234 TREATISES ATTRIBUTED TO CYPRIAN. end of sins,the limitof dangers,the guide of salvation,the teacherof patience,the home of life,on the journeytowhich thosethingsmoreover befallwhich in thecoming crisismight be consideredtorments. By thisalsotestimonyisborneto the Name, and the majestyof the Name isgreatlyenhanced: not thatin itselfthatmajesty can be diminished,oritsmag nitudedetractedfrom, by the guiltof one who deniesit;hut that itredoundsto the increaseof itsglory,when theterror of the populacethathowls around isgivingto suffering,fear lessminds,and by the threatsof snarlinghatredisaddingto the titlewhereby Christ has desiredto crown theman,that in proportionas he has thought that he conquered,inthat proportionhiscouragehas grown in the struggle.Itisthen, therefore,thatallthe vigourof faithisbrought tobear,then facilityof beliefisapproved,when you encounterthespeeches and the reproachesof the rabble,and when you strengthen yourselfby a religiousmind againstthosemadnessesofthe people,— overcoming,thatis,and repellingwhatevertheirblas phemous speech may have utteredto wrong Christinyour person,as when the resistingbreakwater repelstheadverse sea,although the waves dash and the rollingwater again and again beatsupon it,yet itsimmoveable strengthabides firm,and does not yield even when covered over by the waves that foam around,untilitsforceisscatteredoverthe rocksand losesitself,and the conquered billowlyingupon the rocksretiresforthintothe open spacesof the shore. 5. For what isthereinthese[blasphemousspeeches]other than empty discourse,and senselesstalk,and a depraved pleasurein meaninglesswords? As it is written:"They have eyes,and they seenot ; ears have they,and theyhear not."1 " Their foolishheart is made sluggish,lestat any time they should be converted,and I should heal them-"1 For there is no doubt but that He said thisof allwhose hardened mind and obstinatebrutalityof heart isalways driven away and repugnates from a vitaldevotion,folly leadingthem, madness dragging them, in fine,everykind of ferocityenraging them, whereby they are instigatedas 1Ps.cxiii.13. 2Isa.vi 10.