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418 Fire goes ' before Christ, before Judgment.
Psalm have believed in Him have been made righteous : justified ^'AHby failh, they have become His own seat: He sitteth in them, judging from them, and guiding them. Wherefore ? because He found them meek, like obedient cattle, not kicking backward, not shaking their heads in pride against His yoke, not refusing His scourge : they became good and obedient cattle of His; and deserved what is said in another Ps. 26,8. Psalm, " Them that are meek shall He guide in judgment ;
and such as are gentle, them shall He learn His way. " Clouds and darkness, therefore, are around Him, unto them who are not righteous ; but to the meek, righteousness and
judgment shall be the habitation of His seat.
6. Ver. 8. There shall go a fire before Him, and burn up
His enemies on every side. Of what fire doth he say, brethren, a fire shall go before Him, and burn up His enemies on every aide ? I do not think it is said of that fire, into which the ungodly are to be sent by that sentence of the last judgment, to whom when set apart on the left, as we remember having read in the Gospel, He shall say,
Mat. ? 6, Depart into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his
4I-
angels. I do not think it is said of that fire. Why do I not? Because he spcaketh of some fire, which shall go before Him, before He cometh to judgment. For it is said, that the fire goeth before Him, and burueth up His enemies on every side, that is, throughout the whole world. That
fire will burn after His advent: this, on the contrary, will go before Him. What fire then is this ? We may understand it of the punishment of the wicked, we may understand it of the salvation of the redeemed. Of the punishment of the wicked, how ? Because when Christ was preached, the heathen were enraged, and stirred up persecution : which was the fury of fire, consuming rather those who persecuted, than those whom they persecuted. For when we see two persons, the one enraged, the other meekly enduring, it is for you to judge, which of them is on fire. Ye may behold such a spectacle in the human race. Place before your eves an unjust man, excited in mind, savage in countenance, with flaming eyes, with flashing words, carried on to another's death, to depredations, injury, insult, not able to hold, to restrain himself; the other patiently enduring his words, his
The tricked devoured by fire of evil passions. 4 19
blows, whatsoever he chooseth to inflict
when he striketh his cheek, offering unto him the other: ---- when thou hast seen on the one side fury, on the other mildness ; on the one anger, on the other endurance : on the
one flames, on the other patience ; wilt thou hesitate to pro nounce which of these is on fire, and snffereth punishment ?
He whose body is assaulted, or he whose mind is laid
waste ? On which account the prophet Isaiah also saith,
The fire of thine enemies shall devour them, even now. Is. 26,
What is, even now? Before that great day of judg-11'
ment cometh, those who will afterwards burn punishment of eternal fire, already burn in their own rage. Unless indeed ye imagine, brethren, that injustice, which
proceedeth out of one man to the injury of another, hurteth him to whom it proceedeth, and hurteth not him from whom it proceedeth. How can it be so ? Some times a burning brand is applied to a damp and green log of wood, without burning though on fire itself thus also thine enemy. If perchance there be any unjust man who plotteth snares against thee, or deviseth any trouble, he unjust: then thou art green wood, that is, vigorous and flourishing with spiritual sap, thou shalt resist
the fire of his hostilities, by praying for him who perseouteth thee he on fire, thou remainest whole and his injustice hurteth him, thee not al all. Unless indeed thou thinkest that hurteth thee, he hath doue ought unto thy body, and thy soul hath come patient and incorrupt to be crowned before God, following the example of its Lord, Who chose rather to suffer from the Jews, and who could have avoided death, but yet died, just as He was born, though He needed not to have been born. For thou wast born by the law of thy nature, He of His own will thou diest from thy nature, He from His mercy. As then the Jews did Him no harm so neither doth any persecuting enemy hurt thee, thou
hast chosen to be member of Him thy Head.
7. Behold, we have understood the fire that goeth before
Him, that to be understood of kind of temporal punish ment of the unbelieving and ungodly let us understand the fire, possible, of the salvation of the redeemed also for thus we had proposed. The Lord Himself saith
upon him, and Ver. -
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420 Fire ofgrace and Divine Love in the Elect.
