A discourse that it is appropriate for us to cleave to the things that bring profit and to withdraw from inappropriate things.

Gathering to hear God's word

“God is blessed!” As he has gathered us to one another in body again today and will gather us also in the heart, let us truly share in the completion of perfect piety: a single heart, a single body, a single spirit, a single teaching, a single faith, a single Lord, and a single God. For many are those who are gathered to one another in body and not in heart. There are many thoughts in a person's heart; the counsel of God's scriptures is what is sure.

For there are many people who speak the word because they want the people who hear them to praise them as orators and who don't speak the word so that souls might be saved. Thus, there is no benefit in that foul teaching. On the other hand, isn't there someone who sits where the word of God is being spoken and tests what the speaker might say and doesn't listen to the word so as to accomplish it? Whoever listens in this way is the brother of the person who speaks for the sake of the glory of human beings, and it's the same fruitlessness that both of them have. Therefore, blessed now are the people who speak for the sake of benefit, and blessed are those who listen for the sake of their salvation. I'm saying these things because I want our labor to profit us, both speaker and listener.

I think that even if soldiers were sent out for us they would not be able to gather us like this from the places whence each one (of us) has come. Let us not be neglectful. For this grace does not belong to us; rather, it belongs to the one who invites, Jesus. People are gathered together to do many things by means of the rod and whips, but they are invited to the wedding by means of festive sounds and ointments. So then haven't we understood what wedding we mean? Who are those who are inviting other than the people-loving angels? This is how you all are running to gather in God's name – as if you were running to a festival.