21 THE TREATISES OF CYPRIAN. treesare loadedwith apples,the groves put on theirleaves, the meadows theirverdure; and while God isprovoked with frequent,yea,with continualoffences,He softensHis indig nation,and in patiencewaitsforthe day of retribution,once for alldetermined; and although He has revenge in His power, He prefersto keep patiencefora long while,bearing, thatisto say,mercifully,and puttingoff,so that,ifitmight be possible,the long protractedmischiefmay at some time be changed,and man, involvedin the contagionof errorsand crimes,may even though latebe convertedto God, as He Himself warns and says," I do not willthe deathof him that dieth,so much asthathe may returnand live."1 And again, " Return unto me, saiththe Lord."2 And again: " Return to the Lord your God ;forHe ismerciful,and gracious,and patient,and of great pity,and who inclinesHis judgment towardsthe evilsinflicted."3Which, moreover,the blessed apostlereferringto,and recallingthe sinnerto repentance, setsforward,and says: " Or despisestthou the richesof His goodness,and forbearance,and long-suffering,not knowing that the patienceand goodnessof God leadeththee to re pentance? But afterthy hardnessand impenitentheartthou treasurestup unto thyselfwrath in the day of wrath and of revelationof the righteousjudgment of God, who shallren der to every one accordingto his works."4 He says that God's judgment isjust,becauseitistardy,becauseitislong and greatlydeferred,so that by the long patienceof God man may be benefitedforlifeeternal. Punishment is then executedon the impiousand the sinner,when repentancefor the sincan no longeravail. 5. And that we may more fully understand, beloved brethren,that patienceisa thingof God, and thatwhoever isgentle,and patient,and meek, is an imitatorof God the Father; when the Lord in His gospelwas givingpreceptsfor salvation,and bringing forthdivinewarnings,was instruct- 1Ezek.xviii.32. 2 Mai.iii.7. The Oxfordeditionomitsthisquotation,andintroduces thenextwiththewords," And againtheprophet." 8Joelii.13. * Rom. ii.4-6.