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 and harassed, patience is necessary. For since in that first transgression of the commandment strength of body departed with immortality, and weakness came on with death—and strength cannot be received unless when immortality also has been received—it behoves us, in this bodily frailty and weakness, always to struggle and to fight. And this struggle and encounter cannot be sustained but by the strength of patience. But as we are to be examined and searched out, diverse sufferings are introduced; and a manifold kind of temptations is inflicted by the losses of property, by the heats of fevers, by the torments of wounds, by the loss of those dear to us. Nor does anything distinguish between the unrighteous and the righteous more than that in affliction the unrighteous man impatiently complains and blasphemes, while the righteous is proved by his patience, as it is written: “In pain endure, and in thy low estate have patience; for gold and silver are tried in the fire.”41 Ecclus. ii. 4, 5.
XVII. Necnon ad varia quoque carnis incommoda et crebros corporis durosque cruciatus, quibus humanum 0633B genus quotidie fatigatur et quatitur, patientia necessaria est. Nam, cum in illa prima transgressione praecepti firmitas corporis cum immortalitate discesserit, et cum morte infirmitas venerit, nec possit firmitas recipi nisi cum recepta et immortalitas fuerit, oportet in hac fragilitate atque infirmitate corporea luctari semper et congredi. Quae luctatio et congressio non nisi patientiae viribus potest sustineri. Examinandis autem nobis atque explorandis diversi importantur dolores, et multiplex tentationum qualitas irrogatur, de jacturis facultatum, de ardoribus febrium, de cruciatibus vulnerum, de amissione charorum. Nec aliud magis inter injustos discernit et justos, quam quod in adversis per impatientiam queritur et blasphemat injustus, patientia 0633C justus probatur, sicut scriptum est: In dolore sustine, et in humilitate tua patientiam habe, quoniam in igne probatur aurum et argentum (Eccli. II, 4).