First the double repayment, then the fire’s test

So that those who were fished and afterward came into the mountains may not suppose that these things have come to them from righteousness, the word reminds not only them but also us of the former sins. Therefore after the benefits it is said: 'And their injustices were not hidden before my eyes.'

What follows is about to put a contest before us. For if we understand it as following, we will take careful thought about the repayment of the sins; and if it seems not to follow what was set out before about those being fished and hunted, even so it throws us into no small contest. For he says: 'And I will repay first double their injustices and their sins, with which they profaned my land in the carcasses of the abominations and by their lawless deeds with which they filled my inheritance.' Whether some, not understanding, removed the 'first' from what is written, or the Seventy managed to remove it, God would know. But we, comparing with the remaining editions, found it lying there: 'And I will repay first double their injustices,' so that it may be shown that even if through their second works they were worthy of blessedness, since they are humans and have come to be in sins, they must first receive their sins.

And see whether the word is not true. Who will not receive the sins—except the one who, after believing and receiving forgiveness of sins (so as to hear Jesus say: 'Your sins are forgiven you'), no longer sins? But if after the forgiveness of sins and the economy of the washing of regeneration we sin—as we the many do, who have not been perfected like the apostles—and after sinning, and while sinning, also do some things that are due, what awaits us must be considered. If we leave life holding sins and also holding brave deeds, will we be saved through the brave deeds and released concerning the things we sinned in knowledge? Or will we be punished through the sins and nowhere receive a wage for the brave deeds? But neither the one—I mean receiving the worse and not receiving the better—is according to the just God, nor the other—I mean receiving the better and not receiving the worse—is according to the just God, who wants to cleanse and cut out the wickedness.

For grant that you have built, after the foundation Christ Jesus whom you were taught, not only gold and silver and precious stone—if indeed you have gold, much gold or little; grant that you have silver, precious stone; but not only these, I say—grant that you also have wood and hay and straw. What do you wish to happen to you after departure? Either to enter into the holy things with your wood and with your hay and straw, so as to defile the kingdom of God? Or again do you wish to remain because of the hay, the wood, the straw in the fire and receive nothing for the gold and silver and precious stone? This too is not reasonable.