Exhortation to Repentance.1    [Almost wholly made up of Scripture, and useful in any age to all Christians. Whatever its origin, it breathes a truly primitive spirit. Compare Tertullian, vol. iii. p. 657.]

That all sins may be forgiven him who has turned to God with his whole heart.

In the eighty-eighth Psalm: “If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments, and keep not my commandments, I will visit their iniquities with a rod, and their sins with stripes; nevertheless my loving-kindness will I not scatter away from them.”2    Ps. lxxxix. 30.

Also in Isaiah: “Thus saith the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, When thou shalt turn and mourn, then thou shalt be saved, and shalt know where thou wast.”3    Isa. xxx. 15, LXX.

Also in the same place: “Woe unto you, children of desertion, saith the Lord! ye have made counsel not by me, and my covenant not by my Spirit, to add sin to sin.”4    Isa. xxx. 1, LXX.

Also in Jeremiah: “Withdraw thy foot from a rough way, and thy face from thirst. But she said, I will be comforted, I am willing; for she loved strangers, and went after them.”5    Jer. ii. 25, LXX.

Also in Isaiah: “Be ye converted, because ye devise a deep and wicked counsel.”6    Isa. xxxi. 6, LXX.

Also in the same place: “I am He, I am He that blotteth out thy iniquities, and will not remember them; but do thou remember them, and let us be judged together; do thou first tell thine unrighteousnesses.”7    Isa. xliii. 25, LXX.

Also in the same: “Seek the Lord; and when ye shall have found Him, call upon Him. But when He has drawn near to you, let the wicked forsake his ways, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him be converted to the Lord, and mercy shall be prepared for him, because He does not much8    Non multum remittit—probably a misprint for “permultum.” forgive your sins.”9    Isa. lv. 6, 7, LXX.

Also in the same: “Remember these things, O Jacob and Israel, because thou art my servant. I have called thee my servant; and thou, Israel, forget me not. Lo, I have washed away thy unrighteousness as,…and thy sins as a raincloud. Be converted to me, and I will redeem thee.”10    Isa. xliv. 21, 22, LXX.

Also in the same: “Have these things in mind, and groan. Repent, ye that have been seduced; be converted in heart unto me, and have in mind the former ages, because I am God.”11    Isa. xlvi. 8, LXX.

Also in the same: “For a very little season I have forsaken thee, and with great mercy I will pity thee. In a very little wrath I turned away my face from thee; in everlasting mercy I will pity thee.”12    Isa. liv. 7, 8, LXX.

Also in the same: “Thus said the Most High, who dwelleth on high, for ever Holy in the holies, His name is the Lord, the Most High, resting in the holy places, and giving calmness of mind to the faint-hearted, and giving life to those that are broken-hearted: I am not angry with you for ever, neither will I be avenged in all things on you: for my Spirit shall go forth from me, and I have made all inspiration; and on account of a very little sin I have grieved him, and have turned away my face from him; and he has suffered the vile man, and has gone away sadly in his ways. I have seen his ways, and have healed him, and I have comforted him, and I have given to him the true consolation, and peace upon peace to those who are afar off, and to those that are near.  And the Lord said, I have healed them; but the unrighteous, as a troubled sea, are thus tossed about and cannot rest. There is no joy to the wicked, saith the Lord.”13    Isa. lvii. 15 et seq., LXX.

Also in Jeremiah: “Shall a bride forget her adornment, or14    It is taken for granted that the “ut” of the original is a misprint for “aut.” a virgin the girdle of her breast? But my people has forgotten my days,15    Otherwise, “has forgotten me days without number.” whereof there is no number.”16    Jer. ii. 32, LXX.

Also in the same: “For a decree, I will speak upon the nation or upon the kingdom, or I will take them away and destroy them. And if the nation should be converted from its evils, I will repent of the ills which17    Here also the emendation of “quæ” for “quod” is obviously necessary. I have thought to do unto them. And I will speak the decree upon the nation or the people, that I should rebuild it and plant it; and they will do evil before me, that they should not hearken to my voice, and I will repent of the good things which I spoke of doing to them.”18    Jer. xviii. 7.

