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Chapter 46SermC.1.46

Sermo 46

The Invitation to Rest

The Bridegroom invites the soul to rest in the adorned bridal chamber, drawing the heart inward to remain with Christ.

Our bed is in bloom, the beams of our houses are cedar, and our paneled ceilings are cypress.✦ The wedding song sings, describing the chamber and the bridal rooms in beautiful language. The Bridegroom invites you to rest. For this is better: to rest and to be with Christ. But it's necessary to go out for the sake of the profits, to bring about the saving of souls. But now, having found an opportunity, as she sees it, she announces the adorned bridal chamber and points to the bed as if with her finger, inviting the beloved, as I said, to rest; and when those on the road to Emmaus could not endure the burning of their hearts, she draws them to the lodging of the mind and compels them to spend the night with her; and when she speaks with Peter: Lord, it is good for us to be here.✦✦

The Spiritual Architecture of the Church

The bed, beams, and panels represent the monastic life, secular authority, and the clergy, all requiring incorruptible and fragrant virtues.

Now let's explore what these things contain in a spiritual sense. And in the Church, the bed on which one rests, I take to be cloisters and monasteries, where people live quietly, free from the cares and anxieties of the world. And this flowered bed is revealed when the way of life and conduct of the brothers shines out, sprinkled, as if with fragrant flowers, with the examples and teachings of the fathers. Furthermore, understand the gatherings of ordinary Christians to be the houses of the people: those Christians in positions of prominence, leaders of every rank, are like beams holding together the walls by imposing just laws, so that those who each live by their own rule or preference don't pull apart from one another like leaning, battered walls, and so cause the entire structure of the building to collapse and fall to pieces. The paneled ceilings that hang firmly from the beams and adorn the houses remarkably — I take these to designate the gentle and disciplined character of a well-formed clergy, and their properly administered duties. For how can the ranks of the clergy and their ministries stand, if they are not sustained and protected by the generosity and power of those in authority, as if by the support of rafters? But that the timbers are described as cedar and the panels as cypress, nature itself unquestionably intends in these kinds of wood something that corresponds to the ranks I've mentioned. The cedar, since it is indeed incorruptible and also fragrant, and a wood of equally great height, sufficiently indicates what sort of men should be raised up into the places of the timbers. Therefore those who are placed above others must be strong and steadfast, and also patient in hope, lifting their minds' summit toward heavenly things, who also, scattering the good fragrance of their own faith and conduct everywhere, may be able to say with the Apostle: 'For we are the fragrance of Christ to God in every place.'✦ The cypress too, equally fragrant and likewise incorruptible, a wood of upright life and faith, also shows that anyone from the clergy must be such as to be counted rightly as the adornment of the house and the ornament of its panels. For it is written: 'Holiness befits your house, O Lord, for length of days.'✦ Where indeed there is both the beauty of holiness and the unfailing perseverance of grace, pressed out and clear. Therefore the man who is taken up for the ornament and adornment of the house must be adorned with good manners; and though he himself may always be within, he must nevertheless have a good testimony also from those who are outside. There are also other things in the nature of these woods that are fitting for what is being discussed spiritually, but for the sake of brevity I pass them over.

The Boldness of Love

The Bride claims the Church's ornaments as her own, not from selfishness, but from the confident unity of love with the Bridegroom.

It's worth noting, then, how beautifully the whole state of the Church is summed up in a single brief verse — namely, the authority of prelates, the honor of the clergy, the discipline of the people, and the quiet life of monks. In all these things — since everything is rightly ordered — holy mother Church rejoices at the thought, and then she also offers them for the beloved to look upon, since to him, as the source of all things, she refers every good, attributing nothing of it to herself. For when she says 'our' and 'of our own,' it's not a sign of grasping but of love — because, you see, the bold confidence of love considers nothing alien to itself in the one it deeply loves. Nor does she think herself kept from the bridegroom's company or from sharing his quiet, since she has always been accustomed to seek not what is her own but what is his. And this is the reason she has dared to declare the bed and the houses common to herself and the bridegroom alike. For she has said: 'Our bed is ours, and the beams of our houses, and our panels' — boldly claiming them as her own in possession, because she is joined to him and does not doubt it in love. Not so the one who has not yet renounced her own will, but lies by herself and dwells by herself — or rather, not by herself at all, but keeps company with harlots, living luxuriously, I mean in the desires of the flesh, with which she squanders her own goods and the share of her substance she claimed to have divided for herself.

