Limited extent of the self-deceit reprobated. 7 against God's Priest, you may either restrain or excommunicate. 4. Only we exhort and admonish them rather to acknowledge their offence, and make satisfaction, and allow us to pursue our own course. For our wish and desire is rather to overcome the wrongs and injuries of men towards us, by clemency and forbearance, than to chastise them by our sacerdotal power. I bid you, dearest brother, ever heartily farewell. EPISTLE IV.* Cyprian, Cæcilius, Victor, Sedatus, Tertullus, with the Presbyters who were present with them, to their brother Pomponius, greeting. 1. We have read, dearest brother, the letter you sent us by our brother Paconius, urgently desiring us to write you word what we think of those virgins, who, having once determined The form of self-deceit spoken of in this Epistle was probably subsequent to the Apologists, Justin M. Athenagoras, Theophilus, Minutius Felix, since they could hardly have answered the calumnies against Christians in the tone they used, had this practice existed. (Dodw. Diss. Cypr. 3. §. 16.) It began, probably, at Antioch, (the title uvcánTO being first given by them,) with Paul of Samosata, who himself practised it, and permitted it to his Presbyters and Deacons. (Ep. Synod. c. Paul. ap. Eus. H. E. vii. 30.) The chief traces of it, subsequently, are also connected with Antioch, (as in the act of Leontius the Eusebian, deposed for it when a priest, but made Bishop of Antioch by Constantius, (S. Ath. Apol. de Fug. §. 26. Ep. ad Mon. §. 28.) and the Sermons of Chrysostom,) or Asia Minor and its neighbourhood. Conc. Ancyr. (A.D. 314.) can. 19. and S. Basil, Ep. 55. ad Paregorium. S. Greg. Naz. Carm. ap. Bevereg. Pand. Can. Annot. p. 46. S. Greg. Nyss. de Virg. c. 23. The Canon of the Council of Nice (can. 3.) was probably occasioned by the same act of Leontius, (Dodw. 1. c. §.4. Bevereg. ad loc.) S. Jerome, (Ep. 22. ad Eustoch. §. 14.) was living in Palestine; S. Epiphanius (Hær. 78. §. 11.) in Cyprus. The Concil. Turon. ii. (can. 11.) and so probably the Conc. Tolet. iv. (can. 42.) founded on the Council of Nice, do not contemplate this case only, but female domestics also. The excuse seems often to have been, that both parties were vowed to chastity, and so secure. This is implied in S. Jer. 1. c. S. Bas. 1. c. fin. S. Chrys. Hom. quod regulares feminæ, &c. Conc. Turon. ii. It was maintained indignantly, and suspicions of it imputed to an evil conscience, (S. Chrys. 1. c. S. Greg. Naz. 1. c.) as in the case of a yet more dangerous practice, in this day, at Rome and Naples. It should be noted that the most shocking part of the practice alluded to in this Epistle, is not mentioned elsewhere, except in the case of the heretic Leontius, (l. c.) S. Chrysostom, 1. c. §. 8. expressly states, that he regards it incredible that any should subject himself to the extreme disgrace ὡς καὶ ἐν ἑνὶ καθεύδειν οἰκήματι. The Canons also, which forbid it in the case of the Clergy, do not presuppose any thing disgraceful, but are precautionary, forbidding the dwelling of any females with unmarried clergy, (Justinian. Nov. 123. c. 29.) except those "to whom no suspicion could attach." (ib.) A. 249. 15. 11. 8 Discipline a protection against the wiles of Satan. EPIST. with self-restraint and firmness to preserve their estate, have IV. afterwards been discovered to have continued in the same bed with men; of whom one, you say, is a Deacon; and that those who confess to have slept with men, assert their purity. With regard to which matter, since you have asked our advice, know that we do not depart from the Evangelic and Apostolic traditions, but steadily and firmly consult for our brethren and sisters, and by all useful and salutary methods uphold the discipline of the Church: for the Lord Jer. 3, speaks and says, I will give you pastors according to Mine heart, which shall feed you with discipline: and again it is Wisd. 3, written, Whoso despiseth discipline is miserable: and in the Psalms also the Holy Ghost admonishes and instructs us, saying, Preserve discipline', lest the Lord be angry, and ye perish from the right way, when His wrath shall suddenly be kindled against you. In the first place therefore, dearest brother, in nothing must both bishops and people labour more earnestly than that we who fear God should observe with all diligence the precepts of His holy discipline; nor suffer our brethren to go astray, and live after their own devices and lusts, but that we should faithfully consult the eternal welfare of every one: nor suffer virgins to dwell with men,— I do not say not to sleep together, but not even to live together;-since as well the weakness of their sex as their yet unstayed age ought in all things to be reined in and directed by us, lest an occasion of hurting them be given to the devil, who is laying snares and on the watch to rage over Eph. 4, them, for the Apostle also says, Do not give place to the devil. The ship must be cautiously extricated from situations of danger, lest it be dashed to pieces amidst cliffs and rocks. Speedily must the goods be saved out of the burning, ere the flames reach them and they be burnt up. No one very close to danger is safe for long. Nor will a servant of God be able to escape the devil, who has entangled himself in the devil's snares. We must come speedily to the aid of such, that they may be separated, while yet they may be separated in innocence; for when they have by a guilty conscience become united, it is not our aid which can part them. Moreover, 27. 1 Psal. 2, 12. according to the LXX. Chald. Vulg. “son” being an Aramaic, rather than a Heb. word, they rendered it as though from 173. Approaches to sin to be avoided. 9 we see what grievous falls many have hence met with, and through such illicit and perilous co-dwellings we have, with the utmost grief of mind, beheld very many virgins corrupted. But if they have sincerely dedicated themselves to Christ, let them continue to live modestly and chastely without scandal of any sort, and so persevering and stedfast await the recompense of their virgin estate. of their virgin estate. But if they will not or cannot persevere, it is better they marry, than fall into the 1 Cor.7, fire by their sins. They should assuredly cause no offence to their brethren or sisters, for it is written, If meat make 1 Cor. 8, my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world' standeth, lest I make my brother to offend. 