Much to Be Done in a Little Time.
2030.
When he had said this,
as very many had already assembled in the accustomed place of the garden to hear him,
Peter went forth; and having saluted the crowds in his usual manner, began to speak as follows:
2031.
Since, indeed, as land neglected by the cultivator necessarily produces thorns and thistles,
so your sense, by long neglect,
has produced a plentiful crop of noxious opinions of things and dogmas of false science;
there is need now of much care in cultivating the field of your mind, that the word of truth,
which is the true and diligent husbandman of the heart, may cultivate it with continual instructions.
2032.
It is therefore your part to render obedience to it, and to lop off superfluous occupations and anxieties,
lest a noxious growth choke the good seed of the word.
2033.
For it may be that a short and earnest diligence may repair a long time's neglect;
for the time of every one's life is uncertain, and therefore we must hasten to salvation,
lest it come to pass sudden death seize upon him who delays.
Righteous Anger.
2034.
And all the more eagerly must we strive on this account,
that while there is time, the collected vices of evil custom may be cut off.
2035.
And this you shall not be able to do otherwise,
than by being angry with yourselves on account of your profitless and base doings.
2036.
For this is righteous and necessary anger, by which every one is indignant within his heart,
and accuses his soul for those things in which he has erred and done amiss;
and by this indignation a certain fire is kindled in us,
which, applied as it were to a barren field, consumes and burns up the roots of vile pleasure,
and renders the soil of the heart more fertile for the good seed of the word of God.
2037.
And I think that you have sufficiently worthy causes of anger, from which that most righteous fire may be kindled, if you consider into what errors the evil of ignorance has drawn you,
and how it has caused you to fall and rush headlong into sin, from what good things it has withdrawn you, and into what evils it has driven you, and, what is of more importance than all the rest,
how it has made you liable to eternal punishments in the world to come.
2038.
Is not the fire of most righteous indignation kindled within you for all these things,
now that the light of truth has shone upon you; and does not the flame of that anger which is pleasing to God rise within you, that every sprout may be burnt up and destroyed from the root,
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if it come to pass that any shoot of evil concupiscence has budded within you?
Not Peace, yet a Sword.
2039.
Hence, also, He who has sent us, when He had come, and had seen that all the world had fallen into wickedness, did not immediately give peace to him who is in error, lest He should confirm him in evil;
2040.
yet set the knowledge of truth in opposition to the ruins of ignorance of it, that, if haply men would repentand look upon the light of truth, they might rightly grieve that they had been deceived and drawn away into the precipices of error, and might kindle the fire of salutary anger against the ignorance that had deceived them.
2041.
On this account, therefore, our lord Jesus Christ said,
'I have come to send fire on the earth; and how I wish that it were kindled!' Luke 12:49
2042.
There is therefore a certain fight, which is to be fought by us in this life;
for the word of truth and knowledge necessarily separates men from error and ignorance,
as we have often seen putrified and dead flesh in the body separated by the cutting knife from its connection with the living members.
2043.
Such is the effect produced by knowledge of the truth.
2044.
For it is necessary that, for the sake of salvation,
the son, for example, who has received the word of truth, be separated from his unbelieving parents;
or again, that the father be separated from his son, or the daughter from her mother.
2045.
And in this manner the battle of knowledge and ignorance, of truth and error,
arises between believing and unbelieving kinsmen and relations.
2046.
And therefore He who has sent us said again,
'I am not come to send peace on earth, but a sword.' Matthew 10:34
How the Fight Begins.
2047.
Yet if any one say,
How does it seem right for men to be separated from their parents?
I will tell you how.
2048.
Because, if they remained with them in error,
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they would do no good to them, and they would themselves perish with them.
2049.
It is therefore right, and very right, that he who will be saved be separated from him who will not.
2050.
Yet observe this also, that this separationdoes not come from those who understand aright;
for they wish to be with their relatives, and to do them good, and to teach them better things.
2051.
Yet it is the vice peculiar to ignorance, that it will not bear to have near it the light of truth, which confutes it; and therefore that separation originates with them.
2052.
For those who receive the knowledge of the truth, because it is full of goodness,
desire, if it be possible, to share it with all, as given by the good God;
yea, even with those who hate and persecute them:
for they know that ignorance is the cause of their sin.
2053.
Wherefore, in short, the Master Himself, when He was being led to the cross by those who knew Him not, prayed the Father for His murderers, and said,
'Father, forgive their sin, for they know not what they do!' Luke 23:34
2054.
The disciples also, in imitation of the Master, even when themselves were suffering,
in like manner prayed for their murderers. Acts 7:60
2055.
Yet if we are taught to prayeven for our murderers and persecutors,
how ought we not to bear the persecutions of parents and relations, and to pray for their conversion?
The Book of Recognitions CHAPTER SEVENTY ONE
Divisions 2056-2085
Book 6
RECOGNITIONS 6
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