Also in the same: “Return to me, O dwelling of Israel, saith the Lord, and I will not harden my face upon you; because I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not be angry against you for ever.”19    Jer. iii. 12, LXX.

Also in the same: “Be converted, ye children that have departed, saith the Lord; because I will rule over you, and will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you into Sion: and I will give you shepherds after my heart, and they shall feed you, feeding you with discipline.”20    Jer. iii. 14, LXX.

Also in the same: “Be converted, ye children who are turning, and I will heal your affliction.”21    Jer. iii. 22, LXX.

Also in the same: “Wash thine heart from wickedness, O Jerusalem, that thou mayest be healed: how long shall there be in thee thoughts of thy sorrows?”22    Jer. iv. 14, LXX.

Also in the same: “Thus saith the Lord, Does not he that falleth arise? or he that turns away, shall he not be turned back? Because this people hath turned itself away by a shameless vision, and they have persisted in their presumption, and would not be converted.”23    Jer. viii. 4, LXX.

Also in the same: “There is no man that repenteth of his iniquity, saying, What have I done? The runner has failed from his course, as the sweating horse in his neighing.”24    Jer. viii. 6, LXX.

Also in the same: “Therefore let every one of you turn from his evil way, and make your desires better.  And they said, We will be comforted, because we will go after your25    Otherwise “our.” inventions, and every one of us will do the sins which please his own heart.”26    Jer. xviii. 12, LXX.

Also in the same: “Pour down as a torrent tears, day and night give thyself no rest, let not the pupil of thine eye be silent.”27    Lam. ii. 18, LXX.

Also in the same: “Let us search out our ways, and be turned to the Lord. Let us purge our hearts with our hands, and let us look unto the Lord who dwelleth in the heavens. We have sinned, and we have provoked Thee, and Thou hast not been propitiated.”28    Lam. iii. 40.

Also in the same: “And the Lord said to me in the days of Josias the king, Thou hast seen what the dwelling of the house,29    There is evident confusion here, and no place can be found for the word “vocem.” the house of Israel, has done to me. It has gone away upon every lofty mountain, and has gone under every shady30    It has been taken for granted that “numerosum” is a misprint for “nemorosum.” tree, and has committed fornication there; and I said, after she had committed all these fornications, Return unto me, and she has not returned.”31    Jer. iii. 6, LXX.

Also in the same: “The Lord will not reject for ever; and when He has made low, He will have pity according to the multitude of His mercy. Because He will not bring low from His whole heart, neither will He reject the children of men.”32    Lam. iii. 31, LXX.

Also in Ezekiel: “And the righteous shall not be able to be saved in the day of transgression. When I shall say to the righteous, Thou shalt surely live; but33    Trombellius suggests “if” instead of “but.” he will trust to his own righteousness, and will do iniquity: all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; in his iniquity which he has done, in that he shall die. And when I shall say to the wicked, Thou shalt surely die, and he turns himself from his sin, and doeth righteousness and judgment, and restoreth to the debtor his pledge, and giveth back his robbery, and walketh in the precepts of life, that he may do no iniquity, he shall surely live, and shall not die; none of his sins which he hath sinned shall be stirred up against him:  because he hath done justice and judgment, he shall live in them.”34    Ezek. xxxii. 12, etc., LXX.

Also in the same: “I am the Lord, because I bring low the high tree, and exalt the low tree, and dry up the green tree, and cause the dry tree to flourish.”35    Ezek. xvii. 24, LXX.

Also in the same: “And thou, son of man, say unto the house of Israel, Even as ye have spoken, saying, Our errors and our iniquities are in us, and we waste away in them, and how shall we live? Say unto them, I live, saith the Lord: if I will the death of a sinner, only let him turn from his way, and he shall live.”36    Ezek. xxxiii. 10, LXX.

