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Cyprian
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Introductory Notice to Cyprian.
[3467] [John x. 18. See Pearson, Creed, art. v. p. 424.]
Treatise VII. On the Mortality.
[3468] Eusebius in his Chronicon makes mention of the occasion on which Cyprian wrote this treatise, saying, “A pestilent disease took possession of many provinces of the whole world, and especially Alexandria and Egypt; as Dionysius writes, and the treatise of Cyprian ‘concerning the Mortality’ bears witness.” a.d. 252.
[3469] He says: “By whom were Christians,—grieved with excessive fondness at the loss of their friends, or what is of more consequence, with their decrease of faith,—comforted with the hope of things to come?” [See p. 269, supra.]
[3470] Then to the tacit objection that by this mortality they would be deprived of martyrdom, he replies that martyrdom is not in our power, and that even the spirit that is ready for martyrdom is crowned by God the judge. Finally, he tells them that the dead must not be bewailed in such a matter as that we should become a stumbling-block to the Gentiles, as if we were without the hope of a resurrection. But if also the day of our summons should come, we must depart hence with a glad mind to the Lord, especially since we are departing to our country, where the large number of those dear to us are waiting for us: a dense and abundant multitude are longing for us, who, being already secure of their own immortality, are still solicitous about our salvation.
[3471] Some read “breathes.”
[3473] Or, “security.”
[3474] Some add, “for ever.”
[3475] [To live by faith = to be just, through Christ the object of faith. The Fathers always accept “justification by faith.” See Faber’s Primitive Doctrine of Justification; and compare Bull, Harmonia Apostolica.]
[3477] Baluzius interpolates here, without authority, “true.”
[3480] Or, “Master and Teacher.”
[3483] [The Christian is not exempted from the common lot of humanity; but all men, if they would live godly, would escape many evils (1 Tim. vi. 6), even in the light of 2 Tim. iii. 12.]
[3484] A few codices read, for “the Spirit,” “Christ.”
[3485] Ecclesiasticus 2.1,4.
[3486] Ecclesiasticus 2.5.
[3487] Job i. 21. [“The Christian’s sorrow,” says Bishop Horne, “is better than the world’s joy.” John xvi. 33.]
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