That no one Should be Made Sad by Death; Since in Living is Labour and Peril, in Dying Peace and the Certainty of Resurrection.

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Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews — Cyprian

In Genesis: "Then said the Lord to Adam, Because thou hast hearkened to the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of that tree of which alone I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat, cursed shall be the ground in all thy works; in sadness and groaning shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life: thorns and thistles shall it cast forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field in the sweat of thy brow. Thou shalt eat thy bread until thou return unto the earth from which also thou wast taken; because earth thou art, and to earth thou shalt go." [4468] Also in the same place: "And Enoch pleased God, and was not found afterwards: because God translated him." [4469] And in Isaiah: "All flesh is grass, and all the glory of it as the flower of grass. The grass withered, and the flower hath fallen away; but the word of the Lord abideth for ever." [4470] In Ezekiel: "They say, Our bones are become dry, our hope hath perished: we have expired. Therefore prophesy, and say, Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I open your monuments, and I will bring you forth from your monuments, and I will bring you into the land of Israel; and I will put my Spirit upon you, and ye shall live; and I will place you into your land: and ye shall know that I the Lord have spoken, and will do it, saith the Lord." [4471] Also in the Wisdom of Solomon: "He was taken away, lest wickedness should change his understanding; for his soul was pleasing to God." [4472] Also in the eighty-third Psalm: "How beloved [4473] are thy dwellings, Thou Lord of hosts? My soul desires and hastes to the courts of God." [4474] And in the Epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians: "But we would not that you should be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who sleep, that ye sorrow not as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also them which have fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with Him." [4475] Also in the first Epistle to the Corinthians: "Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened except it have first died." [4476] And again: "Star differeth from star in glory: so also the resurrection. The body is sown in corruption, it rises without corruption; it is sown in ignominy, it rises again in glory; it is sown in weakness, it rises again in power; it is sown an animal body, it rises again a spiritual body." [4477] And again: "For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal put on immortality. But when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the word that is written, Death is absorbed into striving. Where, O death, is thy sting? Where, O death, is thy striving?" [4478] Also in the Gospel according to John: "Father, I will that those whom Thou hast given me be with me where I shall be, and may see my glory which Thou hast given me before the foundation of the world." [4479] Also according to Luke: "Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, O Lord, according to the word; for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation." [4480] Also according to John: "If ye loved me, ye would rejoice because I go to the Father; for the Father is greater than I." [4481]

Footnotes:

[4468] Genesis 3:17-19.

[4469] Genesis 5:24.

[4470] Isaiah 40:6, 7.

[4471] Ezekiel 37:11-14.

[4472] Wisd. iv. 11, 14.

[4473] Some read "amabiles," "amiable."

[4474] Psalm 84:1, 2.

[4475] 1 Thess. iv. 13, 14.

[4476] 1 Corinthians 15:36.

[4477] 1 Corinthians 15:41-44.

[4478] 1 Corinthians 15:53-55.