XIV.  Sow in good season, and gather together, and open thy barns when it is the time to do so; and plant in season, and let the clusters be cut when they are ripe, and launch boldly in spring, and draw thy ship on shore again at the beginning of winter, when the sea begins to rage.  And let there be to thee also a time for war and a time for peace; a time to marry, and a time to abstain from marrying; a time for friendship, and a time for discord, if this be needed; and in short a time for everything, if you will follow Solomon’s advice.41    Eccl. iii. 1. sq.  And it is best to do so, for the advice is profitable.  But the work of your salvation is one upon which you should be engaged at all times; and let every time be to you the definite one for Baptism.  If you are always passing over to-day and waiting for to-morrow, by your little procrastinations you will be cheated without knowing it by the Evil One, as his manner is.  Give to me, he says, the present, and to God the future; to me your youth, and to God old age; to me your pleasures, and to Him your uselessness.  How great is the danger that surrounds you.  How many the unexpected mischances.  War has expended you; or an earthquake overwhelmed you; or the sea swallowed you up; or a wild beast carried you off; or a sickness killed you; or a crumb going the wrong way (a most insignificant thing, but what is easier than for a man to die, though you are so proud of the divine image); or a too freely indulged drinking bout;42    Some mss. read “A flooded river.” or a wind knocked you down; or a horse ran away with you; or a drug maliciously scheming against you, or perhaps found to be deleterious when meant to be wholesome; or an inhuman judge; or an inexorable executioner; or any of the things which make the change swiftest and beyond the power of human aid.

ΙΔʹ. Σπεῖρε μὲν ὅτε καιρὸς, καὶ συγκόμιζε, καὶ λύε τὰς ἀποθήκας, ὅτε τούτου καιρὸς, καὶ φύτευε καθ' ὥραν, καὶ κειρέσθω σοι βότρυς ὥριμος, καὶ ἀνάγου θαῤῥήσας ἔαρι, καὶ ἄνελκε τὴν ναῦν, πάλιν ἀρχομένου χειμῶνος, καὶ τῆς θαλάσσης ἀγριουμένης. Καὶ πολέμου καιρὸς ἔστω σοι, καὶ εἰρήνης, καὶ γάμου, καὶ τῶν οὐ γάμου, καὶ φιλίας, καὶ διαστάσεως, ἂν ταύτης δεήσῃ, καὶ παντὸς ὅλως πράγματος, εἴ τι τῷ Σολομῶντι πειστέον. Πειστέον δέ: καὶ γὰρ ὠφέλιμος ἡ παραίνεσις. Ἀεὶ δὲ τὴν σωτηρίαν ἐργάζου, καὶ πᾶς ἔστω σοι καιρὸς τοῦ βαπτίσματος ὅρος. Ἐὰν ἀεὶ τὸ σήμερον παρατρέχων, ἐπιτηρῇς τὸ εἰς αὔριον, λανθάνεις ταῖς κατὰ μικρὸν ἀναβολαῖς ὑπὸ τοῦ Πονηροῦ κλεπτόμενος, ὥσπερ ἐκείνου τρόπος. Ἐμοὶ δὸς τὸ παρὸν, Θεῷ τὸ μέλλον: ἐμοὶ τὴν νεότητα, Θεῷ τὸ γῆρας: ἐμοὶ τὰς ἡδονὰς, ἐκείνῳ τὴν ἀχρηστίαν. Ὅσος ὁ περὶ σὲ κίνδυνος! ὅσα τὰ παρ' ἐλπίδα συμπτώματα! Ἢ πόλεμος παρανάλωσεν, ἢ σεισμὸς συνέχωσεν, ἢ θάλασσα ὑπεδέξατο, ἢ θηρίον ἥρπασεν, ἢ νόσος ἀπώλεσεν, ἢ ψὶξ παραδραμοῦσα, τὸ φαυλότατον (τί γὰρ τοῦ ἀποθανεῖν ἄνθρωπον εὐκολώτερον, κἂν μέγα φρονῇς τῇ εἰκόνι;), ἢ πότος πλεονάσας, ἢ ἄνεμος κρημνίσας, ἢ ἵππος συναρπάσας, ἢ φάρμακον ἐκ προνοίας ἐπιβουλεῦσαν, τυχὸν δὲ καὶ ἀντὶ σωτηρίου φανὲν δηλητήριον, ἢ δικαστὴς ἀπάνθρωπος, ἢ δήμιος ἀπαραίτητος, ἤ τι τῶν ὅσα ταχίστην ποιεῖ τὴν μετάστασιν, καὶ βοηθείας ἰσχυροτέραν.