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On Works and Alms

Cyprian of Carthage

Section 6

About this work

Author: Cyprian of Carthage

6. Neither, beloved brethren, are we so bringing forward these

‹ Section 5 Section 7 ›

things

,

as

that

we

should

not

prove

what

Raphael

the

angel

said

,

by

the

testimony

of

the

truth

.

In

the

Acts

of

the

Apostles

the

faith

of

the

fact

is

established

;

and

that

souls

are

delivered

by

almsgiving

not

only

from

the

second

,

but

from

the

first

death

,

is

discovered

by

the

evidence

of

a

matter

accomplished

and

completed

.

When

Tabitha

,

being

greatly

given

to

good

works

and

to

bestowing

alms

,

fell

sick

and

died

,

Peter

was

summoned

to

her

lifeless

body

;

and

when

he

,

with

apostolic

humanity

,

had

come

in

haste

,

there

stood

around

him

widows

weeping

and

entreating

,

showing

the

cloaks

,

and

coats

,

and

all

the

garments

which

they

had

previously

received

,

and

praying

for

the

deceased

not

by

their

words

,

but

by

her

own

deeds

.

Peter

felt

that

what

was

asked

in

such

a

way

might

be

obtained

,

and

that

Christ’s

aid

would

not

be

wanting

to

the

petitioners

,

since

He

Himself

was

clothed

in

the

clothing

of

the

widows

.

When

,

therefore

,

falling

on

his

knees

,

he

had

prayed

,

and

—

fit

advocate

for

the

widows

and

poor

—

had

brought

to

the

Lord

the

prayers

entrusted

to

him

,

turning

to

the

body

,

which

was

now

lying

washed

on

the

bier

,

he

said

,

“

Tabitha

,

in

the

name

of

Jesus

Christ

,

arise

!

”

Nor

did

He

fail

to

bring

aid

to

Peter

,

who

had

said

in

the

Gospel

,

that

whatever

should

be

asked

in

His

name

should

be

given

.

Therefore

death

is

suspended

,

and

the

spirit

is

restored

,

and

,

to

the

marvel

and

astonishment

of

all

,

the

revived

body

is

quickened

into

this

worldly

light

once

more

;

so

effectual

were

the

merits

of

mercy

,

so

much

did

righteous

works

avail

!

She

who

had

conferred

upon

suffering

widows

the

help

needful

to

live

,

deserved

to

be

recalled

to

life

by

the

widows

’

petition

.

Notes

20
Other translators read, “in the upper chamber.”
21
Acts ix. 40.