Testimonia

Publiek archief van verzamelde, gedownloade, ontdubbelde en geverifieerde teksten.
Overzicht / tekstblob

Tekstblob

sha256: 357ca14cc90ac9d8e2e75e9dcac8b29348f048c256df7d9659e774ffa70031be · 2,093 tekens

40 THE TREATISES OF CYPRIAN. milder air and a softerbreeze,should stirup storms and whirlwinds,and bring about the destructionof faithand the shipwreck of salvationand of life. Therefore, beloved brethren,we must be on our guard, and strivewith allour powers to repel,with solicitousand fullwatchfulness,the enemy, raging and aiming hisdartsagainsteveiypartof our body in which we can be strickenand wounded, in accord ance with what the Apostle Peter,in hisepistle,forewarns and teaches,saying," Be sober,and watch ; because your adversarythe devil,as a roaringlion,goethaboutseekingany one to devour."1 2. He goeth about every one of us ; and even as an enemy besiegingthosewho are shut up [ina city],he examines the walls,and trieswhether there isany partof the walls1 less firm and lesstrustworthy,by entrance through which he may penetrateto the inside. He presentsto the eyesseduc tiveforms and easy pleasures,thathe may destroychastityby the sight. He tempts the earswith harmonious music,that by the hearingof sweet sounds he may relax and enervate Christianvigour. He provokes the tongue by reproaches; he instigatesthe hand by exasperatingwrongs to the reck lessnessof murder ; to make the cheat,he presentsdishonest gains; to take captivethe soul by money, he heaps together mischievoushoards; he promises earthlyhonours, that he may depriveof heavenly ones; he makes a show of false things,thathe may stealaway the true; and when he cannot hiddenly deceive,he threatensplainlyand openly,holding forth the fear of turbulentpersecutionto vanquish God's servants— always restless,and always hostile,craftyin peace, and fiercein persecution. 3. Wherefore, belovedbrethren,againstallthe devil'sde ceivingsnaresor open threatenings,the mind ought to stand arrayed and armed, ever as ready to repelas the foe isever ready to attack. And sincethosedartsof his which creep on us in concealmentaremore frequent,and hismore hidden and secrethurling of them is the more severelyand fre quentlyeffectualto our wounding, in proportionas it is the 1 1 Pet.v.8. sAccordingtosome," ofourmembers." \

Alle records · Zoek op deze hash