50 THE TREATISES OF CYPRIAN.
actions,thatso oftenas the enemy approaches,however often
he may tryto come near,he may find the breastclosedand
armed againsthim. For a Christianman's crown is not
only thatwhich isreceivedin the time of persecution: peace
alsohas itscrowns,wherewith the victors,from a varied and
manifold engagement, are crowned,when theiradversaryis
prostratedand subdued. To have overcome lustisthe palm
of continency. To have resistedagainstanger,againstin
jury,isthe crown of patience. It isa triumph over avarice
to despisemoney. It is the praiseof faith,by trustin the
future,to sufferthe adversityof the world. And he who is
not haughty in prosperity,obtainsglory for his humility;
and he who isdisposedto the mercifulnessof cherishingthe
poor,obtainsthe retributionof a heavenlytreasure; and he
who knows not to be jealous,and who with one heart and
in meekness loveshis brethren,is honoured with the recom
pense of loveand peace. In thiscourse of virtueswe daily
run ; to thesepalms and crowns of justicewe attainwithout
intermissionof time.
17. To these rewards that you alsomay come who had
been possessedwith jealousyand rancour,castaway allthat
malicewherewith you were beforeheld fast,and be reformed
to the way of eternallifein the footstepsof salvation.Tear
out from your breast thorns and thistles,that the Lord's
seed may enrich you with a fertileproduce,thatthe divine
and spiritualcorn-fieldmay abound to the plentifulnessof a
fruitfulharvest. Vomit forth the poison of gall,cast out
thevirusof discords.Let the mind which the malice1of the
serpenthad infectedbe purged ; letallbitternesswhich had
settledwithin be softenedby the sweetnessof Christ. If
you take both meat and drink from the sacrament of the
cross,letthe wood which at Mara 2 availedin a figurefor
sweeteningthe taste,availto you in realityforsoothingyour
softenedbreast; and you shallnot strivefora medicinefor
your increasinghealth. Be cured by thatwhereby you had
1TheOxfordtranslatorgives" blackness;" theoriginalis" livor."
2Or " myrrh,"variouslygivenin originalsas " myrrham" or
<(merrham."