Commodian — Instructiones 27
Justice and goodness, peace and true patience make one live after death and be examined concerning one’s deed; but a crafty mind — harmless in show, treacherous, crooked — lifts itself to the side and dwells with a wild mind. Impious one, hear now, you who want to profit by evil deeds: look at earthly judges who now in the body torment the dread with penalties — punishments are prepared by iron for deserts, or weeping in long prison. Do you finally hope to mock the heavenly God and the ruler of the sky through whom all things were made? You rage, you rave, you also pull down God’s name now? From this you will not escape, who will set a penalty after death. Now I want you cautious, lest you come into the heat of fire. Hand yourself already to Christ, so that good deeds may follow you.
Latin
27 IUSTI RES URGUNT. Iustitia et bonitas, pax et patientia uera Uiuere post fata faciunt et quaeri de actu: Subdola mens autem, <in>noxia, perfida, praua Tollit se in parte et fera mente moratur. Impie, nunc audi, qui <uis> malefacta lucrari: Respice terrenos iudices, in corpore qui nunc Excruciant poenis diros: aut ferro parantur Supplicia meritis aut longo carcere flere. Ultime tu speras Deum inridere caelestem Rectoremque poli, per quem sunt omnia facta? Grassaris, insanis, detractas nunc et Dei nomen? Unde non effugies, poenam post fata qui ponet. Nunc uolo sis cautus, ne uenias ignis in aestu. Trade te iam Christo, ut te benefacta sequantur.