XXXII.—To Self-Pleasers.

If place or time is favourable, or the person has advanced, let there be a new judge.  Why now art thou lifted up thence?  Untaught, thou blasphemest Him of whose liberality thou livest.  In such weakness thou dost not ever regard Him.  Throughout advances and profits thou greedily presumest on fortune.  There is no law to thee, nor dost thou discern thyself in prosperity.  Although they may be counted of gold, let the strains of the pipe always be raving.  If thou hast not adored the crucifixion of the Lord, thou hast perished.5    [This is not Patripassianism.  Nor does the “one God” of the next chapter involve this heresy.]  Both place and occasion and person are now given to thee, if, however, thou believest; but if not, thou shalt fear before Him.  Bring thyself into obedience to Christ, and place thy neck under Him.  To Him remains the honour and all the confidence of things.  When the time flatters thee, be more cautious.  Not foreseeing, as it behoves thee, the final awards of fate, thou art not able ever to live again without Christ.

XXXII.---SIBI PLACENTIBUS.

Si locus aut tempus favet, aut persona provexit; Judex esto novus: quid nunc extolleris inde? Blasphemas indocilis, de cujus praestantia vivis, In fragilitate tanta non respicis unquam. Per gradus et lucra avidus fortunae praesumis; Lex tibi non ulla est, nec te in prosperitate dinoscis. Auro licet censeantur, bacchent aulica semper; 0224C Cruciarium Domini si non adorasti, peristi. Et locus et tempus et persona tibi donatur Nunc, si tamen credis: sin autem, pro eo timebis. 0225A Tempera te Christo; et cervicem illi depone. Isti honor remanet et tota fiducia rerum. Blanditur quando tibi tempus, cautior esto. Ultima fatorum non providens quae te oportet, Sine Christo reviviscere non potes unquam.