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On the Glory of Martyrdom

Pseudo-Cyprian

Section 3

About this work

Author: Pseudo-Cyprian

3. For consider what glory it is to set aside

‹ Section 2 Section 4 ›

the

lusts

of

this

life

,

and

to

oppose

a

mind

withdrawn

from

all

commerce

with

nature

and

the

world

,

to

all

the

opposition

of

the

adversary

,

and

to

have

no

dread

of

the

cruelty

of

the

torturer

;

that

a

man

should

be

animated

by

the

suffering

whereby

he

might

be

believed

to

be

destroyed

,

and

should

take

to

himself

,

as

an

enhancement

of

his

strength

,

that

which

the

punisher

thinks

will

aggravate

his

torments

.

For

although

the

hook

,

springing

forth

from

the

stiffening

ribs

,

is

put

back

again

into

the

wound

,

and

with

the

repeated

strokes

of

the

whip

the

returning

lash

is

drawn

away

with

the

rent

portions

of

the

flesh

;

still

he

stands

immoveable

,

the

stronger

for

his

sufferings

,

revolving

only

this

in

his

mind

,

that

in

that

brutality

of

the

executioners

Christ

Himself

is

suffering

more

in

proportion

to

what

he

suffers

.

For

since

,

if

he

should

deny

the

Lord

,

he

would

incur

guilt

on

His

behalf

for

whom

he

ought

to

have

overcome

,

it

is

essential

that

He

should

be

seen

to

bear

all

things

to

whom

the

victory

is

due

,

even

in

the

suffering

.

Notes

3
“Habena;” but according to Baluzius “avena,” “an oatstraw.”
4
[Acts ix. 5. The principle is recognised in the words, “Ye did it unto me,” where Christ identifies Himself with members of His body. Oh, the condescension! Heb. ii. 11.]