guard faith, hope, charity, humility, gentleness, justice, modesty, temperance, sobriety, patience,[1] and the other virtues which adorn our lives with noble conduct and works. Rejoice in that you suffer persecution.[2] For Christ saith: Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.[3] Blessed are ye when men hate you,[4] excommunicate and cast you out with anathemas for the sake of God’s word. Rejoice in that day: for great is your reward in heaven.[5] Who, then, having faith, hope, and charity, would not for the Saviour’s sake undergo all such insults and shame, when he is sure of receiving a hundredfold in life eternal?
Looking, therefore, as you do for these things, you will remember what Christ said: There shall be tribulation, such as hath not been from the beginning of the world until now, neither shall be.[6] How so? The apostle himself gives us the reason: For (saith he) there shall be a time when they will not endure[7] sound doctrine, but according to their own desires they will heap to themselves teachers having itching ears, and will indeed turn away their hearing from the truth, but will join themselves[8] unto fables.[9]
This prophecy of St. Paul you now see with your own eyes already fulfilled. For elsewhere He saith: All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But impious men and seducers will grow worse and worse.[10]
Therefore, dear friends, as St. Peter exhorteth: Take heed lest, being led aside by the error of the unwise, you fall from your own steadfastness; but grow in the
