1S6 THE TREATISES OF CYPRIAN.
hearing,ticklingtheirears; and shallturn away theirhear
ing indeed from the truth,but they shallbe convertedunto
fables."1
68. That we must departfrom him who livesirregularly
and contraryto discipline.
Paul to the Thessalonians: " But we have commanded
you, in the name of Jesus Christ,that ye depart from all
brethrenwho walk disorderly,and not accordingto the tra
ditionwhich they have receivedfrom us."1 Also in the
forty-ninthPsalm : " If thou sawest a thief,at once thou
rannest with him, and placedstthy portionwith the adul
terers."3
69. That the kingdom of God isnot in the wisdom of the
world,nor in eloquence,but in the faithof the cross,
and in virtueof conversation.
In the firstEpistleof Paul to the Corinthians: " Christ
sentme to preach,not in wisdom of discourse,lestthe cross
of Christ should become of no effect. For the word of
the crossis foolishnessto those who perish; but to those
who are saved it is the power of God. For it iswritten,I
willdestroythe wisdom of the wise,and I willreprove the
prudence of the prudent. Where isthe wise? where isthe
scribe? where isthe disputerof thisworld? Hath not God
made foolishthe wisdom of thisworld? Since indeed,in
the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God, it
pleasedGod by the foolishnessof preaching to save them
thatbelieve. Because the Jews desiresigns,and the Greeks
seek forwisdom : but we preachChristcrucified,to the Jews
indeed a stumbling-block,and to the Gentilesfoolishness;
but to them that are called,Jews and Greeks, Christ the
power of God, and thewisdom of God."4 And again: "Let
no man deceivehimself. If any man thinkthat he iswise
among you, lethim become a foolto thisworld,thathe may
be wise. For the wisdom of thisworld is foolishnesswith
God. For itiswritten,Thou shaltrebuke the wise in their
12 Tim.iv.8,4. >2 Thess.iii.6. 8Pa.I.18. 41 Cor.i.17-24.