Prologus 6

Our Lord Jesus Christ commands: "What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you have heard in the ear, proclaim from the housetops." And the apostle, showing the fearful judgment of silence, through what he says to the Ephesian elders: "I testify to you on this day that I am clean from the blood of all; for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God." And as he charges us to do the same, in what he writes: "Remind them of these things, testifying before God." Since I am not able to testify face to face to all concerning the Lord's commandments, I considered it necessary at least to write to the love of all of you in Christ, both to free myself from judgment and to inform you fully concerning what falls upon you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, so that neither you, from ignorance, may fall somewhere upon the sting of death, which is sin, or pass over any commandment of God, concerning which it is written that his commandment is eternal life, and fall short of it, the Lord saying, "He who disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him," nor may we be found guilty of the blood of those put to death by sin through silence. The judgment will be set before me: first, the cause and the danger of such great discord and division among the churches of God and of each one toward the other.

second, the proofs from the divinely inspired scripture that every transgression of a commandment of God is severely and fearfully avenged, so that even if someone seems to have accomplished most things, yet if he neglects a few, or even a single commandment of any kind, or if he indifferently acquiesces to the one who has offended and does not display a good zeal according to the judgment of God, he pays the penalty for this alone, and even if he suffers something of the sort from ignorance, he does not escape unpunished even so. After this, it will include the pious confession of God and Father, and of his only-begotten Son and God, and of the Holy Spirit. Then, the knowledge of what has been distinguished for us by scripture, of what things one must abstain from, and about what things those who desire eternal life and the kingdom of heaven should be especially zealous, and likewise the distinctive features of each rank or order will be set forth individually. After these, the discourse will attempt to give us from the holy scriptures a sort of summary and concise character of a Christian, holding the form of a definition, and again a similar character of those who preside over the word of the Lord's teaching. In these, both the precise and extremely purified nature of the conduct will be made manifest, and what I may call the dignity of those who excel in it will shine forth. Following these, there will be appended to us whatever I have answered, when asked by the brethren, concerning the training for the life according to God. Of all these things, I have sent copies to your love in Christ, so that through us the saying of the apostle may be fulfilled in you, that these things be entrusted to faithful men who will be able also to teach others.