8. Thou countest tens of thousands, God
counts those who are in a state of salvation; thou countest the dust
which is without number, I the vessels of election. For nothing
is so magnificent in God’s sight as pure doctrine, and a soul
perfect in all the dogmas of the truth.—For there is nothing
worthy of Him Who made all things, of Him by Whom are all things, and
for Whom are all things, 1 Cor. viii. 6. so that it can be
given or offered to God: not merely the handiwork or means of any
individual, but even if we wished to honour Him, by uniting together
all the property and handiwork of all mankind. Do not I fill
heaven and earth? Jer. xxiii. 24. saith the Lord! and
what house will ye build Me? or what is the place of My rest? Isai. lxvi. 1. But, since man must needs fall short
of what is worthy, I ask of you, as approaching it most nearly, piety,
the wealth which is common to all and equal in My eyes, wherein the
poorest may, if he be nobleminded, surpass the most illustrious.
For this kind of glory depends upon purpose, not upon affluence.
These things be well assured, I will accept at your hands. Ib. i.
12. To tread To tread,
etc. The Arians for a time had been in possession of the churches
of Constantinople. My
courts ye shall not proceed, but the feet of the meek Isai. xxvi. 6 (LXX.). shall tread them, who have duly and
sincerely acknowledged Me, and My only-begotten Word, and the Holy
Spirit. How long will ye inherit My holy Mountain? Ib. lvii.
13; lxv. 9. How long shall My ark be among the
heathen? 1 Sam. vi. 1. Now for a
little longer ye indulge yourselves in that which belongs to others,
and gratify your desires. For as ye have devised to reject Me, so
will I also reject you, Hos. iv. 6. saith the Lord
Almighty.