Clement of Alexandria · a new plain-English translation from the original language
Akin to this same judgment is what follows: "But now, in this time, to what end is it to have fields and money and houses and brothers, along with persecutions?" For he calls people to life neither moneyless, nor homeless, nor brotherless. Since indeed he has called even the rich — but in the manner we have already stated — and brothers in the same way, as Peter with Andrew, and James with John, the sons of Zebedee, but ones who are of one mind both with each other and with Christ. But the phrase "along with persecutions" disapproves of having each of these things together with persecution. Now persecution is of one kind that comes upon men from without, from those who drive the faithful either through enmity, or through envy, or through love of gain, or through diabolical activity; but the harshest persecution is the one from within, sent forth from each person's own soul when it is being corrupted by godless desires and manifold pleasures and base hopes and destructive daydreams — whenever the soul, ever reaching after more and raving under savage lusts and burning, is, as it were, goaded and pricked by the passions that beset it and bled toward frenzied pursuits and despair of life and contempt of God. This persecution is heavier and harsher, since it is set in motion from within, is ever present, and cannot be escaped by the one being persecuted; for he carries the enemy about with him everywhere, within himself. So too, a burning that falls upon one from outside produces a testing, but the one from within works death. And a war brought on from without is easily put down, but the one within the soul is measured out even unto death. If, together with such a persecution, you have sensible wealth, and brothers by blood, and other such pledges, abandon the entire possession of these things, since it tends to your harm; provide peace for yourself; free yourself from a long persecution; turn away from those things toward the gospel; choose the Savior before all things, the advocate and comforter of your soul, the steward of unending life. "For what is visible lasts only a while, but what is invisible endures forever"; and in the present time they are short-lived and unstable. "But in the age to come is life eternal."
← All of Clement of Alexandria: Exhortation, Instructor & Miscellanies