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On the Lapsed

Cyprian of Carthage

Section 31

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

31. Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, the illustrious

‹ Section 30 Section 32 ›

and

noble

youths

,

even

amid

the

flames

and

the

ardours

of

a

raging

furnace

,

did

not

desist

from

making

public

confession

to

God

.

Although

possessed

of

a

good

conscience

,

and

having

often

deserved

well

of

the

Lord

by

obedience

of

faith

and

fear

,

yet

they

did

not

cease

from

maintaining

their

humility

,

and

from

making

atonement

to

the

Lord

,

even

amid

the

glorious

martyrdoms

of

their

virtues

.

The

sacred

Scripture

speaks

,

saying

,

“

Azarias

stood

up

and

prayed

,

and

,

opening

his

mouth

,

made

confession

before

God

together

with

his

companions

in

the

midst

of

the

fire

.

”

Daniel

also

,

after

the

manifold

grace

of

his

faith

and

innocency

,

after

the

condescension

of

the

Lord

often

repeated

in

respect

of

his

virtues

and

praises

,

strives

by

fastings

still

further

to

deserve

well

of

God

,

wraps

himself

in

sackcloth

and

ashes

,

sorrowfully

making

confession

,

and

saying

,

“

O

Lord

God

,

great

,

and

strong

,

and

dreadful

,

keeping

Thy

covenant

and

mercy

for

them

that

love

Thee

and

keep

Thy

commandments

,

we

have

sinned

,

we

have

committed

iniquity

,

and

have

done

wickedly

:

we

have

transgressed

,

and

departed

from

Thy

precepts

,

and

from

Thy

judgments

;

neither

have

we

hearkened

to

the

words

of

Thy

servants

the

prophets

,

which

they

spake

in

Thy

name

to

our

kings

,

and

to

all

the

nations

,

and

to

all

the

earth

.

O

Lord

,

righteousness

belongs

unto

Thee

,

but

unto

us

confusion

.

”

Notes

79
Song of the Three Children.
80
Some add, “to Thee, glory.”
81
Dan. ix. 4.