from the third chapter.

The fifth class, company, or association of saints, sets forth men who are careless, and who are carrying on in the world other transactions than those which they ought—Christians only in name. And therefore He exhorts them that by any means they should be turned away from negligence, and be saved; and to this effect He says:—  

2. “Be watchful, and strengthen the other things which were ready to die; for I have not found thy works perfect before God.”] For it is not enough for a tree to live and to have no fruit, even as it is not enough to be called a Christian and to confess Christ, but not to have Himself in our work, that is, not to do His precepts.  

The sixth class is the mode of life of the best election. The habit of saints is set forth; of those, to wit, who are lowly in the world, and unskilled in the Scriptures, and who hold the faith immoveably, and are not at all broken down by any chance, or withdrawn from the faith by any fear. Therefore He says to them:—  

8. “I have set before thee an open door, because thou hast kept the word of my patience.”] In such little strength.  

10. “And I will keep thee from the hour of temptation.”] That they may know His glory to be of this kind, that they are not indeed permitted to be given over to temptation.  

12. “He that overcometh shall be made a pillar in the temple of God.”] For even as a pillar is an ornament of the building, so he who perseveres shall obtain a nobility in the Church.  

Moreover, the seventh association of the Church declares that they are rich men placed in positions of dignity, but believing that they are rich, among whom indeed the Scriptures are discussed in their bedchamber, while the faithful are outside; and they are understood by none, although they boast themselves, and say that they know all things,—endowed with the confidence of learning, but ceasing from its labour. And thus He says:—  

15. “That they are neither cold nor hot.”] That is, neither unbelieving nor believing, for they are all things to all men. And because he who is neither cold nor hot, but lukewarm, gives nausea, He says:—  

16. “I will vomit thee out of My mouth.”] Although nausea is hateful, still it hurts no one; so also is it with men of this kind when they have been cast forth. But because there is time of repentance, He says:—  

18. “I persuade thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire.”] That is, that in whatever manner you can, you should suffer for the Lord’s name tribulations and passions.  

“And anoint thine eyes with eye-salve.”] That what you gladly know by the Scripture, you should strive also to do the work of the same. And because, if in these ways men return out of great destruction to great repentance, they are not only useful to themselves, but they are able also to be of advantage to many, He promised them no small reward,—to sit, namely, on the throne of judgment.  

EX CAPITE III.

Quinta classis collectio vel conversatio sanctorum declarat homines negligentes, et alias quam quas oportet in saeculo agentes operationes, nomine tantummodo christianos. Et ideo hortatur illos si quomodo reversi a negligentia possint salvi esse, et ideo ait:

0322D 2. Esto vigilans et confirma caetera que moritura erant: non enim inveni opera tua plena coram Deo. Non enim satis est arborem vivere, et fructum non habere; sicut non satis est christianum dici, et Christum confiteri, ipsum vero in opere non habere, id est ejus praecepta non facere.

Sexta classis est conversatio electionis optimae. Consuetudo sanctorum declaratur, horum scilicet qui humiles sunt in saeculo, et rusticani in scripturis, et fidem immobiliter tenent, nec omnino ullo 0323A casu fracti aut timore, retrahuntur a fide. Ideo ait ad illos:

8. Dedi ante te ostium apertum, et quoniam servasti verbum patientiae meae. In tam parvis viribus.

10. Et ego te servabo ab hora tentationis. Ut sciant hujusmodi gloriam suam: nec quidem in tentationem eos tradi permitti.

12. Qui vicerit fiet columna in templo Dei. Sicut enim columna decor est aedificii, sic qui perseveraverit, nobilitatem in Ecclesia consequetur.

Septima quoque Ecclesiae collectio declarat, homines locupletes in dignitatibus collocatos, sed credentes ut locupletes, apud quos in cubiculo scripturae quidem tractantur, foris autem sunt fideles, et a nemine intelliguntur, jactantes scilicet se, et dicentes 0323B se omnia cognoscere, praediti fiducia litteraturae, opere autem vacantes, et ideo ait:

15. Neque frigidos neque ferventes illos esse. Id est neque incredulos, neque fideles: ad omnes enim omnia sunt. Et quoniam qui non frigidus est nec calidus, sed tepidus est, nauseam facit, ait:

16. Vomam te de ore meo. Nausea quamvis odibilis sit, tamen neminem laedit: sic et hujusmodi homines cum fuerint projecti. Sed quia tempus est poenitentiae, ait:

18. Suadeo tibi ut emas a me aurum conflatum. Id est, quo modo poteris pro nomine Domini pati tribulationes et passiones.

Et collyrio inunge oculos tuos. Ut quod libenter cognoscis per scripturam, hujus etiam opus facere 0323C coneris. Et quoniam si his modis homines de magno excidio ad magnam redeant poenitentiam, non solum sibi sunt utiles, sed et multis prodesse possunt; mercedem non mediocrem eis promisit, nimirum sedere in solio judicii.