Chapter XV.--Exhortation to confess Christ by silence as well as speech.
It is better for a man to be silent and be [a Christian], than to talk and not to be one. It is good to teach, if he who speaks also acts. There is then one Teacher, who spake and it was done; while even those things which He did in silence are worthy of the Father. He who possesses the word of Jesus, is truly able to hear even His very silence, that he may be perfect, and may both act as he speaks, and be recognised by his silence. There is nothing which is hid from God, but our very secrets are near to Him. Let us therefore do all things as those who have Him dwelling in us, that we may be His temples, [590] and He may be in us as our God, which indeed He is, and will manifest Himself before our faces. Wherefore we justly love Him.
It is better for a man to be silent and be [a Christian], than to talk and not to be one. "The kingdom of God is not in word, but in power." [591] Men "believe with the heart, and confess with the mouth," the one "unto righteousness," the other "unto salvation." [592] It is good to teach, if he who speaks also acts. For he who shall both "do and teach, the same shall be great in the kingdom." [593] Our Lord and God, Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, first did and then taught, as Luke testifies, "whose praise is in the Gospel through all the Churches." [594] There is nothing which is hid from the Lord, but our very secrets are near to Him. Let us therefore do all things as those who have Him dwelling in us, that we may be His temples, [595] and He may be in us as God. Let Christ speak in us, even as He did in Paul. Let the Holy Spirit teach us to speak the things of Christ in like manner as He did.
[590] 1 Cor. vi. 19.
[591] 1 Cor. iv. 20.
[592] Rom. x. 10.
[593] Matt. v. 19.
[594] 2 Cor. viii. 18.
[595] 1 Cor. vi. 19.
Chapter XVI.--The fate of false teachers.
Do not err, my brethren. [596] Those that corrupt families shall not inherit the kingdom of God. [597] If, then, those who do this as respects the flesh have suffered death, how much more shall this be the case with any one who corrupts by wicked doctrine the faith of God, for which Jesus Christ was crucified! Such an one becoming defiled [in this way], shall go away into everlasting fire, and so shall every one that hearkens unto him.
Do not err, my brethren. [598] Those that corrupt families shall not inherit the kingdom of God. [599] And if those that corrupt mere human families are condemned to death, how much more shall those suffer everlasting punishment who endeavour to corrupt the Church of Christ, for which the Lord Jesus, the only-begotten Son of God, endured the cross, and submitted to death! Whosoever, "being waxen fat," [600] and "become gross," sets at nought His doctrine, shall go into hell. In like manner, every one that has received from God the power of distinguishing, and yet follows an unskilful shepherd, and receives a false opinion for the truth, shall be punished. "What communion hath light with darkness? or Christ with Belial? Or what portion hath he that believeth with an infidel? or the temple of God with idols?" [601] And in like manner say I, what communion hath truth with falsehood? or righteousness with unrighteousness? or true doctrine with that which is false?
[596] Comp. Jas. i. 16.
[597] 1 Cor. vi. 9, 10.
[598] Comp. Jas. i. 16.
[599] 1 Cor. vi. 9, 10.
[600] Deut. xxxii. 15.
[601] 2 Cor. vi. 14-16.
Chapter XVII.--Beware of false doctrines.
For this end did the Lord suffer the ointment to be poured upon His head, [602] that He might breathe immortality into His Church. Be not ye anointed with the bad odour of the doctrine of the prince of this world; let him not lead you away captive from the life which is set before you. And why are we not all prudent, since we have received the knowledge of God, which is Jesus Christ? Why do we foolishly perish, not recognising the gift which the Lord has of a truth sent to us?
For this end did the Lord suffer the ointment to be poured upon His head, [603] that His Church might breathe forth immortality. For saith [the Scripture], "Thy name is as ointment poured forth; therefore have the virgins loved Thee; they have drawn Thee; at the odour of Thine ointments we will run after Thee." [604] Let no one be anointed with the bad odour of the doctrine of [the prince of] this world; let not the holy Church of God be led captive by his subtlety, as was the first woman. [605] Why do we not, as gifted with reason, act wisely? When we had received from Christ, and had grafted in us the faculty of judging concerning God, why do we fall headlong into ignorance? and why, through a careless neglect of acknowledging the gift which we have received, do we foolishly perish?
[602] Comp. John xii. 7.
[603] Comp. John xii. 7.
[604] Cant. i. 3, 4.
[605] Literally, "before the ages."