8. And do you consider, that we say this for your good. Chris-
Christians ought not to be punished as such.
every one who wishes to learn as we are tau<iht ourAhol. selves.
^' 7.8.
7. But it may be urged, that some have already been taken crisis of and convicted as criminals.
Many, no doubt, and often, you' condemn, whenever you enquire into the life of each of the accused, but you never condemn these as criminals because of those spoken of above «; and this we confess, that as among the Greeks, those who hold doctrines according to cniiiinality. their own pleasure, are all called by the one name of philosopher, although their opinions be contrary ; so with the Barbarians, both those who are, and those who only pass for being wise, have this common name bestowed on them, for they are all called Christians ; hence, we entreat, that all who are accused by you, may be judged for their actions, in order that whoever is convicted may suffer as an evil doer, but not as a Christian ; but if he be proved innocent, that he may be dismissed as a Christian who has done no wron^^^ for we do not wish you to punish our accusers, since they are sufficiently punished by their present wickedness, and ignorance of what is right.
8. And do you consider, that we say this for your good. ChrisFor it is in our power when examined to deny our faith, ^o^^fess but we are not desirous of living by the utterance of a falsetheir re- '^'°"* hood; for, possessed with the desire of a life of eternal duration and purity, and striving for that abode which is above, with God the Father and Maker of all things, we even hasten to confess our faith, persuaded and convinced as we are that they who have shewn before God by their works that they are followers of Him, and lovers of the life that is with Him, where there is no evil to oppose, may obtain these rewards.
Briefly then, what we look for, and have learnt from Christ, and what we teach, is as follows ; Plato said to the same effect, that Rhadamanthus and Minos would punish the wicked when they came to them
; we say that the same thing will take place; but that the Judge will be Christ, and that their souls will be united to the same , bodies, and will undergo an eternal punishment ; and not, / as he said, a period of a thousand years only.
And if any c irpoAex^eWas.
But we should protK^yx^ivTas, those before convicted. bably read as Hgh. conjectures, irpo-
The Christian doctrine ofjudgment^ Just, tell us that this is incredible or impossible, it is an error of '
^ no consequence^; as long as we are proved to have done nothing wrong in practice.
Images.
9. We worship not with frequent sacrifices, and garlands of flowers, those whom men have made, and placed in temples, and call gods^; for we know that they are senseless, and inanimate, and have not the form of God ; (for we do not consider that God lias such a form as that in which some say that they represent Him, for the sake of worship,) but have the names, and forms, of those evil demons who have appeared to men ; for why shoukl I relate to you who know it, how the workmen manage their materials, carving, cutting, casting, and hammering them, and often from vessels of dishonour, by merely changing their shape through their craft, and giving them a form, they make what they call gods.
This we consider not only senseless, but also an insult to God, Who has both a form and a glory ineffable, but whose name is thus transferred to objects that are perishable, and require to be taken care of: and that the artificers of them are intemperate, and not to enter into particulars, practise every kind of wickedness, you well know; and that they corrupt their own women who help them in their work.
O fatuity as of one struck by thunder, that licentious men should be said to form and fashion gods for you to worship, and that such should be constituted the keepers of the temples in which they are enshrined, not seeing that it is unlawful even to think, or to say, that men ' See are guardians of the gods'.
•^\!\1.
^^'
-^"^ ^^ \^2csQ learned that God has no need of material Material ofiferings from men, seeing that He gives us all things, and fices"
^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^ taught, and -are convinced, and believe, that He only receives those who imitate Him in the virtues which are part of His attributes, temperance, namely, and \y justice, humanity, and all that is worthy of a God Who is 20eT<^ see called by no proper^ name; and we are also taught, that Ap. ii.
§. 6. and Cudw. f 'H TrXdvTi effriv &A\.ov irphs erepov. failing:."
Thirlby reads, rjBh 7) irXdurj c. iv. §.
" These words," says the Benedictine, dAAou, ' This error concerns us, and no 14.
"bear the same meaning as irXdvr) one else.' aWoirpSaaWos, an ordinary every day s See notes A and B on the Transmistake, which if anv one object to us, lation of Tertullian's Apology, l.ibr. we can easily retort on hiin some similar of Fathers, vol.
JO. p. 109.