Cyprian of Carthage, On the Unity of the Church 15

To prophesy, cast out demons, and perform great works on earth is certainly a sublime and admirable thing, yet no one attains the kingdom of heaven merely by being found in all these things unless they walk in the observance of a right and just path (Matt 7:21-23). The Lord warns and says: "Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, cast out demons in your name, and perform great works in your name?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.'" Righteousness is necessary so that anyone may merit God as judge; we must obey His precepts and admonitions so that our merits may receive their reward. In His Gospel, the Lord directed the way of our hope and faith with a brief summary: "The Lord your God is one" (Deut 6:4), and "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength" (Deut 6:5). "This is the first commandment; and the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Mark 12:29-31). On these two commandments hang the whole Law and the Prophets. He taught unity and love together through His teaching, embracing all the prophets and the Law within two commandments. But who preserves that unity, who guards or even considers that love, when, driven mad by the fury of discord, they tear apart the Church, destroy faith, disturb peace, dissipate charity, and profane the sacrament?