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On the Mortality

Cyprian of Carthage

Section 18

About this work

Written during epidemic, this pastoral work urges Christians not to fear death, interprets suffering through faith and hope, and calls the community to courage, charity, and readiness for God.

Author: Cyprian of Carthage
Date: c. AD 252
Origin: Carthage, North Africa
Genre: Theological Treatise

18. We ought to remember that we should do not

‹ Section 17 Section 19 ›

our

own

will

,

but

God’s

,

in

accordance

with

what

our

Lord

has

bidden

us

daily

to

pray

.

How

preposterous

and

absurd

it

is

,

that

while

we

ask

that

the

will

of

God

should

be

done

,

yet

when

God

calls

and

summons

us

from

this

world

,

we

should

not

at

once

obey

the

command

of

His

will

!

We

struggle

and

resist

,

and

after

the

manner

of

froward

servants

we

are

dragged

to

the

presence

of

the

Lord

with

sadness

and

grief

,

departing

hence

under

the

bondage

of

necessity

,

not

with

the

obedience

of

free

will

;

and

we

wish

to

be

honoured

with

heavenly

rewards

by

Him

to

whom

we

come

unwillingly

.

Why

,

then

,

do

we

pray

and

ask

that

the

kingdom

of

heaven

may

come

,

if

the

captivity

of

earth

delights

us

?

Why

with

frequently

repeated

prayers

do

we

entreat

and

beg

that

the

day

of

His

kingdom

may

hasten

,

if

our

greater

desires

and

stronger

wishes

are

to

obey

the

devil

here

,

rather

than

to

reign

with

Christ

?