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An Address to Demetrianus

Cyprian of Carthage

Section 14

About this work

Author: Cyprian of Carthage

14. Why do you turn your attention to the weakness of

‹ Section 13 Section 15 ›

our

body

?

why

do

you

strive

with

the

feebleness

of

this

earthly

flesh

?

Contend

rather

with

the

strength

of

the

mind

,

break

down

the

power

of

the

soul

,

destroy

our

faith

,

conquer

if

you

can

by

discussion

,

overcome

by

reason

;

or

,

if

your

gods

have

any

deity

and

power

,

let

them

themselves

rise

to

their

own

vindication

,

let

them

defend

themselves

by

their

own

majesty

.

But

what

can

they

advantage

their

worshippers

,

if

they

cannot

avenge

themselves

on

those

who

worship

them

not

?

For

if

he

who

avenges

is

of

more

account

than

he

who

is

avenged

,

then

you

are

greater

than

your

gods

.

And

if

you

are

greater

than

those

whom

you

worship

,

you

ought

not

to

worship

them

,

but

rather

to

be

worshipped

and

feared

by

them

as

their

lord

.

Your

championship

defends

them

when

injured

,

just

as

your

protection

guards

them

when

shut

up

from

perishing

.

You

should

be

ashamed

to

worship

those

whom

you

yourself

defend

;

you

should

be

ashamed

to

hope

for

protection

from

those

whom

you

yourself

protect

.