Epistle LXXVI.893    Oxford ed.: Ep. lxxvi. We gather that this was written in exile from these words, “If the limits of the place appointed me did not restrain me, banished as I am on account of the confession of the Name.”  a.d. 257.

Cyprian to Nemesianus and Other Martyrs in the Mines.894    [Compare vol. iii. p. 693.]

Argument.—He Extols with Wonderful Commendations the Martyrs in the Mines, Opposing, in a Beautiful Antithesis, to the Tortures of Each, the Consolations of Each.

1. Cyprian to Nemesianus, Felix, Lucius, another Felix, Litteus, Polianus, Victor, Jader, and Dativus, his fellow-bishops, also to his fellow-presbyters and deacons, and the rest of the brethren in the mines, martyrs of God the Father Almighty, and of Jesus Christ our Lord, and of God our preserver, everlasting greeting. Your glory, indeed, would demand, most blessed and beloved brethren, that I myself should come to see and to embrace you, if the limits of the place appointed me did not restrain me, banished as I am for the sake of the confession of the Name. But in what way I can, I bring myself into your presence; and even though it is not permitted me to come to you in body and in movement, yet in love and in spirit I come expressing my mind in my letter, in which mind I joyfully exult in those virtues and praises of yours, counting myself a partaker with you, although not in bodily suffering, yet in community of love. Could I be silent and restrain my voice in stillness, when I am made aware of so many and such glorious things concerning my dearest friends, things with which the divine condescension has honoured you, so that part of you have already gone before by the consummation of their martyrdom to receive from their Lord the crown of their deserts?  Part still abide in the dungeons of the prison, or in the mines and in chains, exhibiting by the very delays of their punishments, greater examples for the strengthening and arming of the brethren, advancing by the tediousness of their tortures to more ample titles of merit, to receive as many payments in heavenly rewards, as days are now counted in their punishments. I do not marvel, most brave and blessed brethren, that these things have happened to you in consideration of the desert of your religion and your faith; that the Lord should thus have lifted you to the lofty height of glory by the honour of His glorification, seeing that you have always flourished in His Church, guarding the tenor of the faith, keeping firmly the Lord’s commands; in simplicity, innocence; in charity, concord; modesty in humility, diligence in administration, watchfulness in helping those that suffer, mercy in cherishing the poor, constancy in defending the truth, judgment in severity of discipline. And that nothing should be wanting to the example of good deeds in you, even now, in the confession of your voice and the suffering of your body, you provoke the minds of your brethren to divine martyrdom, by exhibiting yourselves as leaders of virtue, that while the flock follows its pastors, and imitates what it sees to be done by those set over it, it may be crowned with the like merits of obedience by the Lord.

2. But that, being first severely beaten with clubs, and ill-used, you have begun by sufferings of that kind, the glorious firstlings of your confession, is not a matter to be execrated by us. For a Christian body is not very greatly terrified at clubs, seeing all its hope is in the Wood.895    Scil.: “of the cross.” [Fanciful in logic, but our author may be indulged in his rhetoric.  It was suited to the times.] The servant of Christ acknowledges the sacrament of his salvation: redeemed by wood to life eternal, he is advanced by wood to the crown. But what wonder if, as golden and silver vessels, you have been committed to the mine that is the home of gold and silver, except that now the nature of the mines is changed, and the places which previously had been accustomed to yield gold and silver have begun to receive them? Moreover, they have put fetters on your feet, and have bound your blessed limbs, and the temples of God with disgraceful chains, as if the spirit also could be bound with the body, or your gold could be stained by the contact of iron. To men who are dedicated to God, and attesting their faith with religious courage, such things are ornaments, not chains; nor do they bind the feet of the Christians for infamy, but glorify them for a crown. Oh feet blessedly bound, which are loosed, not by the smith but by the Lord! Oh feet blessedly bound, which are guided to paradise in the way of salvation! Oh feet bound for the present time in the world, that they may be always free with the Lord! Oh feet, lingering for a while among the fetters and cross-bars,896    [i.e., of the stocks.] but to run quickly to Christ on a glorious road! Let cruelty, either envious or malignant, hold you here in its bonds and chains as long as it will, from this earth and from these sufferings you shall speedily come to the kingdom of heaven. The body is not cherished in the mines with couch and cushions, but it is cherished with the refreshment and solace of Christ.  The frame wearied with labours lies prostrate on the ground, but it is no penalty to lie down with Christ. Your limbs unbathed, are foul and disfigured with filth and dirt; but within they are spiritually cleansed, although without the flesh is defiled.  There the bread is scarce; but man liveth not by bread alone, but by the word of God. Shivering, you want clothing; but he who puts on Christ is both abundantly clothed and adorned. The hair of your half-shorn head897    [As of convict criminals. An honourable tonsure.] seems repulsive; but since Christ is the head of the man, anything whatever must needs become that head which is illustrious on account of Christ’s name. All that deformity, detestable and foul to Gentiles, with what splendour shall it be recompensed! This temporal and brief suffering, how shall it be exchanged for the reward of a bright and eternal honour, when, according to the word of the blessed apostle, “the Lord shall change the body of our humiliation, that it may be fashioned like to the body of His brightness!”898    Phil. iii. 21.

