In the Gospel according to Matthew: “Be ye prudent as serpents, and simple as doves. ” And again: “Ye are the salt of the earth. But if the salt have lost his savour, in what shall it be salted? It is good for nothing, but to be cast out abroad, and to be trodden under foot of men. ” 88. That a brother must not be deceived. In the first Epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians: “That a man do not deceive his brother in a matter, because God is the avenger for all these. ” 89. That the end of the world comes suddenly. The apostle says: “The day of the Lord shall so come as a thief in the night. When they shall say, Peace and security, then on them shall come sudden destruction. ” Also in the Acts of the Apostles: “No one can know the times or the seasons which the Father has placed in His own power. ” 90. That a wife must not depart from her husband; or if she should depart, she must remain unmarried. In the first Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians: “But to them that are married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, that the wife should not be separated from her husband; but if she should depart, that she remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband: and that the husband should not put away his wife. ” 91. That every one is tempted so much as he is able to bear. In the first Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians: “No temptation shall take you, except such is human. But God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. ” 92. That not everything is to be done which is lawful. Paul, in the first Epistle to the Corinthians: “All things are lawful, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful, but all things edify not. ” 93. That it was foretold that heresies would arise. In the first epistle of Paul to the Corinthians: “Heresies must needs be, in order that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. ” 94. That the Eucharist is to be received with fear and honour. In Leviticus: “But whatever soul shall eat of the flesh of the sacrifice of salvation, which is the Lord’s, and his uncleanness is still upon him, that soul shall perish from his people. ” Also in the first to the Corinthians: “Whosoever shall eat the bread or drink the cup of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. ” 95. That we are to live with the good, but to avoid the evil. In Solomon, in the Proverbs: “Bring not the impious man into the habitation of the righteous. ” Also in the same, in Ecclesiasticus: “Let righteous men be thy guests. ” And again: “The faithful friend is a medicine of life and of immortality. ” Also in the same place: “Be thou far from the man who has the power to slay, and thou shalt not suspect fear. ” Also in the same place: “Blessed is he who findeth a true friend, and who speaketh righteousness to the listening ear. ” Also in the same place: “Hedge thine ears with thorns, and hear not a wicked tongue.
” Also in the seventeenth Psalm: “With the righteous Thou shalt be justified; and with the innocent man Thou shalt be innocent; and with the froward man Thou shalt be froward. ” Also in the first Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians: “Evil communications corrupt good dispositions. ” 96. That we must labour not with words, but with deeds. In Solomon, in Ecclesiasticus: “Be not hasty in thy tongue, and in thy deeds useless and remiss. ” And Paul, in the first to the Corinthians: “The kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. ” Also to the Romans: “Not the hearers of the law are righteous before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. ” Also in the Gospel according to Matthew: “He who shall do and teach so, shall be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ” Also in the same place: “Every one who heareth my words, and doeth them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house upon a rock. The rain descended, the floods came, the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one who heareth my words, and doeth them not, I will liken him to the foolish man, who built his house upon the sand. The rain descended, the floods came, the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and its ruin became great. ” 97. That we must hasten to faith and to attainment. In Solomon, in Ecclesiasticus: “Delay not to be converted to God, and do not put off from day to day; for His anger cometh suddenly. ” 98. That the catechumen ought now no longer to sin. In the Epistle of Paul to the Romans: “Let us do evil until the good things come; whose condemnation is just. ” 99. That judgment will be according to the times, either of equity before the law, or of law after Moses. Paul to the Romans: “As many as have sinned without law, shall perish without law; and as many as have sinned in the law, shall be judged also by the law. ” 100. That the grace of God ought to be without price. In the Acts of the Apostles: “Thy money be in perdition with thyself, because thou hast thought that the grace of God is possessed by money. ” Also in the Gospel: “Freely ye have received, freely give. ” Also in the same place: “Ye have made my Father’s house a house of merchandise; and ye have made the house of prayer a den of thieves. ” Also in Isaiah: “Ye who thirst, go to the water, and as many as have not money: go, and buy, and drink without money. ” Also in the Apocalypse: “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to him that thirsteth from the fountain of the water of life freely. He who shall overcome shall possess these things, and their inheritance; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. ” 101. That the Holy Spirit has frequently appeared in fire. In Exodus: “And the whole of Mount Sinai smoked, because God had come down upon it in fire. ” Also in the Acts of the Apostles: “And suddenly there was made a sound from heaven, as if a vehement blast were borne along, and it filled the whole of that place in which they were sitting.