Also in the same: “I the Lord have built up the ruined places, and have planted the wasted places.”37    Ezek. xxxvi. 36, LXX.

Also in the same: “And the wicked man, if he turn himself from all his iniquities that he has done, and keep all my commandments, and do judgment, and justice, and mercy, shall surely live, and shall not die. None of his sins which he has committed shall be in remembrance; in his righteousness which he hath done he shall live. Do I willingly desire the death of the unrighteous man, saith Adonai the Lord, rather than that he should turn him from his evil way, that he should live?”38    Ezek. xviii. 21, LXX.

Also in the same: “Be ye converted, and turn you from all your wickedneses, and they shall not be to you for a punishment. Cast away from you all your iniquities which ye have wickedly committed against me, and make to yourselves a new heart and a new spirit; and why will ye die, O house of Israel? For I desire not the death of him that dieth, saith Adonai the Lord.”39    Ezek. xviii. 30, LXX.

Also in Daniel: “And after the end of the days, I Nabuchodonosor lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my sense returned to me, and I praised the Most High, and blessed the King of heaven, and praised Him that liveth for ever: because His power is eternal, His kingdom is for generations,40    “In generatione.” and all who inhabit the earth are as nothing.”41    Dan. iv. 34.

Also in Micah: “Alas for me, O my soul, because truth has perished from the earth, and among all there is none that correcteth; all judge in blood. Every one treadeth down his neighbour with tribulation; they prepare their hands for evil.”42    Mic. vii. 1, 2, 3, LXX.

Also in the same: “Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy, because I have fallen, but I shall arise:  because although I shall sit in darkness, the Lord will give me light:  I will bear the Lord’s anger, because I have sinned against Him, until He justify my cause.”43    Mic. vii. 8, LXX.

Also in Zephaniah: “Come ye together and pray, O undisciplined people; before ye be made as a flower that passeth away, before the anger of the Lord come upon you, before the day of the Lord’s fury come upon you, seek ye the Lord, all ye humble ones of the earth; do judgment and seek justice, and seek for gentleness; and answer ye to Him that ye may be protected in the day of the Lord’s anger.”44    Zeph. ii. 1, LXX.

Also in Zechariah: “Be ye converted unto me, and I will be turned unto you.”45    Zech. i. 3.

Also in Hosea: “Be thou converted, O Israel, to the Lord thy God, because thou art weakened by thine iniquities. Take many with you, and be converted to the Lord your God; worship Him, and say, Thou art mighty to put away our sins; that ye may not receive iniquity, but that ye may receive good things.”46    Hos. xiv. 2.

Also in Ecclesiasticus: “Be thou turned to the Lord, and forsake thy sins, and exceedingly hate cursing, and know righteousness and God’s judgments, and stand in the lot of the propitiation of the Most High: and go into the portion of life with the living, and those that make confession. Delay not in the error of the wicked. Confession perisheth from the dead man, as if it were nothing. Living and sound, thou shalt confess to the Lord, and thou shalt glory in His mercies; for great is the mercy of the Lord, and His propitiation unto such as turn unto Him.”47    Ecclus. xvii. 26.

Also in the same: “How good is it for a true heart to show forth repentance! For thus shalt thou escape voluntary sin.”48    Ecclus xx. 3.

Also in the Acts of the Apostles: “But Peter saith unto him, thy money perish with thee, because thou thinkest to be able to obtain the grace of God by money. Thou hast no part nor lot in this faith, for thy heart is not right with God.  Therefore repent of this thy wickedness, and pray the Lord, if haply the thought of thy heart may be forgiven thee. For I see that thou art in the bond of iniquity, and in the bitterness of gall.”49    Acts viii. 20, etc.

Also in the second Epistle of the blessed50    The original has only “ben,” which Trombellius reasonably assumes to be meant for “benedicti.” Paul to the Corinthians: “For the sorrow which is according to God worketh a stedfast repentance unto salvation, but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”51    2 Cor. vii. 10.

