Commodian — Instructiones 57
When the Lord says to eat bread in groaning, what are you doing now who want to live glad? You seek to cancel the Highest’s sentence sent — see in the first-formed that the law’s bit goes forth. If almighty God ordered to live with sweat, you who make merry are already outside to him. Scripture says the Lord was indignant at the Jews: refreshed from food the sons rose to play. Why then do we of ourselves chase those who went out? From where they perished we ought to beware. The greatest part of you appears given to luxuries. You transgress the law when you put yourself among musicians. The apostle cries — rather God through him: your license, he says, destroys you in that very thing. Therefore be such as Christ wants you to be: mild and cheerful in him, but sad to the age. Run, labor, sweat, fight with sadness; hope comes with labor and the victory palm is given. If you want to cool the soul, go to the martyrs! Wait for the rest of things to come by the crossing of death.
Latin
57 CHRISTIANUM TALEM ESSE. Cum Dominus dicat, in gemitum edere panem, Hic ut quid nunc agis, qui cupis uiuere laetus? Rescindere quaeris sententiam Summi demissa<m> In protoplausto uide frenum procedere legis. Si Deus omnipotens cum sudore uiuere iussit, Tu qui iocundaris, ergo iam exter es illi. Indignatum ait Dominum scriptura Iudaeis: Ab esca refecti surrexerunt ludere fili. Nunc ergo cur illos persequimur sponte profectos? Unde perierunt illi, nos cauere debemus. Maxima pars uestra luxuriis dedita paret. Transgrederis legem, cum te facis musicis inter. Apostolus clamat, <clamat> immo Deus per illum: Licentia uestra uos, inquit in ipsa, deperdunt. Esto ergo talis, qualem uult esse te Christus: Mitis et in illo hilaris, nam saeculo tristis. Excurre, labora, suda, cum tristitia pugna; Spes cum labore uenit et uictoriae palma donatur. Si refrigerare cupis animam, ad martyres i! Expecta requiem futurorum transitu mortis.