St Athanasius the Great LETTERS, Part II, Complete

Translated by Cardinal Newman.

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Page 5

4. But all those who 'call their lands by their own names [4382] ,' and have wood, and hay, and stubble [4383] in their thoughts; such as these, since they are strangers to difficulties, become aliens from the kingdom of heaven. Had they however known that 'tribulation perfecteth patience, and patience experience, and experience hope, and hope maketh not ashamed,' they would have exercised themselves, after the example of Paul, who said, 'I keep under my body and bring it into subjection, lest when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway [4384] .' They would easily have borne the afflictions which were brought upon them to prove them from time to time, if the prophetic admonition [4385] had been listened to by them; 'It is good for a man to take up Thy yoke in his youth; he shall sit alone and shall be silent, because he hath taken Thy yoke upon him. He will give his cheek to him who smiteth him; he will be filled with reproaches. Because the Lord does not cast away for ever; for when He abases, He is gracious, according to the multitude of His tender mercies [4386] .' For though all these things should proceed from the enemies, stripes, insults, reproaches, yet shall they avail nothing against the multitude of God's tender mercies; for we shall quickly recover from them since they are merely temporal, but God is always gracious, pouring out His tender mercies on those who please [Him]. Therefore, my beloved brethren, we should not look at these temporal things, but fix our attention on those which are eternal. Though affliction may come, it will have an end, though insult and persecution, yet are they nothing to the hope which is set [before us]. For all present matters are trifling compared with those which are future; the sufferings of this present time not being worthy to be compared with the hope that is to come [4387] . For what can be compared with the kingdom? or what is there in comparison with life eternal? Or what is all we could give here, to that which we shall inherit yonder? For we are 'heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ [4388] .' Therefore it is not right, my beloved, to consider afflictions and persecutions, but the hopes which are laid up for us because of persecutions.

[4382] Ps. xlix. 11 (Larsow mistakes the reference)

[4383] Cf. 1 Cor. iii. 12.

[4384] Rom. v. 3; 1 Cor. ix. 27.

[4385] Lam. iii. 27.

[4386] Cf. Serapion Epistola ad Monachos, in Mai Spicileg. Rom. tom. iv. p. li. (L.)

[4387] Cf. Rom. viii. 18; 2 Cor. iv. 17.

[4388] Rom. viii. 17.

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