The Flowers of Obedience

Contemplation must be surrounded by the flowers of good works and obedience, lest the soul offer the hemlocks of disobedience to the Bridegroom.

And yet, you who hear or read these voices of the Holy Spirit, do you think you can apply any of this to yourself, and recognize something in your own heart about the happiness of the bride, which is sung in this love song by the Spirit himself—so that it won't also be said to you, because you hear the voice of him but do not know where it comes from or where it is going?✦ Look, perhaps you yourself also desire the rest of contemplation, and you do well: only don't forget the flowers with which you read that the bride's little bed is sprinkled. Therefore, you too should take care to surround your own rest with the flowers of good works, through the practice of the virtues, so that, like a flower, you may bring forth the fruit of holy rest beforehand. Otherwise you'll wish to sleep in sufficiently luxurious rest if you're not exercised in working for rest, and, with Leah's fertility neglected, you'll desire to delight only in the embraces of Rachel. But it is also a perverse order to demand the reward before the merit, and to take food before the labor, when the Apostle says: 'The one who does not work shall not eat.'✦ I have understood from your commandments, he says, so that you may know that the taste of contemplation is not at all owed to obedience of commandments without the practice of it. Do not therefore think that any prejudice is to be done at all to the works of holy obedience out of love for your own rest, or to the traditions of the elders. Otherwise the bridegroom won't sleep with you in the same bed—especially since for the flowers of obedience you have sprinkled for him the hemlocks and nettles of disobedience. Because of this he won't listen to your prayers, and when called he won't come; for one so devoted to obedience won't give the disobedient any access to himself — he would rather die than fail to obey. But neither does he approve empty idleness in your contemplation — the one who says through the prophet: I labored, enduring; signifying the time when, exiled from heaven and the homeland of highest rest, he worked out salvation in the midst of the earth. But I'm even more afraid that terrifying sentence might sweep you away too, thundering thus against the faithlessness of the Jews: Your new moons and sabbaths and other festivals I will not endure; likewise: Your calendars and solemnities my soul hates — they have become burdensome to me.✦ And the prophet will mourn over you and say: Her enemies saw her, and they mocked her sabbaths.✦ For why should the enemy not mock what the beloved rejects?

The Shamelessness of Unworthy Prayer

It is shameful to invite the Lord into a foul conscience while harassing one's brothers, for true prayer requires interior peace and humility.

I'm greatly amazed at the shamelessness of some who are among us: although they've disturbed all of us by their selfish isolation, provoked us by their impatience, and scorned us with their stubbornness and rebellion, they still dare to invite the Lord to a bed of conscience as foul as theirs with all the earnestness of prayer and complete purity. "But when you stretch out your hands," he says, "I will turn my eyes away, and when you multiply your prayers, I will not listen." What then? The bed isn't flourishing — it's rotten instead; and is that where you drag the King of glory? Are you doing this to rest him, or to accuse him? The centurion forbids him to enter under his roof because of his own unworthiness — yet his faith is renowned throughout all Israel — while you, defiled by the filth of so many vices, compel him to enter into you? The leader of the apostles cries out: "Go out from me, Lord, for I am a man of sin" — yet you say: "Come in to me, Lord, for I am holy"? "Be all of one mind," he says, "in prayer, and love the brotherhood." And the chosen vessel says: "Lifting up pure hands, without anger or quarreling."✦ Do you see how the prince of the apostles and the teacher of the Gentiles speak in full agreement, and with the same Spirit, about the peace and calm of soul that someone who prays ought to have? So go ahead, then: you spend all day stretching out your hands to God, while all day you harass your brothers, attack their unity, and separate yourself from their fellowship.

Adorning the Conscience

Before praying, one must cleanse the conscience of discord and surround oneself with the fragrant flowers of virtue and peace.

