“But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment.” – Jesus Matthew 12:36 “Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment” – Hebrews 9:26-27 “And thous shalt call His name Jesus; for He shall save His people from their sins” – Matthew … Continue reading Don’t trample it

Well, I observe again, that the centurion, a man exceedingly wealthy and well dowered with worldly influence, possessed a faith surpassing that of all Israel; so that, even if there was any one who had forsaken all, that man was surpassed in faith by this centurion. But some one may now reason with us thus: It is not a good thing, consequently, to give up riches. Well, I reply that it is a good thing for those who are capable of it; but, at the, same time, to employ riches for the work of righteousness and mercy, is a thing … Continue reading Employ your goods

Although, then, the sun has a greater glory than the moon, it does not follow that the moon is thereby reduced to a condition of dishonour. And even thus, too, although my Lord Jesus Christ excelleth Moses in glory, as the lord excelleth the servant, it does not follow from this that the glory of Moses is to be scorned. For in this way, too, we are able to satisfy our hearers, as the nature of the word itself carries the conviction15 with it, in that we affirm what we allege on the authority of the Scriptures themselves, or verily … Continue reading The glory of Moses

“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live” – Deuteronomy 30:19 Continue reading Weighty

From Dionysius’ commentary on Ecclesiastes: “And my heart directed me in wisdom, and to overcome in mirth, until I should know what is that good thing to the sons of men which they shall do under the sun for the number of the days of their life.” – Ecclesiastes Being directed, he says, by wisdom, I overcame pleasures in mirth. Moreover, for me the aim of knowledge was to occupy myself with nothing vain, BUT TO FIND THE GOOD; for if a person finds that, he does not miss the discernment also of the profitable. The sufficient is also the … Continue reading The aim of knowledge

Chance in the gaps! 😆 Yea, Democritus himself, as it is reported, averred that he would prefer the discovery of one true cause to being put in possession of the kingdom of Persia. And that was the declaration of a man who had only a vain and groundless conception of the causes of things, inasmuch as he started with an unfounded principle, and an erroneous hypothesis, and did not discern the real root and the common law of necessity in the constitution of natural things, and held as the greatest wisdom the apprehension of things that come about simply in … Continue reading An image as a cover

Her heart ensnares those who pass her; and if she but join hand to hand, she holds one as securely as though she dragged him on bound with chains. And from her you can secure your deliverance only by finding a propitious and watchful superintendent in God; for he who is enslaved by sin cannot (otherwise) escape its grasp. Moreover, among all women I sought for the chastity proper to them, and I found it in none. Gregory Thaumaturgus. 1886. “A Metaphrase of the Book of Ecclesiastes.” In Fathers of the Third Century: Gregory Thaumaturgus, Dionysius the Great, Julius Africanus, … Continue reading Enslaved by sin

It is the greatest of all good to take hold of God, and by abiding in Him to sin in nothing. Gregory Thaumaturgus. 1886. “A Metaphrase of the Book of Ecclesiastes.” In Fathers of the Third Century: Gregory Thaumaturgus, Dionysius the Great, Julius Africanus, Anatolius and Minor Writers, Methodius, Arnobius, edited by Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson, and A. Cleveland Coxe, translated by S. D. F. Salmond, 6:14. The Ante-Nicene Fathers. Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Company. Continue reading The greatest of all good