Chapter Xxxi.-
Tertullian's Apology for the Christians.
' whose serviceI am killed all the day long, and to whom I offer that noble and greatest of sacrifices which He has commanded, a prayer which comes from a chaste body, an innocent soul, and a sanctified spirit; not a farthing's worth of frankincense, not the tears of an Arabian tree, or two drops of wine; not the blood of a discarded bull worn out with age ; and after all these defilements, a conscience the most defiling thing of-all.
So that in truth, when I reflect upon the pollutions of the sacrificers who are to examine the qualifications of the sacrifice, I cannot but wonder why the entrails of the beasts should be rather inspected than the inwards of the priests.
Thus, then, while we are stretching forth our hands to our God, let your tormenting irons harrow our flesh; let your gibbets exalt us, or your fires lick up our bodies, or your swords cut off our heads, or your beasts tread us to earth.
For a Christian upon his knees to his God is in a posture of defence against all the evils you can crowd upon him.
Consider this! O you impartial judges, and go on with your.
_ justice, and while our soul is pouring out herself to God in the behalf of the emperor, do you be letting out her blood.
CHAPTER XXXI.-
THAT CHRISTIANS ARE COMMANDED TO LOVE THEIR ENEMIES.
But perhaps our vows and intercessions with heaven for the life of the emperor are to be looked upon merely as the spices of flattery, and a trick only to elude the severity of the laws; but if you will have it a trick, it has had this advantage, to procure us the liberty
1 Hoc agite, boni Presides, extorquete animam Deo supplicantem pro Imperatore.
There isa most bitter sarcasm implied in these words, Hoc agite, that is, 'be intent upon your sacrifice, and wrack out the soul of a Christian while it is praying to God for the life of the emperor;" wherein our author manifestly alludes to the custom just now mentioned from Plutarch, that while the priest
— was sacrificing, the crier or reco went behind with these words, Hoc age, mind what you are about ; for thus Plutarch tells: us in Cordolano, truy yep doocavates
A ispeis wparrwos ot cay Gelov, 6 xmpuk aporreion meydan Qwvn Bowy, ox wys, onwuves yep
Quvn, roUTe wparre, mporewe xeAsvoucn Tois sepals, wel penosy epyoy tuPursiv meraky, penoe ycpeiay aoonias.
Tertulhian's Apology for the Christians.
of proving what we proposed to do in our' justification.
Tho. therefore that thinkest that the Christian religion expresses ee ' concern for the life of Czesar, look into the word of God, the word we go by, and which we do not suppress in private, and which many accidents have thrown into the hands of strangers, and there you may see with what superabundant charity we are commanded to love our enemies, to bless them that curse us, to do good to them that hate us, and to pray for them which despitefully use us, and persecute us, Matt. vy. 44.
And who such cruel persecutors of Christians as the emperors for whom they are persecuted?
And yet these are the persons we are commanded by the word of God expressly, and by name, to pray for; for thus it runs—"I exhort therefore, that first of all supplications and prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority ; that we may live a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty," 1 Tim. ii. 1.
For when the government is shaken, the members of it feel the shock, and we-~(though we are not looked upon as members by the people), yet we must be found somewhere in the calamity of the public.
CHAPTER | XXXII
CONCERNING ANOTHER REASON. OF THE CHRISTIANS
IN PRAYING
FOR THE EMPERORS.
But there is another and more prevailing reason which determines us to intercede with heaven for the emperors, and for the whole estate of the empire, and their prosperity.
And it is this, that we are of opinion that the conflagration of the universe which is now at hand, and is likely to flame out in the conclusion of this century, and to be such a horrid scene of misery, is retarded by this interposition of the Roman prosperity 31 and therefore we desire not to 1 Quod vim maximam universo orbit imminentum, etc.
Tertullian in this passage alludes to that of St. Paul, 2 Thess. ii.—'* And now ye know what withholdeth, that he might be revealed in his time," etc.
And so likewise in his book de Resur. Carnis, cap. 24—-Fam enini arcanum iniquitatis agitur ; tantune ut qui tenet, teneat, donec de medio fiat.
Quis nist Romanus Status? etc.
And it was the current opinion of the Fathers that Antichrist should not come until the Roman Empire was destroyed.
To this purpose Theod. Chrysost. : Tuts oa nartycoy chy 'Puwaieny evonobas [Bacirciav, vives 0b rv xapiy Tov mrevaros, ob wey Tov wvetpures Thy xapiv Pao, of 0 cay Pawalany dpyny ols Eyays wariore cidsuor,
And / | if it det ae yan