On Salvation
XXXVIII. On Salvation
1. O God, Who art the Saviour
of every man that bears love towards You,
forgive and save <all> sinners!
2. No man is capable of saving himself unaided,
because the good <deeds> he performs cannot suffice
for the good that resides in everlasting life.
3. It is necessary, therefore, for God to provide the completion
required for salvation,
which <completion> God willingly bestows.
4. God saves man by proffering
Himself in order to glorify
whoever seeks to honour Him properly.
5. Let whoever seeks to receive a great salvation
render great honour to God
and cause Him to be loved by <all> people.
6. Since it pertains to God
to save man by means of <His> goodness,
a wicked man cannot be saved.
7. Since God saves by means of <His> forgiveness,
no man ought to despair,
but rather should beg His mercy.
8. Since God saves men by means of torment,
those who, indulging in pleasures,
think that they have found the path to salvation are certainly fools!
9. God is as just as He is forgiving,
for which reason sinners should
be very fearful of God.
10. God saves the one who submits
to judgment and who repents
in order that he may rightfully obtain mercy.