Ante-Nicene Fathers/Volume IV/Commodianus/The Instructions of Commodianus/Chapter 33

XXXII.&#8212;To Self-Pleasers.

If place or time is favourable, or the person has advanced, let there be a new judge.&#160; Why now art thou lifted up thence?&#160; Untaught, thou blasphemest Him of whose liberality thou livest.&#160; In such weakness thou dost not ever regard Him.&#160; Throughout advances and profits thou greedily presumest on fortune.&#160; There is no law to thee, nor dost thou discern thyself in prosperity.&#160; Although they may be counted of gold, let the strains of the pipe always be raving.&#160; If thou hast not adored the crucifixion of the Lord, thou hast perished. &#160; Both place and occasion and person are now given to thee, if, however, thou believest; but if not, thou shalt fear before Him.&#160; Bring thyself into obedience to Christ, and place thy neck under Him.&#160; To Him remains the honour and all the confidence of things.&#160; When the time flatters thee, be more cautious.&#160; Not foreseeing, as it behoves thee, the final awards of fate, thou art not able ever to live again without Christ.