A. 250. 28 Spareness of diet amid afflictions of the Church," EPIST. delay, there are still some to be proved." But by these XI. divine mercies we are admonished as to a sparing diet also and moderation in drinking, lest worldly enticements enervate our breasts, now lifted on high by strength from above, and the mind, weighed down by too abundant feasting, be less watchful unto prayer. 22. Luke 9, 62. 8. I ought not to conceal these several things, nor confine them to my own breast, for by them every one of us may be both instructed and guided. Nor should ye again keep this letter concealed among yourselves, but should communicate it to the brethren for perusal. For to intercept those things by which the Lord vouchsafes to admonish and instruct us, is the part of one who would not have his brother admonished and instructed. Let them know that we are being proved by our Lord, and never, for the severity of the present pressure, fall off from that faith whereby we have once believed in Him. Eph. 4, 9. Let every one, reviewing his sins, even now put off the conversation of the old man. For no man looking back, and putting his hand to the plough, is fit for the kingdom of Gen. 19, God'. And Lot's wife, who having been freed looked back contrary to the command, forfeited her past deliverance. Let us not regard the things behind, whither the devil recalls, but the things before, whither Christ calls. Let us raise our eyes to heaven, that the earth seduce us not 26. ance of revelations between the Apo- phetic sayings, (2. 32. [57.] 4.) (see also v. 6. 1. quoted Tert. de Præscr. c. 14. p. 448. not. h. Oxf. Ed.) Eusebius says (v. 3.) that "the very many and various wonderful works of the Divine grace, still wrought in different Churches in the time of Montanus and his companions, occasioned many to believe that they also prophesied." Asterius Urbanus, after the death of Maximilla, supposes that the prophetic gift would always continue in the Church. (ib. c. 17.) In the same period was S. Gregory Thaumaturgus; and the visions of S. Dionysius, related by himself, (ap. Eus. H. E. vi. 40. vii. 7.) are contemporary with S. Cyprian; both were by vision warned to flee in persecution. 1 Luke 9, 62. Some Greek Mss. still keep this order. F. and prayer in awe, union, humility, amendment, tears. 29 by its delights and allurements. Let each one pray to God, not for himself only, but for all the brethren, even as the Lord taught us to pray, where He enjoins not to each a private prayer, but bade us, when we pray, to pray for all in one common prayer and unanimous supplication. If the Lord shall behold us humble and peaceable, closely united to each other, in awe of His wrath, corrected and amended by the present tribulation, He will place us in safety from the assaults of the enemy. Discipline hath led the way, pardon will follow. Let us only with simplicity and unanimity entreat the Lord, unceasing in asking, assured of receiving, adding to our entreaties groaning and tears, as they should entreat who are placed between the wailing heaps of the overthrown, and a remnant yet trembling, between a wide carnage of the fallen, and the small band of those yet firmly standing. Let us beg that peace be speedily restored, that aid be soon granted in our hidings and our perils, that those things be fulfilled which the Lord vouchsafeth to reveal to His servants, the restoration of the Church, the security of our salvation; after showers, a cloudless sky; after darkness, light; after storms and whirlwinds, a placid calm; the holy succours of Parental love, the wonted mighty works of Divine power, whereby both the blasphemy of persecutors may be repressed, the penitence of the lapsed be restored, and the bold and stedfast confidence of the persevering may glory. I bid you, dearest brethren, ever heartily farewell, and remember me. Salute the brotherhood in my name, and exhort them to remember us. Fare ye well. EPISTLE XII. Cyprian to the Presbyters and Deacons, his brethren, 1. Though I know, dearest brethren, that you have been frequently admonished in my Epistles to shew all diligence towards those that, with glorious voice, have confessed the Lord, and are imprisoned for His sake; yet I must from time to time press it upon you, that nothing of care be A. 250. 30 Confessors, sealed by death, martyrs; their memories kept. EPIST. wanting to those to whom nothing is wanting of glory. XII. And would that the state of the city and my station would suffer me to be now with you: readily and gladly would I in my wonted ministry fulfil all the offices of love towards our most valiant brethren. But I pray you let your diligence take the place of my duty, and do all things that ought to be done towards those over whom the Divine favour hath shed lustre by such high degrees of faith and courage. To the bodies of those too, who, though they were not tortured in prison, yet depart by the outlet of a glorious death, let there be shewn a more affectionate watchfulness and care. For their courage or honour is not the less, so as to hinder their being admitted into the company of the blessed martyrs. As far as in them lay, they endured whatsoever they were prepared and ready to endure. He who hath offered himself to torture and to death under the Eyes of God, has suffered whatever he was willing to suffer. For he was not wanting to the torture, but the Mat.10, torture to him. Whosoever shall confess Me before men, him will I also confess before My Father Which is in ver. 22. heaven, saith the Lord. These did confess Him. He that endureth unto the end shall be saved, saith the Lord. These have endured; the untainted and unspotted merits of their courage carried them even to the end. Again it is written, Rev. 2, Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. These have continued faithful unto death, stedfast, and invincible. When to our willingness and confession in prison and in bonds is added the termination of death, the glory of martyrdom is perfected. 