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On the Advantage of Patience

Cyprian of Carthage

Section 7

About this work

Author: Cyprian of Carthage

7. And moreover, in His very passion and cross,

‹ Section 6 Section 8 ›

before

they

had

reached

the

cruelty

of

death

and

the

effusion

of

blood

,

what

infamies

of

reproach

were

patiently

heard

,

what

mockings

of

contumely

were

suffered

,

so

that

He

received

the

spittings

of

insulters

,

who

with

His

spittle

had

a

little

before

made

eyes

for

a

blind

man

;

and

He

in

whose

name

the

devil

and

his

angels

is

now

scourged

by

His

servants

,

Himself

suffered

scourgings

!

He

was

crowned

with

thorns

,

who

crowns

martyrs

with

eternal

flowers

.

He

was

smitten

on

the

face

with

palms

,

who

gives

the

true

palms

to

those

who

overcome

.

He

was

despoiled

of

His

earthly

garment

,

who

clothes

others

in

the

vesture

of

immortality

.

He

was

fed

with

gall

,

who

gave

heavenly

food

.

He

was

given

to

drink

of

vinegar

,

who

appointed

the

cup

of

salvation

.

That

guiltless

,

that

just

One

,

—

nay

,

He

who

is

innocency

itself

and

justice

itself

,

—

is

counted

among

transgressors

,

and

truth

is

oppressed

with

false

witnesses

.

He

who

shall

judge

is

judged

;

and

the

Word

of

God

is

led

silently

to

the

slaughter

.

And

when

at

the

cross

,

of

the

Lord

the

stars

are

confounded

,

the

elements

are

disturbed

,

the

earth

quakes

,

night

shuts

out

the

day

,

the

sun

,

that

he

may

not

be

compelled

to

look

on

the

crime

of

the

Jews

,

withdraws

both

his

rays

and

his

eyes

,

He

speaks

not

,

nor

is

moved

,

nor

declares

His

majesty

even

in

His

very

passion

itself

.

Even

to

the

end

,

all

things

are

borne

perseveringly

and

constantly

,

in

order

that

in

Christ

a

full

and

perfect

patience

may

be

consummated

.

Notes

16
Erasmus adds, “with patience.”
17
[This sublime passage recalls Bacon’s Paradoxes. See p. 237, note 3, supra.]