42 THE TREATISES OF CYPRIAN.
prevailedthe rage of envy to the consummation of thatdeed
of wickedness,thatneitherthe loveof his brother,nor the
immensity of the crime,nor the fearof God, nor the penalty
of the sin,was considered. He was unrighteouslystricken
who had been the firstto show righteousness;he endured
hatredwho had not known how to hate; he was impiously
slain,who, dying,did not resist.And thatEsau was hostile
to hisbrotherJacob, arosefrom jealousyalso. For because
the latterhad receivedhisfather'sblessing,the former was
inflamed to a persecutinghatred by the brands of jealousy.
And that Joseph was soldby his brethren,the reason of
theirsellinghim proceeded from envy. When in simpli
city,and as a brotherto brethren,he set forthto them the
prosperitywhich had been shown to him in visions,their
malevolentdispositionbroke forthintoenvy. Moreover, that
Saul the king hated David, so as to seek by oftenrepeated
persecutionsto killhim — innocent,merciful,gentle,patient
in meekness— what elsewas the provocationsavethe spur of
jealousy? Because,when Goliathwas slain,and by the aid
and condescensionof God so greatan enemy was routed,the
wondering people burstforthwith the suffrageof acclama
tion intopraisesof David, Saul through jealousyconceived
the rage of enmity and persecution.And, not to go to the
lengthof numbering each one, letus observethe destruction
of a people that perishedonce for all.1Did not the Jews
perishfor thisreason,that they choseratherto envy Christ
than to believeHim ? Disparagingthosegreatworks which
He did,they were deceivedby blindingjealousy,and could
not open the eyesof theirheart to the knowledge of divine
things.
6. Consideringwhich things,belovedbrethren,letus with
vigilanceand courage fortifyour heartsdedicatedto God
againstsuch a destructivenessof evil. Let the death of
othersavailforour safety; letthe punishment of the un
wise conferhealthupon the prudent. Moreover,thereisno
ground for any one to suppose-thatevilof thatkind iscon
finedin one form,orrestrainedwithinbrieflimitsina narrow
1 Variously" semel"or" simul."