Treatises & Letters 14 part 6/8

Happy are those who shall watch and keep their garments, lest they walk naked and men see their shame. Likewise the apostle to Timothy, second epistle: 'I am now being offered up, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall render to me in that day; and not to me only, but also to all who love his coming.' Likewise to the Romans: 'We are the sons of God. And if sons, then heirs also, joint-heirs indeed with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified together with him.' Likewise in Psalm 118: 'Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are they who search out his testimonies.'

THAT THE THINGS WE SUFFER IN THIS WORLD ARE OF LESS ACCOUNT THAN IS THE REWARD WHICH IS PROMISED. Paul the apostle to the Romans: 'The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come, which shall be revealed in us.' [Of this same matter in the Maccabees: 'O Lord, who have holy knowledge, it is manifest that, though I might be delivered from death, I endure most grievous pains of body, being scourged with whips; yet in soul, because of the fear of you yourself, I gladly suffer these things.' Likewise there: 'You indeed, O powerless one, take us out of this present life; but the King of the world shall raise us up, who die for his laws, unto an eternal resurrection of life.' Likewise there: 'It is better, being given over to death by men, to await the hope from God, that we shall again be raised up by him.'

For you shall have no resurrection unto life. Likewise there: 'Having power among men, though you are corruptible, you do what you will. But think not that our race is forsaken by God. Wait and see how his great power shall torment you and your seed.' Likewise there: 'Be not deceived in vain; for we suffer these things for our own sakes, having sinned against our God. But do you not think that you shall go unpunished, who have undertaken to fight against God.'] THAT NOTHING IS TO BE PREFERRED TO THE LOVE OF GOD AND OF CHRIST. In Deuteronomy: 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength.' Likewise in the Gospel according to Matthew: 'He that loves father or mother above me is not worthy of me; and he that loves son'

or daughter above me is not worthy of me; and he that does not take up his cross and follow me is not my disciple. Likewise Paul the apostle to the Romans: 'Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: For your sake we are put to death all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. But in all these things we more than conquer, through him who loved us.' THAT WE MUST OBEY NOT OUR OWN WILL, BUT THE WILL OF GOD. In the Gospel according to John: 'I came down from heaven not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me.' Likewise according to Matthew: 'Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless not as I will, but as you will.'

Likewise in the daily prayer: 'Your will be done, in heaven and on earth.' Likewise according to Matthew: 'Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven, he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.' Likewise according to Luke: 'But that servant who knows the will of his lord, and does not obey his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.' Likewise in the epistle of John: 'But he who does the will of God abides for ever, even as he himself abides for ever.' THAT THE FOUNDATION AND STRENGTH OF HOPE AND FAITH IS FEAR. In Psalm 110: 'The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord.' Likewise in the Wisdom of Solomon: 'The beginning of wisdom is to fear God.' Likewise in Proverbs:

'Blessed is the man who reverences all things through fear.' Likewise in Isaiah: 'And upon whom else shall I look, but upon the humble and quiet, and him who trembles at my words?' Likewise in Genesis: 'And the angel of the Lord called him from heaven and said to him: Abraham, Abraham. And he said: Behold, here am I. And he said: Lay not your hand upon the boy, neither do anything to him; for now I know that you fear your God, and have not spared your most beloved son for my sake.' Likewise in the second Psalm: 'Serve the Lord in fear, and rejoice in him with trembling.' [Likewise in Deuteronomy, the voice of God to Moses: 'Call the people together to me, and let them hear my words, that they may learn to love me all the days that they themselves shall live upon the earth.' Likewise in Jeremiah:

'Behold, the days come, says the Lord, and I will complete with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah a new covenant; not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day when I took hold of their hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; for they continued not in my covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord. For this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel: After those days, says the Lord, putting my laws into their understanding, and on their hearts I will write them; and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people; and they shall not teach every man his brother, saying:'

'Know the Lord; for all shall know me, from the least of them to the greatest; for I will be merciful to their iniquities, and their sins I will remember no more. If the heaven be exalted on high, says the Lord, and if the earth be brought low beneath, yet I will not reject the race of Israel, says the Lord, for all that they have done.'

