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the passion of rashness in speech may be healed, and they may be able to learn at leisure when, and what, and how one must speak, so that, as it is written, *He may give grace to those who hear*. QUESTION 209. How might we be able to fear the judgments of God? RESPONSE. According to nature, the expectation of any terrible thing is productive of fear. For thus we fear wild beasts, and rulers, expecting some experience of evil from them. If, therefore, one believes that the threats of the Lord are true, and expects the dreadful and most terrible experience of them, he fears the judgments of God. QUESTION 210. What is the modest apparel handed down by the Apostle? RESPONSE. The dignified use for its proper purpose, 31.1224 mindful of time, place, person, and need. For reason does not approve the same coverings in time of winter and of summer, nor the same attire for the worker and the one at rest, for the one serving and the one being served, for the soldier and the private citizen, or for a man and a woman. QUESTION 211. What is the measure of love for God? RESPONSE. For the soul always to be stretching forth beyond its power toward the will of God, for the purpose and desire of His glory. QUESTION 212. How is love for God perfected? RESPONSE If we are disposed with a good conscience and gratefully for the benefactions from Him; which also exists in irrational animals. For we see dogs loving only the one giving bread; and we learn this also from what was spoken as an accusation through Isaiah the prophet, thus: *I have begotten and exalted sons; but they have rejected me. The ox knows its owner and the donkey its master's manger; but Israel does not know me, and my people do not understand.* For just as for the ox and the donkey love for the one who feeds them arises automatically from his beneficence; so also we, if we receive his benefactions with sensitivity and gratitude, how shall we not love God, the benefactor of so many and so great things, since such a disposition arises naturally, so to speak, and without being taught, in a healthy soul? QUESTION 213. What are the signs of love for God? RESPONSE. The Lord Himself taught us, saying: *If you love me, keep my commandments.