives five hundred years. When the time of its death draws near, it builds itself a nest of frankincense, myrrh, and other spices. Then when the time is fulfilled, it enters into the nest and dies.
But as the flesh decays, a certain kind of worm is produced. When the worm is being nourished by the juices of the dead bird, it brings forth feathers. When it has acquired strength, it takes up that nest (in which are the bones of its parent) and passes from the land of Arabia into Egypt, to the city called Heliopolis.
Flying in the sight of all men in broad daylight, it places them on the altar of the sun. Having done this, it hastens back to its former abode.
The priests then inspect the registers of the dates and find that it has returned exactly as the five hundredth year was completed.
CHAPTER 26.
WE WILL BE RESURRECTED.
Do we then deem it a great and wonderful thing for the Creator of all things to raise up again those that have piously served Him in the assurance of a good faith, when even by a bird He shows us the mightiness of His power to fulfil His promise?
The Scripture says in a certain place, “Thou shalt raise me up, and I shall confess unto Thee,” and again, “I laid me down, and slept; I awaked, because Thou art with me,” and again, Job says, “Thou shalt raise up this flesh of mine, which has suffered all these things.”
CHAPTER 27.
BIND YOUR SOUL TO CHRIST.
Having this hope, let our souls be bound to Him who is faithful in His promises and just in His judgments. He who has commanded us not to lie, shall much more Himself not lie. For nothing is impossible with God, except to lie.
Therefore, let His faith be stirred up again within us, and let us consider that all things are near unto Him. By the word of His might He established all things, and by His word He can overthrow them.
“Who shall say unto Him, What hast thou done? or, Who shall resist the power of His strength?” When and as He pleases He will do all things, and none of the things determined by Him shall pass away. All things are open before Him, and nothing can be hidden from His counsel.
“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows His handy-work. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night shows knowledge. And there are no words or speeches of which the voices are not heard.”
CHAPTER 28.
REPENT, FOR GOD SEES ALL THINGS.
Since all things are seen and heard by God, let us fear Him and forsake those wicked works which proceed from evil desires, so that through His mercy we may be protected from the coming judgment. For where can any of us flee from His mighty hand? What world will receive any of those who run away from Him?
For the Scripture says in a certain place, “Whither shall I go, and where shall I be hid from Thy presence? If I ascend into heaven, Thou art there; if I go away even to the uttermost parts of the earth, there is Thy right hand; if I make my bed in the abyss, there is Thy Spirit.” Where then shall anyone go? Where shall he escape from Him who comprehends all things?
CHAPTER 29.
DRAW NEAR TO GOD IN PURITY OF HEART.
Let us draw near to Him with holiness of spirit, lifting up pure and undefiled hands unto Him, loving our gracious and merciful Father who has made us partakers in the blessings of His elect.
For thus it is written, “When the Most High divided the nations, when He scattered the sons of Adam, He fixed the bounds of the nations according to the number of the angels of God. His people Jacob became the portion of the Lord, and Israel the lot of His inheritance.”
And in another place the Scripture says, “Behold, the Lord taketh unto Himself a nation out of the midst of the nations, as a man takes the first-fruits of his threshing-floor; and from that nation shall come forth the Most Holy.”
CHAPTER 30.
AVOID THAT WHICH GOD HATES, CLEAVE TO THAT WHICH GOD LOVES.
Therefore, seeing that we are the portion of the Holy One, let us do all those things which pertain to holiness:
- Avoid all evil-speaking
- Avoid all abominable and impure embraces.
- Avoid all drunkenness.
- Avoid seeking after change.
- Avoid all abominable lusts.
- Avoid adultery, which is detestable.
- Avoid execrable pride.
“For God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble,” the Scripture says.
Let us cleave to those to whom grace has been given by God. Let us clothe ourselves with harmony and humility, ever exercising self-control and standing far off from all whispering and evil-speaking, being justified by our works and not our words.
For the Scripture says, “He that speaks much, shall also hear much in answer. And does he that is ready in speech deem himself righteous? Blessed is he that is born of woman, who lives but a short time: be not given to much speaking.”
