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Cyprian of Cauthage. A. D. 248. 15
ference of style in Cyprian's works may be esteemed a
proof" both of his own judgment, and of the j udgment and
abilities of our author in that way.
As my history of St. Cyprian is but short, I would refer
my readers 10*= Cave, and others, who have written his life
more at large; and particularly to'^ Le Clerc, who has done
the same, in the free way. I should have been well pleased
but it would
to insist upon Cyprian's visions and revelations ;
require more room than 1 can spare here : besides, though I
have sometimes taken notice of such things, as in the histories
of Greg-ory of Neocaesarea, and Dionysius of Alexandria,
and perhaps occasionally in some other chapters, that I
might not leave this matter altogether untouched ; there is
another place in this work, where it may be proper to observe
distinctly the continuance of miraculous powers, or
extraordinary gifts of the Spirit, in the church after the time
of the apostles ; and for that place I reserve the farther
consideration of Cyprian's claims to a share in such gifts.
II. St. Cyprian's works are distributed into two parts
Tracts, or Treatises ; and Epistles. The tracts are upon a
variety of subjects. Some are defences of the christian religion
against Jews and Gentiles, some upon christian morality,
others concerning the discipline of the church. His
epistles were written partly in the time of his retirement
under the Decian persecution, partly afterwards. With them
are joined divers epistles of others sent to him ; they are
very useful and entertaining ; I need not give a more particular
account of® them. However, it may not be amiss to
observe, that St. Jerom^ does not reckon Cyprian to have
written any commentaries upon scripture ; though in a chain
upon St. Luke's gospel, mentioned by ^ Montfaucon, Cyprian
is said to be one of the ancient writers, from whom those
interpretations are taken. James le Long'^ has put Cyprian
among the commentators upon scripture ; but it is only for
the sake of his treatise on the Lord's Prayer.
Though I give no account of the several editions of St.
Cyprian's works, I may be allowed to observe here, that'
" Cav. Hist. Lit. and Lives of the Primitive Fathers. Tillemont Mem. T.
iv. Part, i, Du Pin BibL Ruinart. Act. Mart. Sine, et Sel. Vit. S. Cypr. a
Benedictino adornat. Basnag. Annal. Pagi Crit. Pearson Ann. Cypr. Dodwell.
Diss. Cypr. " Bibl. Univ. T. xu. p. 207, &c. ^ It is
said there are some letters of St. Cyprian at Venice, which have not been yet
printed. Vid. Montfaucon. Diar. Ital. cap. 5. p. 75. ^ Beatus
Cyprianus instar fontis purissimi, dulcis incedit et placidiis ; et quum totus sit
in exhortatione virtutum occupatus persecutioniim angustiis, de scripturis divinis
nequaquam disseruit. Hieron. ad Paulin. Ep. 49. [al. 73.] p. 567. m,
« Vid. Bibl. CoisUn. p. 25 L " Vid. Le Long Bibl. Sa. T. ii. p.
693, Paris. 1723. ' I have made but little use of Mr. Marshall's
;