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On the Advantage of Patience

Cyprian of Carthage

Section 17

About this work

Author: Cyprian of Carthage

17. And moreover, also, for the varied ills of

‹ Section 16 Section 18 ›

the

flesh

,

and

the

frequent

and

severe

torments

of

the

body

,

wherewith

the

human

race

is

daily

wearied

and

harassed

,

patience

is

necessary

.

For

since

in

that

first

transgression

of

the

commandment

strength

of

body

departed

with

immortality

,

and

weakness

came

on

with

death

—

and

strength

cannot

be

received

unless

when

immortality

also

has

been

received

—

it

behoves

us

,

in

this

bodily

frailty

and

weakness

,

always

to

struggle

and

to

fight

.

And

this

struggle

and

encounter

cannot

be

sustained

but

by

the

strength

of

patience

.

But

as

we

are

to

be

examined

and

searched

out

,

diverse

sufferings

are

introduced

;

and

a

manifold

kind

of

temptations

is

inflicted

by

the

losses

of

property

,

by

the

heats

of

fevers

,

by

the

torments

of

wounds

,

by

the

loss

of

those

dear

to

us

.

Nor

does

anything

distinguish

between

the

unrighteous

and

the

righteous

more

than

that

in

affliction

the

unrighteous

man

impatiently

complains

and

blasphemes

,

while

the

righteous

is

proved

by

his

patience

,

as

it

is

written

:

“

In

pain

endure

,

and

in

thy

low

estate

have

patience

;

for

gold

and

silver

are

tried

in

the

fire

.

”

Notes

41
Ecclus. ii. 4, 5.