All
things are open before Him, and nothing can be hidden from His counsel. “The
heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament displays His handy-work.
Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night shows knowledge. And there are
no words or speeches of which the voices are not heard.”
Since
then all things are seen and heard [by God], let us fear Him, and forsake those
wicked works which proceed from evil desires; so that, through His mercy, we
may be protected from the judgments to come. For where can any of us flee from
His mighty hand? Or what world will receive any of those who run away from Him?
For the Scripture says in a certain place, “Where shall I go, and where shall I
be hid from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You art there; if I go away
even to the uttermost parts of the earth, there is Your right hand; if I make
my bed in the abyss, there is Your Spirit.” Where, then, shall any one go, or
where shall he escape from Him who comprehends all things? Let us then draw
near to Him with holiness of spirit, lifting up pure and undefiled hands unto
Him, loving our gracious and merciful Father, who has made us partakers in the
blessings of His elect. …
Seeing,
therefore, that we are the portion of the Holy One, let us do all those things
which pertain to holiness, avoiding all evil-speaking, all abominable and
impure embraces, together with all drunkenness, seeking after change, all
abominable lusts, detestable adultery, and execrable pride. “For God,” says
[the Scripture], “resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Let us
cleave, then, to those to whom grace has been given by God. …
Let us
cleave then to His blessing, and consider what are the means of possessing it.
Let us think over the things which have taken place from the beginning. For
what reason was our father Abraham blessed? Was it not because he worked
righteousness and truth through faith? Isaac, with perfect confidence, as if
knowing what was to happen, cheerfully yielded himself as a sacrifice. Jacob,
through reason of his brother, went forth with humility from his own land, and
came to Laban and served him; and there was given to him the scepter of the
twelve tribes of Israel.
All
these, therefore, were highly honored, and made great, not for their own sake,
or for their own works, or for the righteousness which they worked, but through
the operation of His will. And we, too, being called by His will in Christ
Jesus, are not justified by ourselves, nor by our own wisdom, or understanding,
or godliness, or works which we have wrought in holiness of heart; but by that
faith through which, from the beginning, Almighty God has justified all men; to
whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
What shall
we do, then, brethren? Shall we become slothful in well-doing, and cease from
the practice of love? God forbid that any such course should be followed by us!
But rather let us hasten with all energy and readiness of mind to perform every
good work. …
Let us
without delay accede to His will, and let us work the work of righteousness
with our whole strength. The good servant receives the bread of his labor with
confidence; the lazy and slothful cannot look his employer in the face. It is
requisite, therefore, that we be prompt in the practice of well-doing; for of
Him are all things. And thus He forewarns us: “Behold, the Lord [comes], and
His reward is before His face, to render to every man according to his work.”
He exhorts us, therefore, with our whole heart to attend to this, that we not
be lazy or slothful in any good work.
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