{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/003/0030804.htm","path":"chr/ecf/003/0030804.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/003/0030804.htm","text":"Chapter XIII.\u2014Of Bodily Patience.\nThus far, finally, of patience simple and uniform, and as it exists merely in the mind: though in many forms likewise I labour after it in body, for the purpose of \u201cwinning the Lord;\u201d 9150 inasmuch as it is a quality which has been exhibited by the Lord Himself in bodily virtue as well; if it is true that the ruling mind easily communicates the gifts 9151 of the Spirit with its bodily habitation. What, therefore, is the business of Patience in the body? In the first place, it is the affliction 9152 of the flesh\u2014a victim 9153 able to appease the Lord by means of the sacrifice of humiliation\u2014in making a libation to the Lord of sordid 9154 raiment, together with scantiness of food, content with simple diet and the pure drink of water 9155 in conjoining fasts to all this; in inuring herself to sackcloth and ashes. This bodily patience adds a grace to our prayers for good, a strength to our prayers against evil; this opens the ears of Christ our God, 9156 dissipates severity, elicits clemency. Thus that Babylonish king, 9157 after being exiled from human form in his seven years\u2019 squalor and neglect, because he had offended the Lord; by the bodily immolation of patience not only recovered his kingdom, but\u2014what is more to be desired by a man\u2014made satisfaction to God. Further, if we set down in order the higher and happier grades of bodily patience, (we find that) it is she who is entrusted by holiness with the care of continence of the flesh: she keeps the widow, 9158 and sets on the virgin the seal 9159 and raises the self-made eunuch to the realms of heaven. 9160 That which springs from a virtue of the mind is perfected in the flesh; and, finally, by the patience of the flesh, does battle under persecution. If flight press hard, the flesh wars with 9161 the inconvenience of flight; if imprisonment overp. 716 take 9162 us, the flesh (still was) in bonds, the flesh in the gyve, the flesh in solitude, 9163 and in that want of light, and in that patience of the world\u2019s misusage. 9164 When, however, it is led forth unto the final proof of happiness, 9165 unto the occasion of the second baptism, 9166 unto the act of ascending the divine seat, no patience is more needed there than bodily patience. If the \u201cspirit is willing, but the flesh,\u201d without patience, \u201cweak,\u201d 9167 where, save in patience, is the safety of the spirit, and of the flesh itself? But when the Lord says this about the flesh, pronouncing it \u201cweak,\u201d He shows what need there is of strengthening, it\u2014that is by patience\u2014to meet 9168 every preparation for subverting or punishing faith; that it may bear with all constancy stripes, fire, cross, beasts, sword; all which prophets and apostles, by enduring, conquered!\n\u201cInvecta,\u201d generally = \"movables\", household furniture.\n715:9152\nOr, mortification, \u201cadflictatio.\u201d\n715:9153\ni.e. fleshly mortification is a \u201cvictim,\u201d etc.\n715:9154\nOr, \u201cmourning.\u201d Comp. de P\u00e6n. c. 9.\n715:9155\n[The \u201cwater vs. wine\u201d movement is not a discovery of our own times. \u201cDrink a little wine,\u201d said St. Paul medicinally; but (as a great and good divine once remarked) \u201cwe must not lay stress on the noun, but the adjective; let it be very little.\u201d]\n715:9156 715:9157\nDan. iv. 33-37. Comp. de P\u00e6n. c. 12. [I have removed an ambiguity by slightly touching the text here.]\n715:9158\n1 Tim. 5:3, 9, 10, 1 Cor. 7:39, 40.\n715:9159 715:9160 715:9161\nAd. It seems to mean flesh has strength given it, by patience, to meet the hardships of the flight. Compare the \u03c0\u03c1\u1f78\u03c2 \u03c0\u03bb\u03b7\u03c3\u03bc\u03bf\u03bd\u1f74\u03bd \u03c4\u1fc6\u03c2 \u03c3\u03b1\u03c1\u03ba\u1f78\u03c2, of St. Paul in Col. ii. 23. [Kaye compares this with the De Fuga, as proof of the author\u2019s freedom from Montanism, when this was written.]\n716:9162\nPr\u00e6veniat: \u201cprevent\u201d us, before we have time to flee.\n716:9163 716:9164 716:9165 716:9166\nComp. Luke xii. 50.\n716:9167 716:9168\n\u201cAdversus,\u201d like the \u201cad\u201d above, note 21, p. 713.","title":"Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol III: Tertullian: Part III: Of Bo...","type":"page"}