Treatises & Letters 14 part 4/8

and his head and his hairs were white as wool or snow, and his eyes as a flame of fire, and his feet like fine brass as in a burning furnace, and his voice as the sound of many waters; and he had in his right hand seven stars, and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and his face shone as the sun in its strength; and when I saw him, I fell at his feet as one dead, and he laid his right hand upon me, saying: Fear not; I am the first and the last and the living one, who was dead, and behold, I am alive for ever and ever, and I have the keys of death and of hell. Likewise in the Gospel the Lord saith after his resurrection: All power is given to me in heaven and in earth;

go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. THAT ONE CANNOT COME TO GOD THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH HIS SON JESUS CHRIST. In the Gospel: I am the way and the truth and the life; no one cometh to the Father but by me. Likewise there: I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved. Likewise there: Many prophets and righteous men have desired to see the things which you see and have not seen them, and to hear the things which you hear and have not heard them. Likewise there: He that believeth in the Son hath eternal life; but he that is not obedient to the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth upon him. Likewise Paul the apostle to the Ephesians:

And when he had come, he preached peace to you that were afar off and peace to them that were nigh, because through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. Likewise to the Romans: For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, but they are justified by his gift and by grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Likewise in the epistle Peter the apostle: Christ died once for our sins, the just for the unjust, that he might offer us to God. Likewise there: For unto this end was it preached even to the dead, that they might be raised. Likewise in the epistle John the apostle: He that denieth the Son hath not the Father either; he that confesseth the Son hath both the Son and the Father. THAT HE HIMSELF SHALL COME AS JUDGE. In Malachi: Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, burning like an oven;

and all the foreigners and all the wicked shall be stubble, and the coming day shall set them on fire, saith the Lord. Likewise in Psalm 49: The God of gods, the Lord, hath spoken and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof; out of Sion is the comeliness of his beauty. God shall come manifestly, our God, and shall not keep silence; fire shall burn before him, and round about him a mighty tempest. He shall call the heaven above and the earth, to discern his people; gather unto him his righteous ones who order his covenant above sacrifices; and the heavens shall declare his righteousness, for God is judge. Likewise in Isaiah: The Lord God of hosts shall go forth and shatter the war; he shall stir up the conflict and shall cry out against his enemies with might;

I have held my peace; shall I always hold my peace? Likewise in Psalm 67: Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered, and let them that hate him flee from before his face. As smoke vanisheth, let them vanish; as wax melteth before the fire, so let the sinners perish before the face of God; and let the righteous feast and rejoice in the sight of God and delight themselves in gladness. Sing to the Lord, sing a psalm to his name, make a way for him who ascendeth toward the going down of the sun; the Lord is his name. They shall be troubled before his face, the father of orphans and the judge of widows. God is in his holy place; God who maketh those of one mind to dwell in a house; who bringeth out the bound in fortitude, likewise those that provoke to wrath, who dwell in the sepulchres.

O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou passedst through the wilderness. Likewise in Psalm 81: Arise, O God, judge the earth, for thou shalt have inheritance among all the nations. Likewise in the Gospel according to Matthew: What have we to do with thee, Son of God? Art thou come hither before the time to destroy us? Likewise according to John: The Father judgeth no man, but hath given all judgment to the Son, that all may honour the Son as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father who sent him. Likewise Paul the apostle in second Corinthians: We must all be made manifest before the judgment seat of Christ, that every one may receive the proper things of his own body according to what he hath done, whether good or evil. THAT HE HIMSELF IS THE KING WHO SHALL REIGN FOR EVER.

In Zechariah: Say to the daughter of Sion: Behold, thy king cometh to thee, just and saving, meek, sitting upon an untamed ass. Likewise in Isaiah: Who shall declare to you that eternal place? He that walketh in righteousness and keepeth his hands from bribes, stopping his ears that he may not hear the judgment of blood, and closing his eyes that he may not see injustice — he shall dwell in the high cave of the strong rock; bread shall be given to him and his water is sure. You shall see the king in his glory. Likewise in Malachi: I am a great king, saith the Lord, and my name is renowned among the nations. Likewise in the second Psalm: But I am appointed king by him over Sion his holy mountain, proclaiming the decree of the Lord. Likewise in Psalm 21:

All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall adore in his sight; for the kingdom is the Lord's, and he shall rule the nations. Likewise in Psalm 23: Lift up your gates, ye princes, and be lifted up, ye everlasting gates, and the King of glory shall enter in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your gates, ye princes, and be lifted up, ye everlasting gates, and the King of glory shall enter in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Likewise in Psalm 44: My heart hath uttered a good word; I speak my works to the king; my tongue is the pen of a scribe that writeth swiftly.

