Ante-Nicene Fathers/Volume IV/Commodianus/The Instructions of Commodianus/Chapter 67

LXVI.&#8212;Of a Deceitful Peace.

The arranged time comes to our people; there is peace in the world; and, at the same time, ruin is weighing us down from the enticement of the world, (the destruction) of the reckless people whom ye have rent into schism.&#160; Either obey the law of the city, or depart from it.&#160; Ye behold the mote sticking in our eyes, and will not see the beam in your own.&#160; A treacherous peace is coming to you; persecution is rife; the wounds do not appear; and thus, without slaughter, ye are destroyed.&#160; War is waged in secret, because, in the midst of peace itself, scarcely one of you has behaved himself with caution.&#160; O badly fortified, and foretold for slaughter, ye praise a treacherous peace, a peace that is mischievous to you.&#160; Having become the soldiers of another than Christ, ye have perished.

I warn certain readers only to consider, and to give material to others by an example of life, to avoid strife, and to shun so many quarrels; to repress terror, and never to be proud; moreover, denounce the righteous obedience of wicked men.&#160; Make yourselves like to Christ your Master, O little ones.&#160; Be among the lilies of the field by your benefits; ye have become blessed when ye bear the edicts; ye are flowers in the congregation; ye are Christ&#8217;s lanterns.&#160; Keep what ye are, and ye shall be able to tell it.