46 THE TREATISES OF CYPRIAN.
11. Why do you rush intothe darknessof jealousy? why
do you enfold yourselfin the cloudof malice? why do you
quench allthe lightof peace and charityin the blindnessof
envy? why do you return to the devil,whom you had re
nounced ? why do you stand likeCain ? For that he who
is jealousof his brother,and has him in hatred,is bound
by the guiltof homicide,the Apostle John declaresin his
epistle,saying,"Whosoever hatethhisbrotherisa murderer;
and ye know thatno murderer hath lifeabiding in him."1
And again: " He thatsaithhe isin the light,and hatethhis
brother,isin darknesseven untilnow, and walkethin dark
ness,and knoweth not whither he goeth,becausethatdark
ness hath blindedhiseyes."2 Whosoever hates,sayshe,bis
brother,walketh in darkness,and knoweth not whither he
goeth. For he goeth unconsciouslytoGehenna, in ignorance
and blindness; he is hurrying intopunishment, departing,
thatis,from the lightof Christ,who warns and says," I am
the lightof the world. He thatfollowethme shallnot walk
in darkness,but shallhave the lightof life."8 But he follows
Christwho standsin His precepts,who walks in the way of
His teaching,who followsHis footstepsand His ways, who
imitatesthatwhich Christ both did and taught; in accord
ance withwhat Peter alsoexhortsand warns,saying,"Christ
sufferedforus,leavingyou an example thatye shouldfollow
His steps."1
12. We ought to remember by what name ChristcallsHis
people,by what titleHe names His flock. He callsthem
sheep,thattheirChristianinnocencemay be likethatof sheep;
He callsthem lambs,thattheirsimplicityof mind may imi
tatethe simple nature of lambs. Why does the wolf lurk
under the garb of sheep? why does he who falselyasserts
himselfto be a Christian,dishonourthe flockof Christ? To
put on the name of Christ,and not to go in theway of Christ,
what elseis it but a mockery of the divinename, but a de
sertionof the way of salvation;sinceHe Himself teaches
and says that he shallcome unto lifewho keeps His com-
1 1 Johniii.15. 2 1 Johnii.9-11.
8 Johnviii.12. 4 1 Pet.ii.21.