11.

nem,

vid. sup.

20 His death, resurrection, ascension, second coming.

TREAT. crucifixion and death. That they should do thus, Himself had foretold, and all the prophets had also given witness; that He must needs suffer, not merely in order to experience but to conquer death; and having suffered, should go back again into heaven, that He might manifest the power of the Divine majesty. The course of events fulfilled the promise. For on the Cross He of Himself yielded up the ghost, anticipating the office of the executioner, and of Himself on the third day He rose again from the dead. He appeared to His disciples such as He had been; He gave their eyes opportunity of recognizing Him; mingling with them, visible in the substance of the material body, He continued until forty days, that they might be instructed from Him in the lively precepts, and learn what they were to teach. Then into heaven He was Homi- raised, with a cloud around Him; that man which He loved, which He put on, which He covered from death, He note e. might with victory bring in before the Father: hereafter soon to return from heaven for the punishment of Satan and the judgment of the human race, in the might of an Avenger and the power of a Judge; whilst the disciples, spread over the world at the bidding of their Master and God, taught the precepts of God unto salvation, led men from the error of darkness unto the way of light, and gave eyes to the blind and ignorant, for the acknowledgment of the truth. And lest their testimony should fail in cogency, or the confession of Christ become an indulgence, they were tried by torments, by crucifixions, and many kinds of sufferings. Pain, which is the test of truth, is applied; that Christ the Son of God, who is believed in as given to mankind that they may live, might be declared not only in the heralding of the voice, but by the testimony of suffering. Him therefore we accompany; Him we follow ; Him have we for Guide of our journey, Source of light, Author of salvation: who promises both heaven and the Father, to them that seek and believe. What Christ is, shall we Christians be, if we become imitators of Christ.

TREATISE III.

ST. CYPRIAN'S TESTIMONIES AGAINST THE JEWS.

ADDRESSED TO QUIRINUS, IN THREE BOOKS.

[This collection of Testimonies, or, as we now speak, Texts, was made after its author was admitted into Holy Orders, as may be argued from his addressing Quirinus as his "son." From its nature it is impossible to say whether the whole was written by S. Cyprian; the matter contained in it admitting of indefinite increase, and there being no opportunity afforded for the internal evidence of style. It is quoted as Cyprian's by Augustine and Jerome, among others; the latter of whom refers to a passage in the third book, which exactly occurs in the existing work, according to the reference which he gives. The references in the notes which have been subjoined are in great measure from Bishop Fell's edition. Only the principal variations in the text of Scripture are noticed.]

PREFACE

TO THE FIRST TWO BOOKS.

Cyprian to my son Quirinus, greeting.

NEEDS was it, dearest son, that I should obey your spiritual wish, asking me with most earnest entreaty for those divine sanctions, wherewith the Lord hath been pleased to ground and instruct us, through the Holy Scriptures; to the end that, led out of the shadows of error, and enlightened by His pure and radiant light, we may hold the way of life through saving Sacraments. And indeed such as you applied for, so has my work been fashioned, a treatise gathered up within straitened limits; not distending what was written into too wide a space of matter, but as far as my poor memory permitted, collecting all the necessary points in extracted and continuous portions; so that I seem not so much to have entered into the subject, as to have furnished others with the materials of so doing. Brevity of this sort is greatly of benefit to the

III.

22

The Scriptures fountains of Divine fulness. TREAT. reader, whose understanding and perception, are carried astray by a long work, whereas his memory accurately retains what is read, where the more meaning is in less space. I have limited myself to two books, both of moderate length. The one, wherein we have endeavoured to shew, that the Jews, according as had before been prophesied, have departed from God, and lost that favour of the Lord, which was given them in the time past, and had been promised for the time to come; and prome- that Christians have succeeded into their place, earning of sentes. the Lord through faith, and coming out of all nations and from the whole world. The second book further contains the Sacrament of Christ; that He hath come, who was before declared by the Scriptures; and hath done and fulfilled those things by which it may be known and discerned, that it is He who was foretold. These things while you read them will meanwhile be profitable, in fixing the first outlines of your faith; more strength will be given you, the wisdom of the heart will be exercised more and more, as you more fully examine into the Scriptures Old and New, and peruse the entire extent of those spiritual books. As yet we have but drawn thus scantily from the divine fountains, for your present supply; you will be enabled to drink more largely, and be satisfied more bountifully, if with us you yourself approach to drink at those same fountains of divine fulness. Dearest son, it is my

wish that all health may ever attend you.

