36 THE TREATISES OF CYPR1AX.
firmlyfortifiesthe foundationsof our faith. It isthiswhich
liftsup on high the increaseof our hope. It is thiswhich
directsour doing, thatwe may hold fastthe way of Christ
while we walk by His patience. It isthisthatmakes us to
persevereas sons of God, while we imitateour Father's
patience.
21. But sinceI know, beloved brethren,thatvery many
are eager,eitheron account of the burden or the pain of
smarting wrongs, to be quickly avenged of those who act
harshlyand rage againstthem,1we must not withhold the
factin the furthestparticular,that placed as we are in the
midst of thesestorms of a jarringworld,and, moreover,the
persecutionsboth of Jews or Gentiles,and heretics,we may
patientlywait for the day of vengeance,and not hurry to
revenge our sufferingwith a querulous2 haste,sinceit is
written,"Wait ye upon me, saiththe Lord, in the day of
my risingup fora testimony; formy judgment istothecon
gregationsof the nations,thatI may take hold on the kings,
and pour out upon them my fury."3 The Lord commands
us to wait,4and to bearwith brave patiencethe day of future
vengeance; and He also speaks in the Apocalypse,saying,
u Seal not the sayingsof the prophecy of thisbook : fornow
the time is at hand for them that perseverein injuringto
injure,and for him that is filthyto be filthystill; but for
him thatis righteousto do things stillmore righteous,and
likewisefor him that is holy to do things stillmore holy.
Behold,I come quickly; and my reward iswithme, torender
to every man accordingto his deeds."5 Whence alsothe
martyrs,cryingout and hasteningwith griefbreaking forth
to theirrevenge,are bidden stillto wait,and to givepatience
forthe timesto be fulfilledand the martyrsto be completed.
" And when He had opened,"sayshe, u the fifthseal,I saw
1The Oxfordeditionaddshere,accordingto someauthorities," and
willnotputofftherecompenseofevilsuntilthatdayoflastjudgment,
we exhortyou,forthe meanwhile,embracewithus thisbenefitof
patience,that,"etc.; anditomitsthefollowingtenwords.
2On theauthorityofonecodex,Pameliushereadds," andenvious."
3 Zeph.iii.8. * " Dearestbrethren,"Oxfordedit.
* Rev.xxii.10-12.