Painting by Mel Copeland from the 60's |
page 1 According to the Midrash:
Deuteronomy 32.36; Sifre D326,377 ..The Holy One is willing to forgive anything, but desecration of His Name He will requite immediately.
Jesus made the same comment, referring to the Holy Ghost:The Sifre also says:
Sifre D326...I WOUNDED AND I WILL HEAL (Deut 32.39). Just as the wound and the healing refer to one and the same person, so death and life refer to one and the same person.NONE CAN DELIVER FROM MY HAND (Deut. 32.39). Fathers cannot deliver their sons. Abraham could not deliver Ishmael and Isaac could not deliver Esau. This indicates only that fathers cannot deliver their sons. What about brothers delivering brothers? The verse says A BROTHER CANNOT REDEEM A MAN (Psalm 49.8). Isaac cannot deliver Ishmael and Jacob cannot deliver Esau. Even if a man were to give all the wealth in the world, he cannot attain atonement, as it is said, A BROTHER CANNOT REDEEM A MAN, OR PAY HIS RANSOM TO GOD; THE PRICE OF LIFE IS TOO HIGH (Psalm 49.8-9). When a man sins against [life], there is no payment [which is sufficient].
This reflects upon the verse of Ezekiel:
Ezekiel 14.14 Though these three men, Noah, Daniel and Job were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD.
Who are redeemed:
Ezekiel 18.9 [He that] Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord GOD.18.20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.18.21 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.18.22 All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.18.27 Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.18.28 Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
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18.29 Yet saith the house of Israel: The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal?18.30 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord God. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.18.31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?18.32 for I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.33.11 ..As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?33.13 When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surelylive; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousness shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.33.14 Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;33.15 If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.33.16 None of his signs that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.Exodus 15.2; Mekhilta Shirata 3, II.23 ..I WILL BEAUTIFY HIM (Ex. 15.2). R. Ishamel says, "how is it possible for a human being to beautify his Creator? Rather it means,'I will beautify Him' through mitzvot. I will use a beautiful lulav before Him, a beautiful sukkah, beautiful fringes, beautiful phylacteries."Abba Saul says, "It means that one should imitate Him. As He is gracious and merciful, so should you be gracious and merciful."R. Jose says, "I will speak unto all the nations of the world of the beauty and praise of He Who Spoke and the world came into being..R. Jose the son of a woman from Damascus says, "I will build for Him a beautiful Sanctuary. The word, "naveh" (beautiful) always refers to the Sanctuary, as it is said FOR THEY HAVE DEVOURED JACOB AND DESOLATED HIS HOME (navehu) (Psalm 79.7). And it also says WHEN YOU GAZE UPON ZION, OUR CITY OF ASSEMBLY, YOUR EYES SHALL BEHOLD JERUSALEM AS A SECURE HOMESTEAD (naveh) (Isa. 33.20).
