Ante-Nicene Fathers/Volume IV/Commodianus/The Instructions of Commodianus/Chapter 29

XXVIII.&#8212;The Righteous Rise Again.

Righteousness and goodness, peace and true patience, and care concerning one&#8217;s deeds, make to live after death.&#160; But a crafty mind, mischievous, perfidious, evil, destroys itself by degrees, and delays in a cruel death.&#160; O wicked man, hear now what thou gainest by thy evil deeds.&#160; Look on the judges of earth, who now in the body torture with terrible punishments; either chastisements are prepared for the deserving by the sword, or to weep in a long imprisonment.&#160; Dost thou, last of all, hope to laugh at the God of heaven and the Ruler of the sky, by whom all things were made?&#160; Thou ragest, thou art mad, and now thou takest away the name of God, from whom, moreover, thou shalt not escape; and He will award punishments according to your deeds.&#160; Now I would have you be cautious that thou come not to the burning of fire.&#160; Give thyself up at once to Christ, that goodness may attend thee.