1. As I am about to speak, beloved brethren, of patience, and to declare its advantages and benefits, from what point should I rather begin than this,

 2. Philosophers also profess that they pursue this virtue but in their case the patience is as false as their wisdom also is. For whence can he be ei

 3. But for us, beloved brethren, who are philosophers, not in words, but in deeds, and do not put forward our wisdom in our garb, but in truth—who are

 4. But what and how great is the patience in God, that, most patiently enduring the profane temples and the images of earth, and the sacrilegious rite

 5.  And that we may more fully understand, beloved brethren, that patience is a thing of God, and that whoever is gentle, and patient, and meek, is an

 6. Nor, beloved brethren, did Jesus Christ, our God and Lord, teach this in words only but He fulfilled it also in deeds. And because He had said tha

 7. And moreover, in His very passion and cross, before they had reached the cruelty of death and the effusion of blood, what infamies of reproach were

 8. And after all these things, He still receives His murderers, if they will be converted and come to Him and with a saving patience, He who is benig

 9. But if we also, beloved brethren, are in Christ if we put Him on, if He is the way of our salvation, who follow Christ in the footsteps of salvati

 10. Finally, we find that both patriarchs and prophets, and all the righteous men who in their preceding likeness wore the figure of Christ, in the pr

 11. But that it may be more manifestly and fully known how useful and necessary patience is, beloved brethren let the judgment of God be pondered, wh

 12. Whence every one of us, when he is born and received in the inn of this world, takes his beginning from tears and, although still unconscious and

 13. It is the wholesome precept of our Lord and Master: “He that endureth,” saith He, “unto the end, the same shall be saved ” and again, “If ye conti

 14. But patience, beloved brethren, not only keeps watch over what is good, but it also repels what is evil.  In harmony with the Holy Spirit, and ass

 15. Charity is the bond of brotherhood, the foundation of peace, the holdfast and security of unity, which is greater than both hope and faith, which

 16. What beyond —that you should not swear nor curse that you should not seek again your goods when taken from you that, when you receive a buffet,

 17. And moreover, also, for the varied ills of the flesh, and the frequent and severe torments of the body, wherewith the human race is daily wearied

 18. Thus Job was searched out and proved, and was raised up to the very highest pinnacle of praise by the virtue of patience. What darts of the devil

 19. And, beloved brethren, that the benefit of patience may still more shine forth, let us consider, on the contrary, what mischief impatience may cau

 20. Wherefore, beloved brethren, having diligently pondered both the benefits of patience and the evils of impatience, let us hold fast with full watc

 21. But since I know, beloved brethren, that very many are eager, either on account of the burden or the pain of smarting wrongs, to be quickly avenge

 22. But when shall come the divine vengeance for the righteous blood, the Holy Spirit declares by Malachi the prophet, saying, “Behold, the day of the

 23. But who is this that says that he has held his peace before, and will not hold his peace for ever?  Surely it is He who was led as a sheep to the

 24. Let us wait for Him, beloved brethren, our Judge and Avenger, who shall equally avenge with Himself the congregation of His Church, and the number

10. Finally, we find that both patriarchs and prophets, and all the righteous men who in their preceding likeness wore the figure of Christ, in the praise of their virtues were watchful over nothing more than that they should preserve patience with a strong and stedfast equanimity. Thus Abel, who first initiated and consecrated the origin of martyrdom, and the passion of the righteous man, makes no resistance nor struggles against his fratricidal23    According to some, “parricidal.” brother, but with lowliness and meekness he is patiently slain. Thus Abraham, believing God, and first of all instituting the root and foundation of faith, when tried in respect of his son, does not hesitate nor delay, but obeys the commands of God with all the patience of devotion.  And Isaac, prefigured as the likeness of the Lord’s victim, when he is presented by his father for immolation, is found patient.  And Jacob, driven forth by his brother from his country, departs with patience; and afterwards with greater patience, he suppliantly brings him back to concord with peaceful gifts, when he is even more impious and persecuting. Joseph, sold by his brethren and sent away, not only with patience pardons them, but even bountifully and mercifully bestows gratuitous supplies of corn on them when they come to him. Moses is frequently contemned by an ungrateful and faithless people, and almost stoned; and yet with gentleness and patience he entreats the Lord for those people. But in David, from whom, according to the flesh, the nativity of Christ springs, how great and marvellous and Christian is the patience, that he often had it in his power to be able to kill king Saul, who was persecuting him and desiring to slay him; and yet, chose rather to save him when placed in his hand, and delivered up to him, not repaying his enemy in turn, but rather, on the contrary, even avenging him when slain! In fine, so many prophets were slain, so many martyrs were honoured with glorious deaths, who all have attained to the heavenly crowns by the praise of patience.  For the crown of sorrows and sufferings cannot be received unless patience in sorrow and suffering precede it.

X. Invenimus denique et Patriarchas et Prophetas et justos omnes, qui figuram Christi imagine praeeunte portabant, nihil magis custodisse in laude virtutum suarum quam quod patientiam forti et stabili aequanimitate tenuerunt. Sic Abel originem martyrii et passionem justi hominis initians primus et dedicans adversus fratrem fratricidam non resistit nec reluctatur, sed humilis et mitis patienter occiditur. Sic 0629A Abraham Deo credens et radicem ac fundamentum fidei primus instituens, tentatus in filio, non dubitat neque cunctatur, sed praeceptis Dei tota patientia devotionis obsequitur. Et Isaac, ad hostiae Dominicae similitudinem praefiguratus, quando a patre immolandus offertur, patiens invenitur. Et Jacob, fugatus a fratre de terra sua patienter excedit, et majore patientia postmodum supplex adhuc magis impium et persecutorem muneribus pacificis ad concordiam redigit. Joseph, venundatus a fratribus et relegatus , non tantum patienter ignoscit, sed et gratuita frumenta venientibus largiter et clementer impertit. Moyses ab ingrato et perfido populo contemnitur frequenter et pene lapidatur, et tamen lenis et patiens pro eisdem Dominum deprecatur. In David vero, ex 0629B quo secundum carnem Christi nativitas oritur, quam magna et mira et christiana patientia, habuisse in manu saepe ut Saul regem persequentem se et interficere concupiscentem posset occidere, et tamen subditum sibi et traditum maluisse servare, nec rependisse inimico vicem, sed occisum adhuc insuper et vindicasse! Tot denique Prophetae interfecti, tot martyres gloriosis mortibus honorati, qui omnes ad coelestes coronas patientiae laude venerunt. Neque enim potest accipi dolorum et passionum corona, nisi praecedat in dolore et passione patientia.