The Epistles of Cyprian 56
56.0 To Cornelius in Exile, Concerning His Confession PL 4, 349
56.1 To Cornelius in Exile, Concerning His Confession PL 4, 349
1. Cyprian to Cornelius his brother, greeting. We have been made acquainted, dearest brother, with the glorious testimonies of your faith and courage, and have received with such exultation the honour of your confession, that we count ourselves also sharers and companions in your merits and praises. For as we have one Church, a mind united, and a concord undivided, what priest does not congratulate himself on the praises of his fellow-priest as if on his own; or what brotherhood would not rejoice in the joy of its brethren? It cannot be sufficiently declared how great was the exultation and how great the joy here, when we had heard of your success and bravery, that you had stood forth as a leader of confession to the brethren there; and, moreover, that the confession of the leader had increased by the consent of the brethren; so that, while you precede them to glory, you have made many your companions in glory, and have persuaded the people to become a confessor by being first prepared to confess on behalf of all; so that we are at a loss what we ought first of all to commend in you, whether your prompt and decided faith, or the inseparable love of the brethren. Among you the courage of the bishop going before has been publicly proved, and the unitedness of the brotherhood following has been shown. As with you there is one mind and one voice, the whole Roman Church has confessed.
Cyprianus plebi Thibari consistenti salutem. Cogitaveram quidem, fratres dilectissimi, atque in votis habebam, si rerum ratio ac temporis conditio permitteret, secundum quod frequenter desiderastis, ipse ad vos venire, et quantulacumque mediocritate exhortationis nostrae praesens illic fraternitatem corroborare. Sed, quoniam sic rebus urgentibus detinemur ut longe istinc excurrere et diu a plebe cui de divina indulgentia praesumus abesse non datur facultas, has interim pro me ad vos vicarias litteras misi. Nam, cum Domini instruentis dignatione instigemur saepius et admoneamur, ad vestram quoque conscientiam admonitionis nostrae sollicitudinem perferre debemus. Scire enim debetis et pro certo credere ac tenere pressurae diem super caput esse coepisse et occasum saeculi atque antichristi tempus appropinquasse, ut parati omnes ad praelium stemus, nec quicquam nisi gloriam vitae aeternae et coronam confessionis Dominicae cogitemus. Nec putemus talia esse quae veniunt qualia fuerunt illa quae transierunt: gravior nunc et ferocior pugna imminet, ad quam fide incorrupta et virtute robusta parare se debeant milites Christi, considerantes idcirco se quotidie calicem sanguinis Christi bibere, ut possint et ipsi propter Christum sanguinem fundere. Hoc est enim velle cum Christo inveniri, id quod Christus et docuit et fecit imitari, secundum Joannem apostolum dicentem: Qui dicit se in Christo manere, debet quomodo ille ambulavit et ipse ambulare . Item beatus Paulus apostolus exhortatur et docet dicens: Sumus filii. Si autem filii Dei, et haeredes Dei, cohoeredes autem Christi, siquidem compatiamur, ut et commagnificemur .
56.2 PL 4, 350
2. The faith, dearest brethren, which the blessed apostle commended in you has shone brightly. He even then in the spirit foresaw this praise of courage and firmness of strength; and, attesting your merits by the commendation of your future doings, in praising the parents he provokes the children. While you are thus unanimous, while you are thus brave, you have given great examples both of unanimity and of bravery to the rest of the brethren. You have taught them deeply to fear God, firmly to cling to Christ; that the people should be associated with the priests in peril; that the brethren should not be separated from brethren in persecution; that a concord, once established, can by no means be overcome; that whatsoever is at the same time sought for by all, the God of peace will grant to the peaceful. The adversary had leapt forth to disturb the camp of Christ with violent terror; but, with the same impetuosity with which he had come, he was beaten back and conquered; and as much fear and terror as he had brought, so much bravery and strength he also found. He had thought that he could again overthrow the servants of God, and agitate them in his accustomed manner, as if they were novices and inexperienced—as if little prepared and little cautious. He attacked one first, as a wolf had tried to separate the sheep from the flock, as a hawk to separate the dove from the flying troop; for he who has not sufficient strength against all, seeks to gain advantage from the solitude of individuals. But when beaten back as well by the faith as by the vigour of the combined army, he perceived that the soldiers of Christ are now watching, and stand sober and armed for the battle; that they cannot be conquered, but that they can die; and that by this very fact they are invincible, that they do not fear death; that they do not in turn assail their assailants, since it is not lawful for the innocent even to kill the guilty; but that they readily deliver up both their lives and their blood; that since such malice and cruelty rages in the world, they may the more quickly withdraw from the evil and cruel. What a glorious spectacle was that under the eyes of God! what a joy of His Church in the sight of Christ, that not single soldiers, but the whole camp, at once went forth to the battle which the enemy had tried to begin! For it is plain that all would have come if they could have heard, since whoever heard ran hastily and came. How many lapsed were there restored by a glorious confession! They bravely stood, and by the very suffering of repentance were made braver for the battle, that it might appear that lately they had been taken at unawares, and had trembled at the fear of a new and unaccustomed thing, but that they had afterwards returned to themselves; that true faith and their strength, gathered from the fear of God, had constantly and firmly strengthened them to all endurance; and that now they do not stand for pardon of their crime, but for the crown of their suffering.
