#116 The Glory Within

#116 The Glory Within

From Meditations on the Epistles of John, by Samuel Froehlich From all that has been said, it might seem as if the imitation of Christ had nothing inviting or enjoyable about it, and with respect to the real Christian, from an outward aspect, it is true, he appears to be very lowly in this world, and anyone who considers the visible, finds that there is no advantage to be reaped and hence is frightened away. But the glory of the children of God is within and is hidden until Christ Himself, Who is their life, is revealed, when they also will be revealed in glory with Him (Romans 8; Colossians 3:4) (below), and indeed in such glory that the suffering of this time and all the glory of this world is to be considered as nothing. > Colossians 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also > appear with him in glory. For the present world with its lust, enjoyment and possessions is expedient for fallen men only, not for the children of God whose inheritance is kept in store in the future world and is still hidden with Christ. The visible creation, on account of Adam’s fall and of its misuse, now lies under the curse and the service of vanity and the perishable, not voluntarily but by force, in the hope however of its once-to-come liberation from bondage and, as such, it again reacts ruinously upon fallen man and is the lure and snare by which the devil draws men to destruction and condemnation. It is the sign of true conversion if the mind and striving of a person is changed entirely, turned away from the visible and toward the invisible, and his own battle of faith consists in the denial and sacrifice of the transitory present and the earthly. For as Christ was a stranger in this world and only passed through without having anything of His own here or seeking it, so are the children of God also. It is true that they too use earthly things according to necessity, but they do not misuse them for idolatry or for the gratification of lust, for the earthly mind (covetousness, etc.) is the root of all evil. All the sins of men (murder, adultery, thievery, etc.) flow from this fountainhead. But if the present world with its sham possessions appears so desirable to carnal men, how much more must the future world with its glory be thus to the spiritual, to the saints and children of God, where all things will be transposed into the original glorious estate of Paradise, as is befitting men who have been recovered in Christ. For, as by Adam’s fall a twofold destruction took place — in man and in the entire creation on account of man, so through Christ a twofold restoration takes place, first of man, inwardly, in those to whom the kingdom of God is appointed and after they all shall have entered in (in Christ), then Christ also appears again—in glory—and with that the whole creation is released anew from the curse of Adam’s sin, under which it, until now, groans, together with the children of God. This is now the hope of the saints that will be fulfilled in the first resurrection, in order that they renounce the present visible world which lies in wickedness, and on account of which they are looked upon as fools, since nothing has value for carnal men except that which they can see with their eyes, examine with their hands and enjoy with their sacrilegious mind; and yet there is nothing in the whole world that is good for us except the grace of Christ and the communion of His Spirit.

#115 The Wisdom of Sirach - Chapter 9

From The Wisdom of Sirach, the Apocrypha [/0095-background-on-the-books-of-the-apocrypha/] Be not jealous over the wife of thy bosom, and teach her not an evil lesson against thyself. Give not thy soul unto a woman to set her foot upon thy substance. Meet not with an harlot, lest thou fall into her snares. Use not much the company of a woman that is a singer, lest thou be taken with her attempts. Gaze not on a maid, that thou fall not by those things that are precious in her. Give not thy soul unto harlots, that thou lose not thine inheritance. Look not round about thee in the streets of the city, neither wander thou in the solitary place thereof. Turn away thine eye from a beautiful woman, and look not upon another's beauty; for many have been deceived by the beauty of a woman; for herewith love is kindled as a fire. Sit not at all with another man's wife, nor sit down with her in thine arms, and spend not thy money with her at the wine; lest thine heart incline unto her, and so through thy desire thou fall into destruction. Forsake not an old friend; for the new is not comparable to him: a new friend is as new wine; when it is old, thou shalt drink it with pleasure. Envy not the glory of a sinner: for thou knowest not what shall be his end. Delight not in the thing that the ungodly have pleasure in; but remember they shall not go unpunished unto their grave. Keep thee far from the man that hath power to kill; so shalt thou not doubt the fear of death: and if thou come unto him, make no fault, lest he take away thy life presently: remember that thou goest in the midst of snares, and that thou walkest upon the battlements of the city. As near as thou canst, guess at thy neighbour, and consult with the wise. Let thy talk be with the wise, and all thy communication in the law of the most High. And let just men eat and drink with thee; and let thy glorying be in the fear of the Lord. For the hand of the artificer the work shall be commended: and the wise ruler of the people for his speech. A man of an ill tongue is dangerous in his city; and he that is rash in his talk shall be hated.

