Commodian, Poem on the Two Peoples 747–786

Nor does he die away there, but he deals unjust torments. Men are like cattle in this nature, who refuse to take the Most High God’s bridle while they wander; though they themselves cannot bear to endure such things of slaves, into whose blood the fierce often descend. Adding they say: ‘There is nothing after our funerals; while we live, this is it,’ and they lean in like swine; ‘Let no luxury pass us by in the age; while there is time of life, let us enjoy all things of the world.’ The undisciplined flee God’s clemency, chasing new-year gifts as if that alone were life. So they withdraw from God, who promises to live forever: they fight against the good, when the fight should be against the unjust. We all erred openly, persuaded by the age, but by the Lord’s grace we are called to believe the law. For that he came and made trophies hiddenly, and God was man, that he might have us in the future. But very many perish who think to please both — idols and God — when no one can please two. There is one God in heaven, of heaven, earth, and sea, whom Moses taught hung on the wood for us. From which indeed the idle err, that he suffered such things, not intent enough on God’s secret mystery. By the devil’s envy death entered the world, which God secretly destroyed, born of a virgin. By which birth the blind Jews are driven out of mind; bloodstained by crime committed, they make fools foolish. No one can speak any excuse afterward, when now the faculty of believing has been given us. God did not come to earth from heaven in vain, but came to make a people called by his name. If anyone will not have confessed him in this nature, he loses even what he lived, and late cries out into punishments; or certainly while he hopes, waiting to believe when gray, he is shut out a rich man from eternal life when dead. Therefore already we ought to turn back to him faster, who promises after death to give us life back. Besides this he adds, that we will be immortal and enjoy, by seeing, what the eye had not seen before. When six thousand years are filled, these things will come about — ****** Nothing-after-death is swine talk. One God hung on wood; virgin-born he broke death. Confess him now — gray delay can shut the door.