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Exodus 14.31; Mekhilta Beshalla 7, I 252 ..THIS IS THE GATEWAY TO THE LORD--THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL ENTER THROUGH IT (Psalm 118.20). But concerning those faithful believers, what does it say? OPEN THE GATES AND LET A RIGHTEOUS NATION ENTER, THOSE THAT KEEP FAITH (Isa. 26.2)....TRUST FIRMLY IN THE LORD YOUR GOD AND YOU WILL STAND FIRM; TRUST FIRMLY IN HIS PROPHETS AND YOU WILL SUCCEED (2 Chron. 20.20) and it is written O LORD YOUR EYES LOOK FOR BELIEF (Jer. 2.4). THEY ARE RENEWED EVERY MORNING; GREAT IS YOUR FAITHFULNESS! (Lam. 3.23).Thus too you find that it is only as a reward for belief (emunah) that the dispersed will be gathered together in the future..and it is written AND I WILL ESPOUSE YOU FOREVER; I WILL ESPOUSE YOU WITH RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUSTICE, AND WITH GOODNESS AND MERCY, AND I WILL ESPOUSE YOU WITH FAITHFULNESS (Hos 2.21-22).Deuteronomy 11.22; Sifre D.49,114 WALKING IN ALL HIS WAYS (Deut. 11.22). This refers tot he ways of God: THE LORD ! THE LORD!--A GOD COMPASSIONATE AND GRACIOUS (Ex. 34.6). It says BUT EVERYONE WHO IS CALLED BY THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL ESCAPE (Joel 3.5). Now how is it possible for a person to be called by the Name of God? Rather:as God is called "compassionate," so should you be compassionate;as the Holy One is called "gracious", so should you be gracious--as it is said, THE LORD IS GRACIOUS (hanun) AND COMPASSIONATE (PSALM 145.8) AND GRANTS HIS FAVORS FREELY (HINAM);as God is called "righteous," as it is said, FOR THE LORD IS RIGHTEOUS; HE LOVES RIGHTEOUS DEEDS (Psalm 11.7)--so should you be righteous;as God is called "kind," as it is said, FOR I AM KIND – DECLARES THE LORD (Jer. 3.12) – so should you be kind;therefore it says BUT EVERYONE WHO IS CALLED BY THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL ESCAPE (Joel 3.5) and EVERYONE THAT IS CALLED BY MY NAME (Isa 43.7) and THE LORD MADE EVERYTHING FOR HIS PURPOSE (Proverbs 16.4)AND HOLDING FAST TO HIM (Deut. 11.22). How is it possible for a person to ascend on high and hold fast to fire? For is it not said elsewhere FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE (Deut. 4.24) AND HIS THRONE WAS TONGUES OF FLAME: ITS WHEELS WERE BLAZING FIRE (Dan. 7-9)? Rather – hold fast to the Sages and their disciples and I will consider it as if you had ascended on high and received [the Torah] there – and not as if you had ascended and received it in peace but as if you had done battle [as Moses did, according to legends, going through the dangers of fire and water to receive the Torah; ed. note] to receive it. Thus it says YOU ASCENDED ON HIGH, HAVING TAKEN CAPTIVES (Psalm 68.19).
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Numbers 15.22; Sifre N.111,116...BEHOLD, MY WORD (devari) IS LIKE FIRE--DECLARES THE LORD (Jer. 23.29)...And it says, I, THE LORD, WHO WAS FIRST AND WILL BE WITH THE LAST AS WELL (Isa. 41.4)Exodus 15.3; Mekhilta Shirata 4, II 30 ..FOR I AM THE LORD – I HAVE NOT CHANGED (Mal. 3.6). ..LORD IS HIS NAME – He is the One who has pity on His creatures, as it is said, THE LORD! THE LORD! A GOD COMPASSIONATE AND GRACIOUS, SLOW TO ANGER, RICH IN STEADFAST KINDNESS, EXTENDING KINDNESS TO THE THOUSANDTH GENERATION. (Ex 34.6)...Upon whom does He turn His judgment? Upon the nations of the world, as it is said, METE OUT TO THOSE WHO REJECT ME (Deut. 32.4).
Now, according to the Midrash, when Moses received the two tablets upon which the Ten Commandments were written, he stood on a pavement of sapphire. The sapphire is a symbol of connecting one work with another work, as it is said:
Numbers 12.1; Sifre N 99, 97 Therefore the verse says MOSES HIMSELF WAS VERY GREAT IN THE LAND OF EGYPT (Ex. 11.3) and thus we find that the sapphire of which the tables [of the Covenant] were made belonged to Moses, as it issaid, CARVE OUT FOR YOURSELF TWO TABLETS OF STONE LIKE THE FIRST (Deut. 10.1) and elsewhere it says, THE TABLETS WERE GOD'S WORK (ex. 32.16) and it says, UNDER HIS FEET WAS THE WORK OF A PAVEMENT OF SAPPHIRE (Ex. 24.10) thus connecting one "work" to another"work." Just as the work mentioned there was of sapphire, so the work mentioned here was made of sapphire.
Now this is what Ezekiel saw regarding the Merkabah (Divine Chariot):
Ezekiel 1.26 And above the firmament that was over their [the cherubims'] heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.10.1 Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubim there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.
