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Lactantius, A Treatise on the Anger of God Addressed to Donatus
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A Treatise on the Anger of God
Chap. I.—Of Divine and Human Wisdom.
Chap. II.—Of the Truth and Its Steps, and of God.
Chap. III.—Of the Good and Evil Things in Human Affairs, and of Their Author.
Chap. IV.—Of God and His Affections, and the Censure of Epicurus.
Chap. V.—The Opinion of the Stoics Concerning God Of His Anger and Kindness.
Chap. VII.—Of Man, and the Brute Animals, and Religion.
Chap. IX.—Of the Providence of God, and of Opinions Opposed to It.
Chap. X.—Of the Origin of the World, and the Nature of Affairs, and the Providence of God.
Chap. XI.—Of God, and that the One God, and by Whose Providence the World is Governed and Exists.
Chap. XII.—Of Religion and the Fear of God.
Chap. XIII.—Of the Advantage and Use of the World and of the Seasons.
Chap. XV.—Whence Sins Extended to Man.
Chap. XVI.—Of God, and His Anger and Affections.
Chap. XVII.—Of God, His Care and Anger.
Chap. XVIII.—Of the Punishment of Faults, that It Cannot Take Place Without Anger.
Chap. XIX.—Of the Soul and Body, and of Providence.
Chap. XX.—Of Offences, and the Mercy of God.
Chap. XXI.—Of the Anger of God and Man.
Chap. XXII.—Of Sins, and the Verses of the Sibyls Respecting Them Recited.
These are the opinions entertained by the philosophers respecting God. But if we have discovered that these things which have been spoken are false, there remains that one last resource, in which alone the truth can be found, which has never been embraced by philosophers, nor at any time defended: that it follows that God is angry, since He is moved by kindness. This opinion is to be maintained and asserted by us; for20 In eo enim summa omnis et cardo religionis pietatisque versatur. this is the sum and turning-point on which the whole of piety and religion depend: and no honour can be due to God, if He affords nothing to His worshippers; and no fear, if He is not angry with him who does not worship Him.21 [This fear of the Lord is filial, not servile; and this anger is likewise twofold, including fatherly and corrective indignation, and the wrath of the magistrate, which inflicts penalty and retribution. Compare Ps. vii. 11; also p. 104, note 1, supra.]
CAPUT VI. Quod Deus irascatur.
Hae sunt de Deo philosophorum sententiae. Aliud praeterea nihil quisquam dixit. Quod si haec, quae dicta sunt, falsa esse deprehendimus, unum illud extremum superest, in quo solo possit veritas inveniri, quod a philosophis nec susceptum est unquam, nec aliquando defensum; consequens esse, ut irascatur Deus, quoniam gratia commovetur. Haec tuenda nobis et asserenda sententia est. In eo enim summa omnis, et cardo religionis pietatisque versatur. Nam neque honos ullus deberi potest Deo, si nihil praestat colenti, nec ullus metus, si non irascitur non colenti.