"And what do you want me to do?" you say. Truly, that first you may cleanse your conscience from every stain of anger and dispute, of grumbling and envy, and whatever is known to be entirely opposed either to the peace of brothers or to the obedience of elders — from the dwelling of the heart you will hasten to clean out. Then also surround yourself with the flowers of good deeds of every kind and of praiseworthy pursuits, and with the fragrances of virtues — that is, whatever things are true, whatever chaste, whatever just, whatever holy, whatever lovable, whatever of good repute, if there is any virtue, if there is any praise of discipline — take care to think on these things and to be exercised in them.✦ With confidence you will call such a one Bridegroom, since when you have introduced him, you also will truly be able to say, 'Our couch is flowery,' because with conscience redolent, surely, not of piety alone, but of peace, but of gentleness, but of justice, but of obedience, but of gladness, but of humility. And concerning the couch, indeed, thus.

Building the Spiritual House

The soul is a spiritual house that must be supported by the imperishable timbers of faith and love, and adorned with the safe and accessible woods of virtue.

Let each one recognize that he himself is a spiritual house of God, yet let him who now walks not in the flesh but in the spirit do so: for the temple of God, it says, is holy, which you are.✦ Take care, then, brothers, of this spiritual building that you are. Lest perhaps, when it begins to reach toward higher things, it waver and collapse if it hasn't been supported and held together with strong timbers—take care, I say, to give it beams that are imperishable and immovable: namely, the chaste fear of the Lord, that fear which endures forever and ever; patience, about which it is written that the patience of the poor will not perish in the end; and also long-suffering, which under any weight of structure, inflexible and persevering, stretches out into the infinite ages of blessed life—with the Savior speaking in the Gospel: whoever perseveres to the end will be saved. But above all, love, which never falls away, because love is as strong as death, rivalry as harsh as hell.✦✦✦ Strive, then, with these beams to lay beneath and bind other timbers equally precious and beautiful, which are nevertheless at hand for the work of paneled ceilings, for the adornment of the house: namely, discourse of wisdom or of knowledge, prophecy, the grace of healings, interpretation of discourses, and other such things—which are indeed known to be more suitable for adornment than necessary for salvation.✦ About these things I have no precept, but I give advice. For it is established that timbers of this kind are both laboriously sought and difficult to find, and dangerously worked at—for they are rare, and especially in these times our land is found to produce them. I advise indeed, and warn, that these things not be sought too eagerly; but rather that paneled ceilings be prepared from other timbers, which even if they appear less splendid, are nevertheless proven to be no less strong, and besides are more easily possessed and more safely. Would that the abundance of those woods might also be available to me, with which the garden of the Bridegroom, the Church, is thickly planted: peace, goodness, kindness, joy in the Holy Spirit, to show mercy in cheerfulness, to give in simplicity, to rejoice with those who rejoice, to be made new with those who are being made new.✦✦✦ Or wouldn't you consider that house — as far as its paneled ceiling is concerned — to be sufficiently and abundantly adorned, which you have seen to be suitably and well arranged with such woods? Lord, I have loved the beauty of your house.✦ Always grant me these woods, I beg, with which I may always offer adornment to the bridal chamber of conscience — I mean the conscience both of myself and of another. With these I will be content. There will also be those who will want to follow my counsel in this matter, because I believe you too will be satisfied: the rest I leave to the holy apostles and to apostolic men. But you also, most beloved, even though you do not have those woods — still, if you have these, be confident; nevertheless, with complete confidence approach the highest, corner, chosen, precious stone; nevertheless, on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, be yourselves built up as living stones into spiritual houses, a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ (Eph.✦✦✦✦✦ II, 19-22, and I Pet.✦✦

Amen

The sermon concludes with a doxology to the Bridegroom of the Church, our Lord.

Song of Songs 2:4–9, the bridegroom of the Church, our Lord, who is God over all, blessed forever.✦✦ Amen.

Read the original Latin

Lectulus noster floridus, tigna domorum nostrarum cedrina laquearia nostra cypressina. Epithalamium canit, cubile et thalamos pulchro sermone describens. Sponsum invitat ad requiem. Hoc enim melius, quiescere et cum Christo esse. Necessarium autem exire ad lucra propter salvandos. Verum nunc opportunitate, ut putat, inventa, ornatum nuntiat thalamum, lectulumque velut digito monstrans, dilectum, ut dixi, invitat ad requiem, et cum euntibus in Emmaus cordis ardorem non sustinens, ad mentis pertrahit hospitium, secum pernoctare compellit, et cum Petro loquitur: Domine, bonum est nos hic esse.

