§17Nec non ad uaria quoque carnis incommoda et crebros corporis durosque cruciatus quibus humanum genus cottidie fatigatur et quatitur patientia necessaria est.
Patience is also necessary for the various discomforts of the flesh and the frequent and harsh torments of the body, by which the human race is daily fatigued and shaken.
nam cum in illa prima transgressione praecepti firmitas corporis cum immortalitate discesserit et cum morte infirmitas uenerit nec possit firmitas recipi nisi cum recepta et immortalitas fuerit, oportet in hac fragilitate adque infirmitate corporea luctari semper et congredi, quae luctatio et congressio non nisi patientiae potest uiribus sustineri.
For since in that first transgression of the commandment, the firmness of the body departed along with immortality, and weakness came along with death, nor can firmness be recovered unless immortality has also been recovered, it is necessary to struggle and clash always in this bodily fragility and weakness, which struggle and clash cannot be sustained except by the strength of patience.
examinandis autem nobis adque explorandis diuersi inportantur dolores et multiplex temptationum qualitas inrogatur de iacturis facultatum, de ardoribus febrium, de cruciatibus uulnerum, de amissione carorum.
Moreover, for us to be examined and tested, various pains are introduced and a manifold quality of temptations is imposed, concerning the loss of resources, the heat of fevers, the torments of wounds, and the loss of loved ones.
nec aliud magis iniustos discernit et iustos quam quod in aduersis per inpatientiam queritur et blasphemat iniustus, patientia iustus probatur, sicut scriptum est: in dolore sustine et in humilitate tua patientiam habe, quoniam in igne probatur aurum et argentum. §18Sic Iob examinatus est et probatus et ad summum fastigium laudis patientiae uirtute prouectus.
Nor does anything else distinguish the unjust and the just more than that in adversity the unjust complains and blasphemes through impatience, while the just is proved by patience, as it is written: "In pain endure, and in your humiliation have patience, because gold and silver are tried in the fire." Thus Job was examined and proved, and advanced to the highest peak of praise by the virtue of patience.
quanta aduersus eum diaboli iacula emissa, quanta admota tormenta.
How many darts of the devil were shot against him, how many torments applied!
iactura rei familiaris infligitur, numerosae subolis orbitas inrogatur: diues in censu dominus et in liberis pater ditior nec dominus repente nec pater est.
The loss of family estate is inflicted, the bereavement of a numerous offspring is imposed: a master rich in property and a father richer in children is suddenly neither master nor father.
accedit uulnerum uastitas et tabescentes ac fluentes artus uermium quoque edax poena consumit.
There is added the vastness of wounds, and a devouring punishment of worms also consumes his wasting and flowing limbs.
ac ne quid omnino remaneret quod non Iob in suis temptationibus experiretur, armat diabolus et uxorem illo antiquo nequitiae suae usus ingenio, quasi omnes per mulierem decipere posset et fallere, quod fecit in origine.
And lest anything at all should remain that Job would not experience in his temptations, the devil arms also his wife, using that ancient ingenuity of his wickedness, as if he could deceive and cheat everyone through a woman, which he did in the beginning.
nec tamen Iob grauibus et densis conflictationibus frangitur quominus inter illas angustias et pressuras Dei benedictio uictrice patientia praedicetur.
Yet Job is not broken by these heavy and dense conflicts, so as to prevent the blessing of God from being proclaimed with victorious patience amidst those distresses and pressures.
Tobias quoque post iustitiae et misericordiae suae opera magnifica luminum amissione temptatus in quantum patienter caecitatem pertulit in tantum granditer Deum patientiae laude promeruit.
Tobias also, after the magnificent works of his justice and mercy, having been tested by the loss of his eyes, in as much as he patiently endured blindness, in so much did he greatly merit God by the praise of patience.
§19Adque ut magis, fratres dilectissimi, patientiae bonum luceat, quid mali e contrario inpatientia inportet consideremus nam ut patientia bonum Christi est, ita contra inpatientia malum diaboli est, et sicut in quo habitat et manet Christus patiens inuenitur, ita inpatiens semper existit cuius mentem diaboli nequitia possedit.
And so that the good of patience may shine more, beloved brethren, let us consider on the contrary what evil impatience brings in. For as patience is the good of Christ, so on the contrary impatience is the evil of the devil; and just as he in whom Christ dwells and abides is found patient, so he whose mind the wickedness of the devil has possessed always exists impatient.
exordia ipsa denique uideamus.
Let us see, finally, the very beginnings.
diabolus hominem ad imaginem Dei factum inpatienter tulit: inde at perit primus et perdidit.
The devil bore impatiently the human being made in the image of God: thence he himself first perished and destroyed.
Adam contra caeleste praeceptum cibi letalis inpatiens in mortem cecidit nec acceptam diuinitus gratiam patientia custode seruauit, et ut fratrem Cain perimeret sacrificii eius et muneris inpatiens fuit, et quod Esau de maioribus ad minora descendit, primatus suos per inpatientiam lentis amisit.
Adam, contrary to the heavenly commandment, being impatient of the lethal food, fell into death, nor did he preserve the grace received from God with patience as guardian. And that Cain killed his brother was because he was impatient of his sacrifice and gift; and that Esau descended from greater to lesser things, he lost his birthright through impatience for lentils.
quid Iudaicus populus circa beneficia diuina perfidus et ingratus nonne quod a Deo primum recessit inpatientiae crimen fuit? dum Moysi cum Deo conloquentis moras non potest ferre, profanos deos ausus est postulare, ut itineris sui duces nuncuparet caput bubulum et terrestre figmentum, nec umquam ab eadem inpatientia destitit quominus semper docilitatis et diuinae administrationis impatiens prophetas suos et iustos quosque perimendo ad crucem quoque et ad sanguinem Domini prosiliret.
What of the Jewish people, faithless and ungrateful toward divine benefits? Was it not the crime of impatience that they first withdrew from God? While they could not bear the delays of Moses conversing with God, they dared to demand profane gods, so as to call a bull's head and an earthly figment the leaders of their journey; nor did they ever desist from that same impatience, preventing them from always being impatient of teachableness and divine administration, and by killing their prophets and all the just, rushing even to the cross and blood of the Lord.
inpatientia etiam in ecclesia haereticos facit et ad Iudaeorum similitudinem contra Christi pacem et caritatem rebelles ad hostilia et furiosa odia compellit.
Impatience also makes heretics in the church, and after the likeness of the Jews, compels rebels against the peace and charity of Christ to hostile and furious hatreds.
et ne longum sit singula recensere, omnia omnino quae patientia operibus suis aedificat ad gloriam inpatientia destruit ad ruinam.
And lest it be long to review individual things, everything indeed that patience builds up by its works for glory, impatience destroys to ruin.