3. But there cannot be felt any loss of either religion or faith, most beloved brethren, in the fact that now there is given no opportunity there to God’s priests for offering and celebrating the divine sacrifices; yea, you celebrate and offer a sacrifice to God equally899    [This is very strong language, and absolutely disproves transubstantiation and “the eucharistic God” of Dufresne, Med., iii.] precious and glorious, and that will greatly profit you for the retribution of heavenly rewards, since the sacred Scripture speaks, saying, “The sacrifice of God is a broken spirit; a contrite and humbled heart God doth not despise.”900    Ps. li. 18. You offer this sacrifice to God; you celebrate this sacrifice without intermission day and night, being made victims to God, and exhibiting yourselves as holy and unspotted offerings, as the apostle exhorts and says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God. And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.”901    Rom. xii. 1, 2.

4. For this it is which especially pleases God; it is this wherein our works with greater deserts are successful in earning God’s good-will; this it is which alone the obedience of our faith and devotion can render to the Lord for His great and saving benefits, as the Holy Spirit declares and witnesses in the Psalms: “What shall I render,” says He, “to the Lord for all His benefits towards me? I will take the cup of salvation, and I will call upon the name of the Lord. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.”902    Ps. cxvi. 12, 13, 15. Who would not gladly and readily receive the cup of salvation? Who would not with joy and gladness desire that in which he himself also may render somewhat unto His Lord? Who would not bravely and unfalteringly receive a death precious in the sight of the Lord, to please His eyes, who, looking down from above upon us who are placed in the conflict for His name, approves the willing, assists the struggling, crowns the conquering with the recompense of patience, goodness, and affection, rewarding in us whatever He Himself has bestowed, and honouring what He has accomplished?

5. For that it is His doing that we conquer, and that we attain by the subduing of the adversary to the palm of the greatest contest, the Lord declares and teaches in His Gospel, saying, “But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak; for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.”903    Matt. x. 19, 20. And again: “Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which your adversaries shall not be able to resist.”904    Luke xxi. 14, 15. In which, indeed, is both the great confidence of believers, and the gravest fault of the faithless, that they do not trust Him who promises to give His help to those who confess Him, and do not on the other hand fear Him who threatens eternal punishment to those who deny Him.

6. All which things, most brave and faithful soldiers of Christ, you have suggested to your brethren, fulfilling in deeds what ye have previously taught in words, hereafter to be greatest in the kingdom of heaven, as the Lord promises and says, “Whosoever shall do and teach so, shall be called the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”905    Matt. v. 19. Moreover, a manifold portion of the people, following your example, have confessed alike with you, and alike have been crowned, associated with you in the bond of the strongest charity, and separated from their prelates neither by the prison nor by the mines; in the number of whom neither are there wanting virgins in whom the hundred-fold are added to the fruit of sixty-fold, and whom a double glory has advanced to the heavenly crown. In boys also a courage greater than their age has surpassed their years in the praise of their confession, so that every sex and every age should adorn the blessed flock of your martyrdom.906    [No one can read these obiter dicta of our author without assurance that the martyrs were a numerous army, beyond what is generally allowed. “A noble army, men and boys” (Heber).]