* QUESTION 214. In what do kindness and goodness differ from one another? RESPONSE. Since David says at one time: *The Lord is kind to all*, and, *A kind man is he who pities and lends*; and at another time, *Do good, O Lord, to the good*; and Jeremiah, *The Lord is good to them that wait for him*, I think that kindness is broader, 31.1225 for the benefit of those who in any way are in need of it; but that goodness is more constrained, and employs the principles of justice in its benefactions. QUESTION 215. Who is the peacemaker who is called blessed by the Lord? RESPONSE. He who works together with the Lord, according to the Apostle who says: *We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us; we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God*; and again: *Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God.* For peace that is otherwise was denied by the Lord, who said: *My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.* QUESTION 216. In what way must one turn and become like little children? RESPONSE. This very passage of the Gospel teaches us, showing the premise for which this was said; so as not to seek pre-eminence, but to recognize the equality of nature, and to love equality toward those who seem to be lesser in some things. For such also are children toward one another, those at least who have not yet been accustomed to the evil of those around them. QUESTION 217. How shall we receive the kingdom of God as a child? RESPONSE. If we become such toward the teaching of the Lord, as a child is in its lessons; not contradicting, nor making excuses to its teachers, but faithfully and obediently receiving the teachings. QUESTION 218. What kind of understanding to ask from the

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τε πάθος τῆς ἐν λόγοις προ πετείας θεραπευθῶσι, καὶ δυνηθῶσι μαθεῖν ἐπὶ σχο λῆς, πότε, καὶ τί, καὶ πῶς λαλεῖν δεῖ, ἵνα, καθὼς γέγραπται, ∆ῷ χάριν τοῖς ἀκούουσιν. ΕΡΩΤΗΣΙΣ ΣΘʹ. Πῶς δυνηθῶμεν φοβηθῆναι τὰ κρίματα τοῦ Θεοῦ. ΑΠΟΚΡΙΣΙΣ. Κατὰ φύσιν ἡ προσδοκία παντὸς δεινοῦ φόβου ἐστὶ ποιητική. Οὕτω γὰρ καὶ τὰ θηρία φοβούμεθα, καὶ τοὺς ἄρχοντας, κακοῦ τινος πεῖραν ἐξ αὐτῶν προσ δοκῶντες. Ἐὰν οὖν τις πιστεύσῃ, ὅτι ἀληθεῖς εἰσιν αἱ ἀπειλαὶ τοῦ Κυρίου, καὶ προσδοκήσῃ τὴν φρικώδη καὶ δεινοτάτην αὐτῶν πεῖραν φοβεῖται τὰ κρί ματα τοῦ Θεοῦ. ΕΡΩΤΗΣΙΣ ΣΙʹ. Τίς ἐστιν ἡ τοῦ Ἀποστόλου παραδεδομένη καταστολὴ κόσμιος. ΑΠΟΚΡΙΣΙΣ. Ἡ πρὸς τὸν σκοπὸν τὸν ἴδιον σεμνοπρεπὴς χρῆσις, 31.1224 ἐστοχασμένη καιροῦ, τόπου, προσώπου, χρείας. Οὐ γὰρ τὰ αὐτὰ ἐγκρίνει ὁ λόγος σκεπάσματα ἐν καιρῷ χειμῶνος καὶ θέρους, οὔτε τὸ αὐτὸ σχῆμα τοῦ ἐργάτου καὶ τοῦ ἀναπαυομένου, τοῦ ὑπηρετοῦντος καὶ τοῦ θεραπευομένου, τοῦ στρατιώτου καὶ τοῦ ἰδιώτου, ἢ ἀνδρὸς καὶ γυναικός. ΕΡΩΤΗΣΙΣ ΣΙΑʹ. Τί τὸ μέτρον τῆς πρὸς Θεὸν ἀγάπης. ΑΠΟΚΡΙΣΙΣ. Τὸ ὑπὲρ δύναμιν ἀεὶ τὴν ψυχὴν ἐπεκτείνεσθαι πρὸς τὸ τοῦ Θεοῦ θέλημα, κατὰ σκοπὸν καὶ ἐπιθυμίαν τῆς αὐτοῦ δόξης. ΕΡΩΤΗΣΙΣ ΣΙΒʹ. Πῶς