Thus the linking of the verses of the Scriptures together is as a work with the appearance of a sapphire throne. And the end of those links is to bring peace, as it is said:
Numbers 6.23; Sifre N.39,42 ...R. Simeon b. Halafta says, "Great is peace, for there is no vessel which can contain a blessing but peace, as it is said, MAY THE LORD GRANT STRENGTH TO HIS PEOPLE; MAY THE LORD BESTOW ON HIS PEOPLE PEACE (Psalm 29.11).
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R. Eleazar H-Kappar says, "Great is peace, for all blessings conclude with peace," as it is said, THE LORD BLESS YOU AND GUARD YOU. THE LORD MAKE HIS FACE TO SHINE UPON YOU AND BE GRACIOUS TO YOU. THE LORD LIFT UP HIS COUNTENANCE UPON YOU AND GRANT YOU PEACE (Num. 6.24-26)...Great is peace, for it is granted to those who return in penitence as it is said, PEACE, PEACE, TO HIM THAT IS FAR OFF AND TO HIM THAT IS NEAR, SAYS THE LORD, CREATOR OF THE FRUIT OF THE LIPS (Isa. 57.19).Great is peace, for it is bestowed as the portion of the righteous, as it is said, THE RIGHTEOUS WAS TAKEN AWAY, YET HE SHALL COME TO PEACE, HE SHALL HAVE REST ON HIS COUCH WHO WALKED STRAIGHTFORWARD (Isa. 57.1-2).Great is peace, for it is not bestowed as the portion of the wicked, as it is said, THERE IS NO PEACE – SAID MY GOD – FOR THE WICKED (Isa. 57.21).Great is peace, for it is bestowed upon those who study Torah, as it is said, AND ALL YOUR CHILDREN SHALL BE DISCIPLES OF THE LORD, AND GREAT SHALL BE THE PEACE OF YOUR CHILDREN (Isa. 54.13).Great is peace, for it is bestowed upon the lowly, as it is said,BUT THE LOWLY SHALL INHERIT THE LAND, AND DELIGHT IN ABUNDANT PEACE (Psalm 37.11).Great is peace, for it is bestowed upon those who work righteousness, as it is said, FOR THE WORK OF RIGHTEOUSNESS SHALL BE PEACE (Isa. 32.17).Great is peace, for the name of the Holy One is designated "Peace," as it is said, SO GIDEON BUILT THERE AN ALTAR TO THE LORD AND CALLED IT THE LORD IS PEACE (Judges 6.24).R. Hananya the Chief of the priests says, "Great is peace for it is equal to all of the creation," as it is said, I FORM LIGHT AND CREATE DARKNESS; I MAKE PEACE (Isa. 45.7).Great is peace, for even those who dwell on high need peace, as it is said, DOMINION AND DREAD ARE HIS; HE IMPOSES PEACE IN HIS HEIGHTS (Job 25.2). It is a matter of logic. If in a place where there is no hatred and envy, enmity and malice, peace is needed, how much more is this so in a place where all of those qualities are lacking!
