510 THE OCTAVIUS OF boilsover; but thereisno Christianthere,unlesshe isaccused on accountof hisreligion,or a deserter. CHAPTEE XXXVI. Argument. — And he teacheswithno lessclearnessthatfate is nothing,exceptso far as FATE isGod. Man's mind isfree,and thereforeso is his action: his birthis not brought intojudgment. Afterwards he makes it very evidentthatitisnota matterofinfamy,but of glory,that Christiansare reproachedfor theirpoverty; and thefact thatthey sufferbodilyevilsisnot as a penalty,but as a discipline. " Neither letany one eithertakecomfortfrom,or apologize forwhat happens from fate. Let what happensbe of the dis positionof fortune,yet the mind isfree; and thereforeman's doing,not hisdignity,isjudged. For what elseisfatethan what God has spoken \_fatus-]of each one of us ? who, since He can foreseeour constitution,determinesalsothe fatesfor us,accordingto the desertsand the qualitiesof individuals. Thus in our case itisnot the starunder which we are born thatispunished,but the particularnature of our disposition isblamed. And about fateenough issaid;or if,in conside rationof the time,we have spoken too little,we shallargue the matter at anothertime more abundantly1and more fully. But thatmany of us are calledpoor,thisisnot our disgrace, but our glory; for as our mind isrelaxedby luxury,so itis strengthenedby frugality.And yet who can be poor ifhe does not want, if he does not crave for the possessionsof others,ifhe is rich towards God 1 He ratherispoor,who, although he has much, desiresmore. Yet I will speak1 accordingas I feel. No one can be so poor as he isborn. Birdslivewithout any patrimony,and day by day the cattle arefed; and yet thesecreaturesare born forus— allof which 1Otherwiseread," bothmoretruly." 2 Some read," I willspeakatlength."