'Behold, I will gather them out of every land into which I scattered them in my anger and in my fury and in great wrath; and I will bring them together into this place, and will leave them in peace; and they shall be to me a people, and I will be to them a God; and I will give them another way and another heart, that they may fear me all their days, for their good and the good of their children after them; and I will make with them an everlasting covenant, which I will not turn away from them; and I will put my fear in their hearts, that they depart not from me; and I will visit them to do them good, and to plant them in their own land, in faith and with the whole heart and with the whole soul.' Likewise in the Apocalypse:

And the twenty-four elders, sitting before God on their thrones, fell upon their faces and worshipped God, saying: We give you thanks, O Lord God Almighty, who are and who were, because you have taken your great power and have reigned; and the nations were angry, and your wrath has come, and the time that the dead should be judged, and that reward should be given to your servants the prophets, and to the saints, and to those who fear your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who have corrupted the earth. Likewise there: 'And I saw another angel flying through the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel, to preach to those who sit upon the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people, saying with a loud voice:'

'Fear God and give him honour, for the hour of his judgment has come; and worship him who made heaven and earth and the sea and the fountains of waters.' Likewise there: 'And I saw as it were a glassy sea mingled with fire; and those who had gotten the victory over the beast and over its image, and the number of its name, standing upon the glassy sea, having the harps of God, and singing the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb, saying: Great and marvellous are your works, O Lord God Almighty; just and true are your ways, O King of the nations. Who shall not fear and give honour to your name? For you alone are holy; and because all nations shall come and worship in your sight, for your righteous judgments have been made manifest.' Likewise in Daniel:

There was a man dwelling in Babylon whose name was Joachim; and he took a wife named Susanna, the daughter of Helchias, very beautiful and one who feared the Lord; and her parents were righteous, and taught their daughter according to the law of Moses. Likewise in Daniel: 'And we are brought low in all the earth this day because of our sins; and there is at this time no prince, nor prophet, nor leader, nor captain, nor holocaust, nor sacrifice, nor oblation, nor incense, nor place to sacrifice before you this day and to find mercy from you; but in a contrite soul and a spirit of humility may we be accepted, as in holocausts of rams and bulls, and as in many thousands of fat lambs.'

So let our sacrifice be in your sight this day, and may it be accomplished; for those who trust in you shall not be ashamed. And now we follow you with all our heart, and we fear you, and we seek your face. Put us not to shame, but deal with us according to your tranquillity and according to the abundance of your mercy. And again: 'And the king rejoiced exceedingly, and commanded Daniel to be taken out of the lions' den; and the lions did him no harm, because he trusted and believed in his God. And the king commanded; and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and cast them into the lions' den, with their wives and their children.'

And before they reached the bottom of the den, they were seized by the lions, and the lions crushed all their bones. Then Darius the king wrote: To all peoples, tribes, and tongues that are in my kingdom: Peace be to you from my presence. I decree that all who are in my kingdom shall fear and tremble before the Most High God, whom Daniel serves; for he is the living God, and abides for ever, and his kingdom shall not pass away, and his dominion shall continue for ever; and he saves, and works signs and wonders and marvels in heaven and on earth, who delivered Daniel from the lions' den. Likewise in Micah: 'Wherewith shall I attain the Lord, and lay hold of my God most high?'

Shall I attain him with sacrifices, with holocausts, with calves of a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousand of fat goats? Or shall I give my firstborn for my impiety, the fruit of my belly for the sin of my soul? It has been declared to you, O man, what is good, and what else the Lord requires of you, but to do judgment and justice, and to love mercy, and to be ready to walk with the Lord your God. The voice of the Lord shall be called upon in the city, and he will save those who fear his name. Likewise in Micah: 'Feed your people with your rod, the sheep of your inheritance, who dwell in the valley in the midst of Carmel.'

They shall feed in Bashan and Gilead as in the days of old; and according to the days of their coming out of the land of Egypt I will show them wonders. The nations shall see and be confounded at all their might, and shall lay their hands upon their mouth; their ears shall be deafened, and they shall lick the dust like serpents dragging along the earth; they shall be troubled in their confinement; they shall be afraid of the Lord their God, and shall fear because of you. What God is like you, taking away iniquity and passing over impieties? And in Nahum: 'The mountains were moved by him, and the hills trembled, and the earth was laid bare before his face, and all who dwell therein. Before the face of his anger, who shall endure, and who shall resist in the anger of his spirit?'

