abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, that being justified by His grace we should
be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
What means, “according to the hope”? That, as we have hoped, so we shall enjoy
eternal life, or because ye are even already heirs.
“This is a faithful saying.”
Because he had been speaking of things future and not of the present, therefore he adds,
that it is worthy of credit. These things are true, he says, and this is manifest from what has
gone before. For He who has delivered us from such a state of iniquity, and from so many
evils, will assuredly impart to us the good things to come, if we abide in grace. For all proceeds
from the same kind concern.
Moral. Let us then give thanks to God, and not revile them; nor accuse them, but rather
let us beseech them, pray for them, counsel and advise them, though they should insult and
spurn us. For such is the nature of those who are diseased.1512 But those who are concerned
for the health of such persons do all things and bear all things, though it may not avail, that
they may not have themselves to accuse of negligence. Know ye not that often, when a
physician despairs of a sick man, some relative standing by addresses him, “Bestow further
attendance, leave nothing undone, that I may not have to accuse myself, that I may incur
no blame,1513 no self-reproach.” Do you not see the great care that near kinsmen take of
their relations, how much they do for them, both entreating the physicians to cure them,
and sitting perseveringly beside them? Let us at least imitate them. And yet there is no
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comparison between the objects of our concern. For if any one had a son diseased in his
body, he could not refuse to take a long journey to free him from his disease. But when the
soul is in a bad state, no one concerns himself about it, but we all are indolent, all careless,
all negligent, and overlook our wives, our children, and ourselves, when attacked1514 by
this dangerous disease. But when it is too late, we become sensible of it. Consider how dis-
graceful and absurd it is to say afterwards, “we never looked for it, we never expected that
this would be the event.” And it is no less dangerous than disgraceful. For if in the present
life it is the part of foolish men to make no provision for the future, much more must it be
so with respect to the next life, when we hear many counseling us, and informing us what
is to be done, and what not to be done. Let us then hold fast that hope.1515 Let us be careful
of our salvation, let us in all things call upon God, that He may stretch forth His hand to
us. How long will you be slothful? How long negligent? How long shall we be careless of
ourselves and of our fellow-servants? He hath shed richly upon us the grace of His Spirit.
1512 νοσοῦντες.
1513 μηδὲν μέμφωμαι.
1514 al. “wasting.”
1515 So Ben. from Colb. Sav. “this care.”
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Titus 2:11-14