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An Address to Demetrianus

Cyprian of Carthage

Section 11

About this work

Author: Cyprian of Carthage

11. So great a terror of destruction cannot give the teaching

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of

innocency

;

and

in

the

midst

of

a

people

dying

with

constant

havoc

,

nobody

considers

that

he

himself

is

mortal

.

Everywhere

there

is

scattering

,

there

is

seizure

,

there

is

taking

possession

;

no

dissimulation

about

spoiling

,

and

no

delay

.

As

if

it

were

all

lawful

,

as

if

it

were

all

becoming

,

as

if

he

who

does

not

rob

were

suffering

loss

and

wasting

his

own

property

,

thus

every

one

hastens

to

the

rapine

.

Among

thieves

there

is

at

any

rate

some

modesty

in

their

crimes

.

They

love

pathless

ravines

and

deserted

solitudes

;

and

they

do

wrong

in

such

a

way

,

that

still

the

crime

of

the

wrong

-

doers

is

veiled

by

darkness

and

night

.

Avarice

,

however

,

rages

openly

,

and

,

safe

by

its

very

boldness

,

exposes

the

weapons

of

its

headlong

craving

in

the

light

of

the

market

-

place

.

Thence

cheats

,

thence

poisoners

,

thence

assassins

in

the

midst

of

the

city

,

are

as

eager

for

wickedness

as

they

are

wicked

with

impunity

.

The

crime

is

committed

by

the

guilty

,

and

the

guiltless

who

can

avenge

it

is

not

found

.

There

is

no

fear

from

accuser

or

judge

:

the

wicked

obtain

impunity

,

while

modest

men

are

silent

;

accomplices

are

afraid

,

and

those

who

are

to

judge

are

for

sale

.

And

therefore

by

the

mouth

of

the

prophet

the

truth

of

the

matter

is

put

forth

with

the

divine

spirit

and

instinct

:

it

is

shown

in

a

certain

and

obvious

way

that

God

can

prevent

adverse

things

,

but

that

the

evil

deserts

of

sinners

prevent

His

bringing

aid

.

“

Is

the

Lord’s

hand

,

”

says

he

,

“

not

strong

to

save

you

;

or

has

He

made

heavy

His

ear

,

that

He

cannot

hear

you

?

But

your

sins

separate

between

you

and

God

;

and

because

of

your

sins

He

hath

hid

His

face

from

you

,

that

He

may

not

have

mercy

.

”

Therefore

let

your

sins

and

offences

be

reckoned

up

;

let

the

wounds

of

your

conscience

be

considered

;

and

let

each

one

cease

complaining

about

God

,

or

about

us

,

if

he

should

perceive

that

himself

deserves

what

he

suffers

.

Notes

21
Or, “no pretence.” Some add, “no fear.”
22
Isa. lix. 1.