Book V - Snyder Bible

The Preaching of Simeon Kefa 201
trees, if it be necessary. But he who seems to worship Elohim,
but is neither fortified by a full faith, nor by obedience to the
commandments, but is a sinner, has given a place in himself,
by reason of his sins, to passions, which are appointed of Elohim
for the punishment of those who sin, that they may exact
from them the deserts of their sins by means of punishments
inflicted, and may bring them purified to the general judgment
of all, provided always that their faith do not fail them in their
chastisement. For the chastisement of unbelievers in the
present life is a judgment, by which they begin to be separated
from future blessings; but the chastisement of those who worship
Elohim, while it is inflicted upon them for sins into which
they have fallen, exacts from them the due of what they have
done, that, before their judgment, they may pay the debt of
their sin in the present life, and be freed, at least in half, from
the eternal punishments which are there prepared.
Chapter XXXV: Judgment to Come
But he does not receive these things as true who does not
believe that there is to be a judgment by Elohim, and therefore,
being bound by the pleasures of the present life, is shut
out from eternal good things; and therefore we do not neglect
to proclaim to you what we know to be necessary for your salvation,
and to show you what is the true worship of Elohim,
that, believing in Elohim, you may be able, by means of good
works, to be heirs with us of the world to come. But if you are
not yet convinced that what we say is true, meantime, in the
first instance, you ought not to take it amiss and to be hostile
to us because we announce to you the things which we consider
to be good, and because we do not grudge to bestow also
upon you that which we believe brings salvation to ourselves,
laboring, as I have said, with all eagerness, that we may have
you as fellow-heirs of the blessings which we believe are to
befall ourselves. But whether those things which we declare to
you are certainly true, you shall not be able to know otherwise
than by rendering obedience to the things which are com-