Origen, ON THE PRINCIPLES (PERI ARCHON - DE PRINCIPIIS), Second Part, Complete

Translated by Frederick Crombie.

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This Part: 128 Pages

Page 20

6. And now, to confirm the deductions of reason by the authority of Scripture--viz., that it is our own doing whether we live rightly or not, and that we are not compelled, either by those causes which come to us from without, or, as some think, by the presence of fate--we adduce the testimony of the prophet Micah, in these words: "If it has been announced to thee, O man, what is good, or what the Lord requires of thee, except that thou shouldst do justice, and love mercy, and be ready to walk with the Lord thy God." [2289] Moses also speaks as follows: "I have placed before thy face the way of life and the way of death: choose what is good, and walk in it." [2290] Isaiah, moreover, makes this declaration: "If you are willing, and hear me, ye shall eat the good of the land. But if you be unwilling, and will not hear me, the sword shall consume you; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken this." [2291] In the Psalm, too, it is written: "If My people had heard Me, if Israel had walked in My ways, I would have humbled her enemies to nothing;" [2292] by which he shows that it was in the power of the people to hear, and to walk in the ways of God. The Saviour also saying, "I say unto you, Resist not evil;" [2293] and, "Whoever shall be angry with his brother, shall be in danger of the judgment;" [2294] and, "Whosoever shall look upon a woman to lust after her, hath already committed adultery with her in his heart;" [2295] and in issuing certain other commands,--conveys no other meaning than this, that it is in our own power to observe what is commanded. And therefore we are rightly rendered liable to condemnation if we transgress those commandments which we are able to keep. And hence He Himself also declares: "Every one who hears my words, and doeth them, I will show to whom he is like: he is like a wise man who built his house upon a rock," etc. [2296] So also the declaration: "Whoso heareth these things, and doeth them not, is like a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand," etc. [2297]

[2289] Mic. vi. 8.

[2290] Deut. xxx. 15.

[2291] Isa. i. 19, 20.

[2292] Ps. lxxxi. 13, 14.

[2293] Matt. v. 39.

[2294] Matt. v. 22.

[2295] Matt. v. 28.

[2296] Matt. vii. 24.

[2297] Matt. vii. 26.

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