The writings of Cyprian are numerous and valuable, as containing much curious and important information concerning the doctrines and discipline of the primitive church : they consist of two kinds, epistles, and tracts or sermon'. Of the epistles there are S3, many of which appear to have been written during the eighteen months of his concealment. The following few notices will show tho kind of subject to which these epistles relate. In the one to Donatus he relates, with much rhetorical embellishment, the circumstances of his own conversion, and shows the advantages of monastic seclusion and abstinence. In that to his priests and deacons ho gives advice about escaping from persecution. The one to Cornelius coutains passages of much importance to the apologists of the church of Rome, in which are meutioned, "Petri cathedra atone ecclesia principal's uncle unites sacordotalia exorta est." The clad() to Fides contains the judgment of Cyprian and a council of bishops in favour of iufant baptism. Another to Magnus on the same subject .asserts that sprinkling is no leas efficacious than dipping. Oue to Pomponius reproves the licentious abuses of monachiam, and the prevalent custom of virgins living with the clergy, ostensibly for pious instruction, but really for sensual indulgence. An epistle to Creeilius is important as insisting upon the absolute indispensableness of mixing water with the eucharistic wine. In some ancient manuscripts three epistles nro given besides the above-mentioned number, one of which, from Pope Cornelius to St. Cyprian, is replete with abuse end insolence.
The following are the principal tracts of Cyprian :—' Do Lapis,' that is, concerning those who, from persecution, had lapsed into idolatry, in which are several miraculous stories of very incred.ble character. ' On the Unity of the Church :' this is a treatise which both from the Roman end English hierarchy has received especial attention. It strongly deuounoes all schismatic) separation, declaring that there is no crown, even for martyrdom, out of the pale of the tree church. The discourse ' On Mortality' was written at the time of a dreadful plague, which for several years devastated the Roman empire, and is chiefly remarkable as showing the lamentable want of a due estimate of the value of life which diatinguirdied the religious enthusiasm of that ago. The ' Exhortation to Mnrtyrdom' consists of twelve chases of scriptural primps exhibited to encourage and stimu late the faithful in submitting to tortures and death. The treatise 'Against the Jews' is also a series of texts, quoted and verbally applied, as usual at that time, without any regard to the sense of the context. In the tract 'On the Dress of Virgins' ('De Ilabitu Virginutn ') many facts ars mentioned which illustrate tiro social state of those times. A severe denunciation is directed against the passion among rich and youthful females for immodest attire, extravagant ornaments, the uao of paint and cosmetics, and the dyeing of black hair a flaxen yellow in imitation of the Germans. The immoral kibitz of unmarried
women appear to have furnished an especial subject for the sermons not only of Cyprian, but of all the primitive fathers. Besides a dia course on the Lori's Prayer, which has received high commendation, there are four which are considered to be wrongly ascribed to St. Cyprian ; one Lu a turgid declamation in praise of Martyrdom; the second is on Chastity; and the other two against Theatres, and against the heretic Novatian.
The style of Cyprian much resembles that of his master and favourite author Tertullian. Ile treats the same subjects in the same manner, and though his language is more artificial, it is similar in harshness and occasional barbarism'. His eloquence is admired how ever by Jerome and even by Lactantius. In credulity he appears to havo had but few equals, if indeed he believed (which is very doubtful) all the miraculous atones he relates; for besides his own continual visions, which happened generally to authorise some act of episcopal power unapproved by his clergy and people, ho seriously appeals not only to the deeds of demoniacs or rather minims, and to the dreams of poor and ignorant women, but to the revelations of little boys full of the Holy Ghost.' (' Epist.' 9.) There are several good editions of his works, among which may be mentioned that of the 'Opera °limits,' Oxford, fol., 16S2, and Amsterdam, 1700; but the editio optima is that of Paris, in fol.,1726. The following translation of the whole is in general accurate and faithful: The genuine Works of St. Cyprian, with his Life, as written by his Deacon Pontius, all done into English from the Oxford edition, and illustrated with notes, by Nathaniel Marshall, LL.1L,' foL, 1717. The whole works and life have also been translated into French, by Lombert, 1682. Translations of separate tracts are very numerous'. That ' On 31ortality; with others, is Eugliehed by Elyot, 1534 ; by ]bends, 1553; by Story, 1556; and by Isipset, 1560. 'On the Lord's Prayer,' by Paynel, 1539. 'Ou Virgins,' by Barksdale, 1675. ' On the Unity of the Church,' by Bishop Fell, 4to, 1631; and by liorsburgh, 1815. The life and martyrdom of Cyprian, by Pontius, his intimate friend, is still extant, and printed in several editions of the 'Opera Omnia; ' but the style is too rhetorical for simple truth. The substance of this account is given in Lardrrer's'Credrb.; voL (Lira of the Saints, by the Itev. Alban Butler, voL ix., p. 172, contains an elaborate biography of Cyprian ; Dr. Adam Clarke, Suc cession of Sacred Lit., voL i., p. 177; Cave, Hist. Lit. ; be Clore, Tillemont and Bollandus ; Poole, Life and Times of Cyprian, Oxford, 1840; Taylor, Ancient Christianity ; Dr. Middleton, Inquiry.)