{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/204/2040420.htm","path":"chr/ecf/204/2040420.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/204/2040420.htm","text":"Letter XI.\u2014For 339. Coss. Constantius Augustus II, Constans I; Pr\u00e6fect, Philagrius the Cappadocian, for the second time; Indict. xii; Easter-day xvii Kal. Mai, xx Pharmuthi; \u00c6ra Dioclet. 55.\nThe blessed Paul, being girt about with every virtue 4260 , and called faithful of the Lord\u2014for he was conscious of nothing in himself but what was a virtue and a praise 4261 , or what was in harmony with love and godliness\u2014clave to these things more and more, and was carried up even to heavenly places, and was borne to Paradise 4262 ; to the end that, as he surpassed the conversation of men, he should be exalted above men. And when he descended, he preached to every man; \u2018We know in part, and we prophesy in part; here I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known 4263 .\u2019 For, in truth, he was known to those saints who are in heaven, as their fellow-citizen 4264 . And in relation to all that is future and perfect, the things known by him here were in part; but with respect to those things which were committed and entrusted to him by the Lord, he was perfect; as he said, \u2018We who are perfect, should be thus minded 4265 .\u2019 For as the Gospel of Christ is the fulfilment and accomplishment of the ministration which was supplied by the law of Israel, so future things will be the accomplishment of such as now exist, the Gospel being then fulfilled, and the faithful receiving those things which, not seeing now, they yet hope for, as Paul saith; \u2018For what a man seeth, why doth he also hope for? But if we hope for those things we see [not], we then by patience wait for them 4266 .\u2019 Since then that blessed man was of such a character, and apostolic grace was committed to him, he wrote, wishing \u2018that all men should be as he was 4267 .\u2019 For virtue is philanthropic 4268 , and great is the company of the kingdom of heaven, for thousands of thousands and myriads of myriads there serve the Lord. And though a man enters it through a strait and narrow way, yet having entered, he beholds immeasurable space, and a place greater than any other, as they declare, who were eye-witnesses and heirs of these things. \u2018Thou didst place afflictions before us.\u2019 But afterwards, having related their afflictions, they say, \u2018Thou broughtest us forth into a wide place;\u2019 and again, \u2018In affliction Thou hast enlarged us 4269 .\u2019 For truly, my brethren, the course of the saints here is straitened; since they either toil painfully through longing for those things which are to come, as he who said, \u2018Woe is me that my pilgrimage is prolonged 4270 ;\u2019 or they are distressed and spent for the salvation of other men, as Paul wrote to the Corinthians, saying, \u2018Lest, when I come to you, God should humble me, and I should bewail many of those who have sinned already, and not repented for the uncleanness and forp. 533 nication and lasciviousness which they have committed 4271 .\u2019 As Samuel bewailed the destruction of Saul, and Jeremiah wept for the captivity of the people. But after this affliction, and sorrow, and sighing, when they depart from this world, a certain divine gladness, and pleasure, and exultation receives them, from which misery and sorrow, and sighing, flee away.\n2. Since we are thus circumstanced, my brethren, let us never loiter in the path of virtue; for hereto he counsels us, saying, \u2018Be ye followers of me, as I also am of Christ 4272 .\u2019 For he gave this advice not to the Corinthians only, since he was not their Apostle only, but being \u2018a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity 4273 ,\u2019 he admonished us all through them; and in short, the things he wrote to each particular person are commandments common to all men 4274 . On this account in writing to different people, some he exhorted as, for instance, in the Epistles to the Romans, and the Ephesians, and Philemon. Some he reproved, and was indignant with them, as in the case of the Corinthians and Galatians. To some he gave advice, as to the Colossians and Thessalonians. The Philippians he approved of, and rejoiced in them. The Hebrews he taught that the law was a shadow to them 4275 . But to his elect sons, Timothy and Titus, when they were near, he gave instruction; when far away, he put them in remembrance. For he was all things to all men; and being himself a perfect man, he adapted his teaching to the need of every one, so that by all means he might rescue some of them. Therefore his word was not without fruit; but in every place it is planted and productive even to this day.