Letter 20

Isidore of PelusiumUnknown|isidore pelusium
From: Isidore of Pelusium, monk
To: An unnamed recipient
Date: ~410 AD
Context: Against those who sin freely, presuming on God's mercy.

If the shamelessness of sinners and the arrogance of the wicked trouble you, do not be surprised. They have always existed, and they will until the end. Some sin boldly because they do not believe in judgment; others because they presume on God's patience. Both are fools. The first denies what is coming; the second gambles that it will come late. But God's patience is not permission — it is opportunity. He delays judgment to give time for repentance, not to give license for more sin.

Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.