ashamed that falsely accuse your good
conversation in Christ._ Of this St. Paul has already spoken above.
We cannot disregard it. If we will follow the Gospel, then must we be
despised and condemned by the world, so that men shall hold us as
contemptible rabble. But let the devil and all the world rave and
rage--let them abuse as they will, yet they shall at last be made to
understand, with shame, that they have injured and defamed us, when
_that day_ shall arrive,--as St. Peter has said above,--in which we
shall be secure, and stand up with a good conscience. These are, in
every respect, suitable and forcible replies, which can comfort us
and make us courageous, and yet go on circumspectly, with fear.

V. 17, 18. _For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye
suffer for well-doing than for evil-doing. For Christ also hath once
suffered for our sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring
us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the
Spirit._

It will not, then, be the case that they who shall reach heaven shall
have prosperity on earth, while even those who do not arrive at
heaven may not have prosperity. For that which God said to Adam is
imposed on all men--"In the sweat of thy brow shalt thou eat thy
bread;" and to the woman: "In sorrow shalt thou bring forth
children." Since, now, adversity is imposed in common upon us all,
how much more must _we_ bear the cross if we would attain to eternal
life. Therefore, he says, since God will have it so, it is better
that ye suffer for well-doing. They who suffer for evil-doing have an
evil conscience, and have double punishment. But Christians have only
the half of it. Outwardly, they have suffering; but inwardly,
comfort.

Yet has he here set a limit,--as he also has said above,--if a case
should occur of such severity as the Donatists experienced, of whom
Augustine writes, who took such a resolution that, stung by their
sufferings, they committed suicide, and threw themselves into the
sea.

It is not the will of God that we seek out, and even invite,
calamity. Go thou on in faith and love. If the cross comes, take it
up; if it comes not, seek not for it.

Therefore these modern spirits commit sin, in that they lash and beat
themselves, or subject themselves to torture, and so would storm
heaven.

This has Paul also forbidden, in Col. iii., where he speaks of such
saints as walk in a self-chosen spirituality and humility, and spa