XXIV.—Of Those Who Live Between the Two.

Thou who thinkest that, by living doubtfully between the two, thou art on thy guard, goest on thy way stript of law, broken down by luxury.  Thou art looking forward vainly to so many things, why seekest thou unjust things?  And whatever thou hast done shall there remain to thee when dead.  Consider, thou foolish one, thou wast not, and lo, thou art seen.  Thou knowest not whence thou hast proceeded, nor whence thou art nourished.  Thou avoidest the excellent and benignant God of thy life, and thy Governor, who would rather wish thee to live.  Thou turnest thyself to thyself, and givest thy back to God.  Thou drownest thyself in darkness, whilst thou thinkest thou art abiding in light.  Why runnest thou in the synagogue to the Pharisees, that He may become merciful to thee, whom thou of thy own accord deniest?  Thence thou goest abroad again; thou seekest healthful things.  Thou wishest to live between both ways, but thence thou shalt perish.  And, moreover, thou sayest, Who is He who has redeemed from death, that we may believe in Him, since there punishments are awarded?  Ah! not thus, O malignant man, shall it be as thou thinkest.  For to him who has lived well there is advantage after death.  Thou, however, when one day thou diest, shalt be taken away in an evil place.  But they who believe in Christ shall be led into a good place, and those to whom that delight is given are caressed; but to you who are of a double mind, against you is punishment without the body.  The course of the tormentor stirs you up to cry out against your brother.

XXIV.---INTER UTRUMQUE VIVENTIBUS.

Inter utrumque putans dubie vivendo cavere, Nudatus a lege, decrepitus luxu praecedis. Tot vane prospicis, quid quaeris iniqua? Et quidquid egisti instinc remanere defuncto, Respice tu stulte: non eras, et ecce videris. Unde processisti nescis, nec unde nutriris; Tu Deum excelsum fugis tuae vitae benignum, Rectoremque tuum, qui te magis vivere vellet: Vertis te in faciem et dorsum deo remittis: Mergis te in tenebras, dum putas te in luce morari. Quid in synagoga decurris ad pharisaeos, 0219B Ut tibi misericors fiat, quem denegas ultro? Exis inde foris, iterum tu sana requiris. Vis inter utrumque vivere, sed inde peribis. Insuper et dicis: Quis est qui a morte redemit? Ut credamus ei, quoniam ibi poenae aguntur, Eia non sic, ut putas esse, maligne. Nam illi prodest post funera, recte qui vixit. Tu tamen mox moriens duceris in loco maligno: In Christo credentes autem in loco benigno: Blanditurque quibus haeret amoenitas illa. Vobis autem dubiis, in vos sine corpore poena, Suscitat in fratrem tortoris ordo clamare.