#114 The Wisdom of Sirach - Chapter 8

From The Wisdom of Sirach, the Apocrypha [/0095-background-on-the-books-of-the-apocrypha/] Strive not with a mighty man, lest thou fall into his hands. Be not at variance with a rich man, lest he overweigh thee: for gold hath destroyed many, and perverted the hearts of kings. Strive not with a man that is full of tongue, and heap not wood upon his fire. Jest not with a rude man, lest thy ancestors be disgraced. Reproach not a man that turneth from sin, but remember that we are all worthy of punishment. Dishonour not a man in his old age: for even some of us wax old. Rejoice not over thy greatest enemy being dead, but remember that we die all. Despise not the discourse of the wise, but acquaint thyself with their proverbs: for of them thou shalt learn instruction, and how to serve great men with ease. Miss not the discourse of the elders: for they also learned of their fathers, and of them thou shalt learn understanding, and to give answer as need requireth. Kindle not the coals of a sinner, lest thou be burnt with the flame of his fire. Rise not up in anger at the presence of an injurious person, lest he lie in wait to entrap thee in thy words. Lend not unto him that is mightier than thyself; for if thou lendest him, count it but lost. Be not surety above thy power: for if thou be surety, take care to pay it. Go not to law with a judge; for they will judge for him according to his honour. Travel not by the way with a bold fellow, lest he become grievous unto thee: for he will do according to his own will, and thou shalt perish with him through his folly. Strive not with an angry man, and go not with him into a solitary place: for blood is as nothing in his sight, and where there is no help, he will overthrow thee. Consult not with a fool; for he cannot keep counsel. Do no secret thing before a stranger; for thou knowest not what he will bring forth. Open not thine heart to every man, lest he requite thee with a shrewd turn.

#113 The Wisdom of Sirach - Chapter 7

From The Wisdom of Sirach, the Apocrypha [/0095-background-on-the-books-of-the-apocrypha/] Do no evil, so shall no harm come unto thee. Depart from the unjust, and iniquity shall turn away from thee. My son, sow not upon the furrows of unrighteousness, and thou shalt not reap them sevenfold. Seek not of the Lord preeminence, neither of the king the seat of honour. Justify not thyself before the Lord; and boast not of thy wisdom before the king. Seek not to be judge, being not able to take away iniquity; lest at any time thou fear the person of the mighty, an stumblingblock in the way of thy uprightness. Offend not against the multitude of a city, and then thou shalt not cast thyself down among the people. Bind not one sin upon another; for in one thou shalt not be unpunished. Say not, God will look upon the multitude of my oblations, and when I offer to the most high God, he will accept it. Be not fainthearted when thou makest thy prayer, and neglect not to give alms. Laugh no man to scorn in the bitterness of his soul: for there is one which humbleth and exalteth. Devise not a lie against thy brother; neither do the like to thy friend. Use not to make any manner of lie: for the custom thereof is not good. Use not many words in a multitude of elders, and make not much babbling when thou prayest. Hate not laborious work, neither husbandry, which the most High hath ordained. Number not thyself among the multitude of sinners, but remember that wrath will not tarry long. Humble thyself greatly: for the vengeance of the ungodly is fire and worms. Change not a friend for any good by no means; neither a faithful brother for the gold of Ophir. Forego not a wise and good woman: for her grace is above gold. Whereas thy servant worketh truly, entreat him not evil, nor the hireling that bestoweth himself wholly for thee. Let thy soul love a good servant, and defraud him not of liberty. Hast thou cattle? have an eye to them: and if they be for thy profit, keep them with thee. Hast thou children? instruct them, and bow down their neck from their youth. Hast thou daughters? have a care of their body, and shew not thyself cheerful toward them. Marry thy daughter, and so shalt thou have performed a weighty matter: but give her to a man of understanding. Hast thou a wife after thy mind? forsake her not: but give not thyself over to a light woman. Honour thy father with thy whole heart, and forget not the sorrows of thy mother. Remember that thou wast begotten of them; and how canst thou recompense them the things that they have done for thee? Fear the Lord with all thy soul, and reverence his priests. Love him that made thee with all thy strength, and forsake not his ministers. Fear the Lord, and honor the priest; and give him his portion, as it is commanded thee; the firstfruits, and the trespass offering, and the gift of the shoulders, and the sacrifice of sanctification, and the firstfruits of the holy things. And stretch thine hand unto the poor, that thy blessing may be perfected. A gift hath grace in the sight of every man living; and for the dead detain it not. Fail not to be with them that weep, and mourn with them that mourn. Be not slow to visit the sick: for that shall make thee to be beloved. Whatsoever thou takest in hand, remember the end, and thou shalt never do amiss.

