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62 Credibility of the Gospel History.
5. Finally, perhaps he refers to some passages of the
Revelation in some words which I intend > to put in the
margin us an example of this author's oratorical flights. See
Rev. xiii. 8; vi. 11 ; vii. 13, 14.
V. The fourth piece, ascribed by some to Cyprian, is
entitled. To, or^ Against, the heretic Novatian ; or. Against
the Novatian heretic ; That hope of pardon ought not to be
denied to those who have lapsed. In the late editions it is
called a tract of an unknown author. Du Pin calls it a
homily. Tillemont,'^ who allows that the style of this
work is difterent from Cyprian's, and that therefore it is not
his, thinks however that it might be written soon after the
persecution of Decius, and then of Gallus, in the former part
of the reign of Valerian, about the year 254, or 255. He
refers to** two passages of this work, which compared together
seem to render his opinion very probable. The*^ Benedictine
author of St. Cyprian's Life, agrees with Tillemont
about the age of this piece. He says, it is certain the author
was contemporary with Cyprian, and that it cannot be questioned
but he lived near the beginning of the reign of Valerian,
whilst the church had peace. He supposes him
likewise to have been an African, and a bishop. Nevertheless,
he does not allow this to be a Avork of Cyprian. And to the
argument taken fronj the difference of the style he adds
another, not insisted on by Tillemont.
1. This piece abounds with texts of scripture.
2. ' Whose "^ future ruin,' says he, ' the Lord represents
in the gospel, saying " ; And he who hears my words, and
does them not, I will liken him imto a foolish man, who
built his house upon the sand." '—Matth. vii. 26,27. This
y O beati, et quibus vere dimissasunt peccata ; si taraen qui Christi compares
estis, aliquando peccastis. O beati, quos a primordio mundi Domini sanguis
infecit, et quos merito splendor iste nivei amictus induerit, et candor stola?
ambientis ornarit! p. 15. b. ^ Ad Novatianum haereficum : Quod
lapsis spes venioe non est deneganda. * See Mem. Ec. T. iv. Part i.
St. Cyprien. Art. 41. ^ Cataclysmus ergo ille, qui sub Noe factus
est, figairam persecutionis quae per tofum orbem nunc nuper supereftusa os-
tendit. Duplex ergo ilia emissio [columbae] duplicem nobis persecutionis
tentationem ostendit ; prima in qua qui lapsi sunt, vicfi ceciderunt : secunda
in qua hi qui ceciderunt, victores extiterunt. Nulli enim nostrum dubiura vel
incertum est, fratresdilectissimi, illos, qui prima acie, id est, Deciana persecutione,
vulnerati fuerunt, hoc postea, id est, secundo praelio, ita fortiter perseverasse, ut,
( ontemnentes edicta secularium principum, [Galli et Volusiani,] hoc inv ctum
haberent: quod non metuemnt, exemploboni pastorisanimam suam tradere,et
! anguinem fundere, nee ullam insanientis tyranni srevitiam recusare. p. 17. b.
I
Vit. St. Cyprian, n. xxxv. ^ Quorum Dorainus ruinam in
Qui audit verba mea, et non
evangelio futuram his verbis sJgnificaverat, dicens :
facit ea, &c. p. 1 7. b.