28 THE TREATISES OF CYPRIAN. neitherwas deceitfound in His mouth ; who, when He was reviled,revilednot again;when He suffered,threatenednot, but gave Himself up to him thatjudged Him unjustly."1 10. Finally,we find that both patriarchsand prophets, and allthe righteousmen who in theirpreceding likeness wore the figureof Christ,in the praiseof theirvirtueswere watchful over nothingmore than that they should preserve patiencewith a strongand stedfastequanimity..Thus Abel, who firstinitiatedand consecratedthe originof martyrdom, and the passionof therighteousman, makes no resistancenor strugglesagainsthisfratricidal2brother,but with lowliness and meekness he ispatientlyslain.Thus Abraham, believing God, and firstof allinstitutingthe root and foundationof faith,when triedin respectof his son,does not hesitatenor delay,but obeys the commands of God with allthe patience of devotion. And Isaac,prefiguredas the likenessof the Lord's victim,when he is presentedby hisfatherforimmo lation,is found patient. And Jacob, driven forth by his brotherfrom hiscountry,departswith patience; and after wards with greaterpatience,he suppliantlybringshim back to concordwith peacefulgifts,when he iseven more impious and persecuting. Joseph, sold by his brethren and sent away, not only with patiencepardons them, but even bounti fullyand mercifullybestows gratuitoussuppliesof corn on them when they come to him. Moses is frequentlycon temned by an ungratefuland faithlesspeople,and almost stoned; and yet with gentlenessand patiencehe entreatsthe Lord for those people. But in David, from whom, accord ing to the flesh,the nativityof Christsprings,how greatand marvellousand Christianisthe patience,that he oftenhad it in hispower to be ableto killking Saul,who was persecuting him and desiringto slayhim ; and yet,choseratherto save him when placed in his hand, and deliveredup to him, not repayinghisenemy in turn,but rather,on thecontrary,even avenging him when slain! In fine,so many prophets were slain,so many martyrs were honoured with gloriousdeaths, 1 1 Pet.ii.21-23,witha singulardeparturefromthereceivedtext. *Accordingtosome," parricidal."