The Judgement Of Thoughts

Nunc videamus quod sequitur: Et inter se invicem cogitationibus accusantibus, aut etiam defendentibus in die, cum judicabit Deus oscuta hominum secundum Evangelium meum, per Jesum Christum. Rectum judicium Dei esse quis dubitet, ubi accusatores, et defensores adhibenter et testes? Et quidem de hoc justo Dei judicio nos homines capiamus exemplum, nec putamus unquam sine accusante, et defendente, et testibus justum haberi posse judicium. Deinde videndum est quomodo in illa die, cum judicabit Deus occulata hominum, cogitationes vel accusabunt animam, vel defendent, non utique illae cogitantiones quae tunc erunt, sed istae quae nunc sunt in nobis. Cum enim sive bona, sive mala cogitamus, velut in ceri, ita in corde nostro tam bonarum quam malarum cogitationem notae quaedam et signacula relinquuntur, quae in occulto nunc pectoris posita, in illa die revelari dicuntur a nullo alio, nisi ab eo qui solus potest occulta hominum scire: quorum signorum, vel quarum notarum causas non latere Deum etiam nostra conscientia contestabitur. Quod tamen judicium, secundum Evangelium Pauli hoc est, quod Paulus annuntiat, per Jesus Christum fiet. Pater enim neminem judicat, sed omne judiciu dedit Filio. Marcion tamen, et omnes qui diversis figmenti varias introducant animaum naturas, hoc ex loco apertissime confutantur, cum a Paulo dicitur Deus occulata hominum judicare per Jesum Christum: et ostenditur unumquemque non naturae privilegio, sed propriis cogitationibus accusatum, vel excusatum, conscientiae suae testimonio judicandum. Origenes, Commentariorum In Epistolam Beati Pauli Ad Romanos, Liber II, Interprete Rufino Aquileiense Source: Migne PG 14.894a-c

Now let us see what follows: 'And their thoughts between themselves accusing or defending one another, on the day when God judges the hidden things of men according to my Gospel, through Jesus Christ.' 1 Who shall doubt there is a righteous judgement of God when there are accusing and defending witnesses brought forth? And certainly concerning this just judgement of God, we men are an example, lest we should think anyone can have a just judgement without having accusing and defending witnesses. Then let it be seen how on that day God shall judge the hidden things of men, with thoughts defending or accusing the soul, not as thoughts shall be then, but as they are in us now. When we think either good things or bad things, they leave a certain impression or mark of the thought of good things or of evil things as in wax, which is now set in the hidden place of the heart, but on that day are said to be exposed by none other than Him who alone can know the hidden things of men, which signs, or the causes of the impressions, our conscience shall bear witness to God are not hidden. And this judgement, according to the the Gospel of Paul, that is, what Paul proclaims, shall be by Jesus Christ. 'For the Father judges no one, but He has given all judgement to the Son.' 2 So Marcion and all those who with their many fables introduce differing natures of souls are openly refuted by this passage, when Paul says that God judges the hidden things of men through Jesus Christ, for it is shown there is no privileged nature, but judgement is though the witness of conscience which with its own thoughts is accused or excused. Origen, from the Commentary on the Letter of Paul to the Romans, Book 2, Translated by Rufinus of Aquileia. 1 Rom 2.15-16 2 Jn 5.22