§18Nec ideo quis putet christianos his quae accidunt non uindicari, quod et ipsi uideantur accidentium incursione perstringi.
Nor let anyone think on that account that Christians are not avenged by these things which happen, because they themselves also seem to be struck by the onset of what happens.
poenam de aduersis mundi ille sentit cui et laetitia et gloria omnis in mundo est.
He feels the punishment of the world's adversities whose whole joy and glory is in the world.
ille maeret et deflet, si sibi male sit in saeculo, cui bene non potest esse post saeculum, cuius uiuendi fructus omnis hic capitur, cuius hic solacium omne finitur, cuius caduca et breuis uita hic aliquam dulcedinem computat et uoluptatem, quando istinc excesserit poena iam sola superest ad dolorem.
He grieves and laments, if it is ill with him in the world, with whom it cannot be well after the world, whose whole fruit of living is gathered here, whose every solace is ended here, whose frail and brief life counts some sweetness and pleasure here; when he departs from here, only punishment now remains for his pain.
ceterum nullus his dolor est de incursatione malorum praesentium quibus fiducia est futurorum bonorum.
But there is no pain from the incursion of present evils to those who have confidence in future goods.
denique nec consternamur aduersis nec frangimur nec dolemus neque in ulla aut rerum clade aut corporum ualitudine mussitamus.
Finally, we are neither dismayed by adversities nor broken, nor do we grieve, nor do we mutter in any ruin of affairs or sickness of bodies.
spiritu magis quam carne uiuentes firmitate animi infirmitatem corporis uincimus.
Living by the spirit rather than by the flesh, we overcome the infirmity of the body by the firmness of the mind.
per ipsa quae uos cruciant et fatigant probari et corroborari nos scimus et fidimus.
Through those very things which torment and fatigue you, we know and trust that we are proved and strengthened.
§19Putatis nos aduersa uobiscum aequaliter perpeti, quando eadem aduersa uideatis a nobis et uobis non aequaliter sustineri? aput uos inpatientia clamosa semper et querula est, aput nos fortis et religiosa patientia quieta semper et semper in Deum grata est, nec quicquam istic laetum aut prosperum sibi uindicat, sed mitis et lenis et contra omnes fluctuantis mundi turbines stabilis diuinae pollicitationis tempus expectat.
Do you think that we suffer adversities equally with you, when you see that the same adversities are not sustained equally by us and by you? With you impatience is always clamorous and complaining, with us a strong and religious patience is always quiet and always grateful to God, nor does it claim anything joyful or prosperous for itself here, but mild and gentle and stable against all the tempests of the fluctuating world, it awaits the time of the divine promise.
quamdiu enim corpus hoc permanet commune cum ceteris, sit necesse est et corporalis condicio communis nec separari generi humano ab inuicem datur, nisi istinc de saeculo recedatur.
For as long as this body remains common with the rest, it is necessary that the bodily condition also be common, nor is it granted to the human race to be separated from one another, unless there is a departure from this world.
intra unam domum boni et mali interim continemur.
Meanwhile we are contained within one house, the good and the bad.
quicquid intra domum uenerit pari sorte perpetimur, donec aeui temporalis fine completo ad aeternae uel mortis uel inmortalitatis hospitia diuidamur.
Whatever comes within the house we suffer with an equal lot, until, the end of temporal age being completed, we are divided into the lodgings of either eternal death or immortality.
non ergo idcirco compares uobis et aequales sumus, quia in isto adhuc mundo et carne hac constituti mundi et carnis incommoda uobiscum pariter incurrimus.
Therefore we are not on that account comparable and equal to you, because while still established in this world and this flesh, we run into the inconveniences of the world and the flesh equally with you.
nam cum in sensu doloris sit omne quod punit, manifestum est eum non esse participem poenae tuae quem uideas tecum non dolere.
For since everything that punishes is in the sense of pain, it is manifest that he is not a partaker of your punishment whom you see not to grieve with you.
§20Viget aput nos spei robur et firmitas fidei et inter ipsas saeculi labentis ruinas erecta mens est et inmobilis uirtus et numquam non laeta patientia et de Deo suo semper anima secura, sicut per prophetam Spiritus sanctus loquitur et hortatur spei ac fidei nostrae firmitatem caelesti uoce corroborans. ficus, inquit, non adferet fructum et non erunt nascentia in uineis.
There flourishes among us the strength of hope and the firmness of faith, and amidst the very ruins of a falling world, our mind is erect and our virtue immovable, our patience never failing to be glad, and our soul always secure in its God, just as through the prophet the Holy Spirit speaks and exhorts, strengthening the firmness of our hope and faith with a heavenly voice: "The fig tree," He says, "shall not bear fruit, and there shall be no springings in the vines.
mentietur opus oliuae et campi non praestabunt cibum.
The labor of the olive shall lie, and the fields shall yield no food.
deficient a pabulo oues et non erunt in praesepibus boues.
The sheep shall fail from the pasture, and there shall be no oxen in the stalls.
ego autem in Domino exultabo, gaudebo in Deo salutari meo. Dei hominem et cultorem Dei subnixum spei ueritate et fidei stabilitate fundatum negat mundi huius et saeculi infestationibus commoueri.
But I will exult in the Lord, I will joy in God my salvation." He denies that the man of God and worshipper of God, supported by the truth of hope and founded on the stability of faith, is moved by the infestations of this world and age.
uinea licet fallat et olea decipiat et herbis siccitate morientibus aestuans campus arescat, quid hoc ad christianos, quid ad Dei seruos quos paradisus inuitat, quos gratia omnis et copia regni caelestis exspectat? exultant semper in Domino et laetantur et gaudent in Deo suo et mala adque aduersa mundi fortiter tolerant, dum bona et prospera futura prospectant.
Though the vine should fail and the olive deceive, and the burning field wither with its herbs dying of drought, what is this to Christians, what to the servants of God whom paradise invites, whom all the grace and abundance of the heavenly kingdom awaits? They always exult in the Lord and rejoice and joy in their God, and bravely tolerate the evils and adversities of the world, while they prospect future goods and prosperities.
nam qui exposita natiuitate terrena spiritu recreati et renati sumus nec iam mundo sed Deo uiuimus, non nisi cum ad Deum uenerimus. Dei munera et promissa capiemus.
For we who, having put aside our earthly birth, have been recreated and reborn by the Spirit, and no longer live to the world but to God, shall not receive the gifts and promises of God except when we have come to God.
et tamen pro arcendis hostibus et imbribus impetrandis et uel auferendis uel temperandis aduersis rogamus semper et preces fundimus et pro pace ac salute uestra propitiantes et placantes Deum diebus ac noctibus iugiter adque instanter oramus.
And yet, for warding off enemies, and for obtaining rains, and for either removing or tempering adversities, we always ask and pour forth prayers, and, propitiating and appeasing God for your peace and salvation, we pray continually and instantly day and night.