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Deut. 1.9; Sifre D.9, 16...THE KNOWLEDGEABLE WILL BE RADIANT LIKE THE BRIGHT EXPANSE OF SKY (Dan. 12.3)....AND THOSE WHO LEAD THE MANY TO RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL BE LIKE THE STARS FOREVER AND EVER (Dan. 12.3).The Fathers According to Rabbi Nathan, 40..If one leads the multitudes to virtue, through him transgression shall not come to pass, lest his disciples inherit the world to come and he go down to Sheol; as it is said, "For thou wilt not abandon my soul to the nether world (Psalm 16.10). But one who causes themultitudes to sin shall be given no opportunity to repent, lest his disciples go down to Sheol and he inherit the world to come; as it is said, "A man that is laden with the blood of any person shall hasten his [own] steps unto the pit (Proverbs 28.17)." If one says, "I shall sin and then repent," he is given no opportunity to repent. [If one says] "I shall sin and the Day of Atonement will atone," then the Day of Atonement does not atone....Rabbi Eliezer, son of Rabbi Yose, says: "If one sins and repents and continues uprightly, he is forgiven before he stirs from the spot. But if one says, 'I shall sin and then repent,' he is forgiven up to three times, but no more. " Chapter 34 TEN were called living, to wit:[The Holy One, blessed be He,] as it is said, "But the Lord God is the true God, He is the living God (Jer. 10.10)The Torah was called life, as it is said, She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her (proverbs 3.18). Israel was called alive, as it is said, But ye that did cleave unto the Lord your God are alive every one of you this day (Deut. 4.4).The righteous man was called life, as it is said, The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life (Provers 11.30).The Garden of Eden was called living, as it is said, I shall walk before the Lord in the lands of the living (Psalm 116.9).Trees were called life, as it is said, "The tree of life also in the midst of the garden" (Gen. 2.9).The Land of Israel was called living, as it is said, "And I will set glory in the land of the living" (Ezek. 26.20).Acts of loving-kindness were called life, as it is said, "For Thy loving-kindness is better than life; my lips shall praise thee" (Psalm 63.4).Sages were called life, as it is said, "The teaching of the sage is a fountain of life" (Proverbs 13.14).
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Water was called living, as it is said, "In that day...living waters shall go out from Jerusalem" (Zech. 14.8).41..THE CROWN OF TORAH: the toil of Torah – any one who wishes to take it on may come and do so, as it is said, "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye after water" (Isa. 55.1).40. EVERY CONTROVERSY WHICH IS FOR THE SAKE OF HEAVEN WILL IN THE END ENDURE; BUT ONE WHICH IS NOT FOR THE SAKE OF HEAVEN WILL NOT ENDURE IN THE END. A CONTROVERSY FOR THE SAKE OF HEAVEN WAS THE CONTROVERSY OF HILLEL AND SHAMMAI. A CONTROVERSY WHICH WAS NOT FOR THE SAKE OF HEAVEN WAS THE CONTROVERSY OF KORAH AND HIS COMPANY.EVERY ASSEMBLY WHICH IS FOR THE SAKE OF HEAVEN WILL IN THE END ENDURE. BUT ONE WHICH IS NOT FOR THE SAKE OF HEAVEN WILL NOT ENDURE IN THE END.41. ...Rabbi Yose says: (at Judgment) those altogether righteous shall not be put through a purgatory; those altogether wicked shall not be put through a purgatory. Who then will be put through a purgatory? Those betwixt and between.--"I beseech Thee, O Lord, deliver my soul" (Psalm 116.4) from the torment of Gehenna.4....But the study of Torah is more beloved by god than burnt offerings, for if a man studies Torah he comes to know the will of God, as it is said, "Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the will of God" (Proverbs 2.5). Hence, when a sage sits and expounds to the congregation, Scripture accounts it to him as though he had offered up fat and blood on the altar.3....good works, even unwitting ones, will be rewarded!......If When it is a matter of the lesser measure, of punishment, he who attaches himself to transgressors, although he does not do as they do, will be punished; all the more certain is it when it is a matter of the great measure of reward, (that he who attaches himself to the righteous will be rewarded!).
Among them is Jacob the perfect man, as it is said:
Deuteronomy 32.7; Sifre D.310, 350..JACOB WAS A PERFECT MAN, WHO STAYED IN CAMP (Gen. 25.27)...FOR THE LORD HAS CHOSEN JACOB FOR HIMSELF (Psalm 135.4).