Let our praise be in God and not of ourselves, for God hates those who praise themselves. Let testimony to our good deeds be said by others, as it was in the case of our righteous forefathers. A bold arrogance and audacity belong to those that are accursed of God, but moderation, humility, and meekness to such as are blessed by Him.
CHAPTER 31.
THE DIVINE BLESSING OBTAINED BY FAITH.
Let us cleave to His blessing and consider what are the means of possessing it. Let us think over the things which have taken place from the beginning.
Abraham, our father, was blessed for what reason? Was it not because he worked righteousness and truth through faith?
Isaac, with perfect confidence (as if knowing what was going to happen), cheerfully yielded himself as a sacrifice.
Jacob, through reason of his brother, went forth with humility from his own land and came to serve Laban. There was given to him the scepter of the twelve tribes of Israel.
CHAPTER 32.
WE ARE JUSTIFIED BY FAITH.
Whoever will honestly consider these matters will recognize the greatness of the gifts which were given by him. For from him have sprung the priests and all the Levites who minister at the altar of God. Also, from him came our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh. From him arose kings, princes, and rulers of the line of Judah. Nor are his other tribes in small glory, inasmuch as God had promised, “Thy seed shall be as the stars of heaven.”
Therefore, all these were highly honored and made great; not for their own sake, nor for their own works, nor for the righteousness which they wrought, but through the operation of His will.
Being called by His will in Christ Jesus, we too are not justified by ourselves, nor by our own wisdom and understanding, nor godliness, nor works which we have wrought in holiness of heart, but by that faith through which Almighty God has justified all men from the beginning.
To God be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
CHAPTER 33.
OUR FAITH IS JUSTIFIED BY WORKS.
Brethren, what shall we do then? Shall we become slothful in well-doing, and cease from the practice of love? God forbid that any such course should be followed by us! Rather, let us hasten with all energy and readiness of mind to perform every good work. For the Creator and Lord of all Himself rejoices in His works.
By His infinitely great power He established the heavens, and by His incomprehensible wisdom He adorned them. He also divided the earth from the water which surrounds it, and fixed it upon the immoveable foundation of His own will. The animals also which are upon it He commanded by His own word into existence. So likewise, when He had formed the sea, and the living creatures which are in it, He enclosed them within their proper boundaries by His own power.
Above all, with His holy and undefiled hands He formed man, the most excellent of His creatures, and truly great through the understanding given him— the express likeness of His own image. For thus says God: “Let us make man in Our image, and after Our likeness. So God made man; male and female He created them.” Having thus finished all these things, He approved them, and blessed them, and said, “Increase and multiply.”
We see then, how all righteous men have been adorned with good works, and how the Lord rejoiced, adorning Himself with His works. Therefore, having such an example, let us surrender to His will without delay and let us work the work of righteousness with our whole strength.
CHAPTER 34.
GREAT IS THE REWARD FOR GOOD WORKS.
The good servant receives the bread of his labor with confidence, but the lazy and slothful cannot look his employer in the face. It is requisite, therefore, that we be prompt in the practice of well-doing; for of Him are all things.
Thus He forewarns us: “Behold, the Lord cometh, and His reward is before His face, to render to every man according to his work.” He exhorts us to attend to this with our whole heart, that we be not lazy or slothful in any good work. Let our boasting and our confidence be in Him. Let us submit ourselves to His will.
Let us consider the whole multitude of His angels, how they stand ever ready to minister to His will. For the Scripture says, “Ten thousand times ten thousand stood around Him, and thousands of thousands ministered unto Him, and cried, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of Sabaoth; the whole creation is full of His glory.”
Therefore, let us conscientiously gathering together in harmony, cry to Him earnestly as with one mouth, that we may be made partakers of His great and glorious promises. For the Scripture says, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which He hath prepared for them that wait for Him.”
CHAPTER 35.
SEEK THAT WHICH IS ACCEPTABLE TO GOD.