His indignation makes the principalities to flow away, and the rocks are dissolved by him. The Lord is good to those who wait for him in the day of tribulation, and he knows those who fear him. Likewise in Haggai: 'And Zerubbabel the son of Salathiel, of the tribe of Judah, and Jesus the son of Josedech the high priest, and all who remained of the people, heard the voice of the Lord their God and the word of Haggai the prophet, for the Lord had sent him to them; and the people feared before the face of God.' Likewise in Malachi: 'My covenant was with life and peace, and I gave them the fear, to fear me before the face of my name.' Likewise in Psalm 33: 'Fear the Lord, all you his saints, for there is no want to those who fear him.' Likewise in Psalm 18:

The fear of the Lord is holy, enduring for ever and ever. THAT WE MUST NOT RASHLY JUDGE ANOTHER. In the Gospel according to Luke: 'Judge not, lest you be judged; condemn not, lest you be condemned.' Likewise to the Romans: 'Who are you that judge another man's servant? To his own lord he stands or falls; yea, he shall stand, for God is able to set him up again.' Likewise there: 'Wherefore you are inexcusable, O man; for wherein you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge do the same things. And do you think this, O man, who judge those who do such things and do the same, that you shall escape the judgment of God?' Likewise to the Corinthians, first epistle: 'And he who thinks he stands, let him take heed lest he fall.' Likewise there: 'If any man thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know.'

THAT WHEN AN INJURY IS RECEIVED, WE MUST REMIT AND FORGIVE. In the Gospel, in the daily prayer: 'Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.' Likewise in the Gospel according to Mark: 'And when you stand at prayer, forgive if you have anything against anyone, that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your sins; but if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive you your sins.' Likewise there: 'With what measure you have measured, it shall be measured to you again.' THAT EVIL MUST NOT BE RENDERED FOR EVIL. In the epistle of Paul the apostle to the Romans: 'Render to no one evil for evil.' Likewise there: 'Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.' Likewise in the Apocalypse: 'And he said to me:'

'Seal not the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is now at hand. And let him who persists in doing harm do harm still, and let him who is in filth be filthy still; but let the righteous do yet more righteous things, and likewise the holy man do yet more holy things. Behold, I come quickly, and my reward is with me, to render to each one according to his works.' THAT ONE CANNOT COME TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH CHRIST. In the Gospel according to John: 'I am the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me.' Likewise there: 'I am the door; through me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.' THAT TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD, UNLESS ONE HAS BEEN BAPTIZED AND BORN AGAIN, ONE CANNOT ATTAIN. In the Gospel according to John: 'Unless a man be born again of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.'

For that which is born of flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Likewise there: 'Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you shall not have life in you.' THAT IT IS OF LITTLE PROFIT TO BE BAPTIZED AND TO RECEIVE THE EUCHARIST, UNLESS ONE ADVANCES IN DEEDS AND WORK. In the first epistle of Paul the apostle to the Corinthians: 'Do you not know that those who run in the race all indeed run, yet one only receives the prize? So run, that you may all obtain. And they indeed, that they may receive a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible one.' Likewise in the Gospel according to Matthew: 'Every tree that does not bring forth good fruit shall be cut down and cast into the fire.' Likewise there: 'Many shall say to me in that day:'

'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and in your name do many mighty works?' And then I will say to them: 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of iniquity.' Likewise there: 'Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.' Likewise Paul the apostle to the Philippians: 'Shine as lights in the world.' THAT EVEN A BAPTIZED PERSON LOSES THE GRACE WHICH HE HAD OBTAINED, UNLESS HE KEEPS HIS INNOCENCE. In the Gospel according to John: 'Behold, you are made whole; now sin no more, lest something worse befall you.' Likewise Paul the apostle to the Corinthians, first epistle: 'Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?'

