25. These memorials I have written for our brethren and beloved, the children of the Church of God, that when these come into their hands in various places, and when they read in them, they may also remember my insignificance in their prayers, and may know that I am a sinner also, and fall short; but that this is my faith, that I have set forth from the beginning and written, in these chapters written (by me). Faith is the foundation, and upon faith (rest) the works that become it. And after Faith (I wrote) that there are two commandments of Love. And after Love, I have written of Fasting, in its demonstration also along with its works. And after Fasting, I wrote of Prayer in its fruit and in its works. And after Prayer, have written about War and about whatever Daniel wrote concerning the kingdoms. And after War, I have written of the exhortation for Monks. And after the Monks, I have written about Repentance. And after Repentance, I have written about the Resurrection of the dead. And after the Resurrection of the dead, I have written about Humility. And after Humility, I have written of the Pastors, the teachers. And after the Pastors, I have written about the Circumcision in which the people of the Jews pride themselves. And after the Circumcision, I have written about the Passover, and about the fourteenth day. And after the Passover, I have written about the Sabbath, in which the Jews are puffed up. And after the Sabbath, I have written an Exhortation, on account of the dissension which happened in our days. And after the Exhortation, I have written about Meats, those that the Jews deem unclean. And after the Meats, I have written about the Gentiles, that they have entered in and become heirs instead of the original people. And after the Gentiles, I have written and proved that God has a Son. And after the Son of God, I have written against the Jews, who speak injuriously about Virginity. And after the apology about Virginity, I have written again Against the Jews, who say:--"It is appointed for us to be gathered together." And after that defence, I have written about Almsgiving to the Poor. And after the Poor, I have written a demonstration about The Persecuted. And after the Persecuted, I have written at the end about Death and the Last Times. These twenty-two discourses have I written according to the twenty-two letters of the alphabet. The first ten I wrote in the six hundred and forty-eighth year of the kingdom of Alexander the son of Philip the Macedonian, as is written in the end of them. And these twelve last I wrote in the six hundred and fifty-fifth year of the kingdom of the Greeks and of the Romans, which is the kingdom of Alexander, and in the thirty-fifth year of the Persian King. [1208]
26. These things I have written according to what I have attained to. But if anyone shall read these discourses, and find words that do not agree with his thought, he ought not to scorn them; because whatsoever is written in these chapters was not written according to the thought of one man, nor for the persuasion of one reader; but according to the thought of all the Church, and for the persuasion of all faith. If he shall read and hear with persuasion, it is well; and if not, it is meet for me to say that I wrote for those open to persuasion and not for mockers. And if again any reader should find words that are spoken by us in one fashion, and by another sage in another fashion, let him not be disturbed at this; for every man speaks to his hearers according to what he can attain to. So I, who have written these things, even if some of the words do not agree with what other speakers have said, yet say this; that those sages have spoken well, yet it seemed good to me to speak thus. And if any man shall speak and demonstrate to me about any matter, I will receive instruction from him without contention. Everyone who reads the sacred scriptures, both former and latter, in both covenants, and reads with persuasion, will learn and teach. But if he strives about anything that he does not understand, his mind does not receive teaching. But if he finds words that are too difficult for him, and he does not understand their force, let him say thus, "Whatsoever is written is written well, but I have not attained to the understanding of it." And if he shall ask about the matters that are too hard for him of wise and discerning men who inquire into doctrine, then, when ten wise men shall speak to him in ten different ways about one matter, let him accept that which pleases him; and if any please not him, let him not scorn the sages; for the word of God is like a pearl, that has a beautiful appearance on whatever side you turn it. And remember, O disciple, what David said, From all my teachers have I learned. [1209] And the Apostle said:--Thou readest every Scripture that is in the Spirit of God. And prove everything; hold fast that which is good; and flee from every evil thing. [1210] For if the days of a man should be many as all the days of the world from Adam to the end of the ages, and he should sit and meditate upon the Holy Scriptures, he would not comprehend all the force of the depth of the words. And man cannot rise up to the wisdom of God; as I have written in the tenth discourse. But, however, the words of all speakers who do not take from the great treasure, are accursed and to be despised. For the image of the king (on his coin) is received wherever it goes; but (the coin) in which there is base metal, is rejected and is not received. And if any one should say, "These discourses were spoken by such an one;" let him carefully learn that to be careful to inquire about the speaker is not commanded him. I also according to my insignificance have written these things, a man sprung from Adam, and fashioned by the hands of God, a disciple of the Holy Scriptures. For our Lord said:--Every one that asketh receiveth, and he that seeketh findeth, and for him that knocketh it shall be opened. [1211] And the prophet said:--I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh in the last days, and they shall prophesy. [1212] Therefore whoever shall read anything that I have written above, let him read with persuasion, and pray for the author as a brother of the Body; that through the petition of all the Church of God; his sins may be forgiven. And let whoever reads understand what is written:--Let him that hears the word, communicate to him that causes him to hear, in all good things. [1213] And again it is written, The sower and the reaper shall rejoice together. [1214] And Every man according to his labours shall receive his reward. [1215] And There is nothing hidden that shall not be revealed to every man. [1216]
[1165] Rom. v. 14, 12.
