Sacred Texts  Christianity  Early Church Fathers  Index  Previous  Next 

Chapter L.—Let Us Pray to Be Thought Worthy of Love.

Ye see, beloved, how great and wonderful a thing is love, and that there is no declaring its perfection.  Who is fit to be found in it, except such as God has vouchsafed to render so?  Let us pray, 4266 therefore, and implore of His mercy, that we may live 4267 blameless in love, free from all human partialities for one above another.  All the generations from Adam even unto this day have passed away; but those who, through the grace of God, have been made perfect in love, now possess a place among the godly, and shall be made manifest at the revelation 4268 of the kingdom of Christ. 4269   For it is written, “Enter into thy secret chambers for a little time, until my wrath and fury pass away; and I will remember a propitious 4270 day, and will raise you up out of your graves.” 4271   Blessed are we, beloved, if we keep the commandments of God in the harmony of love; that so through love our sins may be forgiven us.  For it is written, “Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.  Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not impute to him, and in whose mouth there is no guile. 4272   This blessedness cometh upon those who have been chosen by God through Jesus Christ our Lord; to whom be glory for ever and ever.  Amen.


Footnotes

244:4266

I. gives indicative mood.

244:4267

I. εὑρεθῶμεν (may be found).

244:4268

Literally, “visitation.”

244:4269

I. θεοῦ (God).

244:4270

Or, “good.”

244:4271

Isa. xxvi. 20.

244:4272

Ps. 32:1, 2.


Next: Chapter LI