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| Chapter XII.
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Chapter XII.
Who, now, should know better the marrow of the
Scriptures than the school of Christ itself?—the persons whom the
Lord both chose for Himself as scholars, certainly to be fully
instructed in all points, and appointed to us for masters to instruct
us in all points. To whom would He have rather made known the veiled
import of His own language, than to him to whom He disclosed the
likeness of His own glory—to Peter, John, and James, and
afterwards to Paul, to whom He granted participation in (the joys of)
paradise too, prior to his martyrdom? Or do they also write differently
from what they think—teachers using deceit, not truth? Addressing
the Christians of Pontus, Peter, at all events, says, “How great
indeed is the glory, if ye suffer patiently, without being punished as
evildoers! For this is a lovely feature, and even hereunto were
ye called, since Christ also suffered for us, leaving you Himself as an
example, that ye should follow His own steps.”8293
And again: “Beloved, be not
alarmed by the fiery trial which is taking place among you, as though
some strange thing happened unto you. For, inasmuch as ye are partakers
of Christ’s sufferings, do ye rejoice; that, when His glory shall
be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye are
reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; because glory and the
Spirit of God rest upon you: if only none of you suffer as a murderer,
or as a thief, or as an evil-doer, or as a busybody in other
men’s matters; yet (if any man suffer) as a Christian, let him
not be ashamed, but let him glorify God on this behalf.”8294
John, in fact, exhorts us to lay down our lives
even for our brethren,8295
affirming that
there is no fear in love: “For perfect love casteth out
fear, since fear has punishment; and he who fears is not perfect in
love.”8296
What fear would it
be better to understand (as here meant), than that which gives rise to
denial? What love does he assert to be perfect, but that which puts
fear to flight, and gives courage to confess? What penalty will he
appoint as the punishment of fear, but that which he who denies is
about to pay, who has to be slain, body and soul, in hell? And if he
teaches that we must die for the brethren, how much more for the
Lord,—he being sufficiently prepared, by his own Revelation too,
for giving such advice! For indeed the Spirit had sent the injunction
to the angel of the church in Smyrna: “Behold, the devil
shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried ten days. Be
thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of
life.”8297
Also to the angel
of the church in Pergamus (mention was made) of Antipas,8298
the very faithful martyr, who was slain
where Satan dwelleth. Also to the angel of the church in
Philadelphia8299
(it was signified)
that he who had not denied the name of the Lord was delivered from the
last trial. Then to every conqueror the Spirit promises now the tree of
life, and exemption from the second death; now the hidden manna with
the stone of glistening whiteness, and the name unknown (to every man
save him that receiveth it); now power to rule with a rod of iron, and
the brightness of the morning star; now the being clothed in white
raiment, and not having the name blotted out of the book of life, and
being made in the temple of God a pillar with the inscription on it of
the name of God and of the Lord, and of the heavenly Jerusalem; now a
sitting with the Lord on His throne,—which once was persistently
refused to the sons of Zebedee.8300
Who, pray, are
these so blessed conquerors, but martyrs in the strict sense of the
word? For indeed theirs are the victories whose also are the
fights; theirs, however, are the fights whose also is the blood. But
the souls of the martyrs both peacefully rest in the meantime under the
altar,8301
and support their
patience by the assured hope of revenge; and, clothed in their robes,
wear the dazzling halo of brightness, until others also may fully share
in their glory. For yet again a countless throng are revealed, clothed
in white and distinguished by palms of victory, celebrating their
triumph doubtless over Antichrist, since one of the elders says,
“These are they who come out of that great tribulation, and have
washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the
Lamb.”8302
For the flesh is
the clothing of the soul. The uncleanness, indeed, is washed away by
baptism, but the stains are changed into dazzling whiteness by
martyrdom. For Esaias also promises, that out of red and scarlet there
will come forth the whiteness of snow and wool.8303
When great Babylon likewise is represented as drunk with the blood of
the saints,8304
doubtless the
supplies needful for her drunkenness are furnished by the cups of
martyrdoms; and what suffering the fear of martyrdoms will entail, is
in like manner shown. For among all the castaways, nay, taking
precedence of them all, are the fearful. “But the fearful,”
says John—and then come the others—“will have their
part in the lake of fire and brimstone.”8305
Thus fear, which, as stated in his epistle, love drives out, has
punishment.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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