Iam quid spiritualiter ista contineant, requiramus. Et in Ecclesia quidem lectum in quo quiescitur, claustra existimo esse et monasteria, in quibus quiete a curis vivitur saeculi, et sollicitudinibus vitae. Atque is lectus floridus demonstratur, cum exemplis et institutis patrum, tanquam quibusdam bene olentibus respersa floribus, fratrum conversatio et vita refulget. Porro domos populares conventus intellige Christianorum: quos hi qui in sublimitate positi sunt, christiani utique utriusque ordinis principes, quasi tigna parietes, iustis impositis legibus fortiter stringunt, ne sua quique lege vel voluntate viventes, tanquam parietes inclinati et maceriae depulsae dissideant a semetipsis, et sic omnis structura aedificii corruens dissipetur. Laquearia vero quae a tignis firmiter pendent, et domos insigniter ornant, puto bene instituti cleri mansuetos et disciplinatos mores, riteque administrata officia designare. Quomodo namque stabunt ordines clericorum, et administrationes eorum, si non principum, tanquam tignorum beneficio et munificentia sustententur, et protegantur potentia?

Quod autem tigna cedrina, et cypressina laquearia describuntur, natura absque dubio habet in his speciebus lignorum, quod congruat praefatis ordinibus. Et cedrus quidem quoniam imputribile est, necnon et odoriferum, altaeque proceritatis lignum, satis indicat quales oporteat assumi viros in vices tignorum. Ergo validos et constantes necesse est esse eos, qui super alios ordinantur, necnon et longanimes in spe, atque ad superna mentis verticem attollentes, qui etiam bonum fidei suae et conversationis ubique odorem spargentes, dicere cum Apostolo possint: Christi enim bonus odor sumus Deo in omni loco. Cypressus item, boni aeque odoris et imputribile similiter lignum, incorruptae vitae et fidei etiam quemvis de clero debere esse demonstrat, ut merito decori domus ac laquearium ornatui deputetur. Scriptum est enim: Domum tuam decet sanctitudo, Domine, in longitudinem dierum. Ubi sane et sanctimoniae decus, et indeficientis gratiae expressa perseverantia est. Oportet ergo virum, qui ad ornamentum et decorem assumitur domus, bonis ornatum moribus esse; et quamvis semper ipse sit intus, bonum tamen testimonium habere et ab his qui foris sunt. Sunt et alia in natura lignorum horum competentia his, quae spiritualiter disseruntur: sed brevitatis causa praetereo.

Notandum vero pulchre omnem Ecclesiae statum brevi uno versiculo comprehensum; auctoritatem scilicet praelatorum, cleri decus, populi disciplinam, monachorum quietem. In horum prorsus, cum recte sunt omnia, sancta mater Ecclesia consideratione laetatur, et tunc ea quoque offert intuenda dilecto, cum ad eius, tanquam omnium auctoris, refert omnia bonitatem, nihil sibi ex omnibus tribuens. Nam quod ait, noster et nostrarum, non usurpationis est signum, sed dilectionis: quod nimiae videlicet fiducia charitatis, nihil eius, quem valde diligit, a se aestimet alienum. Nec enim se sponsi contubernio, aut quietis eius putat arcendam consortio, quae semper non quae sua, sed quae illius sunt, quaerere consuevit: et haec causa, cur sibi et sponso simul, sive lectulum, sive domos ausa sit pronuntiare communes. Dixit enim: Lectulus noster; et, tigna domorum nostrarum; et, laquearia nostra: audacter se in possessione associans, cui iunctam non dubitat in amore. Non ita illa, quae propriae voluntati nondum abrenuntiavit, sed per se iacet, per se habitat: magis autem non per se, sed cum meretricibus luxuriose vivendo conversatur, concupiscentias loquor carnis, cum quibus dissipat bona sua, et portionem substantiae quam sibi dividi postulavit.

