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Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews

Cyprian of Carthage

Book 3 · Introduction

About this work

Author: Cyprian of Carthage

Testimonies.

In Isaiah: “Cry aloud,”

‹ Book 2 · Section 30 Book 3 · Section 1 ›

saith

He

,

“

and

spare

not

;

lift

up

thy

voice

like

a

trumpet

;

tell

my

people

their

sins

,

and

the

house

of

Jacob

their

wickednesses

.

They

seek

me

from

day

to

day

,

and

desire

to

know

my

ways

,

as

a

people

which

did

righteousness

,

and

did

not

forsake

the

judgment

of

God

.

They

ask

of

me

now

a

righteous

judgment

,

and

desire

to

approach

to

God

,

saying

,

What

!

because

we

have

fasted

,

and

Thou

hast

not

seen

:

we

have

humiliated

our

souls

,

and

Thou

hast

not

known

.

For

in

the

days

of

fasting

are

found

your

own

wills

;

for

either

ye

torment

those

who

are

subjected

to

you

,

or

ye

fast

for

strifes

and

judgments

,

or

ye

strike

your

neighbours

with

fists

.

For

what

do

you

fast

unto

me

,

that

to

-

day

your

voice

should

be

heard

in

clamour

?

This

fast

I

have

not

chosen

,

save

that

a

man

should

humble

his

soul

.

And

if

thou

shalt

bend

thy

neck

like

a

ring

,

and

spread

under

thee

sackcloth

and

ashes

,

neither

thus

shall

it

be

called

an

acceptable

fast

.

Not

such

a

fast

have

I

chosen

,

saith

the

Lord

;

but

loose

every

knot

of

unrighteousness

,

let

go

the

chokings

of

impotent

engagements

.

Send

away

the

harassed

into

rest

,

and

scatter

every

unrighteous

contract

.

Break

thy

bread

to

the

hungry

,

and

bring

the

houseless

poor

into

thy

dwelling

.

If

thou

seest

the

naked

,

clothe

him

;

and

despise

not

them

of

thy

own

seed

in

thy

house

.

Then

shall

thy

seasonable

light

break

forth

,

and

thy

garments

shall

quickly

arise

;

and

righteousness

shall

go

before

thee

:

and

the

glory

of

God

shall

surround

thee

.

Then

thou

shalt

cry

out

,

and

God

shall

hear

thee

;

while

thou

art

yet

speaking

,

He

shall

say

,

Here

I

am

.

”

Concerning

this

same

thing

in

Job

:

“

I

have

preserved

the

needy

from

the

hand

of

the

mighty

;

and

I

have

helped

the

orphan

,

to

whom

there

was

no

helper

.

The

mouth

of

the

widow

blessed

me

,

since

I

was

the

eye

of

the

blind

;

I

was

also

the

foot

of

the

lame

,

and

the

father

of

the

weak

.

”

Of

this

same

matter

in

Tobit

:

“

And

I

said

to

Tobias

,

My

son

,

go

and

bring

whatever

poor

man

thou

shalt

find

out

of

our

brethren

,

who

still

has

God

in

mind

with

his

whole

heart

.

Bring

him

hither

,

and

he

shall

eat

my

dinner

together

with

me

.

Behold

,

I

attend

thee

,

my

son

,

until

thou

come

.

”

Also

in

the

same

place

:

“

All

the

days

of

thy

life

,

my

son

,

keep

God

in

mind

,

and

transgress

not

His

precepts

.

Do

justice

all

the

days

of

thy

life

,

and

do

not

walk

in

the

way

of

unrighteousness

;

because

if

thou

act

truly

,

there

will

be

respect

of

thy

works

.

Give

alms

of

thy

substance

,

and

turn

not

thy

face

from

any

poor

man

.

So

shall

it

come

to

pass

that

the

face

of

God

shall

not

be

turned

away

from

thee

.

Even

as

thou

hast

,

my

son

,

so

do

:

if

thou

hast

abundant

substance

,

give

the

more

alms

therefrom

;

if

thou

hast

little

,

communicate

even

of

that

little

.

And

do

not

fear

when

thou

givest

alms

:

thou

layest

up

for

thyself

a

good

reward

against

the

day

of

need

;

because

alms

delivereth

from

death

,

and

does

not

suffer

to

go

into

darkness

.

Alms

is

a

good

office

for

all

who

do

it

in

the

sight

of

the

most

high

God

.

”

On

this

same

subject

in

Solomon

in

Proverbs

:

“

He

that

hath

pity

on

the

poor

lendeth

unto

the

Lord

.

”

Also

in

the

same

place

:

“

He

that

giveth

to

the

poor

shall

never

want

;

but

he

who

turns

away

his

eye

shall

be

in

much

penury

.

”

Also

in

the

same

place

:

“

Sins

are

purged

away

by

alms

-

giving

and

faith

.

”

Again

,

in

the

same

place

:

“

If

thine

enemy

hunger

,

feed

him

;

and

if

he

thirst

,

give

him

to

drink

:

for

by

doing

this

thou

shalt

scatter

live

coals

upon

his

head

.

