Правило 2. О том, что тщание желающих благоугодить Богу должно быть ни с чем противным не соединяемо и чисто

Chapter 1. He who interferes in matters alien to piety will not be able to serve God (Matthew 6:24): “No one can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one and love the other; or he will be zealous for one and neglectful of the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” (2 Cor. 6:14-16): “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship has righteousness with iniquity? What does light have in common with darkness? What agreement is there between Christ and Belial? Or what is the complicity of the faithful with the infidel? What is the relationship between the church of God and idols? Chapter 2. He who has entered into obedience to the Gospel must, first of all, cleanse himself from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, so that through this he may become acceptable to God in holy matters. (Matthew 23:25-26): “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you purify the outside of the cup and the platter, while inside they are full of robbery and unrighteousness. Blind Pharisee! Cleanse first the inside of the cup and the dish, so that the outside of them may also be clean.” (2 Cor. 7:1): “Having these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” Chapter 3. One who is partial to something real or who tolerates something even slightly distracting from God’s commandment cannot become a disciple of the Lord. (Matthew 10:37-38): “Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and whoever loves a son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me.” (Matthew 16:24-25): “Then Jesus said to His disciples: If anyone wants to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me, for whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” You might be interested in: