Salvian writing about the condition of Gods people 1in their suffering of affliction, answers an Objection which some might make. But we do not live under persecuting Emperors, as formerly Christians did. To that he says, By how much the less they were in their passive obedience, by so much the more they should be in their active obedience. God is content, says he, that our peace should serve him, that we ⟨p. 28⟩should please him, in the purity of actions undefiled, in the holiness of a life unspotted; by so much the more is our faithfulness and devotion indebted to him, because he requires of us smaller things, and hath granted greater things unto us: and therefore seeing Princes are Christians, there is no persecution, Religion is not disturbed, we are not compelled to manifest the proof of our faith by harder trials, we ought so much the more to please the Lord in inferior duties. He instanceth in divers particulars: as Christ (says he) commands us not to strive, and 2contend with one another, but rather to put up wrong, let us obey him in this, seeing he frees us from such great and dreadful miseries, which others have suffered before us. Again, Christ would have us do that to others, which we would have others do to us, let us obey him in this. He commands us by his Apostle, that we should not seek that which is our own, but every one seek the good of another: he requires of us to love our enemies, and to take heed of the occasions of evil, &c. Although duties be never so hard to flesh and blood, yet let us set upon them. It was an excellent speech of Eusebius Emesenus, Our forefathers did strive against sharp piercing griefs, let us be willing to strive against the most excellent pleasures; They overcame the torments of the flames, let us overcome the fiery darts of vices.
Salvian writing about the condition of Gods people 1in their suffering of affliction, answers an Objection which some might make. But we do not live under persecuting Emperors, as formerly Christians did. To that he says, By how much the less they were in their passive obedience, by so much the more they should be in their active obedience. God is content, says he, that our peace should serve him, that we ⟨p. 28⟩should please him, in the purity of actions undefiled, in the holiness of a life unspotted; by so much the more is our faithfulness and devotion indebted to him, because he requires of us smaller things, and hath granted greater things unto us: and therefore seeing Princes are Christians, there is no persecution, Religion is not disturbed, we are not compelled to manifest the proof of our faith by harder tryals, we ought so much the more to please the Lord in inferior duties. He instanceth in divers particulars: as Christ (says he) commands us not to strive, and 2contend with one another, but rather to put up wrong, let us obey him in this, seeing he frees us from such great and dreadful miseries, which others have suffered before us. Again, Christ would have us do that to others, which we would have others do to us, let us obey him in this. He commands us by his Apostle, that we should not seek that which is our own, but every one seek the good of another: he requires of us to love our enemies, and to take heed of the occasions of evil, &c. Although duties be never so hard to flesh and blood, yet let us set upon them. It was an excellent speech of Eusebius Emesenus, Our forefathers did strive against sharp piercing griefs, let us be willing to strive against the most excellent pleasures; They overcame the torments of the flames, let us overcome the fiery darts of vices.
- 1Contentus est Devs noster, ut et pax nostra serviat, ut ci immaculatorum. actuum puritate et vitae incō taminabilis sanctitate placeamus: plus ei fides & devotio nostra debet quia minora a nobis exigit & majora concessit, & ideo cum principes Christiava sint & persecutio nulla fit & religio non inquietetur, qui ad probandam fidem experimentis durioribus non compellimur, inferioribus saltem officiis domino plus placere debemus: Demittamus ergo illa quae beatissimus Paulces pentulit, •ide•mus, si in illis sulte• religiosae […] obsequtis quae minora atque communia, &c. Salvian. de gubernatione Dei. lib. 3.Contentus est Devs noster, ut et pax nostra serviat, ut ci immaculatorum. actuum puritate et vitae incō taminabilis sanctitate placeamus: plus ei fides & devotio nostra debet quia minora a nobis exigit & majora concessit, & ideo cum principes Christiava sint & persecutio nulla fit & religio non inquietetur, qui ad probandam fidem experimentis durioribus non compellimur, inferioribus saltem officiis domino plus placere debemus: Demittamus ergo illa quae beatissimus Paulces pentulit, •ide•mus, si in illis sulte• religiosae 〈…〉 obsequtis quae minora atque communia, &c. Salvian. de gubernatione Dei. lib. 3.
- 2Dimicave runt patres nostri contra asperimos dolours nos è contrario dimicimus contra nobilissimas voluptates; vicerunt tormenta flammarum, nos vincamus ignea tela vitiorum. Euseh. Emes. Homilia Natalis Sancti Genesii.Dimicave runt patres nostri contra asperimos dolores nos è contrario dimicimus contra nobilissimas voluptates; vicerunt tormenta flammarum, nos vincamus ignea tela vitiorum. Euseh. Emes. Homilia Natalis Sancti Genesii.
