Ante-Nicene Fathers/Volume IV/Commodianus/The Instructions of Commodianus/Chapter 35

XXXIV.&#8212;Moreover, to Ignorant Gentiles.

The unsubdued neck refuses to bear the yoke of labour.&#160; Then it delights to be satisfied with herbs in the rich plains.&#160; And still unwillingly is subdued the useful mare, and it is made to be less fierce when it is first brought into subjection.&#160; O people, O man, thou brother, do not be a brutal flock.&#160; Pluck thyself forth at length, and thyself withdraw thyself.&#160; Assuredly thou art not cattle, thou art not a beast, but thou art born a man.&#160; Do thou thyself wisely subdue thyself, and enter under arms.&#160; Thou who followest idols art nothing but the vanity of the age.&#160; Your trifling hearts destroy you when almost set free.&#160; There gold, garments, silver is brought to the elbows; there war is made; there love is sung of instead of psalms.&#160; Dost thou think it to be life, when thou playest or lookest forward to such things as these?&#160; Thou choosest, O ignorant one, things that are extinct; thou seekest golden things.&#160; Thence thou shalt not escape the plague, although thyself art divine.&#160; Thou seekest not that grace which God sent to be read of in the earth, but thus as a beast thou wanderest.&#160; The golden age before spoken of shall come to thee if thou believest, and again thou shalt begin to live always an immortal life.&#160; That also is permitted to know what thou wast before.&#160; Give thyself as a subject to God, who governs all things.