On the Death of Satyrus

³⁸ Here you have the days of rest from penalties, for they contain the punishment decreed against the thorns of this life, the cares of the world, and the pleasures of riches which shut out the Word. Death is given for a remedy, because it is the end of evils. For God said not, “Because you have hearkened to the voice of the woman you shall return to the earth,” for this would have been a penal sentence, as this one is, “The earth under curse shall bring forth thorns and thistles to you;” but He said: “In sweat shall you eat your bread until thou return to the earth.” You see that death is rather the goal of our penalties, by which an end is put to the course of this life.