times, but as throwing light on the state of the Church of the third century; and they and their author together form invaluable materials for a commentary on past and present, which might rival in interest the story of Abbot Sampson. The history of Cyprian is, in fact, the history of the Church during his day-a period of glorious martyrdom and ignoble intestine feuds, of deeds of heroism and benevolence worthy of the times of the Apostles, and scandals at which their most degenerate successors blush. The permanent impress he left on the Carthaginian Church is a noteworthy monument of the power of "God's great ordinance of speech," and of His equally great ordinance of discipline. He was cumbered with little learning, either sacred or profane, and had no philosophy. He had no combats with metaphysical Apollyons, and had neither the time nor the turn for discussing speculative questions. In theology he was very much a man of one book, and distilled his religious opinions from Tertullian, for whom he had such veneration that he used to ask for his works by saying, "Hand me the Master." But though he entered on office a mere novice in Christianity, and equipped only with the slender intellectual furniture of a mere rhetorician, he had those gifts which bear to the highest posts of political and ecclesiastical influence, and which have made him the envied model of aspiring churchmen.

On the whole, we must pronounce him one of the true Titanic breed that usually come to earth singly and at considerable intervals, and of whom one at a time is all that in general there is room for in any one department.

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PASSAGES FROM CYPRIAN.

INSINCERE REPENTANCE.

ARE we to imagine that he sorrows with his whole heart, with fastings and tears, weeping and lamentations, who, since the first day of his sin, daily frequents promiscuous baths, who, fed on sumptuous repasts, and distended with too many dainties, belches forth their unwholesome remains the day after, but never supplies the necessities of the poor with a share of his meat and drink? In what respect does he deplore his ruin who moves about with brisk and sprightly step, who, though it is written, "Neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard," yet plucks out his beard and trims his face; and while he is at pains to please others, displeases God?

Or is she groaning and 'wailing who can find time to attire herself in costly array, but bestows no care on that robe of Christ which she has lost; and to put on precious ornaments and richly wrought necklaces, without shedding a tear at the forfeiture of her divine and celestial adornment?

Thou art naked though clad in foreign fabrics and silken robes. Bedizened with gold and pearls and gems, thou art unsightly, destitute of the comeliness of Christ. Now, at least, during these sorrows desist thou who dyest thy hair and encirclest thine eyes with a line of black paint! Now, at least, wash thine eyes with tears. If thou hadst lost a dear friend by death, thou wouldest sorrowfully groan and weep; thou wouldest express the signs of thy distress by the disorder of thine appearance, by change of dress, neglected hair, sad looks, and a dejected countenance. Wretched woman, it is thine own soul thou hast lost! The spiritual life extinct, thou hast begun to live to thyself and to walk about, bearing thine own corpse; yet there is no bitter lamentation, no continual groaning, nor doest thou retire into seclusion either from shame for thy sin or to prolong thy lamentation. -Treatise VI., On the Lapsed.

THEATRICALS.

Turn now and look at another kind of spectacle, as contagious and melancholy. In the theatres. you will witness matter for sorrow and shame. I mean what is called the tragic buskin, whose part it is to rehearse in verse the enormities of antiquity. The ancient horrors of parricide and incest committed long ago are unfolded in a scenic representation in the form of truth, lest, in

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the lapse of centuries, what once was perpetrated should be forgotten. Each age is reminded by what it hears that what has been done can be done again. Sins do not die with the wane of ages, crime is not engulfed by years, nor wickedness buried in oblivion; deeds long ago past become examples.

In mimic exhibition men are led by lessons of impurity to review the secret transactions of their past history, or to hear what they may do in the future. Adultery is learnt by being seen; this evil, with the public sanction, entices to vice, and the matron returns from the scene divested of the modesty which, perchance, she brought to it.

Authority is not wanting to the disgrace which solicits them, that the evil by easier approaches may creep on men. Venus is drawn unchaste, Mars adulterous, and their Jupiter supreme in vice as in power; they represent him burning for terrestrial amours even in the midst of his thunderbolts, glittering at one time in the plumage of a swan, gliding down at another in a shower of gold, and again rushing with his ministering birds to seize children.

Ask now, Can the spectators remain unharmed. and pure? No; they imitate the gods they worship, and, in the eyes of these wretched devotees, crimes become a religious duty.-Treatise I., On the Grace of God.