BOOK V.] ROMANS AN EXAMPLE TO CHRISTIANS. 207 purpose to give eternal life with His holy angels in His own celestial city, to the society of which that true piety which does not render the service of religion, which the Greeks call arpeia, to any save the true God conducts, if He had also withheld from them the terrestrial glory of that most excellent empire, a reward would not have been rendered to their good arts, — that is, their virtues, — by which they sought to attain so great glory. For as to those who seem to do some good that they may receive glory from men, the Lord also says, "Verily I say unto you, they have received their reward." 1 So also these despised their own private affairs for the sake of the republic, and for its treasury resisted avarice, consulted for the good of their country with a spirit of freedom, addicted neither to what their laws pronounced to be crime nor to lust. By all these acts, as by the true way, they pressed forward to honours, power, and glory ; they were honoured among almost all nations ; they imposed the laws of their empire upon many nations ; and at this day, both in literature and history, they are glorious' among almost all nations. There is no reason why they should complain against the justice of the supreme and true God, — " they have received their reward." 16. Concerning the reward of the holy citizens of the celestial city, to tchom the example of the virtues of the Roman are useful. But the reward of the saints is far different, who even here endured reproaches for that city of God which is hate- ful to the lovers of this world. That city is eternal. There none are born, for none die. There is true and full felicity, — not a goddess, but a gift of God. Thence we receive the pledge of faith, whilst on our pilgrimage we sigh for its beauty. There rises not the sun on the good and the evil, but the Sun of Righteousness protects the good alone. There no great industry shall be expended to enrich the public treasury by suffering privations at home, for there is the common treasury of truth. And, therefore, it was not only for the sake of recompensing the citizens of Rome that her empire and glory had been so signally extended, but also that the citizens of that eternal city, during their pilgrimage here, might diligently and soberly contemplate these examples, and 1 Matt. vi. 2-
