Righteousness and goodness, peace and true patience, and care concerning one’s deeds, make to live after death. But a crafty mind, mischievous, perfidious, evil, destroys itself by degrees, and delays in a cruel death. O wicked man, hear now what thou gainest by thy evil deeds. Look on the judges of earth, who now in the body torture with terrible punishments; either chastisements are prepared for the deserving by the sword, or to weep in a long imprisonment. Dost thou, last of all, hope to laugh at the God of heaven and the Ruler of the sky, by whom all things were made? Thou ragest, thou art mad, and now thou takest away the name of God, from whom, moreover, thou shalt not escape; and He will award punishments according to your deeds. Now I would have you be cautious that thou come not to the burning of fire. Give thyself up at once to Christ, that goodness may attend thee.

Commodian. 1885. “The Instructions of Commodianus.” In Fathers of the Third Century: Tertullian, Part Fourth; Minucius Felix; Commodian; Origen, Parts First and Second, edited by Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson, and A. Cleveland Coxe, translated by Robert Ernest Wallis, 4:208. The Ante-Nicene Fathers. Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Company.

Translated into modern English by Grok:

Living righteously and doing good, maintaining peace, showing genuine patience, and being mindful of how you act—these things lead to life after death.

But a cunning, harmful, treacherous, and wicked mind slowly destroys itself and ends up lingering in a cruel death.

You evil person—listen to what your wicked actions are really earning you.

Look at the earthly judges right now: while still in the body, they inflict horrible tortures as punishment. The guilty face either execution by the sword or long, tearful imprisonment.

And yet you actually think—at the very end—you can mock the God of heaven, the Ruler of the skies who created everything?

You’re raging, you’re out of your mind, and you’re even trying to erase the name of God—the one you can’t escape. He will repay everyone according to their deeds.

So right now, I urge you: be careful, so you don’t end up in the fires of judgment.

Surrender yourself to Christ immediately, so that true goodness can be with you.