The Works of Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, Volume 1

CATECHESIS IV

CATECHESIS IV On the Ten Doctrines "See to it that no man deceive you by philosophy and vain deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elements of the world [and not according to Christ] ."1 (1) Vice mimics virtue and cockle works to pass for wheat, which it resembles, though a discriminating palate is not thereby deceived. So the devil "disguises himself as an angel of light,"2 not to mount up again where he was before (with a heart as inflexible as an anvil, his will is forever impenitent), but to envelop in blinding mist and the poisonous air of scepticism those leading an angelic life. Many a wolf goes about in sheep's clothing;3 their fleece is that of sheep, not so their claws and fangs. Clad in the gentle wool, and beguiling the innocent by their appearance, they pour forth from their fangs the deadly poison of impiety. We have need therefore of divine grace, and a sober mind, and eyes that see clearly, lest, eating cockle for wheat, we take hurt out of our ignorance; or, mistaking the wolf for a sheep, we become his prey, or, supposing the baleful devil to be a good angel, we shall be devoured. For, "as a roaring lion, he goes about seeking whom he may devour," as Scripture says.4 This is the reason for the Church's admonitions; this is the reason for the present instructions and for the lessons that are read. (2) True religion consists of these two elements: pious doc1 Col. 2.8. 2 2 Cor. 11.14. 3 Matt. 7.15. 4 Cf. 1 Peter 5.8. 119 120 ST. CYRIL OF JERUSALEM trines and virtuous actions. Neither does God accept doctrines apart from good works, nor are works, when divorced from godly doctrine, accepted by God. What does it profit a man to be an expert theologian if he is a shameless fornicator; or to be nobly temperate, but an impious blasphemer? The knowledge of doctrines is a precious possession; there is need of a vigilant soul, since many there are who would deceive you by philosophy and vain deceit.5 The Greeks, indeed, by their smooth tongue lead men astray, for honey drops from the lips of a harlot.6 Those of the Circumcision deceive their disciples by the divine Scripture, which they twist by false interpretations, though they study them from childhood to old age and grow old in ignorance. The children of heretics "by smooth words and flattery deceive the hearts of the simple,"7 disguising with the honey of Christ's name the poisoned shafts of their impious doctrines. Concerning all these alike the Lord says: "Take care that no one lead you astray."B This is the reason for the teaching of the Faith, and for the expositions of it. (3) Before delivering to you the Creed, I think it well at this time to present a short compendium of the necessary doctrines, that the multitude of things to be said, and the intervening period of the entire season of holy Lent may not cause forgetfulness in the minds of the more simple among you, but that scattering seeds of doctrines now in summary fashion, we may not forget the same when they are more widely tilled later. But let those present who are of more mature understanding and "have their faculties trained to discern good and evil,"9 be patient as they listen to an introductory course suited to children, milk for sucklings. In this way, those who need catechetical instruction will profit and 5 Cf. Col. 2.8. 6 Cf. Provo 5.3. 7 Rom. 16.18. 8 Matt. 24.4. 9 Reb. 5.14. CATECHESIS IV 121 those who have the knowledge will revive the memory of what they already know. O/God (4) First, then, let there be laid as a firm foundation in your souls the doctrine concerning God: That God is One alone, unbegotten, without beginning, immutable, unchangeable ; neither begotten by another, nor having any successor to His life; who neither began to live in time, nor shall ever have an end. He is both good and just, and so if ever you hear a heretic saying that the just God is one and the good God another, you may at once be warned and recognize the poisoned shaft of heresy. For some have impiously dared to divide...