Chapter 4.
Antichrist is at hand: let us therefore avoid Jewish errors
It therefore behooves us, who inquire much concerning events at hand, to search diligently into
those things which are able to save us. Let us then utterly flee from all the works of iniquity, lest
these should take hold of us; and let us hate the error of the present time, that we may set our
love on the world to come: let us not give loose reins to our soul, that it should have power to
run with sinners and the wicked, lest we become like them. The final stumblingblock (or source
of danger) approaches, concerning which it is written, as Enoch says, For for this end the Lord
has cut short the times and the days, that His Beloved may hasten; and He will come to the
inheritance. And the prophet also speaks thus: Ten kingdoms shall reign upon the earth, and a
little king shall rise up after them, who shall subdue under one three of the kings. In like manner
Daniel says concerning the same, And I beheld the fourth beast, wicked and powerful, and more
savage than all the beasts of the earth, and how from it sprang up ten horns, and out of them a
little budding horn, and how it subdued under one three of the great horns. You ought therefore
to understand. And this also I further beg of you, as being one of you, and loving you both
individually and collectively more than my own soul, to take heed now to yourselves, and not to
be like some, adding largely to your sins, and saying, The covenant is both theirs and ours. But
they thus finally lost it, after Moses had already received it. For the Scripture says, And Moses
was fasting in the mount forty days and forty nights, and received the covenant from the Lord,
tables of stone written with the finger of the hand of the Lord; Exodus 31:18, Exodus 34:28 but
turning away to idols, they lost it. For the Lord speaks thus to Moses: Moses go down quickly;
for the people whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt have transgressed. Exodus 32:7;
Deuteronomy 9:12 And Moses understood [the meaning of God], and cast the two tables out of
his hands; and their covenant was broken, in order that the covenant of the beloved Jesus might
be sealed upon our heart, in the hope which flows from believing in Him. Now, being desirous to
write many things to you, not as your teacher, but as becomes one who loves you, I have taken
care not to fail to write to you from what I myself possess, with a view to your purification. We
take earnest heed in these last days; for the whole [past] time of your faith will profit you
nothing, unless now in this wicked time we also withstand coming sources of danger, as
becomes the sons of God. That the Black One may find no means of entrance, let us flee from
every vanity, let us utterly hate the works of the way of wickedness. Do not, by retiring apart, live
a solitary life, as if you were already [fully] justified; but coming together in one place, make
common inquiry concerning what tends to your general welfare. For the Scripture says, Woe to
them who are wise to themselves, and prudent in their own sight! Isaiah 5:21 Let us be
spirituallyminded: let us be a perfect temple to God. As much as in us lies, let us meditate upon
the fear of God, and let us keep His commandments, that we may rejoice in His ordinances. The
Lord will judge the world without respect of persons. Each will receive as he has done: if he is
righteous, his righteousness will precede him; if he is wicked, the reward of wickedness is
before him. Take heed, lest resting at our ease, as those who are the called [of God], we should
fall asleep in our sins, and the wicked prince, acquiring power over us, should thrust us away
from the kingdom of the Lord. And all the more attend to this, my brethren, when you reflect and
behold, that after so great signs and wonders were wrought in Israel, they were thus [at length]
abandoned. Let us beware lest we be found [fulfilling that saying], as it is written, Many are
called, but few are chosen.