Ante-Nicene Fathers/Volume IV/Commodianus/The Instructions of Commodianus/Chapter 64

LXIII.&#8212;The Daily War.

Thou seekest to wage war, O fool, as if wars were at peace.&#160; From the first formed day in the end you fight.&#160; Lust precipitates you, there is war; fight with it.&#160; Luxury persuades, neglect it; thou hast overcome the war.&#160; Be sparing of abundance of wine, lest by means of it thou shouldest go wrong.&#160; Restrain thy tongue from cursing, because with it thou adorest the Lord.&#160; Repress rage.&#160; Make thyself peaceable to all.&#160; Beware of trampling on thy inferiors when weighed down with miseries.&#160; Lend thyself as a protector only, and do no hurt.&#160; Lead yourselves in a righteous path, unstained by jealousy.&#160; In thy riches make thyself gentle to those that are of little account.&#160; Give of thy labour, clothe the naked.&#160; Thus shalt thou conquer.&#160; Lay snares for no man, since thou servest God.&#160; Look to the beginning, whence the envious enemy has perished.&#160; I am not a teacher, but the law itself teaches by its proclamation.&#160; Thou wearest such great words vainly, who in one moment seekest without labour to raise a martyrdom to Christ.