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On Works and Alms

Cyprian of Carthage

Section 11

About this work

Author: Cyprian of Carthage

11. Are you afraid that your patrimony perchance may fall short,

‹ Section 10 Section 12 ›

if

you

should

begin

to

do

liberally

from

it

?

Yet

when

has

it

ever

happened

that

resources

could

fail

the

righteous

man

,

since

it

is

written

,

“

The

Lord

will

not

slay

with

famine

the

righteous

soul

?

”

Elias

in

the

desert

is

fed

by

the

ministry

of

ravens

;

and

a

meal

from

heaven

is

made

ready

for

Daniel

in

the

den

,

when

shut

up

by

the

king’s

command

for

a

prey

to

the

lions

;

and

you

are

afraid

that

food

should

be

wanting

to

you

,

labouring

and

deserving

well

of

the

Lord

,

although

He

Himself

in

the

Gospel

bears

witness

,

for

the

rebuke

of

those

whose

mind

is

doubtful

and

faith

small

,

and

says

:

“

Behold

the

fowls

of

heaven

,

that

they

sow

not

,

nor

reap

,

nor

gather

into

barns

;

and

your

heavenly

Father

feedeth

them

:

are

you

not

of

more

value

than

they

?

”

God

feeds

the

fowls

,

and

daily

food

is

afforded

to

the

sparrows

;

and

to

creatures

which

have

no

sense

of

things

divine

there

is

no

want

of

drink

or

food

.

Thinkest

thou

that

to

a

Christian

—

thinkest

thou

that

to

a

servant

of

the

Lord

—

thinkest

thou

that

to

one

given

up

to

good

works

—

thinkest

thou

that

to

one

that

is

dear

to

his

Lord

,

anything

will

be

wanting

?

Notes

34
Some editors read, “the resources of life.”
35
Prov. x. 3.
36
Matt. v. 26.