Beloved, how blessed and wonderful are the gifts of God! Life in immortality, splendor in righteousness, truth in perfect confidence, faith in assurance, self-control in holiness! And all these are subject to our understanding. What then shall those things be which are prepared for such as wait for Him? The Creator and Father of all worlds, the Most Holy, alone knows their magnitude and their beauty.
Therefore, let us earnestly strive to be found in the number of those that wait for Him, in order that we may share in His promised gifts. But how, beloved, shall this be done? If our understanding be fixed by faith towards God; if we earnestly seek the things which are pleasing and acceptable to Him; if we do the things which are in harmony with His blameless will; and if we follow the way of truth, casting away from us all unrighteousness and iniquity, along with all covetousness, strife, evil practices, deceit, whispering, and evil-speaking, all hatred of God, pride and haughtiness, vainglory and ambition.
They that do such things hate God. And not only they, but also those who approve of them. For the Scripture says, “But to the sinner God said, Wherefore dost thou declare my statutes, and take my covenant into thy mouth, seeing thou hates instruction, and casts my words behind thee? When thou saw a thief, thou consented with him, and didst make thy portion with adulterers. Thy mouth has abounded with wickedness, and thy tongue contrived deceit. Thou sit, and speak against thy brother; thou slander thine own mother’s son. These things thou hast done, and I kept silence; thou thought, wicked one, that I should be like to thyself. But I will reprove thee, and set thyself before thee. Consider now these things, ye that forget God, lest He tear you in pieces, like a lion, and there be none to deliver. The sacrifice of praise will glorify Me, and a way is there by which I will show him the salvation of God.”
CHAPTER 36.
ALL BLESSINGS GIVEN THROUGH CHRIST.
Beloved, this is the way in which we find our Savior Jesus Christ, the High Priest of all our offerings, the defender and helper of our infirmity.
By Him we look up to the heights of heaven.
By Him we behold, as in a glass, His immaculate and most excellent visage.
By Him are the eyes of our hearts opened.
By Him our foolish and darkened understanding blossoms up anew towards His marvelous light.
By Him the Lord has willed that we should taste of immortal knowledge, “who, being the brightness of His majesty, is by so much greater than the angels, as He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.”
For it is thus written, “Who makes His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire.” But concerning His Son the Lord spoke thus: “Thou art my Son, to-day have I begotten Thee. Ask of Me, and I will give Thee the heathen for Thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession.” And again He says to Him, “Sit Thou at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool.”
But who are His enemies? All the wicked, and those who set themselves to oppose the will of God.
CHAPTER 37.
LAYMEN SHOULD ACT LIKE OBEDIENT SOLDIERS UNDER A GENERAL.
Men and brethren, let us with all of our energy act like soldiers in accordance with His holy commandments.
Let us consider those who serve under our generals, and how they perform the things commanded of them with such order, obedience, and submissiveness. Not everyone is a prefect nor a commander of a thousand, but each one in his own rank performs the things commanded by the king and the generals. The great cannot live without the small, nor can the small live without the great. There is a kind of mixture in all things, and from this arises mutual advantage.
Let us take our body for an example: The head is nothing without the feet, and the feet are nothing without the head. Indeed, the very smallest members of our body are necessary and useful to the whole body. All work together in harmony, and they are under one common rule for the preservation of the whole body.
CHAPTER 38.
NO INDIVIDUAL SHOULD EXALT HIMSELF ABOVE ANOTHER.
Let our whole body be preserved in Christ Jesus, and let everyone be subject to his neighbor according to the special gift bestowed upon him.
Let the strong not despise the weak and let the weak show respect unto the strong.
Let the rich man provide for the wants of the poor and let the poor man bless God (because He has given him one by whom his need may be supplied).
Let the wise man display his wisdom, not with words, but through good deeds.
Let the humble not bear testimony to himself, but leave witness to be brought to him by another.
Let him that is pure in the flesh not grow proud of it and boast, knowing that it was another who bestowed on him the gift of abstinence.
