Opening the library…

Search the Bible

On the Unity of the Church

Cyprian of Carthage

Section 24

About this work

A pastoral argument for the visible unity of the church around its bishops, written amid schism and persecution and framed through biblical images of one people and one household.

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

24. The Holy Spirit warns us, and says

‹ Section 23 Section 25 ›

,

“

What

man

is

he

that

desireth

to

live

,

and

would

fain

see

good

days

?

Refrain

thy

tongue

from

evil

,

and

thy

lips

that

they

speak

no

guile

.

Eschew

evil

,

and

do

good

;

seek

peace

,

and

ensue

it

.

”

The

son

of

peace

ought

to

seek

peace

and

ensue

it

.

He

who

knows

and

loves

the

bond

of

charity

,

ought

to

refrain

his

tongue

from

the

evil

of

dissension

.

Among

His

divine

commands

and

salutary

teachings

,

the

Lord

,

when

He

was

now

very

near

to

His

passion

,

added

this

one

,

saying

,

“

Peace

I

leave

with

you

,

my

peace

I

give

unto

you

.

”

He

gave

this

to

us

as

an

heritage

;

He

promised

all

the

gifts

and

rewards

of

which

He

spoke

through

the

preservation

of

peace

.

If

we

are

fellow

-

heirs

with

Christ

,

let

us

abide

in

the

peace

of

Christ

;

if

we

are

sons

of

God

,

we

ought

to

be

peacemakers

.

“

Blessed

,

”

says

He

,

“

are

the

peacemakers

;

for

they

shall

be

called

the

sons

of

God

.

”

It

behoves

the

sons

of

God

to

be

peacemakers

,

gentle

in

heart

,

simple

in

speech

,

agreeing

in

affection

,

faithfully

linked

to

one

another

in

the

bonds

of

unanimity

.

Notes

65
Ps. xxxiv. 12, 13.
66
John xiv. 27.
67
Matt. v. 9.