Also in the same place of this very matter:  “But if ye have forgiven anything to any one, I also forgive him; for I also forgave what I have forgiven for your sakes in the person of Christ, that we may not be circumvented by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his wiles.”52    2 Cor. ii. 10.

Also in the same: “But I fear lest perchance, when I come to you, God may again humble me among you, and I shall bewail many of those who have sinned before, and have not repented, for that they have committed fornication and lasciviousness.”53    2 Cor. xii. 21.

Also in the same: “I told you before, and foretell you as I sit present; and absent now from those who before have sinned, and to all others; as, if I shall come again, I will not spare.”54    2 Cor. xiii. 2.

Also in the second to Timothy: “But shun profane novelties of words, for they are of much advantage to impiety. And their word creeps as a cancer: of whom is Hymenæus and Philetus, who have departed from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened, and have subverted the faith of certain ones. But the foundation of God standeth firm, having this seal, God knoweth them that are His. And, Every one who nameth the name of the Lord shall depart from all iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and of clay; and some indeed for honour, and some for contempt.  Therefore if any one shall amend55    “Emendaverit,” probably a mistake for “emundaverit,” “shall purge,” as in the Vulg.; scil. ἐκκαθάρῃ. himself from these things, he shall be a vessel sanctified for honour, and useful for the Lord, prepared for every good work. Moreover, flee youthful lusts: but follow after righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call upon the Lord from a pure heart. But avoid questions that are foolish and without learning, knowing that they beget strifes.  And the servant of the Lord ought not to strive; but to be gentle, docile to all men, patient with modesty, correcting those who resist, lest at any time God may give them repentance to the acknowledgment of the truth, and recover themselves from the snares of the devil, by whom they are held captive at his will.”56    2 Tim. ii. 16. [On true penitence see Epistle xxv. p. 304 supra.]

Also in the Apocalypse: “Remember whence thou hast fallen, and repent; but if not, I will come to thee quickly, and remove thy candlestick out of its place.”57    Rev. ii. 5. [This selection of texts seems made on the same principle which dictated the compilation of texts against the Jews: a breviarium, the author calls it,—quædam utilia collecta et digesta,—to be read with readiness, and frequently referred to.]

S. CYPRIANI EXHORTATIO AD POENITENTIAM.

1153B PER poenitentiam posse omnia peccata dimitti ei qui ad Deum toto corde conversus sit.

In Psalmo octuagesimo octavo (v. 31): Si dereliquerint filii ejus legem meam, et in judiciis meis non ambulaverint, et mandata mea non custodierint, visitabo in virga iniquitates eorum et in verberibus peccata eorum: misericordiam autem meam non dispergam ab eis.

Item apud Isaiam (XXX, 15): Sicut dicit Dominus sanctus Israel: Cum conversus ingemueris, tunc salvus eris et scies ubi fueris.

Item illic (XXX, 1): Vae filii desertionis, dicit Dominus: Fecistis consilium non per me, et sponsionem meam non per spiritum meum, adjicere peccatum super peccatum.

Item apud Jeremiam (II, 25): Averterepedem tuum ab aspera via, et faciem tuam a siti. Illa vero 1153Cdixit: Confortabor: volo: quia diligebat alienos, et ibat post illos.

Item apud Isaiam (XXXI, 6): Convertimini, quiaaltam cogitationem cogitatis et iniquam.

Item illic (XLIII, 25): Ego sum, ego sum qui deleo injustitias tuas, et non recordabor: tu autem recordare, et judicemur simul: dic tu injustitias tuas prius.

Item illic (LV, 6): Quaerite Deum, et cum inveneritis eum, invocate. At ubi appropinquavit vobis, derelinquat impius vias suas et vir iniquus cogitationes suas et convertatur ad Dominum, et misericordia ei praeparabitur, quia non multum remittit peccata vestra.

Item illic (XLIV, 1): Recordare haec, Jacob et Israel, quia puer meus es. Vocavi te puerum meum: et tu Israel, noli oblivisci mei. Ecce enim abstersi sicut . . . . . . . injustitias tuas et sicut imbrem peccata tua. Convertere 1153Dad me, et redimam te.