Psalm / am come to send fire on the earth : ' fire' in the same way
xcvn. as a , gword i as in anoiner passage He saith, that He was Luke I --? 49. not come to send peace, but sword, upon earth. Ine
^at-10' sword to divide, the fire to burn but each salutary for the sword of His own word hath in salutary wise separated us from evil habits. For He brought sword, and separated every believer either from his father who believed not in Christ, or from his mother in like manner unbelieving or at least, we were born of Christian parents, from his ancestors. For no man among us had not either a grandsire, or great grandsire, or some ancestry among the heathen, and in that unbelief which accursed before God. We are separated from that which we were before but the sword which separateth, but slayeth not, hath cut between us. In the same way the fire also am come to send fire upon the earth. Believers in Him were set on fire, they received the
Acts
flame of love and for this reason when the Holy Spirit itself had been sent to the Apostles, It thus appeared There appeared, he saith, unto them cloven tongues, like as offire, and sat upon each of them. Burning with this fire they set out on their march through the world, to burn and set on fire His enemies on every side. What enemies of His They who forsaking the God Who made them, adored the idols they had made. They were burnt, they were
evil, unto their consumption good, unto their restoration either the man was burnt, who refused to believe, by that fire, becoming worse when he heard the word of God, being burnt up and consumed by his own malice or he were converted and believed, yet was not as nothing had burnt within him. For the grass had burnt, that the gold might be
ls. 40, refined. Faith gold, carnal lust grass. All flesh is grass, e' saith Isaiah, and all the goodliness thereof as theflower
the grass. Whatever there therefore in carnal man lusting for things vain and worldly, grass. How many perchance, even brethren of ours, have been to the theatre they were led by grass. Is not this fire to be desired by them, that the grass may burn, and the gold be refined? For what ever faith there be in them, choked by the grass. It therefore good for them to burn with holy fire, that when the grass hath been consumed, the treasure which Christ
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Lightnings of Christ, from the clouds, holy Preachers. 421
redeemed may shine. Therefore, there shall go afire before Him, and shall burn up His enemies on every side. There are some who have burned for their own health, they are to-day His faithful; they were His enemies, and they are now at last His faithful : thou seekest for enemies, they are not; they are consumed, they have been on fire; love hath consumed in them that which made them persecute Christ, and halh refined within them their belief in Christ. And it
shall burn up His enemies on every side.
8. Ver. 4. His lightnings gave shine unto the world.
This is great joy. Do we not see? is it not clear? His lightnings have shined unto the whole world : His enemies have been set on fire, and burnt. All that gainsaid hath been burnt, and His lightnings have given shine unto the world. How have they shone ? That the world might at length believe. Whence were the lightnings? From the clouds. What are the clouds of God ? The preachers of the truth. But thou seest a cloud, misty and dark in the sky, and it hath I know not what hidden within it. If there be lightning from the cloud, a brightness shineth forth : from that which thou didst despise, hath burst forth that
which thou mayest dread. Our Lord Jesus Christ therefore sent His Apostles, as His preachers, like clouds : they were seen as men, and were despised ; as clouds appear, and are despised, until what thou wonderest at gleameth from them. For they were in the first place men encumbered with flesh, weak ; then, men of low station, unlearned, ignoble : but there was within what could lighten forth ; there was in them what could flash abroad. Peter a fisherman ap
proached, prayed, and the dead arose. His human form Acts was a cloud, the splendour of the miracle was the lightning. 40- So in their words, so in their deeds, when they do things to
be wondered at, and utter words to be wondered at, His lightnings gave shine unto the world; the earth saw it, and was afraid. Is it not true ? Doth not the whole Christian world at length exclaim, Amen, afraid at the lightnings which burst forth from those clouds 1 The earth saw it,
and was afraid.
