Bad Advertisement?
Are you a Christian?
Online Store:Visit Our Store
| Chapter XVI.—Concerning patience and swearing.
PREVIOUS SECTION - NEXT SECTION - HELP 
Chapter XVI.—Concerning patience and
swearing.
And concerning our being patient of injuries, and
ready to serve all, and free from anger, this is what He said: “To
him that smiteth thee on the one cheek, offer also the other; and him
that taketh away thy cloak or coat, forbid not. And whosoever shall be
angry, is in danger of the fire. And every one that compelleth thee to go
with him a mile, follow him two. And let your good works shine before
men, that they, seeing them, may glorify your Father which is in
heaven.”1794
For we ought not to strive; neither has He
desired us to be imitators of wicked men, but He has exhorted us to lead
all men, by patience and gentleness, from shame and the love of evil. And
this indeed is proved in the case of many who once were of your way of
thinking, but have changed their violent and tyrannical disposition,
being overcome either by the constancy which they have witnessed in their
neighbours’ lives,1795
or by the extraordinary
forbearance they have observed in their fellow-travellers when defrauded,
or by the honesty of those with whom they have transacted business.
And with regard to our not
swearing at all, and always speaking the truth, He enjoined as follows:
“Swear not at all; but let your yea be yea, and your nay, nay; for
whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.”1796
And that we ought to worship God alone, He thus persuaded us:
“The greatest commandment is, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God,
and Him only shall thou serve, with all thy heart, and with all thy
strength, the Lord God that made thee.”1797
And when a certain man came to Him and said, “Good
Master,” He answered and said, “There is none good but God
only, who made all things.”1798
And
let those who are not found living as He taught, be understood to be no
Christians, even though they profess with the lip the precepts of Christ;
for not those who make profession, but those who do the works, shall be
saved, according to His word: “Not every one who saith to Me, Lord,
Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will
of My Father which is in heaven. For whosoever heareth Me, and doeth My
sayings, heareth Him that sent Me. And many will say unto Me, Lord, Lord,
have we not eaten and drunk in Thy name, and done wonders? And then will
I say unto them, Depart from Me, ye workers of iniquity. Then shall there
be wailing and gnashing of teeth, when the righteous shall shine as the
sun, and the wicked are sent into everlasting fire. For many shall come
in My name, clothed outwardly in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly
being ravening wolves. By their works ye shall know them. And every tree
that bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down and cast into the
fire.”1799
And as to those who are not living
pursuant to these His teachings, and are Christians only in name, we
demand that all such be punished by you.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
|
