He does not know the truth – and is not afraid to anger Him.

He does not know how great sweetness, and peace, and peace are found in Christian love and in all piety, and he does not strive for this.

He does not see eternal bliss – and does not properly seek that which he does not see.

One must first cognize, and then seek what one will know. It is necessary to know God in His attributes – and then to revere Him. To know that He is the Creator, the Redeemer, the Providence, the Lord and King of all you, and since you revere your Creator, Redeemer, Provider, Lord and King, listen to His will and commands, as your father, who begat you, your lord and king. It is necessary to know that He is God, Helper, Defender and Intercessor, as well as yours, and there is none else besides Him. And so to put our hope in Him, and in the day of trouble and misfortune to run to Him and call upon Him, and to ask for help and protection from Him, and so on. It must be kept without doubt that those who worship God in the age to come will have eternal bliss and incomprehensible to the mind, and thus the desire and diligence to receive it will be kindled.

Thus the farmers first look upon the fruits of the earth, and thus, hoping to gather the fruits, they labor in agriculture. Thus the miners first know where the ore is in the ground, whether copper, or iron, or silver, and then they dig it. Thus, with the eye of faith, one must first see the life to come, and so by faith seek it, and wait for it, and hope to receive it, as it is written about Moses: He refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, and would rather suffer with the people of God than have a temporary sinful pleasure, and he considered the reproach of Christ a greater wealth for himself than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the recompense (Heb. 11:24-26). And for what reason did he despise all the glory and wealth of Egypt? For with the eye of faith he saw the future glory and life, and despised the earthly as nothing, and sought it, for he looked to the recompense. In the same way, whoever sees the future life and glory of God's chosen ones with the eye of faith will surely despise the glory, honor, riches, and all the vanity of this world, and will strive for this one as his goal and priceless treasure.

You see that every thing is first known, and so it is desired and demanded, for what we do not know, we do not desire and do not seek. And from this it is evident that every sinner does not revere God, does not fear and does not love Him, because he does not know Him; and he does not properly desire or seek the future life and glory, because he does not see it. He does not know God and does not see that glory, because he does not have spiritual eyes, enlightened by His faith and grace, by which only God and that glory are seen. Such Christians have darkness and darkness on their spiritual eyes, like a veil, and does not allow them to see God and His glory. And it will lie until they turn with all their hearts to the Lord, as the Apostle wrote about the Jews: "Until now, when they read Moses, a veil lies over their hearts; but when they turn to the Lord, then this veil is removed (2 Cor. 3:15-16). With this veil the eyes of the soul are covered, although they read and listen to the Holy Scriptures, they do not understand, as the Apostle says about the Jews in the same place: "But their minds are blinded" (2 Corinthians 3:14), and so they become blind both in the knowledge of God and in the worship of Him. This blindness and darkness lies on the heart of every sinner who has not turned from the world and sin to God.

§ 57. The image of terrible blindness is presented to us by the Scriptures in the old Israel. The Lord did all kinds of miracles before them in the land of Egypt, as we read in the Book of Exodus and in the Psalms: "He sent darkness and brought darkness, for they resisted His words; He turned their waters into blood, and killed the fish in them; their land boiled with frogs, even in the treasuries of their kings; And he commanded, and the flies and gnats of the dog appeared in all their borders; instead of rain he sent them hail and fire to scorch their land, and smote their vineyards and their fig trees, and broke down every tree within them. He commanded, and locusts and caterpillars without number appeared; and they ate all the grass in their land; and they ate all the fruit in their land; and he smote every firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of all their labor (Psalm 104:28-36). But the holy prophet confesses to the Lord: "Our fathers in Egypt did not understand Thy miracles" (Psalm 105:7), when those terrible plagues struck down only the Egyptians, the enemies of Israel, and did not touch the Israelites, as we read in the Book of Exodus. This very thing, as it were, showed them with a finger the special Providence of God and mercy for them; but they did not understand the miracles of God, did not remember the mercy of God. To those who came out of Egypt and fled from their enemies, the Lord opened the way, and there where there was no way, He divided the sea and led them (Psalm 77:13). The Red Sea was fiercely spoken, and it was dried up; and led them through the depths as on dry land (Psalm 105:9). And they saw their enemies covered with water, as with one grave: The waters covered their enemies, not one of them remained; they also sang the praise of God (Psalm 105:11-12). But soon they forgot (Psalm 105:13) such great and terrible works of God. They made a golden calf; instead of God the Creator, their Father and Deliverer, they honoured the soulless idol, and worshipped the work of their hands: and they made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the image: and exchanged His glory for the likeness of a calf that eateth grass. And they forgot God, Who saved them, Who did great things in Egypt, miracles in the land of Ham, terrible things in the Red Sea (Psalm 105:19-22). They ascribed such a miraculous blessing of God to soulless things and to the creation of their hands. Terrible blasphemy and blindness! A soulless thing, immovable of itself, what help can give, especially to do such a wonderful deed.. But the blinded Israel stretches out her hands and cries, "Behold your god, Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt!" (Exodus 32:4).

