38 THE TREATISES OF CYPRIAN. in the streets.Surely He who was not rebellious,neither contradicted,when He offeredHis back to stripes,and His cheeksto the palms of the hands ; neitherturned away His face from the foulnessof spitting. Surely it is He who, when He was accused by the priestsand elders,answered nothing,and, to the wonder of Pilate,kept a most patient silence.This is He who, although He was silentin His passion,yet by and by willnot be silentin His vengeance. This is our God, that is,not the God of all,but of the faithfuland believing; and He, when He shallcome mani festin His second advent,willnot be silent.For although He came firstshrouded in humility,yetHe shallcome mani festin power. 24. Let us waitforHim, belovedbrethren,our Judge and Avenger, who shallequallyavenge with Himself the congre gation of His church,and the number of allthe righteous from the beginningof the world. Let him who hurries,and istoo impatientforhisrevenge,considerthateven He Him selfisnot yet avenged who isthe Avenger. God the Father ordainedHis Son to be adored; and the ApostlePaul,mind ful of the divinecommand, lays it down, and says: " God hath exaltedHim, and given Him a name which is above every name, that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things heavenly, and things earthly,and things beneath."1 And in the Apocalypse the angel withstands John, who wishes to worship him, and says: "See thou do it not; for I am thy fellow-servant,and of thy brethren. Worship Jesus the Lord."2 How great isthe Lord Jesus, and how great is His patience,that He who is adored in heaven isnot yet avenged on earth! Let us,beloved bre thren,considerHis patiencein our persecutionsand suffer ings; let us give an obedience fullof expectationto His advent ; and let us not hasten,servantsas we are,to be defended before our Lord with irreligiousand immodest eagerness. Let us rather press onward and labour,and, watching with our whole heart, and stedfastto all en durance,letus keep the Lord'sprecepts; so thatwhen that 1 Phil.ii.9,10. 8 Rev.xxii.9.