§13PLVS NOS ACCIPERE IN PASSIONIS MEBCEDE QVAM QVOD HIC SVSTINEMVS IN IPSA PASSIONE. \'
Probat beatus apostolus Paulus qui dignatione diuina usque in tertium caelum adque in paradisum raptus audisse se inenarrabilia testatur, qui oculata fide legum Christum uidisse se gloriatur, qui id quod et didicit et uidit maioris conscientiae ueritate profitetur.
THAT WE RECEIVE MORE IN THE REWARD OF PASSION THAN WHAT WE SUSTAIN HERE IN THE PASSION ITSELF. The blessed apostle Paul proves this, who, by divine condescension snatched up even into the third heaven and into paradise, testifies that he heard unspeakable things, who glories that he saw Christ the King (legum Christum) with eyewitness faith, who confesses that which he both learned and saw with the truth of a greater conscience.
non sunt, inquit, condignae passiones huius temporis ad superuenturam claritudinem quae reuelabitur in nobis. quis ergo non omnibus modis elaboret ad claritatem tantam peruenire, ut amicus Dei fiat, ut cum Christo statim gaudeat, ut post tormenta et supplicia terrena praemia diuina percipiat? si militibus saecularibus gloriosum est ut hoste deuicto redeant in patriam triumphantes, quanto potior et maior est gloria uicto diabolo ad paradisum triumphantem redire et unde Adam peccator eiectus est illuc, prostrato eo qui ante deceperat trophaea uictricia reportare, offerre Domino. acceptissimum munus incorruptam fidem, uirtutem mentis incolumem, laudem deuotionis inlustrem, comitari eum cum uenire coeperit uindictam de inimicis recepturus, lateri eius adsistere cum sederit iudicaturus, coheredem Christi fieri, angelis coaequari, cum patriarchis, cum apostolis, cum prophetis caelestis regni possessione laetari.
'The sufferings,' he says, 'of this time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come which shall be revealed in us.' Who then would not strive in every way to attain to such great glory, that he may become a friend of God, that he may immediately rejoice with Christ, that after earthly torments and punishments he may receive divine rewards? If for secular soldiers it is glorious that, having conquered the enemy, they return triumphant to their country, how much better and greater is the glory, having conquered the devil, to return triumphant to paradise, and to bring back victorious trophies to that place from which Adam the sinner was cast out, having prostrated him who before had deceived; to offer to the Lord as a most acceptable gift an uncorrupted faith, an unimpaired virtue of mind, an illustrious praise of devotion; to accompany Him when He begins to come to receive vengeance from His enemies, to stand by His side when He sits to judge, to become a co-heir of Christ, to be made equal to the angels, to rejoice with the patriarchs, with the apostles, with the prophets in the possession of the heavenly kingdom.
has cogitationes quae persecutio potest uincere, quae possunt tormenta superare? durat fortis et stabilis religiosis meditationibus fundata mens et aduersus omnes diaboli terrores et minas mundi animus inmobilis perstat quem futurorum fides certa et solida corroborat.
What persecution can conquer these thoughts, what torments can overcome them? A mind founded on religious meditations remains strong and stable, and against all the terrors of the devil and threats of the world, the soul stands immovable, which a certain and solid faith in future things corroborates.
cluduntur in persecutionibus terrae, sed patet caelum: minatur antichristus, sed Christus tuetur: mors infertur, sed inmortalitas sequitur: occiso mundus eripitur, sed restituto paradisus exhibetur: uita temporalis extinguitur, sed aeternitas repraesentatur.
Earths are shut in persecutions, but heaven is open; antichrist threatens, but Christ protects; death is brought in, but immortality follows; the world is snatched away from the slain, but paradise is exhibited to the restored; temporary life is extinguished, but eternity is represented.
quanta est dignitas et quanta securitas exire hinc laetum, exire inter pressuras et angustias gloriosum, eludere in momento oculos, quibus homines uidebantur et mundus, aperire eosdem statim, ut Deus uideatur et Christus.
How great is the dignity and how great the security to depart hence joyful, to depart glorious amidst pressures and distresses, to shut in a moment the eyes with which men and the world were seen, and to open the same immediately that God and Christ may be seen!
tam feliciter migrandi quanta uelocitas.
How great is the swiftness of migrating so happily!
terris repente subtraheris, ut in regnis caelestibus reponaris.
You are suddenly withdrawn from the earth that you may be repositioned in the heavenly kingdoms.
haec oportet mente et cogitatione conplecti, haec die ac nocte meditari.
These things we must embrace in mind and thought; these things we must meditate day and night.
si talem persecutio inuenerit Dei militem, uinci non poterit uirtus ad proelium prompta.
If persecution finds such a soldier of God, virtue ready for battle cannot be conquered.
uel si arcessitio ante praeuenerit, sine praemio non erit fides quae erat ad martyrium praeparata: sine damno temporis merces Deo iudice redditur: in persecutione militia, in pace conscientia coronatur.
Or if the summons should prevent beforehand, the faith which was prepared for martyrdom will not be without reward; without loss of time, the reward is rendered by God as judge; in persecution the warfare is crowned, in peace the conscience.