The Word Spoken at Carthage, at the Table of Saint Cyprian

The proposed Word is among the recently discovered ten teachings of St. Augustine. The book containing these teachings was printed in Rome in 1819, and is dedicated to Pope Pius VII. The manuscripts of these teachings were found by the Monk Octavius ​​Fraia in the Library belonging to the Monastery of Cassino. Pay attention to the suggested reading from the Apostolic Letter. Brethren, says the Apostle, if a person falls into any sin, you who are spiritual correct him in the spirit of meekness. But take care of yourself, so that you do not fall into temptation. Bear one another's burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ. For whoever thinks himself to be something when he is nothing, deceives himself. Let each one test his own work, and in this way he will have praise in himself only, and not in another. For everyone will bear his own burden. Let him who is instructed in the word share all good things with his mentor. Don't be deceived. You can't fool God. Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. He who sows to his flesh will reap corruption in his flesh; and he who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life in the Spirit. Let us not become weary in doing good; for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So, while there is time, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of our own in the faith (Gal. 6:1-10). Hitherto I have repeated the reading from Pavlov’s Epistle; hitherto I was only a reader for you. But, my brethren, if you have understood the reading, what need is there of interpretation? - Now, we have listened and understood the words of the Apostle; Let us fulfill them and live according to them. And why should I burden your memory? – Keep in it what you read and think about it. Isn’t any of you worried about doubt, as you should understand the words of the Apostle: bear one another’s burdens, and a little further on the following: each one will bear his own burden? For, if you have only paid attention to this, then you are already mentally asking: how can we bear one another’s burdens when everyone bears his own burden? – I admit, the question is worth resolving. Speak, and it will be opened to you (Matt. 7:7): press with attention, press with diligence, press with prayer for us, so that we can tell you something worthy of your hearing. By pushing like this you will help us, and this issue will soon be resolved. Oh, if only, as soon as it could be resolved, everyone could just as successfully actually fulfill what they comprehend with their minds! We bear each other's burdens, in relation to the burden of our weakness; in the consideration of piety, everyone will bear his burden. What does this mean? We are all people, and because we are people, we are weak, and can we be without sin? In this regard, we bear each other's burdens. For if you receive an insult from your brother who has sinned against you, and he from you; then you are neglectful of each other and are really grievously sinning. If there is something he cannot bear, then you will bear it, and what you cannot bear, then he will bear it: then you bear each other’s burdens; and since you bear each other’s burdens, you fulfill the most sacred law of love. For this law is the law of Christ; the law of Christ is the law of love. Christ came into the world because he loved us; and not because He loved us that there might be something worthy of His love in us, but He made us worthy of love by the fact that He loved us. Have you heard what it means: bear one another’s burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ. What does it mean: each one will bear his own burden? - Everyone will give account for their sin; no one will give account for someone else's sin. Everyone has their own guilt; for his guilt and will answer to God. Although Shepherds are responsible for the flocks of Christ, they are also responsible for their own sin if they neglect the flocks of Christ. So, brethren, even if a person falls into some sin, you who are spiritual - whoever you are, only spiritual - correct him with the spirit of meekness. Whether you reproach someone, love him inwardly; whether you admonish, caress, reprove, threaten, love and do what you want. The father does not hate his son, however, the father, if necessary, punishes the son and causes him grief in order to preserve his well-being. This is what it means to act in a spirit of meekness. For if a person falls into some kind of sin, and you say: “This does not concern me”; then I ask you: why doesn’t this concern you? - You will answer me: because everyone will bear his own burden; To this I will tell you: truly you listened willingly and understood what the words mean: bear each other’s burdens. - So, if a person falls into some kind of sin; then you, the spiritual one, correct him in the spirit of meekness. Of course, he himself will answer for his sin, because everyone will bear his own burden: but if you