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All of this comes down to precepts on the One Commandment, a wonderful string of pearls from the Oral Torah:
Makkot 23 b..Rabbi Simlai expounded: Six hundred and thirteen commandments were given to Moses, three hundred and sixty-five "Thou shalt nots," the number of the days of the solar year, and two hundred and forty-eight "Thou shalts," corresponding to the parts of the body.David came and brought them down to eleven, as it is written: "Lord who shall sojourn in Thy Tabernacle?..He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh truth in his heart; that hath no slander upon his tongue, nor doeth evil to his fellow, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor; in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but he honoureth them that fear the Lord; he that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not; he that putteth not out his money on interest, nor taketh a bribe against the innocent" (Psalm 15.1-5).Isaiah came and brought them down to six, as it is written: "He that walketh righteously and speaketh uprightly;he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from looking upon evil" (Isa. 33.15).Micah came and brought them down to three, as it is written: "It hath been told thee, O man, what is good...Only to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God" (Micah 6.8).Isaiah came again and brought them down to two, as it is said: "Thus saith the Lord, Keep ye justice, and do righteousness" (Isa. 56.1).Amos came and brought them down to one, as it is said: "For thus saith the Lord unto the house of Israel: Seek ye me, and live" (Amos 5.4).Rav Nahman bar Isaac objected: "Seek ye me" – may it not mean: in all the Torah? Rather Habakkuk came and brought them down to one, as it is said: "But the righteous shall live by His faith" (Hab. 2.4).
Children, as a reminder of what the early Christian Church taught, understanding these things, I offer you a small portion from Clement, the disciple of St. Peter, who was taught at his feet, and who became the fourth Bishop of Rome.page 9
Clement, First Epistle to the Corinthians, 1.1 The Church of God which is at Rome to the Church of God which is at Corinth, elect, sanctified by the will of God, through Jesus Christ our Lord: grace and peace from the Almighty God, by Jesus Christ be multiplied unto you.
1.4 For who that has ever been among you has not experimented the firmness of your faith, and its fruitfulness in all good works; and admired the temper and moderation of your religion in Christ; and published abroad the magnificenceof your hospitality, and thought you happy in your perfect and certain knowledge of the Gospel?
1.5 For ye did all things without respect of persons and walked according to the laws of God; being subject to those who had the rule over you, and giving the honor that was fitting to the aged among you.
1.6 Ye commanded the young men to think those things that were modest and grave.
1.7 The women ye exhorted to do all things with an unblamable and seemly, and pure conscience; loving their own husbands, as was fitting: and that keeping themselves within the bounds of a due obedience, they should order their houses gravely, with all discretion.
1.8 ye were all of you humble minded, not boasting of any thing: desiring rather to be subject than to govern; to give than to receive; being content with the portion God hath dispensed to you.
1.9 And hearkening diligently to his word, ye were enlarged in your bowels, having his suffering always before your eyes.
1.10 Thus a firm, and blessed and profitable peace was given unto you; and an unsatiable desire of doing good; and a plentiful effusion of the Holy Ghost was upon all of you.
1.11 And being full of good designs, ye did with great readiness of mind, and with a religious confidence stretch forth your hands to God Almighty; beseeching him to be merciful unto you, if in anything ye had unwillingly sinned against him.
1.12 Ye contended day and night for the whole brotherhood; that with compassion and a good conscience, the number of his elect might be saved.
1.13 Ye were sincere, and without offense towards each other; not mindful of injuries; all sedition and schism was an abomination unto you.
1.14 Ye bewailed every one his neighbor's sins, esteeming their defects your own.
1.15 Ye were kind one to another without grudging; being ready to every good work. And being adorned with a conversation altogether virtuous and religious, ye did all things in the fear of God; whose commandments were written upon the tables of your heart.
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2.1 All honor and enlargement was given unto you; and so was fulfilled that which is written, my beloved did eat and drink, he was enlarged and waxed fat, and he kicked.
2.2 From hence came emulation, and envy, and strife, and sedition; persecution and disorder, war and captivity.
2.3 So they who were of no renown, lifted up themselves against the honorable; those of no reputation, against those who were in respect; the foolish against the wise; the young men against the aged.
2.4 Therefore righteousness and peace are departed from you, because every one hath forsaken the fear of God; and is grown blind in his faith; not walketh by the rule of God's commandments nor liveth as is fitting in Christ.
2.5 But every one follows his own wicked lusts: having taken up an unjust and wicked envy, by which death first entered into the world.
3.19 [calling into remembrance previous Biblical illustrations, beginning with Cain, of how envy and strife destroy, he concludes:] In a word, envy and strife, have overturned whole cities, and rooted out great nations from off the earth.
