1. Although in very many of you, dearly beloved brethren, there is a stedfast mind and a firm faith, and a devoted spirit that is not disturbed at the

 2. For he who wars for God, dearest brethren, ought to acknowledge himself as one who, placed in the heavenly camp, already hopes for divine things, s

 3. For it is written that the just lives by faith. If you are just, and live by faith, if you truly believe in Christ, why, since you are about to be

 4. But for the rest, what else in the world than a battle against the devil is daily carried on, than a struggle against his darts and weapons in cons

 5. So many persecutions the soul suffers daily, with so many risks is the heart wearied, and yet it delights to abide here long among the devil’s weap

 6. But, beloved brethren, this is so, because faith is lacking, because no one believes that the things which God promises are true, although He is tr

 7. How great is the advantage of going out of the world, Christ Himself, the Teacher of our salvation and of our good works, shows to us, who, when Hi

 8. But nevertheless it disturbs some that the power of this Disease attacks our people equally with the heathens, as if the Christian believed for thi

 9. Moreover, if the Christian know and keep fast under what condition and what law he has believed, he will be aware that he must suffer more than oth

 10. Thus Job, after the loss of his wealth, after the death of his children, grievously afflicted, moreover, with sores and worms, was not overcome, b

 11. Righteous men have ever possessed this endurance. The apostles maintained this discipline from the law of the Lord, not to murmur in adversity, bu

 12. Thus Abraham pleased God, who, that he might please God, did not shrink even from losing his son, or from doing an act of parricide. You, who cann

 13. Thus, moreover, the Apostle Paul, after shipwrecks, after scourgings, after many and grievous tortures of the flesh and body, says that he is not

 14. This trial, that now the bowels, relaxed into a constant flux, discharge the bodily strength that a fire originated in the marrow ferments into w

 15. Many of our people die in this mortality, that is, many of our people are liberated from this world. This mortality, as it is a plague to Jews and

 16. And further, beloved brethren, what is it, what a great thing is it, how pertinent, how necessary, that pestilence and plague which seems horrible

 17. But perchance some one may object, and say, “It is this, then, that saddens me in the present mortality, that I, who had been prepared for confess

 18. We ought to remember that we should do not our own will, but God’s, in accordance with what our Lord has bidden us daily to pray. How preposterous

 19. Besides, that the indications of the divine providence may be more evidently manifest, proving that the Lord, prescient of the future, takes couns

 20. To myself also, the very least and last, how often has it been revealed, how frequently and manifestly has it been commanded by the condescension

 21. Finally, the Apostle Paul reproaches, and rebukes, and blames any who are in sorrow at the departure of their friends. “I would not,” says he, “ha

 22. That in the meantime we die, we are passing over to immortality by death nor can eternal life follow, unless it should befall us to depart from t

 23. Thus, moreover, we find that Enoch also was translated, who pleased God, as in Genesis the Holy Scripture bears witness, and says, “And Enoch plea

 24. It is for him to wish to remain long in the world whom the world delights, whom this life, flattering and deceiving, invites by the enticements of

 25. And this, as it ought always to be done by God’s servants, much more ought to be done now—now that the world is collapsing and is oppressed with t

 26. We should consider, dearly beloved brethren—we should ever and anon reflect that we have renounced the world, and are in the meantime living here

8. But nevertheless it disturbs some that the power of this Disease attacks our people equally with the heathens, as if the Christian believed for this purpose, that he might have the enjoyment of the world and this life free from the contact of ills; and not as one who undergoes all adverse things here and is reserved for future joy.  It disturbs some that this mortality is common to us with others; and yet what is there in this world which is not common to us with others, so long as this flesh of ours still remains, according to the law of our first birth, common to us with them? So long as we are here in the world, we are associated with the human race in fleshly equality,16    [The Christian is not exempted from the common lot of humanity; but all men, if they would live godly, would escape many evils (1 Tim. vi. 6), even in the light of 2 Tim. iii. 12.] but are separated in spirit. Therefore until this corruptible shall put on incorruption, and this mortal receive immortality, and the Spirit17    A few codices read, for “the Spirit,” “Christ.” lead us to God the Father, whatsoever are the disadvantages of the flesh are common to us with the human race. Thus, when the earth is barren with an unproductive harvest, famine makes no distinction; thus, when with the invasion of an enemy any city is taken, captivity at once desolates all; and when the serene clouds withhold the rain, the drought is alike to all; and when the jagged rocks rend the ship, the shipwreck is common without exception to all that sail in her; and the disease of the eyes, and the attack of fevers, and the feebleness of all the limbs is common to us with others, so long as this common flesh of ours is borne by us in the world.

VIII. Atenim quosdam movet quod aequaliter cum gentilibus nostros morbi istius valitudo corripiat; quasi ad hoc crediderit Christianus, ut, immunis a contactu malorum, mundo et saeculo feliciter perfruatur, et non omnia hic adversa perpessus, ad futuram laetitiam reservetur. Movet quosdam quod sit 0587B nobis cum caeteris mortalitas ista communis. Quid enim nobis in hoc mundo non commune cum caeteris quamdiu adhuc, secundum legem primae nativitatis, manet caro ista communis? Quoadusque istic in mundo sumus, cum genere humano carnis aequalitate conjungimur, spiritu separamur. Itaque, donec corruptivum istud induat incorruptionem, et mortale hoc accipiat immortalitatem (I Cor. XV, 53), et Christus nos perducat ad Deum Patrem, quaecumque sunt carnis incommoda sunt nobis cum humano genere communia. Sic, cum foetu sterili terra jejuna est, neminem fames separat. Sic, cum irruptione hostili civitas aliqua possessa est, omnes simul captivitas vastat. Et quando imbrem nubila serena suspendunt, omnibus siccitas una est. Et cum navem 0587C scopulosa saxa constringunt , navigantibus naufragium sine exceptione commune est. Et oculorum dolor, et impetus febrium, et omnium valitudo membrorum cum caeteris communis est nohis quamdiu portatur in saeculo caro ista communis.