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Exhortation to Martyrdom

Cyprian of Carthage

Section 1

About this work

Author: Cyprian of Carthage

1. Therefore, in exhorting and preparing our brethren, and

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in

arming

them

with

firmness

of

virtue

and

faith

for

the

heralding

forth

of

the

confession

of

the

Lord

,

and

for

the

battle

of

persecution

and

suffering

,

we

must

declare

,

in

the

first

place

,

that

the

idols

which

man

makes

for

himself

are

not

gods

.

For

things

which

are

made

are

not

greater

than

their

maker

and

fashioner

;

nor

can

these

things

protect

and

preserve

anybody

,

which

themselves

perish

out

of

their

temples

,

unless

they

are

preserved

by

man

.

But

neither

are

those

elements

to

be

worshipped

which

serve

man

according

to

the

disposition

and

ordinance

of

God

.

Notes

1
The Oxford edition here adds, “in the place of gods.”