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On the Lapsed

Cyprian of Carthage

Section 34

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

34. Flee from such men as much as you can

‹ Section 33 Section 35 ›

;

avoid

with

a

wholesome

caution

those

who

adhere

to

their

mischievous

contact

.

Their

word

doth

eat

as

doth

a

cancer

;

their

conversation

advances

like

a

contagion

;

their

noxious

and

envenomed

persuasion

kills

worse

than

persecution

itself

.

In

such

a

case

there

remains

only

penitence

which

can

make

atonement

.

But

they

who

take

away

repentance

for

a

crime

,

close

the

way

of

atonement

.

Thus

it

happens

that

,

while

by

the

rashness

of

some

a

false

safety

is

either

promised

or

trusted

,

the

hope

of

true

safety

is

taken

away

.

Notes

85
[2 Tim. ii. 17.]