MINUCIUS FELIX. 511 things,ifwe do not lustafter,we possess. Therefore,as he who treadsa road is the happier the lighterhe walks,so happieris he in thisjourney of lifewho liftshimself along in poverty,and does not breatheheavilyunder the burden of riches. And yet even ifwe thought wealth usefulto us,we should askitof God. AssuredlyHe might be ableto indulge us in some measure,whose isthe whole ;but we would rather despiserichesthan possessthem :1 we desireratherinnocency, we ratherentreatforpatience,we preferbeing good to being prodigal; and thatwe feeland sufferthe human mischiefs of the body isnot punishment— itiswarfare. For fortitude Lsstrengthenedby infirmities,and calamityis very oftenthe disciplineof virtue; in addition,strengthboth of mind and of body grows torpidwithoutthe exerciseof labour. There fore allyour mighty men whom you announce as an example have flourishedillustriouslyby theirafflictions.And thus God isneitherunable to aid us,nor does He despiseus,since He is both the rulerof allmen and the loverof His own people. But in adversityHe looksintoand searchesout each one ; He weighs the dispositionof everyindividualindangers, even to death at last; He investigatesthe will of man, certainthatto Him nothing can perish. Therefore,as gold by the fires,so are we declaredby criticalmoments. CHAPTER XXXVII. Aegument. — Torturesmost unjustlyinflictedfor theconfes sionof Christ'sname are spectaclesworthy of God. A nd thisindeedOctaviusmost plainlyshows,by a comparison institutedbetweensome of the bravestof the heathensand the holy martyrs. He declaresthat Christiansdo not presentthemselvesatpublicshows and processions,because theyknow them,with the greatestcertainty,to be no less impiousthan cruel. " How beautifulis the spectacleto God when a Christian 1 Probablya betterreadingis" striveforthem."