”

Again

,

in

the

same

place

:

“

As

water

extinguishes

fire

,

so

alms

-

giving

extinguishes

sin

.

”

In

the

same

in

Proverbs

:

“

Say

not

,

Go

away

,

and

return

,

to

-

morrow

I

will

give

;

when

you

can

do

good

immediately

.

For

thou

knowest

not

what

may

happen

on

the

coming

day

.

”

Also

in

the

same

place

:

“

He

who

stoppeth

his

ears

that

he

may

not

hear

the

weak

,

shall

himself

call

upon

God

,

and

there

shall

be

none

to

hear

him

.

”

Also

in

the

same

place

:

“

He

who

has

his

conversation

without

reproach

in

righteousness

,

leaves

blessed

children

.

”

In

the

same

in

Ecclesiasticus

:

“

My

son

,

if

thou

hast

,

do

good

by

thyself

,

and

present

worthy

offerings

to

God

;

remember

that

death

delayeth

not

.

”

Also

in

the

same

place

:

“

Shut

up

alms

in

the

heart

of

the

poor

,

and

this

will

entreat

for

thee

from

all

evil

.

”

Concerning

this

thing

in

the

thirty

-

sixth

Psalm

,

that

mercy

is

beneficial

also

to

one’s

posterity

:

“

I

have

been

young

,

and

I

have

also

grown

old

;

and

I

have

not

seen

the

righteous

forsaken

,

nor

his

seed

begging

their

bread

.

The

whole

day

he

is

merciful

,

and

lendeth

;

and

his

seed

is

in

blessing

.

”

Of

this

same

thing

in

the

fortieth

Psalm

:

“

Blessed

is

he

who

considereth

over

the

poor

and

needy

:

in

the

evil

day

God

will

deliver

him

.

”

Also

in

the

cxith

Psalm

:

“

He

hath

distributed

,

he

hath

given

to

the

poor

;

his

righteousness

shall

remain

from

generation

to

generation

.

”

Of

this

same

thing

in

Hosea

:

“

I

desire

mercy

rather

than

sacrifice

,

and

the

knowledge

of

God

more

than

whole

burnt

-

offerings

.

”

Of

this

same

thing

also

in

the

Gospel

according

to

Matthew

:

“

Blessed

are

they

who

hunger

and

thirst

after

righteousness

:

for

they

shall

be

satisfied

.

”

Also

in

the

same

place

:

“

Blessed

are

the

merciful

:

for

they

shall

obtain

mercy

.

”

Also

in

the

same

place

:

“

Lay

up

for

yourselves

treasures

in

heaven

,

where

neither

moth

nor

rust

doth

corrupt

,

and

where

thieves

do

not

dig

through

and

steal

:

for

where

your

treasure

is

,

there

will

your

heart

be

also

.

”

Also

in

the

same

place

:

“

The

kingdom

of

heaven

is

like

unto

a

merchantman

seeking

goodly

pearls

:

and

when

he

hath

found

a

precious

pearl

,

he

went

away

and

sold

all

that

he

had

,

and

bought

it

.

”

That

even

a

small

work

is

of

advantage

,

also

in

the

same

place

:

“

And

whoever

shall

give

to

drink

to

one

of

the

least

of

these

a

cup

of

cold

water

in

the

name

of

a

disciple

,

verily

I

say

unto

you

,

His

reward

shall

not

perish

.

”

That

alms

are

to

be

denied

to

none

,

also

in

the

same

place

:

“

Give

to

every

one

that

asketh

thee

;

and

from

him

who

would

wish

to

borrow

,

be

not

turned

away

.

”

Also

in

the

same

place

:

“

If

thou

wilt

enter

into

life

,

keep

the

commandments

.

He

saith

,

Which

?

Jesus

saith

unto

him

,

Thou

shalt

not

kill

,

Thou

shalt

not

commit

adultery

,

Thou

shalt

not

bear

false

witness

,

Honour

thy

father

and

mother

:

and

,

Thou

shalt

love

thy

neighbour

as

thyself

.

The

young

man

saith

unto

Him

,

All

these

things

have

I

observed

:

what

lack

I

yet

?

Jesus

saith

unto

him

,

If

thou

wilt

be

perfect

,

go

and

sell

all

that

thou

hast

,

and

give

to

the

poor

,

and

thou

shalt

have

treasure

in

heaven

;

and

come

,

follow

me

.

”

Also

in

the

same

place

:

“

When

the

Son

of

man

shall

come

in

His

majesty

,

and

all

the

angels

with

Him

,

then

He

shall

sit

on

the

throne

of

His

glory

:

and

all

nations

shall

be

gathered

together

before

Him

;

and

He

shall

separate

them

one

from

another

,

even

as

a

shepherd

separates

the

sheep

from

the

goats

:

and

He

shall

place

the

sheep

on

the

right

hand

,

but

the

goats

on

the

left

hand

.

Then

shall

the

King

say

unto

them

that

are

on

His

right

hand

,

Come

,

ye

blessed

of

my

Father

,

receive

the

kingdom

prepared

for

you

from

the

beginning

of

the

world

.

For

I

was

hungry

,

and

ye

gave

me

to

eat

:

I

was

thirsty

,

and

ye

gave

me

to

drink

:

I

was

a

stranger

,

and

ye

took

me

in

:

naked

,

and

ye

clothed

me

:

I

was

sick

,

and

ye

visited

me

:

I

was

in

prison

,

and

ye

came

unto

me

.

Then

shall

the

righteous

answer

Him

,

and

say

,

Lord

,

when

saw

we

Thee

a

stranger

,

and

took

Thee

in

:

naked

,

and

clothed

Thee

?

And

when

saw

we

Thee

sick

,

and

in

prison

,

and

came

to

Thee

?

And

the

King

,

answering

,

shall

say

unto

them

,

Verily

I

say

unto

you

,

Inasmuch

as

ye

did

it

to

one

of

the

least

of

these

my

brethren

,

ye

did

it

unto

me

.

Then

shall

He

say

unto

them

who

are

on

His

left

hand

,

Depart

from

me

,

ye

cursed

,

into

everlasting

fire

,

which

my

Father

hath

prepared

for

the

devil

and

his

angels

:

for

I

was

hungry

,

and

ye

gave

me

not

to

eat

:

I

was

thirsty

,

and

ye

gave

me

not

to

drink

:

I

was

a

stranger

,

and

ye

took

me

not

in

:

I

was

naked

,

and

ye

clothed

me

not

:

sick

,

and

in

prison

,

and

ye

visited

me

not

.

Then

shall

they

also

answer

,

and

say

,

Lord

,

when

saw

we

Thee

hungry

,

or

thirsty

,

or

a

stranger

,

or

naked

,

or

sick

,

or

in

prison

,

and

did

not

minister

unto

Thee

?

And

He

shall

answer

them

,

Verily

I

say

unto

you

,

Inasmuch

as

ye

did

it

not

to

one

of

the

least

of

these

,

ye

did

it

not

unto

me

.

And

these

shall

go

away

into

everlasting

burning

:

but

the

righteous

into

life

eternal

.

”

Concerning

this

same

matter

in

the

Gospel

according

to

Luke

:

“

Sell

your

possessions

,

and

give

alms

.

”

Also

in

the

same

place

:

“

He

who

made

that

which

is

within

,

made

that

which

is

without

also

.

But

give

alms

,

and

,

behold

,

all

things

are

pure

unto

you

.

”

Also

in

the

same

place

:

“

Behold

,

the

half

of

my

substance

I

give

to

the

poor

;

and

if

I

have

defrauded

any

one

of

anything

,

I

restore

him

fourfold

.

And

Jesus

said

unto

him

,

that

salvation

has

this

day

been

wrought

for

this

house

,

since

he

also

is

a

son

of

Abraham

.

”

Of

this

same

thing

also

in

the

second

Epistle

to

the

Corinthians

:

“

Let

your

abundance

supply

their

want

,

that

their

abundance

also

may

be

the

supplement

of

your

want

,

that

there

may

be

equality

:

as

it

is

written

,

He

who

had

much

had

not

excess

;

and

he

who

had

little

had

no

lack

.

”

Also

in

the

same

place

:

“

He

who

soweth

sparingly

shall

reap

also

sparingly

;

and

he

who

soweth

in

blessing

shall

reap

also

of

blessing

.

But

let

every

one

do

as

he

has

proposed

in

his

heart

:

not

as

if

sorrowfully

,

or

of

necessity

:

for

God

loveth

a

cheerful

giver

.

”

Also

in

the

same

place

:

“

As

it

is

written

,

He

hath

dispersed

abroad

;

he

hath

given

to

the

poor

:

his

righteousness

remaineth

for

ever

.

”

Likewise

in

the

same

place

:

“

Now

he

who

ministereth

seed

to

the

sower

,

shall

both

supply

bread

to

be

eaten

,

and

shall

multiply

your

seed

,

and

shall

increase

the

growth

of

the

fruits

of

your

righteousness

:

that

in

all

things

ye

may

be

made

rich

.

”

Also

in

the

same

place

:

“

The

administration

of

this

service

has

not

only

supplied

that

which

is

lacking

to

the

saints

,

but

has

abounded

by

much

giving

of

thanks

unto

God

.

”

Of

this

same

matter

in

the

Epistle

of

John

:

“

Whoso

hath

this

world’s

substance

,

and

seeth

his

brother

desiring

,

and

shutteth

up

his

bowels

from

him

,

how

dwelleth

the

love

of

God

in

him

?

”

Of

this

same

thing

in

the

Gospel

according

to

Luke

:

“

When

thou

makest

a

dinner

or

a

supper

,

call

not

thy

friends

,

nor

brethren

,

nor

neighbours

,

nor

the

rich

;

lest

haply

they

also

invite

thee

again

,

and

a

recompense

be

made

thee

.

But

when

thou

makest

a

banquet

,

call

the

poor

,

the

weak

,

the

blind

,

and

lame

:

and

thou

shalt

be

blessed

;

because

they

have

not

the

means

of

rewarding

thee

:

but

thou

shalt

be

recompensed

in

the

resurrection

of

the

just

.

”

Notes