242 TREATISES ATTRIBUTED TO CYPRIAN.
when you behold in the glisteningearththe goldglittering
under the tremulouslight,and meltingintoa liquidformby
the roaringflames(forthisalsois generallythe careof the
workmen), whenever from the panting furnacesisvomited
forththe glowing fire,the rich flame is drawn away from
the accessof the earthin a narrow channel,and iskeptback
by sand from the refluentmasses of earth. Whence itis
necessaryto sufferallthings,thatwe may be freefrom all
wickedness,as He has saidby His prophet: " And though
in the sightof men they have sufferedtorments,yetistheir
hope fullof immortality; and being vexed in a few things,
theyshallbe wellrewarded in many things,becauseGod has
triedthem, and has found them worthy of Himself,andLas
receivedthem as a sacrificeof burnt-offering."1
17. But ifambitiousdignitydeteryou, and the amountof
your money heaped up in your storesinfluenceyou— a cause
which ever distractsthe intentionsof a virtuousheart,and
assailsthe souldevotedto itsLord witha fearfultrembling—
I beg that you would again refer to the heavenlywords.
For it is the very voice of Christ who speaks,and says,
"Whosoever shalllosehis lifefor my name's sake,shall
receivein thisworld a hundred-fold,and in the worldto
come shallpossesseternallife.'"And we ought assuredly
to reckon nothing greater,nothingmore advantageous,than
this. For although in the nature of your costlygarments
the purple dye flows into figures,and in the slackening
threadsthe gold straysintoa pattern,and the weightymetals
to which you devote yourselvesare not wanting in yourex
cavated treasures; still,unlessI am mistaken,thosethings
willbe esteemedvain and purposeless,if,whileallthingselse
are added to you, salvationalone is found to be wanting;
even as the Holy Spiritdeclaresthatwe can give nothingin
exchange for our soul. For He says," If you shouldgain
the whole world,and loseyour own soul,what shallitprofit
you,or what exchange shalla man giveforhissoulV" For
allthose thingswhich we behold are worthless,and such
as restingon weak foundations,are unable to sustainthe
1Wisd.iii.4. •Matt.x.39. 8Matt.xv.26.