ANF01. The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus

Chapter L.—Let us pray to be thought worthy of love.

Ye see, beloved, how great and wonderful a thing is love, and that there is no declaring its perfection. Who is fit to be found in it, except such as God has vouchsafed to render so? Let us pray, therefore, and implore of His mercy, that we may live blameless in love, free from all human partialities for one above another. All the generations from Adam even unto this day have passed away; but those who, through the grace of God, have been made perfect in love, now possess a place among the godly, and shall be made manifest at the revelation²²⁴²²⁴    Literally, “visitation.” of the kingdom of Christ. For it is written, “Enter into thy secret chambers for a little time, until my wrath and fury pass away; and I will remember a propitious²²⁵²²⁵    Or, “good.” day, and will raise you up out of your graves.”²²⁶²²⁶    Isa. xxvi. 20. Blessed are we, beloved, if we keep the commandments of God in the harmony of love; that so through love our sins may be forgiven us. For it is written, “Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin 19 the Lord will not impute to him, and in whose mouth there is no guile.”²²⁷²²⁷    Ps. xxxii. 1, 2. This blessedness cometh upon those who have been chosen by God through Jesus Christ our Lord; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.