§11Hanc tolerantiam iusti semper habuerunt, hanc apostoli disciplinam de Domini lege tenuerunt non mussitare in aduersis sed quaecumque in saeculo accidunt fortiter et patienter excipere, cum Iudaeorum populus hinc semper offenderit, quod aduersus Deum frequentius murmuraret, sicut testatur in Numeris Dominus Deus dicens: desinat murmuratio eorum a me, et non morientur. murmurandum non est in aduersis, fratres dilectissimi, sed patienter et fortiter quidquid acciderit sustinendum, cum scriptum sit: sacrificium Deo spiritus contribulatus: cor contritum et humiliatum Deus non despicit. in Deuteronomio quoque monet per Moysen Spiritus sanctus et dicit: Dominus Deus tuus uexabit te et famem iniciet tibi, et cognoscetur in corde tuo si bene custodieris praecepta eius siue non, et iterum: temptat Dominus Deus uester uos ut sciat si diligitis Dominum Deum uestrum ex toto corde uestro et ex tota anima uestra. §12Sic Abraham Deo placuit, quia ut placeret Deo nec amittere filium timuit nec gerere parricidium recusauit.
This endurance the righteous have always had, this discipline the apostles held from the Lord's law, not to mutter in adversity, but to receive bravely and patiently whatever happens in the world, whereas the people of the Jews always stumbled on this account, that they murmured too frequently against God, as the Lord God testifieth in Numbers, saying: 'Let their murmuring cease from me, and they shall not die.' One must not murmur in adversity, most beloved brothers, but must endure patiently and bravely whatever happens, since it is written: 'A troubled spirit is a sacrifice to God; a contrite and humbled heart God does not despise.' Also in Deuteronomy, the Holy Spirit warns through Moses and says: 'The Lord your God will afflict you and bring hunger upon you, and it shall be known in your heart whether you have kept his commandments well or not,' and again: 'The Lord your God tests you, to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.' Thus Abraham pleased God, because in order to please God, he neither feared to lose his son nor refused to commit parricide.
qui filium non potes lege et sortem ortalitatis amittere, quid faceres, si filium iubereris occidere? ad omnia te paratum facere timor Dei et fides debet.
You, who cannot bear to lose a son by the law and lot of mortality, what would you do if you were ordered to slay your son? The fear of God and faith ought to make you prepared for all things.
sit licet rei familiaris amissio, sit de infestantibus morbis adsidua membrorum et cruenta uexatio, sit de uxore, de liberis, de excedentibus caris funebris et tristis auulsio: non sint tibi offendicula ista sed proelia, nec debilitent aut frangant christiani fidem, sed potius ostendant in conluctatione uirtutem, cum contemnenda sit omnis iniuria malorum praesentium fiducia futurorum bonorum.
Granted that there is the loss of family property, though there be continuous and bloody affliction of the limbs from plaguing diseases, though there be the mournful and sad tearing away of wife, of children, of departing dear ones: let these things be to you not stumbling blocks but battles, nor let them weaken or break the faith of a Christian, but rather let them show virtue in the struggle, since every injury of present evils must be despised through confidence in future goods.
nisi praecesserit pugna, non potest esse uictoria, cum fuerit in pugnae congressione uictoria, tunc datur uincentibus et corona.
Unless the battle precedes, there cannot be victory; when there has been victory in the encounter of battle, then the crown also is given to the conquerors.
gubernator in tempestate dinoscitur, in acie miles probatur.
The pilot is recognized in a storm, the soldier is tested in the battle line.
delicata iactatio est, cum periculum non est: cum est conflictatio in aduersis, probatio est ueritatis.
It is a painless boasting when there is no danger; when there is conflict in adversity, it is the proof of truth.
arbor quae alta radice fundata est uentis incumbentibus non mouetur et nauis quae forti conpage solidata est pulsatur fluctibus nec foratur, et quando area fruges terit, uentos grana fortia et robusta contemnunt inanes paleae flatu portante rapiuntur.
The tree which is founded with a deep root is not moved when the winds press upon it, and the ship which is made solid with a strong frame is battered by waves but is not pierced, and when the threshing floor threshes the crops, the strong and robust grains despise the winds, while the empty chaff is swept away by the carrying breeze.
§13Sic et apostolus Paulus post naufragia, post flagella, post carnis et corporis multa et grauia tormenta non uexari sed emendari se dicit aduersis, ut dum grauius adfligitur uerius probaretur.
Thus also the apostle Paul, after shipwrecks, after scourgings, after many and grievous torments of flesh and body, says that he is not afflicted but corrected by adversities, so that while he is more heavily afflicted, he might be more truly tested.
datus est mihi, inquit, stimulus carnis meae, angelus satanae qui me colafizet ut non extollar.
'There was given to me,' he says, 'a thorn of my flesh, an angel of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted.
propter quod ter Dominum rogaui ut discederet a me, et dixit mihi: sufficit tibi gratia mea.
Concerning which three times I besought the Lord that it might depart from me, and he said to me: "My grace is sufficient for you.
uirtus enim in infirmitate perficitur. quando ergo infirmitas et inbecillitas et uastitas aliqua grassatur, tunc uirtus nostra perficitur, tunc fides si temptata perstiterit coronatur, sicut scriptum est: uasa figuli probat fornax et homines iustos temptatio tribulationis. hoc denique inter nos et ceteros interest qui Deum nesciunt, quod illi in aduersis queruntur et murmurant, nos aduersa non auocant a uirtutis et fidei ueritate, sed conprobant in dolore.
For strength is perfected in weakness."' Therefore, when some weakness and feebeness and devastation rages, then our virtue is perfected, then faith, if it has stood firm when tested, is crowned, as it is written: 'The furnace proves the potter's vessels, and the trial of tribulation righteous men.' This, finally, is the difference between us and others who do not know God, that they in adversity complain and murmur, while adversities do not call us away from the truth of virtue and faith, but prove us in pain.