The Stromata, or Miscellanies

For “great is the joy before the Father when one sinner is saved,” says the Lord. So Abraham was much to be praised, because “he walked as the Lord spoke to him.” Drawing from this instance, one of the wise men among the Greeks uttered the maxim, “Follow God.” “The godly,” says Esaias, “framed wise counsels.” Now counsel is seeking for the right way of acting in present circumstances, and good counsel is wisdom in our counsels. And what? Does not God, after the pardon bestowed on Cain, suitably not long after introduce Enoch, who had repented? showing that it is the nature of repentance to produce pardon; but pardon does not consist in remission, but in remedy.

An instance of the same is the making of the calf by the people before Aaron. Thence one of the wise men among the Greeks uttered the maxim, “Pardon is better than punishment;” as also, “Become surety, and mischief is at hand,” is derived from the utterance of Solomon which says, “My son, if you become surety for your friend, you will give your hand to your enemy; for a man's own lips are a strong snare to him, and he is taken in the words of his own mouth.” And the saying, “Know yourself,” has been taken rather more mystically from this, “You have seen your brother, you have seen your God.” Thus also, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and your neighbour as yourself;” for it is said, “On these commandments the law and the prophets hang and are suspended.” With these also agree the following: “These things have I spoken to you, that My joy might be fulfilled: and this is My commandment, That you love one another, as I have loved you.” “For the Lord is merciful and pitiful; and gracious is the Lord to all.” “Know yourself” is more clearly and often expressed by Moses, when he enjoins, “Take heed to yourself.” “By alms then, and acts of faith, sins are purged.” “And by the fear of the Lord each one departs from evil.” “And the fear of the Lord is instruction and wisdom.”