A similar blindness is seen in many Christians today, who say that they know God, but deny it by their deeds, as was said above. Called to eternal life and the heavenly kingdom, as the promised land, boiling with honey and milk; but they want and strive in this world to become rich, to be glorified, to reign, and, if possible, to dwell forever – which is evident from their insatiable desire for wealth, honor, glory and superfluous buildings.

Consider whether it would not be great folly for a man who, being in a foreign country, and soon having to return to his home, began to build there rich houses, which he would soon be forced to leave, and so only his labor would be useless; Or one who, having been informed that he will die soon, in two days or two weeks, nevertheless gathers wealth, seeks honor and glory? Truly, anyone would call both senseless! Thus do those people who in this world build rich and superfluous buildings, accumulate great treasures, seek honor and glory, knowing that all these things must soon be left in this country and go to their place without all this.

Никто ничего из мира сего с собой не уносит, ибо мы ничего не принесли в мир; явно, что ничего не можем и вынести из него (1 Тим. 6:7). И хотя всякому из таких, которые собирают, а не в Бога богатеют, Божий глас гремит: Безумный! В сию ночь душу твою возьмут у тебя; кому же достанется то, что ты заготовил? (Лк. 12:20); И хотя все каждый день видят, что богатые и нищие, славные и бесславные, почтенные и простые равно восхищаются и в тот век переходят, и восхищаются различно, часто и неожиданно, так что те, которые надеются долго пожить, внезапно жить перестают, и что видят на других сбывающимся, того и себе бы должны ожидать, однако так богатеть и прославиться в этой чужой стране стараются, как будто многие тысячи лет или без конца жить здесь будут.

У таковых людей мгла и тьма лежит на душевном оке и ослепляет его. Хотя они и богаты – не видят нищеты своей. Хотя они и славны – не видят подлости и бедности своей. Хотя и мудры – не видят неразумия и слепоты своей. Хотя они и блаженными себя считают – но не усматривают своего окаянства.

§ 58. Пока человек в такой слепоте находится, то думает о себе, что он все правильно и разумно делает; но на самом деле все его поступки, дела, замыслы и начинания – одно заблуждение. Ибо сердце, от которого все происходит, суетой исполненное и мирской любовью напоенное, не что иное, как только суетное замышляет и в действо производит. И такой во всем подобен слепому или во тьме находящемуся, который, хотя и весь замаран, однако думает, что он чист; хотя и сбился с пути и блуждает, однако думает, что он надлежащей дорогой идет. И тем бедственнее эта слепота, что человек ее не усматривает, познание же ее есть начало духовного блаженства. И эта слепота не только в простых и безграмотных людях примечается, но и в му­дрых и разумных века сего, которые нечто высокое о себе мечтают и отделяют себя от простых, некнижных и невежд. Ибо где неумеренное самолюбие и любовь мира сего имеется, там и слепота эта место свое имеет. Самолюбия и мирской любви без тьмы той не бывает.

§ 59.

Мы преисполнились делами беззакония и погибели и ходили по непроходимым пустыням, а пути Господня не познали (Прем. 5:6-7).