[1166] Gen. ii. 17.
[1167] Deut. xxxiii. 6.
[1168] Ex. iii. 6.
[1169] Luke xx. 38.
[1170] 1 Sam. ii. 6.
[1171] Deut. xxxii. 39.
[1172] Is. xxvi. 19.
[1173] 1 Cor. xv. 55.
[1174] Ecclus. xxix. 18.
[1175] Job iii. 18, 19.
[1176] Job xvi. 19; ib. xvi. 20.
[1177] Matt. vi. 20; Luke xvi. 9.
[1178] Is. lx. 8.
[1179] Mal. ii. 10.
[1180] Luke xx. 35, 36.
[1181] Gal. iii. 28.
[1182] 1 Cor. ii. 9.
[1183] Ib.
[1184] Ps. cxlii. 2.
[1185] 1 Cor. vi. 3.
[1186] Matt. xix. 28; Luke xxii. 30.
[1187] Ezek. xxiii. 24, 25.
[1188] Mal. ii. 7.
[1189] Ps. i. 5.
[1190] Ps. ix. 17.
[1191] Is. xl. 15, 17.
[1192] 1 Cor. iii. 8.
[1193] Job xxxiv. 10, 11.
[1194] 1 Cor. xv. 41, 42.
[1195] Matt. vii. 12.
[1196] Is. lxvi. 24.
[1197] Matt. xxv. 12.
[1198] John xiv. 2.
[1199] Num. xvi. 32, 33.
[1200] Ps. ix. 17.
[1201] Matt. v. 3.
[1202] Luke xxiii. 43.
[1203] 1 Thess. iv. 17.
[1204] Matt. xxiv. 35.
[1205] Rom. viii. 24.
[1206] Is. li. 6.
[1207] Job xiv. 12.
[1208] Sc., in the years 337 and 344, a.d.
[1209] Ps. cxix. 99.
[1210] 1 Thess. v. 21, 22; 2 Tim. iii. 16.
[1211] Matt. vii. 8.
[1212] Joel ii. 28.
[1213] Gal. vi. 6.
[1214] John iv. 36.
[1215] 1 Cor. iii. 8.
[1216] Matt. x. 26.
Indexes
Index of Scripture References
Genesis
[1]1:2 [2]1:2 [3]2:7 [4]2:7 [5]2:17 [6]2:17 [7]2:24 [8]2:24 [9]3:6 [10]3:9 [11]3:15 [12]3:16 [13]4:4-5 [14]4:9 [15]5:29 [16]9 [17]9:23 [18]9:23 [19]10:2 [20]10:10 [21]15:6 [22]16:12 [23]16:12 [24]17:1 [25]18:14 [26]21:9 [27]22:6 [28]22:12 [29]23 [30]27:40 [31]30:1 [32]31:38 [33]31:38 [34]31:40 [35]35:22 [36]38 [37]38:29 [38]39:7 [39]41:49 [40]49:3-4 [41]49:10 [42]49:10 [43]49:10 [44]49:29 [45]49:31 [46]50:24
Exodus
[47]1:16 [48]3:6 [49]3:6 [50]3:14 [51]3:15 [52]4:4 [53]4:10 [54]4:22-23 [55]4:24 [56]4:26 [57]6:1 [58]7:1 [59]7:12 [60]8:26 [61]12:3 [62]12:3 [63]13 [64]13:19 [65]14 [66]14:14 [67]15:25 [68]16 [69]16:8 [70]17 [71]17:4 [72]17:12 [73]20:2 [74]22:28 [75]30 [76]31 [77]32:1 [78]32:1 [79]32:1 [80]32:1 [81]32:4 [82]32:20 [83]32:26-28 [84]32:31-32 [85]33 [86]33:11 [87]33:11 [88]33:20 [89]33:22 [90]34:14 [91]37
Leviticus
[92]14:52 [93]18:7 [94]20:18 [95]21:12 [96]23:10 [97]23:11 [98]26:12 [99]26:12 [100]26:44
Numbers
[101]5:17-27 [102]11:17 [103]12:1 [104]13 [105]14:10 [106]16:32-33 [107]20 [108]24:17 [109]25:6-15 [110]27
Deuteronomy
[111]4:2 [112]4:2 [113]4:17 [114]5:15 [115]14:1 [116]29:23 [117]32:7 [118]32:15 [119]32:21 [120]32:25 [121]32:32 [122]32:32 [123]32:39 [124]32:39 [125]32:39 [126]32:39 [127]32:39 [128]33:6 [129]33:6 [130]33:6 [131]34:5-6
Joshua
[132]2:9 [133]3:17 [134]10:13
Judges
[135]3:12 [136]4:2 [137]7:18-22 [138]11:5 [139]13:1-24 [140]14:6 [141]16:15 [142]18:2 [143]18:14
Ruth
[144]1:20 [145]4:12
1 Samuel
[146]1:7 [147]2:6 [148]2:6 [149]2:26 [150]4:1 [151]5 [152]5:4 [153]13:14 [154]16:14 [155]21:13-15 [156]26
2 Samuel
[157]6:23 [158]8:14 [159]11:2 [160]13:1 [161]24:17
1 Kings
[162]1:38 [163]4:27 [164]10:1 [165]11:1-4 [166]11:12 [167]11:36 [168]15:4 [169]15:13 [170]16:31 [171]17:3-5 [172]19:1-8 [173]20:11 [174]21:5 [175]22:28
2 Kings
[176]2:8-15 [177]2:11 [178]2:16 [179]2:20 [180]3:15-17 [181]4:8-10 [182]4:26 [183]6:32 [184]18:9 [185]18:13 [186]18:35 [187]19:21-23 [188]19:23-24 [189]19:28 [190]19:37 [191]20:18 [192]20:19 [193]22:11 [194]22:13 [195]23:29 [196]25:1
1 Chronicles
[197]11:19 [198]11:19
2 Chronicles
[199]35:25
Esther
[200]6:11 [201]6:13 [202]7:10 [203]9:10
Job
[204]1:13 [205]2:9 [206]3:18-19 [207]6:6 [208]14:12 [209]16:19-20 [210]16:20 [211]22:3 [212]27:5-6 [213]28:19 [214]30:29 [215]30:29 [216]34:10-11 [217]40:14 [218]41:4
Psalms
[219]1:2 [220]1:2-3 [221]1:5 [222]2:7 [223]3:4 [224]5:15 [225]6:8 [226]6:8 [227]9:17 [228]9:17 [229]10:3 [230]15:5-6 [231]16:5 [232]16:10 [233]16:10 [234]18:22 [235]19:4 [236]19:99 [237]19:105 [238]19:105 [239]22:6 [240]22:17-18 [241]22:17-19 [242]22:23 [243]22:23 [244]23:45 [245]24:7 [246]24:9 [247]27:7 [248]33:7 [249]36:30 [250]37:35-36 [251]39:16 [252]41:8 [253]41:9 [254]42:2 [255]45:5 [256]45:7 [257]45:14 [258]45:17 [259]45:19 [260]50:7 [261]50:9 [262]51:13 [263]51:14 [264]58:8 [265]61:3 [266]68:31 [267]69:4 [268]69:22 [269]69:27 [270]71:14 [271]72:15 [272]73:18 [273]73:28 [274]74:5-6 [275]77:10 [276]78:20 [277]78:72 [278]78:72 [279]79:1-3 [280]81:6 [281]81:10 [282]82:6 [283]82:7 [284]85:12 [285]85:17 [286]87:6 [287]88:5 [288]88:10-12 [289]90:1 [290]90:1-2 [291]95:11 [292]97:2 [293]99:1 [294]105:15 [295]121:4 [296]130:3
Proverbs
[297]3:9 [298]3:18 [299]4:18 [300]4:23 [301]5:15-17 [302]6:27 [303]9:5 [304]14:4 [305]14:34 [306]15:8 [307]18:10 [308]18:19 [309]20:1 [310]20:6 [311]21:27 [312]24:11 [313]25:25 [314]25:25
Ecclesiastes
[315]1:3 [316]8:11 [317]9:4 [318]10:2 [319]11:10
Song of Solomon
[320]1:5 [321]1:15 [322]2:1 [323]2:3 [324]2:17 [325]4:14
Isaiah
[326]1:2 [327]1:3 [328]1:10 [329]1:10 [330]1:18 [331]5:1 [332]5:1-6 [333]5:2 [334]5:2 [335]5:2 [336]6 [337]6:2 [338]6:7 [339]7:14 [340]8:18 [341]9:6 [342]9:6-7 [343]10:15 [344]10:19 [345]11:1-2 [346]14:13 [347]14:15-16 [348]14:25 [349]23:15 [350]23:15-17 [351]23:17 [352]26:19 [353]26:19 [354]26:19 [355]28:16 [356]28:16 [357]30:27 [358]33:17 [359]34:4 [360]37:22-24 [361]37:24-25 [362]37:29 [363]37:38 [364]39:7 [365]40:12 [366]40:15 [367]40:17 [368]41:8 [369]41:14 [370]42:22 [371]43:2-3 [372]43:26 [373]44:6 [374]48:12 [375]49:6 [376]49:24 [377]51:6 [378]52:11 [379]52:13-14 [380]52:15 [381]53 [382]53:2 [383]53:2 [384]53:5 [385]53:5 [386]53:8 [387]53:10 [388]53:12 [389]54:9 [390]55:1 [391]55:6-7 [392]55:10-11 [393]56:5 [394]59:5 [395]60:8 [396]62:6-7 [397]65:8 [398]65:20 [399]66:2 [400]66:3 [401]66:8 [402]66:16 [403]66:24 [404]66:24
Jeremiah
[405]2:10-13 [406]2:30 [407]5:14 [408]6:7-8 [409]6:30 [410]6:30 [411]7:4-5 [412]7:4-5 [413]8:7 [414]9:23 [415]13:23 [416]17:5 [417]17:7 [418]17:8 [419]17:24 [420]20:9 [421]23:29 [422]25:11 [423]25:15-27 [424]27:8 [425]28:14 [426]31:22 [427]32:18 [428]48:47 [429]49:6 [430]49:39 [431]50:17 [432]51:7 [433]51:64
Lamentations
[434]3:27-28 [435]4:1 [436]4:2 [437]4:16 [438]4:20 [439]4:20 [440]5:16
Ezekiel
[441]2:6 [442]2:6 [443]13:10 [444]15:4-5 [445]16:15 [446]16:48 [447]16:49 [448]16:52 [449]16:55 [450]16:55 [451]18:3 [452]18:23 [453]18:32 [454]22:30 [455]23:24-25 [456]28:2 [457]28:14 [458]28:14 [459]28:14-15 [460]28:16 [461]28:16 [462]29:18-19 [463]32:19 [464]33:11 [465]34:2-4 [466]34:9 [467]34:10-12 [468]34:14 [469]34:18 [470]34:19 [471]34:31 [472]37:1-10 [473]47:1 [474]47:10