Item illic (XLVI, 8): In mente habete haec et gemite. Poenitemini qui seducti estis, convertimini corde ad me, et in mente habete priora saecula, quia ego Deus.

Item illic (LIV, 8): Tempore pusillo dereliqui, et cum misericordia magna miserebor tui. In furore pusillo 1154Baverti faciem meam abs te: in misericordia aeterna miserebor tui.

Item illic (LVII, 15): Haec dixit Excelsus in excelsis habitans, in aeternum sanctus in sanctis, nomen est ei Dominus, excelsus in sanctis requiescens, et pupusillanimis dans animi aequitatem, et dans vitam contribulatis corde. Non in sempiternum irascor vobis, nec per omnia vindicabo in vos; spiritus enim a me prodiet et inspirationem omnem ego feci: et propter peccatum pusillum contristavi eum, et averti faciem meam ab eo, et vilem passus est, et abiit tristis in viis. Vias ejus vidi et sanavi eum, et consolatus sum ego, et dedi ei consolationem veram, et pacem super pacem iis, qui longe et iis qui prope. Et dixit Dominus: Sanavi eos; iniqui autem, ut mare commotum, sic fluctuabuntur, et quiescere 1154Cnon possunt. Non est gaudere impiis, dicit Dominus.

Item apud Jeremiam (II, 32): Numquid obliviscetur sponsa ornamenti sui, aut virgo fasciae pectoralis suae? Populus vero meus oblitus est mei dierum , quorum non est numerus.

Item illic (XVIII, 7): In summa loquar super gentem aut super regnum, aut auferam eos, et perdam. Et si conversa fuerit gens a malis suis, poenitebo de malis, quodcogitavi facere illis. Et summa loquar super gentem, aut regnum, ut reaedificem, et plantem, et facient mala ante me, ut non audiant vocem meam, et poenitebo de bonis, quae locutus sum facere eis.

Item illic (III, 12): Revertere ad me, habitatio Israel, dicit Dominus, et non firmabo faciem meam super vos, quia misericors ego sum, dicit Dominus, et 1154Dnon irascar vobis in aeternum.

Item illic (III, 14): Convertimini, filii, qui recessistis, dicit Dominus, quoniam ego dominabor vestri et accipiam vos unum de civitate, et duos de familia, et inducam vos in Sion: et dabo vobis pastores secundum cor meum, et pascent vos pascentes cum disciplina.

Item illic (III, 22): Convertimini, filii, convertentes, et ego sanabo contritionem vestram.

1155A Item illic (IV, 14): Ablue a malitia cor tuum, Jerusalem, ut saneris. Usquequo erunt in te cogitationes dolorum tuorum?

Item illic (VIII, 4): Haec dicit Dominus: Numquid qui cadit non resurgit; aut qui avertit se non convertetur? Quia avertit se populus iste a visione improba, et obtinuerunt praesumptione sua et noluerunt converti.

Item illic (VIII, 6): Non est homo poenitentiam agens a malitia sua, dicens: Quid feci? Defecit qui currit cursu suo, sicut equus suadens in hinnitu suo.

Item illic (XVIII, 11): Avertatur ergo unusquisque a via sua mala, et meliora facite studia vestra. Et dixerunt, confortabimur, quia post adinventiones vestrasibimus, et unusquisque quae placent cordi suo, mala faciemus.

Item illic (Thr. II, 18): Effunde sicut torrens lacrymas 1155Bdie ac nocte: Noli dare tibi requiem; non sileat pupilla oculi tui.

Item illic (Thren. III, 40): Perscrutemur vias nostras, et convertamur ad Dominum. Mundemus corda cum manibus nostris, et respiciamus ad Dominum, qui habitat in coelis. Nos peccavimus et irritavimus, et tu non es propitiatus.

