-IN CHURCH HISTORY. 55 



selected poverty as his portion, although wealth 

 was offered him, had but one coat, wore no shoes, 

 slept on the bare floor, and mutilated his own 

 body. 



He was ordained a priest, late in life, while in 

 Palestine. Some of his peculiar opinions exposed 

 him to the censure of the Church, and led to great 

 suffering on his part. . 



He was probably the greatest scholar of his time, 

 and as Jerome says, wrote more than one man 

 could read. Over 800 of his letters were collected 

 by Eusebius. His books which remain are mostly 

 explanations of the Scriptures. 



Cyprian. — The greatest Bishop of the third cen- 

 tury was doubtless Cyprian, of Carthage. He was 

 born a. d. 200, and after living a luxurious life 

 as a w r ealthy heathen, became a Christian in a. d. 

 245, sold his goods for the benefit of the poor, and 

 henceforth devoted himself to a holy life. 



In a very few years after, so great had his repu- 

 tation for piety and learning become, that he was, 

 in spite of his most earnest remonstrances, chosen 

 Bishop of Carthage, by the voice of the people. 

 He served some ten years, when the crown of 

 martyrdom was given him. 



His administration of the office of a Bishop was 

 with great energy, wisdom and faithfulness ; and 

 his writings which remain to us are valuable be- 

 cause of the high ideal be formed of the Episcopate, 