κατορθοῦται ἡ πρὸς Θεὸν ἀγάπη. ΑΠΟΚΡΙΣΙΣ Ἐὰν εὐσυνειδήτως καὶ εὐγνωμόνως διατεθῶμεν ἐπὶ ταῖς παρ' αὐτοῦ εὐεργεσίαις· ὅπερ καὶ τοῖς ἀλόγοις ὑπάρχει. Ὁρῶμεν γὰρ τοὺς κύνας τὸν διδόντα ἄρτον μόνον ἀγαπῶντας· μανθάνομεν δὲ τοῦτο καὶ ἐκ τῶν διὰ Ἡσαΐου τοῦ προφήτου ἐγκλη ματικῶς εἰρημένων οὕτως· Υἱοὺς ἐγέννησα καὶ ὕψωσα· αὐτοὶ δέ με ἠθέτησαν. Ἔγνω βοῦς τὸν κτησάμενον καὶ ὄνος τὴν φάτνην τοῦ κυρίου αὐτοῦ· Ἰσραὴλ δέ με οὐκ ἔγνω, καὶ ὁ λαός με οὐ συνῆκεν. Ὥσπερ γὰρ τῷ βοῒ καὶ τῷ ὄνῳ ἐκ τῆς παρὰ τοῦ τρέφοντος εὐεργεσίας ἡ πρὸς αὐτὸν ἀγάπη αὐτομάτως ἐγγίνεται· οὕτω καὶ ἡμεῖς, ἐὰν εὐαισθή τως καὶ εὐγνωμόνως τὰς εὐεργεσίας δεξώμεθα, πῶς οὐκ ἀγαπήσομεν τὸν τοσούτων καὶ τηλικούτων εὐερ γέτην Θεὸν, κατὰ φύσιν, ἵνα οὕτως εἴπω, καὶ ἀδι δάκτως τῆς τοιαύτης διαθέσεως τῇ ὑγιαινούσῃ ψυχῇ ἐγγινομένης; ΕΡΩΤΗΣΙΣ ΣΙΓʹ. Τίνα ἐστὶ τὰ γνωρίσματα τῆς πρὸς Θεὸν ἀγάπης. ΑΠΟΚΡΙΣΙΣ. Αὐτὸς ὁ Κύριος ἐδίδαξεν ἡμᾶς, εἰπών· Ἐὰν ἀγαπᾶτέ με, τὰς ἐντολὰς τὰς ἐμὰς τηρήσατε. ΕΡΩΤΗΣΙΣ ΣΙ∆ʹ Χρηστότης καὶ ἀγαθωσύνη τίνι διαφέρουσιν ἀλλήλων. ΑΠΟΚΡΙΣΙΣ. Τοῦ ∆αβὶδ εἰπόντος ποτὲ μέν· Χρηστὸς Κύριος τοῖς σύμπασι, καὶ, Χρηστὸς ἀνὴρ ὁ οἰκτείρων καὶ κιχρῶν· ποτὲ δὲ, Ἀγάθυνον, Κύριε, τοῖς ἀγαθοῖς· καὶ τοῦ Ἱερεμίου, Ἀγαθὸς Κύριος τοῖς ὑπομένουσιν αὐτὸν, πλατυτέραν οἶμαι εἶναι τὴν 31.1225 χρηστότητα, εἰς εὐεργεσίαν τῶν ὁπωσδηποτοῦν ἐπιδεομένων ταύτης· συνηγμένην δὲ μᾶλλον τὴν ἀγαθωσύνην, καὶ τοῖς τῆς δικαιοσύνης λόγοις ἐν ταῖς εὐεργεσίαις συγχρωμένην. ΕΡΩΤΗΣΙΣ ΣΙΕʹ. Τίς ἐστιν ὁ ὑπὸ τοῦ Κυρίου μακαριζόμενος εἰρη νοποιός. ΑΠΟΚΡΙΣΙΣ. Ὁ τῷ Κυρίῳ συνεργῶν, κατὰ τὸν Ἀπόστολον εἰπόντα· Ὑπὲρ Χριστοῦ πρεσβεύομεν, ὡς τοῦ Θεοῦ παρακαλοῦντος δι' ἡμῶν· δεόμεθα ὑπὲρ Χριστοῦ, καταλλάγητε τῷ Θεῷ· καὶ πάλιν· ∆ι καιωθέντες ἐκ πίστεως, εἰρήνην ἔχομεν πρὸς τὸν Θεόν. Ἡ γὰρ ἄλλως ἔχουσα εἰρήνη ἠρνήθη ὑπὸ τοῦ Κυρίου εἰπόντος· Εἰρήνην τὴν ἐμὴν δίδωμι ὑμῖν· οὐ καθὼς ὁ κόσμος δίδωσιν, ἐγὼ δίδωμι ὑμῖν. ΕΡΩΤΗΣΙΣ ΣΙʹ. Ἐν τίνι στραφῆναι δεῖ καὶ γενέσθαι ὡς τὰ νή πια. ΑΠΟΚΡΙΣΙΣ. Αὐτὴ ἡ περικοπὴ τοῦ Εὐαγγελίου διδάσκει ἡμᾶς, τὴν ὑπόθεσιν δηλοῦσα πρὸς ἣν εἴρηται τοῦτο· ὥστε μὴ ζητεῖν ὑπεροχὴν, τὴν δὲ ἰσοτιμίαν τῆς φύσεως γνωρίζειν, καὶ ἀγαπᾷν τὸ ἰσότιμον πρὸς τοὺς ἐλατ τοῦσθαι δοκοῦντας ἔν τισι. Τοιαῦτα γάρ ἐστι καὶ τὰ παιδία πρὸς ἄλληλα, τά γε μήπω προσεθισθέντα τῇ τῶν ἀναστρεφομένων κακίᾳ. ΕΡΩΤΗΣΙΣ ΣΙΖʹ. Πῶς δεξόμεθα τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ ὡς παιδίον. ΑΠΟΚΡΙΣΙΣ. Ἐὰν τοιοῦτοι γενώμεθα πρὸς τὴν διδασκαλίαν τοῦ Κυρίου, οἷόν ἐστι τὸ παιδίον ἐν τοῖς μαθήμασι· μὴ ἀντιλέγον, μήτε δικαιολογούμενον πρὸς τοὺς διδα σκάλους, πιστῶς δὲ καὶ εὐπειθῶς δεχόμενον τὰ δι δάγματα. ΕΡΩΤΗΣΙΣ ΣΙΗʹ. Ποίαν σύνεσιν αἰτεῖν παρὰ τοῦ