Item illic (III, 6): Et dixit Dominus ad me in diebus Josiae regis: Vidisti quae fecit mihi habitatio domusvocem domus Israel: Abiit super omnem montem excelsum, et subiit ad omne lignum numerosum, et fornicata est illic. Et dixi: Postquam fornicata est haec omnia, ad me convertere, et non est reversa.

Item illic (Thr. III, 31): Non repellet in aeternum Dominus, et cum humiliaverit, miserabitur secundum 1155Cmultitudinem misericordiae suae, quia non humiliabit ex toto corde suo, neque repellet filios hominum.

Item apud Ezechielem (XXXIII, 12): Et justus non poterit salvus esse in die peccati. Cum justo dicam: vita vives; ipse vero confidetsuper justitiam suam, et fecerit iniquitatem, omnes justitiae ejus non commemorabuntur: in sua iniquitate quam fecerit, in ea morietur. Et cum dicam impio: Morte morieris, et avertit se a peccato suo, et fecerit justitiam, et judicium, et pignus debitori reddiderit, et rapinam restituerit, in praeceptis vitae ambulaverit, ne faciat iniquum, vita vivet et non morietur: omnia peccata ejus quae peccavit, non commovebuntur ei, quia judicium et justitiam fecit, in ipsis vivet.

Item illic (XVII, 24): Ego Dominus, quia humilio 1155Dlignum altum, et exalto lignum humile, et arefacio lignum viride, et reviviscere facio lignum aridum.

Item illic. (XXXIII, 10): Et tu, fili hominis, dic domui Israel: Sicut locuti estis dicentes: Errores nostri et iniquitates nostrae in nobis sunt et in ipsis nos tabescimus, et quomodo vivemus? Dic illis: Vivo ego, dicit Dominus; si volo mortem impii: tantum a via sua avertatur, et vivet.

Item illic (XXXVI, 36): Ego Dominus aedificavi demolita, et plantavi exterminata.

Item illic (XVIII, 21): Et iniquus si convertat se ab 1156Aomnibus iniquitatibus, quas fecit et custodiat omnia mandata mea, et faciat judicium et justitiam et misericordiam, vita vivet, et non morietur. Omnia delicta ejus quae fecit, non erunt in memoria: in sua justitia quam fecit, vivet. Numquid voluntate volo mortem injusti, dicit Adonai Dominus, quam ut avertat se a via sua mala, et vivere eum?

Item illic (XVIII, 30): Convertimini et avertite vos ab omnibus impietatibus vestris, et non erunt vobis in poenam. Projicite a vobis omnes iniquitates vestras, quas impie fecistis in me, et facite vobis cor novum et spiritum novum. Et ut quid moriemini, domus Israel? Quia nolo mortem morientis, dicit Adonai Dominus.

Item apud Danielem (IV, 31): Et post finem dierum, ego Nabuchodonosor oculos meos in coelum sustuli; et 1156Bsensus meus in me conversus est, et Altissimum laudavi, et Regem coeli benedixi, et viventem in saecula laudavi, quia potestas ejus aeterna est; regnum ejus in generatione, et omnes qui inhabitant terram, nihil.

Item apud Michaeam (VII, 1, etc.): Heu mihi! anima mea, quia periit veritas a terra, et qui corrigat, inter omnes non est; omnes in sanguine judicant. Unusquisque proximum tribulat tribulatione, in malum manus suas praeparant.

Item illic (VII, 8): Noli gaudere super me, inimica mea, quia cecidi; sed resurgam, propter quod si sedero in tenebris, Dominus lucebit, mihi. Iram Domini sustinebo, quia peccavi ei, donec justificet ipse causam meam.

Item apud Sophoniam (II, 1): Convenite et precamini, gens indisciplinata, priusquam efficiamini sicut 1156Cflos praeteriens, priusquam veniat super vos ira Domini, priusquam veniat super vos dies furoris Domini. Quaerite Dominum omnes humiles terrae, judicium operamini, et quaerite justitiam, et quaerite mansuetudinem, et respondete ei, ut protegamini in die irae Domini.

