Cyprian of Carthage, Treatises Treatise 4
My dear brothers, the Gospel's teachings are nothing less than divine instructions: they lay the foundations of hope, strengthen the pillars of faith, nourish the heart, steer our journey, and defend our salvation. While they instruct receptive minds here on earth, they lead us into the heavenly kingdom. God chose to speak and be heard many times through his servants the prophets, yet the words of the Son are far greater. The Word of God, who once spoke through the prophets, now testifies with his own voice. He no longer merely commands that a way be prepared for his coming; he comes himself, opening the way and showing it to us. We once wandered blindly in the darkness of death, but enlightened by the light of grace, we now walk the path of life with the Lord as our guide and ruler.
Among his many salutary warnings and divine precepts given for our salvation, he also gave us the very form of prayer, teaching us what to ask for. The One who gave us life taught us to pray, out of the same kindness by which he deigned to grant all other gifts. He did this so that when we speak to the Father using the prayer and petition 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. We have received the Spirit and truth from his sanctification; therefore we must also worship truly and spiritually, following his tradition. What prayer could be more spiritual than the one Christ gave us, since he is the one who sent us the Holy Spirit? What prayer could be truer before the Father than the one spoken by the Son, who is Truth itself? To pray in any other way than he taught is not just ignorance; it is a fault. He himself said: "You reject the commandment of God, that you may establish your tradition."
Therefore, dear brothers, let us pray as God our teacher has taught. It is a friendly, intimate prayer to ask God for what is his own, letting Christ's prayer rise to the Father's ears. When we pray, let the Father recognize the words of his Son. The One who dwells within our hearts should also be in our voices. Since we have him as our advocate with the Father for our sins, when we sinners plead for pardon, let us speak the words of our advocate. He declared that whatever we ask the Father in his name, he will give us (John 14:13-14). How much more effectively, then, do we obtain what we seek in Christ's name if we ask using his 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?