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On the Glory of Martyrdom

Pseudo-Cyprian

Section 2

About this work

Author: Pseudo-Cyprian

2. For there is indeed, unless I am mistaken

‹ Section 1 Section 3 ›

,

even

in

the

very

power

of

conscience

,

a

marvellous

fear

which

at

once

disturbs

and

inflames

us

;

whose

power

,

the

more

closely

you

look

into

,

the

more

the

dreadful

sense

of

its

obligation

is

gathered

from

its

very

aspect

of

venerable

majesty

.

For

assuredly

you

ought

to

consider

what

glory

there

is

in

expiating

any

kind

of

defilement

of

life

,

and

the

foulness

of

a

polluted

body

,

and

the

contagions

gathered

from

the

long

putrefaction

of

vices

,

and

the

worldly

guilt

incurred

by

so

great

a

lapse

of

time

,

by

the

remedial

agency

of

one

stroke

,

whereby

both

reward

may

be

increased

,

and

guilt

may

be

excluded

.

Whence

every

perfection

and

condition

of

life

is

included

in

martyrdom

.

This

is

the

foundation

of

life

and

faith

,

this

is

the

safeguard

of

salvation

,

this

is

the

bond

of

liberty

and

honour

;

and

although

there

are

also

other

means

whereby

the

light

may

be

attained

,

yet

we

more

easily

arrive

at

nearness

to

the

promised

reward

,

by

help

of

these

punishments

,

which

sustain

us

.