On the Christian Religion

...and the others, through their whole lives, likewise.

With what spirit the disciples of Christ labored. Chapter VI.

With what spirit the disciples of Christ labored, Paul declares in his Epistle to the Romans: “Who,” he says, “shall separate us from the charity of Christ? Shall tribulation, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or the sword? As it is written: ‘For Thy sake we are put to death all the day long, we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.’ I am certain, indeed, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor virtues, nor things present, nor things to come, nor strength, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the charity of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The same man, after he had announced to the Corinthians the many labors and kinds of torments which he had endured and was enduring, added that he rejoiced, gloried, and was strengthened in these. The same writes to the Philippians while he was bound at Rome: “I shall be confounded in nothing, but with all confidence, as always, so now also Christ shall be exalted in my body, whether through life or through death; for to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if to live in the flesh is for me a fruit of work, I do not know what I should choose; I am pressed by the two. For I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ, and this indeed is much better for me, but to remain in the flesh is necessary for your sake.” He adds divine words in this manner, and this trusting: “I know that I shall remain, and shall remain with you all for your progress and joy of faith, so that your gratification may abound in Christ Jesus in me through my arrival again to you.” And a little later: “To you it is given for Christ, not only that you believe in Him, but also that you suffer for Him, having the same conflict which you both saw in me and now hear in me, and now hear about me.” He was indeed freed, as he predicted, from his bonds and returned...