Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

The

the highest praise—and his pastoral exhortations, where they were received, left effects of unadulterated piety, through the divine influence that attended ther calamity of the Plague gave him an opportunity of impressing on the minds of his people what in truth had been the ruling object of his own life since his conversion, namely a warm and active regard for the blessings of immortality, joined with a holy indifference for things below. In his letter to Demetrian, he preaches justification, by faith only, with an affectionate spirit and great clearness of doctrine, he appeals to the conscience as affording full proof of guilt before God, and exhibits, in lively colours, the all-important scenes of the last judgment. A truly regenerated person will not only relish his compositions, but also will not fail to be affected with a generous glow of the purest godliness upon reading them with care and

attention.

“As a Christian Bishop scarcely any age has seen his superior—in activity, disinterestedness, and steady attention to discipline. He was equally remote from the extremes of negligent remissness, and impracticable severity; and he possessed a charity and a patience unwearied, and ever consistent. He may safely be recommended as a model to all pastors, and particularly to those of rank and dignity throughout Christendom. Whoever feels a desire to serve God in the most arduous and the most important of all professions, may profitably,-next after the study of the sacred oracles, give days and nights to Cyprian's writings."

CONTENTS OF THE SECTIONS.

EPISTLE TO THE CHURCH OF CARTHAGE.

[blocks in formation]

LETTER TO DEMETRIAN.

SECTION.

PAGE.

8. That national judgments should lead to repentance towards God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ ....

9. That we can give our enemies no better proof of our charity, than by exhorting them to repentance

.....

10. That after this life there will be no room for repentance

44

46

47

ON THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH.

1. That with christian simplicity, prudence and obedience should be joined 52 2. That Christians should be aware of the devices of Satan.....

3. That heresies owe their rise to an ignorance of the Scripture

4. He makes a shipwreck of the faith who departs from the unity of the true Church of Christ......

5. Out of the Church of Christ there is no salvation

6. That the coat of Christ was not to be rent nor divided.

7. Much less his body, the Church................

8. That heresy discovers the secret naughtiness of a cankered heart, and approves the constancy and truth of a good Christian....

9. A description given of heretics

10. That the promise, made by Christ, of vouchsafing his presence to a few, was made to them upon the supposition of their being gathered together, not separated from each other

248 5868 88

65

11. That martyrdom itself cannot atone for the guilt of schism .... 12. That he is a Christian in name only who does not improve and cultivate brotherly love

68

70

13. It was foretold by the apostles that schisms were to arise in the church 72 14. That the invaders of the priesthood have had always the vengeance of God attending them

....

74

15. That it is no wonder if confessors themselves be sometimes betrayed

into sin

....

75

16. That the fall of some confessors does not lessen the glory of the rest.. 78 17. That all intercourse with schismatics is to be avoided.. 18. That the state of the Church is at this time declining

79

81

ON THE LORD'S PRAYER.

1. The praises of gospel precepts

[blocks in formation]

2. That the Father will hear those who ask in his Son's name. 3. That he who prays should do it with reverence and godly fear 4. That Christians should use a prayer in common, which should suit the occasions and wants of others, as well as their own in particular.. 89 5. That prayer begins most auspiciously with the acknowledgment of God as our Father

91

SECTION.

PAGE.

6. Upon the first petition, that the name of God may be hallowed...... 93 7. That his kingdom may come

[ocr errors]

8. That his will may be done in earth as it is in heaven

9. In what the will of God consists

95

96

97

......

98

...100

..101

..104

10. That it must be performed both with our bodies and our souls 11. That in the petition, “Give us this day our daily bread," the mystical bread of the holy eucharist may be alluded to..........

12. That our daily food is likewise comprised in this petition .3. That God would forgive us our debts...

14. That our pardon from God is suspended upon the condition of our granting it to our brethren...

15 We farther desire, not to be led into temptation

.....105 ..108

16. Finally we ask of God that he would deliver us from evil .......110 17. That our Lord hath taught us to pray as well by example as by precept 111 18. That attention of mind is necessary in prayer. 19. That alms are to be joined with prayer..

20. The solemn hours of prayer..

.112

.113 .115

ON THE DUTY OF CHRISTIAN PATIENCE.

4. That our Lord exemplified in practice the patience which he recommended by precept ....

1. That there can be no true wisdom without patience.... 2. That the virtue of patience is common to us with God 3. That the precepts of the gospel do, in a very particular manner, recommend patience

..118 .120

.123

.124

5. That the patriarchs and prophets all have trod the same path of patience 127 6. The advantage of patience illustrated from our being born to labour and trouble

.129

7. That Christians, who wage a perpetual war against the devil, have a peculiar occasion for this virtue..

8. That the christian religion requires our faith and hope, which must have patience to support them

..130

.131

9. That patience not only confers upon us many great advantages, but secures us from many evils......

.132

10. That all virtues are preserved and do subsist by patience 11. That all good men have been tried by this test...

.134

.136

12. The advantages of patience appear upon the comparison with its contrary fault....

.137

13. That impatience produces heretics in the church

..138

14. That patience is a very comprehensive virtue

..139

15. That the consideration of a future judgment is a great persuasive to

this duty

..140

16. That he who is so much in haste to take vengeance, should consider that God is not himself avenged

144

« AnteriorContinuar »