\n3. And wherefore, my beloved? For it is right that we should search into the apostolic mind. Not only in the beginning of the Epistles, but towards their close, and in the middle of them, he used persuasions and admonitions. I hope therefore that, by your prayers, I shall in no respect falsely represent the plan of that holy man. As he was well skilled in these divine matters, and knew the power of the divine teaching, he deemed it necessary, in the first place, to make known the word concerning Christ, and the mystery regarding Him; and then afterwards to point to the correction of habits, so that when they had learned to know the Lord, they might earnestly desire to do those things which He commanded. For when the Guide to the laws is unknown, one does not readily pass on to the observance of them. Faithful Moses, the minister of God, adopted this method; for when he promulgated the words of the divine dispensation of laws, he first proclaimed the matters relating to the knowledge of God: \u2018Hear, O Israel, the Lord thy God is one Lord 4276 .\u2019 Afterwards, having shadowed Him forth to the people, and taught of Him in Whom they ought to believe, and informed their minds of Him Who is truly God, he proceeds to lay down the law relating to those things whereby a man may be well-pleasing to Him, saying, \u2018Thou shalt not commit adultery; thou shalt not steal;\u2019 together with the other commandments. For also, according to the Apostolic teaching, \u2018He that draweth near to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that seek Him 4277 .\u2019 Now He is sought by means of virtuous deeds, as the prophet saith; \u2018Seek ye the Lord, and when ye have found Him, call upon Him; when He is near to you, let the wicked forsake his ways, and the lawless man his thoughts 4278 .\u2019\n4. It will also be well if a man is not offended at the testimony of the Shepherd, saying in the beginning of his book, \u2018Before all things believe that there is one God, Who created and established all these things, and from non-existence called them into being 4279 .\u2019 And, further, the blessed Evangelists\u2014who recorded the words of the Lord\u2014in the beginning of the Gospels, wrote the things concerning our Saviour; so that, having first made known the Lord, the Creator, they might be believed when narrating the events that took place. For how could they have been believed, when writing respecting him who [was blind] from his mother\u2019s womb, and those other blind men who recovered their sight, and those who rose from the dead, and the changing of water into wine, and those lepers who were cleansed; if they had not taught of Him as the Creator, writing, \u2018In the beginning was the Word 4280 ?\u2019 Or, according to Matthew, that He Who was born of the seed of David, was Emmanuel, and the Son of the living God? He from Whom the Jews, with the Arians, turn away their faces, but Whom we acknowledge and worship. The Apostle therefore, as was meet, sent to different people, but his own son he especially reminded, \u2018that he should not despise the things in which he had been instructed by him,\u2019 and enjoined on him, \u2018Remember Jesus Christ, who rose from the dead, of the seed of David, according to my Gospel 4281 .\u2019 And speaking of these things being delivered to him, to be always had in remembrance, he immediately writes to him, saying, \u2018Meditate on these things: be engaged p. 534 in them. 4282 \u2019 For constant meditation, and the remembrance of divine words, strengthens piety towards God, and produces a love to Him inseparable and not merely formal 4283 ; as he, being of this mind, speaks about himself and others like-minded, saying boldly, \u2018Who shall separate us from the love of God 4284 ?\u2019 For 4285 such men, being confirmed in the Lord, and possessing an unshaken disposition towards Him, and being one in spirit (for 4286 \u2018he who is joined to the Spirit is one spirit\u2019), are sure \u2018as the mount Sion;\u2019 and although ten thousand trials may rage against them, they are founded upon a rock, which is Christ 4287 . In Him the careless take no delight; and having no continuous purpose of good, they are sullied by temporal attacks, and esteem nothing more highly than present things, being unstable and deserving reproof as regards the faith. For \u2018either the care of this world, or the deceitfulness of riches, chokes them 4288 ;\u2019 or, as Jesus said in that parable which had reference to them, since they have not established the faith that has been preached to them, but continue only for a time, immediately, in time of persecution, or when affliction ariseth through the word, they are offended. Now those who meditate evil we say, [think] not truth, but falsehood and not righteousness, but iniquity, for their tongue learns to speak lies. They have done evil, and have not ceased that they might repent. For, persevering with delight in wicked actions, they hasten thereto without turning back, even treading under foot the commandment with regard to neighbours, and, instead of loving them, devise evil against them, as the saint testifies, saying, \u2018And those who seek me evil have spoken vanity, and imagined deceit all the day 4289 .