Letters

^11. The whirlwind passed from the West into the East and threatened in its passage to shipwreck many a noble craft. Then were the words of Jesus fulfilled: “when the son of man comes, shall he find faith on the earth?” The love of many waxed cold. Yet the few who still loved the true faith rallied to my side. Men openly sought to take their lives and every expedient was employed against them. So hotly indeed did the persecution rage that “Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation;” nay more he committed murder, if not in actual violence at least in will. Then behold God blew and the tempest passed away; so that the prediction of the prophet was fulfilled, “you take away their breath, they die, and return to their dust. In that very day his thoughts perish,” as also the gospel-saying, “You fool, this night your soul shall be required of you: then whose shall those things be, which you have provided?”