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De Fuga in Persecutione

Tertullian

Section 9

About this work

Author: Tertullian

9. The teaching of the apostles was surely in everything

‹ Section 8 Section 10 ›

according

to

the

mind

of

God

:

they

forgot

and

omitted

nothing

of

the

Gospel

.

Where

,

then

,

do

you

show

that

they

renewed

the

command

to

flee

from

city

to

city

?

In

fact

,

it

was

utterly

impossible

that

they

should

have

laid

down

anything

so

utterly

opposed

to

their

own

examples

as

a

command

to

flee

,

while

it

was

just

from

bonds

,

or

the

islands

in

which

,

for

confessing

,

not

fleeing

from

the

Christian

name

,

they

were

confined

,

they

wrote

their

letters

to

the

Churches

.

Paul

bids

us

support

the

weak

,

but

most

certainly

it

is

not

when

they

flee

.

For

how

can

the

absent

be

supported

by

you

?

By

bearing

with

them

?

Well

,

he

says

that

people

must

be

supported

,

if

anywhere

they

have

committed

a

fault

through

the

weakness

of

their

faith

,

just

as

(

he

enjoins

)

that

we

should

comfort

the

faint

-

hearted

;

he

does

not

say

,

however

,

that

they

should

be

sent

into

exile

.

But

when

he

urges

us

not

to

give

place

to

evil

,

he

does

not

offer

the

suggestion

that

we

should

take

to

our

heels

,

he

only

teaches

that

passion

should

be

kept

under

restraint

;

and

if

he

says

that

the

time

must

be

redeemed

,

because

the

days

are

evil

,

he

wishes

us

to

gain

a

lengthening

of

life

,

not

by

flight

,

but

by

wisdom

.

Besides

,

he

who

bids

us

shine

as

sons

of

light

,

does

not

bid

us

hide

away

out

of

sight

as

sons

of

darkness

.

He

commands

us

to

stand

stedfast

,

certainly

not

to

act

an

opposite

part

by

fleeing

;

and

to

be

girt

,

not

to

play

the

fugitive

or

oppose

the

Gospel

.

He

points

out

weapons

,

too

,

which

persons

who

intend

to

run

away

would

not

require

.

And

among

these

he

notes

the

shield

too

,

that

ye

may

be

able

to

quench

the

darts

of

the

devil

,

when

doubtless

ye

resist

him

,

and

sustain

his

assaults

in

their

utmost

force

.

Accordingly

John

also

teaches

that

we

must

lay

down

our

lives

for

the

brethren

;

much

more

,

then

,

we

must

do

it

for

the

Lord

.

This

cannot

be

fulfilled

by

those

who

flee

.

Finally

,

mindful

of

his

own

Revelation

,

in

which

he

had

heard

the

doom

of

the

fearful

,

(

and

so

)

speaking

from

personal

knowledge

,

he

warns

us

that

fear

must

be

put

away

.

“

There

is

no

fear

,

”

says

he

,

“

in

love

;

but

perfect

love

casteth

out

fear

;

because

fear

has

torment

”

—

the

fire

of

the

lake

,

no

doubt

.

“

He

that

feareth

is

not

perfect

in

love

”

—

to

wit

,

the

love

of

God

.

And

yet

who

will

flee

from

persecution

,

but

he

who

fears

?

Who

will

fear

,

but

he

who

has

not

loved

?

Yes

;

and

if

you

ask

counsel

of

the

Spirit

,

what

does

He

approve

more

than

that

utterance

of

the

Spirit

?

For

,

indeed

,

it

incites

all

almost

to

go

and

offer

themselves

in

martyrdom

,

not

to

flee

from

it

;

so

that

we

also

make

mention

of

it

.

If

you

are

exposed

to

public

infamy

,

says

he

,

it

is

for

your

good

;

for

he

who

is

not

exposed

to

dishonour

among

men

is

sure

to

be

so

before

the

Lord

.

Do

not

be

ashamed

;

righteousness

brings

you

forth

into

the

public

gaze

.

Why

should

you

be

ashamed

of

gaining

glory

?

The

opportunity

is

given

you

when

you

are

before

the

eyes

of

men

.

So

also

elsewhere

:

seek

not

to

die

on

bridal

beds

,

nor

in

miscarriages

,

nor

in

soft

fevers

,

but

to

die

the

martyr’s

death

,

that

He

may

be

glorified

who

has

suffered

for

you

.

Notes

34
1 Thess. v. 14.
35
Eph. iv. 27.
36
Eph. v. 16.
37
1 Thess. v. 5.
38
1 Cor. xv. 58.
39
Eph. vi. 16.
40
1 John iii. 16.
41
1 John iv. 18.