7. What now must be the vigour, beloved brethren, of your victorious consciousness, what the loftiness of your mind, what exultation in feeling, what triumph in your breast, that every one of you stands near to the promised reward of God, are secure from the judgment of God, walk in the mines with a body captive indeed, but with a heart reigning, that you know Christ is present with you, rejoicing in the endurance of His servants, who are ascending by His footsteps and in His paths to the eternal kingdoms! You daily expect with joy the saving day of your departure; and already about to withdraw from the world, you are hastening to the rewards of martyrdom, and to the divine homes, to behold after this darkness of the world the purest light, and to receive a glory greater than all sufferings and conflicts, as the apostle witnesses, and says, “The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us.”907    Rom. viii. 18. And because now your word is more effectual in prayers, and supplication is more quick to obtain what is sought for in afflictions, seek more eagerly, and ask that the divine condescension would consummate the confession of all of us; that from this darkness and these snares of the world God would set us also free with you, sound and glorious; that we who here are united in the bond of charity and peace, and have stood together against the wrongs of heretics and the oppressions of the heathens, may rejoice together in the heavenly kingdom. I bid you, most blessed and most beloved brethren, ever farewell in the Lord, and always and everywhere remember me.908    [See next letter. I cannot conceive of any Christian as not profoundly touched and edified by this eloquent and scriptural letter of a martyr to martyrs in a period of fiery trial. They truly believed what is written, “to die is gain.” Phil. i. 21.]

EPISTOLA LXXVII. (Erasm., III, 25. Pamel., Rigalt., Baluz., LXXVII. Paris., Oxon., Lips., LXXVI.)AD NEMESIANUM ET CAETEROS MARTYRAS IN METALLO CONSTITUTOS.

ARGUMENTUM.---Miris praeconiis effert martyres ad metallum damnatos, singulis tormentis singula solatia pulchra antithesi opponens. In exilio autem scriptam colligere est, ex illis verbis: Nisi me ob confessionem nominis relegatum praefiniti termini arcerent.

I. Cyprianus Nemesiano, Felici, Lucio, alteri Felici, 0414D Litteo, Poliano, Victori, Juderi Dativo coepiscopis, item compresbyteris et diaconibus, et caeteris fratribus in metallo constitutis martyribus Dei patris omnipotentis et Jesu Christi Domini et Dei conservatoris nostri aeternam salutem. Gloria quidem vestra poscebat, beatissimi ac dilectissimi fratres, ut ad conspectum atque ad complexum vestrum venire ipse deberem, nisi me quoque ob confessionem nominis relegatum praefiniti loci termini coercerent. Sed 0415A quomodo possum repraesento me vobis, et ad vos, etiamsi corpore et gressu venire non datur, dilectione tamen et spiritu venio, exprimens litteris animum meum, quo in istis virtutibus et laudibus vestris laetus exulto, participem me computans vobis, etsi non passione corporis, consortio charitatis. An ego possim tacere et vocem meam silentio premere cum de charissimis meis tam multa et gloriosa cognoscam quibus vos divina dignatio honoravit, ut ex vobis pars jam martyrii sui consummatione praecesserit meritorum suorum coronam de Domino receptura, pars adhuc in carcerum claustris sive in metallis et vinculis demoretur , exhibens per ipsas suppliciorum moras corroborandis fratribus et armandis majora documenta, ad meritorum titulos ampliores 0415B tormentorum tarditate proficiens, habitura tot mercedes in coelestibus praemiis quot nunc dies numerat in poenis? Quae quidem vobis, fortissimi ac beatissimi fratres, pro merito religionis ac fidei vestrae accidisse non miror, ut vos sic Dominus ad gloriarum sublime fastigium clarificationis suae honore provexerit, qui semper in Ecclesia ejus custodito fidei tenore viguistis, conservantes firmiter Dominica mandata, in simplicitate innocentiam, in charitate concordiam, modestiam in humilitate, diligentiam in administratione, vigilantiam in adjuvandis laborantibus, misericordiam in fovendis pauperibus, in defendenda veritate constantiam, in disciplinae severitate censuram. Ac, ne aliquid ad exemplum bonorum factorum deesset in vobis, etiam in confessione nunc 0415C vocis et passione corporis fratrum mentes ad divina martyria provocatis, duces vos exhibendo virtutis, ut, dum grex pastores suos sequitur et quod fieri a praepositis cernit imitatur, paribus obsequiorum meritis a Domino coronetur.

