Chapter 5.—6. Do you, therefore, holy scions of our one Catholic mother, beware with all the watchfulness of which you are capable, in due submission to the Lord, of the example of crime and error such as this. With however great light of learning and of reputation he may shine, however much he may boast himself to be a precious stone, who endeavors to lead you after him, remember always that that brave woman who alone is lovely only
to her husband, whom holy Scripture portrays to us in the last chapter of the Book of Proverbs, is more precious than any precious stones. Let no one say, I will follow such an one, for it was even he that made me a Christian; or, I will follow such an one, for it was even he that baptized me. For "neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth, but God that giveth the increase."2341
And "
God is
love; and he that dwelleth in
love, dwelleth in
God, and
God in him."
2342
No one also that
preaches the name of
Christ, and handles or
administers the sacrament of
Christ, is to be followed in opposition to the
unity of
Christ. "Let every man
prove his own
work; and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden,"
2343
—the burden, that is, of rendering an account; for "every one of shall give an account of himself. Let us not therefore
judge one another any more."
2344
For, so
far as relates to the burdens of mutual
love, "bear ye one another’s burdens, and so
fulfill the
law of
Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself."
2345
Let us therefore "forbear one another in
love, endeavoring to keep the
unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace;"
2346
for no one who gathers outside that peace is gathering with Christ; but "he that gathering not with Him scattereth abroad."
2347
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