20 THE TREATISES OF CYPRIAN.
everisof God iscommon in our use;nor isany one excluded
from His benefitsand His gifts,so as to prevent the whole
human racefrom enjoying equallythe divinegoodness and
liberality.Thus the day equallyenlightens,the sun gives
radiance,the rain moistens,the wind blows,and the sleepis
one to thosethatsleep,and the splendourof the starsand of
the moon is common. In which example of equality,1he
who, as a possessorin the earth,shareshisreturnsand his
fruitswith the fraternity,whilehe iscommon and justin his
gratuitousbounties,isan imitatorof God the Father.
26. What, dearestbrethren,will be that glory of those
who labourcharitably— how greatand high the joywhen the
Lord beginsto number His people,and distributingto our
meritsand good works the promisedrewards,togiveheavenly
thingsfor earthly,eternalthings for temporal,great things
forsmall; to presentus to the Father,to whom He has re
storedus by His sanctification; to bestow upon us immor
talityand eternity,to which He has renewed us by the
quickeningof His blood; to bring us anew to paradise,to
open the kingdom of heaven,in the faithand truth of His
promise! Let thesethings abide firmlyin our perceptions,
letthem be understoodwith fullfaith,letthem be lovedwith
our whole heart,letthem be purchased by the magnanimity
of our increasinglabours. An illustriousand divinething,
dearestbrethren,is the saving labour of charity; a great
comfort of believers,a wholesome guard of our security,a
protectionof hope,a safeguardof faith,a remedy for sin,a
thingplacedin the power of the doer,a thingbothgreatand
easy,a crown of peacewithoutthe riskof persecution; the
trueand greatestgiftof God, needfulfor the weak, glorious
forthe strong,assistedby which the Christianaccomplishes
spiritualgrace,deserveswell of Christthe Judge, accounts
God hisdebtor. For thispalm of works of salvationletus
gladlyand readilystrive; letus all,in the struggleof right
eousness,run with God and Christlookingon ; and let us
who have alreadybegun to be greaterthan thislifeand the
1Thisappearstobe thelessusualreading,theordinaryone being
*'equity."