2. Nor let any think she can be defended by this excuse, that she may be examined and proved, whether she be a virgin; for the midwife's sight or touch may often be deceived. And though she prove to be in body a virgin, wherein she might be otherwise, yet may she have been otherwise defiled in her person, without discovery. Surely the very lying together, the very embracing, the very talking together, the act of kissing, and the foul and disgraceful deed that two should sleep near together, what exceeding dishonour and criminality doth this confess! If a husband come and see his wife lying with another man, is he not indignant and maddened, and doth he not in the violence of his jealousy perhaps even seize the sword? What? How indignant and angered then must Christ our Lord and Judge be, when He sees a virgin, dedicated to Himself, and consecrated to His holiness, lying with a man! and what punishments does He threaten against such impure connections! Whose spiritual sword and coming Day of Judgment, that every one of the brethren may be enabled to escape, our duty is by all means to provide and endeavour. 3. And as all ought by all means to uphold discipline, much more is it the duty of Prelates and Deacons to take heed to this, who are to give an example and pattern to others in their own conversation and conduct. For how can they take charge of the integrity and continence of others, if corruptions and instruction in sin take their beginning in them? Therefore you have acted advisedly and with firmness, dearest brother, in excommunicating the Deacon, who 9. 13. stetrici bus. 10 Peril of refusal to obey the Church. EPIST. often abode with a virgin, as also the others who were wont IV. -to sleep with virgins. But if they shall do penance for this A. 249. their unlawful co-dwelling, and separate from one another, I ab ob- let the virgins be meanwhile carefully examined', and if they shall be found virgins, let them be received to communion and admitted into the Church; with this warning however, that if they afterwards return to the same men, or if they shall live with the same in one house and under the same roof, they must be cast out with severer censure, nor thenceforth may such be readily received into the Church. But if any of them shall prove to have been corrupted, let her undergo full penance, because she who hath been guilty of this crime is an adulteress, not against a husband, but Christ, and therefore when an adequate time has been apportioned, let her afterwards, her term of penanceTM completed, return to the Church. But if they obstinately persevere, nor separate from one another; let them know that with such immodest obstinacy they can never be admitted by us into the Church, lest by their sins they set an example to the ruin of others. 17, 12. 13. 4. Nor let them think that they still are in the way of life and salvation, if they will not obey the Bishops and Priests; Deut. for in Deuteronomy the Lord God says; And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest, or judge, whosoever he shall be, in those days, that man shall die, and all the people shall hear and fear, and do no more presumptuously. God commanded them to be slain, who did not hearken unto His priests, and obey the judges appointed by Him for a season; then indeed they were slain with the sword, when the carnal circumcision was yet in force; but now that there hath begun to be a spiritual circumcision among the faithful servants of God, the proud and contumacious are killed by the spiritual sword, in that they are cast out of the Church. For they cannot have life out of it, because the house of God is one, and there cannot be salvation for any, except in the Church. But that the undisciplined perish, in that they neither listen to nor obey wholesome precepts, holy Scripture testifies, saying, An undisciplined person loveth not one that re Prov. 15, 12. 10. m exomologesi. see Note L. on Tert. p. 376 sqq. Oxf. Tr. Discipline to be upheld, even if disobeyed. 11 14. 12. proveth him. And they who hate reproof shall be shamefully consumed. Therefore that none be consumed and perish for want of discipline, endeavour, dearest brother, as much as you can, to rule the brotherhood by wholesome counsels, and advise each one to his own salvation. Strait Mat. 7, is the gate and narrow is the way, by which we enter into life; but exceeding great is the reward when we have passed through unto glory. Let such as have once made Mat. 19, themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake, please God in all things; nor by the scandal of their wickedness offend the Priests of God, or the Church of the Lord. And though at present some of our brethren may seem to be made sorry" by us, let us nevertheless abide by our wholesome persuasion, knowing that the Apostle also said, Am I Gal. 4, therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth? But if they shall obey us, we shall have gained brethren, and have led them alike to salvation and honour by our admonitions. But if some perverse persons will not obey, let us follow the same Apostle, where he says, If I pleased Gal. 1, men I should not be the servant of Christ. If we cannot persuade some so as to make them please Christ, let us at all events, as far as in us lies, please Christ our Lord and God, by keeping His commandments. I bid you, dearest brother and much longed for, heartily farewell in the Lord. EPISTLE V. Cyprian to his Presbyters and Deacons, his dearest brethren, greeting. 16. 10. A. 250. thage. 1. By the mercy of God, dearest brethren, I address you in safety, glad that all things are well with regard to your safety also. And since the state of the city1 does not suffer me to be 1 Carwith you at present, I entreat you by your faith and religion that you will perform both your own and my duty there; that so nothing be wanting either as regards discipline or dili- 、 gence. As to what concerns the supply of necessities, either of those who, having confessed the Lord with a glorious n by the Church's censures. coll. • from the Decian persecution. 2 Cor. 2. F. |