Selections from the Prose Writings of John Henry Cardinal Newman

e see of St.

of age (forty almos

terial labors),

e, of the approa

e light of pros

ay from the Af

y powers of it

. At this time, w

invasion sprea

im to ask whether

a Church to leave

s in order to

had heretofore be

. In Augustin

intained that fli

ontanist when

Cyprian had ac

s conduct when

Rome. His co

andria, and Grego

as had Polycarp

ius aft

ad to defend his

a work still ext

t has the sanc

dents. Thus, in

r the old coven

from Pharao, Da

himself from A

the prophets w

Jezebel. In l

disciples hid th

t. Paul was let do

t Damascus. On

be adduced of

ng in the saint

mself is the ch

rsecution. As a

o Egypt. When H

udea, and retir

azarus, on the

ed no more ope

the neighborhoo

up stones to ca

hen they attem

He made His w

the Baptist's d

into a desert pl

id so, because Hi

that when it

self, we must as

hat his time i

act as Christ

we must have p

own act determ

n sheepskins a

e the matter in

he persecutor,

God, whether He

should come to d

battle an

nts, proceeds

sented themselv

as at God's comma

to Achab; so

eroboam; and St

ight, so far

es often greater

eater trial of h

e; he who flees i

daily. Job's l

an, yet was no

he suffered? E

ter-conduct of t

ed for fear. Ja

ned death, and bl

archs; Moses

elf before Pha

or; Elias reb

and Paul, who

ered themselves

acceptable wa

e men to Almig

owing them som

it was that Ja

s; Moses saw th

prophetic Psal

gathered the p

uld the Gospel

out the world, i

d, since their t

artyrs, at first

t their persecu

estion of the Di

e these instanc

le of duty in per

necessary in th

duty itself dec

ther than our L

you in this city

nd "let them tha

o the mo

e great Athana

saints departe

re here on e

her side, let us tu

us in mind, but

rites Tertulli

Montanist, a c

ng happens, he

ecution is sent

the test; to div

a trial; what m

e who gives the

bat. Persecuti

actually appointe

e Church much g

reased seriousnes

oes at God's o

Job, except so

ould not touch t

s an opening wa

ath desired to

thee," Peter,

d, confirm th

t into temptation

hy, if we may de

tted access to

Saul's case, or fo

ecution comes

oid it, nor can

e is all powerful

all good. We s

y to God. As t

y to city, this

o secure the p

ons. While the Apo

ill they had p

were to flee; b

t we now are no

iles," but to c

of the house of I

"flee from cit

from city to cit

aching; not an

rsecuted or not,

re they had gon

el, the Lord w

plated only th

aped out of "Da

gainst the prayer

y of Agabus, he

the command to f

e lifetime of t

uld God introdu

etire from it?

His acts. If we

fleeing, He sa

e men, I will co

Blessed are t

e that shall per

ed;" "Be not af

"Whosoever does

fter Me, cannot

exts fulfilled

our pattern, di

possible, let th

both stay and pr

sly told us, tha

lives for the br

ct charity cast

; he who fears,

e Greek proverb

flees, will fig

flee another d

ests, and deaco

? or must they

on the contrary,

sheep"; whereas

coming, and le

no time, as Je

ell us, is the

cattered than whe

lian ends thus:

ps appears to

recollect that

et him take it;'

let him depart. H

elong to Him wh

fear to suffer i

Many are called

d walk the broa

ut he who wal

ous and vehemen