suppose, to worship unadorned and simple crosses."[24]

In the _Instructions of Commodianus_ we read "The first law was in the
tree, and so, too, was the second."[25]

Cyprian contends that "By the sign of the cross, also, Amalek was
conquered by Moses."[26]

Elsewhere Cyprian tells us that "In this sign of the cross is salvation
for all people who are marked on their foreheads"; quoting as proof of
this, from the Apocalypse, "They had his name and the name of his
Father written on their foreheads," and "Blessed are they that do his
commandments that they may have power over the Tree of Life."[27]

Methodius tells us that "He overcame, as has been said, the powers that
enslaved us by the figure of the cross; and shadowed forth man, who had
been oppressed by corruption as by a tyrant power, to be free with
unfettered hands. For the cross, if you wish to define it, is the
confirmation of victory."[28]

Passing on to Origen, we find in one of his works the noteworthy
passage:--

"It is possible to avoid it if we do what the Apostle
saith 'Mortify your members which are upon earth,' and
if we always carry about in our bodies the death of
Christ. For it is certain that where the death of Christ
is carried about, sin cannot reign. For the power of the
_stauros_ of Christ is so great that if it be set before
a man's eyes and kept faithfully in his mind so that he