Argument.

THE DEACON PONTIUS IN A FEW WORDS UNFOLDS THE BURTHEN OF THIS TREATISE IN HIS LIFE OF CYPRIAN. FIRST OF ALL, HAVING POINTED OUT THAT AFFLICTIONS OF THIS KIND HAD BEEN FORETOLD BY CHRIST, HE TELLS THEM THAT THE MORTALITY OR PLAGUE WAS NOT TO BE FEARED, IN THAT IT LEADS TO IMMORTALITY, AND THAT THEREFORE, THAT MAN IS WANTING IN FAITH WHO IS NOT EAGER FOR A BETTER WORLD. NOR IS IT WONDERFUL THAT THE EVILS OF THIS LIFE ARE COMMON TO THE CHRISTIANS WITH THE HEATHENS, SINCE THEY HAVE TO SUFFER MORE THAN OTHERS IN THE WORLD, AND THENCE, AFTER THE EXAMPLE OF JOB AND TOBIAS, THERE IS NEED OF PATIENCE WITHOUT MURMURING. FOR UNLESS THE STRUGGLE PRECEDED, THE VICTORY COULD NOT ENSUE; AND HOW MUCH SOEVER DISEASES ARE COMMON TO THE VIRTUOUS AND VICIOUS, YET THAT DEATH IS NOT COMMON TO THEM, FOR THAT THE RIGHTEOUS ARE TAKEN TO CONSOLATION, WHILE THE UNRIGHTEOUS ARE TAKEN TO PUNISHMENT.