Ornaments and Chains

Quod autem, fustibus caesi prius graviter et afflicti, per ejusmodi poenas initiastis confessionis vestrae gloriosa primordia, execranda nobis ista res non est. Neque enim ad fustes christianum corpus expavit, cujus est spes omnis in ligno. Sacramentum salutis suae Christi servus agnovit. Redemptus ligno ad vitam aeternam ligno provectus est ad coronam. Quid vero mirum si vasa aurea et argentea in metallum, id est auri et argenti domicilium, dati estis, nisi quod nunc metallorum natura conversa est, locaque quae aurum et argentum dare ante consueverant, accipere coeperunt. Imposuerunt quoque compedes pedibus vestris, et membra felicia ac Dei templa infamibus vinculis ligaverunt, quasi cum corpore ligetur et spiritus, aut aurum vestrum ferri contagione maculetur. Dicatis Deo hominibus et fidem suam religiosa virtute testantibus ornamenta sunt ista, non vincula; nec Christianorum pedes ad infamiam copulant, sed clarificant ad coronam.  Sanctus Cyprianus, Epistola LXXVI, Ad Nemesianum et Caeteros Martyras in Metallo Constitutos

That indeed, being first heavily beaten with clubs and afflicted, you have begun by such punishments the glorious beginnings of your confession, is not something execrable to us. A Christian body is not frightened by clubs; all its hope is in the wood. The servant of Christ recognises the sacrament of his salvation. Redeemed by wood to eternal life, by wood he is carried forward to the crown. Truly what wonder if, as golden and silver vessels, you have been sent to the mine that is the home of gold and silver, except that now the nature of the mine is transformed and the places which previously had been accustomed to give gold and silver have begun to receive them? They have also put fetters on your feet and they have bound your happy limbs and the temples of God with disgraceful chains, as if the spirit could be bound with the body or your gold tainted by touch of iron. To men dedicated to God and to those who give witness to their faith with religious strength, such things are ornaments and not chains, nor do they fetter the feet of the Christians to infamy, but they glorify for a crown. Saint Cyprian, Letter 76, To Nemesianus and Other Martyrs Sent to the Mines