We ought not, therefore, as that presbyter remarks,
to be puffed up, nor be severe upon those of old time, but ought ourselves to
fear, lest perchance, after [we have come to] the knowledge of Christ, if we do
things displeasing to God, we obtain no further forgiveness of sins, but be
shut out from His kingdom. And therefore it was that Paul said, “For if [God] did not spare
the natural branches, [take heed] lest He also not spare you, who, when you
were a wild olive tree, were grafted into the fatness of the olive tree, and
were made a partaker of its fatness.”
You will notice, too, that the transgressions of
the common people have been described in like manner, not for the sake of those
who did then transgress, but as a means of instruction for us, and that we
should understand that it is one and the same God against whom these men
sinned, and against whom certain persons do now transgress from among those who
profess to have believed in Him. But this also, [as the presbyter states,] has
Paul declared most plainly in the Epistle to the Corinthians, when he says,
“Brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant, how all our fathers were under the
cloud, and were all baptized unto Moses in the sea, and all ate the same
spiritual meat, and all drank the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that
spiritual rock that followed them; and the rock was Christ. But with many of
them God was not well pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
These things were for our example, to the intent
that we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted; do not be
idolaters, as were some of them, as it is written: The people sat down to eat and drink,
and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them also
did, and twenty three thousand fell in one day. Neither let us tempt Christ, as
some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents. Neither murmur, as
some of them murmured, and were destroyed by the destroyer. But all these
things happened to them in a figure, and were written for our admonition, upon
whom the end of the world is come. Therefore, let him that thinks he stands,
take heed lest he fall.”
As then the unrighteous, the idolaters, and
fornicators perished, so also is it now: for both the Lord declares, that such
persons are sent into eternal fire; and the apostle says, “Do you not know that
the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither
fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, not effeminate, nor abusers of
themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor
revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” And as it was
not to those who are without that he said these things, but to us, lest we
should be cast forth from the kingdom of God, by doing any such thing, he proceeds
to say, “And such were you; but you are washed, but you are sanctified in the
name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by the Spirit of our God.” …
And as then the condemnation of sinners extended to
others who approved of them, and joined in their society; so also is it the
case at present, that “a little leaven leavens the whole lump.” And as the
wrath of God did then descend upon the unrighteous, here also does the apostle
likewise say: “For the wrath of God shall be revealed from heaven against all
ungodliness and unrighteousness of those men who hold back the truth in
unrighteousness.” …
So says the apostle, in like manner, in the Epistle
to the Thessalonians: “Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense
tribulation to them that trouble you; and to you who are troubled rest with us,
at the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ from heaven with His mighty angels,
and in a flame of fire, to take vengeance upon those who do not know God, and
upon those that do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall also
be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and
from the glory of His power; when He shall come to be glorified in His saints,
and to be admired in all them who have believed in Him.”
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