32. 10. 2. Moreover, mark the days on which they depart, that we may celebrate their memories among the commemorations of the martyrs: although indeed Tertullus, our most faithful and devoted brother, besides his other solicitude and care which he shews to the brethren in all sorts of service, (and who moreover is not behind-hand in the care of their remains,) hath written and still writes, and acquaints me with the days on which our blessed brethren in prison pass by the way of a glorious death to immortality; and oblations and sacrifices in commemoration of them are here celebrated m Tert. ad Mart. c. 1. p. 150-152. Oxf. Tr. The Bishop chief in joy or sorrow. 81 by us, which, the Lord protecting, we shall soon celebrate with you. To the poor also, (as I have often written word before,) let no care or attention on your part be wanting, to those at least who, standing in the faith, and boldly fighting on our side, have not deserted the camp of Christ; to whom indeed we should now shew greater love and care, since neither driven by poverty, nor cast down by the storm of persecution, they serve faithfully with the Lord, and have given to the other poor also an example of faith. Dearest brethren, and much longed for, I bid you ever heartily farewell, and that ye remember me. Salute the brotherhood in my name. Farewell. EPISTLE XIII. Cyprian to Rogatianus the Presbyter, and the other For 1. Both heretofore, dearest and most courageous brethren, have I sent you Epistles, wherein I congratulated your faith and valour with words of exultation; and now again my voice findeth no gladlier utterance, than with joyous heart repeatedly and ever to declare the glory of your name. what wish could I form higher, or better, than this, that I see the flock of Christ illumined by the honour of your confession? for whereas all the brethren must needs rejoice in this, the greatest share in the common joy must be the Bishop's. For the glory of the Church is the glory of the Prelate. In proportion as we grieve over those, whom the hostile storm has thrown down, do we rejoice over you, whom the devil has not been able to overcome. 2. I exhort you however by our common faith, by the true and sincere affection of my heart for you, that ye, who have overcome the adversary in this first encounter, uphold your glory by a brave and persevering constancy. We are still in the world, still engaged in warfare, daily do we fight for our lives. You must use diligence, that after these beginnings there be the increase also, and that that may be perfected in you which ye have already, with such blessed openings, begun. It is little to have been able to attain any thing, 1 A. 250. tism. 14. 32 Difficulty of perseverance; upheld by humility. EPIST. it is more to be able to keep what you have attained. Just XIII. as both the faith itself, and saving birth', not received merely, Bap- but guarded, giveth life. Neither does the attainment of itself, but its being worked out to completion, keep a man unto God. The Lord taught this in His ministry, saying, John 5, Behold, thou art made whole, sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. Suppose Him now saying this to His Confessor, "Behold, thou art made a Confessor, sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee." Solomon moreover, and Saul, and many others, as long as they walked in the ways of the Lord, were able to retain the grace given unto them; when they left the Lord's discipline, His grace also left them. We must persevere in the straight and narrow path to praise and glory and since meekness and humility, and the even tenor of a good life is suitable to all Christians, Is. 66,2. according to the word of the Lord, Who looketh to no one, but him that is humble, and meek, and that trembleth at His word, so it especially behoves you Confessors to observe and fulfil this, who have been set as an example to the rest of the brethren, as such whose conduct all ought to be provoked to follow in their lives and actions. For as the Rom. 2, Jews, through whom the Name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles, are become aliens from God; so contrariwise they are dear to God, through whose obedience the Name of the Lord is magnified by a testimony to His praise; as it is Matt. 5, written, the Lord Himself fore-monishing and saying, Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father Which is in heaven. And Philip. Paul the Apostle says, Shine as lights in the world. And 1 Pet. 2, Peter in like manner exhorts; As strangers, he says, and 11. 12. pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; having your conversation honest among the Gentiles; that, whereas they speak against you as evil-doers, they may, by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify the Lord. Which indeed, the most of you, to my joy, do take heed to, and being made better by the honour of your very confession, guard and uphold its glory by peaceable and virtuous lives. But some, I hear, cast a stain on your number, and undo the praise of a most excellent name by their evil conversation: whom you yourselves also, as 24. 16. 2, 15. |