244 TREATISES ATTRIBUTED TO CYPRIAN. of]allthesetrials? If you are assailedwith injuries,He was firstso assailed.If you areoppressedwith reproaches,you areimitatingthe experienceof God. Whence alsoitisbut a littlematterwhatever you undergo for Him, seeingthat you can do nothingmore,unlessthatin thisconsiststhewhole of salvation,that He has promised the whole to martyrdom. Finally,the apostle,to whom allthingswere alwaysdear, while he deeplymarvelledat the greatnessof the promised henefits,said," I reckon that the sufferingsof thispresent time are not worthy to be compared to the glorythatisto follow,which shallbe revealedin us."1 Because he was musing in hisown mind how greatwould be the reward,that to him to whom itwould be enough to be freefrom death, should be given not only the prerogativeof salvation,hut alsoto ascendto heaven— to heaven which isnot constrained into darkness,even when lightis expelledfrom it,and the day doesnot unfoldintolightby alternatechanges; butthe serenetemperatureof theliquidairunfoldsa pure brightness through a clearnessthatreddenswith a fieryglow. 19. It now remains,belovedbrethren,thatwe areboundto show what istheadvantageof martyrdom, and thatwe should teach that especially,so that the fear of the futuremay stimulateus to thisglorioustitle.Because those towhom greatthingsare promised,seem to have greaterthingswhich theyare bound to fear. For the soldierdoesnot arousehim selfto arms beforethe enemy have brandishedtheirhostile weapons; nor doesa man withdraw hisshipin an anchorage, unlessthe fearof the deep have checked hiscourage. More overalso,whileeagerforhiswealth,theconsideratehusband man doesnot stirup the earthwith a fortunateploughshare, beforethe crumbling glebeisloosenedintodust by therain that it has received. Thus thisis the naturalpracticeof everyman, to be ignorantof what isof advantage,unlessyou recognisewhat has been mischievous. Whence alsoa reward isgivento allthesaints,inthatthe punishment of theirdeeds isinflictedon theunrighteous. Thereforewhat theLordhas promisedto His peopleisdoubtfulto none,however ignorant 1Rom.viii.18.