On the Dress of Virgins
Cyprian of Carthage
On the Dress of Virgins.
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- Cyprian of Carthage
Treatise II.
On the Dress of Virgins.
Argument.—Cyprian Celebrates the Praises of
Opening the library…
Opening the library…
On the Dress of Virgins
Cyprian of Carthage
Treatise II.
Argument.—Cyprian Celebrates the Praises of
The deacon Pontius, in his life of Cyprian, in few words comprises the argument of the following treatise. “Who,” says he, “would restrain virgins into a fitting discipline of modesty, and a dress meet for holiness, as if with a bridle of the Lord’s lessons?”
After this he teaches from the Apostle, and from the third chapter of Isaiah also, that distinctions of dress and ornaments are more suited to prostitutes than to virgins; and he infers that, while so many things are offensive to God, more especially are the sumptuous ornaments of women; and therefore making a transition from superfluous ornament to the different kinds of dyes and paints, he forbids such things, not only to virgins, but absolutely also to married women, who assuredly cannot with impunity strive to improve, to transfigure, and to adulterate God’s work.
[Written, a.d. 248. Compare Tertullian, vol. iv. p. 14.]