Let us consider, then, brethren, of what matter we were made—who and what manner of beings we came into the world, as it were out of a sepulcher, and from utter darkness. He who made us and fashioned us, having prepared His bountiful gifts for us before we were born, introduced us into His world. Therefore, since we receive all these things from Him, we ought to give Him thanks for everything.
To Him be glory for ever and ever.
Amen.
CHAPTER 39.
MAN HAS NOTHING TO EXALT.
Foolish and inconsiderate men who have neither wisdom nor instruction, mock and ridicule us. They are eager to exalt themselves in their own conceit.
What can a mortal man do? What strength is there in one made out of the dust?
It is written, “There was no shape before mine eyes, only I heard a sound, and a voice saying, What then? Shall a man be pure before the Lord? or shall such a one be counted blameless in his deeds, seeing He does not confide in His servants, and has charged even His angels with perversity? The heaven is not clean in His sight: how much less they that dwell in houses of clay, of which also we ourselves were made! He smote them as a moth; and from morning even until evening they endure not. Because they could furnish no assistance to themselves, they perished. He breathed upon them, and they died, because they had no wisdom. But call now, if any one will answer thee, or if thou wilt look to any of the holy angels; for wrath destroys the foolish man, and envy kills him that is in error. I have seen the foolish taking root, but their habitation was presently consumed. Let their sons be far from safety; let them be despised before the gates of those less than themselves, and there shall be none to deliver. For what was prepared for them, the righteous shall eat; and they shall not be delivered from evil.”
CHAPTER 40.
CHURCH ORDER.
Therefore, these things being manifest to us (and since we look into the depths of the divine knowledge), it suits us to do all things which the Lord has commanded us to perform at stated times in their proper order.
He has enjoined offerings to be presented and service to be performed to Him, and not thoughtlessly or irregularly, but at the appointed times and hours. Where and by whom He desires these things to be done, He Himself has fixed by His own supreme will, in order that all things being piously done according to His good pleasure and may be acceptable unto Him.
Therefore, those who present their offerings at the appointed times are accepted and blessed. Inasmuch as they follow the laws of the Lord, they do not sin.
His own peculiar services are assigned to the high priest.
Their own proper place is prescribed to the priests.
Their own special administrations are entrusted to the Levites.
The laymen are bound by the laws that pertain to laymen.
CHAPTER 41.
THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN LITURGICAL ORDER.
Brethren, let every one of you give thanks to God in his own order, living in all good conscience, with becoming gravity and not going beyond the rule of the ministry prescribed to him.
Brethren, the daily sacrifices are not offered in every place (nor the peace-offerings, sin-offerings and trespass-offerings), but in Jerusalem only. And even there they are not offered in any place, but only at the altar before the temple, that which is offered being first carefully examined by the high priest and the ministers already mentioned.
Therefore, those who do anything beyond that which is agreeable to His will are punished with death. You see, brethren, that the greater the knowledge that has been vouchsafed to us, the greater also is the danger to which we are exposed.
CHAPTER 42.
BISHOPS AND DEACONS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN GOD’S ORDER.
The apostles have preached the Gospel to us from the Lord Jesus Christ; Jesus Christ has done so from God. Christ therefore was sent forth by God, and the apostles by Christ. Both these appointments were made in an orderly way, according to the will of God.
Having received their orders and being fully assured by the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, and established in the word of God with full assurance of the Holy Ghost, they went forth proclaiming that the kingdom of God was at hand. Thus, preaching through countries and cities, they appointed the first-fruits of their labors (having first proved them by the Spirit) to be bishops, and deacons of those who should afterwards believe.
This was not a new thing, since many ages before it was written concerning bishops and deacons. For says the Scripture in a certain place, “I will appoint their bishops in righteousness, and their deacons in faith” (Isa 60:17 [LXX]).
CHAPTER 43.
MOSES AND THE PRIESTHOOD.
What wonder is it if those in Christ who were entrusted with such a duty by God appointed those aforementioned ministers, when the blessed Moses also, “a faithful servant in all his house,” noted down in the sacred books all the injunctions which were given him, and when the other prophets also followed him bearing witness with one consent to the ordinances which he had appointed?