And there appeared to them cloven tongues as if of fire, which also settled upon each of them; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost. ” Also in the sacrifices, whatsoever God accounted accepted, fire descended from heaven, which consumed what was sacrificed. In Exodus: “The angel of the Lord appeared in a flame of fire from the bush. ” 102. That all good men ought willingly to hear rebuke. In Solomon, in the Proverbs: “He who reproveth a wicked man shall be hated by him. Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. ” 103. That we must abstain from much speaking. In Solomon: “Out of much speaking thou shalt not escape sin; but sparing thy lips, thou shalt be wise. ” 104. That we must not lie. “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord. ” 105. That they are frequently to be corrected who do wrong in domestic duty. In Solomon: “He who spareth the rod, hateth his son. ” And again: “Do not cease from correcting the child. ” 106. That when a wrong is received, patience is to be maintained, and vengeance to be left to God. “Say not, I will avenge me of mine enemy; but wait for the Lord, that He may be thy help. ” Also elsewhere: “To me belongeth vengeance; I will repay, saith the Lord. ” Also in Zephaniah: “Wait on me, saith the Lord, in the day of my rising again to witness; because my judgment is to the congregations of the Gentiles, that I may take kings, and pour out upon them my anger. ” 107. That we must not use detraction. In Solomon, in the Proverbs: “Love not to detract, lest thou be taken away. ” Also in the forty-ninth Psalm: “Thou sattest, and spakest against thy brother; and against the son of thy mother thou placedst a stumbling-block. ” Also in the Epistle of Paul to the Colossians: “To speak ill of no man, nor to be litigious. ” 108. That we must not lay snares against our neighbour. In Solomon, in the Proverbs: “He who diggeth a pit for his neighbour, himself shall fall into it. ” 109. That the sick are to be visited. In Solomon, in Ecclesiasticus: “Be not slack to visit the sick man; for from these things thou shalt be strengthened in love. ” Also in the Gospel: “I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me. ” 110. That tale-bearers are accursed. In Ecclesiasticus, in Solomon: “The talebearer and the double-tongued is accursed; for he will disturb many who have peace. ” 111. That the sacrifices of the wicked are not acceptable. In the same: “The Highest approveth not the gifts of the unrighteous. ” 112. That those are more severely judged, who in this world have had more power. In Solomon: “The hardest judgment shall be made on those who govern. For to a mean man mercy is granted; but the powerful shall suffer torments mightily. ” Also in the second Psalm: “And now, ye kings, understand; be amended, ye who judge the earth. ” 113. That the widow and orphans ought to be protected. In Solomon: “Be merciful to the orphans as a father, and as a husband to their mother; and thou shalt be the son of the Highest if thou shalt obey. ” Also in Exodus: “Ye shall not afflict any widow and orphan.
But if ye afflict them, and they cry out and call unto me, I will hear their cryings, and will be angry in mind against you; and I will destroy you with the sword, and your wives shall be widows, and your children orphans. ” Also in Isaiah: “Judge for the fatherless, and justify the widow; and come let us reason, saith the Lord. ” Also in Job: “I have preserved the poor man from the hand of the mighty, and I have helped the fatherless who had no helper: the mouth of the widow hath blessed me. ” Also in the sixty-seventh Psalm: “The Father of the orphans, and the Judge of the widows. ” 114. That one ought to make confession while he is in the flesh. In the fifth Psalm: “But in the grave who will confess unto Thee? ” Also in the twenty-ninth Psalm: “Shall the dust make confession to Thee? ” Also elsewhere that confession is to be made: “I would rather have the repentance of the sinner than his death. ” Also in Jeremiah: “Thus saith the Lord, Shall not he that falleth arise? or shall not he that is turned away be converted? ” 115. That flattery is pernicious. In Isaiah: “They who call you blessed, lead you into error, and trouble the paths of your feet. ” 116. That God is more loved by him who has had many sins forgiven in baptism. In the Gospel according to Luke: “To whom much is forgiven, he loveth much; and to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. ” 117. That there is a strong conflict to be waged against the devil, and that therefore we ought to stand bravely, that we may be able to conquer. In the Epistle of Paul to the Ephesians: “Our wrestle is not against flesh and blood, but against the powers and princes of this world, and of this darkness; against the spiritual things of wickedness in the heavenly places. Because of this, put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to resist in the most evil day; that when ye have accomplished all, ye may stand, having your loins girt in the truth of the Gospel, putting on the breastplate of righteousness, and having your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace; in all things taking the shield of faith, in which ye may extinguish all the fiery darts of the most wicked one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. ” 118. Also of Antichrist, that he will come as a man. In Isaiah: “This is the man who arouseth the earth, who disturbeth kings, who maketh the whole earth a desert. ” 119. That the yoke of the law was heavy, which is cast off by us, and that the Lord’s yoke is easy, which is taken up by us. In the second Psalm: “Wherefore have the heathen been in tumult, and the peoples meditated vain things? The kings of the earth have stood up, and their princes have been gathered together against the Lord, and against His Christ. Let us break their bonds asunder, and cast away from us their yoke. ” Also in the Gospel according to Matthew: “Come unto me, ye who labour and are burdened, and I will make you to rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me: for I am meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is good, and my burden is light. ” Also in the Acts of the Apostles: “It seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to impose upon you no other burden than those things which are of necessity, that you should abstain from idolatries, from shedding of blood, and from fornication. And whatsoever you would not to be done unto you, do not to others. ” 120. That we are to be urgent in prayers. In the Epistle of Paul to the Colossians: “Be instant in prayer, and watch therein. ” Also in the first Psalm: “But in the law of the Lord is his will, and in His law will he meditate day and night. ”