Page:Tracts for the Times Vol 1.djvu/454

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the same place, the powers of the devil are destroyed, and his mischief is dissolved by the unity of your faith. And indeed, nothing is better than peace; by which all war, both spiritual and earthly, is abolished.

XIV. Of all which nothing is hid from you, if ye have perfect faith and charity in Jesus Christ, which are the beginning and end of life: the beginning, faith; the end, charity. And these two joined together, are of God; and on them followeth all other goodness. No man, professing a true faith, goes wrong; neither does he who has charity, hate any. "The tree is made manifest by its fruit;" so they who profess themselves to be Christians, shall be known by what they do. For it is not now the time for profession, but for the power of faith, if a man be found faithful unto the end.

XV. It is better for a man to hold his peace, and be; than to say he is a Christian, and not to be. It is good to teach, if what he says, he does likewise. There is therefore one master "who spake, and it was done;" and even those things which he did without speaking, are worthy of the Father. He that hath the word of Jesus, is truly able to hear his very silence, that he may be perfect; and both do according to what he speaks, and be known by those things in which he is silent. There is nothing hid from God, but even our secrets are nigh unto Him. Let us therefore do all things, as becomes those who have God dwelling in them; that we may be His temples, and He may be our God within us, as also He is, and will show Himself, before our faces, by those things for which we justly love Him.

XVI. Be not deceived, brethren; those that corrupt other, shall not inherit the kingdom of God. If therefore they who do this according to the flesh, have suffered death; how much more shall he die, who by his wicked doctrine corrupts the faith of God, for which Christ was crucified? He that is thus defiled, shall depart into unquenchable fire, and so also shall he that hearkens unto him.

XVII. For this cause did the Lord suffer the ointment to be poured on His head; that He might breathe the breath of immortality unto His church. Be not ye therefore anointed with the evil savour of the doctrine of the prince of this world; lest he lead you away captive from the life that is set before you. And why