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

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 the tempests of mischievous ills; in order that we who see that terrible things have begun, and know that still more terrible things are imminent, may regard it as the greatest advantage to depart from it as quickly as possible. If in your dwelling the walls were shaking with age, the roofs above you were trembling, and the house, now worn out and wearied, were threatening an immediate destruction to its structure crumbling with age, would you not with all speed depart? If, when you were on a voyage, an angry and raging tempest, by the waves violently aroused, foretold the coming shipwreck, would you not quickly seek the harbour? Lo, the world is changing and passing away, and witnesses to its ruin not now by its age, but by the end of things. And do you not give God thanks, do you not congratulate yourself, that by an earlier departure you are taken away, and delivered from the shipwrecks and disasters that are imminent?

XXV. Quod cum semper faciendum fuerit Dei servis, nunc fieri multo magis debet, corruente jam mundo et malorum infestantium turbidinibus obsesso; ut qui cernimus coepisse jam gravia et scimus imminere graviora, lucrum maximum computemus si istinc velocius recedamus. Si in habitaculo tuo parietes vetustate nutarent, tecta desuper tremerent, domus jam fatigata, jam lassa, aedificiis senectute 0600B labentibus, ruinam proximam minaretur, nonne omni celeritate migrares? Si navigante te turbida et procellosa tempestas fluctibus violentius excitatis praenuntiaret futura naufragia, nonne portum velociter peteres? Mundus ecce nutat et labitur, et ruinam sui non jam senectute rerum, sed fine testatur; et tu non Deo gratias agis, non tibi gratularis quod, exitu maturiore subtractus, ruinis et naufragiis et plagis imminentibus exuaris?