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On the Lapsed

Cyprian of Carthage

Section 1

About this work

Cyprian addresses Christians who sacrificed or obtained certificates during persecution, balancing rebuke, repentance, pastoral restoration, the claims of confessors, and the discipline of the church.

Author: Cyprian of Carthage
Date: c. AD 251
Origin: Carthage, North Africa
Genre: Theological Treatise

1. Behold, beloved brethren, peace is restored to

‹ On the Lapsed.Section 2 ›

the

Church

;

and

although

it

lately

seemed

to

incredulous

people

difficult

,

and

to

traitors

impossible

,

our

security

is

by

divine

aid

and

retribution

re

-

established

.

Our

minds

return

to

gladness

;

and

the

season

of

affliction

and

the

cloud

being

dispersed

,

tranquillity

and

serenity

have

shone

forth

once

more

.

Praises

must

be

given

to

God

,

and

His

benefits

and

gifts

must

be

celebrated

with

giving

of

thanks

,

although

even

in

the

time

of

persecution

our

voice

has

not

ceased

to

give

thanks

.

For

not

even

an

enemy

has

so

much

power

as

to

prevent

us

,

who

love

the

Lord

with

our

whole

heart

,

and

life

,

and

strength

,

from

declaring

His

blessings

and

praises

always

and

everywhere

with

glory

.

The

day

earnestly

desired

,

by

the

prayers

of

all

has

come

;

and

after

the

dreadful

and

loathsome

darkness

of

a

long

night

,

the

world

has

shone

forth

irradiated

by

the

light

of

the

Lord

.