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Cyprian - Against the Jews - Book III

That we must labour not with words, but with deeds.

96. That we must labour not with words, but with deeds.

In Solomon, in Ecclesiasticus: "Be not hasty in thy tongue, and in thy deeds useless and remiss." [4581] And Paul, in the first to the Corinthians: "The kingdom of God is not in word, but in power." [4582] Also to the Romans: "Not the hearers of the law are righteous before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified." [4583] Also in the Gospel according to Matthew: "He who shall do and teach so, shall be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven." [4584] Also in the same place: "Every one who heareth my words, and doeth them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house upon a rock. The rain descended, the floods came, the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one who heareth my words, and doeth them not, I will liken him to the foolish man, who built his house upon the sand. The rain descended, the floods came, the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and its ruin became great." [4585]