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On the Dress of Virgins

Cyprian of Carthage

Section 11

About this work

Author: Cyprian of Carthage

11. You say that you are wealthy and rich, and

‹ Section 10 Section 12 ›

you

think

that

you

should

use

those

things

which

God

has

willed

you

to

possess

.

Use

them

,

certainly

,

but

for

the

things

of

salvation

;

use

them

,

but

for

good

purposes

;

use

them

,

but

for

those

things

which

God

has

commanded

,

and

which

the

Lord

has

set

forth

.

Let

the

poor

feel

that

you

are

wealthy

;

let

the

needy

feel

that

you

are

rich

.

Lend

your

estate

to

God

;

give

food

to

Christ

.

Move

Him

by

the

prayers

of

many

to

grant

you

to

carry

out

the

glory

of

virginity

,

and

to

succeed

in

coming

to

the

Lord’s

rewards

.

There

entrust

your

treasures

,

where

no

thief

digs

through

,

where

no

insidious

plunderer

breaks

in

.

Prepare

for

yourself

possessions

;

but

let

them

rather

be

heavenly

ones

,

where

neither

rust

wears

out

,

nor

hail

bruises

,

nor

sun

burns

,

nor

rain

spoils

your

fruits

constant

and

perennial

,

and

free

from

all

contact

of

worldly

injury

.

For

in

this

very

matter

you

are

sinning

against

God

,

if

you

think

that

riches

were

given

you

by

Him

for

this

purpose

,

to

enjoy

them

thoroughly

,

without

a

view

to

salvation

.

For

God

gave

man

also

a

voice

;

and

yet

love

-

songs

and

indecent

things

are

not

on

that

account

to

be

sung

.

And

God

willed

iron

to

be

for

the

culture

of

the

earth

,

but

not

on

that

account

must

murders

be

committed

.

Or

because

God

ordained

incense

,

and

wine

,

and

fire

,

are

we

thence

to

sacrifice

to

idols

?

Or

because

the

flocks

of

cattle

abound

in

your

fields

,

ought

you

to

immolate

victims

and

offerings

to

the

gods

?

Otherwise

a

large

estate

is

a

temptation

,

unless

the

wealth

minister

to

good

uses

;

so

that

every

man

,

in

proportion

to

his

wealth

,

ought

by

his

patrimony

rather

to

redeem

his

transgressions

than

to

increase

them

.

Notes

29
The meaning is,—gifts to the poor will induce them to pray for the virgin, and in answer to their prayers, God will grant her the glory of virginity. [Luke xvi. 9.]