§12Ynde unusquisque cum nascitur et hospitio mundi huius excipitur, initium sumit a lacrimis et quamuis adhuc omnium nescius et ignarus nihil aliud nouit in illa ipsa prima natiuitate quam flere.
Therefore, when everyone is born and received into the hospitality of this world, they begin with tears, and although still ignorant and unknowing of all things, they know nothing else in that very first birth than how to weep.
prouidentia naturali lamentatur uitae mortalis anxietates et labores et procellas mundi quas ingreditur in exordio statim suo ploratu et gemitu rudis anima testatur.
By a natural foresight, the untrained soul laments the anxieties and labors of mortal life, and immediately in its very beginning, it testifies by its weeping and groaning to the storms of the world which it is entering.
sudatur enim quamdiu istic uiuitur et laboratur.
For sweat is poured forth as long as there is living and laboring here.
nec sudantibus et laborantibus possunt alia magis quam patientiae subuenire solacia: quae cum apta sint et necessaria in isto mundo uniuersis, tum magis nobis qui diabolo inpugnante plus quatimur, qui in acie cotidie stantes inueterati et exercitati hostis conluctationibus fatigamur, quibus praeter uarias et adsiduas temptationum pugnas in persecutionum quoque certamine patrimonia relinquenda sunt, subeundus carcer, portandae catenae, animae inpendendae, gladius, bestiae, ignes, cruces, omnia denique tormentorum ac poenarum genera fide et uirtute patientiae perferenda Domino ipso instruente et dicente: haec locutus sum uobis, ut in me pacem habeatis, in saeculo autem pressuram: sed fidite, quoniam ego uici mundum. si autem qui diabolo et mundo renuntiauimus pressuras et infestationes diaboli et mundi crebrius ac uiolentius patimur, quanto magis patientiam tenere debemus qua adiutrice et comite omnia infesta toleremus. §13Domini et magistri nostri salutare praeceptum est: qui tolerauerit usque ad finem hic saluus erit. et iterum: si permanseritis in uerbo meo, uere discipuli mei estis: et cognoscetis ueritatem, et ueritas liberabit uos. tolerandum est et perseuerandum, fratres dilectissimi, ut ad spem ueritatis et libertatis admissi ad ueritatem et libertatem ipsam peruenire possimus, quia hoc ipsum quod christiani sumus fidei et spei res est.
Nor can other consolations help those who sweat and labor more than those of patience; and while these are suitable and necessary for all in this world, they are all the more so for us, who are shaken more violently by the assaults of the devil, who stand daily in the battle line and are fatigued by the struggles against an ancient and practiced enemy, and who, besides the various and constant battles of temptations, must also, in the contest of persecutions, abandon our patrimonies, undergo imprisonment, bear chains, spend our lives, and endure the sword, beasts, fires, crosses, and finally all kinds of torments and punishments, through the faith and virtue of patience, as the Lord Himself instructs us, saying: "These things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace, but in the world pressure; but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world." But if we, who have renounced the devil and the world, suffer the pressures and onslaughts of the devil and the world more frequently and violently, how much more ought we to hold fast to patience, with which as our helper and companion we may tolerate all harmful things. The salutary commandment of our Lord and Master is: "He who endures to the end shall be saved." And again: "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free." We must endure and persevere, beloved brethren, so that having been admitted to the hope of truth and freedom, we may be able to reach truth and freedom itself, because this very fact that we are Christians is a matter of faith and hope.
ut autem peruenire spes et fides ad fructum possint sui patientia opus est.
But in order that hope and faith may be able to reach their fruit, there is need of patience.
non enim praesentem gloriam sequimur sed futuram secundum quod et Paulus apostolus monet dicens: spe saluati sumus.
For we do not pursue present glory, but the future, according to what the apostle Paul also admonishes, saying: "For in hope we were saved.
spes autem quae uidetur non est spes.
Now hope that is seen is not hope.
quod enim uidet quis, quid sperat? si autem quod non uidemus speramus per expectationem sustinemus. expectatio et patientia necessaria est, ut id quod esse coepimus impleamus et quod speramus et credimus Deo repraesentante capiamus.
For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience." Waiting and patience are necessary so that we may fulfill what we have begun to be, and receive, when God makes it present, what we hope for and believe.
denique alio in loco idem apostolus iustos et operantes et de diuini faenoris incremento caelestes sibi thesauros recondentes ut patientes quoque sint instruit et docet dicens: ergo dum tempus habemus, operemur quod bonum est ad omnes, maxime uero ad domesticos fidei.
Finally, in another place, the same apostle instructs and teaches the righteous, who perform good works and store up heavenly treasures for themselves from the increase of divine interest, that they should also be patient, saying: "Therefore, while we have time, let us work what is good toward all, especially toward those of the household of faith.
bonum autem facientes non deficiamus: tempore enim suo metemus. admonet ne quis inpatiens in operatione deficiat, ne quis temptationibus aut auocatus aut uictus in medio laudis et gloriae itinere desistat et pereant praeterita, dum quae coeperant desinunt esse perfecta, sicut scriptum est: iustitia iusti non liberabit eum in quocumque die exerrauerit, et iterum: tene quod habes ne alius accipiat coronam tuam. quae uox adhortatur patienter et fortiter perseuerare, ut qui ad coronam laude iam proxima nititur durante patientia coronetur.
And let us not grow weary in doing good; for in due time we shall reap." He warns lest anyone, becoming impatient, should fail in doing good, or lest anyone, either distracted or conquered by temptations, should stop in the middle of the journey of praise and glory, and past things perish while those which had begun cease to be perfected, as it is written: "The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in whatever day he goes astray," and again: "Hold fast what you have, lest another receive your crown." This voice exhorts us to persevere patiently and courageously, so that he who strives for the crown, with praise already so near, may be crowned through the endurance of patience.