4.1 These things, beloved, we write unto you, not only for your instruction, but also for our own remembrance.
4.2 for we are all in the same lists, and the same combat is prepared for us all.
4.3 Wherefore let us lay aside all vain and empty cares; and let us come up to the glorious and venerable rule of our holy calling.
4.4 Let us consider what is good, and acceptable and well-pleasing in the sight of him that made us.
4.5 Let us look steadfastly to the blood of Christ, and see how precious his blood is in the sight of God: which being shed for our salvation, has obtained the grace of repentance for all the world.
4.6 Let us search into all the ages that have gone before us; and let us learn that our Lord has in every one of them still given place for repentance to all such as would turn to him.
4.7 Noah preached repentance; and as many as hearkened to him were saved.Jonah denounced destruction against the Ninevites:
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4.8 Howebeit they repenting of their sins appeased God by their prayers: and were saved, though they were strangers to the covenant of God.
4.9 hence we find how all the ministers of the grace of God have spoken by the Holy spirit of repentance. And even the Lord of all has himself declared with an oath concerning it:
4.10 As I live, saith the Lord, I desire not the death of a sinner, but that he should repent. Adding further this good sentence, saying: Turn from your iniquity, O house of Israel.
4.11 Say unto the children of my people, Though your sins should reach from earth to heaven; and though they shall be redder than scarlet, and blacker than sackcloth; yet if ye shall turn to me with all your heart, and shall call me father, I will hearken to you, as to a holy people.
4.12 And in another place he saith on this wise: Wash ye, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
|4.13 Come now and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red as crimson, they shall be as wool.
4.14 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land; but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
4.15 These things has God established by his Almighty Will desiring that all his beloved should come to repentance.
5.1 Wherefore let us obey his excellent and glorious will; and imploring his mercy and goodness, let us fall down upon our faces before him, and cast ourselves upon his mercy; laying aside all vanity, and contention, and envy which leads unto death.
5.2 Let us look up to those who have the most perfectly ministered to his excellent glory. Let us take Enoch for our example; who being found righteous in obedience, was translated, and his death was not known....
7.1 Let us, therefore, humble ourselves, brethren, laying aside all pride and boasting, and foolishness, and anger: And let us do as it is written.
7.2 For thus saith the Holy Spirit: Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, nor the rich man in his riches; but let him that glorieth glory in the Lord, to seek him, and to do judgment and justice.
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7.3 Above all, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, which he spake concerning equity and long suffering, saying,
7.4 Be ye merciful and ye shall obtain mercy; forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: as ye do, so shall it be done unto you; as you give, so shall it be given unto you: as ye judge, so shall ye be judged; as ye are kind to others so shall God be kind to you: with what measure ye mete, with the same shall it be measured to you again.
7.5 But this command, and by these rules, let us establish ourselves, that so we may always walk obediently to his holy words; being humble minded.
7.6 For so says the Holy Scripture; upon whom shall I look, even upon him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and that trembles at my word.
7.7 It is therefore, just and righteous, men and brethren, that we should become obedient unto God, rather than follow such as through pride and sedition, have made themselves the ring-leaders of a detestable emulation.
7.8 For it is not an ordinary harm that we shall do ourselves, but rather a very great danger that we shall run, if we shall rashly give up ourselves to the wills of men who promote strife and seditions, to turn us aside from that which is fitting.
7.9 But let us be kind to one another, according to the compassion and sweetness of him that made us.
7.10 for it is written, The merciful shall inherit the earth; and they that are without evil shall be left upon it: but the transgressors shall perish from off the face of it...
7.12 Keep innocently, and do the thing that is right, for there shall be a remnant to the peaceable man.
7.13 Let us, therefore, hold fast to those who religiously follow peace; and not to such as only pretend to desire.
7.14 For he saith in a certain place, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
7.15 And again, They bless with their mouths, but curse with their hearts.
7.16 And again he saith, They loved him with their mouths, and with their tongues they lied to him. For their heart was not right with him, neither were they faithful in his covenant.
