The Instructions of Commodianus.

 The Instructions of Commodianus

 II.—God’s Indignation.

 III.—The Worship of Demons.

 IV.—Saturn.

 V.—Jupiter.

 VI.—Of the Same Jupiter’s Thunderbolt.

 VII.—Of the Septizonium and the Stars.

 VIII.—Of the Sun and Moon.

 IX.—Mercury.

 X.—Neptune.

 XI.—Apollo the Soothsaying and False.

 XII.—Father Liber—Bacchus.

 XIII.—The Unconquered One.

 XIV.—Sylvanus.

 XV.—Hercules.

 XVI.—Of the Gods and Goddesses.

 XVII.—Of Their Images.

 XVIII.—Of Ammydates and the Great God.

 XIX.—Of the Vain Nemesiaci.

 XX.—The Titans.

 XXI.—The Montesiani.

 XXII.—The Dulness of the Age.

 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.

 XXX.—Rich Men, Be Humble.

 XXXI.—To Judges.

 XXXII.—To Self-Pleasers.

 XXXIII.—To the Gentiles.

 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.

 XXXVIII.—To the Jews.

 XXXIX.—Also to the Jews.

 XL.—Again to the Same.

 Isaiah said:  This is the man who moveth the world and so many kings, and under whom the land shall become desert.  Hear ye how the prophet foretold c

 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.

 XLV.—Of the Day of Judgment.

 XLVI.—To Catechumens.

 XLVII.—To the Faithful.

 XLVIII.—O Faithful, Beware of Evil.

 XLIX.—To Penitents.

 L.—Who Have Apostatized from God.

 LI.—Of Infants.

 LII.—Deserters.

 LIII.—To the Soldiers of Christ.

 LIV.—Of Fugitives.

 LV.—Of the Seed of the Tares.

 LVI.—To the Dissembler.

 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.

 LX.—To the Same Again.

 LXI.—In the Church to All the People of God.

 LXII.—To Him Who Wishes for Martyrdom.

 LXIII.—The Daily War.

 LXIV.—Of the Zeal of Concupiscence.

 LXV.—They Who Give from Evil.

 LXVI.—Of a Deceitful Peace.

 LXVII.—To Readers. I warn certain readers only to consider, and to give material to others by an example of life, to avoid strife, and to shun so many

 LXVIII.—To Ministers.

 LXIX.—To God’s Shepherds.

 LXX.—I Speak to the Elder-Born.

 LXXI.—To Visit the Sick.

 LXXII.—To the Poor in Health.

 LXXIII.—That Sons are Not to Be Bewailed.

 LXXIV.—Of Funeral Pomp.

 LXXV.—To the Clerks.

 LXXVI.—Of Those Who Gossip, and of Silence.

 LXXVII.—To the Drunkards.

 LXXVIII.—To the Pastors.

 LXXIX.—To the Petitioners.

 LXXX.—The Name of the Man of Gaza.

LXII.—To Him Who Wishes for Martyrdom.

Since, O son, thou desirest martyrdom, hear.  Be thou such as Abel was, or such as Isaac himself, or Stephen, who chose for himself on the way the righteous life.  Thou indeed desirest that which is a matter suited for the blessed.  First of all, overcome the evil one with thy good acts by living well; and when He thy King shall see thee, be thou secure.  It is His own time, and we are living for both; so that if war fails, the martyrs shall go in peace.  Many indeed err who say, With our blood we have overcome the wicked one; and if he remains, they are unwilling to overcome.  He perishes by lying in wait, and the wicked thus feels it; but he that is lawful does not feel the punishments applied.  With exclamation and with eagerness beat thy breast with thy fists.  Even now, if thou hast conquered by good deeds, thou art a martyr in Him.  Thou, therefore, who seekest to extol martyrdom with thy word, in peace clothe thyself with good deeds, and be secure.18    [Compare Clement’s reproof, vol. ii. p. 423, this series.]

LXII.---MARTYRIUM VOLENTI.

Martyrium, fili, quoniam desideras, audi. Abel qualis erat esto, aut qualis Isaac ipse, aut Rectam qui diligit Stephanus sibi vitam in iter. Tu quidem quod optas, res est felicibus apta. Vince prius Malum benefactis, recte vivendo. Rex ille tuus cum viderit, esto securus. 0249A Ipsius est tempus, et nos in utrumque gerentes: Ut si bellum abest, in pace martyres ibunt. Multi quidem errant dicentes: Sanguine nostro, Vicimus Iniquum, quo manente vincere nolunt. Obsidiando perit, et ideo sentit Iniquus: Legitimus autem non sentit poenas adactas. Ejulatuque zelando pectus pugnis pertunde. Nunc si benefactis viceris, martyr in illo. Tu ergo qui quaeris martyrium tollere verbo, In pace te vesti bonis; et esto securus.