Basil of Caesarea, on Heb 12:5

“And you have forgotten the consolation, which speaketh to you, as unto children, saying: My son, neglect not the discipline of the Lord; neither be thou wearied whilst thou art rebuked by him.”

“Not in the amount of money, not in the pride of power, not in the height of glory is victory gained, but the Lord freely gives his help to those who seek him through excessive affliction. Such was Paul, who made his afflictions his boast. Therefore he was able to say, "When I am weak, then I am strong." "Give us therefore, O Lord, help from trouble," since "suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint." Do you see where affliction leads you? To hope that does not disappoint. Are you ill? Be of good cheer, because "the Lord disciplines him whom he loves."”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.