Chapter 23: Gathering an Army of the Downtrodden. Actually, our outward visible appearance cheats Death and the Devil, for Death and the Devil don't see the wealth and beauty that are inside us. They rave about the carcass, which they despise as being weak, but they are blind to the wealth within. They don't know what a treasure in an earthen vessel we carry. 2 Corinthians 4:7. This treasure is protected by the power of God the Father, and the blood of the Son of God, and the dew of the Holy Spirit.
But you who have tasted of the truth and have been counted worthy of the great redemption must not be deceived. Unlike the armies of other men, you should collect for yourself an unarmed, peaceful, bloodless, restrained army: one of pious old men, orphans dear to God, widows armed with meekness, and men adorned with love. Use your money to gather these guards of your body and soul. For their sake, a sinking ship is saved, steered by the prayers of the saints alone.
Disease at its height is put to flight by the laying on of hands. The attack of robbers is spoiled by righteous prayers, and the might of demons is crushed and vanquished by bold commands. All of these warriors and guards are trusty; none of them are idle, not one of them is useless. For one of them can obtain pardon from God for you, another can comfort you when you're sick. One can weep and groan in sympathy for you to the Lord of all. Another can teach you some of the things that are useful for salvation.
One can admonish you with confidence. Another can counsel you with kindness. And all of them can love you truly, without cunning, without fear, without hypocrisy, without flattery, and without pretense. What sweet service comes from loving souls! What blessed thoughts come from confident hearts! What sincere faith belongs to those who fear God alone! What truthful words come from those who cannot lie! What beautiful deeds come from those who have been commissioned to serve, please, and plead with God!
All the faithful, then, are good and God-like. They are worthy of the name that encircles their heads like a crown. But then there are also some people who are the chosen of the chosen. They are more distinguished because they draw themselves out of the surge of the world to safety, like a ship to its mooring. They don't wish to seem holy; in fact, they're embarrassed if anyone calls them such. So, in a sense, they are less distinguished. They hide in the depths of their minds the inexpressible mysteries of God.
They disdain to display their nobleness just so others can see it. They are the people the Word calls the light of the world and the salt of the earth. Matthew 5:13 and 14. These are the seed, the image, and the likeness of God. These are His true children and heirs. They were sent here on a journey by the arrangement and government of the Father. Both the visible and invisible things of the world were created by the Father.
Some of these were sent for their service, others for their discipline, still others for their instruction. All things are held together as long as the seed remains here. But when the seed is gathered, these things will be very quickly dissolved. God, the loving parent. What further need does God have for the mysteries of love? Someday you will look into the bosom of the Father. He is the one alone whom the only begotten divine Son has declared. John 1:18. God Himself is love.
Out of His love for us, He became feminine. In His indescribable essence, He is Father. But in His compassion for us, He became Mother. By loving, the Father became feminine. The great proof of this fact is the one He begot out of Himself, and the fruit brought forth by love is love. Because of love, Jesus came down to earth. Because of love, He clothed Himself with a man. For love, He voluntarily subjected Himself to the experiences of men.
He did this so that by bringing Himself down to the weakness of those He loved, He could bring us up to the measure of His own strength. As He was about to be offered up as a ransom, He left us a new covenant or testament. I give you my love. How great is that love? He gave His life for each of us, one life for all. So now He demands that we give our lives for one another.
Therefore, since we have made this mutual agreement with the Savior that we owe our lives to our brothers, why should we hoard our worldly goods any longer? After all, they are transitory, worthless, and foreign to us. Shall we lock up from each other what will be the property of the fire after a little while? John makes a divine and weighty statement when he says, "He who does not love his brother is a murderer." 1 John 3:15. He is the offspring of Cain, a nursling of the devil. He does not have God's compassion.
He has no hope of better things. He is sterile, barren. He is not a branch of the ever-living heavenly vine. He is cut off, waiting for the perpetual fire. Instead, learn the more excellent way, the one Paul points to for salvation, saying, "Love is not self-seeking." 1 Corinthians 13:5. Rather, it is poured out on your brother. Love trembles over your brother and is soberly insane about him. Love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8. Perfect love drives out fear. 1 John 4:18.
Love does not boast; it is not proud. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices in the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never fails. Prophecies are done away with. Tongues cease. Gifts of healing fail on the earth. But these three abide: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:4 through 8 and 13. That statement is true. For faith departs when we are convinced by vision, by seeing God.
And hope vanishes when the things we hope for come. But love comes to completion and grows even more, when that which is perfect has been given to us.