Commodian — Instructiones 23

Thinking to be free by living doubtfully between both, stripped of the law, worn out, you go ahead in luxury. So many luxuries, vain one, you look toward — why seek unjust things? And whatever you have done remains from here for the dead — look! Fool, you were not, and see, you appear! You do not know whence you came or whence you are fed. You flee the high God, kind to your life, and your Ruler who would rather have you live; you turn your face and send your back to God; you sink yourself in darkness while you think you linger in light. Why do you often run two-faced into the synagogue? You go out from there and again seek the shrines; you want to live between both, but from that you will perish.

Besides you say: “Who is it who has come back from death, that we should believe him that punishments are done there?” Things are not as you think, wicked one! For it also profits him after the funeral who has lived rightly; you nevertheless soon die, you are led into a wicked place; but those who believe in Christ into a kindly place, and that pleasantness sticks to them and flatters them. But you doubtful living ones — a penalty without body raises you to cry late in the torturer’s face.