Quae nunc omnia consideranda sunt nobis, ut nemo quicquam de saeculo jam moriente desideret, sed sequatur Christum, qui et vivit in aeternum, et vivificat servos suos in fide sui nominis constitutos. Venit enim tempus, fratres dilectissimi, quod jampridem Dominus noster praenuntiavit et docuit advenire dicens: Veniet hora ut omnis qui vos occiderit putet se officium Deo facere. Sed haec facient, quoniam non cognoverunt Patrem, neque me. Haec autem locutus sum vobis, ut cum venerit hora eorum, memores sitis quia ego dixi vobis . Nec quisquam miretur persecutionibus nos assiduis fatigari et pressuris angentibus frequenter urgeri, quando haec futura in novissimis temporibus Dominus ante praedixerit, et militiam nostram magisterio et hortamento sui sermonis instruxerit, Petrus quoque apostolus ejus docuerit ideo persecutiones fieri ut probemur, et ut dilectioni Dei, justorum praecedentium exemplo, nos etiam morte et passionibus copulemur. Posuit enim in Epistola sua dicens: Charissimi, nolite mirari ardorem accidentem vobis, qui ad tentationem vestram fit, nec excidatis tamquam novum aliquid vobis contingat; sed quotiescumque communicatis Christi passionibus, per omnia gaudete, ut et in revelatione facta claritatis ejus gaudentes exultetis. Si improperatur vobis in nomine Christi, beati estis, quia majestatis et virtutis Domini nomen in vobis requiescit, quod quidem secundum illos 91 blasphematur, secundum nos autem honoratur . Docuerunt autem nos Apostoli ea quae de praeceptis Dominicis et coelestibus mandatis ipsi quoque didicerunt, Domino ipso scilicet corroborante nos et dicente: Nemo est qui relinquat domum, aut agrum, aut parentes, aut fratres, aut sorores, aut uxorem, aut filios propter regnum Dei, et non recipiat septies tantum in isto tempore, in saeculo autem venturo vitam aeternam . Et iterum: Beati, inquit, eritis cum odio vos habuerint homines, et separaverint vos, et expulerint, et maledixerint nomini vestro quasi nequam propter Filium hominis. Gaudete in illa die et exultate: ecce enim merces vestra multa est in coelis .
56.3 PL 4, 351
3. What does Novatian say to these things, dearest brother? Does he yet lay aside his error? Or, indeed, as is the custom of foolish men, is he more driven to fury by our very benefits and prosperity; and in proportion as the glory of love and faith grows here more and more, does the madness of dissension and envy break out anew there? Does the wretched man not cure his own wound, but wound both himself and his friends still more severely, clamouring with his tongue to the ruin of the brethren, and hurling darts of poisonous eloquence, more severe in accordance with the wickedness of a secular philosophy than peaceable with the gentleness of the Lord’s wisdom,—a deserter of the Church, a foe to mercy, a destroyer of repentance, a teacher of arrogance, a corrupter of truth, a murderer of love? Does he now acknowledge who is the priest of God; which is the Church and the house of Christ; who are God’s servants, whom the devil molests; who the Christians, whom Antichrist attacks? For neither does he seek those whom he has already subdued, nor does he take the trouble to overthrow those whom he has already made his own. The foe and enemy of the Church despises and passes by those whom he has alienated from the Church, and led without as captives and conquered; he goes on to harass those in whom he sees Christ dwell.
Gaudere nos et exultare voluit in persecutionibus Dominus, quia, quando persecutiones fiunt, tunc dantur coronae fidei, tunc probantur milites Dei, tunc martyribus patent coeli. Neque enim sic nomen militiae dedimus ut pacem tantummodo cogitare, et detrectare et recusare militiam debeamus, quando in ipsa militia primus ambulaverit Dominus humilitatis et tolerantiae et passionis magister, ut quod fieri docuit prior faceret, et quod pati hortatur, prior pro nobis ipse pateretur. Sit ante oculos vestros, fratres dilectissimi, quod qui omne judicium a Patre solus accepit et qui venturus est judicaturus, jam judicii sui et cognitionis futurae sententiam protulerit, praenuntians et contestans confessurum se coram Patre suo confitentes et negaturum negantes. Si mortem possemus evadere, merito mori timeremus: porro autem, cum mortalem mori necesse sit, amplectamur occasionem de divina promissione et dignatione venientem, et fungamur exitu mortis cum praemio immortalitatis, nec vereamur occidi, quos constat quando occidimur coronari.
