The marrow of ecclesiastical history contained in the lives of one hundred forty eight fathers, schoolmen, first reformers and modern divines which have flourished in the Church since Christ's time to this present age : faithfully collected and orderly disposed according to the centuries wherein they lived, together with the lively effigies of most of the eminentest of them cut in copper / by Samuel Clark.

[illustration]

CIPRIAN

The Life of Cyprian, who dyed Anno Christi 259. (Book Cyprian)

CYprian was an African,* 1.1 born in the ancient City of Car∣thage, and being educated in the study of the Liberal Arts, he profited so much therein, that whilest he was young he was chosen Professor of Rhetorick. Yet was he at first a Gentile, and Idolator, loose and profane in his practise, and much addicted to the study of Magical Arts: But it pleased God, who had chosen him to be a vessel of mercy for his own glory, to convert him by the means and Ministry of Cecilius, a godly Presbyter of Carthage, (whose name he ever afterwards bore;) and through the occasion of hearing him preach upon the History of the Prophet Jonas; Immediatly upon his conversion,* 1.2 he distributed

all his goods amongst the poor:* 1.3 And the Carthagenians percei∣ving in him a very great zeal and ardour for the propagation of the Christian Religion, they prevailed with him to be ordained a Presbyter, in which office he so worthily demeaned himself, that not long after he was made the Bishop of the Church of Car∣thage;* 1.4 and therein gave an excellent example of Modesty, Hu∣mility, Charity,* 1.5 Greatness of mind and Fidelity. His modesty ap∣peared, in that in all great and weighty businesses he would never determin or act any thing of himself, but by the common consent and advice of his Presbyters, yea he many times called in the help and assistance of the whole Church; His humility appeared,* 1.6 in that he was never tenacious, nor wilfull in his own judgement, but what was wholsomly advised and counselled by his brethren and Collegues, that he willingly assented to. His charity was notably seen,* 1.7 in that he did not only commend the care of the poor to his Presbyters; but himself also, according to his abi∣lity, was alwayes forward in ministring to them. The greatness of his mind appeared in this speech of his,* 1.8 Si qui sunt, &c. If there be any, saith he, that think to adjoyn themselves to the Church, not by their prayers, but by their threats; not by their humiliation and satisfaction when they have scandalized the Brethren, but by their great words and menaces: let all such know, that the Church of the Lord will oppose them, and that the Tents of Christ will prove immovable, and not to be con∣quered by them. His fidelity will notably appear by his Epistles,* 1.9 wherein he excellently comforts the afflicted, recalls such as were faln; or commends the care of them to other Bishops of the Church, vigorously opposeth the Hereticks and Schismaticks. Neither was he only a Spectator of the Martyrdom of others; but suffered himself to be proscribed,* 1.10 yea chose death rather then to betray the truth of the Gospel, or to approve of the least defection to the impious worship of the Gentiles.

By these means his fame increased so exceedingly that he was not so much the Bishop of Carthage, as of all Africk, yea of Spain, the East, West and Northern Churches. Yea, he was judg∣ed the Father of all Christians.

And to the further setting forth (to the praise of Gods grace) of his glorious vertues wherewith he was endued, appear∣ing as well in his own works, as described by other worthy Wri∣ters:

he was courteous and gentle, loving and full of patience, and therewithal severe and impartial in his Office. Furthermore he was most affable and kinde towards his Brethren, and took much pains in helping and releiving the Martyrs: Yea, he wrote Letters to the Elders and Deacons of his Bishopwrick, that with all study and endeavour they should gently enter∣tain, and do all the Offices of love that possibly they could to the Martyrs in his absence. He was very prudent and circum∣spect: Of a marvellous liberal disposition towards the Brethren that fled for refuge from other Countries: and so often as he had cause of absence,* 1.11 he committed the care of those poor men to his fellow Officers, writing to them, that of their own proper goods they should help their banished Brethren to that which was necessary for them.

