BOOK SECOND.—COMMANDMENTS.
COMMANDMENT FIRST.
On Faith in God.
IRST of all, believe that there is one God who created and finished all things, and made all things out of nothing. He alone is able to contain the whole, but Himself cannot be contained.[1] Have faith therefore in Him, and fear Him; and fearing Him, exercise self-control. Keep these commands, and you will cast away from you all wickedness, and put on the strength of righteousness, and live to God, if you keep this commandment.
COMMANDMENT SECOND.
On avoiding evil-speaking, and on giving alms in simplicity.
He said to me, "Be simple and guileless, and you will be as the children who know not the wickedness that ruins the life of men. First, then, speak evil of no one, nor listen with pleasure to any one who speaks evil of another. But if you listen, you will partake of the sin of him who speaks evil, if you believe the slander which you hear;[2] for believing it, you will also have something to say against your brother. Thus, then, will you be guilty of the sin of him who slanders. For
- ↑ Contained.—Vat. and Pal. add: and who cannot be defined in words, nor conceived by the mind.
- ↑ If … brother. And if you believe the slanderer, you will also be guilty of sin, in that you have believed one who speaks evil of your brother.—Vat. For if you give your assent to the detractor, and believe what is said of one in his absence, you also will be like to him, and acting ruinously towards your brother, and you are guilty of the same sin as the person who slanders.—Pal.
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