Thou art comely in form beyond the sons of men; grace is poured out upon thy lips, therefore God hath blessed thee for ever. Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, in thy comeliness and thy beauty, and bend thy bow, and prosperously go forth and reign, for the sake of truth and meekness and righteousness. Likewise in Psalm 5: My King and my God, for to thee will I pray, O Lord; in the morning thou wilt hear my voice; in the morning I will stand before thee and will see. Likewise in Psalm 96: The Lord hath reigned, let the earth rejoice, let the many islands be glad. Likewise in Psalm 44: The queen stood at thy right hand in gilded raiment, clothed about with variety.

Hearken, O daughter, and behold, and incline thine ear, and forget thy people and thy father's house; for the king hath greatly desired thy beauty, for he is the Lord thy God. Likewise in Psalm 73: But God our king before the ages hath wrought salvation in the midst of the earth. Likewise in the Gospel according to Matthew: And when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men came from the east to Jerusalem, saying: Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east and are come to adore him. Likewise according to John, Jesus said: My kingdom is not of this world; if my kingdom were of this world, my ministers would surely strive that I should not be delivered to the Jews;

but now my kingdom is not from hence. Pilate said: Art thou then a king? Jesus answered: Thou sayest that I am a king; for this I was born and for this I came into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth heareth my voice. THAT HE HIMSELF IS BOTH JUDGE AND KING. Likewise in Psalm 71: O God, give thy judgment to the king and thy righteousness to the king's son, to judge thy people in thy righteousness. Likewise in the Apocalypse: And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse, and he that sat upon it was called Faithful and True, and he judgeth and maketh war in equity and justice; his eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head many diadems, and he bore a name written which no one knew but himself;

and he was clothed with a garment sprinkled with blood, and his name is called the Word of God; and the armies that are in heaven followed him on white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean; and out of his mouth went a sharp sword, that with it he might smite the nations, which he himself shall rule with a rod of iron; and he himself shall tread the winepress of the wine of the wrath of Almighty God. He hath also on his garment and on his thigh a name written: King of kings and Lord of lords. Likewise in the Gospel: When the Son of Man shall come in his glory and all the angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory, and all nations shall be gathered before him;

and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats, and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the king say to those who are on his right hand: Come, ye blessed of my Father, receive the kingdom which is prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you took me in, naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying: Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, thirsty and give thee drink? When did we see thee a stranger and take thee in, naked and clothe thee? And when did we see thee sick or in prison, and come to thee?

And the king answering shall say to them: Amen I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of these the least of my brethren, you did it to me. Then shall he say to those on the left: Depart from me, ye cursed, into the eternal fire which my Father hath prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me not to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me not drink, I was a stranger and you took me not in, naked and you clothed me not, sick and in prison and you visited me not. Then shall they also answer, saying: Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee? And he shall answer them: Amen I say to you, inasmuch as you did it not to one of these least, neither did you do it to me.

And these shall go into eternal fire, but the righteous into eternal life. CYPRIAN TO HIS SON QUIRINUS, GREETING. For the faith and devotion which thou showest to the Lord God, dearest son, thou hast asked that, to instruct thee, I should excerpt from the holy Scriptures certain headings pertaining to the religious discipline of our way, seeking a concise diligence of divine reading, so that a mind given to God might not be wearied with long or many volumes of books, but, instructed by a compendium of the heavenly precepts, might have a wholesome and great summary for nourishing its memory. And because I owe thee a full service of love, I have done what thou didst ask, that I might labour once, lest thou shouldst always labour.

