On the Lapsed 7

These things were foretold to us and predicted beforehand. But we, forgetful of the law given and of its observance, brought it about through our sins that, while we despised the Lord's commands, we came to severer remedies for the correction of sin and the testing of faith; nor were we converted even late to the fear of the Lord, so as to undergo this correction and divine testing of ours patiently and bravely. At the very first words of the threatening enemy the greatest number of the brothers betrayed their faith; they were not cast down by the onslaught of persecution, but cast themselves down by a voluntary fall. What, I ask, so unheard-of, so new had come, that, as if things unknown and unexpected had arisen, the sacrament of Christ should be dissolved with headlong rashness? Did not the prophets before and the apostles afterward announce these things? Did they not, filled with the Holy Spirit, foretell the oppressions of the righteous and the constant injuries from the Gentiles? Does not the divine Scripture, always arming our faith and strengthening the servants of God with a heavenly voice, say, “You shall worship the Lord your God and serve him alone”? Does it not again, showing the anger of divine indignation and warning beforehand of the fear of punishment, say, “They worshiped what their fingers had made, and man was bowed down and man was humbled, and I will not forgive them”? And again God speaks, saying, “He who sacrifices to gods shall be rooted out, except to the Lord alone.” In the gospel too, afterward, the Lord, a teacher in words and a fulfiller in deeds, teaching what should be done and doing whatever he had taught, did he not forewarn beforehand of whatever is now happening and will happen? Did he not establish beforehand both eternal punishments for those who deny and saving rewards for those who confess?