9. Ver. 5. The hills melted like wax at the presence of
the Lord. Who are the hills? The proud. Every high
422 Melting of the hills. Apostles are ' Heavens. '
Psai m thing raising itself against God, at the deeds of Christ and XCVIL of the Christians, trembled, yielded, and when I say, what hath been already said, melted, a better word cannot be
found. The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord. Where is the elevation of powers ? where the hardness of the unbelieving? The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord. The Lord was a fire unto them, they melted at His presence like wax ; so long hard, until that fire was applied. Every height hath been levelled ; it dareth not now blaspheme Christ : and though the Pagan believeth not in Him, he blasphemeth Him not; though not as yet become a living stone, yet the hard hill hath been subdued. The hills melted like wax at the
presence of the Lord: at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth : net of the Jews only, but of the Gentiles Rom. 3, also, as the Apostle saith; for He is not the God of the
Jews alone, but of the Gentiles also. He is therefore the Lord of the whole earth, the Lord Jesus Christ born in Judaea, but not born for Judxa alone, because before He was born He created all men ; and He Who created, also new created, all men. At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
10. Ver. 6. The heavens have declared His righteousness : and all the people have seen His glory. What heavens hare Ps. 19,1. declared ? The heavens declare the glory of God. Who are the heavens ? Those who have become His seat ; for as God
sitteth in the heavens, so doth He sit in the Apostles, so doth He sit in the preachers of the Gospel. Even thou, if thou wilt, shalt be a heaven. Dost thou wish to be so? Purge from thy heart the earth. If thou hast not earthly lusts, and hast not in vain uttered the response, that thou
Colos. 3,hast 'lifted up thy heart,' thou shalt be a heaven. Ifye be risen with Christ, saith the Apostle to believers, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth upon the right hand of God: set your affection on things above, not on things ofthe earth. Thou hast begun to set thine affection upon things above, not on things upon earth ; hast thou not become a heaven ? Thou carriest flesh, and in thy heart
Phil. 3, thou art already a heaven ; for thy conversation will be in
20
heaven. Being such, thou also declarest Christ; for who of
All the faithful, as Heavens, declare Christ.
423
the faithful declareth not Christ? Attend, beloved: do ye Ver. imagine that we standing here alone declare Christ, and do ---- ye not declare Him? Whence do they come unto us, wishing to be Christians, whom we have never seen, whom
we know not, unto whom we have never preached ? Have they believed, perchance, without any preacher? The Apo
stle saith : How shall they believe in Him, of Whom they Rom. have not heard ? and how shall they hear without a 10' 14'
preacher? Therefore the whole Church preacheth Christ, and the heavens declare His righteousness ; for all the faithful, whose care it is to gain unto God those who have not yet believed, and who do this from love, are heavens. From them God thunderelh forth the tenor of His judg ment ; and he who was unbelieving trembleth, and is alarmed, and believeth. He shows unto men what power Christ had throughout the world, by pleading with them, and leading them to love Christ. For how
many this day have led their friends either to some pantomimist, or
flute-player? Why, except from their liking him? And do ye love Christ. For He Who conquered the world hath exhibited such spectacles, as that no man can say that he findeth in them cause for blame. For each per
son's' favourite in the theatre is often vanquished there. But no man is vanquished in Christ : there is no reason for shame. Seize, lead, draw, whom ye may : be without fear, ye are leading unto Him, Who displeaseth not those who see Him; and ask ye Him to enlighten them, that
they may behold to good account. The heavens have de clared His righteousness : and all the people have seen His glory.
11. Ver. 7. Confounded be all they that worship carved images. Hath not this come to pass ? Have they not been confounded ? Are they not daily confounded ? For carved images are images wrought by the hand. Why are all who worship carved images confounded? Because all people have seen His glory. All nations now confess the glory of
Christ: let those who worship stones be ashamed. Because those stones were dead, we have found a living stone : indeed those stones never lived, so that they cannot be called even dead ; but our Stone is living, and hath ever lived with the
424 Idolaters confounded. Their plea refuted.
Psalm Father, and though He died for us, He revived, and liveth
XCVII
h'now, and death shall no more have dominion over Him.
Rom. U, 9.
