On Flight during Persecution.

 1.  My brother Fabius, you very lately asked, because some news or other were communicated, whether or not we ought to flee in persecution.  For my pa

 2.  If, because injustice is not from God, but from the devil, and persecution consists of injustice (for what more unjust than that the bishops of th

 3.  Seeing therefore, too, these cases occur in persecutions more than at other times, as there is then among us more of proving or rejecting, more of

 4.  Well, then, if it is evident from whom persecution proceeds, we are able at once to satisfy your doubts, and to decide from these introductory rem

 5.  But, says some one, I flee, the thing it belongs to me to do, that I may not perish, if I deny it is for Him on His part, if He chooses, to bring

 6.  Nay, says some one, he fulfilled the command, when he fled from city to city.  For so a certain individual, but a fugitive likewise, has chosen to

 7.  Let us now see whether also the rest of our Lord’s ordinances accord with a lasting command of flight.  In the first place, indeed, if persecution

 8.  He sometimes also fled from violence Himself, but for the same reason as had led Him to command the apostles to do so:  that is, He wanted to fulf

 9.  The teaching of the apostles was surely in everything according to the mind of God:  they forgot and omitted nothing of the Gospel.  Where, then,

 10.  But some, paying no attention to the exhortations of God, are readier to apply to themselves that Greek versicle of worldly wisdom, “He who fled

 11.  Thus ought every servant of God to feel and act, even one in an inferior place, that he may come to have a more important one, if he has made som

 12.  So far, my brother, as the question proposed by you is concerned, you have our opinion in answer and encouragement.  But he who inquires whether

 13.  But also to every one who asks me I will give on the plea of charity, not under any intimidation.  Who asks? He says.  But he who uses intimidati

 14.  But how shall we assemble together? say you how shall we observe the ordinances of the Lord?  To be sure, just as the apostles also did, who wer

14.  But how shall we assemble together? say you; how shall we observe the ordinances of the Lord?  To be sure, just as the apostles also did, who were protected by faith, not by money; which faith, if it can remove a mountain, can much more remove a soldier.  Be your safeguard wisdom, not a bribe.  For you will not have at once complete security from the people also, should you buy off the interference of the soldiers.  Therefore all you need for your protection is to have both faith and wisdom:  if you do not make use of these, you may lose even the deliverance which you have purchased for yourself; while, if you do employ them, you can have no need of any ransoming.  Lastly, if you cannot assemble by day, you have the night, the light of Christ luminous against its darkness.  You cannot run about among them one after another.  Be content with a church of threes.  It is better that you sometimes should not see your crowds, than subject yourselves (to a tribute bondage).  Keep pure for Christ His betrothed virgin; let no one make gain of her.  These things, my brother, seem to you perhaps harsh and not to be endured; but recall that God has said, “He who receives it, let him receive it,” that is, let him who does not receive it go his way.  He who fears to suffer, cannot belong to Him who suffered.  But the man who does not fear to suffer, he will be perfect in love—in the love, it is meant, of God; “for perfect love casteth out fear.”  “And therefore many are called, but few chosen.”  It is not asked who is ready to follow the broad way, but who the narrow.  And therefore the Comforter is requisite, who guides into all truth, and animates to all endurance.  And they who have received Him will neither stoop to flee from persecution nor to buy it off, for they have the Lord Himself, One who will stand by us to aid us in suffering, as well as to be our mouth when we are put to the question.

CAPUT XIV.

Sed quomodo colligemus, inquis, quomodo dominica solemnia celebrabimus? Utique quomodo et Apostoli; fide, non pecunia tuti; quae fides si montem transferre potest, multo magis militem. Esto sapientia, non praemio cautus. Neque enim statim et a populo eris tutus, si officia militaria redemeris. Una ergo tibi et fide, et sapientia, 0119B ad tutelam opus est: quibus non adhibitis, et redemptionem tuam potes perdere; adhibitis, haud redemptionem desiderare. Postremo si colligere interdiu non potes, habes noctem, luce Christi luminosa 0120A adversus eam. Non potes discurrere per singulos: sit tibi et in tribus Ecclesia. Melius est turbas tuas aliquando non videas, quam addicas. Serva Christo virginem sponsam. Nemo quaestum de ea faciat. Haec tibi, frater, dura forsitan et intolerabilia videntur. Sed recita Deum dixisse: Qui capit, capiat (Matth. XXIX, 12); id est, qui non capit, discedat. Non potest qui pati timet, ejus esse qui passus est. At qui pati non timet, iste perfectus erit in dilectione, utique Dei. Perfecta enim dilectio foras mittit timorem (Joan. IV, 18). Et ideo multi vocati, pauci electi (Matth. XXII, 14). Non quaeritur qui latam viam sequi paratus sit, sed qui angustam (Matth. VII, 13; Luc., XIII, 24). Et ideo Paracletus necessarius deductor omnium veritatum, exhortator omnium tolerantiarum: quem qui 0120B receperunt, neque fugere persecutionem, neque redimere noverunt, habentes ipsum qui pro nobis erit, sicut locuturus in interrogatione, ita juvaturus in passione.