§25Cogitemus, fratres dilectissimi, quid sub apostolis fecerit credentium populus, quando inter ipsa primordia maioribus uirtutibus mens uigebat, quando credentium fides nouo adhuc fidei calore feruebat.
Let us consider, dearest brethren, what the people of believers did under the apostles, when in those very beginnings the mind flourished with greater virtues, when the faith of believers still burned with a new warmth of faith.
domicilia tunc et praedia uenundabant et dispensandam pauperibus quantitatem libenter ac largiter apostolis obferebant, terreno patrimonio uendito adque distracto fundos illuc transferentes ubi fructus caperent possessionis aeternae, illic comparantes domos ubi inciperent semper habitare.
They then sold houses and estates, and willingly and generously offered to the apostles the amount to be distributed to the poor, by selling and disposing of their earthly patrimony, transferring their funds to where they would receive the fruits of an eternal possession, there preparing houses where they would begin to dwell forever.
talis tunc fuit in operationibus cumulus qualis in dilectione consensus, sicut legimus in Actis apostolorum: turba autem eorum qui crediderant anima ac mente una agebant nec fuit inter illos discrimen ullum nec quicquam suum iudicabant ex bonis quae eis erant, sed fuerunt illis omnia communia. hoc est natiuitate spiritali uere Dei filium fieri, hoc est lege caelesti aequitatem Dei patris imitari.
Such was then the abundance in good works as was the consensus in love, as we read in the Acts of the Apostles: "But the multitude of them that believed acted with one soul and mind, nor was there any distinction among them, nor did they judge anything of the goods which they had to be their own, but all things were common to them." This is to truly become a son of God by spiritual birth, this is to imitate the equity of God the Father by heavenly law.
quodcumque enim Dei est in nostra usurpatione commune est, nec quisquam a beneficiis eius et muneribus arcetur quominus omne humanum genus bonitate ac largitate diuina aequaliter perfruatur.
For whatever is of God is common in our use, nor is anyone kept away from His benefits and gifts lest all mankind should equally enjoy the divine goodness and generosity.
sic aequaliter dies luminat, sol radiat, imber rigat, uentus adspirat, et dormientibus somnus unus est, et stellarum splendor ac lunae communis est.
Thus equally the day illuminates, the sun shines, the rain waters, the wind blows, and sleep is one for those who sleep, and the splendor of the stars and the moon is common.
quo aequalitatis exemplo qui possessor in terris reditus ac fructus suos cum fraternitate partitur, dum largitionibus gratuitis communis ac iustus est. Dei patris imitator est.
By which example of equality, he who as a possessor on earth shares his revenues and fruits with the brethren, while by free gifts he is common and just, is an imitator of God the Father.
§26Quae illa erit, fratres carissimi, operantium gloria, quam grandis et summa laetitia, cum populum suum Dominus coeperit recensere et meritis adque operibus nostris praemia promissa contribuens pro terrenis caelestia, pro temporalibus sempiterna, pro modicis magna praestare, obferre nos patri cui nos sua sanctificatione restituit, aeternitatem nobis inmortalitatemque largiri ad quam nos sanguinis sui uiuificatione reparauit, reduces ad paradisum denuo facere, regna caelorum fide et ueritate suae pollicitationis aperire.
What will be, dearest brethren, that glory of those who work, how grand and supreme the joy, when the Lord begins to muster His people, and distributing the promised rewards to our merits and works, to bestow heavenly things for earthly, eternal for temporal, great for small, to offer us to the Father to whom He restored us by His sanctification, to grant us eternity and immortality to which He repaired us by the quickening of His blood, to make us return to paradise again, and to open the kingdoms of heaven by the faith and truth of His promise.
haec haereant firmiter sensibus nostris, haec intellegantur plena fide, haec corde toto diligantur, haec indesinentium operum magnanimitate redimantur.
Let these things cling firmly to our senses, let these be understood with full faith, let these be loved with the whole heart, let these be redeemed by the greatness of mind in unceasing works.
praeclara et diuina res, fratres carissimi, salutaris operatio.
A noble and divine thing, dearest brethren, is saving work.
solacium grande credentium, securitatis nostrae salubre praesidium, munimentum spei, tutela fidei, medella peccati, res posita in potestate facientis, res et grandis et facilis, sine periculo persecutionis corona pacis, uerum Dei munus et maximum, infirmis necessarium, fortibus gloriosum, quo Christianus adiutus perfert gratiam spiritalem, promeretur Christum iudicem, Deum computat debitorem.
A great solace of believers, a wholesome defense of our security, a bulwark of hope, a safeguard of faith, a remedy for sin, a thing placed in the power of the doer, a thing both grand and easy, a crown of peace without danger of persecution, a true and greatest gift of God, necessary for the weak, glorious for the strong, aided by which a Christian carries through spiritual grace, merits Christ as judge, and accounts God as a debtor.
ad hanc operum salutarium palmam libenter ac prompte certemus, omnes in agone iustitiae Deo et Christo spectante curramus et qui saeculo et mundo maiores esse iam coepimus cursum nostrum nulla saeculi et mundi cupiditate tardemus.
To this palm of saving works let us strive willingly and promptly, let us all run in the contest of justice with God and Christ looking on, and we who have already begun to be greater than the age and the world, let us delay our course with no desire for the age and the world.
si expeditos, si celeres, si in hoc operis agone currentes dies nos uel redditionis uel persecutionis inuenerit, nusquam Dominus meritis nostris ad praemium deerit, in pace uincentibus coronam candidam pro operibus dabit, in persecutione purpuream pro passione geminabit.
If, unencumbered, swift, running in this contest of work, the day either of recompense or of persecution shall find us, the Lord will nowhere fail our merits for the reward; to those who conquer in peace He will give a white crown for their works, and in persecution He will redouble a purple one for their passion.