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On Works and Alms

Cyprian of Carthage

Section 4

About this work

Author: Cyprian of Carthage

4. Finally, beloved brethren, the divine admonition in the Scriptures

‹ Section 3 Section 5 ›

,

as

well

old

as

new

,

has

never

failed

,

has

never

been

silent

in

urging

God’s

people

always

and

everywhere

to

works

of

mercy

;

and

in

the

strain

and

exhortation

of

the

Holy

Spirit

,

every

one

who

is

instructed

into

the

hope

of

the

heavenly

kingdom

is

commanded

to

give

alms

.

God

commands

and

prescribes

to

Isaiah

:

“

Cry

,

”

says

He

,

“

with

strength

,

and

spare

not

.

Lift

up

thy

voice

as

a

trumpet

,

and

declare

to

my

people

their

transgressions

,

and

to

the

house

of

Jacob

their

sins

.

”

And

when

He

had

commanded

their

sins

to

be

charged

upon

them

,

and

with

the

full

force

of

His

indignation

had

set

forth

their

iniquities

,

and

had

said

,

that

not

even

though

they

should

use

supplications

,

and

prayers

,

and

fastings

,

should

they

be

able

to

make

atonement

for

their

sins

;

nor

,

if

they

were

clothed

in

sackcloth

and

ashes

,

be

able

to

soften

God’s

anger

,

yet

in

the

last

part

showing

that

God

can

be

appeased

by

almsgiving

alone

,

he

added

,

saying

,

“

Break

thy

bread

to

the

hungry

,

and

bring

the

poor

that

are

without

a

home

into

thy

house

.

If

thou

seest

the

naked

,

clothe

him

;

and

despise

not

the

household

of

thine

own

seed

.

Then

shall

thy

light

break

forth

in

season

,

and

thy

garments

shall

arise

speedily

;

and

righteousness

shall

go

before

thee

,

and

the

glory

of

God

shall

surround

thee

.

Then

shalt

thou

cry

,

and

God

shall

hear

thee

;

whilst

yet

thou

art

speaking

,

He

shall

say

,

Here

I

am

.

”

Notes

11
Isa. lviii. 1.
12
Isa. lviii. 1–9.