\u2019 But that the cause of such meditation is none other than the want of instruction, the divine proverb has already declared; \u2018The son that forsaketh the commandment of his father meditateth evil words 4290 .\u2019 But such meditation, because it is evil, the Holy Spirit blames in these words, and reproves too in other terms, saying, \u2018Your hands are polluted with blood, your fingers with sins; your lips have spoken lawlessness, and your tongue imagineth iniquity: no man speaketh right things, nor is there true judgment 4291 .\u2019 But what the end is of such perverse imagining, He immediately declares, saying, \u2018They trust in vanities and speak falsehood; for they conceive mischief, and bring forth lawlessness. They have hatched the eggs of an asp, and woven a spider\u2019s web; and he who is prepared to eat of their eggs, when he breaks them finds gall, and a basilisk therein 4292 .\u2019 Again, what the hope of such is, He has already announced. \u2018Because righteousness does not overtake them, when they waited for light, they had darkness; when they waited for brightness, they walked in a thick cloud. They shall grope for the wall like the blind, and as those who have no eyes shall they grope; they shall fall at noon-day as at midnight; when dead, they shall groan. They shall roar together as a bear, or as a dove 4293 .\u2019\nThis is the fruit of wickedness, these rewards are given to its familiars, for perverseness does not deliver its own. But in truth, against them it sets itself, and it tears them first, and on them especially it summons ruin. Woe to them against whom these are brought; for \u2018it is sharper than a two-edged sword 4294 ,\u2019 slaying beforehand and very swiftly those who will lay hold of it. For their tongue, according to the testimony of the Psalmist, is a \u2018sharp sword, and their teeth spears and arrows 4295 .\u2019 But the wonderful part is that while often he against whom men imagine [harm] suffers nothing, they are pierced by their own spears: for they possess, even in themselves, before they reach others, anger, wrath, malice, guile, hatred, bitterness. Although they may not be able to bring these upon others, they forthwith return upon and against themselves, as he prays, saying, \u2018Let their sword enter into their own heart.\u2019 There is also such a proverb as this: \u2018The wicked is held fast by the chain of his sins 4296 .\u2019\n5. The Jews in their imaginings, and in their agreeing to act unjustly against the Lord, forgot that they were bringing wrath upon themselves. Therefore does the Word lament for them, saying, \u2018Why do the people exalt themselves, and the nations imagine vain things 4297 ?\u2019 For vain indeed was the imagination of the Jews, meditating death against the Life 4298 , and devising unreasonable things against the \u2018Word of the Father 4299 .\u2019 For who that looks upon their dispersion, and the desolation of their city, may not aptly say, \u2018Woe unto them, p. 535 for they have imagined an evil imagination, saying against their own soul, let us bind the righteous man, because he is not pleasing to us 4300 .\u2019 And full well is it so, my brethren; for when they erred concerning the Scriptures, they knew not that \u2018he who diggeth a pit for his neighbour falleth therein; and he who destroyeth a hedge, a serpent shall bite him 4301 .\u2019 And if they had not turned their faces from the Lord, they would have feared what was written before in the divine Psalms: \u2018The heathen are caught in the pit which they made; in the snare which they hid is their own foot taken. The Lord is known when executing judgments: by the works of his hands is the sinner taken 4302 .\u2019 Let them observe this, and how that \u2018the snare they know not shall come upon them, and the net they hid take them 4303 .\u2019 But they understood not these things, for had they done so, \u2018they would not have crucified the Lord of glory 4304 .\u2019\n6. Therefore the righteous and faithful servants of the Lord, who \u2018are made disciples for the kingdom of heaven, and bring forth from it things new and old;\u2019 and who \u2018meditate on the words of the Lord, when sitting in the house, when lying down or rising up, and when walking by the way 4305 ;\u2019\u2014since they are of good hope because of the promise of the Spirit which said, \u2018Blessed is the man that hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stood in the way of sinners, nor sat in the seat of corrupters; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law doth he meditate day and night 4306 ;\u2019\u2014being grounded in faith, rejoicing in hope, fervent in spirit, they have boldness to say, \u2018My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.