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Church Fathers V3 - Fr George Grube - Saint Mina Coptic Orthodox ...

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+ Those, therefore, who cast away these aforementioned things (ed. "life with<br />

God") because of apostasy are, in fact, destitute of all good. So, theyexperience<br />

every kind of punishment. Now, good things are eternal and without end with<br />

God. Therefore, it follows, that the loss of such things is also eternal and without<br />

end.<br />

- St. Irenaeus<br />

+ We know that God's mercy is gratuitously given to whom it is given at all.<br />

- St. Augustine<br />

+ There are various "mansions" (in heaven) according to the worth of those who<br />

have been faithful.<br />

- St. Clement of Alexandria<br />

+ All souls are immortal, even those of the wicked. However, it would be better<br />

for them if they were not deathless. For they are punished with the endless<br />

vengeance of quenchless fire. Since they do not experience death, it is<br />

impossible for them to have an end put to their misery.<br />

- St. Clement of Alexandria<br />

+ To the lovers of wickedness there will be given eternal punishment. And the<br />

unquenchable fire, which never ends, awaits them. So does a kind of fiery worm<br />

that does not die and does not consume the body, but continues bursting forth<br />

from the body with unending pain. Sleep will not offer them rest, no night will<br />

soothe them, no death will deliver them from punishment. The voice of friends<br />

interceding on their behalf will not profit them. For the righteous are not seen<br />

by them any longer, nor are they worthy of remembrance. Rather, the righteous<br />

will remember only the righteous deeds by which they reached the heavenly<br />

kingdom-in which there is no sleep, no pain, no corruption, no worry, no night,<br />

nor day measured in time...There will be no more heaven inaccessible to men.<br />

The way of its ascent will no longer be impossible to find, and there will be<br />

no more soil uncultivated or toilsome for men. Rather, it will be a place that<br />

produces fruit spontaneously in beauty and order. There will be no further<br />

generations of wild beasts, nor the bursting substance of other creatures.<br />

Nor with man will there be birth again. For the number of the righteous remains<br />

perfect with the righteous angels and spirits.<br />

- St. Hippolytus<br />

+ Let no one be less good because God is more so, by repeating his sins as<br />

many times as he is forgiven. Otherwise, be sure he will find an end of escaping<br />

when he shall not find one of sinning.<br />

- Tertullian<br />

- 184-

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