And so, as far as our slender ability could embrace, there have been collected by me certain dominical precepts and divine teachings which may be both easy and useful to readers, since few things digested into a compendium are quickly read through and frequently repeated. I wish thee, dearest son, ever to fare well. THE CHAPTERS. I. Of the good of work and of mercy. II. That in work and almsgiving, even if through slenderness less be done, the will itself is enough. III. That love and brotherly affection must be exercised religiously and firmly. IIII. That we must glory in nothing, since nothing is ours. V. That humility and quiet must be kept in all things. VI. That all the good and righteous must labour the more, but ought to endure, because they are being proved. VII.

That we must not grieve the Holy Spirit whom we have received. VIII. That anger must be overcome, lest it compel us to sin. VIIII. That brethren ought to bear with one another in turn. X. That we must trust in God alone and glory in him. XI. That he who has obtained the faith, having put off the former man, ought to think only of things heavenly and spiritual and not to attend to the world, which he has already renounced. XII. That we must not swear. XIII. That we must not curse. XIIII. That we must never murmur, but in all things that happen must bless God. XV. That men are tempted by God to this end, that they may be tried. XVI. Of the good of martyrdom. XVII. That the things we suffer in the world are less than the reward that is promised. XVIII. That nothing must be preferred to the love of God and Christ. XVIIII.

That we must obey not our own will but the will of God. XX. That the foundation and bulwark of hope and faith is fear. XXI. That we must not rashly judge of another. XXII. That, an injury having been received, we must remit and forgive. XXIII. That evil must not be repaid for evil. XXIIII. That one cannot come to the Father except through Christ. XXV. That, unless one has been baptized and born again, he cannot attain to the kingdom of God. XXVI. That it is too little to be baptized and to receive the eucharist, unless one profits also in deeds and in work. XXVII. That even the baptized person loses the grace he has obtained, unless he keeps his innocence. XXVIII. That to him who has sinned against God it cannot be remitted in the church. XXVIIII. Of the hatred of the name, foretold beforehand. XXX. That whatever one has vowed to God must be quickly rendered. XXXI.

That he who has not believed is already judged. XXXII. Of the good of virginity and continence. XXXIII. That the Father judges nothing, but the Son, and that the Father is not honoured by him by whom the Son is not honoured. XXXIIII. That the faithful ought not to live as the gentiles do. XXXV. That God is patient to this end, that we may repent of our sin and be reformed. XXXVI. That a woman ought not to be adorned in worldly fashion. XXXVII. That the faithful ought not to be punished for other offences but only for the name. XXXVIII. That the servant of God ought to be innocent, lest he fall into worldly punishment. XXXVIIII. That an example of living in Christ has been given to us. XL. That we must work neither boastfully nor with commotion. XLI. That we must not speak ineptly or scurrilously. XLII.

That faith profits in the whole, and that we are able to do as much as we believe. XLIII. That he who has truly believed can obtain at once. XLIIII. That the faithful, when disputing among themselves, ought not to seek a gentile judge. XLV. That there is hope of things future, and that therefore faith concerning the things that are promised ought to be patient. XLVI. That a woman ought to keep silence in the church. XLVII. That it is by our own fault and desert that we labour and do not in all things feel the help of God. XLVIII. That we must not lend at interest. XLVIIII. That enemies too must be loved. L. That the sacrament of the faith must not be profaned. LI. That no one ought to be exalted in his own work. LII. That the freedom of believing or not believing is set in our own choice. LIII.

That the secret things of God cannot be perceived, and that therefore our faith ought to be simple. LIIII. That no one is without filth and without sin. LV. That we must please not men but God. LVI. That nothing of the things that are done is hidden from God. LVII. That the faithful is amended and reserved. LVIII. That no one ought to be grieved at death, since in living there is labour and peril, in dying peace and the security of rising again. LVIIII. Of the idols which the gentiles think to be gods. LX. That excessive desire of food must not be sought after. LXI. That the desire of possessing and of money must not be sought after. LXII. That marriage must not be joined with gentiles. LXIII. That fornication is a graver offence. LXIIII.