\u2019 And again, \u2018I have meditated on all Thy works, and on the work of Thy hands has been my meditation.\u2019 And, \u2018If I have remembered Thee on my bed, and in the morning have meditated on Thee 4307 .\u2019 Afterwards, advancing in boldness, they say, \u2018The meditation of my heart is before Thee at all times 4308 .\u2019 And what is the end of such an one? He cites immediately; \u2018The Lord is my Helper and my Redeemer 4309 .\u2019 For to those who thus examine themselves, and conform their hearts to the Lord, nothing adverse shall happen; for indeed, their heart is strengthened by confidence in the Lord, as it is written, \u2018They who trust in the Lord are as mount Sion: he who dwelleth in Jerusalem shall not be moved for ever 4310 .\u2019 For if at any time, the crafty one shall be presumptuously bold against them, chiefly that he may break the rank of the saints, and cause a division among brethren; even in this the Lord is with them, not only as an avenger on their behalf, but also when they have already been beaten, as a deliverer for them. For this is the divine promise; \u2018The Lord shall fight for you 4311 .\u2019 Henceforth, although afflictions and trials from without overtake them, yet, being fashioned after the apostolic words, and \u2018being stedfast in tribulations, and persevering in prayers 4312 \u2019 and in meditation on the law, they stand against those things which befall them, are well-pleasing to God, and give utterance to the words which are written, \u2018Afflictions and distresses are come upon me; but Thy commandments are my meditation 4313 .\u2019\n7. And whereas, not only in action, but also in the thoughts of the mind, men are moved to deeds of virtue, he afterwards adds, saying, \u2018Mine eyes prevent the dawn, that I might meditate on Thy words 4314 .\u2019 For it is meet that the spiritual meditations of those who are whole should precede their bodily actions. And does not our Saviour, when intending to teach this very thing begin with the thoughts of the mind? saying, \u2018Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her, hath already committed adultery:\u2019 and, \u2018Whosoever shall be angry with his brother, is guilty of murder 4315 .\u2019 For where there is no wrath, murder is prevented; and where lust is first removed, there can be no accusation of adultery. Hence meditation on the law is necessary, my beloved, and uninterrupted converse with virtue, \u2018that the saint may lack nothing, but be perfect to every good work 4316 .\u2019 For by these things is the promise of eternal life, as Paul wrote to Timothy, calling constant meditation exercise, and saying, \u2018Exercise thyself unto godliness; for bodily exercise profiteth little; but godliness is profitable for all things, since it has the promise of the present life, and of that which is eternal 4317 .\u2019\n8. Worthy of admiration is the virtue of that man, my brethren! for through Timothy he enjoins upon all 4318 , that they should have regard to nothing more than to godliness, but above everything to adjudge the chief place to faith in God. For what grace has the unrighteous man, though he may feign to keep the commandments? Nay rather, the unrighteous man is unable even to keep a portion of the law, for as is his mind, such of necessity must be his actions; as the Spirit says, reproving such; \u2018The fool hath said in his heart, p. 536 there is no God.\u2019 After this the Word, shewing that actions correspond with thoughts, says, \u2018They are corrupt; they are profane in their machinations 4319 .\u2019 The unrighteous man then, in every respect corrupts his body; stealing, committing adultery, cursing, being drunken, and doing such like things. Even as Jeremiah, the prophet, convicts Israel of these things, crying out and saying, \u2018Oh, that I had a lodge far off in the wilderness! then would I leave my people and depart from them: for they are all adulterers, an assembly of oppressors, who draw out their tongue as a bow; lying and not truth has prevailed upon the earth, and they proceed from iniquities to iniquities; but Me they have not known 4320 .\u2019 Thus, for wickedness and falsehood, and for deeds, in which they [proceed] from iniquity to iniquity, he reproves their practices; but, because they knew not the Lord, and were faithless, he charges them with unrighteousness.