Chap. xiii.—Exhortation to meet together frequently for the worship of God

Chap. xiii.—Exhortation to meet together frequently for the worship of God.

Shorter.

Take heed, then, often to come together to give thanks to God, and show forth His praise. For when ye assemble frequently in the same place, the powers of Satan are destroyed, and the destruction at which he aims[834] is prevented by the unity of your faith. Nothing is more precious than peace, by which all war, both in heaven and earth,[835] is brought to an end.

Longer.

Take heed, then, often to come together to give thanks to God, and show forth His praise. For when ye come frequently together in the same place, the powers of Satan are destroyed, and his “fiery darts”[836] urging to sin fall back ineffectual. For your concord and harmonious faith prove his destruction, and the torment of his assistants. Nothing is better than that peace which is according to Christ, by which all war, both of aërial and terrestrial spirits, is brought to an end. “For we wrestle not against blood and flesh, but against principalities and powers, and against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in heavenly places.”[837]