11. And, when you hear that we look for a kingdom, you The
and of eternal reivards and punishments.
He in His goodness created all things in the beginning from Apol. shapeless matter, for the sake of men, who, if by their ^•^^''^' works they approve themselves worthy of His design, shall, we believe, be thought worthy of a dwelling with Him, there to reign with Him free henceforth from corruption and suffering.
For as He created us at first when we were not, so also we believe that He will hold those who choose what is pleasing to Him worthy, because of their choice, of immortality and of dwelling with Himself.
For though our birth was not originally our own doing, yet in order that we may choose to follow what is pleasing to Him,
He, by the reasonable faculties which He has bestowed on us, both persuades us, and leads us, to faith ; and we think that it is to the benefit of all men, that they are not. prohibited from the knowledge of these things, but are even urged to turn their attention to them ; for what human laws were incapable of doing, that the Word, which is Divine, would effect, were it not that the evil demons, aided by the wicked and varied inclination to evil, which is in the nature of every man, have scattered about so many false and godless accusations, of which none apply to us.
11. And, when you hear that we look for a kingdom, you The rashly conclude that we mean a human one, although we ly kingdeclare that it is to be that which is with God, as is proved ^°°^by the fact, that, when examined by you, we own ourselves to be Christians ; though we know that for every one who confesses this, the punishment is death : for, if we expected a human kingdom, we should deny our name that we might escape destruction, and should endeavour to elude you, that we might obtain our expectations.
But since we fix not our hopes on the present, we take no thought when men murder us, knowing that all must assuredly die.
12. We in fact are, above all men, your helpers and assistEff^^cts 111111 •
otChrisants in the promotion of peace, who hold these doctrmes, tliattiaoity. it is impossible for the worker of wickedness, or the covetous, or the treacherous, or again for the virtuous man, to escape the notice of God, and that every one is advancing either to eternal torment, or to salvation, according to the quality of his actions ; for if all w^ere aware of this, no man would be found to prefer sin for a season, knowing that he was passing
The Kingdom Christians look for is not temporal.
Just, to eternal condemnation through fire, but he would by every ^^^"^^ means practise self-control, and adorn himself with virtue, that he might obtain the blessings of God, and escape His punishments ; for it is not because of the laws and punishments which you have instituted that men try to hide their misdeeds, but they commit their offences, as knowing that since you are but men, it is possible to elude you
; if however they knew, and were assured, that it is impossible to deceive God in any thing, not only in their actions, but even in their thoughts, they would by every means be well conducted, if only on account of His threatened punishments, as even you yourselves will allow.
But you appear to dread lest all men should become doers of good, and you no longer have any left to punish this might be a cause of concern to the hangman, but never to upright princes.
I am persuaded, however, that these things also, as I have said, are the doing of wicked spirits, who exact sacrifices and worship even from those who live contrarily to reason ; but I suppose that you who aim at piety and philosophy, will do nothing unreasonable, but if you, like the senseless, prefer custom to truth, do what you can; even princes who place popular opinion before truth are no better than robbers in a desert; and the Word declares that you shall not prosper in 3^our doings; that Word no other than Whom, after God the Father, we know to be the most noble and just Prince.
For as all wish to escape inheriting the poverty, or sufferings, or disgrace of their fathers, so, whatever the Word forbids us to choose, of that the man of sense will not make choice.
That all these things should come to pass, our Teacher, I say, Jesus Christ, Who is both the Son, and the Apostle, of God the Father, and Ruler of all things, foretold; (from Whom also we are called Christians;) hence we are confirmed in all that He has taught us, for every thing that He foretold should come to pass is seen to be fulfilled in fact; for it is the work of God to foretell beforehand, as He has done, an event, and then to shew it taking place as it was foretold.
I might even now conclude, and add nothing more, under the supposition that we ask what is both just and true; but as I know that it is not easy to eflect a sudden change in a mind wholly occupied