Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from The Works of Nathaniel Lardner, D. D, Vol. 3 of 10: With a Life
The beginning of St. Cyprian's episcopate was peaceable, under the emperor Philip butb near the end of the year 249, or early in the year 250, began the Decian persecution. This bishop of Carthage was extremely obnoxious to the heathen people; and they often demanded in a clainorous manner, in the theatre, and other public places, that he should be thrown to the lions, as is related byc Pontius, andd by Cy prian himself. Hereupon he retired, (as Pearson supposeth, e in Jan. Judging it to bef for the good of his people, and agreeable to the doctrine of Christ in the gospel, andg hav ing also received a divine direction to that purpose. The government not being able to find him out, he was pro scribed, and proclamation was made at Carthage, That if any one had any goods of Caecilius Cyprian, bishop of the Christians, he should discover them. Nor is the place where he absconded known to this day. In this retirement, which lasted about fourteen months, he was not idle, nor unprofit able, as appears from the many epistles written by him dur ing that time, a large part of which are still extant. Cyprian seems to have taken with him from Carthage, one of his deacons, named Victor, and some other friends. It is plain, hei had such company with him at the beginning of his re tirement. They may be supposed to have been of great use to him in taking copies of his letters sent to Carthage and other places: and to their diligent and faithful attendance on their bishop, as well as perhaps to the kind assistance likewise of some others, who came to him afterwards, we ought to reckon ourselves indebted for the letters above men tioned, now in our hands.
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