17 But let man or woman be never so wicked, if the works of the angel of righteousness come into his heart, that man or woman must needs do some good. 18 Thou scest therefore how it is good to follow the angel of righteousness. If therefore thou Shalt follow him, and submit to his & Lat. Credi works, thou shalt live unto God. And as lieve. many as shall submit to his works, shall live also unto God. h deris, Be COMMAND VII. That we must fear God, but not the devil. i i cxxvii. Ec FEAR God, says he, and keep his com- Vid. Antsmandments. For if thou keepest his com- och. Hom. mandments thou shalt be powerful in every cles. xii. 13. work, and all thy works shall be 'excellent. Without For by fearing God, thou shalt do every thing or without well. 2 This is that fear with which thou must be affected that thou mayest be saved. But fear not the devil; for if thou fearest the Lord, thou shalt have dominion over him; because there is no power in him. 3 Now if there be no power in him, then neither is he to be feared. But he in whom there is excellent power, he is to be feared; for every one that has power is to be feared. But he that has no power is despised by every one. 4 Fear the works of the devil, because they are evil. For by fearing the Lord, thou wilt fear and not do the works of the devil, but keep thyself from them. k comparison mixture. 5 There is therefore a twofold fear; if* Gr. Ants och. 12 thou wilt not do evil, fear the Lord, and thou In the Gr. shalt not do it. But if thou wilt do good,' the these words fear of the Lord is strong, and great, and glo of Antiochus follow, which make rious. the connec- clear; "Fear also the Lord, and 6 Wherefore, fear God and thou shalt live: and whosoever shall fear him, and keep his thou shalt be commandments, their life is with the Lord. But they who keep them not, neither is life in able to do it, them. "Antioch. COMMAND VIII. That we must flee from evil, and do good. I HAVE told thee, said he, that there are two kinds of creatures of the Lord, and that there is a twofold "abstinence. From so:ne things therefore thou must abstain, and from others not. 2 I answered, Declare to me, sir, from what I must abstain, and from what not. Hearken, said he. Keep thyself from evil, and do it not; but abstain not from good, but do it. For if thou shalt abstain from what is good, and not do it, thou shalt sin. Abstain therefore from all evil, and thou shalt "know all ing to the righteousness. "Do, accord Greek. 3 I said, What evil things are those from which I must abstain? Hearken, said he; from adultery; from drunkenness; from riots; from excess of eating; from daintiness and dishonesty; from pride; from fraud; from lying; from detraction; from hypocrisy ; from remembrance of injuries; and from all evil speaking. 4 For these are the works of iniquity; from which the servant of God must abstain. For he that cannot keep himself from these things, cannot live unto God. 5 But hear, said he, what follows of these kind of things for indeed many more there are from which the servant of God must abstain. From theft, and cheating; from false witness; from covetousness; from boasting; and all other things of the like nature. 6 Do these things seem to thee to be evil or not? Indeed they are very evil to the servants of God. Wherefore the servant of God must abstain from all these works. 7 Keep thyself therefore from them, that thou mayest live unto God, and be written among those that abstain from them. And thus have I shown thee what things thou must avoid now learn from what thou must not abstain. 8 Abstain not from any good works, but do them. Hear, said he, what the virtue of those good works is which thou must do, that thou mayest be saved. The first of all is faith; the fear of the Lord; charity; concord; ty; truth; patience; chastity. 9 There is nothing better than these in the life of man; who shall keep these things in their life. Hear, next follow these. • Vid. Coteler. in loc. The sense equi-tive, and may here is defec stored from the Greek of Athanasius: things Annius: and do keeps these what doth not ab things and stain from them, shall be happy in So the Lamb custodierit. deed. Good - Συντερειν. Add from 10 To minister to the widows; not to de- his life And spise the fatherless and poor; to redeem the Ms. Hæc qui servants of God from necessity; to be hospi-Gr. table (for in hospitality there is sometimes 'great fruit ;) not to be contentious, but be quiet; 11 To be humble above all men; to rever-chus: Not to ence the aged; to labour to be righteous; to juries; To respect the brotherhood; to bear affronts; to those who be long-suffering; 'not to cast away those their minds. the Greek of Athanasius and Antio r member in comfort Jabour in that have fallen from the faith; but to conEDUμOUS. Vert them and make them be of good cheer; to admonish sinners; not to oppress those that are our debtors; and all other things of a like kind. "Vid. Anti Ixxxiii. Con 12 Do these things seem to thee to be good, or not? And I said, What can be better than these words? Live then, said he, in these commandments, and do not depart from them. For if thou shalt keep all these commandments, thou shalt live unto God. And all they that shall keep these commandments, shall live unto God. COMMAND IX. That we must ask of God daily, and without doubting. AGAIN he said unto me, "Remove from thee all doubting; and question nothing at all, fer. Fragm. when thou askest any thing of the Lord; saying within thyself, How shall I be able to ask any thing of the Lord and receive it, seeing I have so greatly sinned against him? D. Grabe. i. page 303 2 Do not think thus, but turn unto the Lord with all thy heart, and ask of him without doubting, and thou shalt know the mercy of the Lord; how that he will not forsake thee, but will fulfil the request of thy soul. 3 For God is not as men, mindful of the injuries he has received; but he forgets injuries, and has compassion upon his creatures. 4 Wherefore purify thy heart from all the vices of this present world; and observe the commands I have before delivered unto thee from God; and thou shalt receive whatsoever good things thou shalt ask, and nothing shall be wanting unto thee of all thy petitions; if the Gr. both Add from For of Athanawith tichus: nut be- est in thy sius and An if thou doubt thou shalt ask of the Lord without doubting. 5 But they that are not such, shall obtain none of those things which they ask. they that are full of faith, ask all things confidence, and receive from the Lord, cause they ask without doubting. But he that shalt receive doubts shall hardly live unto God, except he petitions. repent. heart, thou none of thy For who distrust (or, doubt of) double and minded, who But none of these shall obtain things. 6 Wherefore purify thy heart from doubt-God, are like ing, and put on faith; and trust in God; thou shalt receive all that thou shalt ask. and if thou shouldest chance to ask somewhat so MS. and not (" immediately) receive it, yet do not dius accipias. therefore doubt, because thou hast not presently received the petition of thy soul. I 7 For it may be thou shalt not presently receive it for thy trial, or else for some sin which thou knowest not. But do not thou leave off to ask, and then thou shalt receive. Else if thou shalt cease to ask, thou must complain of thyself, and not of God, that he has not given unto thee what thou didst desire. 8 Consider therefore this doubting how cruel and pernicious it is; and how it utterly roots out many from the faith, who were very faithful and firm. For this doubting is the daughter of the devil; and deals very wickedly with the servants of God. 20 Lamb. Tar * Asking the thy soul. thing. 9 Despise it therefore, and thou shalt rule over it on every occasion. Put on a firm In every and powerful faith: for faith promises all things, and perfects all things. But doubting will not believe, that it shall obtain any thing by all that it can do. 10 Thou seest therefore, says he, how faith cometh from above, from God; and has great power. But doubting is an earthly spirit, |