242 TREATISES ATTRIBUTED TO CYPRIAN. when you behold in the glisteningearththe goldglittering under the tremulouslight,and meltingintoa liquidformby the roaringflames(forthisalsois generallythe careof the workmen), whenever from the panting furnacesisvomited forththe glowing fire,the rich flame is drawn away from the accessof the earthin a narrow channel,and iskeptback by sand from the refluentmasses of earth. Whence itis necessaryto sufferallthings,thatwe may be freefrom all wickedness,as He has saidby His prophet: " And though in the sightof men they have sufferedtorments,yetistheir hope fullof immortality; and being vexed in a few things, theyshallbe wellrewarded in many things,becauseGod has triedthem, and has found them worthy of Himself,andLas receivedthem as a sacrificeof burnt-offering."1 17. But ifambitiousdignitydeteryou, and the amountof your money heaped up in your storesinfluenceyou— a cause which ever distractsthe intentionsof a virtuousheart,and assailsthe souldevotedto itsLord witha fearfultrembling— I beg that you would again refer to the heavenlywords. For it is the very voice of Christ who speaks,and says, "Whosoever shalllosehis lifefor my name's sake,shall receivein thisworld a hundred-fold,and in the worldto come shallpossesseternallife.'"And we ought assuredly to reckon nothing greater,nothingmore advantageous,than this. For although in the nature of your costlygarments the purple dye flows into figures,and in the slackening threadsthe gold straysintoa pattern,and the weightymetals to which you devote yourselvesare not wanting in yourex cavated treasures; still,unlessI am mistaken,thosethings willbe esteemedvain and purposeless,if,whileallthingselse are added to you, salvationalone is found to be wanting; even as the Holy Spiritdeclaresthatwe can give nothingin exchange for our soul. For He says," If you shouldgain the whole world,and loseyour own soul,what shallitprofit you,or what exchange shalla man giveforhissoulV" For allthose thingswhich we behold are worthless,and such as restingon weak foundations,are unable to sustainthe 1Wisd.iii.4. •Matt.x.39. 8Matt.xv.26.