ignore his sinful wound, you will have to answer heavily for the sin of your negligence. And therefore, if you do not bear each other’s burdens; then you will give a heavy answer for your guilt, according to the words: everyone will bear his own burden. Try to bear one another's burdens, and God will spare you when each one bears his own burden. For if someone falls into a certain sin, and you bear this burden, so that in the spirit of meekness you correct the sinner: then, having read to the place where it is said: everyone will bear his own burden, you will say with a clear conscience to God: forgive us our debts. Remember, brothers, what the words mean: if a person falls into some kind of sin; Do not also ignore this word: man. For the Apostle could say: if anyone falls, or everyone who falls; but instead of these words, he used the word: man. And it is very difficult for a person not to fall into some kind of sin; for what is man? But the spiritual ones, whom the Apostle exhorted to meekly correct a person who had fallen into sin, perhaps said in their hearts: let us bear the burdens of those who fall into sin, because we ourselves have nothing in ourselves that they could bear. Therefore, in the following words (heed them, for you too should not be careless): look, watch yourself, lest you too be tempted, the Apostle warns the spiritual, so that they are not proud and not arrogant. It is true that the truly spiritual will not be exalted; and if they are arrogant, then, I am afraid, is it not because they have become carnal; however, the spiritual one must look after himself so as not to fall into temptation. For is it really because he is spiritual that he is no longer a man? Is it really because he is spiritual that he no longer has a corruptible body, which burdens the soul (Wis. 9:15)? Is it really because he is spiritual that he has already ended this life, which is nothing other than a temptation for man on earth (Job 7:1)? - So it was well said to him, really well: take care for yourself, lest you too be tempted. - And as soon as the Apostle offered them, that is, the spiritual, such an admonition, he immediately added this general thought: bear each other’s burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ. What does it mean: each other? The carnal man must bear the burden of another carnal man; and the spiritual must bear the burden of another spiritual: bear one another’s burdens. Do not be inattentive to each other’s sins: rebuke anyone of you who has boldness (1 Cor. 7:4); exhort those who do not have the boldness to reprove; and if still necessary, pray, ask so that someone does not sin. But did I not humiliate you by saying: ask? So listen to the Apostle: with great success, he says, and we pray that you will not receive the grace of God in vain (2 Cor. 6:1). If a doctor finds strength in a patient, he treats him strictly; if he does not find strength in him, and is afraid that the patient will not die from strict treatment, then he persuades and begs him so that he listens to his advice, follows his instructions, and does not despair in his life. So it is clear that the Apostle said these words: bear one another’s burdens, following the words: keep yourself, lest you also be tempted, said because he wanted to teach the spiritual in them, so that he would not dream too much about himself, so that he would not think that he does not have a burden that another should bear. Listen to the Apostle further: here he again directs his word against vanity, pride and arrogance: whoever considers himself something when he is nothing: he deceives himself. It is impossible to say better than this: he deceives himself. Not everything should be blamed on the devil; a person is sometimes his own devil. For why should we fear the devil? Of course, so that he does not seduce you. So, don’t you become your own devil when you deceive yourself? - What then? – Let each one test his own work, and in this way he will have praise only in himself, and not in another. If you do some good deed, and you do it because you are pleased to hear praise from another for it, and if the other did not praise you, you would leave doing the good deed without hearing praise for it: then in this case you have praise in another, and not in yourself. When another praises you, you do; and if it happens that even your good deed does not please a person, even a stupid one, you do not do it. Don't you see how many people praise people who waste their wealth on comedians and who give nothing to the poor? Is it possible that what these people do should be considered good because they are praised? - Wake up! The sinner praises in the lusts of his soul (Psalm 9:24). “You all agree to this because you know the Holy Scriptures, from which we give evidence.” Let those who do not know it also hear this. The Holy Scripture proclaims: for the sinner is to praise in the lusts of his soul, and for the one who offends to bless. If we praise, we sin in the lusts of our souls, and