This glory of His the nations have acknowledged ; they leave the temples, they run to the Churches. Confounded be all they that worship carved images. Do they still seek to worship carved images? Have they not chosen to forsake their idols ? They have been forsaken by their idols. Con
founded be all they that worship carved images, who glory in their idols. But there is a certain disputer who seemeth unto himself learned, and saith, I do not worship that stone, nor
Pf. l16, that image which is without sense; your prophet could not
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be aware that they have eyes and see not, and 1 be ignorant that this image neither hath a soul, nor seeth with its eyes, nor heareth with its ears : I worship not this image ; but I
' i. e. fall adore 1 what I see, and serve him whom I see not Who is
before, that? Some invisible deity, he replieth, who presideth over
that image. By giving this account of their images, they
seem to themselves able disputants, because they do not
l Cor. worship idols, and yet do worship devils. The things,
10, 20. I
brethren, saith the Apostle, which the Gentiles sacrifice, they
sacrifice unto devils, and not to God ; and
iCor. 8, addeth, that ye should have fellowship with devils ; for we 4' know that an idol is nothing in the world. The Apostle
himself saith this, we know that an idol is nothing: and that what the GentiIles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God; and would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Let them not therefore excuse themselves on this ground, that they are not devoted to insensate idols; they are rather devoted to devils, which is more dangerous. For if they were only worshipping idols, as they would not help them, so they would not hurt them ; but if thou worship and serve devils, they themselves will be thy masters. And who
will be thy masters? Those who are jealous of thee: they must necessarily be jealous of thy freedom, always wish to possess thee, always to render thee such, as they may be able to draw along with them. For those evil spirits have a sort of inherent malevolence, and love of destruction : thej- rejoice in the evil of man ; and feed upon our delusion, if they have deceived us. And what do they seek? Not those over whom they may for ever have dominion, but with whom they
would not, he
Satan's envy. Divine worship is not for creatures. 4-25
may for ever undergo damnation ; just as an evil-minded Veti. robber is wont to accuse the innocent. If a man is burnt ------ alive, doth he burn the less, if two men are burning? doth he
die the less, if he die in company with another ?
His punishment is not lessened, but his malignity is fed. ' Let
him die with me ;' not meaning that he will the less himself
die, but another's ill brings consolation. Such is the devil ;
he wisheth to seduce those who with him may be punished :
and because God is a Judge whom he cannot deceive, (for
he accuseth not before Him the innocent,) wishing to have
true charges to prefer, he persuadeth to sin. Behold what master they who worship idols and devils create for them
selves : for the things which the GentileIs sacrifice, they l Cor.
would not lhat10,m'
12. But what sort of God have we ? Hear what followeth. For when he had said, Confounded be all they that worship carved images, and that glory in their idols: lest men should try to stand in defence of their images, by saying, We are not worshipping stones, but deities : what deities dost thou worship ? Tell me, dost thou worship devils, or good spirits, such as are the Angels ? For there are holy Angels, and there are evil spirits. I say, that in thy temples none are worshipped but evil spirits; who in their pride exact sacrifice for themselves, and wish themselves to be worshipped as gods ; who are malignant and proud. Such also are wicked men, who seek their own glory, and despise the glory of
God. But observe holy men, who are like the Angels. When thou hast found some holy man who serveth God, if thou wish to worship him instead of God, he forbiddeth thee: he will not arrogate to himself the honour due to God, he will not be unto thee as God, but be with thee under God. Thus did the holy Apostles Paul and Barnabas. They preached the word of God in Lycaonia. When they had
wonderful works in Lycaonia, the people of that country brought victims, and wished to sacrifice to them, calling Barnabas Jupiter, and Paul Mercury: they were not pleased. Did they perchance refuse to be sacrificed to, because they abhorred to be compared to devils ? No, but because they shuddered at divine honour being paid
sacrifice unto devils, and not to God; and ye should have fellowship with devils.
performed
4-26 Saints and Angels refuse divine honours.