0416A II. Quod autem, fustibus caesi prius graviter et afflicti, per ejusmodi poenas initiastis confessionis vestrae gloriosa primordia, execranda nobis ista res non est. Neque enim ad fustes christianum corpus expavit, cujus est spes omnis in ligno. Sacramentum salutis suae Christi servus agnovit. Redemptus ligno ad vitam aeternam ligno provectus est ad coronam. Quid vero mirum si vasa aurea et argentea in metallum, id est auri et argenti domicilium, dati estis, nisi quod nunc metallorum natura conversa est, locaque quae aurum et argentum dare ante consueverant, accipere coeperunt. Imposuerunt quoque compedes pedibus vestris, et membra felicia ac Dei templa infamibus vinculis ligaverunt, quasi cum corpore ligetur et spiritus , aut aurum vestrum ferri 0416B contagione maculetur. Dicatis Deo hominibus et fidem suam religiosa virtute testantibus ornamenta sunt ista, non vincula; nec Christianorum pedes ad infamiam copulant, sed clarificant ad coronam. O pedes feliciter vincti, qui non a fabro sed a Domino resolvuntur! o pedes feliciter vincti, qui in itinere salutari ad paradisum diriguntur! o pedes in saeculo ad praesens legati, ut sint semper apud Dominum liberi! o pedes compedibus et traversariis interim cunctabundi, sed celeriter ad Christum glorioso itinere cursuri ! Quantum vult hic vel invida crudelitas vel maligna, nexibus vos suis et vinculis teneat, cito a terris et poenis istis ad coelorum regna venietis. Non fovetur in metallis lecto et culcitris corpus, sed refrigerio et solatio Christi fovetur. Humi jacent 0416C fessa laboribus viscera; sed poena non est cum Christo jacere. Squalent sine balneis membra situ et sorde deformia; sed spiritaliter intus abluitur quod foris carnaliter sordidatur. Panis illic exiguus: at non in solo pane vivit homo, sed in sermone Dei 0417A (Deut. VIII, 3). Vestis algentibus deest; sed qui Christum induit, et vestitus abundanter et cultus est. Semitonsi capitis capillus horrescit; sed, cum sit caput viri Christus, qualecumque illud caput deceat necesse est quod ob Domini nomen insigne est. Omnis ista deformitas detestabilis et tetra gentilibus, quali splendore pensabitur? Saecularis haec et brevis poena quam clari et aeterni honoris mercede mutabitur, cum, secundum beati Apostoli vocem transformaverit Dominus corpus humilitatis nostrae conformatum corpori claritatis suae (Philip. III, 21)?

III. Sed nec in illo, fratres dilectissimi, aliqua potest aut religionis aut fidei jactura sentiri quod illic nunc sacerdotibus Dei facultas non datur offerendi et celebrandi sacrificia divina. Celebratis, immo atque offertis sacrificium 0417B Deo et pretiosum pariter et gloriosum et plurimum vobis ad retributionem praemiorum coelestium profuturum, cum Scriptura divina loquatur et dicat: Sacrificium Deo spiritus contribulatus, cor contritum et humiliatum Deus non despicit (Psal. L, 18). Hoc vos sacrificium Deo offertis, hoc sacrificium sine intermissione die ac nocte celebratis, hostiae facti Deo, et vosmetipsos sanctas atque immaculatas victimas exhibentes, sicut Apostolus adhortatur et dicit: Oro ergo vos, fratres, per misericordiam Dei, ut constituatis corpora vestra hostiam vivam, sanctam, placentem Deo, nec configuremini saeculo huic, sed transformemini in renovatione sensus, ad probandum quae sit voluntas Dei bona et placens et perfecta (Rom. XII, 1; Phil. III, 21).

