30. He had no need of being raised again for
time, for whom the raising again for eternity is waiting. For why
should he fall back into this wretched and miserable state of
corruption, and return to this mournful life, for whose rescue from
such imminent evils and threatening dangers we ought rather to
rejoice? For if no one mourns for Enoch, who was
translated Gen. v. 24. when the world
was at peace and wars were not raging, but the people rather
congratulated him, as Scripture says concerning him: “He
was taken away, lest that wickedness should alter his
understanding,” Wisd. iv. 11. with how much
greater justice must this now be said, when to the dangers of the world
is added the uncertainty of life. He was taken away that he might
not fall into the hands of the barbarians; he was taken away that he
might not see the ruin of the whole earth, the end of the world, the
burial of his relatives, the death of fellow-citizens; lest, lastly,
which is more bitter than any death, he should see the pollution of the
holy virgins and widows.