Assist, therefore, one another in good faith, and by deed and with a hearty will; nor let any one remove his hand from the help of a brother, since by this, says the Lord, shall all people know that you are my disciples, if you have love one toward another. Wherefore, too, he speaks by the prophet, saying, Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! In a spiritual dwelling, I interpret it, and in a concord that is in God, and in the unity of the faith that distinguishes this pleasant dwelling according to truth, which indeed was illustrated more beautifully in Aaron and the priests clothed with honor, as ointment on the head, nurturing the highest understanding and leading even to the end of wisdom. For in this dwelling the Lord has promised blessing and eternal life. Apprehending, therefore, the importance of this utterance of the prophet, we have spoken this present brotherly word for love’s sake and by no means seeking, or meaning to seek, our own things.

The apostle taught us that our community, the communion by which we are joined to one another, springs from God, when he said, Do not forget good works and communion, for God takes pleasure in such sacrifices.^[1] We read the same thing in the Acts of the Apostles: For the multitude of believers had one heart and soul, and no one called anything his own. They held everything in common. And the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus with great power.^[2] The psalmist is in agreement with these words when he says, Behold, how good and how delightful it is for brothers to live together. And let us who live together in the Koinonia and who are united to one another in mutual charity, so apply ourselves that, just as we deserved fellowship with the holy fathers in this life, we may also be their companions in the life to come. We know that the cross of our life is also the foundation of our doctrine and that we must share Christ’s sufferings,^[3] and we must realize that without trials and difficulties no one attains victory. Happy the one who endures trial,^[4] for when he has proved himself, he shall receive the crown of life.^[5]

Perform your duties in the church faithfully and joyfully, as they fall to your lot according to your rank, and fulfill your ministry^[1] with uprightness, because of that God under whom we are fellow servants and to whom we understand that we shall render an account of our actions. Therefore, his mercy ought to abound in us, because judgment without mercy to him that has not done mercy.^[2] For this reason pray with us for those who still cause us sadness,^[3] that the sickness of their carnal mind, intensified and concentrated by long custom, may be healed.^[4] For who does not understand how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity if that pleasure touches a palate from which the mind has spit out all the bitterness of division and that loves the sweetness of charity? The God to whom we pray for them is powerful and merciful enough to use any sort of occasion to draw them even now to salvation. May the Lord preserve you in peace.

The law was given not for one, but for all. So, too, Christ came not for one or to one but to all and for all. He desired to bring all things together into a unity that alone is good and pleasant. The prophet, aware of the future, assures us, Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. For not singularity but unity is acceptable to God. The Holy Spirit descended on the apostles with all his welling fountain when they were assembled together.^[1] This occurred after the apostles had been instructed by the Lord’s own commandment to wait in a group for the Spirit’s coming.

The prophet said in praise of fraternal charity: Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. What good is there in the life of people except peace, in which upright pursuits make progress and religious activities are fostered? What is more joyful than all nations serving the one God in peace and the prayers of all people converging to the praise of the one Lord?

To dwell together in unity is this: to believe in God and faithfully to remain in the one Son of God. This is the one profitable and joyful union for mortals: our not dividing, as the heretics do, the Father from the Son, or the Son from the Father or the Holy Spirit from both, but, rather, our believing that these three names are distributed among the persons and that the persons rejoice in the participation of the one godhead. Thus it comes to pass that, when there is agreement to unity, there will be no shattering of charity in the church.

But it is, as we have already said, impossible for a novice to understand or to teach this. For if one is incapable of receiving it, how can he be fit to pass it on to another? But if he has had the audacity to teach anything on these matters, most certainly his words will be idle and useless and only reach the ears of his hearers without being able to touch their hearts. Uttered as they were in sheer idleness and unfruitful vanity, they do not proceed from the treasure of a good conscience, but from the empty impertinence of boastfulness. For it is impossible for an impure soul (however earnestly it may devote itself to reading) to obtain spiritual knowledge. No one pours any rich ointment or fine honey or any precious liquid into a dirty and stinking vessel. A jar that has once been filled with foul odors spoils the sweetest myrrh more readily than it receives any sweetness or grace from it, for what is pure is corrupted much more quickly than what is corrupt is purified. And so the vessel of our heart unless it has first been purified from all the foul stains of sin will not be worthy to receive that blessed ointment of which it is said by the prophet: Like oil on the head, which ran down upon Aaron’s beard, which ran down to the edge of his garment. Nor will it keep undefiled that spiritual knowledge and the words of Scripture which are sweeter than honey and the honeycomb.^[1] For what does righteousness share with wickedness? Or what agreement has light with darkness? Or what friendship has Christ with Belial?^[2]