9. to be cast into everlasting fire. And, Whosoever sliall marry
10 The Divinity and worship of Jesus Christ the Son of God.
Just. Father of all thino-s to a crucified man ; not knowinsr the Mart.
^ ^.u .
• u • x i • i t - ^ i mystery that is herein; to which i entreat you to give heed, as I proceed to explain it.
Devils 14. But 1 forewarn you to beware, that those devils whom Chris.
I have already accused, do not deceive you, and altogether tianhopervert you from reading and understanding what is said, (for it is their endeavour to gain you as their slaves and assistants ; and at one time through visions of the night, at another by means of magical impostures, they take captive all who do not make any effort for their own salvation,) as we also since we have believed in the Word have withdrawn from them, and now follow the only unbegotten God through His Son ; we, who formerly gave loose to fornication, now only strive after purity ; we, who took delight in arts of magic, now dedicate ourselves to the good and unbegotten God ; we, who loved the path to riches and possessions above any other, now produce what we have in common, and give to every one who needs ; we, who" hated and destroyed one another, and would not make use even of the same fire with those of another tribe, because of their diflTerent customs ; now, since the coming of Christ, live together, and pray for our enemies, and endeavour to persuade those who hate us unjustly, that all who have lived in accordance with the good precepts of Christ, may come to a good hope of obtaining from God, the Ruler of all things, the same reward as ourselves.
But, lest you should suspect me of sophistry, I think it best before proceeding to my proofs, to bring forward a few extracts from the teaching of Christ; and be it yours, as mighty Emperors, to judge whether
I we have taught and do teach truly.
His expressions are ^ brief, and concise, for He was no sophist, but His Word ^^-;\ wajthe power of God.
^ ^ 15./ On chastity then. He spoke thus :
Whosoever looketh Our teach- ^pon a ivoman to lust after her^ hath committed adultery with ^^^^ already in his heart before God.
And if thy right eye Cha tit Matt. 5, offend thee, pluck it out; it is better for thee to enter into the Mat. 18
^^'^^9^^'^^^ of Heaven with one eye, rather than having two eyes 9. to be cast into everlasting fire.
And, Whosoever sliall marry * ^ her that is divorced from her husband, commifteth adultery.
Mat. I9,j\^n(]^ There are some who are made eunuchs of men, and 32,
The moral change in those who become Christians.
some loho were horn eunuchs, and some ivho have made themApol. selves eunuchs for the kingdom of Heavens sake, hut all cannot
'^' receive this saying.
So that all who, by human law, contract second marriages*', are sinners in the eye of our Master, and they who look upon a woman to lust after her
; for not only is the man who commits adultery in fact, rejected by Him, but even he who does so in will, since not only are our works manifest to God, but even our very wishes.
And there are many men and women, of sixty and seventy years of age, who were disciplined to Christ from their youth, / and now remain spotless ; and it is my pride to be able to produce such from every nation.
What shall I say, too, of that countless multitude, who have laid aside their former licentiousness, and learned these things ?
For Christ called " not the righteous, and the temperate, to repentance ; but the wicked, and the intemperate, and the unjust, speaking as follows, / came not to call the righteous, hut sinners to Matt. 9, repentance.
For our Heavenly Father would rather the repentance of a sinner, than his punishment.
And, on the love that we should bear to all men, He Charity. taught thus; If ye love them which love you, what new thing ^^^^^-^i do ye? for even fornicators do the same.
But I say 2^w^o Lute 6, you, pray for your enemies, love those that hate you, and hless^"^' ^^' them which curse you, and pray for them ivhich despitefully use you.
And to incite us to communicate to those who have need, and to do nothing for praise. He said. Give ^ojlatt.6, every one that asketh, and from him that would horrow turn not away; or. If ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive Luke 6, again, what new thing do ye?
This even the Puhlicans do.
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth MatuG, and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves hreak through ; hut lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust doth not corrupt.
For ivhat is a man jirojited, if he shall ^^'^^ 9, gain the whole world, and lose his own soul; or luhat shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Lay up for yourselves therefore ^^^t.Q, iiya/xias. on this passage, that S. Justin dots not pressly directed against the latter; or by the word Siyafj-ias repreliend those he considers that the word in (luestion who contract a second marriage, may possibly, but with less propriety, but such as are guilty of bigamy ; bebe intended to express adultery, p. o2. cause the citations produced by him note d.
12 Precepts on long-suffering, and the worship of God alone.
Just, treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt. rrp^*^- Be you kind and merciful, as your Father is hind and merciful,
44. 45.
Who maketh His sun to rise upon sinners, on the just and on Mzxt.Q.the evil.
Take no thought ivhat ye shall eat, or what ye ^^' shall put on; are ye not much better than birds and beasts?
And yet God feedeth them.
Be not therefore solicitous what ye shall eat, or ivlierewithal ye shall be clothed, for your Father ivhich is in heaven knoweth that ye have need of these things; but seek ye the kingdom of heaven, and all things shall be added unto you.
For where the treasure is, there also is M?^tt.G,the mind of man.
Do not these things to be seen of men, otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
Pa16. And what He said about being patient and ready to Matt!*5 assist all men, and free from anger, is as follows;
Whosoever 39. 40. shall smite thee on thy cheek, turn to him the other also; and him that would take away thy cloak or thy coat, forbid not.
Matt. 5, And, Whosoever is angry is in danger of the fire; whosoever ver. 16
^^^^^'^ compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
Let your good works so shine before men, that they may see them, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
For we ought not to be guilty of strife, nor would He have us followers of the wicked, but He has urged us, by patience and meekness, to convert all from shame and the lust of evil; and this T can >^ '^ ' shew to have taken place in the case of many that have come in contact with ws, who were overcome, and changed from violent and tyrannical characters, either from having watched r^"*-**^ the constancy of their neighbours' lives, or from having observed the wonderful patience of fellow-travellers under unjust exactions, or from the trial they made of those with whom they were concerned in business.
Against And with regard to abstaining from swearing, and always " speaking the truth, He has commanded as follows; Siuear not ing.
Matt. 5, ^^ g^ij. i^y^f Iqi yQ^y y q(j^ Jjq yQ(j^^ (j^y^fi yQUT utty , ntty ; for whatsoever is more than these is of evil.
And He thus persuaded Mat.22, us to worship God alone, and no other; This is the greatest ^- ^^commandment, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him
12, 30. only shalt thou serve, with all thy heart, and with all thy strength, the Lord thy God which made thee.
And when Mat. 19, one came to Him and said, Good Master, He answered. There 16.17.