Chapter
XXXIII.—But Let Us Not Give Up the Practice of Good Works and
Love. God Himself is an Example to Us of Good Works.
What shall we do,
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then,
brethren? Shall we become slothful in well-doing, and cease from
the practice of love? God forbid that any such course should be
followed by us! But rather let us hasten with all energy and
readiness of mind to perform every good work. For the Creator and
Lord of all Himself rejoices in His works. For by His infinitely
great power He established the heavens, and by His incomprehensible
wisdom He adorned them. He also divided the earth from the water
which surrounds it, and fixed it upon
the immovable foundation of His own will.
The animals also which are upon it He commanded by His own
word
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into existence. So likewise, when He
had formed
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the sea, and the
living creatures which are in it, He enclosed them [within their proper
bounds] by His own power. Above all,
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with His holy and undefiled hands He formed man, the most excellent [of
His creatures], and truly great through the understanding given
him—the express likeness of His own image. For thus says
God: “Let us make man in our image, and after our
likeness. So God made man; male and female He created
them.”
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Having thus
finished all these things, He approved them, and blessed them, and
said, “Increase and multiply.”
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We see,
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then, how all righteous men have been adorned with good works, and how
the Lord Himself, adorning Himself with His works, rejoiced.
Having therefore such an example, let us without delay accede to His
will, and let us work the work of righteousness with our whole
strength.
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I.
ἐροῦμιν
(shall we say).
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Or,
“commandment.”
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I.
προετοιμάσας
(having previously prepared).
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Or, “in addition
to all.”
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Gen. i. 26, 27
.
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Gen. i. 28
.
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Or, “let us
consider.”