Letters

¹⁰ For of these two things we speak of— faith and godliness— the hope is the same, even everlasting life; for he says, 'Fight the good fight of faith; lay hold on eternal life.' And, 'exercise yourself unto godliness, for it has the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.' For this cause, the Ario-maniacs, who now have gone out from the Church, being opponents of Christ, have dug a pit of unbelief, into which they themselves have been thrust; and, since they have advanced in ungodliness, they 'overthrow the faith of the simple;' blaspheming the Son of God, and saying that He is a creature, and has His being from things which are not.

But as then against the adherents of Philetus and Hymenæus, so now the Apostle forewarns all men against ungodliness like theirs, saying, 'The foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, The Lord knows them that are His; and, Let every one that names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.' For it is well that a man should depart from wickedness and deeds of iniquity, that he may be able properly to celebrate the feast; for he who is defiled with the pollutions of the wicked is not able to sacrifice the Passover to the Lord our God.

Hence, the people who were then in Egypt said, 'We cannot sacrifice the Passover in Egypt to the Lord our God.' For God, Who is over all, willed that they should go far away from the servants of Pharaoh, and from the furnace of iron; so that being set free from wickedness, and having carefully put away from them all strange notions, they might receive the knowledge of God and of virtuous actions. For He says, 'Go far from them: depart from the midst of them, and touch not the unclean things.'

For a man will not otherwise depart from sin, and lay hold on virtuous deeds, than by meditation on his acts; and when he has been practised by exercise in godliness, he will lay hold on the confession of faith, which also Paul, after he had fought the fight, possessed, namely, the crown of righteousness which was laid up; which the righteous Judge will give, not to him alone, but to all who are like him.