we bless those who offend; then look now for your own praisers. Are you tormented by evil lusts? Indulge yourself daily in wickedness to satisfy your lusts, and seek praise for yourself. Believe me, you will find only flatterers and deceivers. Like deceivers and flatterers? - I will explain my words. Flatterers are those who know that you are doing something bad, and yet they praise you; and those who praise you for a bad deed because they consider it good are not flatterers, since they praise from the heart, but are deceivers, since by their constant approval of your bad actions they deceive you and do not allow you to gather your thoughts. For you indulge in empty dreams, consider your work to be good, squander your property, ruin your house, leave your children naked. Praise makes you mad; you run, applaud, receive signs of favor, put them on your lips, build your house to the ground, and collect the wind. “Why, you ask, are those my deceivers who praise me from the heart?” - Because they are your deceivers, because before, by mistake, they were deceivers of themselves. And whoever deceives himself, can he not lead you into deception as well? So let us praise the sinner in the lusts of our souls, and bless the one who offends. Beware of such praise - run away from such blessing; and meanwhile do good. But you say: so-and-so won’t like me if I do this: don’t try to please him, but please God. For if he does not like you, but pleases God; then you will have praise in yourself and not in others. But evil people revile the good, and peace-loving people slander those who despise the world, dishonor them, looking for something to reproach them with; As soon as they hear something bad about them, they immediately believe; If they hear something good, they don’t want to believe it: and because of this, your heart is so troubled that you abandon your good work, because you don’t find anyone who would praise you, or flatter you, or deceive you. Is the testimony of your conscience not enough for you? Why are you troubled in the sanctuary of your heart, before the eyes of God? - Please tell me, why are you embarrassed? - Because they say a lot of bad things about me. Is that how you answer? It is true that you would not have become confused on the ship of your heart if Christ had not slept on it. You heard the words of the Gospel reading: and behold, a great coward was in the sea, like a ship covered with waves (Matthew 8:24); from what? Because Christ is greater. Is Christ sleeping in your heart at that time when you forget your faith? The faith of Christ in your heart is the same as Christ on that ship. You hear reproaches, you are worried, you are embarrassed: this is a sign that Christ is sleeping. Stir up Christ, stir up your faith. You know what you need to do during your confusion: awaken your faith, then Christ will arise from sleep and say to you: “Are you embarrassed by dishonor? But wasn’t I the first to bear it for you?” – This is what Christ tells you; this is what your faith tells you. Listen to her broadcast. Have you really forgotten (as if she were telling you so) that Christ suffered for us (1 Peter 2:21)? And before you tried, did you endure reproaches? He cast out demons, and they said to Him: the demons are imashi (John 8:48). The Prophet said about Him: the reproaches of those who reproach you attack me (Psalm 68:10). “So stir up Christ,” and He will say to you in your heart: when they reproach you, and condemn you, and say all kinds of evil things against you, you lie, for my sake; Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven (Matthew 5:11-12). Believe what is said and there will be great peace in your heart. “Whoever considers himself to be something when he is nothing, deceives himself.” Let each one test his own work, and in this way he will have praise in himself only, and not in another. Whether another praises you or blames you; you have praise in yourself, because your praise is God, who dwells in your conscience. Then you will be like the wise virgins who brought oil with them in vessels (Matthew 25:4), so that they might have praise not in others, but in themselves. For those who did not bring oil with them suffered poverty from themselves; Their lamps began to go out, and they said, Give us some of your oil (v. 8). What does it mean: give us some of your oil, if not that you praise our actions, since the testimony of our conscience is not enough for us? What seemed dark in the reading from the Apostolic Epistle, I explained how the Lord enlightened me. The rest is clear and requires not explanation, but execution. But in order to fulfill what we have heard, let us turn in prayer to Him, without whose help we cannot do anything good; for He Himself said to His disciples: without Me you can do nothing (John 15:5). One Carthaginian church, built on the very spot where Saint Cyprian suffered and received the crown of martyrdom, was called the Table of Cyprian. See August. oper. tom. V, p. 871. Antuerpiae, 1700.