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On Works and Alms

Cyprian of Carthage

Section 5

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Author: Cyprian of Carthage

5. The remedies for propitiating God are given in the words of

‹ Section 4 Section 6 ›

God

Himself

;

the

divine

instructions

have

taught

what

sinners

ought

to

do

,

that

by

works

of

righteousness

God

is

satisfied

,

that

with

the

deserts

of

mercy

sins

are

cleansed

.

And

in

Solomon

we

read

,

“

Shut

up

alms

in

the

heart

of

the

poor

,

and

these

shall

intercede

for

thee

from

all

evil

.

”

And

again

:

“

Whoso

stoppeth

his

ears

that

he

may

not

hear

the

weak

,

he

also

shall

call

upon

God

,

and

there

will

be

none

to

hear

him

.

”

For

he

shall

not

be

able

to

deserve

the

mercy

of

the

Lord

,

who

himself

shall

not

have

been

merciful

;

nor

shall

he

obtain

aught

from

the

divine

pity

in

his

prayers

,

who

shall

not

have

been

humane

towards

the

poor

man’s

prayer

.

And

this

also

the

Holy

Spirit

declares

in

the

Psalms

,

and

proves

,

saying

,

Blessed

is

he

that

considereth

of

the

poor

and

needy

;

the

Lord

will

deliver

him

in

the

evil

day

.

”

Remembering

which

precepts

,

Daniel

,

when

king

Nebuchodonosor

was

in

anxiety

,

being

frightened

by

an

adverse

dream

,

gave

him

,

for

the

turning

away

of

evils

,

a

remedy

to

obtain

the

divine

help

,

saying

,

“

Wherefore

,

O

king

,

let

my

counsel

be

acceptable

to

thee

;

and

redeem

thy

sins

by

almsgivings

,

and

thine

unrighteousness

by

mercies

to

the

poor

,

and

God

will

be

patient

to

thy

sins

.

”

And

as

the

king

did

not

obey

him

,

he

underwent

the

misfortunes

and

mischiefs

which

he

had

seen

,

and

which

he

might

have

escaped

and

avoided

had

he

redeemed

his

sins

by

almsgiving

.

Raphael

the

angel

also

witnesses

the

like

,

and

exhorts

that

alms

should

be

freely

and

liberally

bestowed

,

saying

,

“

Prayer

is

good

,

with

fasting

and

alms

;

because

alms

doth

deliver

from

death

,

and

it

purgeth

away

sins

.

”

He

shows

that

our

prayers

and

fastings

are

of

less

avail

,

unless

they

are

aided

by

almsgiving

;

that

entreaties

alone

are

of

little

force

to

obtain

what

they

seek

,

unless

they

be

made

sufficient

by

the

addition

of

deeds

and

good

works

.

The

angel

reveals

,

and

manifests

,

and

certifies

that

our

petitions

become

efficacious

by

almsgiving

,

that

life

is

redeemed

from

dangers

by

almsgiving

,

that

souls

are

delivered

from

death

by

almsgiving

.

Notes

13
Ecclus. xxix. 12.
14
Prov. xxi. 13.
15
Ps. xli. 1.
16
Some editors read “parcens” instead of “patiens,” making the meaning “sparing to thy sins.”
17
Dan. iv. 27.
18
Tob. xii. 8, 9.
19
Some have read for “satientur,” “farciantur,” and others “socientur,” “be filled up,” or “be associated.”