Chapter 9

§ 1.

And this is what the Apostle also saith among other things, That flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.¹ It is the same which all the Heretics allege for their own madness: whereby they strive both to impede us, and to prove that God’s Creation is not saved: not perceiving that there are three things, of which, as we have shewn, the perfect Man consists:² i.e., of Flesh, Soul, and Spirit: and that, while the one of these, which is the spirit, saves and gives form: another, which is the Flesh, is united and formed:—that which is between these two is the Soul, which now followeth the Spirit, and is by it exalted; now consenting unto the Flesh, sinks down into earthly lusts.

As many therefore as have not That which saves and forms, and Unity,—these accordingly will be, and will be called, Flesh and Blood: as not having within them the Spirit of God. And therefore such are by our Lord also called “dead men:” for saith He,³ Let the dead bury their dead: because they have not the Spirit which quickeneth man.

§ 2.

But as many as fear God, and believe in the Advent of His Son, and by faith settle in their hearts the Spirit of God:—such as these are justly called Men, and pure, and spiritual, and living unto God: because they have the Spirit of the Father, Which purifieth man, and raiseth him to the life of God.⁴ For as the “weak flesh,” so also the “willing spirit” had witness borne to it by the Lord. Such an one is powerful to effect whatever it hath in⁵ hand.⁶ If then this readiness of the Spirit be used by any one to temper the weakness of the flesh, as a kind of spur; the strong must of absolute necessity overcome the weak, until the weakness of the flesh be swallowed up by the strength of the Spirit; and such an one must be no more carnal but spiritual, because of his participation of the Spirit. Just so the Martyrs bear their witness, and despise death, not according to the infirmity of the flesh, but according to the readiness of the spirit. For the weakness of the flesh being swallowed up sheweth the Power of the Spirit;⁷ and the Spirit on the other hand swallowing up weakness, hath the flesh in itself by inheritance: and out of the two is made up the living man: living, by his participation of the Spirit, and a man, by the substance of his flesh.

§ 3.

Therefore the flesh without God’s Spirit is dead; not having life, it cannot possess the Kingdom of God: the irrational blood is as water poured out on the earth. And therefore he saith,⁸ As is the earthy, such are they that are earthy. But where the Spirit of the Father is, there is a living man, rational blood kept by God to be avenged, the Flesh possessed by the Spirit, so as to have forgotten itself, and to assume the quality of the Spirit, being made conformable to the Word of God. And therefore it saith,⁹ As we have borne the image of him who is of the Earth, let us bear also the Image of Him Who is from Heaven.

What then is the earthly thing? The created form. What again the Heavenly? The Spirit. As then, saith he, we have had our conversation sometime without the heavenly Spirit, in the oldness of the flesh, not obeying God; so now receiving the Spirit, let us walk in newness of life, obeying God.

And so, because without the Spirit of God we cannot be saved, the Apostle exhorting us to keep well the Spirit of God by faith and a pure conversation, that we may not become without portion in God’s Spirit, and fail of the Kingdom of Heaven—cried out that the Flesh in itself cannot in the blood inherit the Kingdom of God.

§ 4.

For, if the truth must be told, the Flesh doth not inherit but is inherited: as also the Lord saith,¹⁰ Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the Earth: as though in the Kingdom that earth were inherited, whereof also is the substance of our flesh: and therefore He willeth the temple to be pure, that the Spirit of God may be delighted therewith, as the Bridegroom with the Bride.¹¹ As then the Bride cannot marry, but may be married, when the Bridegroom shall come and take her to himself; so also the Flesh of itself cannot inherit the Kingdom of God, but may by inheritance be admitted into the Kingdom of God. For the living inheriteth the goods of the dead: and it is one thing to inherit, another to be inherited. For while the one takes the lead, and rules, and disposes of the inherited goods as he himself willeth; the others are in subjection, and obedience, and are ruled by the inheritor. What is it then that liveth? The Spirit of God. And what are the goods of the dead? The Members of Man, which decay in this earth. But these become the inheritance of the Spirit, when they are translated into the Kingdom of Heaven.

Yea,¹² and for this cause Christ died, that the Testament of the Gospel being opened, and read to the whole world, might first of all make His servants free, and then constitute them heirs of all that He hath, the Spirit possessing it by inheritance, as we have explained. For he that liveth, possesseth by inheritance; but the Flesh is acquired by inheritance. Lest we, losing the Spirit which possesseth us, should lose our life, the Apostle exhorting us to participation of the Spirit, said with reason, what I have before quoted, That flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. As if He should say, Be not deceived; for except the Word of God inhabit you, and the Spirit of the Father be in you;—and if you have had your conversation foolishly, and at random, as though you were this only, i.e., Flesh and Blood—you will not be capable of possessing the Kingdom of God.