---
title: "Fathers of the Third Century: Tertullian, Minucius Felix, Commodian and Origen"
author: "Various Church Fathers"
translator: "S. Thelwall and others; A. Cleveland Coxe (ed.)"
languages: [en]
shelf: "Church Fathers"
section: 55 of 199
url: https://scriptura.si/works/church-fathers-tertullian-minucius-felix-commodian-origen/55/
cite: "Various Church Fathers, tr. S. Thelwall and others; A. Cleveland Coxe (ed.), Fathers of the Third Century: Tertullian, Minucius Felix, Commodian and Origen, section 55. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/church-fathers-tertullian-minucius-felix-commodian-origen/55/"
---

# Fathers of the Third Century: Tertullian, Minucius Felix, Commodian and Origen

*Various Church Fathers, tr. S. Thelwall and others; A. Cleveland Coxe (ed.)*

Tertullian, Minucius Felix, Commodian, and Origen's On First Principles and Against Celsus.

## 55. A Strain of the Judgment of the Lord · 11 of 12

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/church-fathers-tertullian-minucius-felix-commodian-origen/55/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/church-fathers-tertullian-minucius-felix-commodian-origen/55/#p-N

[¶0] Unfriendly had behaved himself, or stained

[¶1] His palms with blood of men, or poison mixt

[¶2] Wherein death lurked, or robed with wicked guise

[¶3] 445 His breast, or at his neighbour’s ill, or gain

[¶4] Iniquitous, was wont to joy; whoe’er

[¶5] Committed whatsoever wickedness

[¶6] Of evil deeds: him mighty heat shall rack,

[¶7] And bitter fire; and these all shall endure,

[¶8] 450 In passing painful death, their punishment.

[¶9] Thus shall the vast crowd lie of mourning men!

[¶10] This oft as holy prophets sang of old,

[¶11] And (by God’s inspiration warned) oft told

[¶12] The future, none (’tis pity!) none (alas!)

[¶13] 455 Did lend his ears. But God Almighty willed

[¶14] His guerdons to be known, and His law’s threats

[¶15] ’Mid multitudes of such like signs promulged.

[¶16] He ’stablished them by sending prophets more,

[¶17] These likewise uttering words divine; and some,

[¶18] 460 Roused from their sleep, He bids go from their tombs

[¶19] Forth with Himself, when He, His own tomb burst,

[¶20] Had risen. Many ’wildered were, indeed,

[¶21] To see the tombs agape, and in clear light

[¶22] Corpses long dead appear; and, wondering

[¶23] 465 At their discourses pious, dulcet words!

[¶24] Starward they stretch their palms at the mere sound,

[¶25] And offer God and so—victorious Christ

[¶26] Their gratulating homage. Certain ’tis

[¶27] That these no more re-sought their silent graves,

[¶28] 470 Nor were retained within earth’s bowels shut;

[¶29] But the remaining host reposes now

[¶30] In lowliest beds, until—time’s circuit run—

[¶31] That great day do arrive.

[¶32] Now all of you

[¶33] Own the true Lord, who alone makes this soul

[¶34] 475 Of ours to see His light and can the same

[¶35] (To Tartarus sent) subject to penalties;

[¶36] And to whom all the power of life and death

[¶37] Is open. Learn that God can do whate’er

[¶38] He list; for ’tis enough for Him to will,

[¶39] 480 And by mere speaking He achieves the deed;

[¶40] And Him nought plainly, by withstanding, checks.

[¶41] He is my God alone, to whom I trust

[¶42] With deepest senses. But, since death concludes

[¶43] Every career, let whoe’er is to-day

[¶44] 485 Bethink him over all things in his mind.