For, when rivalry arose concerning the priesthood, and the tribes were contending among themselves as to which of them should be adorned with that glorious title, he commanded the twelve princes of the tribes to bring him their rods, each one being inscribed with the name of the tribe. He took them, bound them together, sealed them with the rings of the princes of the tribes, and laid them up in the tabernacle of witness on the table of God.
Having shut the doors of the tabernacle, he sealed the keys as he had done the rods, and said to them, “Men and brethren, God chose the tribe whose rod shall blossom to fulfill the office of the priesthood, and to minister unto Him.”
When the morning was come, he assembled all Israel (six hundred thousand men) and showed the seals to the princes of the tribes, opened the tabernacle of witness, and brought forth the rods. The rod of Aaron was found not only to have blossomed, but to bear fruit upon it.
What do you think, beloved? Did Moses not know beforehand that this would happen? Undoubtedly he knew; but he acted this way that there might be no sedition in Israel, and that the name of the true and only God might be glorified; to whom be glory for ever and ever.
Amen.
CHAPTER 44.
APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION.
Our apostles also knew through our Lord Jesus Christ that there would be strife on account of the office of the bishop. For this reason inasmuch as they had obtained a perfect foreknowledge of this, they ordained bishops. Afterwards, they gave instructions that when they fall asleep, other approved men should succeed them in their ministry.
Therefore, we are of opinion that those ordained by the apostles, or those ordained afterwards by other reputable men (with the consent of the whole Church), and who have blamelessly served the flock of Christ in a humble, peaceable, and disinterested spirit, and have for a long time possessed the good opinion of all, cannot be justly dismissed from the ministry. For great is our sin if we reject from the episcopate those who have blamelessly and wholly fulfilled its duties.
Blessed are those presbyters who having finished their course before now, have obtained a fruitful and perfect departure from this world; for they have no fear lest any one deprive them of the place now appointed them. But we see that you have removed some men of excellent behavior from the ministry which they fulfilled blamelessly and with honor.
CHAPTER 45.
THE HOLY ARE PERSECUTED ONLY BY THE WICKED.
You are fond of contention, brethren, and full of zeal about things which do not pertain to salvation. Look carefully into the Scriptures, which are the true utterances of the Holy Spirit. Observe that nothing of an unjust or counterfeit character is written in them. There you will not find that the righteous were cast off by men who themselves were holy.
The righteous were indeed persecuted, but only by the wicked. They were cast into prison, but only by the unholy; they were stoned, but only by transgressors; they were slain, but only by the accursed, and such as had conceived an unrighteous envy against them. Exposed to such sufferings, they endured them gloriously.
For what shall we say, brethren? Was Daniel cast into the den of lions by such as feared God?
Were Ananias, and Azarias, and Mishael shut up in a furnace of fire by those who observed the great and glorious worship of the Most High? Far from us be such a thought! Who, then, were they that did such things? The hateful, and those full of all wickedness, were roused to such a pitch of fury, that they inflicted torture on those who served God with a holy and blameless purpose of heart, not knowing that the Most High is the Defender and Protector of all such as with a pure conscience venerate His all-excellent name; to whom be glory for ever and ever.
Amen.
But they who with confidence endured these things are now heirs of glory and honor, and have been exalted and made illustrious by God in their memorial for ever and ever.
Amen.
CHAPTER 46.
SCHISM IS NOT OF GOD.
It is right that we should follow such examples; since it is written, “Cleave to the holy, for those that cleave to them shall themselves be made holy.”
And again, in another place, the Scripture says, “With a harmless man thou shalt prove thyself harmless, and with an elect man thou shalt be elect, and with a perverse man thou shalt show thyself perverse.”
Let us cleave to the innocent and righteous, since they are the elect of God. Why is there strife, tumult, division, schism, and war among you? Have we not one God and one Christ? Is there not one Spirit of grace poured out upon us? And have we not one calling in Christ? Why do we divide and tear to pieces the members of Christ, and raise up strife against our own body, and have reached such a height of madness as to forget that “we are members one of another?”