Caeterum tu qui has Spiritus sancti voces audis vel legis, putasne aliqua horum quae dicuntur, valeas applicare tibi, ac de felicitate sponsae, quae hoc amoris carmine ab ipso Spiritu canitur, aliquid recognoscere in temetipso, ne dicatur et tibi, quia vocem eius audis, et non scis unde veniat, aut quo vadat? En forte appetis et ipse contemplationis quietem, et bene facis: tantum ne obliviscaris flores, quibus lectulum sponsae legis aspersum. Ergo cura et tu tuum similiter circumdare bonorum floribus operum, virtutum exercitio, tanquam flore, fructum sanctum otium praevenire. Alioquin delicato satis otio dormitare voles, si non exercitatus quiescere appetas, et Liae fecunditate neglecta, solis cupias Rachelis amplexibus oblectari. Sed et praeposterus ordo est, ante meritum exigere praemium, et ante laborem sumere cibum, cum dicat Apostolus: Qui non laborat non manducet. A mandatis tuis intellexi, inquit : ut scias, nisi obedientiae mandatorum contemplationis gustum penitus non deberi. Non igitur putes de propriae amore quietis, sanctae obedientiae actibus, seniorumve traditionibus praeiudicium ullatenus faciendum. Alioquin non dormiet tecum sponsus in lecto uno, illo praesertim, quem tibi pro obedientiae floribus, cicutis atque urticis inobedientiae aspersisti.

Propter quod non exaudiet orationes tuas, vocatusque non veniet: nec enim dabit inobedienti copiam sui tantus obedientiae amator, ut mori quam non obedire maluerit. Sed neque approbat tuae contemplationis inane otium, qui dicit per prophetam: Laboravi, sustinens; significans tempus, quo exsul coelo et patria summae quietis, operatus est salutem in medio terrae. Magis autem vereor, ne te quoque involvat formidolosa illa sententia, ita intonans in perfidiam Iudaeorum: Neomenias vestras, et sabbata, et festivitates alias non feram; item: Calendas vestras et solemnitates vestras odit anima mea, facta sunt mihi molesta. Et lugebit super te propheta, et dicet: Viderunt eam hostes, et deriserunt sabbata eius. Cur enim quod dilectus repudiat, non irrideat inimicus.

Miror valde impudentiam aliquorum qui inter nos sunt, qui, cum omnes nos sua singularitate turbaverint, sua impatientia irritaverint, sua contumacia et rebellione contempserint, audent nihilominus ad tam foedum conscientiae suae lectulum omni orationum instantia totius puritatis Dominum invitare. At cum extenderitis, ait, manus vestras, avertam oculos meos, et cum multiplicaveritis orationem, non exaudiam. Quid enim? lectulus non est floridus, magis autem et putidus est; et tu illuc Regem gloriae trahis? Ad pausandum hoc facis, an ad causandum? Centurio vetat illum intrare sub tectum suum propter suam indignitatem, cuius tamen fides in universo redolet Israel : et tu ad te compellis intrare, tantorum sordens spurcitia vitiorum? Clamat apostolorum princeps: Exi a me, Domine, quia homo peccator sum; et tu dicis: Intra ad me, Domine, quoniam sanctus sum? Omnes, inquit, unanimes in oratione estote, fraternitatem diligite.

Et vas electionis: Levantes puras manus, ait, sine ira et disceptatione. Videsne quomodo concordent sibi, et eodem spiritu de pace et tranquillitate animi, quam habere debet ille qui orat, loquantur princeps apostolorum, et doctor gentium? Perge ergo tu tota die expandere ad Deum manus tuas, qui fratres tota die molestas, unanimitatem impugnas, ab unitate te separas.

Et quid me vis facere, inquis? Profecto ut primo quidem emundes conscientiam ab omni inquinamento irae et disceptationis, et murmuris, et livoris; et quidquid omnino adversari cognoscitur aut paci fratrum, aut obedientiae seniorum, de cordis habitaculo climinare festines. Deinde etiam circumdare tibi flores bonorum quoruncumque actuum et laudabilium studiorum, atque odoramenta virtutum; id est, quaecunque sunt vera, quaecunque pudica, quaecunque iusta, quaecunque sancta, quaecunque amabilia, quaecunque bonae famae, si qua virtus, si qua laus disciplinae; haec cogitare, in his exerceri curato. Ad istiusmodi secure vocabis sponsum: quoniam cum introduxeris eum, veraciter dicere poteris et tu, quia lectulus noster floridus, redolente nimirum conscientia pietatem, sed pacem, sed mansuetudinem, sed iustitiam, sed obedientiam, sed hilaritatem, sed humilitatem. Et de lectulo quidem sic.

