Chapter II
1 That God had before prophesied by Isaiah,
that the Gentiles should be saved;
8 And that this ought to engage, such especially
to live well; without which they will still miscarry.
REJOICE, thou barren, that
bearest not, break forth and
cry thou that travailest not; for
she that is desolate hath many
more children than she that hath
a husband.
2 In that saying, Rejoice thou
barren that bearest not, he spake
of us: for our church was barren
before children were given unto it.
3 And again; when he said,
Cry thou that travailest not:
he implied thus much: That after
the manner of a woman in travail,
we should not cease to put up our
prayers unto God abundantly.
4 And for what follows, because
she that is desolate hath more
children than she that hath a husband;
it was therefore added, because
our people which seemed to have
been forsaken by God, now believing
in him, are become more than they
who seemed to have God.
5 And another Scripture saith,
I came not to call the righteous
but sinners (to repentance). The
meaning of which is this; that
those who were lost must be saved:
6 For that is, indeed, truly great
and wonderful, not to confirm those
things that are yet standing, but
those which are falling,
7 Even so did it seem good to
Christ to save what was lost; and
when he came into the world, he
saved many, and called us who
were already lost.
8 Seeing then he has showed
so great mercy towards us; and
chiefly for that we who are alive,
do now no longer sacrifice to dead
Gods, nor pay any worship to
them, but have by him been
brought to the knowledge of
the Father of truth.
9 Whereby shall we show that
we do indeed know him, and by
not denying him by whom we
have come to the knowledge of
him.
10 For even he himself saith,
Whosoever shall confess me before
men, him will I confess before
my Father. This therefore is our
reward, if we shall confess him by
whom we have been saved.
11 But, wherein must we confess
him?—Namely, in doing those
things which he saith, and not
disobeying his commandments
by worshipping him not with
our lips only, but with all our
heart, and with all our mind. For
he saith in Isaiah; This people
honoureth me with their lips, but
their heart is far from me.
12 Let us then not only call
him Lord; for that will not save
us. For he saith: Not everyone
that saith unto me Lord, Lord,
shall be saved, but he that doth
righteousness.
13 Wherefore, brethren,
let us confess him by our works;
by loving one another; in not
committing adultery, not speaking
evil against each other, not envying
one another; but by being temperate,
merciful, good.
14 Let us also have a mutual
sense of one another’s sufferings;
and not be covetous of money; but
let us, by our good works, confess
God, and not by those that are
otherwise.
15 Also let us not fear men: but
rather God. Wherefore, if we
should do such wicked things, the
Lord hath said; Though ye should
be joined unto me, even in my very
bosom, and not keep my commandments,
I would cast you off, and say unto
you; Depart from me; I know not
whence you are, ye workers of iniquity.