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On Jealousy and Envy

Cyprian of Carthage

Section 12

About this work

Author: Cyprian of Carthage

12. We ought to remember by what name Christ calls His

‹ Section 11 Section 13 ›

people

,

by

what

title

He

names

His

flock

.

He

calls

them

sheep

,

that

their

Christian

innocence

may

be

like

that

of

sheep

;

He

calls

them

lambs

,

that

their

simplicity

of

mind

may

imitate

the

simple

nature

of

lambs

.

Why

does

the

wolf

lurk

under

the

garb

of

sheep

?

why

does

he

who

falsely

asserts

himself

to

be

a

Christian

,

dishonour

the

flock

of

Christ

?

To

put

on

the

name

of

Christ

,

and

not

to

go

in

the

way

of

Christ

,

what

else

is

it

but

a

mockery

of

the

divine

name

,

but

a

desertion

of

the

way

of

salvation

;

since

He

Himself

teaches

and

says

that

he

shall

come

unto

life

who

keeps

His

commandments

,

and

that

he

is

wise

who

hears

and

does

His

words

;

that

he

,

moreover

,

is

called

the

greatest

doctor

in

the

kingdom

of

heaven

who

thus

does

and

teaches

;

that

,

then

,

will

be

of

advantage

to

the

preacher

what

has

been

well

and

usefully

preached

,

if

what

is

uttered

by

his

mouth

is

fulfilled

by

deeds

following

?

But

what

did

the

Lord

more

frequently

instil

into

His

disciples

,

what

did

He

more

charge

to

be

guarded

and

observed

among

His

saving

counsels

and

heavenly

precepts

,

than

that

with

the

same

love

wherewith

He

Himself

loved

the

disciples

,

we

also

should

love

one

another

?

And

in

what

manner

does

he

keep

either

the

peace

or

the

love

of

the

Lord

,

who

,

when

jealousy

intrudes

,

can

neither

be

peaceable

nor

loving

?

Notes

28
[Matt. v. 19.]