Chapter X.—Vice is to Be Forsaken, and Virtue Followed.

Wherefore, my brethren, let us do the will of the Father who called us, that we may live; and let us earnestly 4382 follow after virtue, but forsake every wicked tendency 4383 which would lead us into transgression; and flee from ungodliness, lest evils overtake us.  For if we are diligent in doing good, peace will follow us.  On this account, such men cannot find it [i.e. peace] as are 4384 influenced by p. 254 human terrors, and prefer rather present enjoyment 4385 to the promise which shall afterwards be fulfilled.  For they know not what torment present enjoyment incurs, or what felicity is involved in the future promise.  And if, indeed, they themselves only did such things, it would be [the more] tolerable; but now they persist in imbuing innocent souls with their pernicious doctrines, not knowing that they shall receive a double condemnation, both they and those that hear them.

Footnotes

Literally, “rather.”

Literally, “malice, as it were, the precursor of our sins.”  Some deem the text corrupt.

Literally, according to the ms., “it is not possible that a man should find it who are”—the passage being evidently corrupt.

I. ἀνάπαυσιν (rest).