“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."”

“In the same manner, there are four acts of justice: to do good, to flee evil, to beware of prosperity, and to withstand misfortune. The fourth is referred to in Proverbs: "The just man, like a lion, feels sure of himself." There is also this: "Blessed are they who suffer persecution for justice' sake." And again: "Strive for justice for thy soul, and even unto death fight for justice."”

“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."”

“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?”

“And so it cometh to pass that our tongue is so much the less respected of God when we pray, by how much we are more defiled with foolish speech, because, as it is written: "He that turneth away his ear that he hear not the law, his prayer shall be execrable." What marvel, then, is it, if, when we pray, God doth slowly hear us, when as we hear God's commandments, either slowly or not at all?”

“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."”

“He who deceives the righteous onto an evil path, etc. He who deceives the lovers of justice through heretical doctrine so that they deviate from the truth incurs the punishment he deserves for his evils; yet whatever good he was doing, whether by writing useful things or by living temperately, benefits others: to those, indeed, who, reading or hearing these things, take examples of salvation even from him whom they know to have perished.”

“When the wicked rule, the people fall. Just as many begin to give glory to God when they see the righteous rejoicing in the progress of virtues, so whenever the wicked hold power, they expose many as accomplices in their infidelity. Which can rightly be understood of pagans, heretics, and evil Catholics.”

“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." And his father did not reprove him for the wealth he had squandered.”

“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."”

“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.”

“Thou oughtest not, then, in this life to have security, whereby thou mayest be rendered careless. For it is written, "Happy is the man that is always afraid." And again it is written, "Serve the Lord in fear, and rejoice unto him with trembling." In short, then, it must needs be that in the time of this life trembling possess your soul, to the end that it may hereafter rejoice without end through the joy of security.”

“"Blessed is the man who is always fearful," etc. The wrath of the upcoming judgment will then be so much stricter as it is now scarcely feared amidst sins. Hence, it is said elsewhere, "In the day of prosperity, do not be unmindful of adversity; and in the day of adversity, do not be unmindful of prosperity" (Ecclesiasticus 11). Thus, both should be joined so that one always supports the other.”

“In the same manner, there are four acts of justice: to do good, to flee evil, to beware of prosperity, and to withstand misfortune. Of the third: "Happy the man who is always on his guard" when things go well with him. Hence the just is warned not to fall. If he does fall, he is advised to rise again. For "the just man falls seven times and rises again."”

“"A man who hastens to be rich," etc. For surely, he who ambitiously seeks to increase wealth neglects sin, caught like birds, when he begins, eager for the bait of earthly things, he does not realize he is being strangled by the snare of sin; when he desires any goods of this present world, he does not know what losses he will suffer in the future.”

“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." 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" and "He that gives to the poor shall never want."”

“"When the impious rise, men hide themselves," etc. The same men whom he calls just, who indeed maintain the just and established order of human condition from God. Hence, in the book of the blessed Job, it is said of any penitent perverse person, "He will regard men and say, 'I have sinned'" (Job 33). This is openly to say, "He will regard those who rightly keep the nature of human creation, and recognize himself as having been likened to beasts by sinning." The sense is clear, therefore, that in the fervor of the impious persecution, the faithful often hide; either not daring or not permitted to go out publicly; the Lord saying, "When they persecute you in this city, flee to another" (Matthew 10). But where, after the destruction of the authors, the persecution has ceased, the glory of the faithful shines more brightly after the pressures. Yet many infidels, having seen the condemnation of infidelity, receive the grace of faith; as it is written, "When the pestilent is scourged, the simple becomes wiser" (Proverbs 19). You are proven to be naked of the ornament of virtues because what you promised to the Lord, you were unable to fulfill. However, this is said not so that you should not undertake the care of governing souls when it is regularly imposed upon you, but so that you should not rashly usurp the role of teacher and prelate, with no one commanding it.”