Cyprian of Carthage, The Epistles of Cyprian

Argument.—The Substance of This Letter is Also Suggested in Epistle XIV, “Among the People Also,” He Says, “I Have Done What I Could to Quiet Their Minds, and Have Instructed Them to Be Retained in Ecclesiastical Discipline.”

1. Cyprian to his brethren among the people who stand fast,114 [The faithful laity. A technical expression, in the original.] greeting. That you bewail and grieve over the downfall of our brethren I know from myself, beloved brethren, who also bewail with you and grieve for each one, and suffer and feel what the blessed apostle said: “Who is weak,” said he, “and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?”115 2 Cor. xi. 29. And again he has laid it down in his epistle, saying, “Whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member rejoice, all the members rejoice with it.”116 1 Cor. xii. 26. I sympathize with you in your suffering and grief, therefore, for our brethren, who, having lapsed and fallen prostrate under the severity of the persecution, have inflicted a like pain on us by their wounds, inasmuch as they tear away part of our bowels with them,—to these the divine mercy is able to bring healing. Yet I do not think that there must be any haste, nor that anything must be done incautiously and immaturely, lest, while peace is grasped at, the divine indignation be more seriously incurred. The blessed martyrs have written to me about certain persons, requesting that their wishes may be examined into. When, as soon as peace is given to us all by the Lord, we shall begin to return to the Church, then the wishes of each one shall be looked into in your presence, and with your judgment.117 [Here is a recognition of the laity as contributing to the decisive action. 1 Cor. v. 4.]

2. Yet I hear that certain of the presbyters, neither mindful of the Gospel nor considering what the martyrs have written to me, nor reserving to the bishop the honour of his priesthood and of his dignity, have already begun to communicate with the lapsed, and to offer on their behalf, and to give them the eucharist, when it was fitting that they should attain to these things in due course. For, as in smaller sins which are not committed against God, penitence may be fulfilled in a set time, and confession may be made with investigation of the life of him who fulfils the penitence, and no one can come to communion unless the hands of the bishop and clergy be first imposed upon him; how much more ought all such matters as these to be observed with caution and moderation, according to the discipline of the Lord, in these gravest and extremest sins! This warning, indeed, our presbyters and deacons ought to have given you, that they might cherish the sheep committed to their care, and by the divine authority might instruct them in the way of obtaining salvation by prayer. I am aware of the peacefulness as well as the fear of our people, who would be watchful in the satisfaction and the deprecation of God’s anger, unless some of the presbyters, by way of gratifying them, had deceived them.

3. Even you, therefore, yourselves, guide them each one, and control the minds of the lapsed by counsel and by your own moderation, according to the divine precepts. Let no one pluck the unripe fruit at a time as yet premature. Let no one commit his ship, shattered and broken with the waves, anew to the deep, before he has carefully repaired it. Let none be in haste to accept and to put on a rent tunic, unless he has seen it mended by a skilful workman, and has received it arranged by the fuller. Let them bear with patience my advice, I beg. Let them look for my return, that when by God’s mercy I come to you, I, with many of my co-bishops, being called together according to the Lord’s discipline,118 [Elucidation III.; also Ignatius, vol. i. p. 69.] and in the presence of the confessors, and with your opinion also, may be able to examine the letters and the wishes of the blessed martyrs. Concerning this matter I have written both to the clergy and to the martyrs and confessors, both of which letters I have directed to be read to you. I bid you, brethren beloved and most longed-for, ever heartily farewell in the Lord; and have me in remembrance. Fare ye well.

EPISTOLA XI. (Erasm., III, 16; Pamel., XII; Rigalt., Baluz., Paris., XI; Oxon., Lips., XVII.)AD PLEBEM.

0256B ARGUMENTUM---hujus quoque Epistolae habet saepe dicta Epist. XIV: «Plebi quoque, inquit, ipsi, quantum potuimus, animum composuimus et ut in ecclesiastica disciplina servarentur instruximus.»

I. Cyprianus fratribus in plebe consistentibus salutem. Ingemiscere vos et dolere ruinas fratrum nostrorum ex me scio, fratres charissimi, qui et ipse vobiscum pro singulis ingemisco pariter et doleo, et patior ac sentio quod beatus Apostolus dixit: Quis infirmatur, inquit, et ego non infirmor? quis scandalizatur, et ego non uror? (II Cor. XI, 29). Et iterum posuit in Epistola sua dicens: Si patitur membrum unum, compatiuntur et caetera membra; et si laetatur membrum unum, collaetantur et caetera membra (I Cor. XII, 26). 0256C Compatior ergo et condoleo de fratribus nostris qui, lapsi et persecutionis infestatione prostrati, partem nostrorum viscerum secum trahentes, parem dolorem 0257A nobis suis vulneribus intulerunt; quibus potens est divina misericordia medelam dare. Properandum tamen non puto , nec incaute aliquid et festinanter gerendum, ne, dum temere pax usurpatur , divinae indignationis offensa gravius provocetur. Fecerunt ad nos quibusdam beati martyres litteras, petentes examinari desideria sua. Cum, pace nobis omnibus a Domino prius data, ad Ecclesiam regredi coeperimus, tunc examinabuntur singula praesentibus et judicantibus vobis.

II. Audio tamen quosdam de presbyteris nec, Evangelii memores, nec quid ad nos martyres scripserint cogitantes, nec episcopo honorem sacerdotii sui et cathedrae reservantes, jam cum lapsis communicare coepisse et offerre pro illis et Eucharistiam dare, 0257B quando oporteat ad haec per ordinem perveniri. Nam, cum in minoribus delictis quae non in Deum committuntur poenitentia, agatur justo tempore, et exomologesis fiat inspecta vita ejus qui agit poenitentiam, nec ad communicationem venire quis possit nisi prius illi ab episcopo et clero manus fuerit imposita, quanto magis in his gravissimis et extremis delictis caute omnia et moderate, secundum disciplinam Domini, observari oportet? Quod quidem nostri presbyteri et diaconi monere debuerant, ut commendatas sibi oves foverent et divino magisterio ad viam deprecandae salutis instruerent. Ego plebis nostrae et quietem novi pariter et timorem, qui satisfactione Dei et deprecatione vigilarent, nisi illos quidam de presbyteris gratificantes decepissent.

0257C III. Vel vos itaque singulos regite, et consilio ac moderatione vestra, secundum divina praecepta, lapsorum animos temperate. Nemo adhuc importuno tempore acerba poma decerpat. Nemo navem suam quassatam et perforatam fluctibus, priusquam diligenter 0258A refecerit, in ²² altum denuo committat. Nemo tunicam scissam accipere et induere properet, nisi eam ab artifice perito sartam viderit et a fullone curatam receperit. Audiant, quaeso, patienter consilium nostrum ; expectent regressionem nostram, ut, cum ad vos per Dei misericordiam venerimus, convocati coepiscopi plures, secundum Domini disciplinam et confessorum praesentiam et vestram quoque sententiam , beatorum martyrum litteras et desideria examinare possimus. De hoc et ad clerum et ad martyres et confessores litteras feci, quas utrasque legi vobis mandavi. Opto vos, fratres charissimi ac desiderantissimi, in Domino semper bene valere et nostri meminisse. Valete.