Let no one, therefore, flatter himself that, because there is meanwhile a common condition of the flesh and body and of the secular labours both for us and for the profane, both for the worshippers of God and for those opposed to God, he should from this conclude that all these things which happen are not inflicted upon us—since, by the very preaching of God and the prophetic testimony, it was foretold beforehand that the wrath of God should come upon the unjust, that persecutions which would wound us in human fashion would not be lacking, but also that vengeances which would defend the wounded by divine power would follow. And how great are the things which meanwhile here are done for us! Something is given as an example, that the wrath of God the avenger may be known. But behind it remains the day of judgement, which the Holy Scripture proclaims, saying: 'Howl!'
'For the day of the Lord is at hand, and destruction shall be present from God. For behold, the day of the Lord comes, of incurable indignation and wrath, to make the circle of the earth a desert, and to destroy sinners out of it.' And again: 'Behold, the day of the Lord comes, burning like an oven, and all the aliens and all the wicked shall be stubble, and the coming day shall set them ablaze, says the Lord.' The Lord foretells that the aliens shall be set on fire and burned—that is, those alien from the divine kindred and profane, not spiritually reborn nor made the children of God. For that only those can escape who shall have been reborn and sealed with the sign of Christ, God says in another place, when, sending His angels to the devastation of the world and the destruction of the human race, He threatens more grievously at the last, saying:
'Go and smite, and spare not with your eyes. Have no pity on old men or young men, and slay virgins and women and little ones, that they may be utterly destroyed. But touch not anyone upon whom the sign is inscribed.' And what this sign is, and upon what part of the body it is set, God makes plain in another place, saying: 'Pass through the midst of Jerusalem, and you shall mark the sign upon the foreheads of the men who groan and mourn over the iniquities which are done in the midst of them.' And that this sign pertains to the passion and the blood of Christ, and that whoever is found in this sign is preserved safe and unharmed, is likewise confirmed by the testimony of God, who says:
'And the blood shall be a sign for you upon the houses in which you shall be; and I will see the blood and will protect you, and there shall not be among you the plague of destruction, when I strike the land of Egypt.' What once went before in figure, in the lamb that was slain, is fulfilled in Christ, the truth following thereafter. As there, when Egypt was struck, the Jewish people could not escape except by the blood and sign of the lamb, so too, when the world begins to be laid waste and struck down, only he who is found in the blood and sign of Christ escapes. Look, therefore, while there is yet time, to true and eternal salvation; and since the end of the world is now close at hand, turn your minds to God in the fear of God.
Nor let that impotent and empty dominion, which you exercise in the world among the just and the meek, delight you; for even in the field, among cultivated and fruitful crops, the tare and the wild oat hold sway. And do not say that evils befall because your gods are not worshipped by us; rather know that this is the wrath of God, that this is the censure of God: that he who is not understood through benefits may be understood through plagues. Seek God, though late; for long ago, by the prophet, God forewarning exhorts and says: 'Seek God, and your soul shall live.' Acknowledge God, though late; for Christ also at his coming admonishes and teaches this, saying: 'And this is eternal life, that they may know thee the only and true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.' Believe him who in no way deceives.
Believe him who foretold that all these things would come to pass. Believe him who will give to those who believe the reward of eternal life. Believe him who will inflict upon the unbelieving eternal punishments in the fires of Gehenna. What then shall be the glory of faith, what the penalty of faithlessness, when the day of judgment comes! What gladness for the believers, what mourning for the faithless, to have refused to believe here beforehand, and now to be unable to return so that they might believe! The ever-burning Gehenna shall consume those condemned to it, and a punishment devouring with living flames; nor will there be any source whence they might ever have either respite or end of their torments. Their souls together with their bodies shall be preserved for suffering amid infinite torments.
There he who here looked upon us for a time shall forever be looked upon by us; and in the persecutions inflicted, the brief enjoyment of cruel eyes shall be repaid by everlasting vision, according to the faith of holy Scripture, which says: 'Their worm shall not die, and their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be for a spectacle to all flesh.' And again: 'Then shall the just stand in great constancy against those who afflicted them and who took away their labors. Seeing it, they shall be troubled with horrible fear, and shall marvel at the suddenness of unhoped-for salvation, saying among themselves, repenting and groaning through anguish of spirit: These are they whom we once held in derision and as a byword of reproach.
We fools accounted their life madness, and their end without honor. How are they reckoned among the sons of God, and how is their lot among the saints? Therefore we have erred from the way of truth, and the light of righteousness has not shone upon us, and the sun has not risen for us. We have been wearied in the way of iniquity and of perdition, and we have walked through difficult solitudes; but the way of the Lord we have not known. What has pride profited us, or what has the boasting of riches conferred upon us? All those things have passed away like a shadow.' Then shall the grief of punishment be without the fruit of repentance, weeping in vain and pleading without effect. Too late do they believe in eternal punishment who would not believe unto eternal life. Provide, therefore, for your safety and your life while it is permitted.
We offer you the saving gift of our heart and counsel. And because it is not lawful for us to hate, and because we please God all the more in this, that we render no requital for injury, we exhort you, while the opportunity is present, while something of this world yet remains, to make satisfaction to God and to emerge from the depth of dark superstition into the white light of true religion. We do not envy your advantages, nor do we conceal the divine benefits. We render goodwill for your hatreds, and for the torments and punishments inflicted upon us we point out the paths of salvation. Believe and live; and you who persecute us for a time, rejoice with us forever. When once there has been a departure from here, there is no longer any place for repentance, no effect of satisfaction.
Here life is either lost or kept; here, by the worship of God and the fruit of faith, provision is made for eternal salvation. Let no one be held back, either by his sins or by his years, from coming to attain salvation. To one still remaining in this world no repentance is too late. The approach to God's indulgence lies open, and the access is easy for those who seek and understand the truth. Though it be under the very point of departure and the setting of your temporal life, ask pardon for your sins, and implore God, who is the one and true God, by confession and faith in acknowledging him; pardon is granted to him who confesses, and saving indulgence is bestowed from the divine mercy upon him who believes, and at the very moment of death there is a passage to immortality.
This grace Christ imparts; this gift of his mercy he bestows: by subduing death with the trophy of the cross, by redeeming the believer with the price of his own blood, by reconciling man to God the Father, by quickening the mortal with heavenly regeneration. Let us all, if it can be, follow him; let us be marked with his sacrament and sign. He opens for us the way of life; he brings us back to paradise; he leads us to the kingdom of heaven. With him we shall live forever, made through him sons of God; with him we shall ever exult, restored by his own blood. We shall be Christians, glorious together with Christ, blessed of God the Father, rejoicing ever in perpetual delight in the sight of God, and ever giving thanks to God.