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In our law one thing is prescribed as necessary, so that those who do not observe it are in danger, while the other is not necessary, but is left to free will, so that those who observe it receive honor and reward, and those who do not incur no danger. Of course, if everyone could be the best people and achieve the highest degree of virtue, that would be the most excellent and perfect thing. But since the Divine must be distinguished from the human, and for one there is no good that it does not participate in, and for the other it is great and even if it reaches average degrees, then why do you (appeal to Julian) want to prescribe by law what is not characteristic of everyone, and consider those who do not observe it worthy of condemnation? Just as not everyone who does not deserve punishment is already worthy of praise, so not everyone who is unworthy of praise therefore already deserves punishment. We must demand due perfection, but without going beyond the limits of our inherent wisdom and human strength (1). Christian customs and laws are peculiar only to Christians, so that it is impossible for anyone else who would like to imitate us to adopt them, and this is because they were established not by human considerations, but by the power of God and long-term constancy (1). Light, also transformative and proportionate to the powers of those who receive it, is the written Law, covering the truth and mystery of the great Light, which is why the face of Moses is glorified by It (1). Since we, who at first fell through sin and lust, were involved even in idolatry and lawless bloodshed, had to be raised again and brought to the primitive state, according to the great mercy of God our Father, who did not suffer so that such a work of His hand - man - would remain damaged, how is he restored? And what happens? Strong healing is not approved as it is incorrect and capable of producing new wounds due to the tumor hardening over time; A meek and humane method of healing was found for correction, because even a crooked branch cannot withstand sudden bending and the force of a straightening hand and is more likely to break than straighten. A hot and old horse does not tolerate a painful rein without some kind of flattery and affection. Therefore, the Law is given to us to help us, like a wall placed between God and idols, to lead us away from idols and lead us to God. And at first he allows other unimportant things in order to acquire the most important things. He allows sacrifices for now in order to restore in us the knowledge of God. Then, when the time has come, he cancels the sacrifices, wisely changing us through gradual deprivations and leading us, already accustomed to obedience, to the Gospel. So, for this occasion, a written Law appeared, gathering us to Christ, and this, in my opinion, is the reason for the sacrifices (1)! The law prohibits the commission of sins, and we are turned to guilt and reasons, almost like actions. The law says: do not commit adultery (Matthew 5:27). And don’t have lust, don’t kindle passions with curious and attentive views. The Law says: do not kill (Matthew 5:21). And you not only do not take revenge for the blow, but even give yourself up to the will of the striker. The latter is so much more wise than the former! The law says: do not break your oath (Matthew 5:33). And don’t swear at all - neither less nor more, because an oath gives rise to perjury. The law says: do not add house to house and field to field (see Isa. 5:8), oppressing the poor (Ezek. 22:29). And you willingly give back what you have acquired with truth, expose yourself to the poor, so that you can easily take the cross and be rich in the invisible. Let the dumb have untied and ungirdled loins, because they do not have reason that rules over voluptuousness (I am not saying yet that they also know the limit of natural movement). And you, with a belt and chastity, tame lust and this neighing in yourself, as the Divine Scripture says (Jer. 5:8), condemning the vileness of passion (1). Now delve into the meaning of the double law, promulgated under the name of the Old and under the name of the New and given first to the Jews, because they were the first to know the God reigning in the highest, and then to all the ends of the earth. For God the All-Knowing governs man, uttering to him commands that do not contradict, as some ignorant mind does, and do not change, which is blamed even on mortals. This is my concept of the help of God who loved us (2). I swore by the Word itself, Who for me is the highest God, the Beginning from the Beginning - from the immortal Father, the Image of the Prototype, the nature equal to the Father, God, who came from heaven, entered into human life - I swore neither with a mind that conceived enmity, not to humiliate the great Mind, nor with an alien word - the Word. And if, following the suggestions of the God-fighting times, I began to dissect the Divinity of the Blessed Trinity; if my mind were seduced by a high throne or if I gave my hand to the seeking of others; if I had preferred a mortal helper to God, having tied my ship to a fragile stone; if in happiness I had become proud in heart, or if again, having encountered adversity, I had become despondent in spirit; if I began to judge the court, deviating in any way from the law; if I gave preference to human pride over the saints; if, seeing how the evil enjoy the silence, and the good are dashed against the rocks, I deviate from the right path; if envy dried up my heart, if I laughed at the fall of others, although not saints, as if I myself were standing with an immovable foot; if my mind had fallen from the increased bile; if the tongue ran unbridled and the lustful eye carried away the heart; if I hated someone in vain; if I began to take revenge on my enemy insidiously or openly; if I sent the beggar away from me empty-handed or with a heart thirsty for a heavenly word: then may Christ be merciful to another, and not to me; May my labors blow away in the wind right up to my gray hairs! I have bound my life to such laws. And if I achieve the end of what I want, then by Your grace, Imperishable One (2)! By keeping the law, you will cast out fear, because everyone who does the law is without fear (2). A malicious speaker perverts the laws, and a well-meaning speaker is the most harmonious harmony (2). He who unlawfully demands observance of the laws boasts to his own destruction (2). God once inscribed these ten laws on stone tablets, and you write them on your heart. Do not know another God, because honoring only one thing is possible - the One God. Do not put up an insignificant idol and a soulless likeness. Never remember the name of the great God in vain. Keep every Sabbath - both the high 97 and the hidden one. Blessed is if you show gratitude to your parents, if, where necessary, you avoid the desecration of your hands by murder, someone else’s marriage bed, malicious theft, false testimony and the desire for someone else’s property - this spark that ignites death (2). A crime is a bad act under the existing law. By lawlessness I mean disobedience to laws (2). The first law is Judaism, and the second is the sacrament of suffering. One is hidden and destroys the service of demons, and the other is clear and destroys fortune telling (2). Since Christ, while speaking the law to us, did not cleanse us, he subjects man to human law (2). The highest is the highest. – Approx. ed. You might be interested in: