-- 20. There is therefore "no fellowship between righteousness and unrighteousness," [1413] not only without, but also within the Church; for "the Lord knoweth them that are His," and "Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity."21. There are therefore also within the Church "enemies of God, whose hearts the spirit of Antichrist has possessed;" and yet they, "deal with spiritual and divine things," [1419] which cannot profit for their salvation so long as they remain such as they are; and yet neither can they pollute them by their own uncleanness. With regard to what he says, therefore, "that they have no part given them in the saving grace of the Church, who, scattering and fighting against the Church of Christ, are called adversaries by Christ Himself, and antichrists by His apostles, [1420] this must be received under the consideration that there are men of this kind both within and without. But the separation of those that are within from the perfection and unity of the dove is not only known in the case of some men to God, but even in the case of some to their fellow-men; for, by regarding their openly abandoned life and confirmed wickedness, and comparing it with the rules of God's commandments, they understand to what a multitude of tares and chaff, situated now some within and some without, but destined to be most manifestly separated at the last day, the Lord will then say, "Depart from me, ye that work iniquity," [1421] and "Depart into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." [1422] Footnotes: [1413] Cypr. Ep. 73. 15; 2 Corinthians 6:14. [1414] Ib. [1415] 1 John 2:9. [1416] Philippians 1:15, 16. [1417] Cypr l.c. [1418] Cypr Ep. 11. 1. [1419] Cypr. Ep. 73. 15. [1420] Cypr. Ep. 73. 15. [1421] Matthew 7:23. [1422] Matthew 25:41. |
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