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On Works and Alms

Cyprian of Carthage

Section 7

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Author: Cyprian of Carthage

7. Therefore in the Gospel, the Lord, the Teacher of

‹ Section 6 Section 8 ›

our

life

and

Master

of

eternal

salvation

,

quickening

the

assembly

of

believers

,

and

providing

for

them

for

ever

when

quickened

,

among

His

divine

commands

and

precepts

of

heaven

,

commands

and

prescribes

nothing

more

frequently

than

that

we

should

devote

ourselves

to

almsgiving

,

and

not

depend

on

earthly

possessions

,

but

rather

lay

up

heavenly

treasures

.

“

Sell

,

”

says

He

,

“

your

goods

,

and

give

alms

.

”

And

again

:

“

Lay

not

up

for

yourselves

treasures

upon

the

earth

,

where

moth

and

rust

do

corrupt

,

and

where

thieves

break

through

and

steal

.

But

lay

up

for

yourselves

treasures

in

heaven

,

where

neither

moth

nor

rust

doth

corrupt

,

and

where

thieves

do

not

break

through

nor

steal

.

For

where

thy

treasure

is

,

there

will

thy

heart

be

also

.

”

And

when

He

wished

to

set

forth

a

man

perfect

and

complete

by

the

observation

of

the

law

,

He

said

,

“

If

thou

wilt

be

perfect

,

go

and

sell

that

thou

hast

,

and

give

to

the

poor

,

and

thou

shalt

have

treasure

in

heaven

;

and

come

and

follow

me

.

”

Moreover

,

in

another

place

He

says

that

a

merchant

of

the

heavenly

grace

,

and

a

gainer

of

eternal

salvation

,

ought

to

purchase

the

precious

pearl

—

that

is

,

eternal

life

—

at

the

price

of

the

blood

of

Christ

,

from

the

amount

of

his

patrimony

,

parting

with

all

his

wealth

for

it

.

He

says

:

“

The

kingdom

of

heaven

is

like

unto

a

merchantman

seeking

goodly

pearls

.

And

when

he

found

a

precious

pearl

,

he

went

away

and

sold

all

that

he

had

,

and

bought

it

.

”

Notes

22
Luke xii. 33.
23
Matt. vi. 19–21.
24
“When He would show to one who had observed the law how to become perfect and finished” (Oxf. transl.).
25
Matt. xix. 21.
26
Matt. xiii. 45, 46.