Item apud Zachariam (I, 3): Convertimini ad me, et convertar ad vos.

Item apud Ozee (XIV, 2): Convertere, Israel, ad Dominum Deum tuum, quoniam infirmatus es iniquitatibus tuis. Assumite vobiscum multos, et convertimini ad Dominum Deum vestrum: dicite ei adorantes: Potens es dimittere peccata nostra, ut non accipiatis iniquitatem, sed ut accipiatis bona.

Item in Ecclesiastico (XVII, 23): Convertere ad Dominum 1156Det relinque peccata tua, et nimis odite execrationem, et cognosce justitias, et judicia Dei, et sta in sorte propitiationis Altissimi, et vade in partem saeculi cum vivis, et dantibus confessionem. Non demoreris in errore impiorum. A mortuo quasi nihil, perit confessio. Vivus et sanus confiteberis Deo, et gloriaberis in miserationibus illius, quoniam magna misericordia Dei et propitiatio illius convertentibus ad se.

Item illic (XX, 4): Quam bonum est cor rectum manifestare poenitentiam! Sic enim effugies voluntarium peccatum.

Item in Actibus Apostolorum (VIII, 19): Ait autem ad illum Petrus: Pecunia tua tecum sit in perditione, quoniam gratiam Dei putas te per pecuniam posse consequi. Non est pars, neque sors tibi in hac fide, quia cor 1157Atuum non est rectum apud Dominum. Itaque poenitentiam age ab hac nequitia tua, et precare Dominum, si forte remittatur tibi cogitatio cordis tui. In obligatione enim iniquitatis et amaritudine fellis video te esse.

Item in Epistola Pauli ben. ad Corinthios secunda (VII, 10): Quae enim secundum Deum est tristitia, poenitentiam in salutem operatur stabilem: saeculi autem tristitia mortem operatur.

Item illic de hoc ipso (II, 10): Si cui autem aliquid donastis et ego: Nam et ego quod donavi propter vos in facie Christi, ut non circumveniamur a Satana, nec enim versutias ejus ignoramus.

Item illic (XII, 20): Timeo autem ne forte cum venero ad vos, iterum humiliet me Deus apud vos, et lugeam multos ex his qui ante peccaverunt, et non egerunt 1157Bpoenitentiam super quae gesserunt fornicationem et impudicitiam.

Item illic (XIII, 2): Praedixi et praedico ut praesens sedeo, et absens nunc his qui ante peccaverunt, et caeteris omnibus, quia si venero, iterum non parcam.

Item ad Timotheum secunda (II, 21): Profanas autem novitates vocum devita: multum enim proficiunt ad impietatem: nam sermo eorum sicut cancer serpit, ex quibus est, Hymenaeus et Philetus, qui a veritate exciderunt, 1158Adicentes resurrectionem jam factam et quorumdam fidem subverterunt. Sed firmum fundamentum Dei stat habens signaculum hoc. Cognovit Deus qui sunt ejus, et discedet ab omni iniquitate omnis qui nominat nomen Domini. In magna autem domo non solum sunt vasa aurea et argentea, sed et lignea et fictilia, et quaedam quidem in honorem, quaedam autem in contumeliam. Si quis ergo emendaveritse ab istis, erit vas in honorem sanctificatum, et utile Domino ad omne bonum opus paratum. Juvenilia autem desideria fuge. Sectare vero justitiam, fidem, charitatem, pacem cum his, qui invocant Dominum de corde puro. Stultas autem, et sine disciplina quaestiones devita, sciens quia generant lites. Servum autem Domini non oportet litigare, sed mansuetum esse ad omnes docibilem, patientem, cum modestia corripientem 1158Beos qui resistunt, ne quando det illis Deus poenitentiam ad cognoscendam veritatem, et resipiscant de diaboli laqueis, a quo capti tenentur, ad ipsius voluntatem.

Item in Apocalypsi (II, 5): Memento unde cecideris, et age poenitentiam: sin autem, veniam tibi cito, et candelabrum de loco suo movebo.