Remember the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, how He said, “Woe to that man by whom offences come! It were better for him that he had never been born, than that he should cast a stumbling-block before one of my elect. Yea, it were better for him that a millstone should be hung about [his neck], and he should be sunk in the depths of the sea, than that he should cast a stumbling-block before one of my little ones.”
Your schism has subverted the faith of many, has discouraged many, has given rise to doubt in many, and has caused grief to us all. And still your sedition continues.
CHAPTER 47.
REMEMBER THE WORDS PAUL WROTE TO YOU.
Take up the epistle of the blessed Apostle Paul. What did he write to you at the time when the Gospel first began to be preached? Truly, under the inspiration of the Spirit, he wrote to you concerning himself, and Peter, and Apollos, because even then tribes had been formed among you. But that inclination to put one above another entailed less guilt upon you, inasmuch as your partiality was then shown towards apostles, already of high reputation, and towards a man whom they had approved.
But now reflect who those are that have perverted you, and lessened the renown of your far-famed brotherly love. It is disgraceful, beloved. Highly disgraceful, and unworthy of your Christian profession that such a thing should be heard of as that the most steadfast and ancient Church of the Corinthians should, on account of one or two persons, engage in sedition against its presbyters. And this rumor has reached not only us, but those also who are unconnected with us; so that, through your infatuation, the name of the Lord is blasphemed while danger is also brought upon yourselves.
CHAPTER 48.
RETURN TO THE PRACTICE OF BROTHERLY LOVE.
Therefore, let us with all haste put an end to this state of things. Let us fall down before the Lord and beseech Him with tears, that He would mercifully be reconciled to us and restore us to our former seemly and holy practice of brotherly love. For such conduct is the gate of righteousness, which is set open for the attainment of life, as it is written, “Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will go in by them, and will praise the Lord: this is the gate of the Lord: the righteous shall enter in by it.”
Although many gates have been set open, yet this gate of righteousness is that gate in Christ by which blessed are all they that have entered in and have directed their way in holiness and righteousness, doing all things without disorder.
Let a man be faithful; let him be powerful in the utterance of knowledge; let him be wise in judging of words; let him be pure in all his deeds; yet the more he seems to be superior to others, the more humble-minded he should be, seeking the common good of all, and not merely his own advantage.
CHAPTER 49.
THE COMMANDMENTS OF CHRIST BIND US TO LOVE.
Let him who has love in Christ keep the commandments of Christ. Who can describe the bond of the love of God? What man is able to tell the excellence of its beauty, as it ought to be told? The height to which love exalts is unspeakable.
Love unites us to God. Love covers a multitude of sins. Love bears all things, is long-suffering in all things. There is nothing base, nothing arrogant in love. Love admits of no schisms: love gives rise to no seditions: love does all things in harmony. By love have all the elect of God been made perfect; without love nothing is well-pleasing to God. In love has the Lord taken us to Himself. On account of the Love he bore us, Jesus Christ our Lord gave His blood for us by the will of God; His flesh for our flesh, and His soul for our souls.
CHAPTER 50.
LET US PRAY TO BE THOUGHT WORTHY OF LOVE.
Beloved, do you see how great and wonderful a thing is love, and that there is no declaring its perfection? Who is fit to be found in it, except such as God has vouchsafed to render so?
Therefore, let us pray and implore of His mercy, that we may live blameless in love and free from all human partiality which puts one above another. All the generations from Adam even unto this day have passed away, but those who have been made perfect in love (through the grace of God) now possess a place among the godly, and shall be made manifest at the revelation of the kingdom of Christ. It is written, “Enter into thy secret chambers for a little time, until my wrath and fury pass away; and I will remember a propitious day, and will raise you up out of your graves.”
Beloved, we are blessed if we keep the commandments of God in the harmony of love; that so through love our sins may be forgiven us. It is written, “Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not impute to him, and in whose mouth there is no guile.”