What things are carnal which bring forth death, and what things are spiritual which lead to life. LXV. That all offences are laid aside in baptism. LXVI. That the discipline of God must be observed in the ecclesiastical precepts. LXVII. That it was foretold that they would despise sound discipline. LXVIII. That we must withdraw from him who lives disorderly and contrary to discipline. LXVIIII. That the kingdom of God is not in the wisdom of the world nor in eloquence, but in the faith of the cross and in the virtue of conduct. LXX. That parents must be obeyed. LXXI. That fathers too ought not to be harsh toward their children. LXXII. That servants, when they have believed, ought to serve their carnal masters the more. LXXIII. Likewise that masters ought to be gentler. LXXIIII. That widows of approved character are to be honoured. LXXV.

That each one ought to have great care for his own people, and especially for the faithful. 76. That an elder is not to be accused rashly. 77. That one who sins publicly is to be rebuked. 78. That one must not speak with heretics. 79. That the innocent should ask confidently and obtain his request. 80. That nothing is permitted to the devil against a man, unless God allows it. 81. That the wage is to be paid quickly to the hired worker. 82. That one must not practice augury. 83. That one must not wear a lock of hair (a curl). 84. That one must not pluck out hairs. 85. That one must rise when a bishop or presbyter comes. 86. That schism must not be made, even if he who withdraws should remain in one faith and in the same tradition. 87. That the faithful, though simple, ought to be prudent. 88. That a brother must not be circumvented. 89. That the end of the world comes suddenly.

90. That a wife should not depart from her husband, or, if she has departed, should remain unmarried. 91. That each one is tempted only as much as he is able to bear. 92. That not everything which is lawful is to be done. 93. That it was foretold that heresies would arise. 94. That the Eucharist is to be received with fear and with honour. 95. That one must live together with the good, but shun the wicked. 96. That one must work by deeds, not by words. 97. That one must hasten toward the faith and toward its attainment. 98. That a catechumen ought no longer to sin. 99. That the judgment will be according to the times, either of equity before the Law, or of the Law after Moses. 100. That the grace of God ought to be freely given. 101. That the Holy Spirit has often appeared in fire. 102. That all good people ought to listen willingly to correction.

103. That one must refrain from much speaking. 104. That one must not lie. 105. That those who offend in domestic service are to be frequently corrected. 106. That when injury is received, patience is to be maintained and vengeance left to God. 107. That one must not slander. 108. That one must not lie in wait against one's neighbour. 109. That the sick are to be visited. 110. That whisperers are accursed. 111. That the sacrifices of the wicked are not acceptable. 112. That those who in this world have had more power are more severely judged. 113. That the widow and orphans ought to be protected. 114. That while one is in the flesh he ought to make confession. 115. That flattery is pernicious. 116. That God is loved the more by him to whom in baptism more sins are forgiven. 117.

That the struggle against the devil is a hard one, and that therefore we ought to stand bravely, so that we may be able to conquer. 118. Concerning antichrist, that he will come in the form of a man. 119. That the yoke of the Law, which was cast off from us, was heavy, and that the yoke of the Lord, which has been taken up by us, is light. 120. That one must persevere in prayers. ON THE GOOD OF WORKS AND OF MERCY. In Isaiah: Cry aloud with strength, and do not spare; lift up your voice like a trumpet, and declare to my people their sins, and to the house of Jacob their misdeeds. They seek me from day to day, and desire to know my ways, as a people that has done righteousness and has not forsaken the judgment of God. They demand of me now a just judgment, and desire to draw near to God, saying:

Why is it that we have fasted, and you have not seen; we have humbled our souls, and you have not regarded it? For in the days of your fasting your own pleasures are found out. For you either afflict those subject to you, or you fast for quarrels and lawsuits, or you strike your neighbours with your fists. Why do you fast for me, so that today your voice is heard in clamour? This is not the fast that I have chosen, nor the day for a man to humble his soul. Even though you should twist your neck like a hoop, and spread out sackcloth and ashes beneath you, not even thus will you call your fast acceptable. I have not chosen such a fast, says the Lord; but loose every knot of injustice, undo the stranglings of oppressive dealings, send away the bruised into rest, and break up every unjust bond.

