The Heat of Sin and the Shade of Virtue

They provide. Regarding Jerusalem having become liable to such tributes, the prophet Jeremiah lamented, saying concerning her: 'Having begun in cities, she has come into tribute' (Jeremiah 46:10). This is a gathering of debtors of souls, or she subjected her own liberty to the most brutal tyrant.

These are holy, even showing that what is in the Gospel regarding kings is not to be subordinate. These, therefore, the ones released from the present affairs, either because they have not been tested or even after testing being superior to them, one side is outside the tribute of strangers, not those who have been tested... 'the small and the great is there, and the servant having become familiar with the lord and having attained a shadow.' The impersonal nature of the one ruling in these matters is shown. For not in another way does one lord and another slave or poor man enter into life.

For in the phrase 'a certain king or tyrant,' Wisdom does not exclude another 'beginning of generation'; for 'one' is the 'entrance into life for all, and an equal exit,' even if there was a difference according to movement. These were not born differently. But also the servant serving the lord, even if he is not lord but a slave of the lord throughout the whole way, attains a shadow, so that from this shadow, having a symbolic meaning, he may be raised up from the laws that were given and here unto the heavenly citizenship.

It is to be expected also differently; in this present life, a difference has been established between the small and the great and the slave, bringing greed into variety. But in the coming age, Paul says, 'there is neither male' 'nor female, there is neither slave nor free' (Galatians 3:28). Similarly he would say, as neither rich nor poor, but the demonstration of works, by which the one in this living will be considered great and free there, though small or a slave. For he says, 'I saw' 'slaves on horses and' (Revelation 6:5)...

Even what is supposed to be great is found there in punishment. Perhaps it is also possible that since the great one is great from each person according to virtue, the small one will likewise be found there in the same way.

According to this thought and what is carried in Ecclesiastes, it is understood thusly: 'wherever the wood falls, there it remains' (Eccl 9:3), saying wood for the man, who if he has fallen in punishment—that is, if he has reached the end of this life being in sins—thus 'he shall be there.' But if also in virtue, similarly: 'for all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may be brought according to what he did through the body' (2 Cor 5:10).

And the servant who serves God intellectually is there, obtaining shade and rest, having escaped the heat of life: 'a wise son was saved from the heat' (Prov 10:1), not being consumed by the heat, according to those in the parable who did not receive the seed into depth and fell by the flame of sin. This promise is said to David in the Psalms: 'the sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night' (Ps 121:6), which according to the literal sense we do not find. For he himself, being righteous, was labored upon by the heat of the sensible, but was unlabored upon by the heat of sin.

For it is common for those falling from without to perceive the righteous and the unrighteous, but it is the property of the diligent to flee from the heat of evil. 'Why then is light given to those in bitterness, and life to souls in pain? Who are partakers of death and do not find treasures by digging, but become content if they happen upon them' (Job 26:10).

The hidden and not manifest to all, the judgment of providence, the holy teacher examines for the sake of those hearing, so that first they may not be displeased with the things happening, and later, knowing that it comes from God, they may not consider the things happening to be either accidental or caused by fate. For there are various things following men...