This blessedness comes upon those who have been chosen by God through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom be glory for ever and ever.
Amen.
CHAPTER 51.
REPENT AND DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEART.
Let us implore forgiveness for all those transgressions which through any suggestion of the adversary we have committed. Those who have been the rebellious leaders of schism and disagreement should have respect for the common hope, because those who live in fear and love would rather that they themselves (rather than their neighbors) should be involved in suffering. Such people prefer to bear blame themselves, rather than that the unity which has been well and piously handed down to us should suffer.
It is better that a man should acknowledge his own transgressions rather than harden his heart like those who stirred up sedition against Moses (the servant of God), and whose condemnation was made manifest unto all.
They went down alive into Hades, and death swallowed them up.
Pharaoh with his army and all the princes of Egypt, and the chariots with their riders, were sunk in the depths of the Red Sea, and perished for no other reason than that their foolish hearts were hardened after so many signs and wonders had been wrought in the land of Egypt by Moses the servant of God.
CHAPTER 52.
THE LORD DESIRES CONFESSION.
Brethren, the Lord stands in need of nothing, and He desires nothing of any one except that confession be made to Him. For, says the elect David, “I will confess unto the Lord; and that will please Him more than a young bullock that hath horns and hoofs. Let the poor see it, and be glad.”
And again he says, “Offer unto God the sacrifice of praise, and pay thy vows unto the Most High. And call upon Me in the day of thy trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.” For “the sacrifice of God is a broken spirit.”
CHAPTER 53.
REMEMBER MOSES.
You understand, beloved, you all understand well the Sacred Scriptures, and you have looked very earnestly into the prophets of God. Call then these things to your remembrance…
When Moses went up into the mount and lived there with fasting and humility forty days and forty nights, the Lord said unto him, “Moses, Moses, get thee down quickly from hence; for thy people whom thou didst bring out of the land of Egypt have committed iniquity. They have speedily departed from the way in which I commanded them to walk, and have made to themselves molten images.” And the Lord said unto him, “I have spoken to thee once and again, saying, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiff-necked people: let Me destroy them, and blot out their name from under heaven; and I will make thee a great and wonderful nation, and one much more numerous than this.” But Moses said, “Far be it from Thee, Lord: pardon the sin of this people; else blot me also out of the book of the living.”
O marvelous love! O insuperable perfection! The servant speaks freely to his Lord asking forgiveness for the people, and begging that he himself might perish along with them.
CHAPTER 54.
THOSE WHO HAVE LOVE WILL OFFER THEMSELVES FOR OTHERS.
Who among you is noble-minded? Who is compassionate? Who is full of love?
Let him declare, “If I am the cause of sedition, disagreement and schisms, I will depart. I will go away wherever you desire, and I will do whatever the majority commands; only let the flock of Christ live united on terms of peace with the presbyters set over it.”
He that acts this way shall procure to himself great glory in the Lord; and every place will welcome him. For “the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.”
Those who have performed their civic duty to God (without regrets) have done these things and continue to do them.
CHAPTER 55.
EXAMPLES OF LOVE.
To bring forward some examples from among the heathen: Many kings and princes, in times of pestilence, when they had been instructed by an oracle, have given themselves up to death in order that by their own blood they might deliver their fellow-citizens from destruction. Many have gone forth from their own cities, that so sedition might be brought to an end within them.
We know many among ourselves who have given themselves up to bonds, in order that they might ransom others.
Many, too, have surrendered themselves to slavery, that with the price which they received for themselves, they might provide food for others.
Many women also, being strengthened by the grace of God, have performed numerous manly exploits.
The blessed Judith, when her city was besieged, asked of the elders permission to go forth into the camp of the strangers; and, exposing herself to danger, she went out for the love which she bare to her country and people then besieged; and the Lord delivered Holofernes into the hands of a woman.
Esther also, being perfect in faith, exposed herself to no less danger in order to deliver the twelve tribes of Israel from impending destruction. For with fasting and humility she entreated the everlasting God, who sees all things; and perceiving the humility of her spirit, He delivered the people for whose sake she had encountered peril.
