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

19. Besides, that the indications of the divine providence may be more evidently manifest, proving that the Lord, prescient of the future, takes counsel for the true salvation of His people, when one of our colleagues and fellow-priests, wearied out with infirmity, and anxious about the present approach of death, prayed for a respite to himself; there stood by him as he prayed, and when he was now at the point of death, a youth, venerable in honour and majesty, lofty in stature and shining in aspect, and on whom, as he stood by him, the human glance could scarcely look with fleshly eyes, except that he who was about to depart from the world could already behold such a one. And he, not without a certain indignation of mind and voice, rebuked him, and said, You fear to suffer, you do not wish to depart; what shall I do to you? It was the word of one rebuking and warning, one who, when men are anxious about persecution, and indifferent concerning their summons, consents not to their present desire, but consults for the future. Our dying brother and colleague heard what he was to say to others. For he who heard when he was dying, heard for the very purpose that he might tell it; he heard not for himself, but for us. For what could he, who was already on the eve of departure, learn for himself? Yea, doubtless, he learnt it for us who remain, in order that, when we find the priest who sought for delay rebuked, we might acknowledge what is beneficial for all.

XIX. Denique, ut manifestius divinae providentiae indicia clarescerent quod Dominus praescius futurorum suis consulat ad veram salutem, cum quidam de collegis et consacerdotibus nostris, infirmitate defessus et de appropinquante jam morte sollicitus, commeatum sibi precaretur, adstitit deprecanti et jam pene morienti juvenis honore et majestate venerabilis, 0595B statu celsus et clarus aspectu, et quem assistentem sibi vix posset humanus aspectus oculis carnalibus intueri, nisi quod talem videre jam poterat de saeculo recessurus. Atque ille non sine quadam animi et vocis indignatione infremuit et dixit: «Pati timetis, exire non vultis, quid faciam vobis?» Increpantis vox est et monentis, qui de persecutione sollicitis, de accersitione securis non consentit ad praesens desiderium, sed consulit in futurum. Audivit frater noster et collega moriturus quod caeteris diceret. Nam qui moriturus audivit, ad hoc audivit ut diceret. Audivit non sibi ille, sed nobis. Nam quid sibi disceret jam recessurus? Didicit immo nobis remanentibus, ut, dum sacerdotem qui commeatum petebat increpitum esse comperimus, quid cunctis 0595C expediat agnosceremus .