If any man defile the temple of God, God will destroy him. Likewise in Chronicles: 'God is with you, while you are with him; but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.' THAT IT CANNOT BE FORGIVEN IN THE CHURCH TO HIM WHO HAS SINNED AGAINST GOD. In the Gospel according to Matthew: 'Whoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world nor in that to come.' Likewise according to Mark: 'All sins shall be forgiven to the sons of men, and blasphemies; but whoever shall blaspheme against the Holy Spirit has no forgiveness, but shall be guilty of an eternal sin.' Likewise in the first book of Kingdoms: 'If a man sin by transgressing against a man, they shall pray to the Lord for him;'

but if a man sin against God, who shall pray for him? OF THE HATRED OF THE NAME, FORETOLD BEFORE. In the Gospel according to Luke: 'And you shall be hated by all for my name's sake.' Likewise according to John: 'If the world hate you, know that it hated me before you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you.' [Likewise in Baruch: 'For the time shall come, and you shall seek me, both you and those who come after you, to hear the word of wisdom and understanding, and you shall not find it.'

But the nations shall desire to see a wise man preaching, and it shall not befall them; not because the wisdom of this earthly age shall be wanting or fail, nor because the word of the law shall be lacking to the world. For wisdom shall be in a few who are watchful and silent and quiet, conversing among themselves and meditating in their hearts; because some shall shudder at them and fear them as evil men; others shall not even believe the word of the law of the Most High; others, gaping with their mouths, shall not believe, and shall be contrary to those who believe, and shall hinder the Spirit of truth; others shall be wise unto the spirit of error, and shall pronounce edicts as though of the Most High and the Strong; others shall be respecters of persons in the faith;

others shall be capable and strong in the faith of the Most High, and hateful to the stranger.] THAT WHATEVER ONE HAS VOWED TO GOD MUST BE QUICKLY PAID. In Solomon: 'According as you have vowed a vow to God, make no delay to pay it.' Likewise in Deuteronomy: 'But if you vow a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not be slow to pay it; for the Lord your God will surely require it of you, and it shall be reckoned to you for sin. The things which go forth through your lips you shall observe, and you shall perform the gift which you have spoken with your mouth.' Likewise in Psalm 49: 'Offer to God the sacrifice of praise, and pay your vows to the Most High; and call upon me in the day of your tribulation, and I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.' Likewise in the Acts of the Apostles: 'Why has Satan filled your heart, that you should lie to the Holy Spirit, while the land was in your own power?'

You have not lied to men, but to God. Likewise in Jeremiah: 'Cursed is he who does the works of God negligently.' THAT HE WHO HAS NOT BELIEVED IS ALREADY JUDGED. In the Gospel according to John: 'He who has not believed is already judged, because he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God. And this is the judgment, that light has come into the world, and men have loved darkness rather than light.' Likewise in Psalm 1: 'Therefore the ungodly shall not rise in judgment, nor sinners in the council of the righteous.' OF THE GOOD OF VIRGINITY AND CONTINENCE. In Genesis: 'Multiplying I will multiply your sorrows and your groanings; in sorrow you shall bring forth children, and your turning shall be to your husband, and he shall rule over you.' Likewise in the Gospel according to Matthew:

'Not all men receive this word, but they to whom it is given. For there are eunuchs who were so born from their mother's womb, and there are eunuchs who were made so by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.' Likewise according to Luke: 'The children of this world beget and are begotten; but those who shall be accounted worthy of that world and of the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage; neither shall they begin to die any more, for they are equal to the angels of God, being the children of the resurrection. But that the dead rise, Moses signifies, when he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. God is not the God of the dead, but of the living; for all of them live.'

Likewise in the first epistle of Paul the apostle to the Corinthians: 'It is good for a man not to touch a woman; but on account of fornication let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. Let the husband render to the wife her due, and likewise also the wife to the husband. The wife has not power over her own body, but the husband; likewise also the husband has not power over his own body, but the wife. Defraud not one another, except perhaps by consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to prayer; and come together again to the same, lest Satan tempt you because of your incontinence. But this I say by way of indulgence, not by way of command. For I would that all men were even as myself; but each one has his proper gift from God, one after this manner, and another after that.' Likewise there:

The unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please God; but he who has joined himself in marriage is concerned about the things of this world, how he may please his wife. So also the woman and the unmarried virgin is concerned about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit; but she who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband. Likewise in Exodus, when God had commanded Moses to sanctify the people unto the third day, he sanctified them and added: 'Be ready for three days; you shall not come near to women.' Likewise in the first book of Kingdoms: 'And the priest answered David and said: There are no profane loaves in my hand, but only one holy bread. If the young men have kept themselves from women, they shall eat.' Likewise in the Apocalypse:

These are they who have not defiled themselves with women, for they have remained virgins. These are they who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. THAT THE FATHER JUDGES NO ONE, BUT THE SON; AND THAT THE FATHER IS NOT HONORED BY HIM BY WHOM THE SON IS NOT HONORED. In the Gospel according to John: 'The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who honors not the Son honors not the Father who sent Him.' Likewise in Genesis: 'And the Lord rained upon Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from heaven from the Lord.' Likewise in Psalm 71: 'O God, give Thy judgment to the king and Thy justice to the king's son, to judge Thy people in Thy justice.' THAT A BELIEVER OUGHT NOT TO LIVE AFTER THE MANNER OF THE GENTILES. In Jeremiah:

Thus says the Lord: 'Walk not according to the ways of the Gentiles.' Concerning this very matter, that one ought to separate himself from the Gentiles lest he become a partner in their guilt and a sharer in their plague, likewise in the Apocalypse: 'And I heard another voice from heaven saying: Come out of her, my people, that you be not a partaker of her sins and that you be not stricken by her plagues; for her sins have reached even to heaven, and the Lord God has remembered her iniquities. Therefore He will render to her double, and in the cup which she has mingled, double has been mixed for her; and in proportion as she has glorified herself and lived in delights, so much torment and grief shall be given her. For she says in her heart:

I am a queen and am no widow, and shall never see mourning. Therefore in one hour her plagues shall come: death, mourning, and famine; and she shall be burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who shall judge her. And the kings of the earth who committed fornication with her and lived in delights shall weep and bewail themselves over her.' Likewise in Isaiah: 'Go out from the midst of them, you who carry the vessels of the Lord.' THAT GOD IS PATIENT FOR THIS END, THAT WE MAY REPENT OF OUR SIN AND BE REFORMED. In Solomon, in Ecclesiasticus: 'Say not: I have sinned, and what sad thing has befallen me? For the Most High is a patient recompenser.' Likewise the Apostle to the Romans: 'Or do you despise the riches of His goodness and forbearance and patience,

not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But according to your hardness and impenitent heart you treasure up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and of the revelation of the just judgment of God, who will render to each according to his works.' THAT A WOMAN OUGHT NOT TO BE ADORNED IN WORLDLY FASHION. In the Apocalypse: 'And there came one of the seven angels who had the bowls, and he addressed me saying: Come, I will show you the condemnation of the great harlot who sits upon many waters, with whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication. And I saw a woman sitting upon a beast.

And that woman was clothed in a purple and scarlet robe, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of the abominations and uncleanness and fornication of the whole earth.' Likewise to Timothy: 'Let your women be with modesty and chastity, adorning themselves not with braided hair nor gold nor pearls nor costly raiment, but as becomes women professing chastity through good conduct.' Likewise the Apostle Peter to the people of Pontus: 'Let a woman's adornment be not the outward one of ornament or gold or raiment, but the adornment of the heart.' Likewise in Genesis: 'Thamar covered herself with a robe and adorned herself, and when Judah looked upon her, she seemed to him to be a harlot.'

THAT A BELIEVER OUGHT NOT TO BE PUNISHED FOR OTHER OFFENSES, BUT ONLY FOR THE NAME. The Apostle Peter to the people of Pontus: 'Let none of you suffer as a thief or a murderer, or as an evildoer or as one meddling in other men's affairs; but as a Christian.' THAT THE SERVANT OF GOD OUGHT TO BE INNOCENT, LEST HE FALL INTO WORLDLY PUNISHMENT. The Apostle Paul to the Romans: 'Will you not fear the power? Do what is good, and you shall have praise from it.' THAT AN EXAMPLE OF LIVING HAS BEEN GIVEN US IN CHRIST. In the Epistle of the Apostle Peter to the people of Pontus: 'Christ suffered for us, leaving you an example, that you should follow His footsteps, who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth;

who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not, but committed Himself to Him who judges unjustly.' Likewise the Apostle Paul to the Philippians: 'Who, being established in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, made in the likeness of men, and found in habit as a man. He humbled Himself, becoming obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God exalted Him and gave Him a name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that the Lord Jesus is in the glory of God the Father.' Likewise in the Gospel according to John: