The morning of the discussion
471.
Two days, therefore, having elapsed, and while the third was dawning,
I Clement, and the rest of our companions, being roused about the second cock-crowing,
in order to the discussion with Simon, found the lamp still alight, and Peter kneeling in prayer.
472.
Therefore, having finished his supplication, and turning round, and seeing us in readiness to hear,
he said:
Simon Magus's Design
473.
I wish you to know that those who, according to our arrangement, associate with Simon that they may learn his intentions, and submit them to us, so that we may be able to cope with his variety of wickedness, these men have sent to me,
474.
and informed me that Simon today is, as he arranged, prepared to come before all, and show from the Scriptures that He who made the heaven and the earth, and all things in them, is not the Supreme God, but that there is another, unknown and supreme, as being in an unspeakable manner God of gods;
and that He sent two gods, one of whom is he who made the world, and the other he who gave the law.
475.
And these things he contrives to say, that he may dissipate the right faith of those who would worship the one and only God who made heaven and earth.
His object
476.
When I heard this, how was I not disheartened!
477.
Wherefore I wished you also, my brethren, who associate with me,
to know that I am beyond measure grieved in my soul,
seeing the wicked one awake for the temptation of men,
and men wholly indifferent about their own salvation.
478.
For to those from amongst the Gentiles who were about being persuaded respecting the earthly images that they are no gods, he has contrived to bring in opinions of many other gods,
479.
in order that, if they cease from the polytheo-mania, they may be deceived to speak otherwise,
and even worse than they now do, against the sole government of God, so that they may not yet value the truths connected with that monarchy, and may never be able to obtain mercy.
480.
And for the sake of this attempt Simon comes to do battle with us,
armed with the false chapters of the Scriptures.
481.
And what is more dreadful, he is not afraid to dogmatize thus against the true God from the prophets whom he does not in fact believe.
Snares laid for the Gentiles
482.
And with us, indeed, who have had handed down from our forefathers
the worship of the God who made all things,
and also the mystery of the books which are able to deceive, he will not prevail;
|
|
|
483.
but with those from amongst the Gentiles who have the polytheistic fancy bred in them,
and who know not the falsehoods of the Scriptures, he will prevail much.
484.
And not only he; but if any other shall recount to those from among the Gentiles any vain, dreamlike, richly set out story against God, he will be believed,
because from their childhood their minds are accustomed to take in things spoken against God.
485.
And few there shall be of them, as a few out of a multitude, who through ingenuousness shall not be willing so much as to hear an evil word against the God who made all things.
486.
And to these alone from amongst the Gentiles it shall be vouchsafed to be saved.
487.
Let not any one of you, therefore, altogether complain of Simon, or of any one else;
for nothing happens unjustly,
since even the falsehoods of Scripture are with good reason presented for a test.
Use of errors
488.
Then I Clement, hearing this, said:
How say you, my lord, that even the falsehoods of the Scriptures are set forth happily for the proof of men?
489.
And he answered:
The falsehoods of the Scriptures have been permitted to be written for a certain righteous reason,
at the demand of evil.
490.
And when I say happily, I mean this:
In the account of God, the wicked one, not loving God less than the good one,
is exceeded by the good in this one thing only,
491.
that he, not pardoning those who are impious on account of ignorance,
through love towards that which is profound, desires the destruction of the impious;
but the good one desires to present them with a remedy.
492.
For the good one desires all to be healed by repentance, but saves those only who know God.
493.
But those who know Him not He does not heal:
not that He does not wish to do so, but because it is not lawful
to afford to those who, through want of judgment, are like to irrational animals,
the good things which have been prepared for the children of the kingdom.
Purgatory and Hell
494.
Such is the nature of the one and only God, who made the world, and who created us, and who has given us all things, that as long as any one is within the limit of piety, and does not blaspheme His Holy Spirit, through His love towards him He brings the soul to Himself by reason of His love towards it.
|
|
|
495.
And although it be sinful, it is His nature to save it, after it has been suitably punished for the deeds it has done.
496.
But if any one shall deny Him, or in any other way be guilty of impiety against Him, and then shall repent, he shall be punished indeed for the sins he has committed against Him, but he shall be saved, because he turned and lived.
497.
And perhaps excessive piety and supplication shall even be delivered from punishment, ignorance being admitted as a reason for the pardon of sin after repentance.
498.
But those who do not repent shall be destroyed by the punishment of fire, even though in all other things they are most holy.
499.
But, as I said, at an appointed time a fifth part, being punished with eternal fire, shall be consumed.
500.
For they cannot endure for ever who have been impious against the one God.
The Book of Preachings CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Divisions 501-525
PREACHINGS 3
What is impiety?
501.
Yet impiety against Him is, in the matter of religion, to die saying there is another God,
whether superior or inferior, or in any way saying that there is one besides Him who really is.
502.
For He who truly is, is He whose form the body of man bears;
for whose sake the heaven and all the stars, though in their essence superior,
submit to serve him who is in essence inferior, on account of the form of the Ruler.
503.
So much has God blessed man above all,
in order that, loving the Benefactor in proportion to the multitude of His benefits,
by means of this love he may be saved for the world to come.
Wiles of the devil
504.
Therefore the love of men towards God is sufficient for salvation.
|
|
|
505.
And this the wicked one knows; and while we are hastening to sow the love towards Him which makes immortal in the souls of those who from among the Gentiles are ready to believe in the one and only God,
this wicked one, having sufficient armour against the ignorant for their destruction,
hastens to sow the supposition of many gods, or at least of one greater,
506.
in order that men, conceiving and being persuaded of what is not wisdom,
may die, as in the crime of adultery [?], and be cast out from His kingdom.
Дата добавления: 2019-02-12; просмотров: 218; Мы поможем в написании вашей работы! |
Мы поможем в написании ваших работ!