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On the Glory of Martyrdom

Pseudo-Cyprian

Section 10

About this work

Author: Pseudo-Cyprian

10. Thus, whenever the soldier returns from the enemy

‹ Section 9 Section 11 ›

laden

with

triumphant

spoils

,

he

rejoices

in

his

wounds

.

Thus

,

whenever

the

sailor

,

long

harassed

with

tempests

,

arrives

at

safe

shores

,

he

reckons

his

happiness

by

the

dangers

that

he

has

suffered

.

For

,

unless

I

am

mistaken

,

that

is

assuredly

a

joyous

labour

whereby

safety

is

found

.

Therefore

all

things

must

be

suffered

,

all

things

must

be

endured

;

nor

should

we

desire

the

means

of

rejoicing

for

a

brief

period

,

and

being

punished

with

a

perpetual

burning

.

For

you

ought

to

remember

that

you

are

bound

,

as

it

were

,

by

a

certain

federal

paction

,

out

of

which

arises

the

just

condition

either

of

obtaining

salvation

,

or

the

merited

fearfulness

of

punishment

.

You

stand

equally

among

adverse

things

and

prosperous

,

in

the

midst

of

arms

and

darts

;

and

on

the

one

hand

,

worldly

ambition

,

on

the

other

heavenly

greatness

,

incites

you

.