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On the Unity of the Church

Cyprian of Carthage

Section 26

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

26. But in us unanimity is diminished in proportion

‹ Section 25 Section 27 ›

as

liberality

of

working

is

decayed

.

Then

they

used

to

give

for

sale

houses

and

estates

;

and

that

they

might

lay

up

for

themselves

treasures

in

heaven

,

presented

to

the

apostles

the

price

of

them

,

to

be

distributed

for

the

use

of

the

poor

.

But

now

we

do

not

even

give

the

tenths

from

our

patrimony

;

and

while

our

Lord

bids

us

sell

,

we

rather

buy

and

increase

our

store

.

Thus

has

the

vigour

of

faith

dwindled

away

among

us

;

thus

has

the

strength

of

believers

grown

weak

.

And

therefore

the

Lord

,

looking

to

our

days

,

says

in

His

Gospel

,

“

When

the

Son

of

man

cometh

,

think

you

that

He

shall

find

faith

on

the

earth

?

”

We

see

that

what

He

foretold

has

come

to

pass

.

There

is

no

faith

in

the

fear

of

God

,

in

the

law

of

righteousness

,

in

love

,

in

labour

;

none

considers

the

fear

of

futurity

,

and

none

takes

to

heart

the

day

of

the

Lord

,

and

the

wrath

of

God

,

and

the

punishments

to

come

upon

unbelievers

,

and

the

eternal

torments

decreed

for

the

faithless

.

That

which

our

conscience

would

fear

if

it

believed

,

it

fears

not

because

it

does

not

at

all

believe

.

But

if

it

believed

,

it

would

also

take

heed

;

and

if

it

took

heed

,

it

would

escape

.

Notes

71
Luke xviii. 8.