10. Finally, we find that both patriarchs and prophets, and all the righteous men who in their preceding likeness wore the figure of Christ, in the praise of their virtues were watchful over nothing more than that they should preserve patience with a strong and stedfast equanimity. Thus Abel, who first initiated and consecrated the origin of martyrdom, and the passion of the righteous man, makes no resistance nor struggles against his fratricidal23    According to some, “parricidal.” brother, but with lowliness and meekness he is patiently slain. Thus Abraham, believing God, and first of all instituting the root and foundation of faith, when tried in respect of his son, does not hesitate nor delay, but obeys the commands of God with all the patience of devotion.  And Isaac, prefigured as the likeness of the Lord’s victim, when he is presented by his father for immolation, is found patient.  And Jacob, driven forth by his brother from his country, departs with patience; and afterwards with greater patience, he suppliantly brings him back to concord with peaceful gifts, when he is even more impious and persecuting. Joseph, sold by his brethren and sent away, not only with patience pardons them, but even bountifully and mercifully bestows gratuitous supplies of corn on them when they come to him. Moses is frequently contemned by an ungrateful and faithless people, and almost stoned; and yet with gentleness and patience he entreats the Lord for those people. But in David, from whom, according to the flesh, the nativity of Christ springs, how great and marvellous and Christian is the patience, that he often had it in his power to be able to kill king Saul, who was persecuting him and desiring to slay him; and yet, chose rather to save him when placed in his hand, and delivered up to him, not repaying his enemy in turn, but rather, on the contrary, even avenging him when slain! In fine, so many prophets were slain, so many martyrs were honoured with glorious deaths, who all have attained to the heavenly crowns by the praise of patience.  For the crown of sorrows and sufferings cannot be received unless patience in sorrow and suffering precede it.

X. Invenimus denique et Patriarchas et Prophetas et justos omnes, qui figuram Christi imagine praeeunte portabant, nihil magis custodisse in laude virtutum suarum quam quod patientiam forti et stabili aequanimitate tenuerunt. Sic Abel originem martyrii et passionem justi hominis initians primus et dedicans adversus fratrem fratricidam non resistit nec reluctatur, sed humilis et mitis patienter occiditur. Sic 0629A Abraham Deo credens et radicem ac fundamentum fidei primus instituens, tentatus in filio, non dubitat neque cunctatur, sed praeceptis Dei tota patientia devotionis obsequitur. Et Isaac, ad hostiae Dominicae similitudinem praefiguratus, quando a patre immolandus offertur, patiens invenitur. Et Jacob, fugatus a fratre de terra sua patienter excedit, et majore patientia postmodum supplex adhuc magis impium et persecutorem muneribus pacificis ad concordiam redigit. Joseph, venundatus a fratribus et relegatus , non tantum patienter ignoscit, sed et gratuita frumenta venientibus largiter et clementer impertit. Moyses ab ingrato et perfido populo contemnitur frequenter et pene lapidatur, et tamen lenis et patiens pro eisdem Dominum deprecatur. In David vero, ex 0629B quo secundum carnem Christi nativitas oritur, quam magna et mira et christiana patientia, habuisse in manu saepe ut Saul regem persequentem se et interficere concupiscentem posset occidere, et tamen subditum sibi et traditum maluisse servare, nec rependisse inimico vicem, sed occisum adhuc insuper et vindicasse! Tot denique Prophetae interfecti, tot martyres gloriosis mortibus honorati, qui omnes ad coelestes coronas patientiae laude venerunt. Neque enim potest accipi dolorum et passionum corona, nisi praecedat in dolore et passione patientia.