Chapter 11
THE CHAPLET
considered as belonging to those with whose early history, festivals, and services it is associated.
(9) Finally, crowns adorn the very doors, victims, and altars of idols; their ministers and priests wear them, also.
Claudius14 lists all the various kinds of crowns worn by the colleges of pagan priests. Now, we have introduced the distinction between things which are altogether different from each other—things, namely, in accordance with reason, and things contrary to it—to meet the assertion of those who on the basis of some random instances defend the indis criminate use of them on all occasions. (10) To complete this part of our subject, it now remains for us to examine the special grounds for wearing chaplets. For, in showing them to be alien—nay, even opposed—to Christian discipline, we shall also prove that reason does not in the least vindicate the use of this kind of attire, although the wearing of certain
[other] articles of dress which our opponents cite by way of example is reasonable.
Chapter 11 (1) Now, to come down to the very heart of this question about the soldier's crown, should we not really first examine the right of a Christian to be in the military service at all?
In other words, why discuss the merely accidental detail, when the foundation on which it rests is deserving of censure?
Are we to believe it lawful to take an oath of allegiance to a mere human being over and above the oath of fidelity to God? Can we obey another master, having chosen Christ?
Can we forsake father, mother, and all our relatives? By 14 See above, Ch. 7 nn. 5,17.
TERTULLIAN
divine law we must honor them and our love for them is second only to that which we have toward God.1 The Gospel also bids us honor our parents,2 placing none but Christ Himself above them.3 (2) Is it likely we are permitted to carry a sword when our Lord said that he who takes the sword will perish by the sword?4 Will the son of peace5 who is forbidden to engage in a lawsuit6 espouse the deeds of war? Will a Christian, taught to turn the,other cheek when struck unjustly,7 guard prisoners in chains, and administer torture and capital punishment? (3) Will he rather mount guard for others than for Christ on station days?8 And what about the Lord's Day? Will he not even then do it for Christ? Will he stand guard before temples, that he has renounced? Will he eat at pagan banquets, which the Apostle forbids?9 Will he protect by night those very demons whom in the daytime he has put to flight by his exorcisms, leaning on a lance such as pierced the side of Christ [on the cross]?10 Will he bear, too, a standard that is hostile to Christ, and will he ask the watch-word from his commander-in-chief
—he who has already received one from God? Moreover, after death, will he be disturbed by the horn of the trumpeter
1 Cf. Exod. 20.12.
2 Matt. 15.4; Mark 7.10; Luke 18.20.
3 Matt. 10.37; Luke 14.26.
4 Cf. Matt. 26.52.
5 The characterization of the Christian as a 'son of peace' is taken from the New Testament, where Christ's teaching is described as 'the gospel of peace' (see, for instance, Eph. 6.15). In his Spectacles
16.4, Tertullian calls the Christians 'the priests of peace '
6 Cf. 1 Cor. 6.7.
7 Cf. Matt. 5.39; Luke 6.29.
8 In military language, statio is the post, guard; the Christians called the two weekly fast days (Wednesday and Friday) stationes
9 Cf. 1 Cor. 8.10.
10 Cf. John 19.34.
THE CHAPLET
—he who expects to be aroused by the trumpet of the angel?11
Will his corpse be cremated according to military custom—when he, a Christian, was not permitted to burn incense in sacrifice, when to him Christ remitted the eternal punishment by fire he had deserved?
(4) Yes, these and many other offenses can be observed in the discharge of military duties—offenses that must be interpreted as acts of desertion. To leave the camp of Light and enlist in the camp of Darkness means going over to the enemy. To be sure, the case is different for those who are converted after they have been bound to military service.
St. John admitted soldiers to baptism;12 then there were the two most faithful centurions: the one whom Christ praised,13 and the other whom Peter instructed.14 But, once we have embraced the faith and have been baptized, we either must immediately leave military service (as many have done); or we must resort to all kinds of excuses in order to avoid any action which is also forbidden in civilian life, lest we offend
God; or, last of all, for the sake of God we must suffer the fate which a mere citizen-faith was no less ready to accept.
(5) For, military service offers neither exemption from punishment of sins nor relief from martyrdom. The Gospel is one and the same for the Christian at all times whatever his occupation in life. Jesus will deny those who deny Him and confess those who confess Him;15 He will save the life that has been lost for His Name's sake, but He will destroy the one that has been gained against His Name.16 With Him
11 Cf. 1 Cor. 15.52; 1 Thess. 4.16.
12 Cf. Luke 3.14.
13 Cf. Matt. 8.10; Luke 7.9.
14 Cf Arts 10 15 Cf. Matt. 10.32,33; Luke 12.8,9.
16 Cf. Matt. 10.39; Mark 8.35; Luke 9.24.