Psalm to men. Their own words shew this : it is no guess of ours; xcvix ror tne tex^ of the 000k goeth on to say how they were Acts 14, moved: then Barnabas and Paul rent their clothes, and 14, 16' ran in among the people, crying out, Men and brethren,
why do ye these things? we also are men of like passions with you. Attend. Just then, as good men forbid those who had wished to worship them as gods, and wish rather that God alone be worshipped, God alone be adored, to God alone sacrifice be offered, not to themselves ; so also all the holy Angels seek His glory Whom they love; endeavour to impel and to excite to the contemplation of Him all whom they love : Him they declare to them, not themselves, since they are angels ; and because they are soldiers, they study only how to seek the glory of their Captain ; but if they have sought their own glory, they are condemned as
'tyranni usurpers1. Such were the devil and his angels: he claimed for himself divine honour, and for all his demons ; he filled the pagan temples, and persuaded them to offer images and sacrifices to himself. Was it not better to worship holy Angels than devils ? They answer : we do not worship devils; we worship angels, as ye call them, the powers and the ministers of the great God. I wish ye would worship them : ye would easily learn from themselves not to worship them. Hear an Angel teaching. He was teaching a disciple of Christ, and shewing him many wonders in the Revelation of John : and when some wonderful vision had
been shewn him, he trembled, and fell down at the Angel's feet; but that Angel, who sought not but the glory of God,
I
Rev. 19, said, See thou do it not ; for fellow of
am a servant thee, I0- and of thy brethren the prophets. What then, my brethren ? Let no man say, I fear lest the Angel may be angry with me, if I worship him not as my God. He is then angry with thee, when thou hast chosen to worship him : for he is righteous, and loveth God. As devils are angry if they are
not worshipped, so are Angels angry if they are worshipped instead of God. But lest the weak and trembling heart perchance say unto itself: If then the demons are incensed because they are not worshipped, I fear to offend them ; what can even their chief the devil do unto thee ? If he had any power over us, no one of us would remain. Are not
Satan's impotence. Angels worship God, and teach us so. 427
daily so many things said against him by the mouth of Ver. Christians, and yet the harvest of Christians increaseth. ------ When thou art angry with the most depraved of thy slaves,
thou givest him the name, Satan, Devil. Perhaps in this thou
dost err, since thou sayest it to a man, and thy immoderate
anger hurrieth thee to revile the image of God : and yet thou choosest a term thou deeply hatest, to apply to him. If he could, would he not revenge himself? But it is not allowed:
and he doth so much only as is allowed him. For when he wished to tempt Job, he had to ask power to do so : and he Joh l, could do nothing had he not received power. Why then11- dost thou not fearlessly worship God, without Whose will
no one hurteth thee, and by Whose permission thou art chastened, not overcome ? For if it shall have pleased the
Lord thy God to permit some man to hurt thee, or some
spirit: He will chasten thee, that thou maycst cry unto Him:
" The Lord hath chastened and corrected me: but He hath Ps. lis, not given me over unto death. " Confounded, therefore, 18'
be all they that worship carved images, and that delight in vain gods: worship Him, all ye His angels. Let pagans learn to worship God : they wish to worship Angels : let them imitate Angels, and worship Him Who is worshipped by Angels. Worship Him, all ye His angels. Let that Angel worship who was sent to Cornelins, (for worshipping Him he sent Cornelins to Peter,) himself Peter's fellow- servaut; let him worship Christ, Peter's Lord. Worship Him, all ye gods !
13. Ver. 8. Sion heard of it, and rejoiced. What did
Sion hear? That all His Angels worship Him. What
heard Sion ? Behold what she heard : The heavens have declared His righteousness: and all the people have seen
His glory. Confounded be all they that worship carved images, and that delight in their idols. For the Church
was not as yet among the Gentiles ; in Judaea the Jews had
some of them believed, and the very Jews who believed thought that they only belonged to Christ : the Apostles
were sent to the Gentiles, Cornelins was preached to; Cornelins believed, was baptized, and they who were with Acts to, Cornelins were also baptized. But ye know what happened,