Domum vero Dei spiritualem se ipsum quisque agnoscat, qui tamen iam non in carne ambulet, sed in spiritu: Templum enim Dei, ait, sanctum est, quod estis vos. Curate ergo, fratres, spirituali huic aedificio, quod vos estis, ne forte cum in superiora proficere coeperit, vacillet et corruat, si lignis fortibus non fuerit subnixum et colligatum: curate, inquam, illi tigna dare imputribilia et immobilia; timorem videlicet Domini castum, illum, qui permanet in saeculum saeculi; patientiam, de qua scriptum est quia patientia pauperum non peribit in finem; longanimitatem quoque, quae sub quovis structurae pondere inflexibilis perseverans, in infinita saecula vitae beatae protenditur, Salvatore loquente in Evangelio: Qui perseveraverit usque in finem, hic salvus erit; magis autem super omnia charitatem, quae nunquam excidit, quia fortis est, inquit, ut mors dilectio, dura sicut infernus aemulatio. Studete deinde his tignis substernere et alligare ligna alia aeque pretiosa et pulchra, cui tamen illa ad manum fuerint in opus laquearium ad decorem domus; sermonem scilicet sapientiae sive scientiae, prophetiam, gratiam curationum, interpretationem sermonum, et caetera talia, quae magis noscuntur sane apta ornatui, quam necessaria fore saluti. De his praeceptum non habeo, consilium autem do: quoniam quidem istiusmodi ligna constat et laboriose quaeri, et difficile inveniri, et periculose elaborari (nam et rara ea, praesertim his temporibus, terra nostra producere reperitur), consulo sane et moneo non multopere ista requiri; magis autem ex lignis aliis laquearia praeparari, quae etsi minus appareant splendida, non minus tamen valida esse probantur, insuper et facilius possidentur et tutius.

Utinam et mihi illorum suppetat copia lignorum, quibus hortus Sponsi Ecclesia copiose densatur, pax, bonitas, benignitas, gaudium in Spiritu sancto, misereri in hilaritate, tribuere in simplicitate, gaudere cum gaudentibus, fiere cum fientibus. An non tu illam domum (quod ad laquearia spectat) satis abundeque ornatam censeas, quam talibus lignis inspexeris sufficienter compositeque tabulatam? Domine, dilexi decorem domus tuae. Semper da mihi ligna haec, quaeso, quibus tibi semper ornatum exhibeam thalamum conscientiae: conscientiae dico et meae, et alterius. His contentus ero. Erunt et qui meo in hac re consilio acquiescere volent, quia et te puto fore contentum: caetera sanctis apostolis, et viris apostolicis derelinquo. Sed et vos, dilectissimi, tametsi illa ligna non habeatis; nihilominus tamen, si haec habetis, confidite; nihilominus cum omni fiducia accedite ad lapidem summum, angularem, electum, pretiosum; nihilominus super fundamentum apostolorum et prophetarum et ipsi tanquam lapides vivi superaedificamini, domos spirituales, sacerdotium sanctum, offerre spirituales hostias, acceptabiles Deo, per Iesum Christum (Ephes. II, 19-22, et I Petr.

II, 4-9, sponsum Ecclesiae, Dominum nostrum, qui est super omnia Deus benedictus in saecula. Amen.