Daniel
[475]2:31-33 [476]2:34 [477]2:34 [478]2:34-35 [479]2:35 [480]2:37 [481]2:38 [482]2:39 [483]2:39 [484]2:40 [485]2:43 [486]2:44 [487]2:49 [488]3:28-29 [489]4:13 [490]4:17 [491]4:17 [492]4:19 [493]4:30 [494]6:14 [495]7:2 [496]7:4-7 [497]7:7 [498]7:8 [499]7:8 [500]7:8 [501]7:9 [502]7:13 [503]7:14 [504]7:19 [505]7:21 [506]7:22 [507]7:24 [508]7:25 [509]7:25 [510]7:26 [511]7:27 [512]7:27 [513]7:27 [514]8:2 [515]8:4 [516]8:20-21 [517]9:26-27 [518]9:27 [519]9:27 [520]10:5-6 [521]10:6 [522]10:8 [523]10:19 [524]10:19
Hosea
[525]1:2 [526]1:11 [527]4:2 [528]4:3 [529]4:16 [530]6:5 [531]8:10 [532]8:10 [533]10:11 [534]10:12 [535]10:12 [536]11:1-2
Joel
[537]2:11 [538]2:28 [539]2:28-29
Amos
[540]5:1-2 [541]8:9
Micah
[542]5:2
Zephaniah
[543]1:3
Zechariah
[544]2:8 [545]3:3 [546]3:9 [547]4:10 [548]9:16 [549]11:9 [550]11:17 [551]12:12 [552]13:7 [553]14:6 [554]14:6-7 [555]14:7
Malachi
[556]2:7 [557]2:10 [558]4:6
Matthew
[559]1:3 [560]1:23 [561]2:3 [562]2:20 [563]3:12 [564]4:2 [565]4:11 [566]5:3 [567]5:5 [568]5:6 [569]5:7 [570]5:9 [571]5:9 [572]5:11 [573]5:13 [574]5:13 [575]5:14 [576]5:15 [577]5:16 [578]5:16 [579]5:16 [580]5:19-20 [581]5:28 [582]5:39 [583]6:20 [584]6:20 [585]6:33 [586]7:7 [587]7:8 [588]7:12 [589]7:22 [590]7:24 [591]8:8 [592]8:8 [593]8:10 [594]8:20 [595]8:24 [596]9:2 [597]9:2 [598]9:2 [599]9:6 [600]9:12 [601]9:13 [602]9:20 [603]9:26 [604]9:28 [605]9:29 [606]10:1 [607]10:8 [608]10:8 [609]10:8 [610]10:8 [611]10:16 [612]10:16 [613]10:24 [614]10:25 [615]10:26 [616]10:27 [617]11:7 [618]11:8 [619]11:11 [620]11:12 [621]11:27 [622]11:27 [623]12:15 [624]12:22 [625]12:50 [626]13:7 [627]13:30 [628]13:44 [629]13:46 [630]13:47 [631]14:6 [632]14:15 [633]14:17 [634]14:24 [635]14:31 [636]15:11 [637]15:11 [638]15:12 [639]15:13 [640]15:18 [641]15:19 [642]15:36 [643]16:19 [644]17:19 [645]17:19 [646]17:26 [647]18:10 [648]18:10 [649]18:20 [650]18:24 [651]19:5 [652]19:6 [653]19:9 [654]19:28 [655]19:28 [656]19:28 [657]20:1 [658]20:30 [659]21 [660]21 [661]21:2-7 [662]21:19 [663]21:21 [664]21:22 [665]21:22 [666]21:38 [667]21:40-44 [668]21:42 [669]21:44 [670]22:13 [671]22:28 [672]23:9 [673]23:29-32 [674]24 [675]24:6 [676]24:20 [677]24:32 [678]24:35 [679]25 [680]25:4 [681]25:6 [682]25:10 [683]25:10 [684]25:12 [685]25:16 [686]25:21 [687]25:23 [688]25:27 [689]25:29 [690]25:32 [691]25:33 [692]25:33-35 [693]25:40 [694]26:7 [695]26:13 [696]26:31 [697]26:53 [698]26:64 [699]27:25 [700]27:26 [701]27:34 [702]27:46 [703]27:50-52 [704]27:50-53 [705]27:51 [706]27:52 [707]27:54 [708]27:63 [709]27:64 [710]28:18 [711]28:18 [712]28:19 [713]28:20 [714]28:24