Let us be undaunted in all our dangers. There is nothing dreadful to him that fears God, but all that is dreadful is for others. When a man is delivered from his passions and regards all present things as a shadow, from whom shall he suffer anything dreadful? Let us flee to this Rock which cannot be shaken. Even if one were to build for us a city of brass, with lofty walls and abundant provision, we would not live in such safety as Christ gives.
Do not make provision for the flesh to fulfill its lusts, but do take care of the body for health. Use a little wine for the stomach's sake and frequent infirmities, but prune away all excess. Spend your chief industry on the care of spiritual things, and do not be weighed down with desires. The present life is a sleep, and its concerns no better than dreams. He who does anything disgraceful in a dream is rid of both the shame and the punishment when he awakes, but in this life the consequences are lasting.
And in the matter of work, the Apostle urges us. If any man will not work, neither let him eat. He applies this medicine to lead us into diligent employment, yet we must not place our trust in the outcome of such labor. For tell me, was captivity any harm? Was poverty any harm? Did not the Apostles shine all the more in chains and perils? Virtue shines everywhere and is invincible; nothing can put hindrances in its way, neither wealth, nor poverty, nor dominion, nor disease, nor dishonor. Only let the soul be noble, and nought can hinder it from being virtuous. Disease is harder to endure than slavery, yet such affliction did not hinder Lazarus or Job or Timothy. When the worker is in vigor, no outward circumstance can defeat his art. Thus, the virtuous one who is devoted to God manifests his art whether in health or sickness, honor or contempt.
For what reason, then, do you tremble? He is not rich who has large possessions, but he who stands in need of nothing. He is not poor who has nought, but he who desires many things. Despise the world's wealth, think it nought as it is nought; cast out the desire, and you are straightway rich. What profit is it to possess the whole world and yet live in greater despondency than he who has nothing? Their dispositions make men rich and poor, not the abundance or the want of money. The wealthy man in the Gospel, not because he was rich but because he showed no pity, was punished; yet his riches helped him not to avoid hell. Let the healthy man in the church not be confident, for let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall, and let not him on the stave despairs, for shall not he that falls arise? Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.