▾
Commodianus of Gaza, The Instructions of Commodianus in favour of Christian Discipline, Against the Gods of the Heathens
⎗←→⎘
▾
The Instructions of Commodianus.
The Instructions of Commodianus
VI.—Of the Same Jupiter’s Thunderbolt.
VII.—Of the Septizonium and the Stars.
XI.—Apollo the Soothsaying and False.
XVI.—Of the Gods and Goddesses.
XVIII.—Of Ammydates and the Great God.
XXIII.—Of Those Who are Everywhere Ready.
XXIV.—Of Those Who Live Between the Two.
XXV.—They Who Fear and Will Not Believe.
XXVI.—To Those Who Resist the Law of Christ the Living God.
XXVII.—O Fool, Thou Dost Not Die to God.
XXVIII.—The Righteous Rise Again.
XXIX.—To the Wicked and Unbelieving Rich Man.
XXXIV.—Moreover, to Ignorant Gentiles.
XXXV.—Of the Tree of Life and Death.
XXXVI.—Of the Foolishness of the Cross.
XXXVII.—The Fanatics Who Judaize.
XLII.—Of the Hidden and Holy People of the Almighty Christ, the Living God.
XLIII.—Of the End of This Age.
XLIV.—Of the First Resurrection.
XLVIII.—O Faithful, Beware of Evil.
L.—Who Have Apostatized from God.
LIII.—To the Soldiers of Christ.
LVII.—That Worldly Things are Absolutely to Be Avoided.
LVIII.—That the Christian Should Be Such.
LIX.—To the Matrons of the Church of the Living God.
LXI.—In the Church to All the People of God.
LXII.—To Him Who Wishes for Martyrdom.
LXIV.—Of the Zeal of Concupiscence.
LXX.—I Speak to the Elder-Born.
LXXIII.—That Sons are Not to Be Bewailed.
LVIII.—That the Christian Should Be Such.
When the Lord says that man should eat bread with groaning, here what art thou now doing, who desirest to live with joy? Thou seekest to rescind the judgment uttered by the highest God when He first formed man; thou wishest to abandon the curb of the law. If the Almighty God have bidden thee live with sweat, thou who art living in pleasure wilt already be a stranger to Him. The Scripture saith that the Lord was angry with the Jews. Their sons, refreshed with food, rose up to play. Now, therefore, why do we follow these circumcised men?16 Sponte profectos. In what respect they perished, we ought to beware; the greatest part of you, surrendered to luxuries, obey them. Thou transgressest the law in staining thyself with dyes: against thee the apostle cries out; yea, God cries out by him. Your dissoluteness, says he, in itself ruins17 Deperdunt. you. Be, then, such as Christ wishes you to be, gentle, and in Him joyful, for in the world you are sad. Run, labour, sweat, fight with sadness. Hope comes with labour, and the palm is given to victory. If thou wishest to be refreshed, give help and encouragement to the martyr. Wait for the repose to come in the passage of death.
LVIII.---CHRISTIANUM TALEM ESSE.
Cum Dominus dicat, in gemitu edere panem: Heic, ut quid nunc agis, qui cupis vivere laetus? Rescindere quaeris sententiam summi Dei missam In protoplastum: vis frenum prodere legis. Si Deus omnipotens cum sudore vivere jussit, Tu qui jucundaris, eris jam exterus illi. 0245B Indignatum ait Dominum scriptura ludaeis. Ab esca refecti surrexerunt ludere filii. Nunc ergo cur illos prosequimur sponte profectos? Unde perierunt illi, nos cavere debemus. Maxima pars vestrum luxuriis dedita paret. Transgrederis legem, cum te fucis inficis: in te Apostolus clamat, immo Deus per illum: Licentia vestra vos, inquit, in ipsa deperdunt. Esto ergo talis, qualem vult esse te Christus. Mitis et in illo hilaris, nam saeculo tristis. Excurre, labora, suda, cum tristitia pugna. Spes cum labore venit, et victoriae palma donatur. Si refrigerare cupis, admartyriza. Exspecta requiem futuram in transitu mortis.