42 THE TREATISES OF CYPRIAN. prevailedthe rage of envy to the consummation of thatdeed of wickedness,thatneitherthe loveof his brother,nor the immensity of the crime,nor the fearof God, nor the penalty of the sin,was considered. He was unrighteouslystricken who had been the firstto show righteousness;he endured hatredwho had not known how to hate; he was impiously slain,who, dying,did not resist.And thatEsau was hostile to hisbrotherJacob, arosefrom jealousyalso. For because the latterhad receivedhisfather'sblessing,the former was inflamed to a persecutinghatred by the brands of jealousy. And that Joseph was soldby his brethren,the reason of theirsellinghim proceeded from envy. When in simpli city,and as a brotherto brethren,he set forthto them the prosperitywhich had been shown to him in visions,their malevolentdispositionbroke forthintoenvy. Moreover, that Saul the king hated David, so as to seek by oftenrepeated persecutionsto killhim — innocent,merciful,gentle,patient in meekness— what elsewas the provocationsavethe spur of jealousy? Because,when Goliathwas slain,and by the aid and condescensionof God so greatan enemy was routed,the wondering people burstforthwith the suffrageof acclama tion intopraisesof David, Saul through jealousyconceived the rage of enmity and persecution.And, not to go to the lengthof numbering each one, letus observethe destruction of a people that perishedonce for all.1Did not the Jews perishfor thisreason,that they choseratherto envy Christ than to believeHim ? Disparagingthosegreatworks which He did,they were deceivedby blindingjealousy,and could not open the eyesof theirheart to the knowledge of divine things. 6. Consideringwhich things,belovedbrethren,letus with vigilanceand courage fortifyour heartsdedicatedto God againstsuch a destructivenessof evil. Let the death of othersavailforour safety; letthe punishment of the un wise conferhealthupon the prudent. Moreover,thereisno ground for any one to suppose-thatevilof thatkind iscon finedin one form,orrestrainedwithinbrieflimitsina narrow 1 Variously" semel"or" simul."