18. But if any one, by an overhurried haste, rashly thinks that he can give remission of sins to all,40    “To any.” or dares to rescind the Lord’s precepts, not only does it in no respect advantage the lapsed, but it does them harm. Not to have observed His judgment is to have provoked His wrath, and to think that the mercy of God must not first of all be entreated, and, despising the Lord, to presume on His power.41    “On his facility;” v. l. Under the altar of God the souls of the slain martyrs cry with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost Thou not judge and avenge our blood upon those who dwell on the earth?”42    Apoc. vi. 10. And they are bidden to rest, and still to keep patience. And does any one think that, in opposition to the Judge, a man can become of avail43    “Worthy of.” for the general remission and pardon of sins, or that he can shield others before he himself is vindicated? The martyrs order something to be done;44    [i.e., the confessors awaiting martyrdom. See vol. iv. p. 693, note 2.] but only if this thing be just and lawful, if it can be done without opposing the Lord Himself by God’s priest, if the consent of the obeying party be easy and yielding, if the moderation of the asking party be religious. The martyrs order something to be done; but if what they order be not written in the law of the Lord, we must first know that they have obtained what they ask from God, and then do what they command. For that may not always appear to be immediately conceded by the divine majesty, which has been promised by man’s undertaking.

XVIII. Caeterum, si quis, praepropera festinatione temerarius remissionem peccatorum dare, se cunctis putat posse , aut audet Domini praecepta rescindere, non tantum nihil prodest sed et obest lapsis. Provocasse est iram, non servasse sententiam, nec misericordiam prius Dei deprecandam putare, sed contempto 0480C Domino de sua facultate praesumere. Sub ara Dei animae occisorum martyrum clamant magna voce 0481A dicentes: Quousque, Domine, sanctus et verus, non judicas et vindicas sanguinem nostrum de his qui in terris inhabitant (Apoc. VI, 10)? Et requiescere ac patientiam tenere adhuc jubentur. Et quemquam posse aliquis existimat remittendis passim donandisque peccatis bonum fieri contra judicem velle, aut prius quam vindicetur ipse alios posse defendere? Mandant martyres aliquid fieri; sed si justa, si licita, si non contra ipsum Dominum a Dei sacerdote facienda, si obtemperantis facilis et prona consensio, si petentis fuerit religiosa moderatio. Mandant aliquid martyres fieri ; sed, si scripta non sint in Domini lege quae mandant, ante est ut sciamus illos de Deo impetrasse quod postulant, tunc facere quod mandant. Neque enim statim videri potest de divina majestate concessum, quod fuerit 0481B humana pollicitatione promissum.