II. In like manner may all other hindrances of the soul have accompanied you even to the threshold of the prison, just so far as did your parents also. Thenceforth ye were separated from the world itself: how much more from the life of the world, and its concerns ! Nor will this dismay |p152 you, that you are severed from the world¹¹. For if we consider that the world itself rather is a prison, we shall perceive that ye have rather gone forth from prison than gone into prison. The world hath the greater darkness, which blindeth the hearts of men. The world putteth on the heavier bonds, which bind the very souls of men. The world breatheth forth the worse uncleanness, even the lusts of men. Finally the world containeth the greater number of criminals, to wit the whole race of man: it awaiteth moreover the judgment, not of the Proconsul, but of God. Wherefore, blessed men, consider that ye have been translated from a prison to a place, it may be, of safe keeping. It hath darkness, but ye yourselves are light7^,12. It hath bonds, but ye have been made free8 by God. An evil breath is littered there, but ye are a sweet savour9. A judge is looked for: but ye shall judge10 even the judges themselves ¹³. Let him be sad there, who sigheth for the enjoyment of the world ? The Christian, even when out of prison, hath renounced the world; but, when in prison, a prison also ¹⁴. It mattereth not where ye are in the world, who are without the world : and if ye have lost any of the joys of life, it is a goodly traffic to lose somewhat, that you may gain the more. I say nothing yet of the reward to which God calleth martyrs. Let us for the moment compare the very conversation of the world and of the prison, and see whether in the prison the spirit doth not gain more than the flesh loseth. Yea and such things as be right, the flesh loseth not, through the care of the Church, and ¹⁶ the love of the brethren; and besides this, the spirit gaineth such things as are ever profitable to the Faith. Thou seest there no strange gods: thou comest not upon their images: thou partakest not in the solemn days of the heathen ¹⁵, even by mingling with them. Thou art scourged, but not with filthy savours from the sacrifice: thou art beaten, but not |p153 by the shouts of the public shows, the cruelty, or the madness, or the lewdness¹⁷ of the beholders. Thine eyes fall not upon the places of public lust. Thou art free from offences, from temptations, from evil recollections, and now too from persecution. The prison affordeth to the Christian that which the wilderness did to the Prophets. The Lord Himself ofttimes lived in retirement, that He might pray the more freely, that He might withdraw from the world. It was moreover in a solitary place that He shewed His glory to His disciples ¹⁸. Away with the name of a prison ! let us call it a retirement. Though the body be shut up, though the flesh be confined, all is open to the spirit. Roam freely, thou spirit ¹⁹; walk to and fro, thou spirit ¹⁹; not setting before thee shady walks, or long cloisters, but that way ²⁰ which  leadeth unto God. As oft as thou shalt walk herein in the spirit, so oft shalt thou not be in prison. The leg suffereth nothing in the stocks, while the mind is in Heaven. The mind carrieth about with it the whole man, and removeth him whither it listeth. But where thy heart is, there will thy treasure be also21. Let therefore our heart be there, where we would have our treasure.