\n9. For faith and godliness are allied to each other, and sisters; and he who believes in Him is godly, and he also who is godly, believes the more 4321 . He therefore who is in a state of wickedness, undoubtedly also wanders from the faith; and he who falls from godliness, falls from the true faith. Paul, for instance, bearing testimony to the same point, advises his disciple, saying, \u2018Avoid profane conversations; for they increase unto more ungodliness, and their word takes hold as doth a canker, of whom are Hymen\u00e6us and Philetus 4322 .\u2019 In what their wickedness consisted he declares, saying, \u2018Who have erred from the faith, saying that the resurrection is already past 4323 .\u2019 But again, desirous of shewing that faith is yoked with godliness, the Apostle says, \u2018And all those who will live godly in Jesus Christ shall suffer persecution 4324 .\u2019 Afterwards, that no man should renounce godliness through persecution, he counsels them to preserve the faith, adding, \u2018Thou, therefore, continue in the things thou hast learned, and hast been assured of 4325 .\u2019 And as when brother is helped by brother, they become as a wall to each other; so faith and godliness, being of like growth, hang together, and he who is practised in the one, of necessity is strengthened by the other. Therefore, wishing the disciple to be exercised in godliness unto the end, and to contend for the faith, he counsels them, saying, \u2018Fight the good fight of faith, and lay hold on eternal life 4326 .\u2019 For if a man first put away the wickedness of idols, and rightly confesses Him Who is truly God, he next fights by faith with those who war against Him.\n10. For of these two things we speak of\u2014faith and godliness\u2014the hope is the same, even everlasting life; for he saith, \u2018Fight the good fight of faith; lay hold on eternal life.\u2019 And, \u2018exercise thyself unto godliness, for it hath the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come 4327 .\u2019 For this cause, the Ario-maniacs, who now have gone out from the Church, being opponents of Christ, have digged a pit of unbelief, into which they themselves have been thrust; and, since they have advanced in ungodliness, they \u2018overthrow the faith of the simple 4328 ;\u2019 blaspheming the Son of God, and saying that He is a creature, and has His being from things which are not. But as then against the adherents of Philetus and Hymen\u00e6us, so now the Apostle forewarns all men against ungodliness like theirs, saying, \u2018The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His; and, Let every one that nameth the name of the Lord depart from iniquity 4329 .\u2019 For it is well that a man should depart from wickedness and deeds of iniquity, that he may be able properly to celebrate the feast; for he who is defiled with the pollutions of the wicked is not able to sacrifice the Passover to the Lord our God. Hence, the people who were then in Egypt said, \u2018We cannot sacrifice the Passover in Egypt to the Lord our God 4330 .\u2019 For God, Who is over all, willed that they should go far away from the servants of Pharaoh, and from the furnace of iron; so that being set free from wickedness, and having carefully put away from them all strange notions, they might receive the knowledge of God and of virtuous actions. For He saith, \u2018Go far from them: depart from the midst of them, and touch not the unclean things 4331 .\u2019 For a man will not otherwise depart from sin, and lay hold on virtuous deeds, than by meditation on his acts; and when he has been practised by exercise in godliness, he will lay hold on the confession of faith 4332 , which also Paul, after he had fought the fight, possessed, namely, the crown of righteousness which was laid up; which the righteous Judge will give, not to him alone, but to all who are like him.\n11. For such meditation and exercise in godliness, being at all times the habit of the saints, is urgent on us at the present time, when the divine word desires us to keep the feast with them if we are in this disposition. For what else is the feast, but the constant p. 537 worship of God, and the recognition of godliness, and unceasing prayers from the whole heart with agreement? So Paul wishing us to be ever in this disposition, commands, saying, \u2018Rejoice evermore; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks 4333 .\u2019 Not therefore separately, but unitedly and collectively, let us all keep the feast together, as the prophet exhorts, saying, \u2018O come, let us rejoice in the Lord; let us make a joyful noise unto God our Saviour 4334 .\u2019 Who then is so negligent, or who so disobedient to the divine voice, as not to leave everything, and run to the general and common assembly of the feast? which is not in one place only, for not one place alone keeps the feast; but \u2018into all the earth their song has gone forth, and to the ends of the world their words.\u2019 And the sacrifice is not offered in one place, but \u2018in every nation, incense and a pure sacrifice is offered unto God 4335 .