§1Quaesisti proxime, Fabi frater, fugiendum necne sit in persecutione, quod nescio quid annuntiaretur.
You asked recently, brother Fabius, whether or not one must flee in persecution, because some news or other was being announced.
Ibidem ego oblocutus aliquid pro loco ac tempore et quarundam personarum importunitate semitractatam materiam abstuli mecum plenius eam de stilo nunc renuntiaturus, utpote quam mihi tua consultatio commendarat et condicio temporum suo iam nomine iniunxerat.
On that same spot, having spoken briefly in accordance with the place and time and the importunity of certain persons, I took away with me this half-treated matter, intending now to report it more fully in writing, seeing that your consultation had recommended it to me, and the condition of the times had already imposed it in its own name.
Quanto enim frequentiores imminent persecutiones, tanto examinatio procuranda est, quomodo eas excipere fides debeat.
For the more frequently persecutions threaten, the more we must ensure an examination of how faith ought to receive them.
Procuranda autem examinatio penes vos, qui, si forte, paracletum non recipiendo deductorem omnis veritatis merito adhuc etiam aliis quaestionibus obnixi estis.
But this examination must be provided on your part, who, if it so happens, by not receiving the Paraclete, the leader into all truth, are deservedly still resistant even to other questions.
Igitur consultationi tuae ordinem quoque induimus, animadvertentes ante determinari oportere de statu ipsius persecutionis, utrum a deo obveniat, an a diabolo, quo facilius de obitu eius constare possit.
Therefore, we have also given an order to your consultation, noticing that we must first determine the status of persecution itself—whether it comes from God or from the devil—so that it may be more easily established how one should meet it.
Omnis enim rei inspectio auctore cognito planior.
For the investigation of every matter is clearer once its author is known.
Satis est quidem praescribere nihil fieri sine dei voluntate.
It is indeed enough to lay down the rule that nothing happens without the will of God.
Sed non statim hac sententia ceteris retractatibus locum dabimus, ne a praesenti articulo avocemur, si qui responderit: Ergo et malum a deo et delictum a deo, nihil iam in diabolo, nihil etiam in nobis ipsis. De persecutione nunc quaeritur.
But we shall not immediately by this maxim give room for other disputes, lest we be distracted from the present point, if anyone should reply: 'Therefore both evil is from God and sin is from God; there is nothing now in the devil, and nothing even in ourselves.' It is about persecution that we are now inquiring.
Circa hanc interim dixerim nihil fieri sine dei voluntate, respiciens eam inprimis dignam deo esse et, ut ita dixerim, necessariam, ad probationem scilicet servorum eius sive reprobationem.
Concerning this, meanwhile, I would say that nothing happens without the will of God, considering that it is, above all, worthy of God and, so to speak, necessary, namely for the testing or the rejection of His servants.
Quis est enim exitus persecutionis, quis effectus alius, nisi probatio et reprobatio fidei, qua suos utique dominus examinabit? Hoc domini iudicium est persecutio, per quam quis aut probatus aut reprobatus iudicatur.
For what is the outcome of persecution, what other effect is there, but the testing and rejection of faith, by which the Lord will certainly examine His own? Persecution is this judgment of the Lord, through which a person is judged either as approved or as rejected.
Porro iudicium soli deo competit.
Furthermore, judgment belongs to God alone.
Haec pala illa, quae et nunc dominicam aream purgat, ecclesiam scilicet, confusum acervum fidelium eventilans et discernens frumentum martyrum et paleas negatorum, et haec etiam scalae, quas somniat Iacob, aliis ascensum in superiora, aliis descensum ad inferiora demonstrantes.
This is that winnowing-fan which even now cleanses the Lord's threshing-floor, namely the church, winnowing the mixed heap of believers and separating the wheat of the martyrs and the chaff of the deniers; and these are also the ladders which Jacob dreams of, pointing out to some an ascent to higher things, to others a descent to lower things.
Sic et agonem intellegi capit persecutionem.
In this way, it is also reasonable for persecution to be understood as an athletic contest.
A quo certamen edicitur, nisi a quo corona et praemia proponuntur? Legis edictum agonis istius in Apocalypsi, quibus praemiis ad victoriam invitet vel maxime illos qui proprie vicerint in persecutione, vincendo luctati revera non adversus carnem et sanguinem, sed adversus spiritalia nequitiae.
By whom is the contest proclaimed, if not by Him by whom the crown and the prizes are offered? You read the edict of this contest in the Apocalypse, with what prizes He invites to victory, especially those who have properly conquered in persecution, having struggled in winning indeed not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of wickedness.
Ita agnosces ad eundem agonothetam pertinere certaminis arbitrium qui invitat ad praemium.
Thus you will recognize that the decision of the contest belongs to the same contest-master who invites to the prize.
Totum quod agitur in persecutione gloria dei est, probantis et reprobantis, imponentis et deponentis.
Everything that is done in persecution is the glory of God, who tests and rejects, who imposes and removes.
Quod autem ad gloriam dei pertinet, utique ex voluntate illius eveniet.
And what pertains to the glory of God will certainly happen according to His will.
Sed quando deus magis creditur, nisi cum magis timetur? nisi in tempore persecutionis? Ecclesia in attonito est.
But when is God more believed, if not when He is more feared? If not in the time of persecution? The church is in a state of awe.
Tunc et fides in expeditione sollicitior et disciplinatior in ieiuniis et stationibus et orationibus et humilitate, in alterutra diligentia et dilectione, in sanctitate et sobrietate.
Then faith is also more anxious in its campaign and more disciplined in fasts, stations, prayers, and humility, in mutual diligence and love, in holiness and sobriety.
Non enim vacatur nisi timori et spei.
For there is leisure for nothing except fear and hope.
Adeo et ex hoc ipso ostenditur nobis non posse diabolo deputari eam quae meliores efficit dei servos.
So even from this very fact it is shown to us that that which makes the servants of God better cannot be imputed to the devil.