Ascetical Works

Herewith Begins the Morals

HEREWITH BEGINS THE MORALS RULE ONE IIHAT THEY WHO BELIEVE in the Lord must first do . penance according to the preaching of John and of . our Lord Jesus Christ Himself; for they who do not penance now will receive a harsher sentence than those who were condemned before the time of the Gospel. Cap. 1 Matthew [4.17J: 'From that time Jesus began to preach and to say: Do penance for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.' [11.20-22J: 'Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein were done the most of his miracles, for that they had not done penance. Woe to thee, Corozain, woe to thee, Bethsaida ; for if in Tyre and Sidon had been wrought the miracles that have been wrought in you, they had long ago done penance in sackcloth and ashes. But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgement than for you,' etc. That this present life is the time for penance and for the remission of sins; in the life to come, the just judgment of retribution will take place. Cap. 2 Mark [2.10J: 'But that you may know that the Son of man 71 72 SAINT BASIL hath power on earth to forgive sins, he sayeth,' Matthew [18.18,19]: 'Amen I say to you, whatsoever you shall bind upon earth, shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever you shall loose upon earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again, Amen I say to you, that if two of you shall consent upon earth concerning anything whatsoever they shall ask, it shall be done to them by my Father who is in heaven,' John [5.28,29]: 'for the hour cometh wherein all that are in the graves shall hear his voice. And they that have done good things shall come forth unto the resurrection of life; but they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment.' Rom. [2.4-6]: 'Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and patience and long-suffering? Knowest thou not that the benignity of God leadeth thee to penance? But according to thy hardness and impenitent heart, thou treasurest up to thyself wrath against the day of wrath and of revelation and the just judgment of God who will render to every man according to his works.' Acts [17.30,31]: 'And God indeed having winked at the times of this ignorance, now declareth unto men that all should everywhere do penance, because he hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the world.' That penitents should weep bitterly and show forth from their heart all the other appropriate works of penance. Cap. 3 Matthew [26.75]: 'And Peter remembered the word of Jesus which he had said to him: Before the cock crow, thou wilt deny me thrice. And going forth he wept bitterly.' 2 Cor. [7.6,7]: 'But he who comforteth the humble comforted us by the coming of Titus. And not by his coming only, but also by the consolation, wherewith he was comforted in THE MORALS 73 you, relating to us your desire, your mourning, your zeal for me'; and a little further on [11]: 'For behold this selfsame thing, that you were made sorrowful according to God, how great carefulness it worketh in you; yea defence, yea indignation , yea fear, yea desire, yea zeal, yea revenge: in all things you have showed yourself to be undefiled in the matter .' Acts [19.18,19]: 'And many of them that believed came confessing and declaring their deeds. And many of them who had followed curious arts brought together their books and burnt them before all.' That mere renouncement of sin is not sufficient for the salvation of penitents, but fruits worthy of penance are also required of them. Cap. 4 Matthew [3.7-10]: 'And seeing many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them: Ye brood of vipers, who hath shewed you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of penance. And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham for our father. For I tell you that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham. For now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that doth not yield good fruit, shall be cut down and cast into...