20 THE TREATISES OF CYPRIAN. everisof God iscommon in our use;nor isany one excluded from His benefitsand His gifts,so as to prevent the whole human racefrom enjoying equallythe divinegoodness and liberality.Thus the day equallyenlightens,the sun gives radiance,the rain moistens,the wind blows,and the sleepis one to thosethatsleep,and the splendourof the starsand of the moon is common. In which example of equality,1he who, as a possessorin the earth,shareshisreturnsand his fruitswith the fraternity,whilehe iscommon and justin his gratuitousbounties,isan imitatorof God the Father. 26. What, dearestbrethren,will be that glory of those who labourcharitably— how greatand high the joywhen the Lord beginsto number His people,and distributingto our meritsand good works the promisedrewards,togiveheavenly thingsfor earthly,eternalthings for temporal,great things forsmall; to presentus to the Father,to whom He has re storedus by His sanctification; to bestow upon us immor talityand eternity,to which He has renewed us by the quickeningof His blood; to bring us anew to paradise,to open the kingdom of heaven,in the faithand truth of His promise! Let thesethings abide firmlyin our perceptions, letthem be understoodwith fullfaith,letthem be lovedwith our whole heart,letthem be purchased by the magnanimity of our increasinglabours. An illustriousand divinething, dearestbrethren,is the saving labour of charity; a great comfort of believers,a wholesome guard of our security,a protectionof hope,a safeguardof faith,a remedy for sin,a thingplacedin the power of the doer,a thingbothgreatand easy,a crown of peacewithoutthe riskof persecution; the trueand greatestgiftof God, needfulfor the weak, glorious forthe strong,assistedby which the Christianaccomplishes spiritualgrace,deserveswell of Christthe Judge, accounts God hisdebtor. For thispalm of works of salvationletus gladlyand readilystrive; letus all,in the struggleof right eousness,run with God and Christlookingon ; and let us who have alreadybegun to be greaterthan thislifeand the 1Thisappearstobe thelessusualreading,theordinaryone being *'equity."