IV. Hoc est enim quod praecipue Deo placeat, hoc 0417C est in quo majoribus meritis ad promerendam voluntatem Dei opera nostra proveniant; hoc est quod solum Domino de beneficiis ejus grandibus et salutaribus fidei ac devotionis nostrae obsequia retribuant, praedicante in Psalmis et contestante Spiritu sancto: Quid retribuam, inquit, Domino pro omnibus quae tribuit mihi? Calicem salutaris accipiam, et nomen Domini invocabo. Pretiosa in conspectu Domini 0418A mors justorum ejus (Psal. CXV, 12, 13, 15). Quis non libenter et prompte calicem salutis accipiat? quis non appetat gaudebundus et laetus in quo aliquid et ipse Domino suo retribuat? quis non pretiosam in conspectu Domini mortem fortiter et constanter excipiat, placiturus ejus oculis qui nos in congressione nominis sui constitutos desuper spectans, volentes comprobat, adjuvat dimicantes, vincentes coronat, retributione bonitatis ac pietatis paternae remunerans in nobis quidquid ipse praestitit, et honorans quod ipse perfecit?

V. Ipsius enim esse quod vincimus et quod ad maximi certaminis palmam, subacto adversario, pervenimus declarat et docet Dominus in Evangelio suo dicens: Cum autem vos tradiderint, nolite cogitare 0418B quomodo aut quid loquamini; dabitur enim vobis in illa hora quid loquamini. Non enim vos estis qui loquimini, sed Spiritus Patris vestri qui loquitur in vobis (Matth. X, 19, 20). Et iterum: Ponite in cordibus vestris non praemeditari excusare. Ego enim dabo vobis os et sapientiam cui non poterunt resistere adversarii vestri (Luc. XXI, 14, 15). In quo quidem et credentium magna fiducia est et culpa gravissima perfidorum non credere ei qui se opem suam daturum confitentibus pollicetur, nec rursus eumdem timere qui aeternam poenam negantibus comminatur.

VI. Quae vos omnia, fortissimi ac fidelissimi milites Christi, insinuastis fratribus nostris, implentes factis quod verbis ante docuistis, futuri maximi in regno coelorum, pollicente Domino et dicente: Qui 0418C fecerit et sic docuerit, maximus vocabitur in regno coelorum (Matth. V, 19). Denique exemplum vestrum secuta, multiplex plebis portio confessa est vobiscum pariter et pariter coronata est, connexa vobis vinculo fortissimae charitatis, et a praepositis suis nec carcere nec metallis separata. Cujus numero nec virgines desunt, quibus ad sexagenarium fructum centenus accessit (Matth. XIII, 8), quasque ad coelestem coronam 0419A gloria gemina provexit. In pueris quoque virtus major aetate annos suos confessionis laude transcendit, ut martyrii vestri beatum gregem et sexus et aetas omnis ornaret.

VII. Qui nunc vobis, dilectissimi fratres, conscientiae victricis vigor, quae sublimitas animi, quae in sensu exultantia, qui triumphus in pectore, unumquemque vestrum stare ad promissum Dei praemium, de judicio Dei esse securum, ambulare in metallis, captivo quidem corpore, sed corde regnante , scire Christum secum esse praesentem, gaudentem tolerantia servorum suorum per vestigia et vias suas ad regna aeterna gradientium? Exspectatis quotidie laeti profectionis vestrae salutarem diem, et jam jamque de saeculo recessuri, ad martyrum munera 0419B et domicilia divina properatis, post has mundi tenebras visuri candidissimam lucem, et accepturi majorem passionibus omnibus et conflictationibus claritatem, Apostolo contestante et dicente: Non sunt condignae passiones hujus temporis ad superventuram claritatem quae revelabitur in nobis (Rom. VIII, 18). Plane, quia nunc vobis in precibus efficacior sermo est, et ad impetrandum quod in pressuris petitur facilior oratio est, petite impensius et rogate ut confessionem omnium nostrum dignatio divina consummet, ut de istis tenebris et laqueis mundi nos quoque vobiscum integros et gloriosos Deus liberet, ut qui charitatis et pacis vinculo copulati contra haereticorum injurias et pressuras gentilium simul stetimus pariter in regnis coelestibus gaudeamus. Opto vos, 0419C beatissimi ac dilectissimi fratres, in Domino bene valere et nostri semper et ubique meminisse.