Scripture echoes

  1. ↩Song.1.16-Song.1.17 — Behold, you are beautiful, my beloved, indeed pleasant; also our couch is green. Song.1.17 — The beams of our houses are cedars; our rafters are cypress.
  2. ↩Luke.24.28-Luke.24.32 — And they drew near to the village to which they were going, and he made as though he would go farther. Luke.24.29 — And they urged him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." And he went in to stay with them. Luke.24.30 — And it came to pass, when he was at table with them, he took the bread, blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to them. Luke.24.31 — And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. Luke.24.32 — They said to one another, "Was not our heart burning within us while he spoke to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?"
  3. ↩Luke.4.32;Matt.17.4 — And they were astonished at his teaching, for his word was with authority. Matt.17.4 — But Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will make three shelters here—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
  4. ↩2Cor.2.15 — For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.
  5. ↩Ps.93.5 — Your testimonies are very sure; holiness befits your house, O LORD, forever.
  6. ↩John.3.8 — The Spirit blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.
  7. ↩2Thess.3.10 — For even when we were with you, this we commanded you: if anyone is not willing to work, neither let him eat.
  8. ↩Isa.1.13-Isa.1.14 — Do not keep bringing meaningless offerings. Incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath, the calling of assemblies—I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly. Isa.1.14 — Your new moons and your appointed festivals my soul hates; they have become a burden to me, I am weary of bearing them.
  9. ↩Lam.1.7 — Jerusalem remembers in her days of affliction and her wanderings—all her precious things that were from days of old—when her people fell into the hand of the foe, and there was no one to help her. Her enemies saw her; they laughed at her ruin.
  10. ↩1Tim.2.8 — I desire, then, that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or disputing.
  11. ↩Phil.4.8 — Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise—think on these things.
  12. ↩1Cor.3.17;1Cor.6.19 — If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy that person. For the temple of God is holy, and you are that temple. 1Cor.6.19 — Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? And you are not your own,
  13. ↩Ps.9.19 — For the needy will not be forgotten forever; the hope of the humble will never perish.
  14. ↩Matt.24.13 — But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
  15. ↩Song.8.6 — Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is strong as death, passion is fierce as Sheol. Its flashes are flashes of fire, a flame of Yah.
  16. ↩1Cor.12.8-1Cor.12.10 — For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit. 1Cor.12.9 — to another, faith by the same Spirit; and to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit 1Cor.12.10 — to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues
  17. ↩Rom.14.17 — For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
  18. ↩Rom.12.15 — Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.
  19. ↩Rom.12.8 — the one who exhorts, in exhortation; the one who gives, in generosity; the one who leads, with diligence; the one who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
  20. ↩Ps.26.8 — LORD, I love the dwelling place of your house, and the place where your glory dwells.
  21. ↩Isa.28.16;Eph.2.20;1Pet.2.4 — Therefore thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a firm foundation; the one who believes will not be in haste. Eph.2.20 — built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone 1Pet.2.4 — As you come to Him—a living Stone, rejected by men but chosen by God and precious in His sight—
  22. ↩Eph.2.20 — built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone
  23. ↩1Pet.2.4-1Pet.2.5 — As you come to Him—a living Stone, rejected by men but chosen by God and precious in His sight— 1Pet.2.5 — and you yourselves, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house, for a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
  24. ↩1Pet.2.9 — But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
  25. ↩1Pet.2.5;Rom.12.1 — and you yourselves, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house, for a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Rom.12.1 — Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable worship.
  26. ↩Eph.2.19-Eph.2.22 — So then, you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God. Eph.2.20 — built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone Eph.2.21 — in whom the entire building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord; Eph.2.22 — in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
  27. ↩1Pet.2.4-1Pet.2.9 — As you come to Him—a living Stone, rejected by men but chosen by God and precious in His sight— 1Pet.2.5 — and you yourselves, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house, for a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1Pet.2.6 — For it stands written in Scripture: "See, I am laying in Zion a chosen, precious cornerstone, and the one who believes in him will not be put to shame." 1Pet.2.7 — So for you who believe, there is great worth. But for those who refuse to believe, the stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. 1Pet.2.8 — a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense. They stumble because they disobey the word, to which they were also appointed. 1Pet.2.9 — But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
  28. ↩Song.2.4-Song.2.9 — He brought me to the house of wine, and his banner over me is love. Song.2.5 — Sustain me with raisin cakes, refresh me with apples, for I am faint with love. Song.2.6 — His left hand is under my head, and his right hand embraces me. Song.2.7 — I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or by the does of the field: do not stir up or awaken love until it pleases. Song.2.8 — The voice of my beloved! Look, he comes, leaping over the mountains, bounding over the hills. Song.2.9 — My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Behold, he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattice.
  29. ↩Rom.9.5 — whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.

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