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in them lan times, either an uncertain fatin is Wavering, ora fear of God Without religion is vacillating, or a peace te concord does not continue. Theso things have been foretoidas about in happen in the end of the world; and it Was pr
dicted by the voice of tho Lord, and by the testimony of the aposties, that noW that the worid is salling, and the Antichristis doming near, eve ining good shali fait, but evil and adversa things Ahali prosper. 8. Yet although, in theso last times, evangelic Vimur has not so fassed in the church of God, nor tho strengin os Chri tian virtve or faith so languished, that there is not leti a portion of the priesis Which in no respect oves Way under these ruina of things and wrechs of faith; but, bold and Mediast, they maintain the honour of the divine majesty and the pri sy dignitri With fuit observanco os fear. We rememberand keep in vie that, although others succumbed and yielded, Matiathias boldly vindicated God's laW; that Elias, when the Jem gave Way and departed from the divino religion, sinod and nobου contended ; that Daniel, doterred netther by tho lonelinem os a foroign country nor by tho harassment of continuat persecution, frequently and gloriousty suffered martyrdoms; also that the three youilis, subdued netther by their tonder arsy nor is threais, stood up faithiully against the Babylonian sires, and conquered the victor hing even in their very captivity itself. Let the number eister of prevaricatore oros imitora see to it, Who have noW bemn to rise in the churchagainst tho church, and to corrupi as meli tho faith as thotruth. Among very many there stili remains a sincero mind
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242THE EPISTLES OF CYPRIAN. What esse ought we, the servanis, and especialty the primis, os God, to do, than forsahe human errore and lies, and continuo in tho truth of God, heeping the Loraes precepta l9. Wherefore, although there have been found some among our colleagues, dearest brethren, Who thinh that tho godUdiscipline may be neglected, and who rashly hold communionwith Basilides and Martialis, such a thing as this ought notio troubio our faith, sinco the Holy Spirit threatens such in the Psalms, saying, But thou hatest instruction, and
they, says he, Who do such things are Worthy of death, homahes manifest and proves that not only they are mortis of death, and come into punishment who do evit things, but
While they are mingled in unlawsul communion with tho oviland Sinners, and the unrepenting, are polluted by the contactos the guilly, and being joined in the fauit, are thus notseparated in iis penalty. For Whicli remon me not onlyapprove, but applaud, dearly beloved brethren, the religious solicitude of your integrity and salth, and exhort you asmuch as We can by our letters, not to mingle in sacrilegious communion With profane and polluted priesta, but maintain the found and sincere constancy of your faith with religio fear. I bid you, dearest brethren, ever heartily fare ell.
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TO FLORENTIUS PUPIANUS, ON CALUMNIATORS. AROUΜΕΝT.-Cyprian elears himsel in the eyes of Florentius Pupianus from various crimes of which he is aeeused by him; and argues the lighineas of his mis' in that he has so hastily trusted calumniatora. From his suing, moreover, that he has nors diseharged his episcopal ossee for 8is years, it is plainly evident that he is Uriting this letter under Pope Sephen. 1. Cyprian, Who is also called Thracius, y lo Florentius, Whois also Pupianus, his brother, greeting. I had belleved, brother, that Fou Were noW at lennii turned to repeti anco sor having either rashly heard or belloved in timo past
heon ine means of his conversion. . Mati. X. 29.
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stis, Who are not only approved by, but even glory in the judν ment and testimony os God i But with you the fabricationos hostile and malignant men has prevallia against the divino
decree, and against our conscience resting upon the strengin
Du mero stili in the church, and wero in communion with
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it came, litted you to the highest sublimity of martyrdom. But it depressed mo With tho burden os proscription, since itwas publicly declared, Ii any one holds or possesses any of
the propex oi Caecilius Cyprian, bishop of the Christiansso that even they Who did not belleve in God appotnting abishop, could stili belleve in the devit proscribing a bisti . Nor do I boast of theso things, but mith griei I bring them
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246 THE EPISTLES OF CF LAMChrist, Who says to the apostles, and thereis to ali chios
rulers, Who by vicarious ordination succeed to the apostles:
spiseth me, and Him that sent me. λ5. For from this havo arisen schisms and herestes, and stili ariso, in that the bishop who is one and rules over thechurch is contemned by the haughu presumption of some persons; and tho man, who is honoured by God's condescen
pride is this, What arrogance of soui, What inflation of mind, to cali prelates and priesis to one's oWn recognition, and
floch a pastor, nor the church a governor, nor Christ a representative, nor God a priesti Pupianus must como to thorescue, and givo judgment, and declare the decision os Godand Christ accepted, that so great a number of the faithfulwho have been summoned a V from the worldJ under myrule, may not appear to have departed Without hope of salvation and of peace; that the neW croWd of bellevera may notho considored to havo falled os attaining any grace of baptismand the Holy Spirit by my ministry; that the peace conferre lupon so many lapsed and penitent persons, and the communion Vouchsased by my examination, may not be abrogated by the authori of yοur judgment. Condescend for once, and deignto pronounce concerning us, and to estabiisti our episcopale by the authori of ycur recognition, that God and His Christmay thank you, in that by yοur means a representative andrulor has been restored as Wolt to their altar as to their people. 6. Bees have a hing, and catile a leader, and heep faith tohim. Robbera Obey their clites mitti an obsidiones fuit os humility. How much more simple and better than you arcthe bruto catile and dumb animais, and robbers, althoughbloody, and raging among sWords and weapons l The chios among them is achnoWledged and feared, whom no divine
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us, Were proscribed, or being taken mere cast into prison and mere in chains ; or Who, sent aWay into exile, have gone by an illustrious road to the Lord; or Who in some places, condemnod to doath, have received heavenly crowns hom tho
Mith the pollution os my lips, and havs tost the liope oleternal liso by tho contagion of my communion. Pupianus alone, found, inviolate, holy, modest, Who Mould not associate
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248THE EPISTLES OF CYPRIAM himselt with M, shali dweli Hono in paradiso and in thohingdom of heaven. 8. You have Writtin also, stat in my account the Auch has noW a portion of heraeis in a state os dispersion, although
rules prelates themselves, and rules the church is prelates;
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Dined eopies Moreover, mention is made of both letters in the Disile to Iubaianus, and in the one that follows
1. Cyprian, Liberalis, Caldonius, Junius, Primus, Caecialius, Polycarp, Nicomedes, Felix, Marrulius, Successus,
Lucianus, Honoratus, Fortunatus, Victor, Donatus, Lucius, Herculanus, Pomponius, Demetrius, Quintus, Saturninus, Januarius, Marcus, another Saturninus, another Donatus,
Rogatianus, Sedatus, Tertullus, Hortensianus, stili another Saturninus, Sattius, to their brethren Januarius, Saturninus, Μaximus, Victor, another Victor, Cassius, Proculus, Modianus, Cittinus, Gargilius, Eutycianus, another Gargilius,another Saturninus, Nemesianus, Nampulus, Antonianus, Rogatianus, Honoratus, greeting. When me Were together in councti, dearest brethren, We read your letter Which youW te to us concerning those Who seem to bo baptized by heretios and schismatics, ashing) Whether, When in cometo the catholic church, Which is one,' they ought in be bam tiged. on which matter, although you yourselves hold ther upon the truth and certainu of the catholic rute, Di since Fou limo thought that of our mutuat love We ought in bo