7. These things were before declared to us, and predicted. But we, forgetful of the law and obedience required of us, have so acted by our sins, that while we despise the Lord’s commandments, we have come by severer remedies to the correction of our sin and probation of our faith. Nor indeed have we at last been converted to the fear of the Lord, so as to undergo patiently and courageously this our correction and divine proof. Immediately at the first words of the threatening foe, the greatest number of the brethren betrayed their faith, and were cast down, not by the onset of persecution, but cast themselves down by voluntary lapse. What unheard-of thing, I beg of you, what new thing had happened, that, as if on the occurrence of things unknown and unexpected, the obligation to11    “Christi sacramentum.” [Like a panic in an undisciplined army.] Christ should be dissolved with headlong rashness? Have not prophets aforetime, and subsequently apostles, told of these things? Have not they, full of the Holy Spirit, predicted the afflictions of the righteous, and always the injuries of the heathens? Does not the sacred Scripture, which ever arms our faith and strengthens with a voice from heaven the servants of God, say, “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve?”12    Deut. vi. 13. Does it not again show the anger of the divine indignation, and warn of the fear of punishment beforehand, when it says, “They worshipped them whom their fingers have made; and the mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself, and I will forgive them not?”13    Isa. ii. 8, 9. And again, God speaks, and says, “He that sacrifices unto any gods, save unto the Lord only, shall be destroyed.”14    Ex. xxii. 20. In the Gospel also subsequently, the Lord, who instructs by His words and fulfils by His deeds, teaching what should be done, and doing whatever He had taught, did He not before admonish us of whatever is now done and shall be done? Did He not before ordain both for those who deny Him eternal punishments, and for those that confess Him saving rewards?

VII. Praenuntiata sunt ista nobis et ante praedicta. Sed nos, datae legis et observationis immemores, id egimus per nostra peccata, ut, dum Domini mandata contemnimus, ad correctionem delicti et probationem fidei remediis severioribus veniremus. Nec saltem sero conversi ad Domini timorem sumus, ut hanc correptionem nostram probationemque divinam patienter 0471B et fortiter subiremus . Ad prima statim verba minantis inimici maximus fratrum numerus fidem suam prodidit; nec prostratus est persecutionis impetu, sed voluntario lapsu se ipse prostravit. Quid oro inauditum, quid novum venerat, ut, velut incognitis atque inopinatis rebus exortis, Christi sacramentum temeritate praecipiti solveretur? Nonne haec et Prophetae ante et Apostoli postmodum nuntiaverunt? nonne justorum pressuras et gentilium semper injurias pleni sancto Spiritu praedicaverunt? nonne fidem nostram semper armans et Dei servos coelesti voce corroborans dicit Scriptura divina: Dominum Deum tuum adorabis, et illi soli servies (Deut. VI, 13; Matth. 0472A IV, 10). Nonne, iram divinae indignationis ostendens et poenae metum praemonens, denuo dicit: Adoraverunt eos quos fecerunt digiti eorum; et curvatus est homo et humilitatus est vir, et non laxabo illis (Isa. II, 8). Et iterum Deus loquitur dicens: Sacrificans diis eradicabitur, nisi Domino soli (Exod. XXII, 19). In Evangelio quoque postmodum Dominus, in verbis doctor et consummator in factis, docens quid fieret, et faciens quodcumque docuisset, quicquid nunc geritur et geretur nonne ante praemonuit? Nonne et negantibus aeterna supplicia et salutaria confitentibus praemia ante constituit?