Ante-Nicene Fathers/Volume IV/Commodianus/The Instructions of Commodianus/Chapter 62

LXI.&#8212;In the Church to All the People of God.

I, brethren, am not righteous who am lifted up out of the filth, nor do I exalt myself; but I grieve for you, as seeing that out of so great a people, none is crowned in the contest; certainly, even if he does not himself fight, yet let him suggest encouragement to others.&#160; Ye rebuke calamity; O belly, stuff yourself out with luxury.&#160; The brother labours in arms with a world opposed to him; and dost thou, stuffed with wealth, neither fight, nor place thyself by his side when he is fighting?&#160; O fool, dost not thou perceive that one is warring on behalf of many?&#160; The whole Church is suspended on such a one if he conquers.&#160; Thou seest that thy brother is withheld, and that he fights with the enemy.&#160; Thou desirest peace in the camp, he outside rejects it.&#160; Be pitiful, that thou mayest be before all things saved.&#160; Neither dost thou fear the Lord, who cries aloud with such an utterance; even He who commands us to give food even to our enemies.&#160; Look forward to thy meals from that Tobias who always on every day shared them entirely with the poor man.&#160; Thou seekest to feed him, O fool, who feedeth thee again.&#160; Dost thou wish that he should prepare for me, who is setting before him his burial?&#160; The brother oppressed with want, nearly languishing away, cries out at the splendidly fed, and with distended belly.&#160; What sayest thou of the Lord&#8217;s day?&#160; If he have not placed himself before, call forth a poor man from the crowd whom thou mayest take to thy dinner.&#160; In the tablets is your hope from a Christ refreshed.