\u2019 So when in like manner from all in every place, praise and prayer shall ascend to the gracious and good Father, when the whole Catholic Church which is in every place, with gladness and rejoicing, celebrates together the same worship to God, when all men in common send up a song of praise and say, Amen 4336 ; how blessed will it not be, my brethren! who will not, at that time, be engaged, praying rightly? For the walls of every adverse power, yea even of Jericho especially, falling down, and the gift 4337 of the Holy Spirit being then richly poured upon all men, every man perceiving the coming of the Spirit shall say, \u2018We are all filled in the morning with Thy favour, and we rejoice and are made glad in our days 4338 .\u2019\n12. Since this is so, let us make a joyful noise with the saints, and let no one of us fail of his duty in these things; counting as nothing the affliction or the trials which, especially at this time, have been enviously directed against us by the party of Eusebius. Even now they wish to injure us, and by their accusations to compass our death, because of that godliness, whose helper is the Lord. But, as faithful servants of God, knowing that He is our salvation in the time of trouble:\u2014for our Lord promised beforehand, saying, \u2018Blessed are ye when men revile you and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad, for your reward is great in heaven 4339 .\u2019 Again, it is the Redeemer\u2019s own word, that affliction shall not befall every man in this world, but only those who have a holy fear of Him:\u2014on this account, the more the enemies hem us in, the more let us be at liberty; although they revile us, let us come together; and the more they would turn us aside from godliness, let us the more boldly preach it saying, \u2018All these things are come upon us, yet have we not forgotten Thee 4340 ,\u2019 and we have not done evil with the Ario-maniacs, who say that Thou hast existence from those things that exist not. The Word which is eternally with the Father, is also from Him.\n13. Let us therefore keep the feast, my brethren, celebrating it not at all as an occasion of distress and mourning, neither let us mingle with heretics through temporal trials brought upon us by godliness. But if anything that would promote joy and gladness should offer, let us attend to it; so that our heart may not be sad, like that of Cain; but that, like faithful and good servants of the Lord, we may hear the words, \u2018Enter into the joy of thy Lord 4341 .\u2019 For we do not institute days of mourning and sorrow, as some may consider these of Easter to be, but we keep the feast, being filled with joy and gladness. We keep it then, not regarding it after the deceitful error of the Jews, nor according to the teaching of the Arians, which takes away the Son from the Godhead, and numbers Him among creatures; but we look to the correct doctrine we derive from the Lord. For the guile of the Jews, and the unbounded impiety of the Arians, cause nothing but sad reflections, for the former at the beginning slew the Lord; but these latter take away His position of having conquered that death to which the Jews brought Him, in that they say He is not the Creator, but a creature. For if He were a creature, He would have been holden by death; but if He was not holden by death, according to the Scriptures, He is not a creature, but the Lord of the creatures, and the subject 4342 of this immortal feast.\n14. For the Lord of death would abolish death, and being Lord, what He would was accomplished; for we have all passed from death unto life. But the imagination of the Jews, and of those who are like them, was vain, since the result was not such as they contemplated, but turned out adverse to themselves; and \u2018at both of them He that sitteth in the heaven shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision 4343 .\u2019 Hence, when our Saviour was led to death, He restrained the women who followed Him weeping, saying, \u2018Weep not for Me 4344 ;\u2019 meaning to shew that the Lord\u2019s death is an event, not of sorrow but of joy, and that He Who dies for us is alive. For He does not derive His being from those p. 538 things which are not, but from the Father. It is truly a subject of joy, that we can see the signs of victory against death, even our own incorruptibility, through the body of the Lord. For since He rose gloriously, it is clear that the resurrection of all of us will take place; and since His body remained without corruption, there can be no doubt regarding our incorruption 4345 . For as by one man 4346 , as saith Paul (and it is the truth), sin passed upon all men, so by the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, we shall all rise. \u2018For,\u2019 he says, \u2018this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality 4347 .