He had also great skill in the fore-knowledge of future events. He was of so communicative a disposition that he con∣cealed nothing which he knew, but with meekness and willing∣ness uttered it to others. He maintained Ecclesiastical Peace and Concord with those that differed from him in smaller mat∣ters. Lastly, he neither circumvented, nor did prejudice to any man: but did that which always seemed good in his judgement. He much addicted himself to reading,* 1.12 and would let no day pass wherein he read not some part of Tertullians Works, and when he called for him, he used to say, Da Magistrum, Give me my Master.* 1.13 He chiefly studied to keep his body continent, and clean from fleshly lusts, saying, That then his heart would be truly sit to attain to the full capacity and understanding of the Truth, if once he could trample down Concupiscence.

A great Persecution being raised against the Church of Christ by Aemilianus President of Egypt, Paternus, and Ga∣lerius Maximus, Proconsuls of Africk, Cyprian sheweth the true causes thereof in his fourth Book, Epist, the fourth, in these words,

We (saith he) must acknowledge and confess,* 1.14 that this turbulent oppression and calamity which hath wasted for the most part all our Church, and doth dayly more and more consume it, ariseth chiefly from our own wickedness and sins, whilst we walk not in the way of the Lord, nor observe his Precepts left unto us for our instructi∣on. Our Lord Christ observed the will of his Father in all points;

but we observe not the will of the Lord having all our minde and study set upon lucre and possessions: we are given to pride: full of emulation and dissention: void of simplicity and faithful dealing: renouncing this World in word only, but not in deed; every man pleasing himself, and displeasing all others; and therefore are we thus scourged and that worthily; for what stripes and scourges do we not deserve, when as the Confessors themselves who formerly enaured the trial of their Faith, and ought to be an example to the rest in well doing, do now observe no Discipline? And therefore for their sakes who proudly brag with swelling words of their former Con∣fession and Sufferings, these torments come, even such as do not easily send us to the Crown, except by the mercy of God, some be∣ing taken away by a quick death, do prevent the tediousnes of pu∣nishment. These things do we suffer for our sins and deserts, as by the Lords threatning we have been forewarned, where he saith, If they shall forsake my Law, and will not walk in my Judgements, If they shall prophane my Institutions, and will not observe my Precepts, I will visit their iniquities with the rod, and their trans∣gressions with scourges. These rods and scourges we justly feel who neither please God with our good deeds, nor repent of the evil; wherefore (saith he) let us pray from the bottom of our hearts, and with our whole minde, and let us intreat his mercy who promi∣seth that his loving kindness shall not be wholly taken away. Let us ask and we shall obtain; and though we be delayed, yet seeing we have grievously offended, let us continue knocking; for he hath promised that to them that knock it shall be opened: therefore with our Prayers, sighs and tears let us still knock, and we shall be sure to speed, &c. And in another part of his Epistle, he shews what vices were principally reigning amongst the Christians,* 1.15 viz. grievous di∣visions and dissentions amongst the Brethren. For when these words were spoken to them in a Vision, Petite & impetrabitis: Pray, and ye shall obtain: afterwards when it was required of the Congregation to direct their Prayers unto God in the behalf of certain persons assigned to them by name, they could not agree about the persons that were to be prayed for, but disagreed in their Petitions, which thing did greatly dis∣please God, that spake unto them, Pray, and ye shall obtain, because they were not uniform in voice and heart, neither was there one joint consent amongst the Brethren. Upon which

occasion Cyprian moveth them to Prayer with mutual agreement. For (saith he) if it be promised in the Gospel, that whatsoever two or three shall agree upon to ask upon Earth, it shall be grant∣ed in Heaven, what shall then be done when the whole Church agree together? Or what if this Unanimity were amongst the whole Fraternity? which Unanimity if it had been amongst the Brethren, Non venissent fratribus haec mala, si in unum fraterni∣tas fuisset animata, i. e. These evils had not befaln the Brethren, if they had joined together in brotherly Unanimity.

