11. Let then the Saints hear
from holy Scripture the precepts of patience: “My son, when thou
comest to the service of God, stand thou in righteousness and fear,
and prepare thy soul for temptation: bring thine heart low, and
bear up; that in the last end thy life may increase. All that shall
come upon thee receive thou, and in pain bear up, and in thy
humility have patience. For in the fire gold and silver is proved,
but acceptable men in the furnace26472647 of humiliation.”26482648 And in
another place we read: “My son, faint not thou in the discipline
of the Lord, neither be wearied when thou art chidden of Him. For
whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He
receiveth.”26492649 What is
here set down, “son whom He receiveth,” the same in the above
mentioned testimony is, “acceptable men.” For this is just,
that we who from our first felicity of Paradise for contumacious
appetence of things to enjoy were dismissed, through humble
patience of things that annoy may be received back: driven away for
doing evil, brought back by suffering evil: there against
righteousness doing ill, here for righteousness’ sake patient of
ills.