Cyprian of Carthage, Treatises Treatise 4
The evangelical precepts, my dearest brothers, are nothing other than divine instruction: foundations for building hope, buttresses for strengthening faith, nourishment for fostering the heart, a rudder for directing our journey, and a defense for obtaining salvation. While they teach receptive minds on earth, they lead us to the heavenly kingdoms. God willed that many things be spoken and heard through his servants the prophets; yet how much greater are the words the Son speaks. The Word of God, who once spoke in the prophets, now testifies with his own voice. He no longer commands that a way be prepared for his coming; instead, he comes himself, opening the way and showing it to us. By this light of grace we who once wandered blind and foolish in the darkness of death now walk the path of life with the Lord as our guide and director.
Among his other salutary warnings and divine precepts given for his people's salvation, he also gave us the very form of prayer, teaching and instructing us what to ask for. The One who gave us life taught us to pray, acting from the same kindness by which he deigned to grant all his other gifts. He did this so that, when we address the Father with the prayer and supplication the Son taught, we may be heard more readily.
He had already foretold that the hour was coming when true worshipers would worship the Father in spirit and truth (John 4:23), and he fulfilled that promise. Therefore we, who have received the Spirit and truth from his sanctification, must worship in a way that is both true and spiritual, 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 from the mouth of the Son, who is Truth itself? Consequently, to pray differently than he taught is not mere ignorance but also guilt. He himself declared: "You reject the commandment of God, that you may establish your own tradition."
Let us pray, then, dearest brothers, just as God our Teacher has instructed. It is a friendly and intimate prayer to ask God for what is his own, letting Christ's prayer rise to his ears. When we pray, let the Father recognize the words of his Son. The One who dwells within our heart should also be in our voice. And since we have him as our Advocate with the Father for our sins, when we sinners plead for our offenses, let us speak the words of our Advocate. For he said 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 very 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?