Heads of the first Book.

1. That the Jews have grievously fallen under God's displeasure, in departing from the Lord, and following idols. 2. Likewise in not believing the Prophets, and slaying them.

3. It was foretold that they would neither recognize, nor understand, nor accept the Lord.

4. That the Jews would not understand the Holy Scriptures, which yet were to be understood in the last times, after that Christ should have come.

5. That the Jews could have no understanding of the Scriptures, unless they first believed in Christ.

History of the rejection of the Jews and calling of the Gentiles. 23

6. That they would lose Jerusalem, and leave the land which had been given them.

7. That they would likewise lose the light of the Lord.

8. That the former carnal circumcision is made void, and a second spiritual one assigned.

9. That the former law given by Moses was to cease. 10. That a new law was to be given.

11. That another Dispensation and a new Testament was to be given.

12. That the old Baptism was to cease, and a new begin.

13. That the old yoke was to be made void, and a new yoke be given.

14. That the former shepherds should cease, and new ones begin.

15. That Christ was to be the House and Temple of God; and that the old Temple had ceased, and a new begun.

16. That the old sacrifice was to be made void, and a new sacrifice celebrated.

17. That the old Priesthood should cease, and a new Priest should come, who should be for ever.

18. That another Prophet was promised, like unto Moses; one, that is, who should give a new Testament, and whom rather it should be a duty to hear.

19. That two people were foretold, the elder and the younger, that is, the former one of the Jews, and that new one which should be of us.

20. That the Church, which had before been barren, should have more sons out of the Gentiles, than what the Synagogue before had had.

21. That the Gentiles rather should be believers in Christ. 22. That the Bread and Cup of Christ, and all His grace, the Jews would lose, and we receive; and that the new Name of Christians would receive a blessing in the earth.

23. That Gentiles, rather than Jews, attain unto the kingdom of heaven.

24. That hereby alone the Jews can receive pardon of their offences, if they wash off the blood of Christ slain, in His Baptism; and passing over into the Church, yield obedience to His commandments.

TREAT.

III.

Ex. 32,

1. not

Vulg.

31-33.

BOOK I.

1. That the Jews have grievously fallen under God's displeasure in departing from the Lord, and following idols.

if

In Exodus the people said unto Aaron, Up, make us gods which shall go before us; for us for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. Likewise in the same place Moses saith unto Ex. 32, the Lord, O Lord, I pray Thee, this people have sinned a great not V. sin, and have made them gods of gold and silver: yet now, Thou wilt forgive their sin, forgive; but if not, blot me out of the book which Thou hast written. And the Lord said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against Me, him will I blot out Deut. of My book. Likewise in Deuteronomy, They sacrificed unto 32, 17. devils, not to God. Likewise in the Book of Judges, And the Judg. 2, children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord God of their fathers, which brought them up out of the land of Egypt, and followed the gods of the people that were round about them, and provoked the Lord to anger; and forsook God, Judg. 4, and served Baal. Likewise in the same place, And the children of Israel added to do evil again in the sight of the Lord, and served Baal and the gods of the strangers, and forsook Mal. 2, the Lord, and served Him not. Likewise in Malachi, Judah V. is forsaken and an abomination hath been committed in

not V.

11-13.

1. not V.

11. not

Jer. 7,

25. 25,4. not V.

Israel, and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the Lord which He loved, and hath courted strange gods. The Lord will cut off the man that doeth this, and he shall be made base in the tabernacles of Jacob.

2. Likewise in not believing the Prophets, and slaying them.

In Jeremiah the Lord says, I sent unto you My servants the prophets, before the dawn I sent them, (and ye hearkened not unto Me, neither inclined your ear,) saying, Turn ye every one from his evil way, and his most wicked doings, and ye shall dwell in the land, which I have given to you and to your Jer. 25, fathers for ever and ever. Likewise in the same place, Go not after other gods, to serve them, neither worship them, and provoke Me not to anger by the works of your hands, to

6. 7.

not V.

a Judah is forsaken. derelictus est. has dealt treacherously. Engl. Trans. transgressus est. Vulg. iynatıλsípon. Sept.