13. It is the wholesome precept of our Lord and Master: “He that endureth,” saith He, “unto the end, the same shall be saved;”27 Matt. x. 22. and again, “If ye continue,” saith He, “in my word, ye shall be truly my disciples; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”28 John viii. 31, 32. We must endure and persevere, beloved brethren, in order that, being admitted to the hope of truth and liberty, we may attain to the truth and liberty itself; for that very fact that we are Christians is the substance of faith and hope. But that hope and faith may attain to their result, there is need of patience. For we are not following after present glory, but future, according to what Paul the apostle also warns us, and says, “We are saved by hope; but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he hope for? But if we hope for that which we see not, then do we by patience wait for it.”29 Rom. viii. 24, 25. Therefore, waiting and patience are needful, that we may fulfil that which we have begun to be, and may receive that which we believe and hope for, according to God’s own showing.30 A common reading here is “giving” instead of “showing,” scil. “præstante” for “representante.” Moreover, in another place, the same apostle instructs the righteous and the doers of good works, and them who lay up for themselves treasures in heaven with the increase of the divine usury, that they also should be patient; and teaches them, saying, “Therefore, while we have time, let us labour in that which is good unto all men, but especially to them who are of the household of faith. But let us not faint in well-doing, for in its season we shall reap.”31 Gal. vi. 10, 9. He admonishes that no man should impatiently faint in his labour, that none should be either called off or overcome by temptations and desist in the midst of the praise and in the way of glory; and the things that are past perish, while those which have begun cease to be perfect; as it is written, “The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in whatever day he shall transgress;”32 Ezek. xxxiii. 12. and again, “Hold that which thou hast, that another take not thy crown.”33 Rev. iii. 11. Which word exhorts us to persevere with patience and courage, so that he who strives towards the crown with the praise now near at hand, may be crowned by the continuance of patience.
XIII. Domini et magistri nostri salutare praeceptum 0630C est: Qui toleraverit , inquit, usque ad finem, hic salvus erit (Matth. X, 22). Et iterum; Si permanseritis, inquit, in verbo meo, vere discipuli mei eritis , et cognoscetis veritatem, et veritas liberabit vos (Joan. VIII, 31). Tolerandum et perseverandum est, fratres dilectissimi, ut, ad spem veritatis et libertatis admissi, ad veritatem et libertatem ipsam pervenire possimus; quia hoc ipsum quod Christiani sumus, fidei et spei res est; ut autem spes et fides ad fructum sui possint pervenire, patientia opus est. Non enim praesentem gloriam sequimur, sed futuram, secundum quod et Paulus apostolus monet dicens: Spe salvati sumus . Spes autem quae videtur non est spes: quod enim videt quis quid sperat? Si autem quod non videmus speramus , 0631Aper patientiam exspectamus (Rom. VIII, 24). Propterea exspectatio et patientia necessaria est ut id quod coepimus impleamus, et quod credimus et speramus Deo repraesentante capiamus. Denique alio in loco idem apostolus justos et operantes et divini foenoris incremento coelestes thesauros sibi recondentes ut patientes quoque sint instruit et docet dicens: Ergo, dum tempus habemus operemur quod bonum est ad omnes, maxime vero ad domesticos fidei. Bonum autem facientes non deficiamus; tempore enim suo metemus (Gal. VI, 9). Admonet ne quis impatiens in operatione deficiat, ne quis tentationibus aut avocatus aut victus in medio laudis et gloriae itinere desistat, et pereant praeterita, dum quae coeperant desinunt esse perfecta, sicut scriptum est: Justitia justi non liberabit eum in quacumque die exerraverit (Ezech. XXXIII, 12). Et iterum: 0631BTene quod habes, ne alius accipiat coronam tuam (Apoc. III, 11). Quae vox adhortatur patienter et fortiter perseverare, ut qui ad coronam laude jam proxima nititur , durante patientia coronetur.