56.4 PL 4, 352
4. Even although any one of such should have been seized, there is no reason for his flattering himself, as if in the confession of the name; since it is manifest that, if people of this sort should be put to death outside the Church, it is no crown of faith, but is rather a punishment of treachery. Nor will those dwell in the house of God among those that are of one mind, whom we see to have withdrawn by the madness of discord from the peaceful and divine household.
Nec quisquam, fratres dilectissimi, cum populum nostrum fugari conspexerit metu persecutionis et spargi, conturbetur quod collectam fraternitatem non videat, nec tractantes episcopos audiat. Simul tunc omnes esse non possunt, quibus occidere non licet, sed occidi necesse est. Ubicumque in illis diebus unusquisque fratrum fuerit a grege interim necessitate temporis corpore non spiritu separatus, non moveatur ad fugae illius horrorem, nec recedens et latens deserti loci solitudine terreatur. Solus non est cui Christus in fuga comes est; solus non est qui, templum Dei servans, ubicumque fuerit sine Deo non est. Et si fugientem in solitudine ac montibus latro oppresserit, fera invaserit, fames aut sitis aut frigus afflixerit, vel per maria praecipiti navigatione properantem tempestas ac procella submerserit, spectat militem suum Christus ubicumque pugnantem, et persecutionis causa pro nominis sui honore morienti praemium reddit quod daturum se in resurrectione promisit. Nec minor est martyrii gloria non publice et inter multos perisse, cum pereundi causa sit propter Christum perire. Sufficit ad testimonium martyrii sui testis ille qui probat martyres et coronat.
56.5 PL 4, 353
5. We earnestly exhort as much as we can, dearest brother, for the sake of the mutual love by which we are joined one to another, that since we are instructed by the providence of the Lord, who warns us, and are admonished by the wholesome counsels of divine mercy, that the day of our contest and struggle is already approaching, we should not cease to be instant with all the people in fastings, in watchings, in prayers. Let us be urgent, with constant groanings and frequent prayers. For these are our heavenly arms, which make us to stand fast and bravely to persevere. These are the spiritual defences and divine weapons which defend us. Let us remember one another in concord and unanimity. Let us on both sides always pray for one another. Let us relieve burdens and afflictions by mutual love, that if any one of us, by the swiftness of divine condescension, shall go hence the first, our love may continue in the presence of the Lord, and our prayers for our brethren and sisters not cease in the presence of the Father’s mercy. I bid you, dearest brother, ever heartily farewell.
Imitemur, fratres dilectissimi, Abel justum, qui initiavit martyria dum propter justitiam primus occiditur. Imitemur Abraham Dei amicum, qui non est cunctatus ut filium victimam suis manibus offerret, dum Deo fide devotionis obsequitur. Imitemur tres pueros, Ananiam, Azariam et Misahelem, qui, nec aetate territi, nec captivitate fracti, Judaea devicta et Hierosolymis captis, in ipso regno suo regem fidei virtute vicerunt; qui, adorare statuam quam Nabuchodonosor rex fecerat jussi, et minis regis et flammis fortiores extiterunt, proclamantes et fidem suam per haec verba 92 testantes: Nabuchodonosor rex, non opus est nobis de hoc verbo respondere tibi. Est enim Deus, cui nos servimus, potens eripere nos de camino ignis ardentis, et de manibus tuis, rex, liberabit nos. Et si non, notum sit tibi quia diis tuis non servimus, et imaginem auream quam statuisti non adoramus . Credebant se illi secundum fidem posse evadere; sed addiderunt, et si non, ut sciret rex illos propter Deum quem colebant et mori posse. Hoc est enim robur virtutis et fidei credere et scire quod Deus a morte praesente liberare possit, et tamen mortem non timere nec cedere, ut probari fortius fides possit. Erupit per os eorum Spiritus sancti incorruptus et invictus vigor, ut appareant vera esse quae in Evangelio suo Dominus dixit: Cum autem vos apprehenderint, nolite cogitare quid loquamini; dabitur enim vobis in illa hora quid loquamini: non enim vos estis qui loquimini, sed Spiritus Patris vestri qui loquitur in vobis . Dixit quid loqui et respondere possimus dari nobis in illa hora divinitus et offerri, nec nos tunc esse qui loquimur, sed Spiritum Dei Patris, qui, cum a confitentibus non discedit neque dividitur, ipse in nobis et loquitur et coronatur. Sic et Daniel cum compelleretur adorare idolum Bel, quem tunc populus et rex colebat, in asserendum Dei sui honorem plena fide et libertate prorupit dicens: Nihil colo ego nisi Dominum Deum meum, qui condidit coelum et terram .