that they might be baptized: the reader indeed hath not
428 Joy of the Jewish Church at conversion of Gentiles.
Psalm reached this point, but, nevertheless, some recollect; and XCT II- let those who do not recollect, hear briefly from me. The Angel was sent to Cornelins : the Angel sent Cornelins to
Peter; Peter came to Cornelins. And because Cornelins and his household were Gentiles, and uncircumcised : lest they might hesitate to give the Gospel to the uncircumcised: before Cornelins and his household were baptized, the Holy Spirit came, and filled them, and they began to speak with tongues. Now the Holy Spirit had not fallen upon any one who had not been baptized: but upon these It fell before
For Peter might hesitate whether he might baptize the uncircumcised: the Holy Spirit came, they began to speak with tongues ; the invisible gift was given, and took away all doubt about the visible Sacrament ; they were all
Acts ll, baptized. And thou hast it there written ; And the apostles
1-
and brethren that were in JucLea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. This is what he here mentions ; Sion heard ofit, and rejoiced: and the daughters of Judah were glad. What did Sion hear, and rejoice at ? That the Gentiles also had received the word of God. One wall had come, but the comer existed not as yet. The name Sion is here peculiarly given to the Church which was in Judaea. Sion heard of it, and rejoiced: and the daughters of Judah were glad. Thus it is written, The apostles and brethren that were in Judcea heard. See if the daughters of Judaea rejoiced not. What did they hear ? That the Gentiles had also received the word of God. Where did this Psalm express this? The heavens have declared His righteousness: and all the people hare seen His glory. And because even the Gentiles, who used to
baptism.
yer. B.
ver. 7. worship idols, had believed, he goeth on to say, Confounded be all they that worship carved images, and that delight in their idols. Sion heard of it, and rejoiced : and the daugh ters of Judah were glad. Afterwards some of the circumcised
Acts1 1, chose to reproach Peter, saying unto him, Thou wentest in
men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them. But he gave them a reason, telling how while he prayed a vessel let down by four corners was shewn Him. This vessel which contained all living things, signified all nations. But it hung by four corners, because there are four quarters of the globe,
ib. 4. &c.
Christ is over all the earth, equal to the Father. 429
whence the people were to come : and four Gospels preach Ver. Christ, that His grace may be understood to belong to all the ------ four quarters of the globe. Because therefore such a vision had
been shewn to Peter, he rehearsed to them the whole, how Cornelins believed, and that, before the Gentile was baptized,
the Holy Spirit came upon him. When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then Aetsil, hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. 18' Behold, Sion heard of it, and rejoiced, and the daughters of Judah were glad because of Thy judgments, O Lord. What
judgments ? Because God is no accepter of persons. For Acts 10, Peter himself, when he had seen Cornelins the centurion,34,
and those who were with him, filled with the Holy Ghost,
cried out and said, Of a truth I perceive, that God is no respecter of persons. Therefore, The daughters of Judah rejoiced because of Thy judgments, 0 Lord. What is, because
of Thy judgments ? Because in any nation, "and in any v. 36. people, he that serveth Him is accepted of Him : for He is Rom. 3,
not the God of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles.
14. Ver. 9. See if this be not the reason for the joy of the daughters of Judah. And the daughters of Judah were glad because of Thy judgments, O Lord. For Thou, Lord, art
most high over all the earth. Not in Judaea alone, but over Jerusalem ; not over Sion only, but over all the earth. To this whole earth the judgments of God prevailed, so that it assembled its nations from every quarter : judgments with which they who have cut themselves off have no communion: they neither hear the prophecy, nor see its completion; For
"
Thou, Lord, art most high over all the earth: Thou art exalted far above all gods. What is far 1 ? For it is said of 1 nimis Christ. What then meaneth far, except that Thou mayest
be acknowledged coequal with the Father ? What meaneth,
above all gods ? Who are they ? Idols have not life, have
not sense : devils have life and sense ; but they are evil.
What great thing is it that Christ is exalted above devils ?
He is exalted above devils : but neither is this very great ;
the heathen gods indeed are devils, but He is far above allPn. 96.
/ have said, Ye are gods : p'8_ and ye are all the children of the Most Highest : again it is6-
gods. Even men are styled gods :
written, God standeth in the congregation ofprinces: He is
82,
430 Servants of Christ must abhor His enemies.
Psalm a Judge among gods. Jesus Christ our Lord is exalted XCVI1- above all : not only above idols, not only above devils ; but above all righteous men. Even this is not enougb ; above all Angels also : for whence otherwise is this, Worship Him, all ye gods? Thou art far exalted above
all gods.
