NOTE: — 14 —

[While] they plant and nurture, God giveth the increase and establisheth [them] by the tidings of life, unto their glory and boasting at the universal Tribunal in the resurrection from the dead. And they shall be able to say: *Behold, I and the children [given to] us, confirmed in truth, whom God hath given us* (Isa. 8:18). And crowned with virtues, they receive the pledge of the promised tidings of Christ. For *whosoever shall do and teach [them],* He saith, *the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven* (Matt. 5:19). But he unto whom the oversight of the peoples was entrusted, if he grow slothful in their care and in spiritual instruction and admonition, and should withhold [it], or giveth not the bodily needs of those appointed [to him], but eateth and drinketh senselessly, death shall come upon him suddenly on a day when he looketh not for it, and the retributive word of God—a sword... (Heb. 4:12)—shall cut him asunder; having taken back unto Himself the grace that [proceeded] from the Lord, He shall appoint the portion of the vile with the unbelievers in the outer darkness and in the fire, where there is weeping of eyes and gnashing of teeth (Matt. 24:51). For *faith [cometh] by hearing,* saith the Apostle, *and hearing by the word of Christ. How then shall they believe of whom they have not learned? Or how shall they supplicate Him of whom they know not?* (Rom. 10:14, 17). And unto the prophet Ezekiel, by way of example unto overseers, He saith: *I have set thee as a watchman: take heed unto thyself, and take heed unto thy people, and thou shalt say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die. If he repent not and turn not by confession unto penance, he shall die the death of sins, and thou shalt be saved, for thou gavest warning beforehand. But if he repent and turn by confession unto penance, he shall surely live the righteous life, and shall not die the death of sins. But if thou gavest him not warning, he shall die in his sins unto punishment, and his blood will I require at thine hands: thus saith the Lord of all* (Ezek. 3:17–20)... He called the leaders of the Church—the disciples of the traditions of truth—householders, and the treasury—the wisdom of the heart, which hath certainty from the old and the new; and he causeth both those near and those far off to delight in good counsels, good works, and spotless holiness. And he diggeth out the stores of evil treasures, until there remain no relics of the evil treasures among the good seeds, choosing the good from the vile. They themselves, he saith, shall be examples in their conduct and manner of life, so that the disciple...