Cyprian having thus described the causes of this Persecution, sets down a Vision, wherein was shewed unto him by the Lord before the Presecution came, what should happen:* 1.16 The Vision (saith he) was this; There was a certain aged Father sitting, at whose right hand sat a young man very sad, and pensive, as one that with indignation is sorrowful, with his hand upon his breast, and an heavie countenance. On the other hand sat a person having a Net in his hand, wherewith he threatned to catch the people that stood about; and as Cyprian marvelled hereat, it was said unto him; The young man whom thou seest sit on the right hand is sad and sorrowful, because his Precepts are not observed: But he on the left hand danceth and is merry, for that occasion is hence given to him to get power from the ancient Father to afflict men. This Vision was seen long be∣fore this tempest of Persecution happened, wherein was decla∣red, that the sins of the Christians were the cause why Satan in this and in all other Persecutions, did then, and still doth get such power, with his Net of destruction to rage against the blood of Christian men: and all (saith Cyprian) because we neglect Praying, and are not so vigilant therein as we should be: where∣fore the Lord, because he loveth us, corrects us: corrects us to amend us: amends us to save us, &c. And further speaking about this Vision, he saith; To the least of his servants, both sin∣ful and unworthy, hath God of his tender goodness vouchsafed to reveal these things: and tell him, said God, that he be quiet, and of good comfort, for Peace will come, albeit there be a little stay for a while, for that some remain yet to be proved and tryed.* 1.17 He had also another Vision, wherein he was admonished to use a spare dyet, and to be sober in his drink, least his minde given to heavenly meditations, might be drawn away with

worldly allurements, or oppressed with too much surfeting up∣on meats and drinks, and thereby should be less apt and able to Prayer and spiritual Exercises.

Furthermore, whereas the Christians were charged by the Heathens as the causes of all publike calamities;* 1.18 he tels them that it was long before prophesied of by Christ, that towards the end of the World there should be Famine, Wars and Pesti∣lences, which was rather to be imputed to their impious Idola∣try, and contempt of the ture God, then to Christians: which evils (saith he) are increased by the wickedness of men: For, Famens majorem facit rapacitas, juàm siccitas. Famine comes more by the Avarice of men then by the drought of the Ayr: but the special cause thereof proceeds from the sheding of so much Christian blood. And whereas the Christians were condemned for not worshipping their Idols: he shewed that those Idols were no true Gods, but Images of certain dead Kings, which could neither save themselves from death, nor such as worship∣ed and trusted in them.

In the beginning of this Persecution,* 1.19 Cyprian went into vo∣luntary banishment, least (as himself saith) he should do more hurt then good to the Congregation: And from the desolate places of his abode, where yet he was often sought after, he wrote to the Churches, shewing thereby the beseeming vertue of a faithful Pastor in that he took no less care of his Flock in his absence then when he was present.* 1.20

After the death of the Emperour Decius he returned to his place,* 1.21 but not long after he was again banished by Paternus, the Proconsul of Africa, into the City of Thurben. But when Paternus the Proconsul was dead, he came back again, and Ga∣lienus Maximus succeeding in the Office of Paternus, found Cy∣prian in a Garden,* 1.22 whereupon he caused him to be apprehended by his Sergeants, and to be carried before the Idols to offer Sa∣crifice; which when he would not do, the Proconsul brake forth into these words, saying, Long hast thou lived in a sacrilegious minde, and hast gathered together men of a wicked conspiracy and hast shewed thy self an enemy to the gods of the Romans, and to their holy Laws, neither could the sacred Emperours Va∣lerianus and Galienus revoke thee to the Sect of their Ceremo∣nies; wherefore I condemn thee to have thy head cut-off; To

this he answered joyfully; Do fully what belongs to your Of∣fice: and thereupon putting off his Apparel, he gave it to his Deacons, wishing them to give his Executioner 25 peices of gold in testimony of his love to him, and so kneeling down he cover∣ed his Eyes,* 1.23 and willingly submitted his Neck to the stroke of the Sword, suffering Martyrdom, Anno Christi, 259.

He was undaunted in the time of Persecution,* 1.24 so that neither his wives disswasions, nor the Worlds frowns, nor the malice of his Adversaries could affright him: He never turned Widdow emptie from him:* 1.25 He was the blinde mans Eyes, the lame mans Legs, the naked mans Garment: He called Cecilius that con∣verted him, Novae vitae parentem, the Father of his Christian life: His carriage was such, as it was hard to say whether he was more loved or feared: He tels that the Church ha∣ving enjoyed long Peace, all men studied their private wealth, so that Devotion, Religion, and good Discipline were quite neg∣lected, and all estates were fearfully corrupted: Ergò sivit hoc flagellum Deus, therefore (saith he) God suffered this scourge of Persecution to reform it: In the time of a Pestilence he shewed much piety and charity,* 1.26 comforting some, administring to the wants of others, and stirring up others to do the like: He suffered under Valerianus and Galienus.

