Chapter X.—Vice is to Be Forsaken, and Virtue
Followed.
Wherefore, my brethren, let us do the will of the Father
who called us, that we may live; and let us earnestly
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follow after virtue, but forsake every
wicked tendency
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which would lead us
into transgression; and flee from ungodliness, lest evils overtake
us. For if we are diligent in doing good, peace will follow
us. On this account, such men cannot find it [i.e. peace] as
are
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influenced by
human terrors, and prefer rather present
enjoyment
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to the promise
which shall afterwards be fulfilled. For they know not what
torment present enjoyment incurs, or what felicity is involved in the
future promise. And if, indeed, they themselves only did such
things, it would be [the more] tolerable; but now they persist in
imbuing innocent souls with their pernicious doctrines, not knowing
that they shall receive a double condemnation, both they and those that
hear them.
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Literally,
“rather.”
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Literally,
“malice, as it were, the precursor of our sins.” Some
deem the text corrupt.
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Literally,
according to the
ms.
, “it is not possible
that a man should find it who
are
”—the passage being
evidently corrupt.
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I.
ἀνάπαυσιν
(rest).