CHAPTER 56.
LET US ADMONISH ONE ANOTHER TO EXPRESS OUR LOVE.
Let us also pray for those who have fallen into any sin, that meekness and humility may be given to them so that they may submit, not to us, but to the will of God. For in this way they shall secure a fruitful and perfect remembrance from us (with sympathy for them) both in our prayers to God and our mention of them to the saints.
Beloved, let us receive correction on account of which no one should feel displeased. Those exhortations by which we admonish one another are both good and highly profitable, for they tend to unite us to the will of God. For thus says the holy Word: “The Lord hath severely chastened me, yet hath not given me over to death.”
“For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.”
“The righteous shall chasten me in mercy, and reprove me; but let not the oil of sinners make fat my head.”
And again he says, “Blessed is the man whom the Lord reproves, and reject not thou the warning of the Almighty. For He causes sorrow, and again restores [to gladness]; He wounds, and His hands make whole. He shall deliver thee in six troubles, yea, in the seventh no evil shall touch thee. In famine He shall rescue thee from death, and in war He shall free thee from the power of the sword. From the scourge of the tongue will He hide thee, and thou shalt not fear when evil comes. Thou shalt laugh at the unrighteous and the wicked, and shalt not be afraid of the beasts of the field. For the wild beasts shall be at peace with thee: then shalt thou know that thy house shall be in peace, and the habitation of thy tabernacle shall not fail. Thou shall know also that thy seed shall be great, and thy children like the grass of the field. And thou shall come to the grave like ripened corn which is reaped in its season, or like a heap of the threshing-floor which is gathered together at the proper time.”
You see, beloved, that protection is afforded to those that are chastened of the Lord: for since God is good, He corrects us, that we may be admonished by His holy chastisement.
CHAPTER 57.
THE LEADERS OF THE REBELLION MUST REPENT.
You who laid the foundation of this rebellion, submit yourselves to the presbyters and receive correction so as to repent. Bend the knees of your hearts. Learn to be subject, laying aside the proud and arrogant insolence of your tongue. For it is better for you that you occupy a humble but honorable place in the flock of Christ, rather than being highly exalted, you get thrown out of the hope of His people.
For thus speaks all-virtuous Wisdom: “Behold, I will bring forth to you the words of My Spirit, and I will teach you My speech. Since I called, and ye did not hear; I held forth My words, and ye regarded not, but set at naught My counsels, and yielded not at My reproofs; therefore, I too will laugh at your destruction; yea, I will rejoice when ruin cometh upon you, and when sudden confusion overtakes you, when overturning presents itself like a tempest, or when tribulation and oppression fall upon you. For it shall come to pass, that when ye call upon Me, I will not hear you; the wicked shall seek Me, and they shall not find Me. For they hated wisdom, and did not choose the fear of the Lord; nor would they listen to My counsels, but despised My reproofs. Wherefore they shall eat the fruits of their own way, and they shall be filled with their own ungodliness.”
CHAPTER 58.
BLESSING FOR ALL THAT CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD.
May God, who sees all things, and who is the Ruler of all spirits and the Lord of all flesh—who chose our Lord Jesus Christ (and us through Him) to be a peculiar people—grant faith, fear, peace, patience, long-suffering, self-control, purity, and sobriety to every soul that calls upon His glorious and holy Name, to the well-pleasing of His Name, through our High Priest and Protector Jesus Christ, by whom be to Him glory, and majesty, and power, and honor, both now and ever.
Amen.
CHAPTER 59.
EXHORTATION TO QUICKLY INFORM ROME.
Send back speedily to us in peace and with joy our messengers to you: Claudius Ephebus and Valerius Bito, with Fortunatus: that they may the sooner announce to us the peace and harmony we so earnestly desire and long for, and that we may the more quickly rejoice over the good order re-established among you.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you, and with all everywhere that are the called of God through Him, by whom be to Him glory, honor, power, majesty, and eternal dominion, from everlasting to everlasting.
Amen.
