Reading Scripture: Types and Figures
Cyprian of Carthage, Treatises Treatise 4
Brothers, the Gospel's commands are nothing less than God's own teaching. They lay the foundation for our hope, strengthen our faith, feed our hearts, steer our course, and guard our salvation. By instructing willing minds here on earth, they lead us into the kingdom of heaven. God chose to speak many things through his servants the prophets, yet the Son's words are far greater. The Word of God — who once spoke in the prophets — now testifies with his own voice. He no longer merely commands that a way be prepared for the One who comes; he comes himself, opens the way, and shows it to us. We once wandered blind and unprepared in death's darkness, but now, lit by grace's light, we walk the path of life with the Lord as our guide.
Among his saving counsels and divine precepts given for his people's welfare, he also gave us the very form of prayer. The One who gave us life taught us how to pray, marking what we should ask for — an act of the same kindness by which he bestows every other gift. He did this so that when we speak to the Father in the prayer the Son taught, we may be heard more readily. He had already foretold the hour when true worshipers would worship the Father in spirit and truth (John 4:23), and he fulfilled that promise. Because we have received the Spirit and truth through his sanctification, we can now worship him truly and spiritually, following his own tradition.
What prayer could be more spiritual than the one Christ gave us — Christ, from whom the Holy Spirit was sent to us? What prayer could be truer before the Father than the one spoken by the Son, who is Truth itself? To pray differently from his teaching is therefore not merely ignorance; it is fault. He himself said: 'You reject God's commandment to keep your own tradition.' So let us pray, brothers, as God our Teacher taught. It is a friendly, intimate prayer to ask God for what is his own, letting Christ's prayer carry our words to the Father's ears. When we pray, let the Father recognize his Son's voice. The One who dwells within our hearts should also dwell in our words. And since we have him as our Advocate with the Father for our sins, let us sinners plead our case in the Advocate's own words when we ask forgiveness. He promised that whatever we ask the Father in his name will be granted; how much more effectively, then, do we receive what we seek when we ask in Christ's name using Christ's own prayer?
Latin
EVANGELICA praecepta, fratres dilectissimi, nihil aliud sunt quam magisteria divina, fundamenta aedificandae spei, firmamenta corroborandae fidei, nutrimenta fovendi cordis, gubernacula dirigendi itineris, praesidia obtinendae salutis; quae, dum dociles credentium mentes in terris instruunt, ad coelestia regna perducunt. Multa et per Prophetas servos suos dici Deus voluit et audiri; sed quanto majora quae Filius loquitur, quae Dei sermo qui in Prophetis fuit propria voce testatur, non jam mandans ut paretur venienti via, sed ipse veniens, et viam nobis aperiens et ostendens; ut qui, in tenebris mortis errantes, improvidi et caeci prius fuimus, luce gratiae luminati, iter vitae duce et rectore Domino teneremus. Qui inter caetera salutaria sua monita et praecepta divina quibus populo suo consulit ad salutem, etiam orandi ipse formam dedit, ipse quid precaremur monuit et instruxit. Qui fecit vivere, docuit et orare, benignitate ea scilicet qua et caetera dare et conferre dignatus est; ut, dum prece et oratione quam Filius docuit apud Patrem loquimur, facilius audiamur. Jam praedixerat horam venire quando veri adoratores adorarent Patrem in spiritu et veritate, et implevit quod ante promisit; ut qui spiritum et veritatem de ejus sanctificatione percepimus, de traditione quoque ejus vere et spiritaliter adoremus. Quae enim potest esse magis spiritalis oratio quam quae a Christo nobis data est, a quo nobis et Spiritus sanctus missus est? Quae vera magis apud Patrem precatio quam quae a Filio, qui est Veritas, de ejus ore prolata est? ut aliter orare quam docuit non ignorantia sola sit, sed et culpa, quando ipse posuerit et dixerit: Rejicitis mandatum Dei, ut traditionem vestram statuatis. Oremus itaque, fratres dilectissimi, sicut magister Deus docuit. Amica et familiaris oratio est Deum de suo rogare, ad aures ejus ascendere Christi oratione. Agnoscat Pater Filii sui verba cum precem facimus. Qui habitat intus in pectore, ipse sit et in voce. Et cum ipsum habeamus apud Patrem advocatum pro peccatis nostris, quando peccatores pro delictis nostris petimus, advocati nostri verba promamus. Nam, cum dicat quia quodcumque petierimus a Patre in nomine ejus dabit nobis,, quanto efficacius impetramus quod petimus in Christi nomine, si petamus ipsius oratione?