15. Ver. 10. What then do we all, who have assembled
before Him, before Him Who is exalted far above all gods? He hath given us a brief commandment, O ye that love the Lord, see that ye hate the thing which is evil! Christ doth not deserve that with Him thou shouldest love avarice. Thou lovest Him : thou shouldest hate what He hateth. There is a man who is thine enemy, he is what thou art ; ye are the work of one Creator, with the same nature : and yet if thy son were to speak unto thine enemy, and come to his house, and constantly converse with him, thou wouldest be inclined to disinhcril him ; because he speaketh with thine enemy. And how so ? Because thou seemest to say justly, Thou art my enemy's friend, and seekest thou ought of my property ? Attend then. Thou lovest Christ: avarice is Christ's foe; why speak with her ? I say not, speak with her ; why dost thou serve her ? For Christ commandeth thee to do many things, and thou dost them not; she commandeth thee, and thou dost them. Christ commandeth thee to clothe the poor man : and thou dost it not ; avarice biddeth thee defraud, and this thou dost in preference. If such be the case, if such thou art, do not very confidently promise thyself Christ's heritage. But thou sayest, I love Christ. O ye that love the Lord, see that ye hate the thing which is evil! Hence it appeareth that thou lovest what is good, if thou shalt be found to hate what is evil. O ye that love the Lord, see that ye hate the thing which is evil!
16. But when we have begun to hate evil, persecutions will follow. We hate evil ; some persecutor saith to us, Defraud; saith to us, Worship that image; saith to us, Offer frankincense to devils: but we have heard, O ye that love the Lord, see that ye hate the thing which is evil. We have heard indeed: but if we do not these things, the
persecutor rageth. To what degree doth he rage? What will he take away? Answer: Wherefore art thou a Christian:
God is our warrant against fear of man. 431
on account of thy eternal heritage, or thy temporal happi- Ver. ness ? Ask the question of thy faith, place thy soul on the -- frame1 of conscience, torlure thyself with the fear of judg- lcatasta ment, answer whom thou hast believed in, why thou hast believed. Thou sayest to me, I have believed in Christ.
What hath Christ promised thee, but what He hath shewn in Himself? What hath He shewn in Himself? He died, and arose from the dead, ascended into heaven. Dost thou wish to follow ? Imitate His passion : expect His promise. What then can the enraged persecutor deprive thee of, when thou hast begun to hate the evil, because thou lovest the Lord? What can he deprive thee of? Thy- patrimony? Can he deprive thee of heaven ? Lastly, whatever God hath given thee, let him take: (he taketh not indeed, unless God wills ; but if God will, he taketh away what God gave, lest God take Himself away from thee :) no one can deprive thee of God; thou deprivest thyself of Him, if thou fliest from Him.
17. Perhaps thou answerest: I am not concerned for my
but21,
The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken Joh 1,
patrimony.
away; I may say, Blessed be the name of the T^ord:
I fear, lest he slay me. This is all. Hear the Psalm consoling thee : The Lord preserveth the souls of His servants. Because then he had said above, O ye that love
the Lord, see that ye hate the thing which is evil, lest ye should fear to hate evil, lest he should kill thee, he addeth instantly, The Lord preserveth the souls of His servants.
Hear Him preserving the souls of His servants, and saying,
Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill Mat. 10, the soul. He who hath most power against thee, slayeth 28
the body. What hath he done unto thee ? What he also
did to the Lord thy God. Why lovest thou to have what
Christ hath, if thou fearest to suffer what Christ did ? He
came to bear thy life, temporal, weak, subject unto death.
Surely fear to die, if thou canst avoid dying. What thou
canst not avoid through thy nature, why dost thou not undergo by faith ? Let the adversary who threateneth take
away from thee that life, God giveih thee another life : for
He gave thee this life also, and without His will even this
shall not be taken from thee ; but if it be His will that it
432 God gives a belter life than man takes away.
Pbalm be taken from thee, He hath a life to give thee in exchange; xcvn- fear not to be robbed for His sake. Art thou unwilling to
put off a patched garment? He will give thee a robe of 1 Cor. glory. What robe dost thou tell me of? This corruptible 16'63' must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on
immortality. This very flesh of thine shall not perish. Thine enemy can rage as far as to thy death : he hath not power beyond, either over thy soul, or even over thy flesh ; for although he scatter thy flesh about, he hindereth not the resurrection. Men were fearful for their life : and what said
Mat. 10, the Lord unto them ?