{"author":"Historical editor/translator (individual note author unspecified)","date_end":1888,"date_label":"1888 (historical English edition; physical printing year uncertain)","date_start":1888,"edition_year":1888,"edition_year_basis":"Historical American edition preface dated 1888; physical printing year not established","id":"ws-library-full-note:59dad24d0fec2aad34a8:cite_note-3","is_genuine_commentary_verified":false,"license_url":"https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Wikisource:Reusing_Wikisource_content","public_import_allowed":true,"publication_location":"source-library","record_type":"editorial-footnote","references":[],"rights_approved":true,"section":"Tractate 49, editorial note cite_note-3","semantic_kind_reviewed":false,"source_context":["2. We have, however, read in the Gospel of three dead persons who were raised to life by the Lord, and, let us hope, to some good purpose. For surely the Lord’s deeds are not merely deeds, but signs. And if they are signs, besides their wonderful character, they have some real significance: and to find out this in regard to such deeds is a somewhat harder task than to read or hear of them. We were listening with wonder, as at the sight of some mighty miracle enacted before our eyes, in the reading of the Gospel, how Lazarus was restored to life. If we turn our thoughts to the still more wonderful works of Christ, every one that believeth riseth again: if we all consider, and understand that more horrifying kind of death, every one who sinneth dies. But every man is afraid of the death of the flesh; few, of the death of the soul. In regard to the death of the flesh, which must certainly come some time, all are on their guard against its approach: this is the source of all their labor. Man, destined to die, labors to avert his dying; and yet man, destined to live for ever, labors not to cease from sinning. And when he labors to avoid dying, he labors to no purpose, for its only result will be to put off death for a while, not to escape it; but if he refrain from sinning, his toil will cease, and he shall live for ever. Oh that we could arouse men, and be ourselves aroused along with them, to be as great lovers of the life that abideth, as men are of that which passeth away! What will a man not do who is placed under the peril of death? When the sword was overhanging their heads, men have given up every means of living they had in reserve. Who is there that has not made an immediate surrender of all, to escape being slain? And, after all, he has perhaps been slain. Who is there that, to save his life, has not been willing at once to lose his means of living, and prefer a life of beggary to a speedy death? Who has had it said to him, Be off to sea if you would escape with your life, and has delayed to do so? Who has had it said to him, Set to work if you would preserve your life, and has continued a sluggard? It is but little that God requires of us, that we may live for ever: and we neglect to obey Him. God says not to thee, Lose all you have, that you may live a"],"source_library_url":"/library/59dad24d0fec2aad34a8/#ws-library-full-note:59dad24d0fec2aad34a8:cite_note-3","source_url":"https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Nicene_and_Post-Nicene_Fathers:_Series_I/Volume_VII/Gospel_According_to_St._John/Part_49#cite_note-3","translator":"James Innes","verification":{"proof_file":"raw/review/heading-library-note-batch-0066/proof-records.jsonl","proof_file_sha256":"cb669cd6269f4ca0fcfd1dd5c0fe3a7556905d618ad7ad83700fbfdabbdb43ef","proof_record_id":"ws-library-full-note:59dad24d0fec2aad34a8:cite_note-3"},"verified":true,"work":"Tractates on the Gospel of John","work_id":"augustine-john-tractates"}