7.17 Let all deceitful lips become dumb, and the tongue that speaketh proud things. Who have said, withour tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own, who is Lord over us?
7.18 For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise saith the Lord: I will set him in safety, I will deal confidently with him.
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8.1 For Christ is theirs who are humble, and not who exalt themselves over the flock. The sceptre of the majesty of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, came not in the shew of pride and arrogance, though he could have done so; but with humility as the Holy Ghost had before spoken concerning him....
8.24 And what shall we say of David, so highly testified of in the Holy Scriptures? To whom god said, I have found a man after my own heart, David the son of Jesse, with my holy oil have I anointed him.
8.25 But yet he himself saith unto God, Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness; according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.
8.26 Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me....
8.29 Behold, thou desireth truth in the inward parts; and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom....
9.34 Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy holy spirit from me.
9.35 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and uphold me with thy free spirit.
9.36 Then I will teach transgressors thy ways, and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
9.37 Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation, and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
9.38 O Lord open thou my lips, and my mouth shall show forth thy praise.
9.39 For thou desirest not sacrifices, else would I give it; thou delightest not in burnt offerings.
9.40 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
10.14 For he is the searcher of the thoughts and counsels of the heart; whose breath is in us, and when he pleases he can take it from us.
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11.1 But all these things must be confirmed by the faith which is in Christ; for so he himself bespeaks us by the Holy Ghost.
11.2 Come ye children and hearken unto me, and I will teach you the fear of the Lord. What man is there that desireth life, and loveth to see good days?
11.3 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips that they speak no guile.11.4 Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and ensue it.
11.5 The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers....
11.11 Let that be far from us which is written, Miserable are the double-minded, and those who are doubtful in their hearts...
11.14 Of a truth, yet a little while and his will shall suddenly be accomplished.
11.15 The Holy Scripture itself bearing witness, That he shall quickly come and not tarry, and that the Lord shall suddenly come to his temple, even the holy ones whom ye look for.
11.16 Let us consider, beloved, how the Lord does continually shew us, that there shall be a future resurrection; of which he has made our Lord Jesus Christ the first fruits, raising him from the dead.
12.10 having therefore this hope, let us hold fast to him who is faithful in all his promises, and righteous in all his judgments; who has commanded us not to lie; how much more will he not himself lie?
12.11 for nothing is impossible with God but to lie.
15.2..let us hasten with all earnestness and readiness of mind to perfect every good work. For even the Creator and Lord of all things himself rejoices in his own works....
15.10 We see how all righteous men have been adorned with good works: Wherefore even the Lord himself, having adorned himself with his works, rejoiced.
15.11 Having therefore such an example, let us without delay, fulfill his will; and with all our strength, work the work of righteousness.
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16.5..let us submit ourselves to his will. Let us consider the whole multitude of his angels, how ready they stand to minister unto his will.
16.6 As saith the scripture, thousands of thousands stood before him and ten thousand times ten thousand ministered unto him. And they cried, saying, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Sabaoth: the whole earth is full of his glory.
16.7 Wherefore let us also being conscientious gathered together in concord with one another; as it were with one mouth, cry earnestly unto him, that he would make us partakers of his great and glorious promises.
21.1 He that has the love that is in Christ, let him keep the commandments of Christ.
21.2 For who is able to express the obligation of the love of God? What man is sufficient to declare, and is fitting, the excellency of its beauty?
21.3 The height to which charity leads is inexpressible.
21.4 Charity unites us to God; charity covers the multitude of sins: charity endures all things, is long-suffering in all things.
21.5 There is nothing base and sordid in charity; charity lifts not itself up above others; admits of no divisions; is not seditions; but does all things in peace and concord.
21.6 By charity were all the elect of God made perfect: without it nothing is pleasing and acceptable in the sight of God.
Now the epiteth, Perfect Man, is usually translated " a mild man," and also means "complete." When Jesus said, be thou perfect, as the father is perfect, the precept is imbued with the above qualities. For you can believe and trust in this truth:
Psalm 36.9 For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.
Little children, I have come to bring you nearer to the light...
M
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Updated 2.15.06