The soul loves the flesh that hates it, and [loves also] the members; Christians likewise love those that hate them. The soul is imprisoned in the body, yet preserves that very body; and Christians are confined in the world as in a prison, and yet they are the preservers of the world. The immortal soul dwells in a mortal tabernacle; and Christians dwell as sojourners in corruptible [bodies], looking for an incorruptible dwelling in the heavens. The soul, when but ill-provided with food and drink, becomes better; in like manner, the Christians, though subjected day by day to punishment, increase the more in number. God has assigned them this illustrious position, which it were unlawful for them to forsake.

Ἡ ψυχὴ τὴν μισοῦσαν ἀγαπᾷ σάρκα καὶ τὰ μέλη· καὶ Χριστιανοὶ τοὺς μισοῦντας ἀγαπῶσιν. Ἐγκέκλεισται μὲν ἡ ψυχὴ τῷ σώματι͵ συνέχει δὲ αὐτὴ τὸ σῶμα· καὶ Χριστιανοὶ κατέχονται μὲν ὡς ἐν φρουρᾷ τῷ κόσμῳ͵ αὐτοὶ δὲ συνέχουσι τὸν κόσμον. Ἀθάνατος ἡ ψυχὴ ἐν θνητῷ σκηνώματι κατοικεῖ· καὶ Χριστιανοὶ παροικοῦσιν ἐν φθαρτοῖς͵ τὴν ἐν οὐρανοῖς ἀφθαρσίαν προσδεχόμενοι. Κακουργουμένη σιτίοις καὶ ποτοῖς ἡ ψυχὴ βελτιοῦται· καὶ Χριστιανοὶ κολαζόμενοι καθ΄ ἡμέραν πλεονάζουσι μᾶλλον. Εἰς τοσαύτην αὐτοὺς τάξιν ἔθετο ὁ Θεός͵ ἣν οὐ θεμιτὸν αὐτοῖς παραιτήσασθαι. 

Cf. Epistle to Diognetus Home Page ||| IGNATIUS THEOPHORUS : Martyrdom ||| MACARIUS THE GREAT : Overcome by Heavenly Desire ||| PETER DAMASCENE : What is true faith? ||| GREGORY PALAMAS : Calling everything near Him ||| Christ is Risen