my disciples; for the world hath been ever an enemy of servants of God.
Remember the holy prophets that have been slain by the world, even as in
the time of Elijah ten thousand prophets were slain by Jezebel, insomuch
that scarcely did
poor Elijah escape, and seven thousand sons of prophets
who were hidden by the captain of Ahab's host. Oh, unrighteous world, that
knowest not God! Fear not therefore ye, for the hairs of your head are
numbered so that they shall not perish. Behold the sparrows and other
birds, whereof falleth not one feather without the will of God. Shall God,
then, have more care of the birds than of man, for whose sake he hath
created everything. Is there any man, perchance, who careth more for his
shoes than for his own son? Assuredly not. Now how much less ought ye to
think that God would abandon you, while taking care of the birds! And why
speak I of the birds? A leaf of a tree falleth not without the will of God.
'Believe me, because
I tell you the truth, that the world will greatly fear you
if ye shall observe my words. For if it feared not to have its wickedness
revealed it would not hate you, but it feareth to be
revealed, therefore it will
hate you and persecute you. If ye shall see your words scorned by the world
lay it not to heart, but consider how that God is greater than you; who is in
such wise scorned by the world that his wisdom is counted madness. If God
endureth the
world with patience, wherefore will ye lay it to heart, O dust
and clay of the earth? In your patience ye shall possess your soul. Therefore
if one shall give you a blow on one side of the face, offer him the other that
he may smite it. Render not evil
for evil, for so do all the worst animals; but
render good for evil, and pray God for them that hate you. Fire is not
extinguished with fire, but rather with water; even so I say unto you that ye
shall not overcome evil with evil, but rather with good. Behold God, who
causeth the sun to come upon the good and evil, and likewise the rain. So
ought ye to do good to all; for it is written in the law: "Be ye holy, for I your
God am holy; be ye pure, for
I am pure; and be ye perfect, for I am perfect."
Verily I say unto you that the servant studieth to please his master, and so
he putteth not on any garment that is displeasing to his master. Your
garments are your will and your love. Beware, then, not to will or to love a
thing that is displeasing to God, our Lord. Be
ye sure that God hateth the
pomps and lusts of the world, and therefore hate ye the world.'
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