How do [the wicked] flee when no one pursues? He has that within which drives him on—an accuser in his conscience, and this he carries about everywhere. Just as it would be impossible to flee from himself, so neither can he escape the persecutor within; but wherever he goes, he is scourged and has an incurable wound! But not such is the righteous.

[The righteous] will fear none of the things here enumerated, as it is written, The righteous man is bold as a lion, daring all things through faith, not as one who tempts the Lord but as one who has confidence in Him, and as one who is armed and arrayed in the power of the Holy Spirit. And because God is his constant concern, God will also say concerning him, I am with him in affliction, and I will rescue him, and glorify him.

The Stoics laid down their doctrine on the basis that the goal is to live according to nature, using the word nature improperly rather than God, since nature applies to plants, crops, trees and stones. At any rate, there is the clear statement, Scoundrels think nothing of the law, but those who love the law set it in front of them like a wall. For the wisdom of able men will understand the paths of wisdom, but the folly of fools goes in the wrong direction.^[1]

What is written in the book of Solomon we ought to read with great anxiety and fear, not with indifference: He that hardens his ears from hearing the law, his prayer shall be an abomination. A person should first be willing to listen to God, if he wants to be heard by him. Indeed, with what boldness does he want God to hear him when he despises God so much that he refuses to read God’s precepts?

How is it, my brothers, that some Christians and, what is worse, even clergy, at times, when they are about to make a journey, order bread, wine, oil, and different items to be provided for themselves, but, while such great preparations are being made for his earthly journey so that his body may live, a man does not bother to read a single book to refresh his soul both here and forever?

Just as Scripture says, When one turns away his ears from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination. Why should we be surprised, then, if God is slow to hear our petitions when we on our part are slow to hear God’s command or pay no attention whatever to it?

Let [anyone] beg, however, in faith, in no way hesitating. Let him, by living well, show himself to be worthy of being heard when he begs. For anyone who remembers that he has not obeyed the Lord’s commands rightly loses hope that the Lord pays attention to his prayers. For it has been written, The prayer of one who closes his ear that he may not hear the law will be detestable.

I address you too, the penitents. You should not keep back from yourselves this means of healing [confession] that has been given you. For it says in the Scripture, He who confesses his sins and abandons them, on him God has mercy. Look at the son who squandered his wealth. And when he returned to his father, he received him in joy and slew the fatted ox for him. And his father rejoiced at his repentance and even invited his friends to rejoice with him. And his father embraced him and kept on kissing him, saying, This my son was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.^[1] And his father did not reprove him for the wealth he had squandered.^[2]

As confession and beauty are in the sight of God,^[1] so a sinner who confesses his sins and says, My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness^[2] loses his foul wounds and is made whole and clean. But he that covers his sins shall not prosper.

He who in all things stands in awe out of reverent timidity is called blessed, and he stands firm in the truth who is able to say, I set the Lord always in my sight; for he is at my right hand that I shall not be moved.^[1]

Let your requests be spiritual . . . let your mind be alert, let your attention be concentrated on the words. Ask for the kind of things it is usual to ask of God so that you may gain what you ask. To the same end maintain your constant vigil, alert, keeping your attention undimmed, no yawning or switching your mind in one direction and another, but working out your salvation in fear and trembling. Blessed is the person, Scripture says, remember, whose piety puts him in awe of everything.

You ought not, in this life, to have security, whereby you may be rendered careless. For it is written, Happy is the one who always fears [the Lord]. And again, it is written, Serve the Lord in fear, and rejoice in him with trembling.^[1] In short, then, it must be that in the time of this life trembling will possess your soul, to the end that it may hereafter rejoice without end through the joy of security.

Someone asks, Is there, therefore, no difference between saints and sinners? Certainly, there is a great and almost immeasurable difference. Scripture says, Blessed is the man who is always fearful. The mind of a wise person is ever uneasy about his own salvation. Although there is a great difference between saints and sinners, still I ask all those who profess a religion, Who, according to his own conscience, is sufficiently holy; who does not tremble about the fearful severity of a future judgment; who is untroubled about his eternal salvation? If this is not the case, just as it should not be, I beg, let any one tell me why he does not strive with all the power of his goods to redeem, by a holy death, whatever sins he may have committed by transgression during his lifetime.

Don’t forget that rule, where it says, Whoever gives to the poor will never be in want. Have you already forgotten what the Lord is going to say to those who have given to the poor: Come, blessed of my Father, receive the kingdom?

The cry of the hungry person is a challenge in your ears, and the sound of a failing voice from a hungry throat is striking at your door. Why do you not think of that phrase, Blessed is he that understands concerning the needy and the poor: the Lord will deliver him in the evil day.^[1] The businessman who keeps stored away in a sack the money with which he could carry on gainful trading is recognized as being quite a fool.

Whenever you gather the harvest or vintage, calculate your expenses and those of all who pertain to you and include what you will put into your purse. Then, of what remains, because it was not really given to you, as was already said, but was transmitted to you for distribution among the poor, set it all aside or as much as God inspires your heart to give. The result thus will be as though you had put it in God’s hand. If, as we believe, you are willing to do this devoutly, your soul will not only be exasperated and saddened by the captives and poor who come to you but will even rejoice and be glad. With the greatest willingness you will bestow what you set aside for the necessities of the poor out of love for God, and there will be fulfilled in you the words God loves a cheerful giver^[1] and He that gives to the poor shall never want.