#112 The Wisdom of Sirach - Chapter 6

From The Wisdom of Sirach, the Apocrypha [/0095-background-on-the-books-of-the-apocrypha/] Instead of a friend become not an enemy; for thereby thou shalt inherit an ill name, shame, and reproach: even so shall a sinner that hath a double tongue. Extol not thyself in the counsel of thine own heart; that thy soul be not torn in pieces as a bull straying alone. Thou shalt eat up thy leaves, and lose thy fruit, and leave thyself as a dry tree. A wicked soul shall destroy him that hath it, and shall make him to be laughed to scorn of his enemies. Sweet language will multiply friends: and a fairspeaking tongue will increase kind greetings. Be in peace with many: nevertheless have but one counsellor of a thousand. If thou wouldest get a friend, prove him first and be not hasty to credit him. For some man is a friend for his own occasion, and will not abide in the day of thy trouble. And there is a friend, who being turned to enmity, and strife will discover thy reproach. Again, some friend is a companion at the table, and will not continue in the day of thy affliction. But in thy prosperity he will be as thyself, and will be bold over thy servants. If thou be brought low, he will be against thee, and will hide himself from thy face. Separate thyself from thine enemies, and take heed of thy friends. A faithfull friend is a strong defence: and he that hath found such an one hath found a treasure. Nothing doth countervail a faithful friend, and his excellency is invaluable. A faithful friend is the medicine of life; and they that fear the Lord shall find him. Whoso feareth the Lord shall direct his friendship aright: for as he is, so shall his neighbour be also. My son, gather instruction from thy youth up: so shalt thou find wisdom till thine old age. Come unto her as one that ploweth and soweth, and wait for her good fruits: for thou shalt not toil much in labouring about her, but thou shalt eat of her fruits right soon. She is very unpleasant to the unlearned: he that is without understanding will not remain with her. She will lie upon him as a mighty stone of trial; and he will cast her from him ere it be long. For wisdom is according to her name, and she is not manifest unto many. Give ear, my son, receive my advice, and refuse not my counsel, And put thy feet into her fetters, and thy neck into her chain. Bow down thy shoulder, and bear her, and be not grieved with her bonds. Come unto her with thy whole heart, and keep her ways with all thy power. Search, and seek, and she shall be made known unto thee: and when thou hast got hold of her, let her not go. For at the last thou shalt find her rest, and that shall be turned to thy joy. Then shall her fetters be a strong defence for thee, and her chains a robe of glory. For there is a golden ornament upon her, and her bands are purple lace. Thou shalt put her on as a robe of honour, and shalt put her about thee as a crown of joy. My son, if thou wilt, thou shalt be taught: and if thou wilt apply thy mind, thou shalt be prudent. If thou love to hear, thou shalt receive understanding: and if thou bow thine ear, thou shalt be wise, Stand in the multitude of the elders; and cleave unto him that is wise. Be willing to hear every godly discourse; and let not the parables of understanding escape thee. And if thou seest a man of understanding, get thee betimes unto him, and let thy foot wear the steps of his door. Let thy mind be upon the ordinances of the Lord and meditate continually in his commandments: he shall establish thine heart, and give thee wisdom at thine owns desire.