Благочестие

The goal of piety is not to talk about God often, but to remain silent more, for a tongue not governed by reason is a stumbling block for all people. Always hold to the thought that it is safer to listen than to speak; it is more desirable to learn than to teach about God; by providing the most thorough research about this to the builders in words, you yourself show piety less in word, but more in deed, and demonstrate your love for God more by keeping His commandments than by admiring the lawgiver; flee from evil, excel in virtue, live in the spirit, walk in the spirit, attract knowledge; build on the foundation of faith, not with wood, hay, straw - weak substances that can easily be destroyed when our deeds are judged or purified by fire - but with gold, silver and precious stones (see 1 Cor. 3:1.) - solid and durable substances (1). Cut off Ariev's 18 wickedness, cut off Sabelli's 19 evil faith and do not unite what is more proper, and do not divide wickedly, do not unite Three into one Person and do not make Three different by nature. It is commendable to confess the One if you understand unity well; It is commendable to confess the Three, if you divide correctly, that is, you allow the division of Persons, and not the Divinity. I prescribe this to the laity, I command this to the priests, as well as to those who are entrusted with leadership. Help the word, everyone who has been given the opportunity to help by God. It is a great thing to prevent murder, to punish adultery, to curb predation; it is incomparably higher to instill godliness and teach sound doctrine. My word, struggling for the Holy Trinity, will have not so much power as your behavior, if you stop the lips of evil-minded people, help the persecuted, stop murderers, prevent murder; I mean not only physical, but also spiritual murder, for every sin is the death of the soul (1). People poor in piety, pitiful in their very splendor, are almost more numerous than those over whom they rule; so that as time goes on, this evil will not remain, as I think, over whom to rule - when everyone will teach, instead of, as God’s promise says, being taught by God (see Isa. 54:13); everyone will begin to prophesy, and, according to the ancient legend, according to the ancient parable, Saul will also be a prophet (1 Sam. 10, 11) (1). Arius - heresiarch of the 4th century. He taught that the Son of God is not like the Father in everything, but was created by Him, i.e. is a creation of God, but not God. – Approx. ed. Sabellius is a heretic, the founder of the heretical doctrine of the Persons of the Holy Trinity, named after him and spread in the 3rd century. According to Sabellius, God, being in a state of rest or silence, is a Single Being. But, emerging from his silence to create and provide for the world, He appears in three different forms: Father, Son and Spirit. – Approx. ed. You might be interested in: