The world imposes the more grievous fetters, blinding men s souls. The world breathes out the worst impurities - human lusts. The world contains the larger number of criminals, even the whole human race. Then, last of all, it awaits the judgment, not of the proconsul, but of God. Wherefore, O blessed, you may regard yourselves as having been translated from a prison to, we may say, a place of safety.
Unpleasant exhalations are there, but ye are an odor of sweetness.
The judge is daily looked for, but ye shall judge the judges for themselves. Sadness me be there for him who sighs for the world s enjoyments. The Christian outside the prison has renounced the world, but in prison he has renounced a prison too. It is of no consequence where you are in the world - you who are not of it. And if you have lost some of life s sweets, it is the way of business to suffer present loss, that after gains may be the larger.