ANF01. The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus

Chapter XXIII.—Be humble, and believe that Christ will come again.

The all-merciful and beneficent Father has bowels [of compassion] towards those that fear Him, and kindly and lovingly bestows His favours upon those who come to Him with a simple mind. Wherefore let us not be double-minded; neither let our soul be lifted⁹⁸⁹⁸    Or, as some render, “neither let us have any doubt of.” up on account of His exceedingly great and glorious gifts. Far from us be that which is written, “Wretched are they who are of a double mind, and of a doubting heart; who say, These things we have heard even in the times of our fathers; but, behold, we have grown old, and none of them has happened unto us.”⁹⁹⁹⁹    Some regard these words as taken from an apocryphal book, others as derived from a fusion of Jas. i. 8and 2 Pet. iii. 3, 4. Ye foolish ones! compare yourselves to a tree: take [for instance] the vine. First of all, it sheds its leaves, then it buds, next it puts forth leaves, and then it flowers; after that comes the sour grape, and then follows the ripened fruit. Ye perceive how in a little time the fruit of a tree comes to maturity. Of a truth, soon and suddenly shall His will be accomplished, as the Scripture also bears witness, saying, “Speedily will He come, and will not tarry;”¹⁰⁰¹⁰⁰    Hab. ii. 3; Heb. x. 37. and, “The Lord shall suddenly come to His temple, even the Holy One, for whom ye look.”¹⁰¹¹⁰¹    Mal. iii. 1.