Some of his usual sayings were these;* 1.27 Ne dormiat in Thesauris tuis quod pauperi prodesse potest. Let not that sleep in thy Treasury that may be profitable to the Poor.

Duo nunquam veteras••unt in homine, cor semper novas cogita∣tiones machinando; Lingua vanas cordis conceptiones proferendo. Two things never wax old in man: the heart ever imagining new cogitations; the tongue ever uttering the vain conceptions of the heart.

Quod al▪ quando de necessitate amittendum est, sponte pro Divina remuneratione distribuendum est. That which a man must ne∣cessarily sometime part with, it's wisdom for a man to distribute it so that God may everlastingly reward him.

Integritas ibi nulla esse potest ubi qui improbos damnent desunt, & soli qui damnentur occurru••t. There can be no integrity, where∣as they which should condemn the wicked are ever wanting, and they only which should be condemned are ever present.

S••rioum & purpuram indutae, Christum induere non possunt:

Women that pride themselves in putting on silk and purple, can∣not lightly put on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Faminae crines suos malo praesagio inficiunt: capillos enim sib: flammeos auspicati non metuunt: They which colour their locks with yellow and red, begin betimes to prognosticate of what e••∣lour their hair shall be in Hell.

Qui se pingunt in hoc seculo aliter quàm creavit Deus, metuant ne cum venerit resurrectionis dies, artifex creaturam suam non recognoscat. They which love to paint themselves in this world, otherwise then God created them, may justly fear that at the Resurrection their Creator will not know them.

Qui Pauperi elemosynam dat, Deo suavitatis odorem sacrificat, He that gives an alms to the Poor, offers a sweet smelling Sacri∣fice unto God.

Contemnenda est omnis injuria praesentium malorum, fiducia fu∣turorum bonorum: All injurie of evils present is to be neglected, for the hope of good things to come.

Nihil prodest verbis proferre virtutem, & factis destruere: To set out vertue in words, and by deeds to destroy the same, is no∣thing worth.

Cyprian in another Book mentioneth twelve absurdities in the life of man, which are these;

Sapiens sine operibus: A wise man without good works.

Senex sine Religione: An old man without Religion.

Adolescens sine Obedientia: A young man without Obedience.

Dives sine Elemosyna: A rich man without Alms.

Famina sine Pudicitia: A woman without shamefastness.

Dominus sine Virtute: A guide without Vertue.

Christianus contentiosus: A contentious Christian.

Pauper superbus: A poor man that is proud.

Rex inîquns: A King that is unjust.

Episcopus negligens: A Bishop that is negligent.

Plebs sine Disciplina: People without Discipline.

Populus sine Lege: Subjects without Law.

His works are four Books, containing 62 Epistles; Besides,

Tractatus contra Demetrianum. De Habitu Virginum,* 1.28 De Simplicitate Praelatorum. De Idolorum Vanitate. Sermo de Ele emosyna. De Zelo & Livore. De bono Patientiae. De Mortali∣tate. De Lapsis. De Oratione Dominica. Liber de Exhortatione Martyris.

Notes

• * 1.1

  His birth and education.
• * 1.2

  His Conver∣sion.
• * 1.3

  His charity.
• * 1.4

  He is made Bishop.
• * 1.5

  His modesty.
• * 1.6

  His humility.
• * 1.7

  His charity.
• * 1.8

  His magnani∣mity.
• * 1.9

  His Fidelity.
• * 1.10

  His Courage.
• * 1.11

  His Charity to Exiles.
• * 1.12

  His studious∣ness.
• * 1.13

  His Chastity.
• * 1.14

  ••in the fore ••unner of Per∣secution.
• * 1.15

  The sins of Professors.
• * 1.16

  A Vision.
• * 1.17

  Another Vi∣sion.
• * 1.18

  He vindicates the Christi∣ans from scandals.
• * 1.19

  He goes into exile.
• * 1.20

  A faithful Pa∣stor.
• * 1.21

  He is again banished.
• * 1.22

  His apprehen∣sion.
• * 1.23

  His martyr∣dom.
• * 1.24

  His courage.
• * 1.25

  His charity.
• * 1.26

  His charity.
• * 1.27

  His sayings.
• * 1.28

  His works.