\u2019 Now this came to pass in the time of the Passion, in which our Lord died for us, for \u2018our Passover, Christ, is sacrificed 4348 .\u2019 Therefore, because He was sacrificed, let each of us feed upon Him, and with alacrity and diligence partake of His sustenance; since He is given to all without grudging, and is in every one \u2018a well of water flowing to everlasting life 4349 .\u2019\n15. We begin the fast of forty days on the ninth of the month Phamenoth (Mar. 5); and having, in these days, served the Lord with abstinence, and first purified ourselves 4350 , we commence also the holy Easter on the fourteenth of the month Pharmuthi (April 9). Afterwards, extending the fast to the seventh day, on the seventeenth 4351 of the month, let us rest late in the evening. And the light of the Lord having first dawned upon us, and the holy Sunday on which our Lord rose shining upon us, we should rejoice and be glad with the joy which arises from good works, during the seven weeks which remain\u2014to Pentecost\u2014giving glory to the Father, and saying, \u2018This is the day which the Lord hath made: we will rejoice and be glad in it, 4352 \u2019 through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, through Whom to the same, and to His Father, be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Salute one another with a holy kiss. All the brethren who are with me salute you. That ye may have health in the Lord, I pray, brethren beloved.\nHere endeth the eleventh Letter of holy Athanasius.\nCf. Eph. vi. 14\n532:4261\nCf. 1 Cor. iv. 4\n532:4262 532:4263 532:4264\nCf. Eph. ii. 19\n532:4265 532:4266 532:4267 532:4268 532:4269 532:4270\nPsa. 120.5, LXX.\n533:4271 533:4272 533:4273 533:4274\nCf. Letter ii. \u00a71, and Letter iii. \u00a75.\n533:4275 533:4276 533:4277 533:4278 533:4279 533:4280 533:4281\n2 Tim. iii. 14; ii. 8.\n534:4282 534:4283\nThe Syriac word here rendered not merely formal is one which stems to take no other meaning than \u2018inexpiable\u2019\u2014a sense scarcely admissible in this place. The Greek was probably \u1f00\u03b3\u03b1\u03c0\u1f74\u03bd \u03c0\u03c1\u1f78\u03c2 \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u1f78\u03bd \u1f00\u03c7\u03ce\u03c1\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03bf\u1f50\u03ba \u1f00\u03c6\u03bf\u03c3\u03b9\u03bf\u03c5\u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03b7\u03bd. This supposition would account for the Syriac misapprehension of the word.\n534:4284 534:4285\nThe Syriac text from here to the words, \u2018There is also such a proverb as this\u2019 (end of \u00a7), was discovered after Cureton\u2019s edition of the Syriac, and is absent in Larsow.\n534:4286 534:4287\nPs. cxxv. 1; 1 Cor. x. 4; Matt. vii. 25\n534:4288 534:4289 534:4290\nProv. xix. 27, LXX.\n534:4291 534:4292 534:4293 534:4294 534:4295 534:4296 534:4297 534:4298\nThe parallel clause of this sentence would seem to determine that by \u2018Life\u2019 here we must understand Christ.\n534:4299\n\u1f04\u03bb\u03bf\u03b3\u03b1 \u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u1f70 \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u039b\u03cc\u03b3\u03bf\u03c5 \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03a0\u03b1\u03c4\u03c1\u03cc\u03c2. Cf. Suicer. Thes. s.v. \u1fce\u0391\u03bb\u03bf\u03b3\u03bf\u03c2 tom. i. p. 199.\n535:4300\nIsa. 3:9, 10, Wis. 2:12Isa. 3:9, 10, LXX.; cf. Wisd. ii. 12.\n535:4301 535:4302 535:4303 535:4304 535:4305 535:4306 535:4307\nPs. 49:3, Ps. 143:5, Ps. 63:6.\n535:4308 535:4309 535:4310\nPsa. 125.1, LXX.\n535:4311 535:4312 535:4313 535:4314 535:4315\nMatt. 5:28, 22.\n535:4316 535:4317\n1 Tim. 4:7, 8.\n535:4318\nCf. Letter 3, \u00a73, note 17; Apol. Const. 26.\n536:4319 536:4320 536:4321\nCf. John vii. 17\n536:4322 536:4323 536:4324 536:4325 536:4326 536:4327\nThe Syriac appears to be a translation of \u03ba\u03c1\u03b1\u03c4\u03ae\u03c3\u03b5\u03b9 \u03c4\u1fc6\u03c2 \u1f41\u03bc\u03bf\u03bb\u03bf\u03b3\u03af\u03b1\u03c2 \u03c4\u1fc6\u03c2 \u03c0\u03af\u03c3\u03c4\u03b5\u03c9\u03c2 (cf. Heb. iv. 14).\n537:4333 537:4334 537:4335\nPs. 19:4, Mal. 1:11Mal. i. 11.\n537:4336\nFor a parallel passage to this, vid. Letter x. 2.\n537:4337\nCf. Letter x. 2, note 9. Vid. also John vii. 39; Rom. v. 5; John xx. 22\n537:4338\nPs. xc. 14, LXX.\n537:4339\nMatt. 5:11, 12.\n537:4340 537:4341 537:4342\nSyr. \u1f51\u03c0\u03cc\u03b8\u03b5\u03c3\u03b9\u03c2. Cf. Letter x. 2, note 8.\n537:4343 537:4344 538:4345 538:4346 538:4347 538:4348 538:4349 538:4350 538:4351 538:4352","title":"Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Ser. II, Vol. IV: Letters of Athanasius with Two Ancient Chronicles of His Life.: For 339. Coss. Constantius Augustus II, Constans I; Pr\u00e6fect, Philagrius the Cappadocian, for the second time; Indict. xii; Easter-day xvii Kal. Mai, xx Pharmuthi; \u00c6ra Dioclet. 55.","type":"page"}