Break your bread to the hungry, and bring the needy without shelter into your house. If you see one naked, clothe him, and do not despise the members of your own kin. Then shall your light break forth in due season, and your garments shall rise up speedily; and righteousness shall go before you, and the glory of God shall encompass you. Then you shall cry out, and God will hear you; while you are yet speaking, he will say: Behold, here I am. Likewise in Job: I preserved the needy from the hand of the powerful, and I helped the orphan who had no helper. The mouth of the widow blessed me; I was the eye of the blind, the foot also of the lame I was, and a father to the weak. Likewise in Tobit: And I said to Tobias my son: Go and bring whatever poor man you can find among our brethren, who nevertheless keeps God in mind with his whole heart.

Bring this one, and he shall eat this my meal together with us: behold, I wait for you, my son, until you come. Likewise there: All the days of your life, my son, keep God in mind, and do not transgress his precepts. Do righteousness all the days of your life, and do not walk in the way of iniquity; for if you act in truth, there shall be regard for your works. Of your substance give alms, and do not turn your face away from any poor man; so it shall come to pass that the face of God shall not be turned away from you. As you have, my son, so do: if you have abundant substance, give the more alms from it; if you have little, share even out of that little. And do not be afraid when you give alms; you lay up for yourself a good reward against the day of need;

for alms delivers from death, and does not suffer one to go into darkness. Alms is a good gift for all who give it before the Most High God. Likewise in the Wisdom of Solomon: He who has mercy on the poor lends to God. Likewise there: He who gives to the poor shall not lack; but he who turns away his eye shall be in great want. Likewise there: By alms and faith sins are purged away. Likewise there: If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for in doing this you will heap coals of fire upon his head. Likewise there: As water extinguishes fire, so alms extinguishes sin. Likewise in Proverbs: Go and return, tomorrow I will give, when you can do good at once. For you do not know what the next day may bring.

Likewise there: He who stops his ear so as not to hear the weak, he too shall call upon God, and there shall be none to hear him. Likewise there: He who lives without blame in righteousness shall leave behind blessed children. Likewise in Ecclesiasticus: My son, if you have, do well to yourself, and you shall offer to God worthy oblations; remember that death does not tarry. Likewise there: Shut up alms in the heart of the poor, and it shall entreat for you against all evil. Likewise in Psalm 36, that mercy profits also one's posterity: I have been young and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed seeking bread. All day long he has mercy and lends, and his seed shall be in blessing. Likewise in Psalm 40:

Blessed is he who understands concerning the needy and the poor; in the evil day the Lord will deliver him. Likewise in Psalm 111: He has scattered abroad, he has given to the poor; his righteousness abides for ever and ever. Likewise in Hosea: I desire mercy rather than sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than whole burnt offerings. Likewise in the Gospel according to Matthew: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. Likewise there: Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Likewise there: Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not dig through. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Likewise there:

The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking good pearls; and when he has found a precious pearl, he goes and sells all that he had and buys it. That even a small work profits. Likewise there: And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, amen I say to you, he shall not lose his reward. That alms is to be denied to no one. Likewise there: Give to everyone that asks you, and from him who would borrow do not turn away. Likewise there: If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments. He says: Which? Jesus says to him: You shall not kill, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not bear false witness, honour your father and mother, and you shall love your neighbour as yourself. The young man says to him: All these I have kept.

What do I still lack? Jesus says to him: If you wish to be perfect, go and sell your goods and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me. Likewise there: When the Son of Man shall come in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he shall sit upon the throne of his glory, and before him shall be gathered all the nations; and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say to those who are on his right hand: Come, you blessed of my Father, receive the kingdom which has been prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

for I was hungry, and you gave me to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in; naked, and you clothed me; I was sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying: Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and take you in, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison, and come to you? And the King answering shall say to them: Amen I say to you, as long as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me. Then shall he say to those on the left hand: Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire which my Father has prepared for the devil and his angels.

For I was hungry, and you did not give me to eat; I was thirsty, and you did not give me drink; I was a stranger, and you did not take me in; I was naked, and you did not clothe me; sick and in prison, and you did not come to me. Then shall they also answer, saying: Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to you? And he shall answer them: Amen I say to you, as long as you did not do it to one of these least, neither did you do it to me. And these shall go into eternal burning, but the righteous into life eternal. Likewise in the Gospel according to Luke: Sell what you possess and give alms. Likewise there: He who has done what is within has done also what is without.