S. AURELII AUGUSTINI HIPPONENSIS EPISCOPI DE PATIENTIA LIBER UNUS .

 CAPUT PRIMUM.

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 CAPUT VII.

 7. Quanquam et ipsi corpori tunc providentius consulatur, si temporalis salus ejus pro justitia contemnatur, et poena vel mors ejus patientissime pro

 8. Quamvis autem patientia virtus sit animi, partim tamen ea utitur animus in se ipso, partim vero in corpore suo. In se ipso utitur patientia, quando

 9. Majus sane patientiae certamen est, quando non visibilis inimicus persequendo atque saeviendo urget in nefas, qui palam et aperte a non consentient

 CAPUT XIII.

 CAPUT XIV.

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 23. Si quis autem non habens charitatem, quae pertinet ad unitatem spiritus et vinculum pacis, quo catholica Ecclesia congregata connectitur, in aliqu

 CAPUT XXVII.

 25. Proinde sicut negandum non est hoc esse donum Dei, ita intelligendum est alia esse Dei dona filiorum illius Jerusalem, quae sursum libera est mate

 CAPUT XXIX.

11. Let then the Saints hear from holy Scripture the precepts of patience: “My son, when thou comest to the service of God, stand thou in righteousness and fear, and prepare thy soul for temptation: bring thine heart low, and bear up; that in the last end thy life may increase. All that shall come upon thee receive thou, and in pain bear up, and in thy humility have patience. For in the fire gold and silver is proved, but acceptable men in the furnace21    Receptibiles of humiliation.”22    Ecclus. ii. 1–5 And in another place we read: “My son, faint not thou in the discipline of the Lord, neither be wearied when thou art chidden of Him. For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth.”23    Prov. iii. 11, 12 What is here set down, “son whom He receiveth,” the same in the above mentioned testimony is, “acceptable men.” For this is just, that we who from our first felicity of Paradise for contumacious appetence of things to enjoy were dismissed, through humble patience of things that annoy may be received back: driven away for doing evil, brought back by suffering evil: there against righteousness doing ill, here for righteousness’ sake patient of ills.

CAPUT XIV.

11. Patientia bonorum. Audiant ergo sancti de Scripturis sanctis praecepta patientiae: Fili, accedens ad servitutem Dei, sta in justitia et timore, et praepara animam tuam ad tentationem: deprime cor tuum, et sustine; ut crescat in novissimis vita tua. Omne quod tibi supervenerit accipe, et in dolore sustine, et in humilitate tua patientiam habe. Quoniam in igne probatur aurum et argentum, homines vero receptibiles in camino humiliationis (Eccli. II, 1-5). Et in loco alio legitur: Fili, ne deficias in disciplina Domini, neque fatigeris cum ab illo increparis. Quem enim diligit Dominus, corripit; flagellat autem omnem filium quem recipit (Prov. III, 11 et 12). Quod hic positum est, filium quem recipit; hoc in supra dicto testimonio est, homines receptibiles. Hoc enim justum est, ut qui de pristina felicitate paradisi propter contumacem deliciarum appetentiam dimissi sumus, per humilem molestiarum patientiam recipiamur: fugaces mala faciendo, reduces mala patiendo; ibi contra justitiam facientes, hic pro justitia patientes.