§20Quare, fratres dilectissimi, et bonis patientiae et inpatientiae malis diligenter expensis patientiam per quam in Christo manemus et uenire cum Christo ad Deum possumus, plena obseruatione teneamus: quae copiosa et multiplex non angusto fine concluditur uel breuibus terminis coercetur.
Therefore, beloved brethren, having diligently weighed both the goods of patience and the evils of impatience, let us hold with full observance that patience through which we abide in Christ and can come with Christ to God; which, copious and manifold, is not concluded by a narrow limit or confined by brief boundaries.
late patet patientiae uirtus et ubertas eius et largitas de unius quidem nominis fonte proficiscitur, sed exundantibus uenis per multa gloriarum itinera diffunditur, nec proficere aliquid in actibus nostris potest ad consummandam laudem, nisi inde consummationis accipiat firmitatem.
Broadly lies open the virtue of patience, and its abundance and largeness indeed proceed from the source of a single name, but with overflowing veins is diffused through many paths of glories, nor can anything in our acts profit toward completing praise, unless it receives from there the firmness of completion.
patientia est quae nos Deo et commendat et seruat: ipsa est quae iram temperat, quae linguam frenat, quae mentem gubernat, pacem custodit, disciplinam regit, libidinis impetum frangit, tumoris uiolentiam conprimit, incendium simultatis extinguit, coercet potentiam diuitum, inopiam pauperum refouet, tuetur in uirginibus beatam integritatem, in uiduis laboriosam castitatem, in coniunctis et maritatis indiuiduam caritatem.
It is patience that both commends and preserves us to God: it is she herself that tempers anger, bridles the tongue, governs the mind, guards peace, rules discipline, breaks the impulse of lust, represses the violence of pride, extinguishes the fire of enmity, restrains the power of the rich, comforts the need of the poor, guards in virgins a blessed integrity, in widows a laborious chastity, in the joined and married an undivided charity.
facit humiles in prosperis, in aduersis fortes, contra iniurias et contumelias mites.
It makes humble in prosperity, strong in adversity, mild against injuries and insults.
docet delinquentibus cito ignoscere, si ipse delinquas, diu et multum rogare.
It teaches to forgive quickly those who offend, and if you yourself should offend, to entreat long and much.
temptationes expugnat, persecutiones tolerat, passiones et martyria consummat.
It conquers temptations, tolerates persecutions, completes sufferings and martyrdoms.
ipsa est quae fidei nostrae fundamenta firmiter munit.
It is she herself that firmly fortifies the foundations of our faith.
ipsa est quae incrementa spei sublimiter prouehit.
It is she herself that sublimely advances the increments of hope.
ipsa actum dirigit, ut tenere possimus uiam Christi, dum per eius tolerantiam gradimur.
She herself directs our act, so that we may be able to hold the way of Christ while we walk through His endurance.
ipsa efficit ut perseueremus filii Dei, dum patientiam patris imitamur.
She herself brings it about that we persevere as sons of God while we imitate the patience of the Father.
§21Et quoniam plurimos scio, fratres dilectissimi, uel pondere iniuriarum angentium uel dolore de eis qui aduersum se grassantur et saeuiunt uindicari uelociter cupere, nec illud in extrema parte reticendum est, ut in istis fluctuantis mundi turbinibus et Iudaeorum siue gentilium et haereticorum quoque persecutionibus constituti patienter expectemus ultionis diem nec ad uindictam doloris nostri querula festinatione properemus, cum scriptum sit: expecta me, dicit Dominus, in die resurrectionis meae in testimonium, quoniam iudicium meum ad congregationes gentium, ut excipiam reges et effundam super eos iram meam. expectare nos iubet Dominus et futurae ultionis diem forti patientia sustinere.
And because I know, beloved brethren, that very many, either by the weight of pressing injuries or by pain concerning those who rage and storm against them, desire to be swiftly avenged, it must not be kept silent in the final part, so that we, placed in these tempests of a fluctuating world and in the persecutions of Jews or gentiles and also of heretics, may patiently wait for the day of vengeance, and not hasten with complaining speed to the avenging of our pain, since it is written: "Wait for me, says the Lord, in the day of my resurrection for a testimony, because my judgment is upon the congregations of gentiles, that I may receive kings and pour out my wrath upon them." The Lord commands us to wait and to endure the day of future vengeance with strong patience.
qui et in Apocalypsi loquitur dicens: ne signaueris uerba prophetiae libri huius, quia iam tempus in proximo est: et hi qui perseuerant nocere, noceant, et qui in sordibus est sordescat adhuc, iustus autem adhuc iustiora faciat, similiter et sanctus sanctiora.
Who also speaks in the Apocalypse, saying: "Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is already near: and let those who persevere in hurting, hurt still, and let him who is in filth become filthy still, but let the just still do more just things, and likewise the holy more holy things.
ecce uenio cito, et merces mea mecum estreddere unicuique secundum facta sua. unde et clamantes martyres et ad uindictam suam dolore erumpente properantes expectare adhuc iubentur et temporibus consummandis implendisque martyribus praebere patientiam.
Behold, I come quickly, and my reward is with me, to render to everyone according to his deeds." Wherefore also the crying martyrs, hastening with bursting pain to their vengeance, are commanded still to wait and to offer patience for the completion of times and the filling up of martyrs.
et cum aperuisset, inquit, quintum signum, uidi sub ara Dei animas occisorum propter uerbum Dei et martyrium suum, et clamauerunt magna uoce dicentes: quousque, Domine sanctus et uerus, non iudicas et uindicas sanguinem nostrum de his qui in terris inhabitant? et data est eis singulis stola alba et dictum est ut requiescerent breui adhuc tempore, donec impleatur numerus conseruorum et fratrum eorum quique postea occidentur exemplo ipsorum.
"And when he had opened," he says, "the fifth seal, I saw under the altar of God the souls of those slain for the word of God and their testimony, and they cried out with a loud voice, saying: How long, Lord, holy and true, do you not judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth? And to each of them was given a white robe, and it was said to them that they should rest yet for a little time, until the number of their fellow servants and of their brethren, who should afterward be killed after their example, should be filled up."