Who, believing themselves blameless, seeks to judge others prematurely and accuses those striving to fulfill God’s law of wrongdoing, while labeling their kindly actions as evil?
In response, a learned scholar queried: "Do authorities err when they punish offenders and render justice to those who have been wronged?" The elder replied: "It is not the judges who err, but those who submit offenders to them without first bringing them before God. They sin in two ways: firstly, everything that happens to them is allowed for their own sins and aims to lead them to repentance, rather than vengeance. Secondly, even if they have been wronged unjustly, they must still forgive their offenders, remembering the Lord’s words: 'Forgive, and you will be forgiven,' and they should not seek revenge through others, thus leaving their wrongs unforgiven. Princes,” as the Apostle says, “are not a terror to good works, but to the evil” (Rom. 13:3). For they do not compel the righteous to accuse those who have offended them, nor do they chide the wronged for not engaging in litigation; instead, they cater only to those who crave retribution. Those who endure wrongs for God's sake are esteemed and regarded with wisdom. Just as judges do not involve those who do not desire judgment, those who exact vengeance on the wronged are not at fault. Therefore, it is essential for you, wise one, to seek, beyond earthly laws and knowledge, the spiritual law, to embrace acts of piety, and to endure all hardships as your own. For without this, no one can attain true wisdom.
THEOSIS