"I am a sinner already. Already I am on the wrong side of the law and under condemnation. There is no hope of forgiveness for me. Why shouldn't I indulge all my desires, as far as possible? Afterall, there is nothing beyond to look forward to, except torment."
Would you not take this line, and deteriorate even further in your very despair?
But if God promises to forgive you; if he says, "Return to your hearts, you transgressors. I do not will the death of a sinner, but that he come back, and live (Is 46:8: Ezk 33: 1 1 )"
It is more likely to lead to your correction. If that harbor is pointed out to you, you will undoubtedly haul down the sail of sin, put your helm about, and set sail for righteousness. Hoping for life, you will not neglect your medicine. - St Augustine, ibid.
#Patristics #Soteriology #Penance
Would you not take this line, and deteriorate even further in your very despair?
But if God promises to forgive you; if he says, "Return to your hearts, you transgressors. I do not will the death of a sinner, but that he come back, and live (Is 46:8: Ezk 33: 1 1 )"
It is more likely to lead to your correction. If that harbor is pointed out to you, you will undoubtedly haul down the sail of sin, put your helm about, and set sail for righteousness. Hoping for life, you will not neglect your medicine. - St Augustine, ibid.
#Patristics #Soteriology #Penance
You have burst my bonds; to you will I offer a sacrifice of praise (Ps 1 15(1 16): 16- 17)
Each one is freed from the bonds of evil desires or from the knotty entanglements of his own sins. The forgiveness of our sins is a liberation. What good would it have been to Lazarus to escape from his tomb if the command had not also been given. Untie him, and let him go (Jn 1 1 :44)?
It was the Lord's voice that awakened him in the sepulcher, and the Lord who over threw the earthy weight that had been laid upon the dead man at his burial.Lazarus emerged still bound and therefore not carried by any strength in his own feet, but only because the Lord's power brought him out. The same thing happens in the heart of a penitent. When you hear someone repenting of his or her sins, that person has already begun to live again; when you hear someone laying bare his or her conscience in confession, that person has already been led out from the tomb but has not yet been freed. - St Augustine, 2nd Exposition on Psalm 101
Each one is freed from the bonds of evil desires or from the knotty entanglements of his own sins. The forgiveness of our sins is a liberation. What good would it have been to Lazarus to escape from his tomb if the command had not also been given. Untie him, and let him go (Jn 1 1 :44)?
It was the Lord's voice that awakened him in the sepulcher, and the Lord who over threw the earthy weight that had been laid upon the dead man at his burial.Lazarus emerged still bound and therefore not carried by any strength in his own feet, but only because the Lord's power brought him out. The same thing happens in the heart of a penitent. When you hear someone repenting of his or her sins, that person has already begun to live again; when you hear someone laying bare his or her conscience in confession, that person has already been led out from the tomb but has not yet been freed. - St Augustine, 2nd Exposition on Psalm 101
and I shall remind you now, as a brother in Christ, that you should preach doctrine to the laity and a tenet of the faith with all caution. You should consider that scandalizing even only one of the little ones believing in Christ has an unendurable punishment.
If the number of those harmed be so great, do we not stand in need of all skill to remove the scandals prudently and explain the sound teaching of the faith to those seeking the truth?
If we abide by the teachings of the holy Fathers and are earnest in considering them of great value, and test ourselves, "whether we are in the faith" according to the Scripture, it will truly come about that we most fitly will mold our thoughts to their upright and blameless judgments. - St Cyril of Alexandria, Letter 4 to Nestorius
#Patristics #Pastoralcare
If the number of those harmed be so great, do we not stand in need of all skill to remove the scandals prudently and explain the sound teaching of the faith to those seeking the truth?
If we abide by the teachings of the holy Fathers and are earnest in considering them of great value, and test ourselves, "whether we are in the faith" according to the Scripture, it will truly come about that we most fitly will mold our thoughts to their upright and blameless judgments. - St Cyril of Alexandria, Letter 4 to Nestorius
#Patristics #Pastoralcare
Stop, I beg you, and remember that you are a mortal man; fear the Day of Judgement and keep yourself pure for it. Do not involve yourself in ecclesiastical matters and do not give us instructions, but learn about these things from us instead.
God gave the empire to you; he entrusted church affairs to us. And just as a man who usurps your empire opposes God, since he [God] established your rule, so you ought to be afraid in case, by appropriating church affairs to yourself, you become guilty of a great crime. It has been written, Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s. - St Hosius, Historia Arianorum 44.6-7
#Patristics #Politics #Soteriology #Arianism
God gave the empire to you; he entrusted church affairs to us. And just as a man who usurps your empire opposes God, since he [God] established your rule, so you ought to be afraid in case, by appropriating church affairs to yourself, you become guilty of a great crime. It has been written, Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s. - St Hosius, Historia Arianorum 44.6-7
#Patristics #Politics #Soteriology #Arianism