it will be unprofitable for us. "For what will it profit if a man gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"[1] This world and the next are two enemies. The one urges[2] to adultery and corruption, avarice and deceit; the other bids farewell to these things. We cannot therefore be the friends of both; and it behoves us, by renouncing the one, to make sure[3] of the other. Let us reckon[4] that it is better to hate the things present, since they are trifling, and transient, and corruptible; and to love those [which are to come,] as being good and incorruptible. For if we do the will of Christ, we shall find rest; otherwise, nothing shall deliver us from eternal punishment, if we disobey His commandments. For thus also saith the Scripture in Ezekiel, "If Noah, Job, and Daniel should rise up, they should not deliver their children in captivity."[5] Now, if men so eminently righteous are not able by their righteousness to deliver their children, how[6] can we hope to enter into the royal residence[7] of God unless we keep our baptism holy and undefiled? Or who shall be our advocate, unless we be found possessed of works of holiness and righteousness?
Chap. vii.—We must strive in order to be crowned.
Wherefore, then, my brethren, let us struggle with all earnestness, knowing that the contest is [in our case] close at hand, and that many undertake long voyages to strive for a corruptible reward;[8] yet all are not crowned, but those only that have laboured hard and striven gloriously. Let us therefore so strive, that we may all be crowned. Let us run the straight[9] course, even the race that is incorruptible; and let us in great numbers set out[10] for it, and strive that we
- ↑ Matt. xvi. 26.
- ↑ Literally, "speaks of."
- ↑ Or, "enjoy."
- ↑ The ms. has, "we reckon."
- ↑ Ezek. xiv. 14, 20.
- ↑ Literally, "with what confidence shall we."
- ↑ Wake translates "kingdom," as if the reading had been βασιλείαν but the ms. has βασίλειον, "palace."
- ↑ Literally, "that many set sail for corruptible contests," referring probably to the concourse at the Isthmian games.
- ↑ Or, "Let us place before us."
- ↑ Or, "set sail."
